Sunday, January 21, 2001
High School Insider
Hughes' Brackman gets big return from Vails
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The rewards from coaching high school athletes are often more than monetary.
Mark Brackman, who retired from coaching at Hughes five years ago but returned as head of the boys basketball team this season, points to Ramone Vails as an example.
“I guess you could say Ramone has been a problem child at school the past three years and never was involved in sports,” Brackman said. “When he showed up for open gym in September, I was skeptical because he never played organized basketball. But we have no size and Ramone is 6-foot-2, 225 pounds. I decided to take an extra hard look at him.”
Brackman decided to retain Vails and the decision may have turned around the 18-year-old's life.
Vails is the Big Red's leading rebounder, averaging 10.1 a game. He also is averaging 8.4 points.
“In 21 years of coaching, I've never seen anybody come out with no playing experience and produce like this,” Brackman said.
Vails admitted he hasn't been a model student but also said after-school jobs had kept him from playing basketball.
“Keith Jackson (Purcell Marian center) kept getting on me during the summer to play,” Vails said. “I played a lot of street basketball during the summer and I knew I
could do it.”
Brackman is confident Vails has turned a corner in life.
“Ramone has the raw talent to play basketball at a small college and maybe someone will take a chance,” Brackman said.
“Obviously basketball is the hook to keep Ramone in school and there's a good chance he will go on to get a higher education. If this happens, it's one of the many rewards of being a coach.”
FAIRFIELD HALL: Former Fairfield girls soccer coach and 1969 graduate Deb Hensley Lanier heads a list of former athletes to be inducted into the Fairfield Hall of Fame.
Joining Lanier are Sheri Beuter (1994), Erin Hipp (1994), Carrie Schultheiss (1989), Ron Puska (1962), James Sackenheim (1956), Jim Warren (1970) and Willie Wineberg.
“I'm quite proud because three of the girls (Beuter, Hipp, Schultheiss) played for me,” said Lanier, a counselor at Fairfield.
A banquet will be held March 24 at The Receptions in Fairfield.
FINAN ROLLING: In October, Stephanie Finan decided to try out for the McAuley bowling team even though she had never competed in the sport. She earned a spot on the varsity and has developed into one of the team's top bowlers. She has a 170 average for the 9-1 Mohawks.
“There's about 1,000 girls at McAuley and it's tough making a team in any sport,” Finan said. “I thought bowling would be fun so I decided to try it.”
Finan's best single game is 193. She fired a team-high 471 three-game series in a match last week.
COACHES NEEDED: Hillsboro has the following head coaching vacancies: football, boys soccer and girls soccer. Call Rick Earley at (937) 393-9325, e-mail rearley@hillsboro.k12.oh.us or fax resume to (937) 393-5842.
McAuley is looking for a head varsity volleyball coach Call Connie Kampschmidt at 681-1800, ext. 1125.
STATE FOOTBALL: Ohio football finals will remain in Stark County at least another two years.
The Board of Control, the governing body of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, renewed the contract for the 2001 and 2002 seasons with an option for 2003. Sites have not been determined.
STATISTICS: The Enquirer will accept girls and boys basketball statistics today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 768-8544 or 768-8452. Statistics can be faxed to 768-8550 or e-mailed to sports@enquirer.com before 4 p.m.
Coaches are asked to include a top 10 poll, either Division I or Divisions II-IV.
Wrestling coaches should report honor roll nominations as follows:
Division I — Fax to 398-4183 or e-mail to keetont@mason.k12.oh.us before noon Monday. Division II-III — call 396-5559 or e.mail to rrobo9@aol.com before noon Monday.
Swimming coaches should fax honor roll nominations to 831-9714 or e-mail them to mast@spsp.net today.
Gymnastics coaches should call Ed Schwegler between noon and 5 p.m. today at 858-3275.
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Hughes' Brackman gets big return from Vails
