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Wave
Nation was in full force at Akron over the week-end as Greenville
played for a
state title in softball. CNO Photos by Dylan Knoop
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The support was
there
Wave Nation out in Force...
By George Starks
AKRON- Over the course of the past 23 years, it has been a privilege
for me to have been allowed to be a part of many sporting events.
Ohio State-Michigan, the year the Buckeyes won the national title in
football. Game two of the 1990 World Series as well as the Brickyard in
1999, as well as covering numerous Reds and Bengals games.
Closer to home, going to state on several occasions with many
schools... but watching the Greenville girls make history in 2007,
being the biggest.
Now, in 2012, the Lady Wave softball team returned to the state scene
for the third time in six years and the second time in three seasons,
the last being in 2010.
I was not with the team on that trip but was very much in support of
the team, listening to the game on wtgr with Scott Ward on the call.
In 2007 the support was there as I’m sure it was in 2010. This year,
the Wave had a following that surpassed the 2007 team. People came out
of the cracks in support of the Wave.
Despite losing the game to LaGrange Keystone, when the final out was
recorded, Wave fans stood up and applauded the effort of the two teams,
showing good sportsmanship as they should have.
When asked about Wave Nation, Jerrod Newland said, “It’s crazy. The
support we get from our fans is great. And we appreciate that support.”
From the time Newland put a winner on the field 10 years ago until now,
the teams support has been there. When it’s cold and rainy or the
snow’s flying, the fans are out in force. From the first scrimmage to
the final game, Greenville’s fans are there.
From the day Newland arrived, there was something in the air that
brought on a sense of success. In a pre-season interview 10 years ago,
Newland predicted a state title in four years.
He called it and it happened.
In April of this year, Newland told me we would be making a trip to
Akron because his team would be in the final four. Again, he called it
and it happened.
I look at the softball program and I am reminded of a movie, Field of
Dreams.
The catch phrase, “You build it and they will come.” Jerrod Newland has
built it and they are coming. Coming out in droves.
Newland has said more than once that he hopes the next 10 years are as
good, if not better than the first 10 years.
Coach, I hope the next 10 are better than the first ten. If it is, wow,
what a ride this is going to be and Wave Nation has a lot to look
forward to.
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