Recordpub.com - Home of Champions

Editor's Note: This is the third story in a five-part series by staff writer Colin Harris leading up to the start of the 2008 high school football season.

By Colin Harris
Record Courier staff writer
Thousands of athletes have suited up for area football teams throughout the years, their accomplishments sparking both arguments and reminiscing from the people who've eagerly cheers " or jeered " them on.
But what about the stadiums themselves?
What about the fields that provided the stages for some of the historic moments in Portage County high school football?
No discussion of Portage Trail Conference stadiums can begin without Mogadore's Wildcat Stadium.
Celebrating its sixth decade of existence this season, the small village of roughly 4,000 people has had plenty to cheer for on its hallowed ground.
Constructed in the fall of 1948 under its original name of Mogadore Memorial Stadium, the field has seen an astounding 21 Portage County League titles, six Summit County League crowns, one Suburban League title as well as the last two PTC County Division crowns.
More impressive still, are the 21 playoff appearances that got their start on Wildcat Stadium's field, as well as the three state championships in 1979, 1996 and 2002.
Going by pure numbers, it's perhaps fitting that the PTC school with the most all-time meetings with Mogadore (39) can claim an impressive championship history of its own.
Rootstown's Rover Stadium - built in 1962 - came about at the tail end of a streak of eight consecutive PCL titles from 1955 through 1962, but the stadium has still seen its share of big accomplishments.
The Rovers captured PCL crowns in 1962, 1981, 1989 and 2004 " the PCL's final season.
Rover Stadium also provided the home-field advantage for the Rovers' two playoff squads in 1981 and 2004.
Constructed in 1970, Roosevelt Stadium has been the home of arguably the most successful of the PTC Metro Divisoin schools for nearly four decades.
On the strength of legendary coach John Nemec's initial 22-year stretch at the helm of the Rough Riders, Kent's stadium saw a total of seven Metro League titles, as well as a Western Reserve Conference South title in 1996.
Most recently, former coach Ed Becker led the Rough Riders to a PTC Metro Division title in 2006, coupled with their first state playoff berth.
Originally built in 1957 and renamed in the early 1980s, Crestwood's Jack Lambert Field can claim the same sort of championship history as its namesake with six PCL championships to its credit.
From 1999 through 2001, the Red Devils fielded one of the toughest teams in the area as they made their only two state playoff appearances during that stretch.
Another one of the PTC's elder statesmen, Windham Stadium has seen a total of five championships - two as a member of the Tomahawk conference as well as three PCL crowns - and seven state playoff appearances.
With a total of five PCL championships - as well as a 1992 state playoff trip - Streetsboro's Glinatsis Stadium may not look like much on the outside, but it has proved itself as a good home for the Rockets and their loyal fanbase.
The home of Southeast Pirates might be a difficult stadium to nail down a construction date for, but what is clear is that it has seen quite a few highlights in its day. With six PCL titles to its credit - as well as a 2003 state playoffs berth - the friendly confines of Freedom Field is one of the tougher places to visit in the PTC.
The second-newest stadium in the PTC, Ravenna Stadium has only been around since 1999, but the sprawling facility has already proved itself as a home of champions. With WRC South titles in 1999 and 2004 already up on the wall, the Ravens came back in 2007 to capture its first PTC Metro Division title after a hard-fought battle with the Field Falcons near season's end.
Speaking of the Falcons, their Kenneth W. Lohr Stadium - built around 1962 - has played host to PCL titles in 1973 and 2000 as well as housing the rowdy Falcons faithful who cheered their 2007 squad onto its first-ever state playoff appearance.
Constructed around 1968, Waterloo Stadium has only seen one PCL title " captured in 1971 - but it also provided the home for the school's only state playoff appearance in 1999.
Finally, Woodridge's Lahoski Field may not have a title history of its own, but it's safe to say that the Bulldogs' beautiful stadium has plenty of time to get there having been constructed in 2007.