Ray has spent more than the past ten years as the morning show host on 1590 WAKR; he's also a strong voice for community discourse and programming in Akron. Ray is a two-time Pennsylvania Sportscaster of the Year and came to Akron from a long career on 1490 WMGW-AM in Meadville, Pennsylvania. The University of Dayton alum is no stranger to morning radio, and exercises a love of sports into his broadcast career that includes play-by-play, analysis and sportscasting on a wide range of sports. Ray was also an athlete in high school. He is active in local scholastic sports and civic organizations. Ray and his family live in Wadsworth, Ohio. You can reach Ray at rhorner@rcrg.net or by calling the Rubber City Radio Group 330-869-9800.
Andrew Myers
Senior
Ellet High School
Baseball
Ellet High School senior hurler Andrew Myers is the WAKR Student Athlete of the Week for May 3rd-May 10th.
Last week Andrew tossed his first career no-hitter in getting his third win of the season. The Orangeman are off to a nice 9-6 start.
"Andrew is one of the best athletes I've ever had the privilege of coaching with his speed and pitching ability" said Ellet Baseball coach John Sarver.
Myers is 3-1 on the hill with an impressive 1.52 ERA plus he has added fuel to the Ellet offense hitting .442 with 11 RBI's. On the mound he has 33 strikeouts in 23 innings.
"I have loved baseball since I stepped on the field" Myers said.
Andrew is a three sport athlete at Ellet having played varsity football and basketball along with his outstanding career in baseball. He played wide receiver on Joe Yost's football team this past fall.
Myers not only takes sports serious but he also is focused in the classroom as he is taking classes at the University of Akron already to prepare himself for next year.
"I will already have 27 college credits by the time I start college which will help me make the tough transition to college and I hope help me adjust to college baseball" Myers said.
"With his speed on defense and on the bases he finds a way to always make the big play for us in the games that mean the most" Sarver said.
Andrew has a 3.0 GPA.
Quartni Whited
Springfield High School
Senior
Softball
Springfield senior softball pitcher Quartni Whited is the WAKR Student Athlete of the Week for April 26th-May 3rd.
The Spartans are off to an impressive 14-1 start and Whited is 12-0 in the circle.
"I've had some good games the past couple of seasons and I just hope it continues" Whited said.
Quartni is also the team's solid number three hitter with a .400 plus average.
"I always knew I wanted to pitch, I love the pressure of the team depending on me, I love that" Whited said.
As a junior Quartni was the team's and league's Most Valuable Player.
Whited is planning on a career in softball in college and carries a 3.08 GPA at Springfield.
Drew Lakos
Archbishop Hoban High School
Senior
Baseball
Archbishop Hoban senior baseball star Drew Lakos is the WAKR Student Athlete of the Week for April 19th-April 26th.
Drew is 3-0 this season including a win earlier this week over Walsh Jesuit. Lakos carries an impressive 2.14 ERA.
"I realized at a young age that I liked pitching and then when I grown fast it really helped me on the mound" Lakos said.
As a junior Lakos was 5-1. Hoban is off to a 7-4 start to the baseball season.
Drew was a First Team All-NCL member last year.
"I would have to say my outing last year against Walsh Jesuit was the game I remember most pitching for the Knights, we needed the win and I helped get it" Lakos said.
Drew is a member of Student Council at Archbishop Hoban High School and is a volunteer coach as well.
Drew does have Hoban blood lines in his family as his sister Sydney was a star on the Knight Girls Golf team a few years back.
Lakos carries a 3.9 GPA and is looking for a career in Nursing in college but has not made his choice of schools at this point but is hoping to play baseball at the next level.
Nolan Shropshire
Kenmore High School
Senior
Wrestling
Kenmore High School senior wrestler Nolan Shropshire is the WAKR Student Athlete of the Week for April 12th-April 19th.
Nolan recently completed an outstanding senior season on the mats for the Cardinals with a 26-10 record and earned All-City Academic Honors with a 3.5 GPA.
"I really started to take school more serious in my junior year and it has worked out well, I've had a good year" Shropshire said. "I learned to appreciate and enjoy school".
Nolan was also terrific for the Cardinals football team this past fall playing both offensive and defensive line. He was a first team All-City performer in football.
Shropshire is also into giving back as he is a Senior Leader at Kenmore and is an active member of Student Council. Nolan is a contributor to the Prom Committee as well.
Nolan had a great career wrestling for the Cardinals and works hard to make sure other Kenmore Wrestlers have the very best training as he volunteers for the Kenmore Youth Wrestling Program .
Nolan will go to college and hopes for a career in Sports Medicine.
Daizha Ulmer
Buchtel High School
Senior
Basketball
Buchtel senior basketball star Daizha Ulmer is the WAKR Student Athlete of the Week for April 5th-April 12th.
Daizha was recently named to the first team All-City in Girls Basketball as well as being named All-Academic with an impressive 3.42 GPA.
"I've always loved basketball, I will miss it" Ulmer said.
Daizha is going to take her basketball talents to Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania next year and plans on a career as a Crime Detective.
"That career has run in my family, I've always had an interest" Ulmer said.
Daizha has started at various positions for the Buchtel team in her four years but has always been productive on the court, this year she averaged 17.9 ppg.
"I just love playing the game, enjoying my teammates, and being part of the team, we did not win as much as I would of liked but it was a good time" Ulmer said.
Daizha is involved in the school in many ways including being part of the Marketing Education Program called DECCA.
Ulmer was also included on the All-District team.
"The four years went by so quick" Ulmer said.
Khrystian McCalister
Garfield High School
Senior
Basketball
Garfield High School senior round-baller Khrystian McCalister is the WAKR Student Athlete of the Week for March 29th-April 5th.
McCalister was recently named First Team All City in Girls Basketball and also was named to the Coaches Academic All-city Team with a 3.6 GPA.
Khrystian only played in the city for one season as she transferred to Garfield from CVCA. She averaged 18.0 ppg for the Lady Rams.
"I was worried that coming to a new school with new teammates that it would be difficult but it was great and we all got along" McCalister said. "I just love to play and was open to playing any position to help the team"
McCalister is also a volunteer at the haven of Rest and Hattie Larlham.
"I've always loved fashion, it is what I want to do" McCalister said.
Khrystian will major in Fashion Merchandising at college and will look to go to a school where she can continue to play basketball.
Aaron Adkins
STVM High School
Wrestling
Junior
STVM junior All-State wrestler Aaron Adkins is the WAKR Student Athlete of the Week for March 22nd-March 29th.
Aaron recently won the State Wrestling Title at the 182 pound weight class. He finished his junior season with an impressive 35-7 record.
"It was my first title of the year, it felt real good" Adkins said.
Adkins had taken three second place finishes this year in major wrestling tournaments in Alliance, Mansfield, and Brecksville.
"I really feel my experiences in winning a football state title helped me down the stretch in getting the wrestling championship" said Adkins.
Aaron was a starting defensive tackle on the Irish State Champion Football team in the fall. His brother Anthony started along the defensive line with him.
"After I won the wrestling title my brother said he will come out and wrestle for our senior year" Adkins said.
Aaron is a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers for the ATC Program at the school where he helps children with special needs.
Aaron is going to look to get into the Medical Profession in college.
Aaron carries a 3.7 GPA.
Nathan Tomasello
CVCA
Senior
Wrestler
CVCA senior wrestling standout Nathan Tomasello is the WAKR Student Athlete of the Week for March 15th-March 22nd.
Nathan recently won his fourth straight State Wrestling Championship as a member of the Royal Wrestling team.
"It still has not sunk in but I do realize how special it was" Tomasello said.
Nathan's childhood has been filled with wrestling since he was in fifth grade and now being capped off with another State Title as a senior.
"It began in fifth grade, I fell in love with the sport by sixth grade" Tomasello said.
Nathan is also a three time Champion at the Iron Man Tournament and the Top Gun Tournament, plus a two time National Freestyle Champion.
Nathan plans on Majoring in Engineering at Ohio State University where he will take his wrestling talents next year.
"I'm pretty excited to get there" Tomasello said.
Nathan carries a 4.1 GPA.
Matt Beech
Stow High School
Junior
Boys Basketball
Stow High School junior sharpshooter Matt Beech is the WAKR Student Athlete of the Week for March 8th-March 15th.
Matt has scored 52 points in Stow's last two playoff wins at Copley High School, including 27 in the triple overtime win over Twinsburg last weekend.
"My team and coach find ways to get all of us shots and my shot was working" Beech said.
Matt is averaging 19.8 ppg and is an All-NWC performer for the Bulldogs. He also excels on the stow football team as a tailback and linebacker. Beech was also an All-Conference player in football.
Matt is much more than sports at Stow High School as he volunteers with the basketball team to donate Holiday gifts to families. Matt has worked with the Stow Police and has sent letters to area hospitals for sick children.
"I like school and athletics, and my parents have stressed to me that without the academics there is no athletics" Beech said.
Matt poured in 25 points in the team's opening round win over Firestone at Copley High School.
Beech carries a 3.875 GPA.
Matt is involved in the school's Career Program as he will look to get into a Business Management career.
Aaron Tschantz
Barberton High School
Senior
Wrestling
Barberton senior wrestling great Aaron Tschantz is the WAKR Student Athlete of the Week for March 1st-March 8th.
Aaron is 45-4 on the season wrestling at the 195 pound weight class. He has won the Bill Dies, Massillon, and Cuyahoga Heights Tournaments. He also took a second place finish at the Brecksville Tournament.
"I like the sport, my Dad has had a big boost in my wrestling" Tschantz said.
"He has been a pleasure to coach, just a great kid" said Barberton Wrestling Coach Dave Mariola. "On the mat he is quick and very strong".
Last year Aaron took a 6th place finish in the State Tournament while compiling a 48-9 record.
Aaron was a three year starter on the Barberton Football playing defensive tackle and offensive guard. In Wrestling Tschantz is a three time All-American.
Aaron has also put in volunteer hours in the Barberton area with his work on Volunteer clean-up day.
Tschantz plans on majoring in Criminal Justice in College. Aaron carries a 3.0 GPA.
"He is very coachable and a hard worker on the mat and off" Mariola said.
"I've worked hard at the sport, now I want to finish off the right way" Tschantz said.
Aaron way of finishing the right way is a State Title.
Copyright © 2013 AkronNewsNow & Rubber City Radio Group |All Rights Reserved | 1795 West Market Street | Akron, OH 44313 | 330.869.9800
