JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Area standouts help Walsh raise football standards

NORTH CANTON -- Tim Sturgiss of Lowellville and Dean Coutris of Poland are aiming to bounce back from injuries to gain starting roles on the offensive line for the Walsh University football team next season, just like Travis Ellyson of United High and Kensington already has done.
Although hurt and hampered this season, Sturgiss and Coutris, and the previously-recovered Ellyson, helped the Cavaliers to an 8-3 record and their first Mid-States Football Association Mideast League title with a 5-1 record.
Walsh also achieved its first eight-win season and its first victory over Geneva.
Sturgiss (6-2, 270), a junior, was the starting left guard, while Coutris, a freshman, served as Sturgiss' back-up. And Coutris (6-2, 255) also played a back-up role at right offensive guard behind senior Ellyson (6-1, 245), who bounced back from a sophomore injury to achieve success.
The three comeback linemen were among eight Youngstown-area players on the roster.
Injured twice: Sturgiss, who was coached by Jim Vivo at Lowellville, started the first three games for Walsh this season, but then suffered a shoulder injury in the third contest and missed two games before returning to the lineup.
However, he re-injured the shoulder but bounced back a second time to start the last two games.
"I may not need surgery on it. We are going to try rehabilitation first," said Sturgiss, who suffered a dislocation and torn ligaments in his shoulder. Sturgiss may have returned too soon after re-injuring his shoulder.
"I wasn't at 100 percent when I came back the second time [for the last two weeks]," he said.
Hurt last year: Sturgiss also was injured last year, suffering a partially torn knee ligament during pre-season drills.
But he underwent rehabilitation, sat out the first two games and came back to become a starter, winning the job at about mid-season.
"The knee is fine and the shoulder is still not 100 percent," he said. "Right now it's just rehabilitation [that will help]. I think I will be able to be back 100 percent."
Sturgiss believes his main asset as a blocker is his quickness.
"I am quick and that helps me to get out and pull out of the line quick and get some blocks," said Sturgiss, the son of Tim and Michelle Sturgiss, who is majoring in pre-medicine and has a 2.1 grade-point average.
Recovered: Ellyson, a highly-consistent blocker, suffered a broken bone in his foot midway through his sophomore year after starting the first five games and missed the rest of the season.
However, Ellyson recovered to become a starter in his junior and senior seasons, and this year capped his career by being named to the All-MSFA Mideast League Second Team.
The son of Lisa and Michael Ellyson, Travis is majoring in accounting and has a 2.87 GPA. He is planning to graduate next fall.
Ellyson was coached at United High by Mike Ward.
Hip injury: Coutris was injured in the ninth game of the season. "I hurt my hip. So I missed the last two games. It was my sciatic nerve.
"It's pretty good now. I'm rehabilitating now. I'd be able to play if we started now."
Coached by Paul Hulea at Poland High, Coutris saw a lot of playing time for Walsh primarily as a back-up. "I was second string but I played a lot. I played in nine of the 11 games," said Coutris, who has high expectations for next season.
"Next year, there is a good chance I might start. I'm going to be challenged for the job, but most likely I will get the starting job," he believes.
The son of George and Jamie Coutris, Dean is a business major with a 3.5 GPA.
Letera connection: Matthew Letera, a Stow High graduate who has Youngstown-area connections, was Walsh's starting center for the second straight year as a junior, reports his grandfather, Paul Chambers of Boardman.
Letera is the son of Mary Jo Chambers Letera, a native of Youngstown and a Cardinal Mooney High graduate, and Gary Letera, a Shenango High graduate and a two-year starter at offensive guard for the Youngstown State football team in 1978 and 1979.
Gary has two other sons who both play football for Stow High. Adam Letera was a senior center-linebacker this season, while David Letera was a freshman offensive guard and linebacker.
The Leteras' football participation has been an enjoyment for grandfather Chambers.
"I go to every Stow game and every Walsh game," said Chambers.
kovach@vindy.com