Area athletes give back and find enjoyment

The program benefited the Mahoning County Council for Retarded Citizens.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBIANA -- "He's going off-road, put it in four-wheel drive," Nick Royer told David Rice and Tony Giannone as they guided Donald's wheelchair over a section of bumpy gravel on their way from a paved path to the all-weather track at Columbiana High School.
Rice and Giannone were two of dozens of Columbiana football players helping visitors from Camp Rachel Thursday.
Donald was one of them.
Some of coach Bob Spaite's squad took time out of their day or time off work to assist the campers enrolled in the program run by the Mahoning County Council for Retarded Citizens.
Royer, a recent graduate of Ursuline High, was an assistant counselor in the program under director Jan Nelson.
He was one of several who helped oversee the eight different age groups ranging from 6 to 22.
Showing ability
The 65 campers, who live with their families or are in foster care or group homes, displayed varying levels of ability.
Rice, a senior defensive back and receiver, and Giannone, a freshman player, were impressed with Donald's impersonation of rapper Eminem.
Donald also had a strong grip when grabbing a football.
Following the arrival of four busloads from their departure point -- Leonard Kirtz School in Austintown, the campers assembled inside Columbiana High's gym.
Royer and Emily Holden, head counselor of the green group (17-22 years), helped Johnny West make a basketball free throw.
Holden, a Kent State student from Austintown, was leader of the green group.
Royer of Canfield, the kicker on Ursuline's football team, was Holden's assistant. He will attend Muskingum College.
Rice was especially eager to engage with the campers.
"I know sign language," he said to Donald who raised his fingers to help communicate. "I have a hearing aid and have to learn, too."
Spaite said that Rice, a National Honor Society student and three-sport athlete, has 20 percent hearing.
"He takes this stuff seriously," the coach said of Rice, who will be a three-year starter at defensive back.
Taking time
The "Friends Don't Let Friends Squat High" slogan on Giannone's shirt needed explanation.
It was a reference to weightlifting.
"If you come up too high it's not doing your hips any good," Ty Lipply said of the squat.
Lipply will also be a senior tailback after starting at inside linebacker in 2002 when the team went 7-3.
Also standing nearby was outside linebacker Beau Papania, a sophomore.
Others counselors, like Ed Craft, worked one-on-one.
The former Youngstown Hardhat semi-pro football player who still looks intimidating and is known as "Mr. Hardhat," was working with Benjamin Welch in the tan group.
"I've had him for four years," Craft said of the 15-year-old who attends Kirtz but lives in a group home.
Another Columbiana Clippers player carried Mark Saraceno around the 400-meter track piggyback-style three times!
It may not have been Spaite's way of getting his players in shape, but Saraceno enjoyed it.
"He was pretty heavy," Joe Moon, a junior fullback/inside linebacker said of his 115-pound load. "But I'm sure he had a good time."
bassetti@vindy.com