JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Rodkey is coach at Georgia Southwestern

AMERICUS, Ga. -- Jennifer Rodkey, former Austintown Fitch High and Bethany College basketball standout, has been named interim women's basketball coach at Georgia Southwestern University.
Rodkey, who previously served as an assistant coach at Georgia Southwestern from 1999-2001, is in her first head-coaching assignment. She succeeded Rosa Parks who died in August after two seasons.
Rodkey returned to GSU from Grand Canyon College in Phoenix, Ariz., where she was an assistant coach for two years (2001-2003) to Kip Drown.
Graduate assistant
Rodkey was also a graduate assistant coach to Drown for two years at GSU while earning her master's degree in education, before leaving with Drown to Grand Canyon.
Drown led the Hurricanes to four straight NAIA national tournament appearances, and compiled a 151-71 record.
Drown and Rodkey had a two-year record of 45-20 at GSU, and led the team to its highest national ranking at No. 12. The Hurricanes also received two consecutive NAIA national tournament bids, and made a Sweet 16 appearance in 2000.
While at Bethany, Rodkey was a four-year starter, team captain and Most Valuable Player her senior season (1995-96).
She also was a four-time All-Presidents' Athletic Conference selection.
Rodkey received a bachelor's degree in English education in 1996.
Area flavor at Lake Erie
PAINESVILLE -- It was a good recruiting year in the Youngstown area for the Lake Erie College men's soccer team and coach Dale Sheptak.
Nine of the 19 players on the team are freshmen from the Youngstown area -- three of them from Hubbard High: defender Matt Tringhese, forward Justin Daly and goalkeeper Michael Mogg.
The others are Brian McFadden, a midfielder from Niles; Jerrod Baxter, midfielder, West Branch; Travis Clark, defender, Salem; Clinton Fletcher, midfielder, Warren JFK; and Andrew Thornton and Anthony Hryckowian, both defenders from Maplewood.
In Lake Erie's opener recently, Mogg combined with Richard Ford to post a 3-0 shutout of Hilbert, while Daly had one of the goals.
Irv Holdash cited
Irv Holdash, a graduate of Fitch High and a former All-American football player for the University of North Carolina, was one of eight former Tar Heels whose uniform number was retired during halftime ceremonies of the UNC-Florida State season opener Aug. 30.
Holdash, a center-linebacker and three-year regular at North Carolina who never missed a game during his varsity career, was honored posthumously. He died in 1992 at the age of 63.
Holdash's uniform number will be displayed in Kenan Stadium on a sign along the front of the upper deck, along with the jersey numbers of the other seven selections and previous picks.
All-American
Holdash was with the Tar Heels from 1947-50, and was captain of the team his senior year. He was an All-American in 1950 with a sensational performance at Notre Dame.
Holdash played in the Sugar Bowl in 1949, the Cotton Bowl in 1950 and college All-Star Game in 1951.
Holdash was represented by his wife, Gretchen, during the ceremonies on the field at halftime.
He made his home in Shrewsbury, Mass., and was employed by the Norton Company.
Holdash still has family in the area. His niece, Heidi Patton, lives in Canfield.
He also has sisters Mildred Milanchus of Worthington and Eleanor Kerester of Shaker Heights.
kovach@vindy.com