JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Two brothers on opposing football teams

When Lori Richter's two sons, Kyle and Ryan Trimble, were playing high school sports at Western Reserve High in Berlin Center, she was their superfan and attended almost all of their games to see them compete together.
But when Kyle, who is about a year older than Ryan, went to Westminster College in 2003 to study chemistry and play football, and left Ryan behind as a senior at Western Reserve, Lori's opportunity to watch her two sons play together again seemingly came to an end.
But only temporarily, as it turned out.
Because when Ryan was visiting Hiram College with Lori last December, and deciding he was going to enroll there to study pre-law and play football, hope was renewed that the two brothers again would be reunited on the football field -- but this time as rivals.
Renewed rivalry
Lori recalled that then-coach Mike Meyer of Hiram, who was succeeded this year by coach Mike Lazusky, told her and Ryan during their visit that he had just reached an agreement for Hiram to play Westminster the next season in 2004 for the first time in about 40 years.
"That meant we would have a chance to see both play at the same time [again]," said Lori. "I [was] looking forward to seeing them play at the same time.
"I never missed a game [in high school]. I attended almost all their games. There were two of them on the field at the same time, and I'm trying to keep track of both of them."
Lori's opportunity came two Saturdays ago at Westminster when Kyle (5-foot-8, 180), a sophomore punter and special teams player for the Titans, and Ryan (5-4, 180), a freshman linebacker for Hiram, locked horns.
Divided allegiances
The renewal also created divided allegiances for Lori.
Before the game, "Both coaches knew [my divided allegiances] so they came up [teasing] me," said Lori.
Then, questions cropped up in her mind. Like, where should she sit? What school colors should she wear? What team should she cheer for?
"At Hiram, there is only seating on one side. At Westminster, they have an away side and home side, so I sat on the Westminster side," said Lori, who was accompanied by her husband, Dr. G. William Richter Jr., and stepdaughter, Katie Richter.
Then came diplomacy. "I had [photo] buttons for both of [my sons]. I had blankets and sweat shirts for both teams. I was fair," she pointed out.
Not this time
But her wish didn't come true, at least this time, because although Kyle played on special teams and defense, Ryan didn't get in the game as the Titans went on to a 41-22 win.
Kyle, who was Westminster's regular punter last year, didn't punt in that game but did so the following week in Westminster's 23-13 win over Thomas More. He punted six times for a 30.3-yard average.
"I was disappointed that I couldn't see them play at the same time, and I think they were too," said Lori. "It really was an enjoyable experience."
Kyle made comeback
Lori said Kyle overcame a knee injury, two surgeries on his knee and a staph infection from the second surgery in 2000 as a sophomore to excel at Western Reserve. He was an All-NEO and All-ICL first team selection at linebacker and made All-Ohio special mention as a senior for coach Lou Speece.
Lori said that Ryan was an offensive and defensive lineman at Western Reserve and made the All-ICL second team as a senior for coach Mike Kopachy.
The odds are good that Lori will get to see her sons play in the same game next fall when Hiram plays host to Westminster in Game 2 of the renewed series.
But whether or not that happens, she is just glad her sons played sports because "sports keeps kids out of trouble and teaches them self-discipline," she believes.
kovach@vindy.com