Wednesday, March 21, 2007
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
OU COPPOLA, ONE OF SIX Poland High seniors on the varsity basketball team, doesn't think the full impact of qualifying for state will reach him until the Bulldogs take the court in Columbus.
"It hasn't sunk in yet," said Coppola, the Bulldogs' 6-foot-8 center. "I really don't think it will hit until we start warming up on the court."
Thursday at 8:30 p.m., Poland (22-3) will play Upper Sandusky (21-3) in a Division II state semifinal game at Ohio State's Value City Arena.
Since the Bulldogs defeated Cleveland Benedictine in the regional final last Saturday in Canton, life has been good in Poland.
"It was nice to hear from the student body how much they appreciate it, as I appreciate them," Coppola said. "The support is unbelievable."
Students back team
Brad Brocker, another senior who is often the first player that Coach Ken Grisdale sends in off the bench, said, "Our student section is just phenomenal. Against Benedictine they were on both sides of the court. Their presence was felt from both sides and that helped."
Chris Lovell, a starter like Coppola, said the buzz surrounding the team "is very exciting. It was kind of hard to sit in school all day without thinking about Thursday.
"It's going to be a great experience and it will be even better if we find a way to win," Lovell said.
The Bulldogs face a daunting challenge as Upper Sandusky is led by Jon Diebler, Ohio's all-time leading scorer.
"It's been amazing -- all the people talking about Diebler and all the reporters coming to practice," said Brocker of this week.
Tom Fender, one of Grisdale's assistants, knows firsthand what awaits these Bulldogs. In 1972, Fender was a starter on Poland's first state basketball team. In 2002, Fender was an assistant for Poland's other state qualifier. Starting on that squad were Fender's sons, Eric and Chad.
"I think that until you get there and walk out that you don't really realize what it is like," said Fender, who added that Upper Sandusky has more to worry about as far as hype.
"We're going against a kid who's probably one of the most celebrated going in there except for LeBron James," said Fender of the legendary player that the 2002 Bulldogs faced. "This kid averages 42, he's the all-time leading scorer in Ohio. There's a lot of media hype, but not so much for us."
Other seniors
Poland's other seniors are Charlie Carchedi, Korey Young and Alec Budinsky. All six serve as team captains.
Carchedi, one of the starters, said the legacy that Grisdale, Fender and Brian Nord have created "is awesome. Watching what they did when I was younger just really made me want to play basketball."
Brocker said, "It's a privilege to play for them. Coach Nord is magnificent on defense and what Coach Gris does to get us ready is beyond belief.
"It's slowly sinking in," Brocker said of the biggest varsity game of his career. "Getting to Columbus is when it will actually hit me."
Carchedi agreed.
"It will, I think, when we arrive there and take a tour of the facility," Carchedi said of the trip.
Coppola said the tradition of Grisdale's staff has made an impact.
Coppola lauds coaches
"Our coaches are amazing -- there's pretty much no other word for it. They prepare us so well," Coppola said. "When we were in fifth and sixth grade, they had the camps. And those were the years that the kids who were teaching camp were the ones who made state [in 2002].
"They instilled their values in us. The reason that we have this team is because they started with us so young."
As the Bulldogs' big man, Coppola knows stopping Diebler will be one of his responsibilities.
"He's a real good player," Coppola said. "He's definitely going to set the stage. As the all-time leading scorer in Ohio, there is going to be a huge crowd there to see him. That may make it a little harder on us, but we'll have to come out stronger to get the job done."
Although the loss to James' Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary five years ago is not a Poland fan's most memorable moment, Brocker said the Bulldogs aren't shying away from a history lesson.
"Coach Gris as been showing that game to us and it's gotten us so pumped up," Brocker said.
williams@vindy.com