43
Struthers hosts basketball scrimmages
Proceeds from dual
scrimmages benefit
disease research
By Greg Gulas
STRUTHERS
Poland boys basketball coach Ken Grisdale lost a sister to ovarian cancer at age 45 while another sister, also 45, was diagnosed with leukemia.
When Struthers Wildcats first-year head coach Mike Wernicki approached Grisdale about the possibility of playing in his pre-season exhibition doubleheader, hoping to raise funds and awareness for cancer and Parkinson’s disease, Grisdale replied with a resounding yes.
“My sister, Kathy, unfortunately lost her battle to ovarian cancer but my sister Lori, who endured bone marrow and stem cell treatment, is still alive eight years later,” Grisdale said. “She has some issues but we’re all so very thankful that she is still with us.”
Grisdale hopes the showcase becomes an annual event.
“Mike has a great idea,” Grisdale said. “We talked about this at great length during a seminar we both attended. When he called and said it was a go, I told him it was awesome and to count on Poland.
“When I turned 45, I started to look over my shoulder so along with Lori, we’re both blessed and thankful to still be here. Mike has that college mentality about things like this and I hope it is around for a long time.”
Bulldogs’ senior guard Braeden O’Shaughnessy has watched his family affected by cancer.
“I’ve lost a couple loved ones to cancer and it’s tough on everyone,” he said. “As a team we’re happy to be a part of this great event, to give back to our community and help raise funds and awareness for these two diseases. As teams, we’re rivals on the court but come together off the court for two tremendous causes.”
Wernicki is fully aware of the impact that “Coaches vs. Cancer” has had nationally, especially at the collegiate level.
He’s hoping the exhibition has an impact locally.
“I try to use as much as I could from the college game,” Wernicki said. “Good or bad, you have a platform as a coach so that people can listen to you. Our platform, facility and in the season of giving, this was just ideal. This money raised tonight can help someone down the road and I want to do as much as I can to help raise funds and create awareness.”
Wildcats junior guard Carson Ryan fully realizes how much cancer and Parkinson’s disease affects almost every family.
“Almost everyone I know, we know, has been affected by the two and we’re honored to be playing tonight for those two causes,” he said.
“We want to do anything positive to help bring our community together.”
Former YSU basketball standout Ashen Ward is in his second season as head coach of the Orange Lions.
“My mother just received a clean bill of health after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Watching her go through treatment was an eye-opening experience,” Ward said.
“Coach Wernicki is one of my favorite people in the world, someone who has always been there for me so when he called me to see if I was interested in being one of his four teams, I said yes immediately.”
Lions guard Peter Fisher also watched his mother fight cancer.
“My mother dealt with a cancer scare and luckily she has overcome that,” Fisher added.
“Her friend is currently going through breast cancer treatment, is responding well and things look good so far.”
Mike Haney, who is in his 10th season as Steubenville Big Red head coach, lost both parents to cancer.
“My father was a mill worker, smoked three packs of cigarettes a day and had both thyroid and lung cancer, which then spread to his brain,” Haney stated.
“My mother had stomach cancer and never smoked a day in her life so to play in this event, especially for two great causes, was a no-brainer.
Big Red guard Carlo Biasi called the event special for everyone involved.
“It means a lot to be able to play for such a worthy cause and especially when you know someone that is affected by either cancer or Parkinson’s disease,” he said.
In the opener, Michael Cougras had a game-high 23 points and Daniel Kramer added 15 to lead Poland to an 82-52 win over the Lions.
Harry Pyner had 14 points and Scott Minor 13 makers for Orange.
In the nightcap, Big Red defeated the Wildcats, 63-53. James Roundtree led Steubenville with 17 points while Jorian Jones added 13 points. Kevin Traylor had a game high 20 points and Brandon Washington 13 points for Struthers.