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Tinkey, Rappach are teammates again
Teammates, rivals, teammates again:
Tinkey, Rappach reunite with Raiders
By Dan Hiner
Mount Union guards Rachel Tinkey and Tori Rappach are used to dishing the ball to each other.
The two grew up together on the softball field. Rappach played second base while Tinkey played shortstop on their travel team. Now, instead of passing the softball, they’re passing a basketball.
Tinkey and Rappach are the leading scorers on the Purple Raiders women’s basketball team. Tinkey, a senior, is leading the team with 15.3 points per game. Rappach, a freshman, isn’t too far behind at 12.6 points per game.
They stopped playing together on the diamond and started playing against each other on the hardwood by the time Tinkey entered high school.
Tinkey played at Canfield and Rappach played at Howland. The two former teammates saw each other twice a year in the All-American Conference Red Tier.
“We were pretty close when we were younger,” Tinkey said. “Then obviously she went to Howland, I went to Canfield and it was an incredible rivalry. I remember she would be the focus of our defensive strategy and we couldn’t let her get hot.”
Now the duo is leading Mount Union to its best start since the 2015-16 season, which ended with a trip to the NCAA Division III tournament.
Tinkey was a freshman on that team. She learned from the seniors on that roster and is trying to recreate that leadership.
“I think this year kind of compares back to my freshman year. Obviously I’ve switched roles,” Tinkey said. “Now I’m in that senior class, trying to get in good position to lead us to an OAC championship.
“I just remember back to my freshman year, having people like Annie Bova, Katie Reed, Sarah Grippi and all of those great seniors who were leading us hopefully down that same path. Now I’m in that same position.”
Tinkey’s leadership started prior to her senior season. She invited Rappach to watch the team, and even though she couldn’t attend, Rappach was pleased to hear from Tinkey.
“It was nice hearing from someone already there at the school and having someone to ask all the questions and not be nervous about it,” Rappach said.
Rappach has started all 17 games for the Purple Raiders. She’s made a team-high 65 3-pointers and is shooting 44.2 percent from behind the arc.
“It’s very different playing in college, just with the variety of players that you see here,” Rappach said. “Everyone’s super dedicated to basketball. We spend a lot more time together and I think that’s helped a lot with how we play. I think we play as a team, passing the ball around and I think we really click as a team spending so much time together.”
The Purple Raiders are 13-4 and 6-4 in the Ohio Athletic Conference but have dropped their last two games against Marietta and Wilmington. They’re entering today’s game against John Carroll tied with four other teams for second in the OAC.
The Blue Streaks are the top team in the OAC. The Purple Raiders almost pulled out a win in their first meeting on Dec. 5. The Purple Raiders fell 61-58 in University Heights.
But today’s game will be in Alliance. And the two know a win could change the outcome of the season.
“We’re kind of on a little downward slope here,” Rappach said. “But I think knowing our team, I think we’re ready to go out there and give John Carroll a really good game. We were really upset losing by three and we’re ready to go out there.
“We tend to play our best game at home, with defense and shooting — we feel more comfortable here. I think that’ll help.”
Regardless of the outcome, Rappach is happy for one thing.
“I’m so happy to end up playing with her in college,” Rappach said. “It’s a lot better to be playing on this side than to be playing against her.”