Cold Pizza

This week's edition includes:

• SIGN-UP NOW FOR TRACK!
• GIRLS BASKETBALL= GCC CHAMPIONS!
• The SMS Winter Season of Dreams Coming to a Glorious End! Week of 2/4/24
• Basketball and Wrestling Continue to Roll!- Week of 1/28/24
• HUGE WEEK FOR SHS BASKETBALL THIS WEEK!
• SHS Hires New Football Coach
• SHS Soccer Signing Day
• 6th Grade Spring Football League
• Track Sign-Ups
• District News
• High School Cheer Tryouts
• Booster Club Night at the Races Info
• LLS Ice Skating Event!
• Winter Game Schedules and Intramural Information
• Fan Behavior
• Sports Photos
• Eligibility
• Athletic Opportunities at SMS
• Online Team Shop
• Athletic Boosters Information
• Ticket Price Increase
• Online Ticketing Information
• Strongsville Rec Department Program Offerings- BASEBALL & SPRING BASKETBALL
• Click/Tap HERE for previous editions of Cold Pizza

On Thursday, 2/8/24 we crowned two MS basketball teams as GCC Champions!

The 8th Grade Girls Green Team defeated Mentor Shore en-route to their big win. Shore has lost just two games in the last two seasons. Both to this Lady Mustang squad!

The 7th grade girls defeated Medina Claggett to claim the top GCC Honors!

If you love track and field, want to improve athletically or hang out with your friends for 2 hours most days after school you should sign-up for coach now! Details on how to sign up are HERE.

To say this was a season of dreams for our SMS winter student-athletes would be a complete understatement! Cheerleading, Wrestling and Basketball were all dominant through out December, January and February! The SHS winter teams will be in good hands for years to come!

Cheerleading Recap:

• SMS had a whopping 24 girls in winter cheer. Considering this is the biggest cheer squad in the conference and the fact that it is so much harder to remain coordinated with a bigger squad and yet these girls were NSync better than the boy band everyone would agree that these girls had a very special season! Congrats gals!

Wrestling Recap:

• Wrestling went remarkably undefeated this season while also winning three tournaments, coming third in a 32 team tourney and having five wrestlers qualify for States. There is a chance for several more to qualify for states at the next OAC qualifier. Some might say the upcoming SHS wrestling seasons could be better than the Attitude Era in professional wrestling with the influx of boys who are super talented and hard workers! Albert, Carrossellia, Janakovich, Smith, Wyldes and the rest of the 8th grade boys might compare to Austin, Thje Rock, Hogan, Taker, Goldberg, NWO and DX!

Basketball Recap:

• All 8 of the boys and girls basketball teams combined to go 84 and 32 in the regular season. That's a 70%+ winning percentage! For comparison, if these teams were in the NBA they would have had the best record in the league last year! The season concluded with the GCC Tournament. The girls took over the league by winning both the 7th and 8th grade tournaments. The boys finished 2nd in the 7th grade and 3rd in the 8th grade tourneys! It looks like SHS will be poised to continue their basketball success from this season with an influx of a strong 8th grade class and eventual 7th grade class.

There are times where basketball teams need help from their 6th man, THE FANS! This is one of those weeks! On Tuesday, the boys take on their rivals from Brunswick for the Battle of Boston Road. On Wednesday, the girls take on Medina for a chance to secure the GCC Championship! It's also Senior Night for the girls.

The teams can really use your support! Please turnout and help them get any edge they can get! Friendly reminder- Students get in free to all girls games courtesy of the Athletic Boosters!

On Friday, 2/9/24 SMS had 28 soccer hopefuls commit to coming to Strongsville High School! The day was highlighted with presentations from Coach Chloe, Coach Kyle, and athletic admin, students receiving team gear, and with them committing to being champions with their efforts, on the field, in the classroom and in the community of Strongsville.

Strongsville High School Selects Jason Trusnik

As Varsity Football Head Coach

Strongsville, OH (February 9, 2024) - At last evening’s Board of Education meeting, Mr. Jason Trusnik was approved as the next Strongsville High School varsity football head coach for the District.

Mr. Trusnik is a Strongsville resident and owner of Pro Sports Performance, a local premier gym and training center. He grew up in Northeast Ohio and played college football at Ohio Northern University (ONU), where he earned an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education. At ONU, Trusnik was a two-time All American and NCAA Division III Defensive Player of the Year. He was elected to the ONU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. Trusnik is also a ten year veteran of the National Football League, where he played for six different teams, including a two year stint with the Cleveland Browns.

Trusnik has been a youth football coach for the Strongsville Football League since 2017 and coached the Strongsville Middle School football and wrestling teams in 2023. He also has coached in Strongsville’s youth wrestling program since 2017.

“I am very excited to be joining the Strongsville High School football program as head coach. I have played for and learned from some of the smartest coaches and brightest leaders in and around the game of football. Coaches Eric Mangini, Darren Rizzi, and Glenn Scheutzow helped me understand the value of hard work, accountability, and what it takes to be a great teammate. And I plan on passing along these very same values to our Strongsville student-athletes. The game of football is a privilege, and building strong relationships on and off the field will be one of my main goals. We look forward to continuing building strong partnerships with the community and having a program, team, and individual student-athletes that our city will be proud of. We have the talent here in Strongsville to have success on the field. We are determined to bring a winning culture and tradition back to the ‘Green and White.’ We will continue to raise the standard for Strongsville Mustangs football and I can’t wait to get started,” said Mr. Jason Trusnik, Strongsville High School Varsity Football Head Coach.

"We are thrilled to have Coach Trusnik join the Strongsville High School Athletic Department, not only as a leader for the football program, but also as a contributor to our athletic staff and our entire Strongsville community. As a community member and a current coach within our District, Coach Trusnik has established a reputation of raising the standard with anything he is involved in. Our entire committee was impressed throughout the selection process with his vision, passion, and enthusiasm for not only the high school’s football program, but also the community of Strongsville, and his plan to build culture to ignite our football program. More than Coach Trusnik's NFL playing experience, the search committee was excited about his ability to connect with young athletes and his experience in motivating them to become better people. I'm very excited for our student-athletes to learn from Coach Trusnik and to compete in a very tough Greater Cleveland Conference," said Mr. Denny Ziegler, Strongsville High School Athletic Director.

“After a rigorous interview process, we are excited for Jason Trusnik to join our District as the next head coach for our Strongsville Mustangs football team. The interview team included community members, current head coaches at the high school, teachers, and administrators. The process to select Mr. Trusnik was intensive with over 32 hours of interviews that included more than 25 candidates. Each candidate had to make a comprehensive presentation which outlined their specific plans to bring a winning team, culture, and community presence for our Mustang football program. Mr. Trusnik's background, plan, and passion for Strongsville football elevated him to our top choice and we feel that he is the best candidate to make the football program one that we can be proud of,” said Mr. Bill Wingler, Strongsville High School Principal.

WATCH THE RECENT SCS RENEWAL LEVY COMMUNITY CONVERSATION

Confused about some of the talk in the community regarding the renewal levy for Strongsville City Schools? A virtual "Community Conversation" was held recently, with the opportunity to learn the facts and clear up some of the misinformation about this renewal levy on the March ballot. Dr. Cameron Ryba (SCS Superintendent), Mr. George Anagnostou (SCS Treasurer), and Mr. Richard Micko (SCS Board President) presented renewal levy facts and information. If you missed it, this Community Conversation can be viewed at www.strongnet.org/scs-tv. If you have further questions you would like answered about the renewal levy, please click HERE. Additional information and facts about the SCS Renewal Levy can be found on the District website or by clicking HERE.

SCS STATE OF THE SCHOOLS - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13

Where can you spend 90 minutes on one evening, in one location, and interact with over 40 Strongsville City Schools students and staff through nearly 30 stations representing every level and building to learn firsthand the exciting work happening in our District? The annual SCS State of the Schools event on Tuesday, February 13th at 6:00pm.

This year's State of the Schools will be held at Strongsville Middle School and will not only feature a brief presentation by Dr. Cameron Ryba (SCS Superintendent), but also an opportunity for attendees to participate in interactive activities and displays led by SCS students and staff - allowing everyone to experience the great work being done by SCS staff and the student growth happening throughout the District!

Make plans to attend and see the outstanding work of Strongsville City Schools - Inspiring and Empowering Today’s Learners to Build Tomorrow’s Leaders.

GET THE LATEST TEAM UPDATES:

• We post game/event results on Twitter HERE
• Follow game/event results on Facebook HERE

SPRING SCHEDULES:

• Track- Game

• Track- Practice

• Club Softball- TBD

Strongsville City Schools, its students, its staff, and its services are all part of a first class community. The roots of our first class nature are derived from the actions of the great families that comprise Strongsville. With that said, being first class doesn't mean being perfect in all actions. In part, it means having the desire, open-mindedness and skillset to get better when needed. Last year some of our students, perhaps unknowingly, engaged in some unsportsmanlike conduct from the bleachers at some recent athletic contests. Most of us know that being good neighbors to our opponents, their fans and the officials is a part of being first class. It might not be known to many middle school aged students who are starting to experience their first sense of freedom.

I am strongly encouraging all families to have the following conversation with your middle school aged child. Please inform them that the only acceptable behavior at sporting event is being positive. Any negative behavior/speech is strictly prohibited. Below is a brief explanation as it relates to acceptable and unacceptable fan behavior. Thank you for your cooperation!

Tell everyone a little about yourself.

• I am a first year teacher outside of graduating from BGSU in the spring of 2023. I teach math at the high school, and I am very lucky to return back to Strongsville as a 2019 alumni. I am a huge Cleveland sports fan, and really enjoy socializing with others when I get the chance to.
  

What team(s) do you currently coach (in and out of SCS)?

• 7th grade boys basketball at Strongsville Middle School.
  

Why did you get into coaching?

• I got into coaching, because of my love for sports as a whole. Whether it be umpiring baseball, shooting hoops in the backyard with some friends, or announcing some soccer games for our schools, I always love to be around sports. I have a lot of knowledge to bring to the game, and hope to positively impact my players on the court.

What was your favorite coaching moment?

• My favorite coaching moment was probably when I volunteered my senior year of high school to coach middle school recreation basketball here in Strongsville. We ended up winning the championship in the spring, and it was fun to see the hard work pay off for the players. It was also fun to win a championship with the kids in my first ever year of coaching.

Who is your favorite coach?

• Although I have many favorite coaches, I would say one of my favorite celebrity coaches has to be Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks. When I was only 10 years old I witnessed one of the best playoff football upsets of all time in 2011 when the 7-9 Seahawks upset the defending Super Bowl champion Saints in the first round. When I saw this, it gave me the message that anything is possible in sports, and Pete Carroll would go on to be one of the most motivational/inspirational NFL coaches of the 2010's. A good team starts with leadership up front, and Pete exemplifies that culture fit in Seattle.
  

Outside of the Mustangs, who is your favorite sports team?

• I love the Cleveland Browns, Guardians and Cavs. For college, definitely the Buckeyes. My absolute favorite though has to be the Browns. Maybe one day we will make a super bowl!!

What is your favorite sport to watch and/or play?

• Football- it is just so much fun. It really is a chess match at times, and I love analytical thinking.

What is your favorite sports moment?

• My favorite sports memory as a player was right here at Strongsville High School. During my senior year in 2019 I played varsity tennis for us, and I was one of the few individuals to make it to the conference finals match in recent history. Although I lost in a nail biting 2 sets against Shaker Heights, I was so proud of myself, and so were my two coaches Sean Black and Donald Boynar. I will never forget how fun that match was, and the glorious support that those two coaches gave me that year.

Favorite sports quote:

• "Don't give up. Failure and rejection are just the first steps to succeeding." - Jim Valvano

Tell us something most people don't know about yourself:

• I run a YouTube channel for Madden NFL football (gaming), and it has been running ever since I was a teenager. I am an enthusiastic person, and so this hobby fits my personality well. I have no idea where life will take me, but growing my channel each and every day has been fulfilling to me. Knowing that I make a positive impact to local math students, basketball athletes, and madden gamers- has set me up to love what I do each and every day.
  

Player eligibility is determined by SCS and OHSAA policies. Some of the eligibility criteria is listed below.

• Students must maintain at least a 2.0 G.P.A. Should their G.P.A. fall below a 2.0 they will be put on a weekly progress reports to assure assignments and effort are up to snuff. If not the players will be required to sit until improvement is made.
• Students must have passed at least 4 classes in the previous quarter (5 credits if at SHS). Should this criteria not be met a student will not be eligible for the forthcoming athletic season.
• Pay to Participate and previous year academic fees must be paid in order to partake in athletic games/contests. Students will be withheld from all contests until fees are paid.

• OHSAA Eligibility Resource Center

• https://ohsaa.org/Eligibility

See the graphic below for details regarding athletic opportunities for SMS students throughout the course of a school year.

If you're looking for some spirit wear to help support the Mustangs please know that spirit wear can be purchased through the Strongsville Mustangs Athletics Website linked below. Christmas is just around the corner, don't miss out on some great gift ideas! A couple of examples of the 100's of items found in our online spirit shop are pictured below.

There is lots of other information there as well!

http://strongsvilleathletics.org

• Game Schedules
• Game Results/Recaps
• Athletic Forms
• Sports Medicine Info
• Ticketing Info
• Online Team Shop
• Sports Registration/Tryout Info

The Strongsville Athletic Boosters is comprised of parent volunteers that raise funds and provide support to all of the Strongsville High School and Middle School athletic programs and student-athletes. Every dollar raised by the booster club is invested back into the student-athlete experience. We purchase uniforms, warm-ups, training equipment and other items to help our student-athletes perform to the best of their ability in representing Strongsville City Schools. Our ultimate success depends on the commitment of parents! Click HERE to join the Athletic Boosters for the 2022-2023 school year. Becoming a member not only helps your student's success but it also gets you some free SWAG. Details in the graphic below.

Greater Cleveland Conference Approves Ticket Price Increase

The Greater Cleveland Conference (GCC) will be raising admission ticket prices for all athletic events beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. In May, GCC principals approved the increase in athletic ticket prices after GCC Athletic Directors conducted a review of ticket prices for surrounding conferences in Northeast Ohio and found most to already be at these price levels. Ticket sales revenue generated from the events is the main source of funding used by member schools to cover costs for sports and the overall athletic department budget. While costs of game officials, security, sporting equipment, along with all the other costs associated with these events have increased and ticket prices have not. The increase is intended to help offset costs without sacrificing family, student and community experiences. This is the first price increase the GCC has issued since the formation of the league in 2020. The GCC consists of member schools Brunswick, Cleveland Heights, Euclid, Medina, Mentor, Shaker Heights, and Strongsville.

Varsity Football:

$10 at the gate for Adult/Student General Admission

$8 Adult Presale flat fee until 2 hours before kickoff (was $7)

$5 Student Presale (no change)

*Season tickets for home contests are at the discretion of the home school

Varsity/JV (All other Varsity Sports):

$8 Adult/Student (was $7)

Freshman or JV (stand alone):

$5 Adult/Student (was $4)

Middle School Sports:

$5 Adult/Student (was $4)

Senior Citizens Ticket Prices

Free admission (no change)

GCC Passes

Distributed by individual schools, GCC passes admit one spectator per pass

GCC Tournaments:

$8 Adult/Student (was $7)

No charge for pre-school age children

No Senior Citizen passes accepted

Sign-in sheet will be used for school officials

Anyone that plans on attending a home contest for the Mustangs can purchase their tickets multiple ways. Keep in mind that ticket prices are set by the GCC

All other VARSITY sporting events will have $7.00 tickets for adults and $5.00 for students.

For stand alone JV, Freshman AND Middle School games, tickets will be $4.00 and $2.00

1. Tickets will be sold online through our NEW online Ticketing Partner, Hometown Ticketing. The link can be found HERE. This is the preferred method of payment for all home contests. You can also purchase tickets by going to STRONGSVILLEATHLETICS.ORG and by clicking on each team's schedule, there is a BUY TICKETS option. If you have question, please reach out to the Athletic Office.

2. We will offer at the gate cash and CREDIT CARD sales for all home contests. Again, if you do not want to wait in line, the online ticket option would be best

3. SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNTS. The GCC will allow Senior Citizens into any contest free of charge. At Strongsville, we will be issuing Senior Citizen All-Access passes that will allow them to attend any HOME sporting event free of charge. Passes will issued at any ticket gate upon entrance to an event.

(Please keep in mind that when we play non-league contests away, those schools may have a different senior citizen policy)

If you have any questions about the ticketing policy, please do not hesitate to contact the athletic department.

Click/tap HERE for what sports programs are upcoming for the Strongsville Recreation Department.

Email: jkeppler@scsmustangs.org
Website: strongsvilleathletics.org
Location: 13200 Pearl Road, Strongsville, OH, USA
Phone: 4405727090
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Strongsville-Athletics/100057494767336/
Twitter: @scsmustangs