Smithville got it right renaming stadium
- col-aaron-dorksen
- October 20, 2022
- 1981
Smithville got it right.
Smithies Stadium was renamed Keith Schrock Stadium during the halftime of a 52-0 win over Rittman on Oct. 14 in a long overdue, much-deserved tribute to a legendary coach and teacher.
I’ve been blessed to report on just about every type of athletic gathering over the last 25 years in the Wayne-Holmes area, from games and meets to hall-of-fame inductions and awards banquets, but nothing has quite compared to the love that was shown to the 79-year-old Schrock.
There’s not a bigger honor a high school can give to a person than naming a stadium after them. Hundreds of former players and their parents, along with former students, assistant coaches and teachers, showed up to celebrate the special moment and give Schrock a hug or handshake.
There was a pregame reception in the high school’s recently renovated weight room, and former Smithies players dating back to the late 1970s lined up to talk with Schrock and reunite with each other. It was like stepping into a time machine, going back to a simpler era as the former Smithies reminisced about their glory days.
Schrock compiled a career record of 250-123-3 as the Smithies’ field general from 1977-2011, winning 50 more games than the next closest Wayne County coach, Dalton’s retired great Bob Ramsay. They’re both members of the Ohio High School Football Coaches and Wayne County Sports Halls of Fame.
Schrock’s football teams earned 15 WCAL championships and made 12 playoff berths, and the 2002 squad finished as the Div. V state runner-up.
He also coached the Smithies boys and girls track teams from 1969-2007, winning 25 WCAL titles and sending numerous athletes to the state meet.
“I can't tell you how many people I talked to, and it brought back some really good memories,” Schrock said. “I was telling some of them, ‘When you coach this long, I have no idea what years you played.’
“I always remembered at least one item about them, though. It could have been something funny or something they did, and they all laughed at the things I remembered. Surprisingly, I remembered just about everybody who came into that weight room, and it really made me feel good.”
At halftime the Smithies’ 2022 Hall of Fame class, the 1984 and 2002 playoff teams, and Schrock were all honored at midfield. The highlight, of course, was the field dedication.
Former players, assistant coaches and students seemed just as happy as Schrock was about the honor. They posed for photos with him before the game and after the halftime ceremony.
I even got into a couple photos, remembering the long drives to playoff games at remote places like Amanda Clearcreek or Hemlock Miller before there were GPS devices to point the way.
Schrock and his staff of longtime assistants ran a first-class program and were lots of fun to be around. They worked extremely hard, highlighted by the 2002 state runner-up finish.
The field dedication seemed to erase the bad feelings of a controversial split between Schrock and the Green Local District after the 2011 season, when he felt “forced out.” Friday was the first time Schrock had been back inside Smithies Stadium since that final year.
“Where’s my headset?” Schrock jokingly asked just prior to the halftime ceremony.
Schrock’s daughter, Heidi Hartzler, said what many people were probably thinking when she commented, "I'm just really happy they're doing it while he’s alive."
“We’re very proud of him,” said Hartzler, the current Norwayne volleyball coach and former Smithville coach. “He really deserves this.”
The 2002 team had a big turnout, and as an added bonus, they got to see their former classmate, head coach Phil Olsen, have his team improve its record to 6-3.
“This is fantastic and a long-overdue honor,” said Caleb Middleton, a former All-Ohio linebacker-running back and 2004 graduate who now lives in the Triway district. “I couldn’t be happier for him. Coach demanded your all, every practice and every game. He just brought out your best.”
Schrock’s return to Smithville could be compared to a high school version of Bob Knight finally going back to Indiana. There were too many good memories and accomplishments to not reconcile.
“Sitting here with all of our former players and coaches, we don’t even think about that,” said Josh Crall, a former tackle and 2004 graduate. “Tonight is all about Keith and the memories we have. Whatever happened, happened. It doesn’t matter to us. We were a brotherhood then, and we still are.”
Mike “Smitty” Smith, a 1985 alum who along with Schrock is a member of the WCSHOF, said it was amazing to see Schrock and all the old players and coaches back together again.
“We wondered if he was ever going to come back,” Smith said. “Smithville runs deep with him. It was tough, but I think he’s happy to have come back.”
Parting shots
The two best brother coaching combinations in area history are probably Keith and Denny Schrock and Dave and Mark Schlabach at Hiland.
Denny Schrock sat back and took it all in as Keith met with people at the pregame reception.
“To me it's a long time coming,” Denny Schrock said. “He put his blood and soul into this program. He had the same assistants for many years, and all the kids love him as you can see from the turnout.
“Smithville did right. They atoned for their mistake. The whole Schrock family was upset, but now we're very happy with what happened tonight.”
Denny Schrock, the longtime Chippewa girls basketball coach, will enter what’s expected to be his final season with 698 career wins. It’s believed less than five OHSAA girls coaches have reached that milestone.
—The Guardians season ended on a bitter note with a game five ALDS loss against the New York Yankees.
Cleveland needs to be commended for far outweighing most people’s expectations with the youngest team in baseball and one of the lowest payrolls. They were a lot of fun to watch. Here’s hoping the Guards can add some more offensive firepower in the off-season. Their future is bright.
Aaron Dorksen can be emailed at AaronDorksen24@gmail.com.