Akron couple Stewart Moritz and Maura O’Shea are challenging the community, alumni and others to make a donation toward a new athletic complex that would go along with the new Firestone-Litchfield Community Learning Center.
Amy C. Wong, the president of Dot Org Solutions LLC, said Moritz and O’Shea will match all donations dollar for dollar, up to $50,000, if made before the end of 2016.
Funds raised will kick off Phase I of the Firestone High School booster clubs’ fundraising effort to upgrade the new sports facility. The original plans through the city and state’s school rebuilding project include a cinder track and grass infield.
The Firestone booster clubs are hoping that private support can help upgrade the facility to include an eight-lane, all-weather track, a sodded soccer field, bleachers and a concession stand. The new facility is set to be on the grounds of the former Firestone High School, which remains standing on Rampart Ave.
“We are excited to offer this challenge and believe the entire community will benefit from the upgraded facilities,” Moritz and O’Shea said in a joint statement. “The track will be great for students at Firestone and Litchfield, but will also benefit other district schools, youth sports and people in the neighborhood who want to use it for fitness.”
Joe Vassalotti, the Akron Public Schools athletic director, said a new all-weather track is a necessary addition to the district. The only other all-weather track is at Ellet High School and is in disrepair. Ellet is gearing up to raise money to upgrade its athletic complex to go along with its new high school scheduled to open in a few years.
“It is really incredible how the Firestone booster clubs have come together,” Vassalotti said. “We are especially grateful to Stewart and Maura for their generosity. This is a facility that will eventually benefit all Akron schools and the community.”
For information or to make a gift online, visit http://www.firestonefieldproject.com/. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Upcoming swim meets
• The 42nd annual Viking Invitational is Friday and Saturday at Cleveland State University’s Busbey Natatorium. Diving begins at 6:15 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, the preliminaries start at 8 a.m. and the finals start at 6 p.m.
Area schools scheduled to compete include Aurora, Brecksville, Brunswick, Cuyahoga Falls, Green, Highland, Hudson, Jackson, Medina, Nordonia, North Royalton, Perry, Revere, Strongsville, Tallmadge, Twinsburg, Walsh Jesuit and Wooster.
• The 13th annual Canton City Schools Christmas Invitational is Saturday at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton. Swimming preliminaries start at 8 a.m. and the finals are set to begin at 6 p.m. Diving starts at 9 a.m.
Area schools scheduled to compete include Alliance, Aurora, Brunswick, Buckeye, Canton McKinley, Chippewa, Copley, CCC, CVCA, Firestone, GlenOak, Hoban, Hudson, Jackson, Kent Roosevelt, Medina, North Canton Hoover, Orrville, Perry, Revere, Stow, Twinsburg, Wadsworth and WRA.
Girls hoops tidbits
• Jimi Howell scored 28 points to lead Norton (5-1, 4-0 PTC Metro) to a 68-51 win over host Ravenna (2-3, 2-1) Wednesday. Jordan Bird chipped in 10 points for the Panthers.
• Helaina Limas scored 23 points and Ava Illig scored 19 points to help Cloverleaf (5-2, 3-1 PTC Metro) earn a 72-36 win over host Springfield (0-6, 0-4) on Wednesday.
• Revere improved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the Suburban League American Conference with a 48-32 win Wednesday over host Aurora. Revere’s leading scorers were Viktoria Farian (16 points), Emily Brock (14) and Taylor Rinn (14).
• Maia Aizpurua scored 16 points to lead host Tallmadge (4-1, 3-0 Suburban American) to a 48-36 win Wednesday over visiting Barberton (1-5, 0-2).
• Karlee Pireu scored 20 points and Rylee Pireu added 13 to guide visiting Perry (2-2, 1-2 Federal League) to a 61-50 win over Green (5-2, 1-2).
Boys hoops nuggets
• Brian Roberts Jr. scored 22 points and Anthony Jackson had 20 more to lead visiting Copley to an 81-67 win over Alliance (3-1) on Tuesday.
• Coventry (3-1) topped host Field 69-65 on Tuesday with Micah Wallace scoring 22 points, Jarmond Hogg scoring 16 points and Treon Sibley scoring 11 points.
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the #ABJVarsity high school blog at www.ohio.com/preps.