Former Hoover High coach Don Hertler Sr. to be honored at halftime on Aug. 26
The first high school football home game of the season is less than two weeks away, and it'll be a special opening night. Not only will the players romp on a new artificial turf field, the halftime show will hold special meaning. The field was named after Don Hertler Sr., who was a Hoover High coach from 1960 to 1981. He and his family will be called to the field for a small dedication ceremony. "He's an icon here," said North Canton resident Randy Santangelo. "He's a legend and the field is beautiful." Afterward, Santangelo said a private party will be held at the Fairways of North Canton, where several of his past players will speak. "Mr. Hertler is very well respected in the community," Santangelo said. "He really impacted the community…
Donning hard hats and shovels, several people gathered at North Canton's Memorial Stadium for Thursday's groundbreaking
Only in North Canton. That seemed to be Don Hertler Sr.'s go-to phrase when describing how and why it's possible to rename the field inside North Canton's Memorial Stadium and raise enough money to pay for artificial turf. Only in North Canton do three men coach football for 51 years collectively (that's two families — Hertler Sr., Ed Glass and Don Hertler Jr., the current coach). And only in North Canton do the community members have the drive to honor these men by providing the field with artificial turf and creating something that's more than just a field, but a place for the community to gather. "Most things like this don't happen except in places like this," Hertler Sr. said at Thursday's groundbreaking inside Memorial Stadium. "It's …
A group raised money to cover the field in artificial turf, and the field will be ready before football practices begin
If all goes according to plan, the playing surface at Hoover's Memorial Stadium will be converted to artificial turf in time for the beginning of football two-a-day practices in August. According to turf committee member Andy Logan, a down payment on the $800,000 project has been secured to get the project under way later this month. “Vasco Sports Contractors of Massillon is the general contractor on the project and FieldTurf will manufacture and install the artificial playing surface,” Logan said. “Local high schools, Lake and Green, have the same turf.” Amazingly, the committee — composed of Logan, District Superintendent Mike Gallina, Bob Chufar, Bruce Hunt, Kevin Wood, Craig Pelini, Rob Frock and Dave Cochenour — pulled this project …
Patricia Davis
9:55 am on Thursday, August 18, 2011
Saturday night the 20th of August the youth of North Canton will play on this field. North, East, Greentown and Southwest Flag, B and A football players from 3rd grade thru 7th grade. Free to the public. The 64th Annual Fall Preview! Alumni from all ends are invited. Graduating 7th graders (football and cheerleaders) will be presented to the City. What an honor for the youth of the area to play … more ›