Despite spending his first seven NFL seasons with the Lions, Rogers said he feels no special emotions about returning to Detroit for the first time as a visiting player.

Cleveland challenges the Lions in a battle of 1-8 teams Sunday at Ford Field.

“I’ve been out of Detroit, what, two years now?” Rogers said. “It’s not special. I’m just going to play a game.”

It’s easy to see why the defensive behemoth doesn’t feel all warm and fuzzy about his stay in Motown, nor is all smiles about his initial visit there with the Browns.

Though Rogers has long established himself as one of the sport’s best interior linemen, he has never played on a team that finished with a winning record.

The Lions went 31-81 during his lengthy tenure, topping out at 7-9 in his farewell season of 2007. The Browns are 5-20 since his arrival on March 1, 2008.

Add it all together and Rogers’ professional squads are 36-101, which averages out to 4-12 annually.

“It’s always tough to lose,” he admitted. “If you lose at Tiddlywinks, it’s tough if you are a true competitor. It’s just something that you have to live with. You have to look yourself in the mirror and try to see if you have done what you needed to do and put a positive spin on it from that direction. It is what it is.”

So is Rogers’ individual record, which is quite impressive.

Despite being on terrible teams, the 6-foot-4, 360-pounder has earned three trips to the Pro Bowl — the most recent coming last year with Cleveland. He continues to play at a high level in 2009, even as the Browns steamroll toward one of the worst seasons in franchise history.

“I think he’s played well in all the games,” Cleveland coach Eric Mangini said. “He makes a lot of plays and, at 360, that’s not easy to do. His motor runs high and he can be disruptive in the 3-4 (defense) and in off-sets. Shaun finds a way to get things done.”

Wide receiver Mike Furrey has teamed with Rogers in three of the last four years, linking back with him in Cleveland this season. Furrey said he heard some players say “Big Baby” didn’t go all-out all the time, but quickly found that to be untrue.

“Shaun is a big dude, but when he’s out there and doing his thing, he’s full-go and he’s got a huge heart,” he said. “Some people say he lacks the passion, but I’m telling you right now, he gives everything he has.

“He’s one of the most dominant linemen I’ve ever seen in my career. I’ve been fortunate to play with him.”

Even in Detroit, where Rogers didn’t leave on the best of terms, his reputation is stellar.

First-year Lions coach Jim Schwartz said he has designed part of his game plan around neutralizing Rogers. He previously matched up with him while working as an assistant on Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher’s staff.

“He’s very well respected in this building from the time he spent here,” Schwartz said. “Just about everybody has good things to say about him, not just as a football player, but as a person, as a worker and all those things.

“He’s been incredibly durable. He’s a big man and he’s really hard to move.”

Though Rogers professes not to care what others think about him, it was telling that he agreed to do an optional conference call with Detroit’s beat writers. He spent some time dissecting what went wrong in 2007 when the Lions’ season deteriorated, leading to his trade to the Browns.

“There was a lot of finger-pointing at myself (with the Lions), but I don’t think I lost or won any games by myself,” Rogers said. “We just didn’t play well as a team.”

Though Cleveland has not won many games since he came aboard, Detroit has been much worse. The Lions became the first team in NFL history to go 0-16 last season and are 1-8 this fall.

“I guess it wasn’t all me then,” Rogers said, quickly adding. “I enjoyed playing in Detroit, as I do enjoy playing in Cleveland. You make the most out of wherever you’re at and you try to create positive memories.”

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.

Cleveland’s 108-91 loss to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday contained the good and the bad.

The Cavaliers shot well from beyond the arc early — but didn’t shoot from there too much — and built a double-figure lead, but spent most of the second half standing around while LeBron James or Mo Williams went one-on-one.

“In the second half, we brought the ball to a complete stop offensively,” coach Mike Brown said. “We didn’t get any player movement or ball movement.”

As a result, Cleveland finished the game 7-of-22 on 3-pointers (.318). On the positive side, the Cavaliers are still shooting a sizzling .448 for the season (103-of-231).

James led the Cavaliers with 34 points and nine assists against the Wizards — no one else had more than 10 points — but he also committed six turnovers and dominated the ball way too much.

A strutting, smirking and posing James was knocking down shots from all over the place in the third period, but, for one of the few times in his seven-year career, the 6-foot-8, 250-pounder got a little carried away.

It began as an innocent heat check, turned into a personal battle with DeShawn Stevenson and ended with the visibly frustrated 24-year-old spraining his left wrist on a viscous dunk late in the game with Cleveland getting blown out.

Just like that, the Cavaliers’ five-game winning streak —they had also won 8-of-9 —was history.

Cleveland (8-4) will look to turn things back in a positive direction tonight in Indiana, but it will be playing without center Shaquille O’Neal (strained shoulder) for the fourth straight game.

Backup big man Anderson Varejao (hip contusion), who has missed the last two games, will be a game-time decision, while James, who did not require X-rays and is not listed on the team’s injury report, is expected to play.

Regardless of who plays, ball and player movement will be good indicators of Cleveland’s offensive success.

If James is dribbling a lot above the 3-point arc and four teammates are standing there looking at him, there will be some great individual moments, but there will be even more low-percentage shots as the 24-second clock winds down.

If the ball is moving, players are also much more likely to be moving, which will result in lobs to a cutting J.J. Hickson and drive-and-kicks to people like Anthony Parker and Daniel Gibson.

Until the Wizards game, that’s exactly what the Cavaliers were doing, which is why they had scored at least 100 points in five straight games. Not coincidentally, the Cavaliers were 5-0 in those games, when they averaged 106.8 points.

For the season, Cleveland is 7-0 when it scores at least 100 points and 1-4 when it is held below the century mark.

“Offensively, we’re a lot better than we were,” Parker said. “You can credit that a little bit to us just shooting the ball better.

“You go through stretches during the season where you just feel good and the ball goes in all the time. Also, you can attribute that to the ball moving well.”

When the ball moves well, James doesn’t attempt seven 3-pointers like he did against the Wizards. Instead, he facilitates, often drawing an early double-team and kicking the ball out, where the Cavaliers quickly swing it around the perimeter until they find the open man.

Often, that man is Parker, who has made a living shooting threes from the corner. For the season, the 34-year-old is fourth in the league in 3-point percentage (.553, 26-of-47).

“I know where I’m supposed to be,” Parker said. “Everybody knows where they’re supposed to be. Guys have a confidence in each other.

“When you’ve got guys like LeBron and Shaq, you have to send people at them. That opens up shots for everybody else.”

Parker isn’t the only Cleveland player connecting at a high rate.

Williams is ninth in the league at 48.1 percent (26-of-54), while Gibson is 14th at 46.1 (23-of-49). James, who vowed to shoot less 3-pointers this season, still leads the team in attempts. For the season, he is 20-of-55 (.364), while Jamario Moon is 7-of-19 (.368).

In James’ defense, a chunk of his misses come on attempts with the 24-second clock ticking down, but there’s an easy way to evaluate how the Cavaliers are playing offensively.

When James —or anyone else, for that matter —holds the ball or repeatedly dribbles in the same area, it’s a bad sign. When he shoots, attacks or moves the ball soon after receiving it, the Cavaliers are probably playing extremely well at the offensive end.

The latter is what was happening prior to the Washington game, and it’s what the Cavaliers will try to get back to tonight in Indiana.

Tonight

• Who: Cleveland at Indiana
• Time: 7 o’clock
• Where: Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
• TV/radio: FS Ohio; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM

Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4061 or rickn@ohio.net.

While seven running backs earned spots on the Associated Press Northeast Lakes All-District first teams, two were given the top honor in their divisions — Avon Lake senior Mike Mansnerus was named the Division II offensive player of the year, and Clearview senior Anthony Hitchens was named the Division IV offensive co-player of the year.

Earning the player of the year distinction also will land the duo on the All-Ohio first team.

“I didn’t say anything to anybody before the season because I didn’t want to overdo it, but that was my main goal this year,” Hitchens said. “Not many players get to be an All-Ohio first-teamer two years in a row, and that’s something I really wanted to do.”

For Mansnerus, it was simply the desire to upgrade.

“I made it my goal to get on the All-Ohio first team this season because I was on the second team last year,” he said. “So this definitely means a lot.”

The other area running backs that earned district first-team selections were Midview’s Josiah Holt in Division II, Firelands’ Nick Deichler in Division III, Elyria Catholic’s Alex Alicea, Keystone’s Corry Sprouse in Division IV and Oberlin’s Aaron James in Division V.

Hitchens put together one of the best two-season runs in Lorain County history. He followed up his blockbuster junior year by rushing 207 times for 1,428 yards (6.9 yards per carry) and 21 touchdowns this season. He also had 12 catches for 172 yards and three touchdowns, passed for a touchdown and returned a kickoff for a score.

“We have a lot of good players and coaches that helped push me to be great,” said Hitchens, who was also the Clippers’ top defender. “Winning this award has a lot to do with them, and it also makes me feel proud of the work I’ve done during my career.”

It’s a career that’s far from over. Hitchens has been noticed nationally by some of the top college football programs, and said he’s trimmed his list down to three — Indiana, Iowa and Kansas.

“I will probably go on my official visits sometime this month,” he said. “It’s going to be very exciting playing in front of so many people. I love this game, and I want to play for as long as I can.”

Mansnerus hasn’t even decided whether he’ll play football on the next level, and plans to use the next two weeks to think about his future.

Mansnerus certainly put up numbers that should have some college coaches looking his way. He rushed for 1,487 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, bringing his career total to 3,200 yards — the bulk of which were earned the past two seasons.

A pair of teammates will play college ball — tackle Christian Pace is headed to Michigan, and tight end Dan Schneider is going to Pitt — and were among seven Shoremen that landed on the all-district list. It wasn’t surprising, as Avon Lake was one of two area schools to qualify for the playoffs, and the only one to win a postseason game.

“It just goes to show that our success wasn’t just about one or two players,” Mansnerus said. “My teammates have helped a lot in me earning the player of the year award, and it’s nice to see many of them getting recognition for that.
“These awards also help ease the disappointment of our season getting cut shorter than we had hoped.”

Several other notable area athletes earned district first-team selections.

In Division I, Elyria tackle Isaiah Byler (who will play at Bowling Green) and North Olmsted tackle Matt Rotheram (Pitt) were first-teamers. Center Alex Lovasz — from North Ridgeville, the other area team that made it to the playoffs, was picked in Division II, and Elyria Catholic’s Josh Russ (Cincinnati) was named in Division IV.

Contact Shaun Bennett at 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com.

The Tar Heels (4-0), who led by 19 points with 10:23 to play, will face Syracuse, which beat No. 13 California 95-73, in Friday night’s championship game of the tournament that benefits Coaches vs. Cancer.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams hadn’t been overly pleased with the Tar Heels’ play in their three double-digit victories, including ones over Florida International and North Carolina Central, to advance to New York.

Scroll down for more photos.

He couldn’t find much to be upset with early against Ohio State (2-1) as the defending national champions — only one starter returned from the team that beat Michigan State in April — were in charge for most of the game.

The Buckeyes finally started hitting from the outside at the same time the Tar Heels starting missing free throws, and Ohio State was within 75-73 on a 3 by Jon Diebler with 11 seconds left.

Larry Drew II, who missed four of his previous six free throws in the final minute, then made two from the line with 11 seconds left for the final margin.

Evan Turner, who had a triple-double in Ohio State’s opening win over Alcorn State with 14 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, matched that feat against the Tar Heels but it was a lot different as he finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 turnovers.

The 6-foot-7 junior swingman, who had 17 rebounds in each of the first two games, couldn’t go anywhere on the court without Marcus Ginyard, North Carolina’s defensive specialist who missed most of last season with a stress fracture in his left foot.

Turner’s time was limited as well by foul trouble, and his second personal was an offensive drawn by Ginyard.

Ohio State chipped away at the lead and were finally within single digits when David Lighty scored on a drive that made it 68-60 with 2:09 to go. Ginyard hit a 3 with the shot clock winding down to make it 71-60 with 1:36 to go, but the Buckeyes finally hit from the outside as William Buford and Lighty hit 3s as Drew struggled at the line.

Will Graves had 14 points for North Carolina, and Drew finished with 11 points and eight assists and was 6 of 10 from the line.

Diebler had 17 points for Ohio State, which finished 6 of 21 from 3-point range after going 1 of 10 in the first half.

The Tar Heels had the lead to 10 points within the first 6 minutes, and it reached 16 points three times, the first at 29-13 on a 3-pointer by Ginyard with 5:40 left in the half.

Ohio State missed its first nine 3-point attempts, and the Buckeyes finished 1 of 10 from beyond the arc and shot just 29 percent (9 for 31) overall in falling behind 38-24 at the half.

When teams from No. 10 Ohio State and Michigan meet on Saturday to play football for the 106th time, it’ll just be the latest skirmish between two states and their residents who have despised each other for almost two centuries.

“We understand how important it is, not only here as a football squad, but the state as a whole, to get that victory against Michigan for the bragging rights for the year,” Ohio State linebacker Austin Spitler said.

The first offsides call took place early in the 19th century.

A disagreement over widely divergent surveys called into question the location of their border. Was Toledo in the new state of Ohio? Or in the territory of Michigan?

Ohio Gov. Robert Lucas, sounding a bit like a certain grumpy football coach, refused to even negotiate the line of scrimmage. In defiance, Lucas named the county in which Toledo was located after himself and appointed a sheriff and a judge.

Michigan’s territorial governor, 22-year-old Stevens T. Mason, was outraged. He assembled a 250-member posse and marched south, initiating what was called the Toledo War.

It really wasn’t much of a war. There was only one casualty, when an Ohioan named Two Stickney stabbed a Michigan sheriff in a tavern brawl.

Eventually, Michigan was forced to concede Toledo was in Ohio, but was pacified by a gift of 9,000 square miles of rich mining and timber land in the Upper Peninsula.

A Michigan government Web site sniffs, “In retrospect, it’s obvious who won the War.”

The two universities first met in football in 1897. They started playing annually in 1918, and since 1935 have renewed acquaintances in the final game of the season.

The vitriol between the two states and their two universities was magnified from 1969-78 when curmudgeonly Woody Hayes prowled and growled on the sidelines for the Buckeyes and Michigan was coached by the similarly stubborn and hardheaded Bo Schembechler — an Ohio native and former Hayes acolyte.

Hayes refused to even utter the name of “the state up north.” Legend has it — although no one doubts it — that the petulant, at times childish Hayes once ran out of gas in Michigan but pushed his car over the state line rather than spend his money there.

Something akin to that passion is handed down from generation to generation even today.

“I went to St. Mary’s down in Lancaster, a little Catholic school. We had to wear our (school) uniforms, but for the Ohio State-Michigan game we got to dress up in either Ohio State or Michigan clothes,” said Buckeyes offensive lineman Jim Cordle. “That was fun. We got to cheer into the PA system and then they’d measure (which team’s fans) had the loudest cheer. And then every year we went to an Ohio State-Michigan party to watch the game.”

The two states are so similar yet remain committed in their distaste for each other. Columbus drivers scowl at those behind the wheel of cars with Michigan plates. Graduates of the University of Michigan consider their rivals to be the Ivy League, Stanford, Cal — certainly not the agricultural school down in Columbus.

Over the years, the rivalry has found been manifested in sports.

• In the 1940s, the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers were two of the best teams in the American League. Fans debated who was better, Bob Feller or Hal Newhouser? Lou Boudreau or Hank Greenberg?
• From 1950 to 1957, the Cleveland Browns of Otto Graham and the Detroit Lions led by Bobby Layne each won three NFL championships. (These days they are competing for the title of the league’s worst team. That title will be decided on Sunday.)
• The Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons have met in three physical, chippy playoff series this decade, the Pistons persevering in seven games in a second-round series in 2006, with the Cavs and LeBron James winning eight of 10 meetings in series wins in 2007 and last year.
• Last spring the Columbus Blue Jackets made the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time, but the upstarts were no match for the 11-time champion Detroit Red Wings. The Winged Wheels won in a sweep.

There are plenty of other ties between the states. Mark Dantonio, a former assistant coach at Ohio State, is now coach at Michigan State. Brian Kelly, a former head coach at Central Michigan, is now coach at fifth-ranked Cincinnati.

Just last week, Bruce Springsteen performed in Cleveland on Wednesday night and in Auburn Hills, Mich., two nights later. “The Boss” forgot where he was for the second gig and several times said, “Thank you, Ohio!” to silent Michiganders.

John Kerry made a similar gaffe during the 2004 presidential campaign, praising Ohio State’s football team after he had crossed into Michigan. Yet he still won the state in the general election — and lost Ohio.

The rivalry is clear to see when it comes to sports. And there’s nothing quite like the jealousy, dislike and mistrust that seems to accompany “The Game,” as the annual showdown has become known.

Ohio State wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher will be playing in only his third showdown with the Wolverines. But as a native of Toledo, he has a particularly vivid view of the heated rivalry on both sides.

“There’s always a little something extra when it comes to the Michigan game,” he said. “It has a lot to do with the history. It goes back a long time.”

All the way back to the days of posses and Two Stickney.

The game

• Who: No. 10 Ohio State at Michigan
• When: Saturday, noon
• Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• TV/radio: Channel 5; WEOL 930-AM, WKNR 850-AM

Nine players — eight boys and one girl — have been named to the first teams.

Here is a list of area boys and girls on the all-star teams.

N.EAST OHIO COACHES ASSOCIATION

ALL-N.EAST OHIO DISTRICT TEAMS

BOYS DIVISION I

FIRST TEAM

St. Ignatius: Kyle Kmiecik (Avon resident); Beau Titsworth (Avon resident).

SECOND TEAM

Midview: Louis Elbert.

HONORABLE MENTION

Avon Lake: Brendan Aussem, Collin Holmes; Midview: Travis Gregory; North Olmsted: Ryan Conway.

BOYS DIVISION II

FIRST TEAM

Bay: Jess Hunger; Firelands: Andrew Northeim; Lutheran West: Nick Blackburn.

SECOND TEAM

Firelands: Gabe Battistelli; Lutheran West: Lou Durbin, Ben Lehrke.

HONORABLE MENTION

Bay: Chas Veres, Mason Wisner, Jack Eifel; Firelands: Matt Gregory, Josh Kaiser; Lutheran West: Mike Clum, Jared Fristik.

BOYS DIVISION III

FIRST TEAM

Columbia: Justin Hamper; Lake Ridge: Nick Nemetz, Mitchell Rice.

SECOND TEAM

Lake Ridge: Spencer Scheeler; Columbia: Jake Skowronsky.

HONORABLE MENTION

Columbia: Jacob Miller, Vinny Violi; Lake Ridge: Chris Huebler, Thomas Tavolara.

GIRLS DIVISION I

FIRST TEAM

Magnificat: Victoria Bello (Avon Lake resident).

SECOND TEAM

St. Joseph Academy: Maddie Keefe (Avon resident); Rocky River: Jenna Gentner.

HONORABLE MENTION

Avon: Kaitlin Neumann, Katelyn Greear, Mary Dickson, Emily Wallace; Avon Lake: Corynn Krieg, Janell Brandley, Taylor Cox, Alison Flint; North Olmsted: Carly Babinec, Kelly Limpert; Rocky River: Kat Dickey, Jacqueline Gentner.

GIRLS DIVISION II

SECOND TEAM

Bay: Sarah Balch.

HONORABLE MENTION

Bay: Kati Corbitt, Caroline Kennedy; Fairview: Hannah Krumhansl.

The forty-one girls were split into four teams with Team 1 facing off against Team 2 to kick off the evening.

See photos and bios of all 41 all-stars.

Although Team 2 ended up with Miss Volleyball winner Zoe Zwegat of Elyria Catholic and runner-up Kyleigh Whitsel of Brookside on its side, it was Team 1 that swept the match, 25-21, 25-19 and 25-17.

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It was Game 2 of the match that provided the evening’s best volley back-and-forth, courtesy of Midview’s Mary Brown. With her team trailing 14-13, Brown dove toward a spiked ball and saved her team from losing a point as the ball bounced off her hand, which was flat on the ground. From there, the two teams conducted a spirited volley that saw a combined 15 touches before Team 1 received the point on a hitting error.

Team 1 rode the momentum to outscore Team 2, 10-5, to win the game.

“That was a lot of fun,” Brown said of the point after the lengthy volley. “They almost got the kill, but once the ball got back up, both teams got into it. I’m glad we got the point and went on to win.”

In the third and final game, Brown served a pair of aces as Team 1 completed the sweep to close out the first half of the evening. Playing on her home floor, it also served as a sentimental closure for Brown’s career as a Middie.

“This was nice to finish here tonight on my floor,” Brown said. “I’ve enjoyed playing volleyball here and to have the opportunity tonight to go out on my home floor is great.”

Afterward, Whitsel paid tribute to those who had helped her.

“I wouldn’t be here tonight without a lot of people,” she said. “My teammates helped get me here and my parents, too. They have been taking me to volleyball for years, so tonight is for them as much as for me.”

Following the presentation of the Miss Volleyball award and the induction of former Keystone coach Dave Cross into the Lorain County Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame, Teams 3 and 4 got into the action.

Team 4 came out on top by the scores of 24-26, 25-22 and 25-13. The third and final game of the three-game match proved to be a Firelands affair as teammates Teresa Davis and Kayla Williams teamed up to lead the way. The duo combined for seven kills to help their team jump to an 11-2 lead and eventual win. Williams finished with five kills, including a block, to pace her team.

“I was really happy to be here,” Williams said. “This is a great group of players. I have played with some of these girls on the Junior Olympic team, so we know each other.”

Davis was happy to be a part of the night’s festivities as well.

“This was such a good time,” she said. “Our team was awesome and I’m sad that it is over now. I wish we could keep playing. This is a great group of players.”

Long time area volleyball coach Marty Yonkof of Vermilion, who has been to every All-Star game since its inception, put the evening in perspective.

“This night is about the kids,” Yonkof said. “As a coach you tell them to go out there, play and have fun. The people are here to see these players play volleyball, not to see us coach.

“Every one of these players has earned the right to be here. This night is for them from beginning to end.”

Contact Hans Schneider at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

All-District 3 volleyball

Twenty-six area girls have been named to the District 3 Volleyball Coaches Association’s all-star teams.

A highlight of the selections was Zoe Zwegat of Elyria Catholic being named the District 3 representative to the state all-star match at Wooster High on Sunday.

District 3 covers the counties of Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit.

Here is a list of area girls on the all-star teams:

DIVISION I

FIRST TEAM

Amherst: Deme Morales, Kaylee Koller; Elyria: Kristen Boros, Brigette Jones.

HONORABLE MENTION

Midview: Arrianna Cumberledge; Amherst: Morgan Madera; Admiral King: Diedre Noble; Elyria: Jazmyn Corlew.

DIVISION II

FIRST TEAM

Brookside: Kyleigh Whitsel.

SECOND TEAM

Avon: Sara Ladegaard; Keystone: Casidy Gregory; Clearview: Kelsey Fortney; Vermilion: Katie Karres.

HONORABLE MENTION

Firelands: Morgan Mastellone; Avon: Allison Leighty; Brookside: Kayla Lee; Clearview: Jasmine Comstock; Vermilion: Julia Clark.

DIVISION III

FIRST TEAM

Elyria Catholic: Zoe Zwegat; Wellington: Megan Auble, Melissa Rennie; Columbia: Emily Nagle, Courtney Traut.

SECOND TEAM

Elyria Catholic: Anna McNeeley, Catherine O’Shaughnessy; Columbia: Brooke Wenzel.

“He’s gotten some really nice offers,” Demons coach Mike Antonyzyn said of the college scholarship offers that have come rolling in.

“But Nick’s always said he wanted to wrestle for a Division I program, and he’s always said he’s wanted that program to be in the Big Ten.”

Scroll down for more wrestling photos of Nick Lawrence.

Lawrence signed with the Purdue Boilermakers on Wednesday afternoon after the program impressed the senior on all counts.

“I really see myself as a Big Ten wrestler,” he said. “I made a great connection with (Purdue) Coach (Scott) Hinkel and his staff, and then I visited the campus and liked everything about that trip.”

The Boilermakers will be getting one of the area’s most successful wrestlers over the past three years.

Lawrence mowed down the competition during his freshman season, going unbeaten into the postseason and finishing fifth at 103 pounds in the Division I state tournament. Things only got better as he finished as the state runner-up at 119 pounds during his sophomore season, and repeated the feat last season at 125 pounds.

“We’ve done a lot for Nick, but Nick’s done so much more for himself,” Antonyzyn said. “A few years ago at the banquet I handed out diaries to all the guys and told them to write down something they were going to do to improve themselves. Nick had something written down for every day of the year except two — his birthday and the day he went down to meet (state) Rep. (Jim) Jordan.”

Lawrence, who said he might major in business law at Purdue, has compiled a 135-9 record during his first three seasons, has won three Southwestern Conference championships and is ranked No. 6 in the nation among 130-pound seniors.

It wasn’t any of these accomplishments that caught Hinkel’s eye. Antonyzyn said the Purdue coach, who won a state title in 1982 at Fairfield High before wrestling for four years at Purdue, first noticed Lawrence during a visit to a Westlake wrestling clinic.

“We were able to get several big names to come to our clinic last summer,” Antonyzyn said. “When Hinkel saw Nick out on the mats, he said, ‘This kid is really talented.’ He was pretty serious about recruiting Nick after that.”

Both Lawrence and Antonyzyn agreed that getting his college plans out of the way will help the wrestler maintain his focus during his senior season. After losing in the finals by one point to Garrett Henry in 2008 and Sam White in 2009, Lawrence has put winning a state championship at the top of his to-do list this year.

“I think it would be beneficial to peak twice this season,” said Lawrence, who plans on participating in his first Walsh Jesuit Ironman tournament in December. “It’ll be important to peak early for the Ironman, and that’s what I’ve been training for, and then again for the state tournament.”

But he managed to enjoy at least a few hours of celebration at the Westlake Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, as his parents, coaches, athletic director Dennis Bartlett and many other school staff members, family members and friends were on hand for the signing.

Even his future coach offered congratulations, as Hinkel called Antonyzyn’s cell phone and talked via speakerphone to the small crowd.

“I plan on coaching here for a long time and want to build this program into a national power with wrestlers like Nick,” Hinkel said in a release. “We felt he was a great fit for us, and Nick felt the same about Purdue. We’re excited to have him on this team.”

Contact Shaun Bennett at 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com.

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He’s 0-4 as a starter this year with a 51.0 passer rating. He has seven weeks to prove his worth to the franchise, and must do so in an offense ranked last in the NFL.

Then there’s his low hit on Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs on Monday night following an interception. He drew a 15-yard penalty, a $10,000 fine from the NFL and the ire of the Ravens.

Quinn has rarely shown vulnerability despite a rocky beginning to his NFL career, but was visibly shaken after the game by the hit to Suggs’ right knee that could sideline him for several weeks with a sprained ligament. Quinn said Wednesday he was still dealing with the trauma.

“I’m not going to lie to you. Definitely, seeing someone who I’ve known off the field something happen like that to him, yeah, it affects you,” Quinn said. “Because you were the (reason for) hurting someone.

“I’m never out there trying to do that. It’s tough to shake off, probably more than anything else in that game.”

That’s saying something for an offense that never got past the Baltimore 45-yard line and never finished a drive in Ravens territory.

Coach Eric Mangini is sticking with Quinn as the starter. He didn’t think the hit was intentional and said he’s confident Quinn can overcome the aftermath of Monday night.

“The fact that he is such a good person, his confidence in who he is, that helps anybody when they go through times that may be frustrating,” Mangini said.

Cornerback Chris Carr was returning Quinn’s second interception of the third quarter of the 16-0 loss when Quinn dived into Suggs’ knee. Quinn said he was trying to make the tackle on Carr and didn’t see Suggs. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis called it a cheap shot, and Suggs’ agent said it was “premeditated” and “criminal.”

“Yeah, I can see why they’d be upset, but again, he wasn’t even in my vision,” Quinn said. “I was trying to get to the ball. He cut across my face as I was already trying to jump down for the tackle.”

Quinn tried to apologize to Suggs on the field right after the play and said he hasn’t “had a chance” to talk to him since.

“Again, I’m apologizing to him and the rest of the team,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to go for him. I’m praying for him. Hopefully he’ll be all right.”

Quinn confirmed he received a letter from the NFL announcing his fine, but wouldn’t reveal the amount. ESPN reported it was $10,000.

Quinn was a first-round pick in 2007 after starting for four years at Notre Dame. He’s spent most of his NFL career on the sideline and is 1-6 as a starter.

Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis, who’s also on the hot seat, praised Quinn before the draft and talks with him regularly. They’ve had plenty to discuss. Quinn won the starting job before the season, then was yanked after three starts, only to return to the lineup Monday night.

“We make sure that he is going to stay out of the tank and stay ready to go and all that other stuff because it’s been a trying year with emotional highs and lows,” Weis said Tuesday. “You win, you’re in, you’re out, you’re back in. I am concerned about him.”

Quinn’s latest performance – 13-for-31 for 99 yards, two interceptions and a 23.5 rating — came in front of a national-television audience which heard the ESPN announcers offer endless critiques of him.

“I have a lot of questions about Brady Quinn right now,” Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young said.

Quinn’s lack of downfield throws was a theme with analyst and former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski. Mangini and Quinn said the Ravens defense and protection breakdowns by the Browns made that difficult.

“I was trying to get the ball out of my hand quick,” Quinn said.

The short throws were abundant but not accurate. Both interceptions went off the hands of receivers but weren’t thrown to the right spot, and a number of passes to the sideline sailed out of bounds.

“It’s never going to be as good as I’d like it to be,” he said.

The Browns have scored five offensive touchdowns in the last 15 games and are averaging a league-worst 8.7 points a game this season. They rank last with 116.2 passing yards a game, and 14 teams average more yards rushing. They averaged 2.1 yards a pass play against the Ravens.

“This might be the worst offense I’ve ever seen,” ESPN analyst and former Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer said. “There’s no structure in place.”

The ineptitude of the offense as a unit makes it difficult to evaluate Quinn. So do the trades of tight end Kellen Winslow and receiver Braylon Edwards.

“They’ve had situations where they’ve turned personnel over,” Lions coach Jim Schwartz said on a conference call. “This year, he has a different set of weapons.

“Any evaluation you do of him is going to be incomplete at this point. With anybody, you want to be patient. But anytime you’re a quarterback, you’re being evaluated on how the offense does. It’s not always all on you.”

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

One would be wrong. Zwegat, a middle hitter from Elyria Catholic, seemed genuinely caught off-guard when it was announced Wednesday that she was 2009 Lorain County Miss Volleyball.

“I was completely surprised,” Zwegat said after getting a round of hugs from friends and family. “This is something you think about when you’re a freshman or a sophomore. I’m in amazing company with the girls who won it before. I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Scroll down to see more photos from Zoe Zwegat’s volleyball career.

Zwegat was presented with the award between matches of the Lorain County All-Stars. Lorain County Miss Volleyball is sponsored by Burger King.

The honor capped a season in which Zwegat was named Lorain County Division III Most Valuable Player. She was also chosen first team All-County, first team All-North Coast League and first team All-District for the second straight year and was a Division III honorable mention All-Ohio pick.

“The county MVP came out of nowhere,” Zwegat insisted. “I’m happy to represent my school and get Elyria Catholic’s name out there.”

EC was 16-9 this season. Zwegat finished with 266 kills, 3.5 kills per game, a 45.6 kill percentage, a 90.6 attack percentage, 91 blocks (81 solo) and 27 service aces. She was a team a captain for both her junior and senior seasons.

“I have to say something about my teammates,” Zwegat said. “They’re the reason I play. They’re the reason I do what I do.”

Zwegat is the third Elyria Catholic player to win Miss Volleyball. Rebecca Yarish won in 1987, and her sister, Kearsten Yarish, received the award in 1991.

“I’m ecstatic — absolutely ecstatic,” EC coach Kim Watson said. “I cannot think of a more deserving player I have ever coached. I’ll try not to cry.”

Zwegat was a three-year starter for the Panthers. She was the team’s MVP for the past two years.

“She is an all-around fantastic young lady, and I am absolutely thrilled,” Watson added. “Just to see (how) she has grown. The majority of coaches coach to see that maturity and the improvement in skills.”

Zwegat has a 3.95 grade point average. She has not decided on a college to attend, but said she is looking into some NCAA Division III schools.

A special mention was given to Brookside setter Kyleigh Whitsel, runner-up in the Miss Volleyball voting. Whitsel was Lorain County Division II MVP, first team All-County as a junior and senior and first team All-District this year.

Whitsel had 740 assists, an average of 10.3 assists per game, and served 42 aces in leading the Cardinals to a 16-6 regular season record. She also had 203 digs for the season.

Former Keystone head coach Dave Cross became the ninth inductee into the Lorain County Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Cross coached the Wildcats for 22 seasons and compiled a 365-166 record. His teams won 11 conference titles and four district championships.

Cross is also author of the instructional book “Volleyball Cybernetics” and continues to help at volleyball camps and clinics.

Contact Steve Byrne at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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