St. John Central Academy previously announced its intentions of putting together a soccer program for its school, becoming what would be just the third such program in Belmont County behind St. Clairsville and Union Local.
The plan is to create both a high school and middle school programs. So, in an effort to see the initial response, the academy put on weekly open gyms, starting in May and running through this week, to gauge interest. These open gyms are geared at students entering grades 6-8.
The gym at Guernsey Street isn’t overflowing with players, butthe interest is there according to Assistant Athletics Director and yearbook/journalism instructor Josh Strope.
“So far I’ve been pleased with how things are going,” said Strope, who is also the former sports editor for The Intelligencer newspaper in Wheeling. “We are averaging around seven kids a week. That’s less than it takes to field a team, but right now I am more interested in getting students introduced to the game. We’ve been fairly even in numbers in terms of boys and girls.
“Some have never touched a ball, but I’ve seen progress throughout the weeks.”
Strope, who played during his high school career at Weir High School, is the one tasked with bringing the Fighting Irish soccer program from concept to reality. For now, he’s running the players through easier drills, dribbling around cones, working on footwork, throw-ins.
“Just doing the basic stuff right now to get them used to the game.”
Strope noted there is a corps group that comes weekly, while others are hit and miss depending on any other athletic commitments. He also noted a four-grader who, despite being too young to play on the team, has worked on weekly and shows promise.
“We’re even getting students from Martins Ferry Christian that are so happy we are looking to field a team. One of them has played before and will likely be my goalie.”
SJCA will give it one final go-round for the summer this Saturday from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. inside the school’s gymnasium. Strope would like to see any student interested in playing soccer to turn up for the event, even if they’ve missed the previous ones.
Gibson Keller, left, and Adeline Jackson, right, get in some work during the camp. 
Plans for the Fall
St. John Central will field a high school team—eventually. It’snot an if, but a when. But that when will not be this fall.
The middle school level? There’s a far greater possibility for a team this fall, whether it’s made 100 percent of St. John’sstudents or not.
“I’m staying cautiously optimistic we will be able to field a team in the fall,” Strope said. “We have students that expressed interests that haven’t shown up. I know softball is going on for some as well that may have prevented them from attending.”
Strope has been in contact with Thomas Olivier from FC Wheeling and the Wheeling Area Soccer Association. Should the Irish field a team, they will have a league to play in.
The local rec leagues from Wheeling, St. Clairsville, and Moundsville usually field one or two teams apiece, along with the 5th and 6th, plus 7th and 8th grade teams from Linsly. Having another team to add to the mix will help flesh out the schedules.
“I’d love to have a team comprised of entirely St. John students, but I’ll see if we can borrow players if needed. The key is getting this thing off the grind, which I’m finding out is very hard work.”
But it’s hard work Strope is willing to put in. He loves the game, from having played and officiated. He and Herald Star sports reporter Aaron Petchal provided the majority of newspaper soccer coverage the last two decades. So, while the work may be laborious, it’s a labor of love for Strope.
That being said, once the high school team comes to fruition, he envisions its early stages appearing similar to Madonna, or Monroe Central and UL on this side of the river.
“The dream would be to have both a boys’ and girls’ squad, but that is going to take many years and I am focused on the baby steps right now,” Strope said. “We still have lower numbers at the high school level, and, with volleyball, that gives me even less to work with. That is why we are starting at the middle school level, where we have solid numbers, with an eye toward eventually having a high school team.”
Monroe, Union Local, and fellow OVAC member Fort Frye all field co-ed teams which, by OHSAA rule, must field a boys’ schedule. But they still compete and are eligible for the postseason and to compete for championships.
The formation would also give the river towns along Belmont County an option for playing soccer, one they currently do not have in high school. For those kids, they must either select open enrollment and head to St. Clairsville or Union Local, or cross the river and enroll at either Linsly or Wheeling Central. Otherwise, soccer is not an option.
Michaella Leonard, left, and Kellen Dimmick, work on their foot skills during the open gym. 
Filling a Need
“I see tremendous potential for a soccer program at St. John,” Strope said. “St. Clairsville has done well through the years, so I know there are good soccer players in Belmont County. We just have to flesh them out and find a way to bring them to Guernsey Street. Soccer isn’t an option at Bellaire, Shadyside, Martins Ferry, or Bridgeport, and it may never be. Buckeye Local doesn’t have a team either and they are not far away.
“One of the greatest movie lines in history goes ‘if you build it, they will come.’ We want to give students another option.”
One aspect making Strope’s life a bit easier is the support he’sreceiving from both the athletic department and the administration as a whole. They know how important this is to him individually, and to the school as a whole. They are fully on board.
“I can’t say enough good things about the support I have from the administration,” “Strope said. “(AD) Bubba Kapral is a legend at St. John and his words speak volume. Our Principal Vince Gianangeli and our chairman of the board Johnetta Yaegel have stopped into the camps to see how things are going.”
Coach Jerry Liberatore, along with cross country coach Joe Young and track coach Jamie Hammond are all supportive of the program as well according to Strope.
With any luck, the Fighting Irish may be taking the pitch on the high school level a few seasons down road. Strope, for one, will do everything in his power to make that happen.
