North Olmsted squad bonds in adversity

For the North Olmsted football team, the message is clear.

“Our motto is ‘don’t complain, don’t ask why,’” senior Sean Conroy said. “Coach (Tim Brediger) preaches it all the time.” The Eagles take it to heart. Last spring, assistant coach Marty Simon died after a three-year battle with cancer. One week after his funeral, senior Samer Babi was diagnosed with cancer as well.

“It’s tough,” junior Tyler Jones said. “Everything was thrown at us at once.”

The news was a blow to the entire team, but the adversity has made them a much closer group.

“I think this group understands how significant our football family is,” Brediger said. “You realize how important

family, friends, coaches and teammates are. Nothing is really as bad as it seems, and that’s something we talk about each week.”

And each week, the team is playing for Simon and Babi. North Olmsted has decals on its helmets to honor the two, including a “Simon Strong” sticker and a yellow No. 44 for Babi.

Even though Babi can’t play, he’s still involved with the team.

“We just want to work hard because he was one of the hardest workers on the team,” Conroy said. “Just having him around is great, and we’re fortunate enough he’s around us.”

So is the school community, which has rallied around him and the rest of the team.

The Eagles have responded well, and it has carried over to the field.

North Olmsted is off to a 2-0 start, already matching its win total from last year. The Eagles opened the season with a 40-13 win at Valley Forge, followed by a 21-14 overtime win against Avon Lake. It marked just the third time in the last 24 years North Olmsted beat

the Shoremen.

“It definitely boosted our confidence, but we can’t be complacent,” Jones said. Brediger agreed. “We’re happy to be 2-0, but we’re still a young team,” he said. “Friday night was a big win for our program, but we have to learn from our mistakes.”

Specifically, Brediger said his team has to limit the mental mistakes, such as penalties and personal fouls.

That will come into play in their next game Sept. 8 at Midview, which Brediger said is a “very sound team.”

The Middies (2-0) edged out Lorain, 37-34, in their opener and rolled past North Ridgeville, 38-0, the following week.

“This will be our biggest test yet,” Brediger said. “They’re a well-coached team.

“They have a very nice offense, and defensively they’re always tough.”

But if this season has shown anything, it’s shown that the Eagles are tough too, both on and off the field.

“We worked hard all offseason,” Conroy said. “Midview is a great program and we’re going to have to bring our A game, but we’re doing all the fundamental things right.”