Kirtland’s incredible bulk

Mammoth Bailey is Coach Tiger LaVerde’s strongest player ever

Kirtland football’s success under Tiger LaVerde begins in the weight room. There, the benchmark for success is entry into the Hornets’ 900 Club.

Membership entails an ability to lift a combined 900 pounds in the bench press, clean and squat exercises. The fraternity’s numbers to play at Kent State. He plays left tackle and some tight end on offense, and defensive tackle on the other side of the ball. At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, Bailey cuts one of Ohio’s most imposing figures because, in the weight room, he’s in a class of his own.

Bailey bench presses 395 pounds, cleans 350 and squats 570. He’s the strongest player LaVerde’s ever coached. Lifting an aggregate 1,315 pounds, Bailey is the sole member of the 1,300 Club.

“It’s amazing,” LaVerde said. “He’s our best overall player, offense and defense. He plays both ways. He doesn’t come off the field. He’s smart, aggressive, the strongest kid we’ve ever had in this program. He can run and he’s a great athlete, it’s good to have him up there.”

Bailey leads 13-0 Kirtland into a Division VI state semifinal against Beverly Fort Frye at Massillon Jackson Nov. 23. He’s keyed the Hornets’ playoff run a year after he missed six weeks at the end of the season. He injured his shoulder in Kirtland’s eighth game of the year and did not return until the state championship game against Maria Stein Marion Local.

PAUL DICICCO — FOR THE NEWS-HERALD Jack Bailey and Kirtland topped Mogadore in a Division VI regional final and will face Fort Frye in a state semifinal on Nov. 23.