The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Gilmour standout yearns for epic finale
Sophomore campaign was derailed by injury, junior season by pandemic halt
The track and field athletes who bore the brunt of a canceled spring season were undoubtedly seniors who didn’t get one last chance at glory.
Andre Rodgers might not be too far behind with a gripe, though, given the combined brunt of his last two springs.
The Gilmour senior-to-be would have been a Division III state title contender as a sophomore in 2019 in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, as well as the 400.
Then injury got in the way of that.
Rodgers would have been a D-III state title contender in all three events in 2020.
Then a pandemic halted that.
As far as the highly regarded Lancers multi-sport standout is concerned, that’s enough impediments — especially after a brief proverbial glimmer of hope for 2020 was extinguished.
“I started off, and I was pretty upset about it,” Rodgers said. “I thought this year would kind of be my breakout year to prove myself. But I’ve just been doing the best I can and just hopefully get back at it next season.”
As a freshman in 2018, Rodgers burst on the scene as a key cog on Gilmour’s D-III state champion 4x100, along with program staples C.J. Charleston and Dylan Henry.
The following spring as a sophomore, Rodgers began to show great promise in the 100 and 200. He had the fastest 200 time (22.38) and second-fastest 100 time (11.09) in The NewsHerald coverage area during the regular season. His 400 prowess in addition to sprints was also a massive development, highlighted by a 50.54 at the North Coast League meet.
Noteworthy times in all three events came with the excitement of drive phase development to complement his frame and power.
Unfortunately for Rodgers, a lower-leg injury with ankle discomfort derailed his 2019 postseason to a large extent. He qualified for state in D-III 100 — joining Eric Penick (1970 and 1971), Adam Lesko (2004 and 2005) and Henry (2017) as boys 100 state qualifiers in school history — but had to scratch in Columbus.
“It was very tough, but I knew I had to go down and support all of my teammates that had made it,” Rodgers said. “So I just wanted to be there for them, because I knew they would have been there for me.
“Oh, my expectations were through the roof (for 2019). I thought we were going to win it all. I thought personally, I was going to make at least top three. I think we could have done really well as a team. So my expectations coming into the season were really high.”
Lancers coach Jim Chappelle was right there with Rodgers with that sentiment and knows the detriment a lost spring can be on what continues to be a budding career and skill set.
“As far as everybody looking at you, we probably had the best sprinter returning in The News-Herald area with Andre Rodgers, and he played basketball,” Chappelle said. “He didn’t run any indoors, so now — he put up 11-flat his sophomore year, and he’s got work to do also.
“A lot of schools have contacted him and are looking at him. But he could have been in the 10.7 range right now, around there, 10.6. So that’s going to hurt his recruiting process.”
In addition to track and field, Rodgers also plays basketball for the Lancers during the winter. A facilitating guard, Rodgers was among area leaders in assists, averaging 3.9 per game during the regular season.
“He threw himself into basketball this year,” Chappelle said. “He started every game during the season and had a successful season for him in basketball, which was a good thing for him. But his bread and butter — and he knows it — is track and field, whether it’s the sprints or even the long jump. He’s an outstanding long jumper also. He’s going to have some work to do.”
That work might include two new wrinkles as a senior.
“He might be running cross country — I know he’s not happy about that,” Chappelle said. “He might have to just to get him better prepared for track and field this winter. He’s going to actually run some indoor track this year — first time ever. So he’s going to play basketball and run some indoor meets. Schools want to see what you can do in the 60 and indoors — it’s its own sport. He’s never done it, so it’s time for him.”
In a sense, it’s been Rodgers’ time for an ascent for a while in the spring — but impediments have come into play to pause that quest.
An injury in 2018 was frustrating.
A canceled 2019, likely even more so.
So Rodgers can be forgiven if the brunt for 2021 is dealt out with long, purposeful strides toward the top of the podium at state again.
The last time, it was as part of a state champion relay.
The next time, Rodgers wants more.
“I’ve been at home doing as much as I can,” Rodgers said. “Whenever I can, I get up to the track. I’ve been at home doing a lot of things, lifting, running around my neighborhood — just doing anything I can to keep in shape.
“It was very tough (in 2019), knowing how much work I put in for the season, trying to get our team down there and potentially go back to back. And it really humbled me, honestly. For this upcoming season, I’m just ready to go. I want to be able to make it down next year again.”