Szyperski begins quest for third straight Soothsayer title

By: 
J. Patrick Eaken

Press carrier and long time area wrestling coach Joe Szyperski is beginning his quest for his third straight Soothsayer championship. This year it’s back to normal as he has to survive a grueling 10-week season.

Last year in a shortened six-week season, Szyperski defended his soothsayer championship, finishing 50-12 (80.6 percent) in choosing the winners of high school and professional football games.

He was under one percent behind the all-time record for correct picks. Two years ago in picking the winners of 148 high school, college, and professional football games, Ron Gladieux and Szyperski both finished 119-29, which at 80.4 percent was also slightly under the all-time record. Press soothsayers have been choosing winners, and losers, since 2001.

Szyperski, a cancer survivor, works alongside Gladieux at Gladieux Home Center in Oregon, plus he has been a Press distribution carrier for 46 years, dating back to his youth. He still walks the same Oregon neighborhoods he grew up in delivering The Press each week.

Finishing second last year was Mik Gonzales, one of the regular talk-show guests on Great Lakes Golf Show hosted by Mike Jameson on ESPN 106.5 The Ticket on Saturday mornings. Gonzales also broadcast games for Toledo Sports Network, is a cancer survivor and the press box at The Ice House on Alexis Road is named for him for all the years he dedicated broadcasting Toledo Cherokees games. Gonzales finished five games back of Szyperski at 45-17.

Press Sports Editor J. Patrick Eaken (44-18) was third, followed by a tie between GenoaBank President Marty Sutter and Gladieux at 43-19. Oregon businessmen Alan Miller and Greg Dunn were 41-21 and Press sales person Leeanne LaForme, who played junior high football at Northwood and is an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan, finished at 39-23.

This year, The Press invited Jameson to be back on board, and we have to admit pitting him against Gonzales was to create some social media buzz, because “Jamo” is good at that. So you have rivals in Jameson, Gonzales and Gladieux, all of whom broadcast high school sports, and in fellow employees Szyperski and Gladieux.

Eaken, Dunn, and LaForme are taking a year off to rest their weary minds, while also added are Press contributing writer and former football coach Yaneek Smith and Jill Bench of Bench’s Greenhouse in Elmore, the mother of Bowling Green State University tight end Andrew Bench (Genoa). 

Drew Bench was moved to tight end from his defensive end position this year and BGSU coach Scot Loeffler says he believes Bench will be a key player on this year’s team, adding that tight ends are a key part of the Falcon’s offense. Mom says Drew is “excited” about the position change.

 

 

 

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