Q&A with OHSAA assistant commissioner Jerry Snodgrass

November 6, 2008

In the midst of a championship run for Ohio’s lone professional soccer organization, another championship event comes to Columbus Crew Stadium this weekend: the annual OHSAA state soccer championships.  

Now in its 10th year at the first soccer-specific stadium built in the United States, five high school state championship games will be played this weekend. The three boys’ divisions will compete Friday, followed by the two girls’ divisions Saturday.

Then, Saturday night, the Crew hosts the Kansas City Wizards at 7:30 p.m. in Game 2 of their MLS Cup Eastern Conference Semifinal series.

Friday, the boys will settle state championships for the 33rd time, while Saturday the girls will play for state titles for the 24th time. On Thursday, OHSAA.org caught up with OHSAA assistant commissioner Jerry Snodgrass, the associations administrator for soccer, to talk about the upcoming state championships.

Q: What does it mean for the high school soccer teams in Ohio to be able to play their state championship games in such a facility as Crew Stadium?

A: “With the cooperation that we have with the Crew, they are excited and energetic about bringing the best in Ohio to Crew Stadium. Obviously, the recipients of that are the players, the fans and the member schools. And what a great venue to play in. There is no better venue anywhere to play in than Crew Stadium.”

Q: What does it say about the Crew organization to host the OHSAA state championships the same weekend as an MLS national playoff game? 

A: “It all highlights their commitment to high school soccer in Ohio. We started working three or four weeks ago with the possibility that they would not only be hosting a national playoff game, but that it might have to be in primetime due to television. And rather than boot us out and make their facility solely exclusive to the playoff game, they are still permitting us in there until late afternoon on Saturday. We have had to adjust our schedule a little bit, but schools have been tremendous in working with that.”

Q: What is the impact of having all five games streamed live on OhioHSsports.com?

A: “What a huge step forward for high school soccer in Ohio. This is going to be carried live on the web, which elevates the status of any event.”

Q: Is it unique to have the state semifinals played midweek at sites around the state?

A: “We have a few sports like this, in fact football is one of them – with the state semifinals played a full week before. Also, in soccer, you need some rest. And with the pairings being what they are, our schools are to be commended that we wait until the regional finals have been played to announce our state semifinal sites to make the best match-ups for the teams and fans.

“It’s unfortunate that the non-winning state semifinalists won’t get to play in Crew Stadium, but all our state semifinal games were at great sites on artificial surface with great weather this week and great crowds. And all the games were close; I think all but one of the state semifinal games were one-goal games or ended in a shootout, which highlights that the best teams did make it to the final four.”

Q: Is there any information fans should be aware of this weekend?

A: “There is a $5 charge for parking at Crew Stadium. And there were some reports of pending bad weather, but it’s looking a lot better now. Just remember that it’s November and it could be a lot worse, but no one is going to find a better natural surface to play on than what they have at Crew Stadium.”

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Contact: Tim Stried, tstried@ohsaa.org