Meyer's loss felt by many

Enterprise Editor

clydenews@bizwoh.rr.com

On Monday night, the Sandusky Bay All Stars football team fell to the Suburban Lakes League, 12-7, in the last quarter in Genoa.

For Clyde High School offensive coach Ryan Greenslade, it was no surprise. The boys' hearts were not in the game, he admitted, noting that was still not an excuse for losing. He was one of the SBC assistant coaches.

Clyde High School 2008 graduate Joel Meyer was slated to be a member of the SBC team and wear the No. 62 jersey.

The 18-year-old died Saturday night, June 14 at his Ohio 101 South home. Seneca County Coroner Mark Akers ruled the death a suicide.

"As a coach it was hard," Greenslade said about playing the game Monday, plus walking into the lockerroom and facing the SBC team.

"I didn't think we would play," he admitted. But the seniors - including seven from CHS decided Meyer would want them to play the game.

"Our emotions weren't there," the assistant coach from CHS shared. "The unique things about the SBC is the closeness...one week of practice, you see the camaraderie."

Meyer had not only played against these other SBC seniors in the 2007 football season but practiced with the All Stars preparing for the annual game against the SLL.

At the beginning of the game, fans were asked for a moment of silence to remember the missing SBC team member.

Greenslade talked about the game on Tuesday during a local football camp for children.

While the coach knew a moment of silence was coming Monday night, the quiet was almost an unbearable, he said.

Fliers' teammate and graduate Bubba Andrews wore the No. 62 jersey in honor of Meyer Monday and other SBC teammates wore his number.

"Everyone had the number on tape or their jersey," Greenslade shared.

Alex Gillette, Meyer's teammate from both varsity football and baseball, commented Tuesday he would remember the little things about Meyer. That would include the CHS senior about his horse, Sassy, and the cutoff shirts he wore to look good. Gillette also attended the Monday night SBC-SLL game as a spectator in the stands.

"He made everybody feel better about themselves everyday," Gillette added.

Earlier this week, local school superintendent Todd Helms said the district began offering counseling services to students and residents over the weekend.

"We had about 600 people in the gym," Helms said about a Sunday memorial gathering for Meyer, who was also an academic and student leader.

Also on Tuesday, CHS Principal Joe Webb stood in the football practice field watching the elementary football camp members running their plays and chasing the ball while being coached by the Fliers varsity players.

Webb said the school was offering additional counseling to students Tuesday afternoon and that counselors would continue to be available throughout the summer and when school resumes.

"He was my Key Club president," the principal commented about Meyer.

"He was an all-around great kid.

"I still can't believe it... Everybody feels the same. Devastated."

"Joel is as caring an individual as anybody we have," Webb added. "Joel had more service projects than any other person," he said about the graduate.

The principal added he was fond of the entire graduating class, but said Meyer was one of the leaders he could trust to organize events and recruit youths to participate. "Joel opened up to everyone he worked with."

Webb commented that staff members got to know the young man. "He was an honest person. You know what he said was true."

As involved as Meyer had been in the student body as a class officer, in the Renaissance program, his numerous clubs and in multiple sports, his loss will ripple throughout CHS for months to come, Webb added.

Webb, like the other CHS athletes at the practice field Tuesday, said they were leaving to visit the funeral home.