When the Kenston football team lost to Maple Heights in a Division III regional quarterfinal game it ended the Bombers’ 2024 season. However, that wasn’t the only thing that ended.
When the Kenston football team lost to Maple Heights in a Division III regional quarterfinal game it ended the Bombers’ 2024 season. However, that wasn’t the only thing that ended.
Long-time statisticians Chris and Kim Berger announced after the game they will no longer be keeping stats for the Bombers. The Bergers have been in that role for 14 seasons.
“It started when the gentleman before us passed away suddenly from a heart attack,” Chris Berger said. “I sent a letter to the AD (athletic director) in May. I got the job then I had to figure out how to do it. My first game was at Kent Roosevelt. I was by myself. I quickly realized there is no way I could get all the information we needed by myself.”
That’s when Kim Berger, 61, stepped in.
“Kim said, ‘I could help you,’ ” Chris Berger said. “ ’You could call the action and I can enter it into the spreadsheet.’ We got better at the spreadsheets and I learned how to connect the data together.”
Kim Berger said teaming up to do the stats ended up being a great idea.
“I had a blast,” Kim Berger said. “I really enjoyed it. I’ve always been interested in the game and have always been very good an inputting data.
“It evolved through the seasons and was something we could do together.”
But the Bergers weren’t just keeping stats. They ended up providing valuable information to Kenston coach Jeff Grubich.
“The first year I got hired our first game was at Hudson,” Grubich said. “I had no idea we had stat people. At halftime, one of our coaches handed me halftime stats. I asked, ‘Where did you get these?’ It had all of the critical stats outlined. After the game I reached out to Chris and that was the start of our relationship.
“They can help us make in-game, halftime adjustments.”
That was the start of a great relationship. Chris Berger, 63, is an attorney and councilman in South Russell. He is a graduate of Orange and the University of Texas while Kim, a former librarian, graduated from Girard and Bowling Green. The Bergers live in Chagrin Falls.
Grubich, who has led Kenston for 12 years, added that the information provided by the Bergers was “critical” to the Bombers’ success and the Bergers were happy to help.
“Jeff, almost from the get go, was interested,” Chris Berger said. “I asked, ‘What information do you want?’ He got involved. Where are the passes being completed? Where are they running? How about drives?
“Now I e-mail the coaches the information at halftime. Jeff took it to heart and applied what we did.”
Grubich and his staff during halftime and after games would analyze the data in an effort to improve the Bombers and to prepare for opposing teams.
“They’ve come a long way,” Grubich said. “They provide an end-of-year breakdown. It’s a huge asset. I don’t think a lot of high school programs have that kind of dedication from statisticians.”
The Bergers are more then just an asset Grubich utilizes to help win games.
“On a personal level, I can’t say enough about them and the pride they take in the program,” Grubich said. “What I really enjoy is when Chris sends an e-mail around midnight after a game with his thoughts on the game. That’s what I appreciate. They care about the program and the kids.
“Not only have they been a valuable asset for the program, but our friendship over 12 years. Football is fun on Friday nights, but it truly comes down to relationships.”
Kim said the thanks they received from Grubich and his staff was part of the reason they kept score for so long.
“The thing I think I admire most about him is he takes the game seriously, but he knows it does not define the boys’ lives,” Kim Berger said. “He can put the wins and losses in perspective. And he was always very appreciative of what we did. He was also so complementary and grateful. The whole staff has been grateful. That’s probably why we stayed so long.”
So why are the Bergers stepping away?
“Simply, we have a lot of travel plans,” Chris Berger said. “We want the flexibility to go when we can.
“I thought, maybe we’d do this a couple of years and be done, but every year was more fun, especially with Grubich. We were there to report what happened and organize it in a way the coaches could use it.”
One of their best memories, of course, was when Kenston won the Division III state championship in 2018.
“When we went to the state championship game we sat in the press box with the reporters from around the state,” Chris Berger said. “When Anna Sanders kicked an extra point, we said she’s the first girl to score a point in a state championship game. That was really cool and fun. We got a picture with her and the state championship trophy. That was a great memory.
“But it’s all about the kids. It’s been a great ride. We’ve seen phenomenal players both at Kenston and other teams. We did it for the kids.”
Kim Berger also fondly remembers that moment.
“For me, I think that was one of my proudest moments,” Kim Berger said. “I looked around (the press box) at all these people and to them it’s just another game. I’m glad I listened to the little voice in my head and announced that she was the first girl to score in a state championship game. It was awesome seeing reporters pay attention to this girl. It was a very nice moment. And, of course, winning the state championship was a such a fun experience.”
The bar is set for the next Kenston statistician. And it’s a high bar.
“It’s a great job for someone who loves football and wants to help the team,” Kim Berger said. “It’s a really neat experience. You feel connected to the community.”
