SPORTS

Dartis, Royster reigned over special time at Newark

Dave Weidig
Reporter
  • Royster finished No. 1 between girls and boys basketball with 1,600 career points.
  • Dartis is at No. 2, but first among boys with 1,567.

NEWARK – A few weeks ago, we hosted “A Chat With The Cats” at Red Oak Pub.

During that time, we were fortunate enough to have Jordan Dartis and Kym Royster sharing the stage together.

Both had already become the all-time leading scorers in their respective sports at Newark. So I posed a simple, but curious question. “Okay, who finishes No. 1 between you two? And does it matter?”

Both flashed their typical, humble smiles at being caught off-guard. Yes, there was a little friendly competition between the two. But no, it really didn’t matter.

For the record, Royster finished No. 1 between girls and boys basketball with 1,600 career points. Dartis is at No. 2, but first among boys with 1,567. The fact both accomplished those feats in the same season, ending stellar careers with highly-successful teams, should not be lost on Newark’s vast following of basketball faithful.

This, indeed, was the end of an era probably never seen, even in Newark’s rich basketball tradition. It will be quite a while before the marks they’ve left will be eclipsed.

Sonya Swick McAfee’s girls career record of 1,432 had stood for 20 years. Swick went on to star at South Florida; Royster is a star in the making at Indiana. Her 64 percent field goal shooting this season was ninth best in Ohio girls basketball history. And she surpassed Swick by 168, despite playing only three games as a freshman due to injury. OCC-Ohio Player of the Year, and district and Ohio Co-Player of the Year honors followed.

Mike Giomi’s boys career record of 1,316 had stood for 34 years. Giomi went on to star at Indiana and North Carolina State; Dartis is ready to make his Division I mark at Ohio University. Playing in a Newark record 99 games, Dartis surpassed Giomi by 251 points.

In addition to total points and games played, Dartis holds six other school records: free throws made in a season, free throws made in a career, free throws attempted in a career, steals in a career, 3-point field goals made in a career and free throws made in a game. OCC-Ohio Player of the Year, district player of the year and first-team All-Ohio followed.

Their names will be forever etched in Newark’s record books. So will the memories of the great role models they were.

“She has always been very humble and a very good leader, and I think that just comes with the territory with Kym,” coach J.R. Shumate said after Royster broke the girls scoring record.

“The people (who) really know him know how good of a kid he is,” coach Jeff Quackenbush said after Dartis broke the boys scoring record. “What I respect the most about Jordy is just how good of a person he is.”

Humble leaders who drove their teams to great heights. Royster led Newark’s girls to a first-ever girls regional title and state berth, not to mention their first league championship in 21 years. Dartis led a Newark boys team not much was expected out of, to a league co-championship and first district title since 2008.

Fittingly, both will end their high school careers in the top two all-star games: the Ohio North-South and the Ohio-Kentucky events. Then, it’s on to bigger and better things.

Gone, but not soon forgotten. The examples they set kept the bar raised high for Newark boys and girls basketball, serving as inspiration for generations to come.

dweidig@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8557

Twitter: @noz75