By BRIAN DULIK Staff Writer SULLIVAN TWP. — Eric Yetter has spent the past five years teaching Black River’s cross country teams the art of running. This fall, however, he will be running the Pirates’ entire athletic program. Yetter has been named Black River’s new athletic director and will formally begin his duties when the school district re-opens from its summer break. “I am very excited to get started,” the former college cross country runner said. “I have had the chance to speak with many of the coaches in the district already, and there is a very positive look at the future of Black River athletics. “We have some great people in place and things will come together smoothly, I’m sure.” Yetter, a longtime North Central Ohio resident, came to the home of the Pirates in 2003 after beginning his teaching career in the Lima City Schools. The Bluffton University graduate has taught math at the elementary and middle school levels during his tenure at Black River — most recently doing so with sixth-graders — while also coaching its boys and girls cross country teams. Those positions gave him the opportunity to interact with students, parents and faculty members throughout the school district, which convinced him this was where he meant to be. “When it comes to Black River, I consider myself at home,” said Yetter, a member of the Class of 1994 at nearby Collins Western Reserve. “I can’t say enough about the people I have had the pleasure to work with or the community members I have interacted with through my teaching and coaching in the district. “I look forward to continuing that in my new position.” Yetter and his wife Allison will celebrate their second wedding anniversary Monday and are excited about raising their eight-month-old daughter Olivia in such a supportive community. He says all three members of the family will be fixtures at Pirates sporting events. That includes attending cross country meets, even though Yetter will no longer be at the helm. The new AD has promoted trusted assistant Adam Laskos to the top spot, one year after they directed Black River’s boys team to its first conference championship in 20 years. “I’m excited about the move and I have great confidence in Coach Laskos’ abilities to continue to develop a competitive cross country program,” said Yetter, who competed in several meets at Black River while running for Western Reserve. “He’s ready for this, and so am I.”

Dulik may be reached at brisports@hotmail.com or 330-721-4059.