'It was a perfect fit for us'

Like the Duke vs. North Carolina basketball rivalry, it's just a different shade of blue for Mike Lento.Calvert didn't have to look far for its new football coach as Lento takes over for Steve Reser after seven seasons with Lakota."It is kind of funny because we were definitely not searching," Lento said Friday. "We weren't looking. We were building towards 2024 at Lakota. It came to a point where my wife and I were just having conversations about life and how everything aligned."Lento becomes the 18th head coach to lead Calvert in their school history that dates back to 1924, per athletic director Adam Smith."On behalf of the entire Seneca Nation, it is a pleasure to welcome Coach Lento, his wife Dee, and their three children, Eddie, Jax, and Addie to our Calvert Family," Smith said.Lento played football and graduated from Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic. He then played collegiate football at Tiffin University for the Dragons."It wasn't something I was searching or looking for, but the more conversations I had, it seemed like the right thing to do was at least inquire and see what was going on at Calvert," Lento said. "To be considered and be amongst previous Calvert coaches is humbling. I'm full of gratitude."Lento was Lakota's fourth coach in five seasons when he took over in 2017. The Raiders went 6-4, winning six games in a seven-game stretch in the middle of the season.Lakota was 4-6 in 2018 and 2019 before going 5-5 in 2020. Like all teams in 2020 during the COVID season, the Raiders made the playoffs, falling on the road to Elmwood."I was a little nervous for the interview process because it was unchartered territory for me in a while," Lento said. "I came away knowing the committee Calvert has in place has the best interest for Calvert and the community and the kids. I wanted to see that with my family."With the playoff expansion to 16 teams beginning with the 2021 season, Lakota made it in as the No. 9 seed, going 7-4 that season with a road loss to Eastwood in the playoffs. He was named Division V Coach of the Year in 2021.The Raiders were 2-8 in 2022 before bouncing back to finish 5-6 this past season. Lakota made its third playoff appearance in four seasons in 2023, losing on the road to eventual regional champions, Columbus Grove."Going to Calvert wasn't easy," Lento said. "Like I told the guys today, it wasn't something I was looking for. We had to make a decision as a family. Look, you're not getting just me as a football coach. You're getting my whole family. It was a perfect fit for us."Over Lento's time at Lakota, the Raiders bounced between Divisions V, VII, and VII. At Calvert, the Senecas have been Division VII for quite a while. Numbers are always a concern at the smaller levels of high school football.Calvert finished 8-2 last season, starting 8-0 before losses at Hopewell-Loudon and at home to Convoy Crestview in the first round of the playoffs.The Senecas were 6-5 in 2022 and 4-6 in 2021. Calvert lost to Lima Central Catholic in the first round of the 2022 playoffs."I'm excited for Senecas Nation," Lento said. "I'm sad to leave Raiders Nation, but the timing was just right for all the pieces to fall together. Sometimes it's not your plan, but rather God's plan."Lakota and Calvert are league rivals in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division. That'll present an unique situation when the two face off Sept. 13 at Lakota."It's going to be weird to be in the visitors locker room," Lento said. "I'll probably try to put my key in the keyhole. I told them I'm Lakota's biggest fan except for Week 4."