St. Vincent-St. Mary’s groundskeeper considers job labor of love

Tony Esola has watched Green Street Stadium transform over the decades — new bleachers, new press boxes, new pavilions and a new turf field. 

During his 24 years as head groundskeeper at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, it seems only one element has remained the same: His passion for the job.

“It’s a labor of love,” said Esola, 71.

Across the seasons, he’s watched Lebron James and Doran Grant (now head coach) shine under the Friday night lights. He’s driven legendary head coach John Cistone onto the field named in his honor. And Esola was there in 2012 and 2013 when the football program brought home its first state championships since in more than two decades.

Ample experience has lent him an air of wisdom and predictability. Though his hair may be graying, a wiry strength and joyous attitude give him all the energy he needs to keep the football grounds flawless for a new generation of players.

Even a back surgery two years ago couldn’t keep Esola from returning to the place he loves.

“They’re gonna have to throw me out,” Esola said. “I’m just going to keep working. This place keeps me young.”

He spends each week tirelessly prepping the green-and-gold field for Friday nights. For nearly 50 hours, he mows the grass, grooms the field and scrubs the bleachers — spotless. When game day arrives, the stadium’s 3,000 fans are hard-pressed to find a smudge of dirt or stray blade of grass.

As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, Esola wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s a showplace to me,” he said. “And I try to keep it that way… so that when Friday night comes and I turn the lights on, this place just shines.”

St. V-M groundskeeper: ‘It’s not a job. It’s fun to me’

When game day rolls around, Esola assumes additional responsibilities. Along with helping fans and keeping the field in playing shape, he directs buses, athletes and officials. 

“He has passion for kids,” said Willie McGee, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s former athletic director who as a student teamed with James to win three basketball state championships. “He wants kids to have the best experience they can, and he understands the role he plays in getting the stadium together.”

Esola takes pride in maintaining the school’s history of excellence. Though Esola attended Ellet High School, he always felt that he carried the Fighting Irish in his blood.

It doesn’t matter if he accompanies celebrities to the turf or picks up trash in the bleachers. Esola finds joy and meaning.

“It’s not a job. It’s fun to me,” said Esola, whose father, Anthony J. “Tony” Esola, was a star quarterback at East High School. (It’s believed that he played in one of the first football games at Green Street Stadium.)

“You know, I take a lot of pride in what I do here, and I think people see that.”

Fighting Irish football player: ‘He’s more important than people think’

St. Vincent-St. Mary’s players have come to know Esola as a friendly fixture on the field. He can always be spotted at practice in his Fighting Irish gear — mowing the grass, cleaning up the stadium or striking up a friendly conversation. 

“He plays a behind-the-scenes role, but he’s more important than people think,” said senior guard Xander Griffin. “He keeps the grounds nice and he keeps the morale of the team up, always talking to everybody and asking them how they’re doing.”

Esola’s dedication to the program stems from his own time as an athlete and coach. After earning three letters on Ellet’s varsity baseball team, Esola played club baseball for the next three decades. He pitched for five teams in the Roy Hobbs league and spent 14 years with the Akron Blues, an amateur team. He quickly became the club’s winningest pitcher of all time. 

He also coached baseball at St. Vincent-St. Mary from 2000-08. 

In recognition of his decades-long athletic career, Esola was inducted into the Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. Though the groundskeeper retired from sports after a back surgery, he still uses his athletic and leadership background to connect with the kids he serves.

“He understands the ups and downs of being an athlete,” said McGee, who was a three-sport letterman at St. Vincent-St. Mary. “You’ll often see him building rapport and relationships with kids, helping them with the mental side of the game and helping them understand how to work hard.”

Outside of work, Esola also enjoys spending time with his wife, three children and six grandchildren. 

But he has always felt the most at home in Green Street Stadium — and though the field around him may continue to change, he hopes his passion never will.