The Cuyahoga Heights Red Wolves boys’ basketball team enters the 2025-26 season with a mix of optimism and uncertainty as head coach Michael Tartara, now in his 20th season at the helm, looks to build on last year’s 16-8 campaign.
With a 258-186 career record, Tartara has guided plenty of successful squads over the years, but this one will rely heavily on growth and teamwork as a largely new group steps into bigger roles.
“We know we have a high-quality player in Maurice (McClardy),” Tartara said. “How quickly the other players around him develop as varsity basketball players will dictate a lot of our success. We expect Maurice to do a lot for us, but he cannot do it all alone.”
The Red Wolves return just one starter—McClardy, a 6-foot-3 senior wing/forward who averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game last season. A first-team all-conference and all-district selection, McClardy will again be the centerpiece on both ends of the floor.
“Mo is an amazing person and teammate,” Tartara said.
Alongside McClardy, several players will get their first real taste of extended varsity minutes.
Junior Kurtis Van Divner returns to the lineup after not playing last season.
“It’s good to have Kurt back,” Tartara said. “He will help with rebounding and defense. Kurt is a competitive kid who will help us on both ends of the floor.”
Senior Tyler Wheaton will provide additional offensive help in the post and on the wing.
“Tyler will help us on the offensive end of the floor,” Tartara said. “He is learning what we need from him and improving daily.”
Another senior, Anthony Grissman, is expected to play a key role in leadership and depth.
“Anthony is another senior who will see much playing time,” Tartara said. “We look forward to his leadership.”
Senior Nate Wilson will also compete for playing time and contribute to the team’s depth.
“Nate is a senior who will be competing for playing time,” Tartara said.
With only a handful of players returning with varsity experience, the Red Wolves will depend on building chemistry early to stay competitive.
“Working on our chemistry is what will give us the opportunity to have some success this year with limited experience coming back from last year,” Tartara said.
Still, Tartara understands the challenges ahead.
“Scoring is at a premium,” he said. “Outside of Maurice, there is very little varsity basketball experience on this team. We will have to tinker with some things both offensively and defensively to see what works best for this group.”
Tartara’s focus will be on steady improvement throughout the season.
“We hope to improve throughout the season and be playing our best basketball in February,” he said.
The formula for success will be straightforward but demanding.
“Individuals will have to step up to help Maurice to take some of the load off of him,” Tartara said. “We will have to dictate the tempo both offensively and defensively.”
If the Red Wolves can find their rhythm and develop quickly around McClardy’s leadership, Cuyahoga Heights could once again be a tough out when the postseason arrives.
