ALEC FULTZ, KYLE SCHWARBER, CHRIS SHORT, AND AARON KIMBROUGH (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT).
MIGHTY MIDDIES
Recalling the amazing rise of the undefeated 2010 team led by coach Jason Krause ■ ATHLETES IN THIS CITY stand the test of time. While companies and politicians come and go, the titans that once adorned the glorious purple Middie jerseys stay in our memories forever. Sometimes, what they accomplished on the field or court hangs in the rafters forever.
It’s the fall of 2010. Middletown, like its neighbor to the south, Hamilton, and so many other cities in the rust belt at the time, was feeling the effects of a great recession. While jobs were few and far between, there was one bright spot in the 10
The Middletonian
city. And that bright spot lit up the night’s sky every Friday at Barnitz stadium. The Middies, led by Jason Krause, had a season they’ll never forget. After taking Monroe to the state Final Four twice in three seasons, Krause defected up the road to Middletown. Taking over a squad that won four games the previous season, and entering the Greater Miami Conference for the first time in his coaching career—this was a tall order for Krause. Luckily for the Middie faithful, he was the perfect coach for the time.
BY REID MAUS
In his first year (2008), the Middies improved their record by two wins, from 4-6 to 6-4. Though they missed the postseason, they got a touted win over Colerain (who went on to the regional championship). In 2009, they took the next step. They went 9-1 in the regular season, with their lone loss against those pesky Cardinals of Colerain in a 10-7 nail-biter. In the postseason, they took down the men of Moeller 45-10, before losing to Anderson in the next round. The table was set for the best Middie season in 76 years.
