Ohio High Winter 2009 by Eric Frantz

Ohio High Magazine is going Digital

n sports you often see and hear about coaches and programs adjusting their schemes and game plans to fit the resources and players available. We here at Ohio High Magazine are doing the

same. As Ohio’s premiere prep publication we take great pride in providing our loyal readers the best high school sports coverage available. We still will, but our playing surface is changing. Instead of the hardcopy periodical that it has been thus far, Ohio High will become an online publication in March, following the major trend these days driven by the economics of publishing. We’re going from a traditional magazine to an Eric Frantz Ezine. Same great sportswriters; same great content, design and photographs; same great coverage of Ohio high school sports. The only difference is it’ll be digital. What’s this mean for our subscribers? More bang for their buck. Subscription costs will remain the same, but what you get won’t. In addition to the four standard Ohio High issues, OH subscribers will also receive a hefty dose of supplemental publications. The goal is to maintain our position as Ohio’s high school sports leader and increase what we provide our readers. Our ability to deliver magazines to our subscribers’ desktop and not their doorstep will also allow us to deliver more timely and up-todate articles and news. Other benefits include a special viewer that makes reading a magazine online more enjoyable; postal delays will be a thing of the past; coverage will be more timely and relevant; and it won’t cost readers a nickel more to get all this. We will continue to print one issue a year, which will be our July issue and tabbed as a collector’s item. The issue, which will be larger than our past offerings, will be a “Year in Review” of the previous school year and will also include the ever-popular and highly-anticipated High School Football Preview. This issue will also be delivered digitally as well and will be available as a stand-alone single issue. Our tentative digital schedule is as follows: * Winter Sports State Tournament Supplement (early April): Winter sports state tournament recap and Players of the Year announced; Ohio High all-tournament teams for boys basketball, girls basketball and wrestling; Boys and Girls basketball recruiting updates. * Ohio High Spring Issue (early May): Release of the top football prospects for the upcoming season; previews of summer All-Star football games; sport-specific features; and Ohio High Cup update.

* Spring Sports State Tournament Supplement (mid-June): Spring sports state tournament recap and Players of the Year. * Ohio High Summer Issue (early July, also available in PRINT): 2008-09 Year In Review (all sports); High School Football Preview; Recaps of summer all-star football games (Big 33 and North-South games); Ohio High Cup Final Standings. * Ohio High Fall Issue (late Sept): Player, team and program features; recruiting updates. * High School Football Playoff Preview Supplement (early November): Playoff Preview, Mr. Football Candidates, Updated recruit rankings and features, ESPN’s updated recruit rankings. * Winter Sports Preview Supplement (mid-November): High School Boys and Girls basketball previews, wrestling previews. * Fall Sports State Tournament Supplement (mid-November): Fall sports state tournament recap and Players of the Year (everything but football). * State Football Supplement (mid-December): State football finals recaps and pictorials, ONN/Ohio High All-Ohio team and Player and Coach of the year announcements; recruiting updates. * Ohio High Winter Issue (late-January): Features, Ohio High Cup update; Recruiting Updates. * National Signing Day Supplement (midFebruary): A look at what happened on National Signing Day and where Ohio athletes (all sports) are headed; recruiting updates. We understand this change may create a hardship for subscribers who do not have Internet access or do not want to view the magazine via the web. We will offer refunds for any unused portion of subscriptions for those customers. They need to simply contact us by calling (937) 8532217. Before the Winter Sports State Tournament Supplement issue is released online in late March, each magazine subscriber will receive instructions about having username and password access in order to read the online edition of that magazine. You will receive this information through online announcements and/or by e-mail notification. That being said, we’re excited for the switch and we know you will be too once you see what we’re offering. For those subscribers who have been loyal, we thank you. For those thinking of becoming subscribers, we invite you to do so. Times are changing and so are we – for the better.

... Is Going Digital

– Eric Frantz

Fall Sports Players of the Year

Fall Sports State Tournaments

The Huntington Bank/Ohio High annual awards presented A look back at the state championships in all fall sports

Ohio High School Football 23 2008 State Football Championships 30 ONN/Ohio High All-Ohio Team 34 Hoover’s Howard named Football POY 35 Logan Elm’s Bartholomew earns Football COY honors 36 Ursuline’s Jamel Turner one of Ohio’s top juniors 38 The ESPN 150 41 2009 Football Prospects: Where did they go? 44 2010 Football Prospects: Who is looking good? 46 2011 Football Prospects: Next in line 2008 State Basketball Preview 56 Boys Overview 59 Boys Recruiting Update 62 Girls Overview 65 Girls Recruiting Update

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47 History Happens On The Mat

National No. 1s David Taylor and Collin Palmer square off

50 State Wrestling Preview

Who to watch out for en route to and in Columbus Also...

16 21 22 54

Neighboring districts make the state soccer finals Marion Local building a volleyball dynasty?

The first standings for the sixth annual Ohio High Cup

Northland and San Diego meet at Flyin to the Hoop

Volume 6

Issue 3

Editor in Chief Steve Helwagen Managing Editor Eric Frantz Assistant Editor Matt Natali Recruiting Editors Mark Porter, Bill Kurelic Staff Writers Kirk Larrabee, Jeff Rapp, Dave Biddle Contributors

Marty Gitlin, Shayne Combs, Brad Morris, Jeff Williams, Frank DiRenna

Photography

Stephanie Porter, Gary Housteau, Nick Falzerano, Greg Beers, Os Figuero, Scott Grau, John Ritter, Suzie Feehan, Ben Barnes, Joe Maiorana

Printing Miami Valley Sports Magazine (MVP) miamivalleysports.com

Subscriptions

Order online at www.jjhuddle.com. One year ($19.95), two-year ($34.95) and threeyear ($49.95) subscriptions available.

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Letters to Editor

Questions, comments or suggestions can be sent to jjhuddlestaff@yahoo.com. We encourage your feedback.

Ohio High Magazine is published bi-monthly, four times a year. Ohio High is an independent source of news and features relating to Ohio high school sports. Ohio High strives to report information based on fact, but assumes no responsability for any inaccuracies that may appear within the pages. Ohio High is not authorized, sponsored or sanctioned by any university, athletic conference or athletic governing body. Subscriptions are available for $19.95 and may be purchased online at jjhuddle.com. Single copy price is $6.95 each. c Copyright 2009, Ohio High Magazine and MVP Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. COVER PHOTO: Greg Beers

F a l l S p o r t s P l a y e r s o f t h e Ye a r Boys & Girls Soccer Boys & Girls Golf Boys & Girls C.C. Volleyball

Tennis Field Hockey t was another great fall season in Ohio high school athletics. Ohio High is proud to partner with

Huntington Banks to present the player of the year awards in 10 fall sports. The football player of the year award is

Girls Tennis

revealed on page 34. Here is a look at the nine other player of the year award winners for the fall season.

Nationally-ranked Davis runs away with D-II state title

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Gilmour Academy freshman Lauren Davis

Photo by Nick Falzerano

hat one player dominated the girls Division II state tennis tournament is a bit unusual. That she surrendered one measly game until the title match and just five throughout the event is amazing. That she was a freshman is absurd. But indeed, that was the scenario played out by Gates Mills Gilmour Academy’s Lauren Davis, who swept through the entire season without so much as losing a set. And in Columbus, she won her first two matches without dropping a game, blitzed her semifinal foe, 6-1, 6-0, then polished off tough Gabby Steele of Cincinnati Country Day, 6-4, 6-0, for the title. Gee, you suppose she earned the Ohio High Magazine Player of the Year award? Certainly, however, Davis was no Lauren underdog. Despite just having turned 15, Davis she is second in the nation in the United States Tennis Association (USTA) 16Gates Mills and-under rankings. After she won the Gilmour Academy 2008 National 16-and-under Hard Court Championship in San Diego last August, local newspapers were comparing her to Tracy Austin and legendary Chris Evert. But unlike many past and current professional players who were whacking forehands at the age of three, Davis didn’t even take up the sport until she was nine-years-old. So how did she rise to the top of the youth charts in less than five years? Let her explain it. “I’m really athletic, so I caught on quickly,” she explains. “Sports come easily to me.” Davis has also participated in soccer, basketball and track, but she is by far most skilled in tennis. And though she occasionally receives a bit of a challenge at the high school level, she finds her strongest competition in tournaments outside the area. In fact, Lancers coach Cyndi Smith believes the United States Developmental Program, which grooms players for professional careers, might soon be courting Davis. That would force her to move to Florida or California. “I did get invited last year to California, but I would never consider moving to California,” she says. “I like it here in Cleveland. But I really do

want to go pro. I might have to go to Florida, but for now I’m attached to Cleveland. Maybe in two years I’ll go.” The scary thought for area high school players is that Davis could return to play for the Lancers and even improve her game. She has yet to decide if outside tournament play will prove too taxing and prevent her from competing for Gilmour again. Though Davis stresses that all areas of her game need work – particularly her serving and volleying – Smith is overwhelmed by her talent.

“She’s just at a different level,” Smith says. “The funny thing is that she was always competing in tournaments and doing very well, but now that she’s in high school, she’s getting a lot more publicity. The head coach at Ohio State said that Lauren could play for her team right now. “Lauren plays mainly at the baseline and she has just incredible balance. That’s her gift. Her body is never out of position and her stroke always looks just beautiful out there on the court. She’s never out of control. She could have been a gymnast.” The talent of Davis, who overwhelms opponents with a wicked topspin on both her forehand and backhand, motivated Smith to ask Gilmour athletic director Tom Bryan to load up the schedule. Area powerhouses such as Avon Lake, Shaker Heights and Brecksville challenged the Lancers, who performed well enough to reach the semifinals in the state team tennis tournament. Gilmour lost in the semis, but beat defending Division II state champion Lexington in the consolation round to place third. Davis punctuated the regular season by blanking Avon Lake first singles opponent Nikki Chiricosta, who entered the match at 16-0.

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F a l l S p o r t s P l a y e r s o f t h e Ye a r Davis would certainly enjoy competing with her teammates again next year, but other considerations must be taken into account. “I don’t know what I’m going to do because this season just ended,” she says. “But it was so much fun. I’ll make the decision if I’m going to play high school tennis again next summer. I guess it will just depend on how I’m doing.” But lest one think Davis never gets tired of traveling and competing, one should think again. “I really don’t enjoy playing tournaments around the holidays,” she says. “I have a tournament to play this Christmas, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to celebrate a real Christmas. I’m really not looking forward to playing.” That makes it even. Nobody who feels the need to win looks forward to playing her either. — Marty Gitlin

Mason sophomore Zach Wills

Mason sophomore Wills Ohio's top boys cross country runner

ason's Zach Wills is just entering the second half of his sophomore year, but he is already being mentioned as possibly one of the greats to ever run cross country and track in Ohio. "As long as he stays healthy, he has the potential to be one of the best in the country," Mason coach Tom Rapp said. Despite already winning a state title in each sport, Wills is reluctant to discuss individual accolades. It's clear - he'd rather discuss his teammates. Wills, who won the Division I state cross country championship in November, is the Ohio High Magazine/Huntington Bank male cross country runner of the year. In many ways, the 16-year-old (turns 17 on Jan. 1) is a typical teenager who enjoys video games, movies and is not afraid to laugh at himself either. But, as a competitor, he is wise beyond his years. Zach "I just take (the attention) as a normal, Wills everyday person would," said Wills, whose sister Katie is a former Mason Mason softball standout now at Ashland University. "I don't act like I am going to boast around about it. It's just an opportunity to show people what I am about. I am not just a state champion, but a good Christian also." Wills is involved with Athletes in Action and the Grace Chapel Youth Ministry in Mason. On his Web site, zacharywills.com, he lists a Bible verse from Philippians: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Rapp says it's no surprise Wills is quick to recognize Mason's Division I state title as the most important accomplishment this past fall. "The happiest I've ever seen him was not when he won the state individual cross country title, but a few minutes later when it was announced that our team had won the state title," Rapp said. "He's obviously a team player." Rapp said Wills doesn't run the significant miles when he trains like his peers, but he is able to maximize the most when he does compete. "Physically, he is an aerobic machine," Rapp said. "Basically, his body transports oxygen to the muscles and processes it far more efficiently

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Photo by Nick Falzerano

Boys Cross Country

than most." Mason's first cross country team title came in a strong performance at Scioto Downs Nov. 1. The Comets defeated second place Hilliard Davidson by a 20-point margin as Wills won his individual title in 15:15.66. Wills said he and the team focused on place; he won by almost 14 seconds from a field of 144 competitors. "This last couple of weeks has really hit how awesome (the state meet) was," Wills said the day after Thanksgiving. "Not very many people have gone to the state championship. Winning team and individual titles is huge, but it's not only the individual title but

the team title was the most important to me." The Comets certainly had plenty of talent returning going into the season. Mason, which returned six runners, was favored early in the fall after it finished 10th in the Division I state meet in 2007. That experience helped as the Comets won five invitationals along with district, regional and state titles. The Greater Miami Conference meet (in which Wills did not participate) was the only time Mason didn't win. "The (state) championship was obviously a great moment for all of us the culmination of literally thousands of miles of running," Rapp said. The running won't stop anytime soon for Wills, who will be one of the state's top returning distance runners in track once the spring arrives. Although he planned to take a break during the winter, Wills is looking forward to the spring. Wills, who won the 3,200-meter title at Ohio State last spring, said he is considering the possibility of competing in the 1,600, 3,200 and 3,200 relay. The carryover effect from the Comets' state cross country title will help in track and field. "I think it will be really positive," Wills said. "It established some people to step up and brought a lot of confidence in our runners." Opposing teams have taken notice of the Comets' ability to perform well in various meets. With two years left in his high school career, Wills has been the catalyst for Mason. "Zach is hard charger who is very confident in his ability to win," West Chester Lakota West coach Craig Myers said. "He makes everyone around him in a race run better." That ability has certainly helped Wills catch the eye of several colleges. Wills said he has received letters from the likes of Baylor, Duke and Ohio State among others. It's still very early in the recruiting process, but Wills said he would definitely like a school that fits him academically and athletically. He said he plans to study a field within science, possibly biology or Pre-Med. "Zach is an A student, Rapp said, "with an occasional B thrown in there." — Ohio High Staff

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Boys Golf

Miller wins back-to-back state titles as Pirates finish first

wo-time state golf champion as an individual. Runner-up as an individual his freshman year. Two-time state champion as part of the Garaway Pirates. Kent State University signee. Junior golf tour standout in the offseason. Girls’ basketball film guy? Such are the accomplishments and personality of Garaway senior Kevin Miller, one of the best golfers the state of Ohio has ever seen who just so happens to enjoy his duties as the film guy for the highly-successful Garaway girls’ basketball team nearly as much as the gold he’s won on the links. “I like doing that behind-the-scenes kind of thing,” said Miller. “The girls are the ones people come to see on the court and I can keep to myself while helping them out.” “That’s the thing with Kevin – how many kids who have been as accomplished in Ohio golf history would carry around a little camcorder and film girls’ basketball,” said Garaway golf coach Ryan Taggart, who happens to be girls varsity assistant basketball coach as well. “Most kids who are in Kevin’s shoes would want to be noticed but Kevin wants to be in the background at games.” Miller won his second-straight Division III state championship as an individual this past Fall, firing a 2-day total of 141 to beat runner-up and future Kent State teammate Nathan Tarter of Mogadore by three strokes. Kevin Oh yeah, and his team also won its Miller second-straight title with a 631, besting runner-up Lima Catholic’s 639. He also Garaway led his team to its second-straight team title and the third for the Pirates in the last five years as they also took the title when Miller was in the eighth grade in 2004. For his accomplishments, Miller has been named the Huntington Bank/Ohio High Boys Golfer of the Year. Not that the even-keeled Miller would acknowledge himself when told of the honor. “It still kind of catches me off guard when I sit back and think about what I did and how I accomplished it,” said Miller. “But I’d put the team higher than the individual thing because of the experience of sharing it with the team. Sure, you can enjoy the individual medal by yourself but having my teammates celebrate our team title was so amazing, especially to do it two years in a row.” Winning two individual state championships put Miller in select company as only 11 people have done it, including Jack Nicklaus and Ben Curtis. His scholarship to Kent State will actually be the Ben and Candy Curtis Golf Scholarship and he will be just the second freshman to receive it. “I think that the opportunities there (at Kent) with the tremendous practice facility, the coaches, the tradition and the academics will give me the opportunity to improve my game and have a solid academic base,” said Miller. Miller’s 9-hole average for his career was 36.4 with an 18-hole average of 72.7. He averaged 31 putts per 18 holes while saving par 52 percent of the time. He hit 61 percent of his fairways and 70 percent of greens in regulation.

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This season alone, Miller had an 18-hole low of 66 with an average of 70.4 while hitting an amazing 75.3 of the fairways he played. In winning his second title in as many years, he hit an even-par 72 on the first day at The Players Club at Foxfire in Lockbourne and a 3under par 69 on the second day. “I play my own game and I don’t worry about what other players are doing,” said Miller. “If I might make a good shot or if I don’t hit the ball really well, I try to treat every shot the same. A lot of our fans Garaway senior and my teammates Kevin Miller would probably prefer Photo by Ben Barnes me to show more emotion but it’s just the way I am.” Taggart said Miller can act any way he wants because of his appreciation for those who have worked hard for him. “He’s never had anything handed to him,” said Taggart. “He’s not a country club golfer. His parents have worked hard to give him the opportunities he’s had and he appreciates how hard his parents (Roy and Viola) have worked for him. Golf isn’t a sport where you can just pick up a ball and go play for free somewhere. “He knows people have made sacrifices to provide him opportunities and it has allowed him to have a humble perspective that has certainly assisted him in his success.” Miller has also had success at the junior level and admits to a goal of someday playing professionally, although he wants to enjoy college first. He won the Junior PGA qualifier at Hawthorne Valley Country Club, allowing him to compete at the Junior PGA Championship in Cincinnati this past summer where he tied for 22nd in the nation. He also qualified for the Optimist in Florida with some of the top junior international golfers in the world. “That definitely gave me a lot of confidence to see that I could compete with some of the best players and it showed me I could play at that next level,” said Miller. — Jeffery Williams

Girls Cross Country

Ridder runs her way back to the top of the podium

incinnati Oak Hills senior cross country/track standout Brooklyne Ridder embraced sacrifice the past four years and reaped an ultimate reward for it this winter when she earned a college scholarship. It goes without saying Ridder was certainly disciplined in her approach. She used to make sure she was in bed by 9 o’clock each

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Photo by Nick Falzerano

Friday night – she’d regularly miss her school’s football games - in order to be prepared for cross country meets on Saturday mornings. That preparation helped pave the way for Ridder to win her second Division I state cross country title this fall. After winning a state title as a freshman, Ridder was state runner-up Brooklyne her sophomore and junior seasons. So it seemed only fitting she would be the first Ridder to cross the finish line in her final meet at Scioto Downs. Oak Hills “My biggest accomplishments that make me the most proud are my two state titles,” Ridder said. “It obviously takes a lot of hard work to achieve something so big and I’m proud of myself for how much I sacrificed for the sport.” Ridder, the Huntington Bank/Ohio High Magazine Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, recently committed to compete at Penn State. Ridder, who also considered Ohio State, Wake Forest and Iowa among others, said she could envision herself living on the Penn State campus next fall. She was impressed by her future teammates, coaches and the facilities. “I had to follow my gut feeling on this decision,” Ridder said, “and in an all-around sense I felt much more comfortable at this school. The team is made up of girls whom I feel am very similar too.” Ridder will join former Crestwood standout Bridget Franek with the Nittany Lions. Cincinnati St. Ursula coach Jeff Branhan said the two Ohio standouts will form a talented duo within the Penn State program. “I have no doubt that Brooklyne will excel in her new setting at Penn State and will make an immediate impact in the Big Ten,” Branhan said. “She is very excited about being surrounded by teammates who are as driven as she is and share common goals.” Ridder said she would like to major in biology in college and eventually become a dentist. She has already Oak Hills gained some experisenior ence by shadowing some dentists. Brooklyne “I’ve wanted to get Ridder into cosmetic dentistry since I was 13 and it hasn’t changed since,” said Ridder, who noted her favorite subjects are English and science. Oak Hills athletic director Jan Wilking said Ridder is a model studentathlete who gives a strong effort in the classroom. Wilking said the school is very proud of Ridder’s two state titles. “She has a great passion to be the best,” Wilking said. The drive for excellence is evident in Ridder. She admits it was difficult to start her high school career with a state title. It would be for anyone so

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young to reach the pinnacle. The expectations increased each year, but she handled them well and kept her focus on the bigger picture. “Even though I was runner-up the following two years, I couldn’t be upset with myself because my times were improving and I was running the best I ever had,” Ridder said. “I ran a 17:38 my junior year which any other year would be promising for the win. However, I took what I was dealt and worked as hard as I could. That’s all I really can ask of myself.” It all came full circle this fall as Ridder won for a final time at Scioto Downs. She soaked in the entire atmosphere of the meet. The state meet was truly a special and unique place for Ridder, who vividly recalls the first time she was there. “My freshman year – looking up at the stands and seeing that large of a crowd was breathtaking,” Ridder said. “I don’t think I realized how big of a deal the state race was. The feeling still didn’t change throughout all of high school. You can go back year after year and the environment that is at Scioto Downs is absolutely amazing the day of the race.” Ridder put pressure on herself this year because she wanted to end her career just as it started. She didn’t want anyone to think she had fallen off as a runner. In the end, that made the second state title that much more sweet in November. “When I crossed the finish line that day, it was the first time I ever cried tears of joy,” Ridder said. “I had (reporters) coming up and I had to tell them to give me a minute to gather myself because I was so caught up in the moment. I will say that day was the most satisfying, sweetest, race of my life.” Ridder who has been state runner-up twice in the 3,200 run in track, said she will be training this winter and is looking forward to the outdoor track season. “It feels extremely good to be able to say I never finished worse than second place at a state race for cross country or track,” Ridder said. “I hope to do just as well this upcoming track season.” — Ohio High Staff

Volleyball

Whyte records memorable senior season, state title

was the season to be jolly, but not for Lauren Whyte. As the holidays approached in 2007, the Olmsted Falls junior wasn’t ready to scream out “Ho, Ho, Ho!” Rather, she felt a bit downcast about her performance that year on the volleyball court. The sport always meant a great deal to Whyte. But she felt she had just let herself and her teammates down. The Bulldogs had lost in the Lauren Division I district final, marking the first Whyte time in her high school career they hadn’t qualified for regionals. Olmsted Falls So she decided to do something about it. “My junior year was an off-year,” she explains. “I played Junior Olympic volleyball and I focused on becoming more accurate with my swing, achieving a higher vertical and working on my defense because I’ve never been the greatest defensive player.” The result was a sensational senior season in which Whyte led the Bulldogs to a 29-0 record and Division I state championship. And talk about rising to the occasion – she registered season-highs of 36 kills and 22 digs in the title-match victory over Cincinnati Ursuline Academy.

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F a l l S p o r t s P l a y e r s o f t h e Ye a r And that performance sealed the deal for Ohio High Magazine, which selected the 6-foot-1 outside hitter as its Ohio Volleyball Player of the Year. “We definitely thought at the beginning of the season that a state championship was possible,” says Whyte. “On the first day of practice, we put the words ‘State champs’ on the walls of our team room. That was motivation for us. “Also, the year before we had lost to Amherst Steele in the district finals and they’re our conference rival. Their Photo by Nick Falzerano coach made the comment that Olmsted Falls is a team that tends to make mistakes. We remembered that quote the entire year. We did definitely make mistakes that year, but we worked hard to prove him wrong this year and we beat Steele three times, including in the district final. It was a great payback.” Coach Dawn Moses and everyone else affiliated with Olmsted Falls volleyball was quite aware that Whyte could end points in a hurry. But it was the rest of her Olmsted Falls game that was lacking senior Lauren as the new season approached. And it was Whyte the rest of her game that the Bulldogs needed for her to improve if they were going to maximize their potential as a team. In fact, this was a season of volleyball revelation for Whyte, whom Moses hesitated to use outside the front line in the past. Moses didn’t have faith in her defensively heading into 2008, but she certainly gained trust when the volleyballs began to be struck. “Lauren wasn’t playing the whole game,” Moses recalls. “She was playing only on offense, then she’d come off the court. But this year she came in committed to playing defense so she could stay on the floor. The defensive part of her game this year was huge. “As captain of the team, Lauren brought us a mentality that we were never going to lose. Lauren is more like ‘We aren’t going to lose’ rather than “I don’t want to lose.’” And the Bulldogs didn’t lose all year. In fact, they lost just eight games and won 12 consecutive 3-0 matches around midseason. Whyte finished the season with a whopping 516 kills. Even more impressive, however, was that she converted on nearly 50 percent of her kill attempts. Now she can soak in a much-deserved award with the satisfaction of knowing she earned it. “It’s definitely awesome to be chosen and to know that I’ve progressed that much,” she says. “I never thought I’d get something like this, but I have to thank my coaches and teammates, because they played a huge role in it. I can’t thank them enough.” Division I college scouts certainly took notice. The result of Whyte’s dominance was a scholarship to George Washington University. Whyte also received offers from area schools such as Akron and Kent State, but after a trip to GW, it was all over but the signing. It’s not that she preferred to attend school further from home. But

10 J J H U D D L E . C O M

George Washington not only offered strong volleyball competition, but studying in the nation’s capital will prove to be the perfect environment for Whyte to become engrossed in her major – international business. “I really like D.C.,” she says. “My decision was not so much based on being farther from home as it was just finding the right school.” Moses believes the folks at George Washington will be impressed by the attributes Whyte will bring to the volleyball program and academic world. “She’s compassionate, she’s focused, she’s determined and she’s dedicated,” Moses says. “Those are all qualities Lauren has in abundance.” As for the 2008 holiday season, well, it can again be a merry Christmas for Lauren Whyte. — Marty Gitlin

Girls Golf

Witmer beats D-II field by eight strokes

et’s put it this way: Ariel Witmer could have played two more holes solo and still won the 2008 Division II girls golf championship. The South Range senior blew away the field by eight strokes. It’s no wonder she has been named the Huntington Bank/Ohio High Magazine Player of the Year in her sport. Witmer shot a 1-under-par 139 during the two-day state tournament, which feaAriel tured a Division II girls event for the first Witmer time. She remained steady throughout, recording just two bogeys in the first South Range round and one double-bogey in the second and even registering successive eagles on the Par-5 15th hole. “At state I pretty much had it all together,” says Witmer, thereby putting in her nomination for Understatement of the Year. “Everything went according to plan.” That couldn’t be said in previous seasons. Witmer didn’t even qualify for the state tournament last season and didn’t finish higher than seventh as a freshman or sophomore. South Range coach Bob Ferranti recalls receiving speaking to a stranger quite a while ago. It was Witmer’s dad. “Yeah, her father contacted me several years before Arien got into high school,” Ferranti recalls. “He said his daughter had a great golf swing, but then fathers tend to say that. But when she came up, I had her at No. 3 for about three months as a freshman before moving her up to No. 1. She’s been playing in that No. 1 group ever since.” And that’s on the boys team. South Range doesn’t have a girls team of its own, so Witmer competes against the boys and must hit from the boys tees during regular season competition. The 17-year-old Witmer admits, however, that the challenge of slamming the ball from farther away becomes beneficial once the tournaments roll around, particularly on those challenging Par 5 holes. “It’s a big advantage for me because in the tournament we’re required to hit shorter distances and I’m a long-ball hitter,” she explains. Long-ball, short-ball – it didn’t really matter. Witmer simply dismantled the competition, which proved delightfully satisfying. She felt the need to emerge victorious in her last opportunity, but the lopsided nature of that triumph came as a bit of a surprise. “Since I’m a senior, I knew this was the last chance I had to win it, so I

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Girls Soccer

Cuba adds another honor to a crowded trophy case

here did the Youngstown Cardinal Mooney Cardinals go when they needed inspiration? They went straight to Cuba. Don’t be alarmed. We’re not talking the country known for its

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cigars and aging dictator. We’re talking the midfielder known for scoring goals. That is, Ashley Cuba, who was brilliant in 2008. In fact, she performed so well that Ohio High Magazine has named her Ohio Girls Soccer Player of the Year. The old trophy case is getting crowded. Cuba, who is headed to the University of Pittsburgh on a soccer Ashley scholarship, was selected by Associated Press as its Co-Player of the Year and Cuba was also chosen by that organization as its Division II Player of the Year. Cuba Cardinal Mooney even garnered ESPN National Player of the Week honors during the course of the season. So what does she have to say about all this? Did she proudly confirm her belief that she had earned such awards? Hardly. “I guess I deserve it,” she said with a distinct lack of conviction. “I didn’t think I would win it.” If the humble senior had played with such self-doubt, she wouldn’t have scored absurd totals of 82 goals and 51 assists in regular seasons alone in her high school career, which during which she earned first-team All-Ohio honors in each of the last two years and runner-up Division II Player of the Year in 2007. Mooney Cuba led Mooney to senior its third consecutive Ashley regional final in 2008, which it lost to Cuba Hathaway Brown, 2-0. Not bad considering she was playing out of position. The Cardinals required her to compete as a midfielder as opposed to forward, the position she plays on other teams, including the Cleveland Whitecaps of the SuperY/Casa team, which won state titles in 2007 and 2008. And that’s not an easy transition. “Midfielders have to be able to see the field more,” she explains. “When you play forward, you’re more an attacker than you are a defender. I actually prefer to play midfielder, but I don’t really care either way, as long as I get to play.” Well, it’s not like any sane coach would take her out of the lineup. Cuba has been kicking a soccer ball around since the age of four. That’s when the love affair began that continues to this day. One would be wrong to presume that Cuba has experienced soccer burnout at any point since. “It does get very hectic,” she admits. “But I love the game so much, I don’t think I could ever let it go, not even for a while.” The Cardinals benefited greatly from that mindset. Cuba led them to Submitted Photo

Photo by Joe Maoiriana/www.impactactionphotos.com

was going to give it 110 percent,” says Witmer, who also plays trombone in the school band. “I knew the competition and I knew that if I started strong, it would be the other girls falling apart and not me. I played most of the girls at the tournament over the summer. I knew how they played and how I had to play to beat them.” Witmer didn’t shout out her plans or brag from the rooftops. It’s just not her style, but Ferranti understood her desire to go out on top. “Ariel is a quiet girl, but she’s also very intense and very excited South Range senior about golf,” he says. Ariel Witmer “She really enjoys being out on the golf course. “The thing about Ariel is that she has just a beautiful swing. Its very remindful of what you see from players in the LPGA, where you don’t see any stress and strain in the swing. And she has learned over her time here to manage the golf course. She knows she has to take a bogey once in a while and just to be satisfied with that.” She didn’t take too many bogeys on the Columbus Gray Course, but then, she didn’t have to. “She was ready to play,” Ferranti says. “On the practice tee, it was liking watching the pros. She kept hitting it in the same place, then she grabbed another club and did the same thing. She was focused and in control the entire time.” Witmer will soon enjoy the opportunity to be focused and in control at the next level. She earned a scholarship to Division I Longwood University in Virginia. She was searching for an ideal combination of Division I competition and an unimposing campus and she found one. “They have a very good golf team and the campus is really small,” says Witmer, who is considering a career in biology, but admits those plans could change with time. “That’s what I was looking for. I hate big schools and Longwood has only about 5,000 students.” As for being named Player of the Year by Ohio High Magazine? “Boy, that makes me feel good,” she says. “I really wasn’t expecting it.” When you beat the field by eight strokes, you probably should be. — Marty Gitlin

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F a l l S p o r t s P l a y e r s o f t h e Ye a r

Boys Soccer

Weit taking talents, unselfishness to Indiana

att Wiet could be considered the ultimate team player. Whether positioned at midfield or on defense, Wiet proved to be a key force during his four-year career as a member of the Worthington Kilbourne High School boys soccer team. Wiet, who took over the center defensive back position approximately midway through the season, capped his brilliant career at Kilbourne by leading the Wolves to their second consecutive regional title game appearance. Kilbourne saw its state title hopes Matt end following a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Weit Dublin Jerome on Nov. 1. The Wolves finished 18-3 overall. Kilbourne For his efforts, Wiet has been Ohio High School Magazine’s Player of the Year. Wiet’s other postseason accolades include being named Player of the Year in the state by the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association. He also was named Player of the Year in the Central District and OCC-Central Division. Wiet is a two-time Player of the Year in the OCC, and two-time all-district and all-state player. “I would easily give up all those awards for my team to win a state

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championship,” Wiet said. “For how much they’ve given me, that’s the least I could do. In a heartbeat I would do it.” “Matt doesn’t advertise for himself,” Kilbourne coach Jon Sprunger said. “A lot of his recognition is through hard work and leadership, and what people see. Some people are showboats, some people talk trash. Matt doesn’t do that. He does his job and plays hard and plays aggressive. I’ve never seen him play dirty. I’ve never seen him get upset.” This season, Wiet scored two goals and had eight assists, and proved to be a solid force as the team’s final line of defense in front of keeper Paul Hendricks. He began the season as midfielder in the team’s 3-5-2 alignment before taking over the top defensive role in a 4-4-2 formation. The defense allowed 11 goals and helped the team record 13 shutouts. “It was harder when I was younger because it was hard to accept the role of being a defender,” Wiet said of switching positions. “Now I realize how much I love defense. It was hard because the glory goes to the forwards even though the defense is usually the reason why the forwards can do what they do. It’s a lot more fun now and I’m a lot more willing to play any position because I realize more now than ever that it’s for the team.” “Matt has enough playing experience where I would even come to him and say, ‘here’s who we’re playing this week, this is what they’ve got, what do you think about this formation or that formation’ and he would give me his ideas and I would say ‘where do you see yourself in that formation,’” Sprunger said. “A lot of times he would say, I’ll play wherever you need me. It’s not about scoring goals, it’s not about the recognition, it’s just about where does the team need me to play.” Last season, the Wolves also reached the regional final, falling to eventual state champion Hilliard Davidson 1-0. “Matt has been a starter on the varsity team for four years,” Sprunger said. “He’s been a leader. He was named captain his junior and seniors year, but he was really a leader all four years.” Wiet, 18, plans on continuing his education and soccer career at Indiana University, as he recently made a verbal commitment to attend the major Division I school. Wiet also considered UCLA, Wake Forest, Ohio State and Cincinnati, and noted that the decision came down to Indiana and Wake Forest. Wiet follows Danny O’Rourke, who graduated from Kilbourne in 2001 after leading the Wolves to the 2000 state title and went on to enjoy an illustrious soccer career at Indiana. O’Rourke helped the Columbus Crew win the Major Soccer League title this season. “It’s been a dream of mine ever since I was a little kid,” Wiet said of Kilbourne senior Matt Weit

Photo by Suzie Feehan

the regional finals in each of the last three seasons, but the team simply couldn’t take the next step into the state tournament. And that is already proving to be Cuba’s lone soccer-related regret as she prepares to compete at the Division I college level. Her 3.5 grade point average and diligent studying has allowed her to move up her high school graduation date to mid-December, which will give her a greater chance to think about lost opportunities with the Cardinals and new ones with the Panthers. “I’m very proud that we were able to make it that far, but we had our hearts on getting to state this year,” says Cuba, whose younger sisters Brittany and Danielle have begun their soccer careers at Mooney. “It’s really a shame it couldn’t happen this year, especially since we had 11 seniors. “I’ve always been a very competitive player, which is one reason I chose Pittsburgh. The level of competition there is very high. Once I get to be the best at any level, I want to work my way back up at a new level of competition. I love the challenge that it provides me.” And her thoughts on the Ohio High Player of the Year Award? Typically humble. “I’m just very grateful to have come as far as I’ve come and I’m grateful for all the awards I’ve won,” she says. “I definitely couldn’t have done it without my teammates and family and coaches.” As for her sisters, she admits they aren’t quite as passionate about the sport as she is. “They look up to me in certain aspects of the game and they want to be successful,” she says. “I’ll be there to support them no matter what.” Cuba plans on studying medicine and nutrition at Pittsburgh with the hope of becoming a nutritionist. And if those she helps in that field become as healthy as her point totals on the soccer field, she’s going to be a heck of a success. — Marty Gitlin

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F a l l S p o r t s P l a y e r s o f t h e Ye a r Indiana. “I looked up to Danny O’Rourke and saw what he did. I guess I set my goals and went from there.” Wiet began playing the sport at age six as a member of the Worthington Youth Boosters Program, and then took the sport seriously at age 10 when he began playing club soccer. Wiet is currently playing under-18 soccer for the Crew Soccer Academy. The team traveled to the Lancaster National Soccer Center in Lancaster, Calif., Dec. 5-8 for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s winter showcase. Wiet credits former Crew standouts Rob Smith and Billy Thompson, and Sprunger for his development in the sport. Thompson, who attended UCLA and was named the collegiate Player of the Year in 1990, is a coach for the Crew Soccer Academy. “Coach Sprunger has been my guy for the past four years,” Wiet said. “He helps me out not just with soccer, he helps me out with life. It wasn’t that he helped me with soccer as much as becoming a person and realizing that what I was doing was the right thing and I needed to keep doing it.” Wiet also excels in the classroom where he boasts a 4.05 grade point average. — Frank DiRenna

Field Hockey

Leickly named All-American, leads team to state title game

hen it comes to the top field hockey player in Ohio this year, she is the most ‘likely’. Natasha Leickly – that is. The four-year starter for Columbus Academy led her Natasha team to a state runner-up finish with Leickly 14 goals and 13 assists, including the lone Academy goal in the state title Columbus Academy game. She was named to the All-Mid-State first team, was an All-Ohio honoree, was selected for the Futures Elite by USA Field Hockey and was recently named a West Region All-American while playing a variety of positions for the Lady Vikings this season. Although, a state championship game appearance seemed bleak as Columbus Academy (17-2-2) hit a midseason slump. But head coach Anne Horton points the leadership of the seniors and captains, namely Leickly, for the season’s turnaround. "We returned some veteran players so the girls had some high expectations but we blended some younger players in there with them so I think there was a little bit of a learning curve that the kids had underestimated," Horton said. "So, we had a mid-season challenge of trying to overcome some of those issues. I guess Natasha and her senior group pulled through and I think there were a lot of us that wondered if we could pull this thing off by season’s end. "Natasha’s leadership on and off the field was a major factor in making that happen. So, as the season unfolded we continued to grow and get stronger." Despite winning a state championship as a sophomore, it was Leickly’s goal to reach the state championship game her senior year

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before she even started high school. "I’ve always talked to the girls in my grade on the team since we were in seventh grade how we wanted to lead the team to the state championship our senior year and we were able to do that," she said. "We had a pretty young team this year and the captains and the seniors all got together after the slump we had in the middle of the season and we decided that we needed to push our team to the next level to get to that goal. The underColumbus Academy classmen understood senior Natasha how much it meant to us and we got there. Leickly We just kept improving throughout the entire season." And Leickly was willing to do anything to accomplish her team’s goal, including playing some positions she was not necessarily familiar with. "The one thing I was able to do with Tasha is I was able to play her in different positions on the field and she had to play completely different roles that she never had to play before," Horton explained. "She did it without asking any questions Photo by Joe Maoiriana/www.impactactionphotos.com and did it because it was best for the team. "She’s not selfish and is all about doing what she can to make the team better and in the meantime she’s really pushing herself personally. She’s quite a person." Though she filled in at several positions this season, Leickly is primarily a defender and that is what the University of Louisville recruited her as. She chose the Cardinals over Ohio State, Ohio and Cornell. "Louisville is a great school. It’s great academically and the coaches are amazing," Leickly said. "I started talking to them last year and I went down there for my official visit in September. The girls on the team are amazing and (head coach Pam Bustin) is great." A former defender herself, Bustin played for the USA National Field Hockey Team and is currently an assistant coach for the team. "It is just a perfect fit," Leickly said. Horton expects much of the same success once Leickly arrives on Louisville's campus. "She is going to do fantastic. She has worked hard to get her game to the level where it is right now and, obviously, her abilities were noticed by college coaches," said Horton. "Her work ethic, her commitment and her tenacious attitude is going to help her overcome that learning curve you have to get through as a young player coming in at the collegiate level. "I think she is going to find herself playing very early in her college career and I wouldn’t expect anything less." — Matt Natali

J J H U D D L E . C O M 13

Fall Sports State Recap

Maria Stein Marion Local won its second straight D-IV state volleyball title with a four-set win over Jackson Center.

he Buckeye State witnessed several stellar performances – both on individual and team levels – again this fall. The following is a look back at the finals in all 10 OHSAA sanctioned state championships. A roundup of the football playoff can be found on

page 23. For more information, please visit www.jjhuddle.com and www.ohsaa.org.

SOCCER

November 7-8 Columbus Crew Stadium

Boys Division I Cleveland St. Ignatius senior Denio Leone’s improbable first-half goal through a cluster of defenders stood up as the gamewinning goal to give the Wildcats a 1-0 win over Beavercreek in the Division I boys soccer championship game in Columbus Crew Stadium. In winning its third state championship (also in 2004 and 2005), top-ranked St. Ignatius (19-1-3) went 18-0-3 in its final 21 games of the season and out-scored its opponents 26-0 during its seven-game postseason run to the title. The shutout Friday night was the school-record 19th this season for junior goalkeeper Joe Kalt. Second-ranked Beavercreek finishes the season 20-2-1. The Beavers were making their second appearance in the state championship game (1990). Leone’s first-half goal came when St. Ignatius sophomore Ryan Ivansic lofted a corner kick into the penalty area that bounced around several Beavercreek defenders and

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Photo by Nick Falzerano

JJ H u ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

Fall Sports State Recap

STORY BY OHSAA REPORTS St. Ignatius forward Vaughn Spurrier before settling at the feet of Leone. Surrounded by defenders, Leone somehow managed to blast a shot past them all and into the back of the net to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Kalt and the St. Ignatius defense would make it hold up, limiting the Beavers to four shots in the second half, none of which were on goal. Kalt finished the night with one save. St. Ignatius out-shot Beavercreek 14-8 overall, including eight shots on goal, and led in corner kicks 6-3. Beavercreek junior goalkeeper Ben Dorn collected seven saves. Boys Division II Junior Jon Buscher converted Dayton Carroll’s final penalty kick to give his Patriots

Photo by Eric Frantz

for CVCA – were thrust into the spotlight. Segedi was inserted into the game for the shootout in place of senior Ryan Cook, who was in goal for regulation and both overtimes. Sheedy and Segedi both saved their opponents’ third penalty kick attempt, and after CVCA sent its fifth PK wide right and high, Buscher delivered on his chance to end the game. CVCA senior Matt Mason scored in the 32nd minute and Carroll junior Jeffrey Graham scored in the 38th to tie the game at 1-1. Carroll went up 2-1 in the 65th minute when senior Connor Morris scored, but CVCA answered 90 seconds later when Matt connected again. CVCA out-shot Carroll 14-10 and had two

Photo by Greg Beers

never having advanced past the regional finals, Ottawa Hills (20-3-0) knocked off the state’s No. 1-ranked team, Gates Mills Hawken, 3-0 in the state semifinal Tuesday and the state’s No. 2-ranked team, Worthington Christian, Friday to cap off the Golden Bears’ season-ending 14-game winning streak. Ottawa Hills, which overcame an 0-2-0 season start, also beat No. 6 Bluffton in the district final and shut out 17 of its 23 opponents. In the 51st minute, Ottawa Hills senior Ben Bryant took a 35-yard free kick from outside the top-left corner of the 18-yard box that Worthington Christian junior goalkeeper Alex Scott punched out of the penalty area. As the WC defense relaxed, Kuehnle rushed up on

Photo by Greg Beers

Dayton Carroll beat Cuy. Valley Christian Academy 3-2 in a shootout for the D-II state title and its first since 1980.

Middletown Fenwick won its first D-II state title in girls soccer. The Falcons had never won a district title prior to this season.

Akron Hoban entered the D-II state final with 18 straight wins and nine straight shutouts, but fell to Fenwick 1-0.

a 3-2 shootout win over defending state champion Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in the Division II boys soccer state championship game in soggy Columbus Crew Stadium. In a driving rain, CVCA (19-3-1) kicked first in the alternating kick shootout format and connected on three of its five penalty kicks, while Carroll (20-1-2) connected on four, including Buscher’s dramatic game-ender, to give the Patriots their second state title, the first coming in 1980. Neither team’s goalkeeper had a save during the 80 minute regulation and two 15 minute overtime periods as all four shots on goal found the back of the net. But in the shootout, the keepers – senior Ryan Sheedy for Carroll and senior backup Ryan Segedi

shot hit the post, while two more hit the cross bar. Carroll took five corner kicks compared to three for CVCA. Carroll senior Ben George, sophomore Justin Mitchell and Graham all converted penalty kicks during the shootout prior to Buscher’s game-winner.

the ball as it bounced outside the top-right corner of the 18. His line-drive shot hit the back-left corner of the net, stunning Scott and the WC defense. Entering the finals with a 14-game winning streak, Worthington Christian applied most of the pressure during the first half, out-shooting Ottawa Hills 9-4 in the first 40 minutes. The Warriors ended the game with a 14-12 shot advantage and nearly tied the game with 9:15 left when senior midfielder Eric Stevenson’s shot went off the fingertips of Ottawa Hills senior goalkeeper Kevin Elliott and bounced off the left post. Ottawa Hills’ Elliott ended the game with five saves. His first big one came with 12 minutes left in the first half when Stevenson sent a corner kick into the box that senior

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Boys Division III Senior midfielder Sam Kuehnle’s 30-yard strike in the 51st minute through an unsuspecting Worthington Christian defense gave Ottawa Hills a 1-0 win in the boys Division III soccer state championship game in rainsoaked Columbus Crew Stadium. It marks the first Toledo-area school to win a boys or girls soccer state championship. Unranked entering the tournament and

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Fall Sports State Recap

The Final Score

by Eric Frantz

Neighbors Beavercreek and Dayton Carroll each reach soccer finals COLUMBUS – Anyone who has ever driven on US Route 35 just east of Dayton on a weekend knows that there’s something going on at the intersection of Orchard Lane. That’s where the Beavercreek Soccer Association’s Ankeney Soccer Complex resides. Most days its 20 fields are filled. Friday, Nov. 7, the place was empty. Beavercreek and Carroll high schools, separated by a four-mile stretch of road, each played for state soccer championships that day at Crew Stadium. Carroll won its Division II title game against Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 3-2 in a shootout. Beavercreek dropped its D-I final to Cleveland St. Ignatius 1-0. Both teams got their starts in the same system – some even on the same team. Some live on the… “Same street,” Carroll junior Jon Buschur said. “(I’ve played with or against) every one of (Beavercreek’s players) and known them my whole life or at least since I started playing. That’s how it is.” So how many Beavercreek kids play for Carroll? “I don’t know off the top of my head, but quite a handful,” Carroll head coach Scott Molfenter said. ‘It’s a good chunk, no doubt.” Few programs in Ohio have had the success Carroll and Beavercreek have had historically. The fact that the schools pull kids from the same neighborhoods and can produce sustained excellence says a lot about the fertility of the plot of Greene and Montgomery counties the duo farms. It also says a lot about the feeder programs. And families. And foes. Carroll has always been a solid soccer program, but its no coincidence the Patriots broke through for their first state title since 1980 after joining the Greater Catholic League three years ago. During a 19-year stay in the Mid-Miami League, Carroll won 19 straight league titles and didn’t lose a league game. That’s right. The Patriots were 142-0-9 in MML games. Over that span Carroll also made four trips to the state semifinals, including three straight from 2003-05, and went 0-4. In their first time back with three seasons of GCL-seasoning, the Patriots are state champs. “The move to the GCL helped us no doubt,” Molfenter said. “I knew we had a chance and I knew we’d be competitive. These kids work hard.” Buschur, who scored the game-winning goal on the fifth and final penalty kick, agreed: “I won’t say we’re the most skilled team, but we’re the

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Photo by Eric Frantz

hardest working team. We’ve worked our (butts) off and it finally paid off.” Beavercreek has been money itself lately. The Beavers were playing in their first state final since 1990 but haven’t had many down seasons between then and now. Head coach John Guiliano has built a power in his 20 years at Creek and has a 258-88-63 record to prove it. The last three years the Beavers have won the Greater Western Ohio Conference Central Division, which is one of the state’s top leagues. Five of the GWOC’s six members have state history. Kettering Fairmont made the state tournament in 2006, while former state champion Centerville has more wins than any program in state history. Huber Heights Wayne has been to state three times and Clayton Northmont has two state titles. Creek failed to produce another championship for the conference, but it did reinforce Dayton’s stance as one of Ohio’s top – if not the best – soccer region. Said Buschur: “Everyone says Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland is where the great teams come from. I think we just put Dayton on the map.” In particular a seven-mile stretch. — OH

Luke Helmuth nearly headed in from just four yards away. Worthington Christian’s Stevenson posted a game-high seven shots, including four on goal. Scott had three saves.

Girls Division I In a rematch of the 2007 Division I girls soccer state championship, second-ranked Cincinnati St. Ursula Academy prevailed once again, beating sixth-ranked Strongsville 1-0 in Columbus Crew Stadium. St. Ursula, which beat Strongsville 2-0 in the 2007 finals, finished the season 20-0-3 and won its fourth girls soccer state title in school history to tie Clayton Northmont and Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit for the most girls soccer championships in OHSAA history. The Bulldogs went 20-1-2 last season for a two-year record of 40-1-5 and two state championships. St. Ursula’s first two state titles came in 1991 and 1993. Strongsville, which was also aiming for its fourth state title, wraps up its season 21-2-1. St. Ursula junior Elizabeth Burchenal scored a remarkable unassisted goal in the 44th minute with a drive into the 18-yard box through the upper-left corner. She sidestepped two Strongsville defenders and blasted a shot past Mustang senior goalkeeper Nicole Wood from nine yards out. Strongsville out-shot St. Ursula 15-6 and put seven shots on goal, but Bulldog junior goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe saved all seven. Strongsville took five corner kicks, while St. Ursula had none. Girls Division II Middletown Fenwick senior Alexis Heard scored with eight minutes left in the game and Akron Hoban missed a game-tying penalty kick with 1:12 remaining as the Falcons won the Division II girls soccer state championship 1-0 in Columbus Crew Stadium. Third-ranked Fenwick (19-4-0) had never advanced past the district tournament before this season, but went 7-0 in the postseason and outscored its opponents 16-2 along the way. Second-ranked Hoban (21-2-1) brought an 18-game winning streak into the state championship game and had shut out its last nine opponents, outscoring them 39-0. Entering the championship game, Hoban had been shut out only once this season, that coming in its fifth game of the regular season against Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, a 0-0 tie. There were not many scoring chances for either team in the first 60 minutes of the game, but Fenwick slowly began to gain the

JJ H u dd le’ s O h io High

Fall Sports State Recap majority of possession and in the 72nd minute found the back of the net. Fenwick freshman defender Selby Smith collected the ball on the midfield line and kicked it high and over several Hoban defenders toward Heard, who tapped it to her left, spun away from a defender and sent a left-footed shot into the right side of the net. Hoban immediately stepped up its pressure in the waning minutes and it resulted in Fenwick foul inside the 18-yard box with 1:12 left in the game. Hoban junior Juliana Libertin’s penalty kick went wide right, however, and the Fenwick did not allow another chance at overtime. Hoban out-shot Fenwick 14-7 and had more corner kicks, 4-2. There were seven shots on goal combined, with Hoban having

Photo by Nick Falzerano

St. John Central were other boys winners. Minster’s seventh championship in Division III moved the school into a first-place tie with Cleveland Heights Beaumont for most OHSAA girls cross country championships with seven. The Wildcats had 65 points and narrowly defeated Attica Seneca East, which had 69. Defending champion Versailles was third. Minster, which has won six of those championships in the last 10 years, was led by senior Lei Bornhorst, who was 22nd overall with a time of 19:45.47. Freshman Samantha Hoelscher placed 26th, sophomore Averie Bornhorst 37th, sophomore Sophia Richard 38th and junior Jessica Albers 40th. Barnesville senior Stephanie Morgan defended her individual championship when

Photo by Nick Falzerano

sophomore Michelle Thomas was second. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy was fourth, sixth and second, respectively, in the last three state tournaments before winning its first title in Division II. The Royals had 51 points to easily outdistance second-place and defending champion Kettering Archbishop Alter, which had 95. Senior Katie Gillespie led CVCA by winning the individual championship with an 18:00.43. Perry sophomore Abbie Clifford was second. Other top Royals were sophomore Joy Talbott (12th overall), senior Carolyn Case (13th) and sophomore Irene Frangos (20th). Woodridge joined Sandusky Perkins (1987-89) as the only Division II boys schools to win three straight cross country championships. The Bulldogs had 96 points

Photo by Nick Falzerano

Barnesville senior Stephanie Morgan, a Baylor recruit, defended her D-III cross country individual state title.

Mason captured its first D-I boys cross country state title. The Comets had never finished in the Top 10 at state until last year.

Kettering Alter finished runner-up in D-II for the fourth time in five years. The Knights were state champs last season.

four and Fenwick three. Fenwick junior goalkeeper Mary Turvy had four saves, two in each half. Hoban senior keeper Francesca Gironda had two saves, both in the first half.

she ran a 17:57.13. Seneca East sophomore Brittany Stockmaster was second. In Division I, Magnificat, the 2007 runnerup, won its second championship overall and first since 1995. Its 68 points easily topped runner-up North Canton Hoover, which had 121. Defending champion BrecksvilleBroadview Heights did not qualify this year. Leading the Blue Streaks was junior Madeline Chambers, who was fifth overall with an 18:17.91. Also for Magnificat, juniors Clare and Abby Fischer were 18th and 19th, and sophomore Katherine Stultz 29th. Cincinnati Oak Hills senior Brooklyne Ridder recaptured the individual championship that she won as a freshman. Runnerup the past two years, Ridder posted a winning time of 17:51.36. Cincinnati Glen Este

to edge Tipp City Tippecanoe, which had 99. Leading Woodridge was senior Joe White, who placed ninth overall with a time of 15:57.01. Other top finishers were senior Michael Rhodes (19th overall) and sophomore Jimmy Charles (32nd). Alliance Marlington senior Jarrod Eick, last year’s runner-up, was the individual champion, running a 15:38.05, while Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy senior Kyle Sullinger was second. Mason had never finished in the top 10 of the state tournament prior to last year, but the Comets took home the big-school boys championship with 100 points. Hilliard Davidson was second with 120 and defending champion Medina was fifth. Sophomore Zach Wills paced Mason by winning the individual championship with a 15:15.66.

CROSS COUNTRY November 1, 2008 Scioto Downs

Record-tying showings by the Minster girls and the Peninsula Woodridge boys highlighted the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Annual State Cross Country Tournaments, held at Scioto Downs in Columbus. Other girls champions were Rocky River Magnificat and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, while Mason and Bellaire

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J J H U D D L E . C O M 17

Fall Sports State Recap Twinsburg senior Stuart Edmonds was second, and defending champion Donny Roys, a senior from Medina, was sixth. The other top Comets placer was junior Matt Kahl, who was 29th overall. Bellaire St. John Central placed seventh, fifth and fourth, respectively, in the last three state tournaments before earning its first gold trophy this year in boys Division III. The Fighting Irish had 104 points, edging runnerup and two-time defending champion Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas, which had 115. Pacing St. John Central was senior Sam Foster, who finished third overall with a 15:58.21. Other top showings came from junior Luke Holubeck (26th overall) and junior Matthew Moscato (31st). Cincinnati Christian junior Isaiah Bragg was the individual cham-

Photo by Nick Falzerano

ance, Mason built an insurmountable lead and never looked back, taking home its first Division I girls golf state title on the Ohio State University’s Gray Course. The Comets’ 630 was 26 strokes better than runner-up Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit and tied Dublin Coffman’s 2000 squad for the lowest team score in Ohio girls state tournament history. Three Mason golfers placed in the top 10 overall standings: sophomore Erin Michel (third with a 153), senior Alexis Nelson (seventh with a 158), and sophomore Emily Wright (10th with a 160). Columbus Bishop Watterson shot a 656 and placed third after a tiebreaker with Walsh Jesuit. After placing fourth a year ago as a sophomore, Lancaster junior Samantha Swinehart

Photo by Nick Falzerano

Trailing Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown by two strokes after the first round, Poland Seminary got a 74 from Allison Mitzel and a 79 from Angela Molaskey to come from behind for the title. With a two-day total of 679, Poland Seminary wins the inaugural Div. II championship as one of nine teams making their first trips to the state championship. North Lima South Range senior Ariel Witmer took home medalist honors with a two-day record-low total of 139 that included an even-par 70 Friday and a one-under par 69 Saturday. Her 139 was one-stroke better than the previous state record of 140 by Heather Zielinski of Toledo Notre Dame Academy in 1998. Tippecanoe (334 second round, 680 total) was tied for second with Poland Seminary

Photo by Joe Maiorana/www.impactactionphotos.com

Woodridge became the second school in history to win three straight D-II state titles. The Bulldogs edged Tippecanoe 96-99.

Minster, led by senior Lei Bornhorst (above), captured its record-tying sevennth D-III girls cross country title.

Chaminade Julienne senior Sam Jandel won the D-II state title. His older sister Emma was a state champion in 2005.

pion. His 15:54.79 was less than a second better than East Canton senior Gabe Henning. The 5,000-meter OHSAA state tournaments were the 80th annual for the boys and the 31st annual for the girls. Sixteen teams and individuals that did not qualify with a team but placed in the top 16 in last week’s four regional tournaments participated in each race.

won medalist honors with a 145 two-day total. Swinehart was five strokes better than Pickerington North senior Courtney Yamamoto, who came in second. It marked the third consecutive year a golfer from Lancaster won medalist honors with Allie White winning back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Watterson senior Emily Ransone and Bowling Green senior Caroline Powers posted scores of 153 and 154 respectively to round out the top five.

after the first round and was paced Saturday by Catherine Reed’s 73 and Laura Murray’s 75. Hathaway Brown shot a 340 Saturday and finished in third place with a two-day total of 684. The only hole-in-one of the championship came from Kristen Helmsdoerfer, a junior at Lewis Center Olentangy Orange, who aced No. 2, a 166 yard par-3.

GOLF

October 10-11 & 17-18, 2008 Scarlet & Gray Golf Courses, OSU The Players Club at Foxfire Golf Club

Girls Division I In just its second state tournament appear-

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Girls Division II In its first trip to the state championship, Poland Seminary shot a final-round 333 to win the first OHSAA Division II girls golf title by one stroke over Tipp City Tippecanoe at the Ohio State University Gray course.

Boys Division I Cincinnati St. Xavier climbed six teams and overcame an eight stroke deficit on the tournament’s final day to capture its third Division I boys golf state title and first since 1995 at the Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course. The Bombers’ other championship

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Fall Sports State Recap came in 1957. St. Xavier was led by senior Sean Keating’s 158, which was good for third overall, and senior Matt Buse, who fired a 161. The Bombers’ 653 two-day total was two strokes better than defending champion Dublin Jerome, who sat atop the leaderboard with a two-shot lead after day one. Cleveland St. Ignatius also made a big jump in the standings to finish third with a 656 after placing eighth on the first day. West Chester Lakota West sophomore Korey Ward broke a first-day three-way tie in the medalist race with a 77 on the final day and a 151 two-day total to place first. Aaron Siekmann finished two strokes behind Ward giving the Dublin Jerome senior his third consecutive second place finish. David Tepe, a

Photo by Joe Maiorana/www.impactactionphotos.com

onships was Gahanna Columbus Academy from 1997-99. Already leading by nine strokes after round one, three University School golfers shot in the 70s Saturday, including Mac McLaughlin (74), Scott Smith (76) and Jake Heinen (79). Chaminade-Julienne senior Sam Jandel earned medalist honors with a two-day total of 145 (73-72). McLaughlin, last year’s medalist, tied for second among all golfers with a 152 (78-74) with Apple Creek Waynedale sophomore Grant Weaver (152, 79-73).

Boys Division III Sugarcreek Garaway shot a 312 on the second and final day of the OHSAA Boys Division III State Golf Tournament for a two-

Photo by Joe Maiorana/www.impactactionphotos.com

ond, while Lima Central Catholic junior Oliver Holtsberry came in third with a 151. Sugarcreek Garaway freshman Ryan Troyer helped his team’s title cause by coming in fourth with a 153 two-day total. Lima Central Catholic, who took a two shot lead into today’s final round, was hurt by a disqualification due to an improper scorecard and finished second in the team standings eight strokes behind Garaway. Gates Mills Gilmour Academy finished third with a 644.

GIRLS TENNIS

Oct. 17-18, 2008 Stickney Tennis Center

Four lopsided championship matches were won as the Ohio High School Athletic

Photo by Joe Maiorana/www.impactactionphotos.com

In its first trip to the state finals, Poland Seminary captured the D-II title with a one-stroke win over Tippecanoe.

West Chester Lakota West junior Ashleigh Witte and freshman Amanda Lin captured the D-I doubles title.

Three-time state qualifier and junior Kara Sherwood of Mentor won the school’s first tennis state title in D-I singles.

senior from Liberty Twp. Lakota East, Sean Keating, and John Beringer, a senior from Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, all carded a 158 score tying the three for third place.

day total of 631 at the Players Club at Foxfire Golf Club in Lockbourne to capture its second consecutive and third overall state championship. The Pirates’ other title came in 2004 giving the school three state championships in five years. Garaway was led by senior Kevin Miller, who took home medalist honors with a tournament best three-under 69 final round and a two-day total of 141. Miller also was the medalist a year ago, making him the 11th boys golfer in Ohio history to win back-to-back individual championships. Jason Kokrak of Warren John F. Kennedy was the last to complete the feat in 2001 and 2002. Nathan Tarter, a senior from Mogadore, shot a two-day total of 144 to come in sec-

Association wrapped up the girls state tennis championships at the Stickney Tennis Center on the campus of the Ohio State University. In Division I singles, Mentor junior Kara Sherwood, who was a quarterfinalist as a freshman and sophomore, topped Perrysburg senior Julia Metzger 6-2, 6-0 to give Mentor its first girls singles champion. Metzger finished third last year. Sherwood’s run to the state title came after she dropped her opening set in round one 60. She rebounded to win that match 0-6, 6-4, 6-2 and would not lose another set. The Division II singles championship saw Gates Mills Gilmour Academy freshman Lauren Davis overpower Cincinnati Summit Country Day senior Gabby Steele 6-4, 6-0. It marked the first girls singles titles for Gilmour

Division II Boys Taking home its third-consecutive state title, Hunting Valley University School fired a second-round 308 to run away with the OHSAA Boys Div. II golf championship by 20 strokes over second-place Dayton Chaminade-Julienne on the Ohio State University Scarlet course. It marks the fifth overall state title for University School to move into a tie for thirdplace for most boys state golf championships with Columbus Bishop Watterson. The last school to win three-straight state golf champi-

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J J H U D D L E . C O M 19

Fall Sports State Recap Academy, while Steele finishes her career with one state championship, two secondplace finishes and a fourth-place finish. West Chester Lakota West junior Ashleigh Witte and freshman Amanda Lin posted a 61, 6-4 win over Upper Arlington sophomore Nicole Flower and senior Stacey Cox to win the Division I doubles championship. It marked the first doubles title for Lakota West and denied Upper Arlington a fifth doubles championship. Junior Christina Raymond and senior Val Micek of Gahanna Columbus Academy notched a 6-2, 6-2 win over Chagrin Falls freshmen Anna Benson and Emily Mazzola to win the Division II doubles crown. It marked the first doubles title for Columbus Academy.

Photo by Joe Maiorana/www.impactactionphotos.com

Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown won its second state field hockey title, outscoring the opposition 21-2 in the postseason.

FIELD HOCKEY

Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2008 Upper Arlington High School

Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown, making its ninth appearance in the state tournament, won its second field hockey title with a 3-1 victory over Gahanna Columbus Academy at Upper Arlington High School. Halle Biggar, who scored a goal in the semifinals, added two more goals in the second half of the title game, while Rachel Koletsky added a goal and an assist for the Blazers. Koletsky assisted on Biggar’s first goal that put Hathaway Brown in front 2-0 just three minutes into the second half. After a goal from Academy’s Natasha Leickly with 25:09 left, Biggar responded with her second goal just 22 seconds later for the 3-1 cushion. Hathaway Brown won its other state title in

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2002 and concluded its season with a 17-2-1 mark, outscoring its opponents 21-2 in the postseason. Academy finished with a 17-2-2 mark and was seeking its ninth state title.

VOLLEYBALL

Nov. 6-8 Wright State Nutter Center

Division I Olmsted Falls won the Division I state volleyball title at Wright State University’s Nutter Center as the Bulldogs defeated the Cincinnati Ursuline Academy Lions in four games, 39-37, 16-25, 25-21, 25-12. The 39-37 first game score is the highest in a state tournament championship match since Ohio went to the rally scoring format in

Photo by Nick Falzerano

2000. Ursuline (28-1) was led by junior Jade Henderson with a double-double of 14 kills and 17 digs while senior Katie Schings had 12 kills, senior Holly Gottschall 11 kills and sophomore Christina Beer 10 kills. The Lions, in their ninth all-time apperance in the state final four, were attempting to win their fourth state title (1975, 1993, 2002) and finished runner-up for the fourth time (1995, 2001, 2003). Division II In a match that featured 37 ties and 19 lead changes, Parma Padua won its first state volleyball title as the Bruins (26-3) defeated Kettering Alter (20-9) in the Division II state volleyball finals at the Nutter Center.

Photo by Nick Falzerano

Parma Padua Franciscan captured its first D-II state title, while denying Alter in its bid for a fourth since 2002.

Marion Local returned just one starter from last year’s D-IV state title team, but defended its crown anyways.

2004. The previous high was 28-26, set on three different occasions. The first game featured 17 ties and six lead changes. It also marked the first time since Toledo St. Ursula in 2004 that a team from the Girls Greater Catholic League did not win Division I and, with Kettering Alter's loss to Parma Padua in Division II, is the first time that a team from the GGCL did not win a state title since 1992. Olmsted Falls, which finishes the season as the only undefeated team in all four divisions in Ohio at 29-0, was led by senior Lauren Whyte, who posted a double-double of 36 kills and 22 digs. Senior Brittany Snider also had a double-double of 19 kills and 17 digs while sophomore setter Dayna Roberts had 63 assists and 23 digs. The Bulldogs, making their first-ever appearance in the state title match, advanced to the state semifinals in 1977 and

Padua was led by junior Kaitlyn Leary, who posted a double-double of 23 kills and 13 digs. Junior Christie Fritsche added 13 kills while senior Meghan Cugliari recorded 48 assists and 13 digs and junior Lauren Goebel 19 digs. It was Padua first-ever trip to the state final four. Alter, which fell short of winning its fourth state title since 2002, was led by senior Annalyse Schmitt and sophomore Kelly Westerkamp, both with 11 kills. The Knights, who hadn't lost a state final four match in four trips (7-0) previously, won Division II state titles in 2002, 2003 and 2006. Division III Albany Alexander won its first state volleyball title night as the Spartans defeated the Gates Mills Gilmour Academy Lancers 25-17,

JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh

Fall Sports State Recap 27-25, 25-15 for the Division III crown at Wright State's Nutter Center. Alexander, who lost to Lima Central Catholic in last year's title match, was making its third straight appearance in the state final four while Gilmour Academy was in the final four for the second consecutive year. The Lancers, who defeated LCC Friday to advance to the championship, dropped a five-game decision to the Spartans in last year's Division III semifinals a year to the day of this year's matchup (November 8). Alexander had just a 36-27 kill advantage, but Gilmour Academy committed 28 attack errors compared to just 16 for the Spartans as they held a 12-4 block advantage. Senior Megan McCoy led Alexander (28-1) with 12 kills while senior Betsy Irwin added nine and senior Whitney Smith eight. Senior Sarah Radekin dished out 32 assists and senior Lauren Raines had 23 digs. Junior Mary Kramer paced Gilmour Academy (27-2) with eight kills and senior Madison Mawby chipped in seven. Senior Kelsey Rodgers had 20 assists along with 10 digs while seniors Raysa Sylvester and Alyssa Brigeman each had 14 digs.

Division IV Marion Local defended its Division IV state volleyball championship as the Flyers defeated the Jackson Center Tigers 23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-14 at Wright State's Nutter Center. The Flyers, who were No. 2 in the final coaches poll, avenged a five-game loss to the No. 1 ranked Tigers September 20 in Maria Stein. It was the second straight title for Marion Local, who was the state runner-up in 2002 and appeared in the state semifinals in 2000. Jackson Center was making its second consecutive appearance in the state final four and its first in the title match. The win for Marion Local gives the Midwest Athletic Conference 11 state crowns in the 34 years of the state tournament (Fort Recovery 1990; Marion Local 2007, 2008; Rockford Parkway 1996, 1997; St. Henry 1985, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1995, 2004). Since Ohio went to four divisions in volleyball in 1990, the Division IV state champion has come from the Northwest District every year except for 2003 and 2005. Sophomore Alyssa Winner led Marion Local (26-3) with a double-double of 29 kills and 19 digs while junior Leah Rosenbeck had 10 kills. Winner led all players, regardless of division, in kills at the state tournametn with 57 in two games. Senior Allissa Ware paced Jackson Center (28-2) with a double-double of 23 kills and 23 digs while junior Casey Gates also had a double-double of 22 kills and 26 digs. — OH

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

The Final Score

by Eric Frantz

Marion Local defends D-IV state volleyball title, starts dynasty? FAIRBORN - None of the folding chairs in the interview room at Wright State University’s Nutter Center have Amy Steininger’s name on them but one should. The Maria Stein Marion Local volleyball coach is going to be back. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Nutter Center, Marion Local defended its Division IV state volleyball title with a four-set win (23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-14) over fellow Western Ohio small school stalwart Jackson Center. Marion’s state title last year seemed inevitable. This year’s championship? Not so much. The Flyers lost nine seniors from last season’s 28-1 team and returned three girls – including one starter – who saw action in the state tournament. So much for rebuilding. “It’s amazing to think that we won this year with a different group,” Steininger said. “Really, this is an entirely different group. We have a different style of play, we don’t have anyone over 6-foot and we’re pretty young. We had four sophomores and a freshman starting out there.” Strap it up D-IV. The Flyers are building a dynasty. Long known for sustained success and state titles in football, boys basketball and girls basketball, Marion Local is now becoming a volleyball Mecca. I know what you’re thinking – just what the Flyers need, another sport to dominate. And they have. Last year, the Marion Local freshman, reserve and varsity teams lost a combined one game. This year they lost 10. At the junior high level, the eighth-grade went undefeated and the seventh-grade team had to cut 18 of the 33 girls that tried out. Class sizes at Marion Local range around 70. You do the math. “The girls are excited about volleyball at Marion Local,” Steininger said. “We have a fifth- and sixthgrade youth league that we started and I told the girls that you have all these little junior high girls and elementary girls in the stands watching you. They see you win state two years in a row and that’s exciting. They want to be a part of it. That’s exciting for a program – to have girls want to be a part of it.” Winning does remarkable things. And Marion Local has been good for a while. The Flyers have been ranked in the Top 10 of the final state coaches poll each of the last 10 years. Last year Marion Local was No. 1. This year they were No. 2. In 2000 Marion made its first trip to the state tournament. In 2002, the Flyers finished runner-up. Since taking over, Steininger has a six-year record

of 132-27. “It was special winning that state championship last year with all those seniors and it’s that same feeling this year,” Steininger said. “So proud. Once we got that state title last year it makes you want to get back so bad. It’s not a feeling of ‘We finally did it!’ It’s more of ‘Man, I want to do that again!’ It’s a such a great feeling.” What makes Marion’s second title even more amazing is the way it did it. Last year the Flyers relied on length and a sizeable front line (three girls over 6-foot) that included Division I recruits Megan Barhorst (Cleveland State) and Abby Niekamp (Florida State). This year the Flyers tallest player is 5-11. “Last year we relied more on our defense and our blocking,” senior Tara Hartings said. “This year we relied more on our offense and attacking.” Leading that attack was sophomore Alyssa Winner. A 5-9 flame thrower, Winner showed why she was voted first team All-Ohio by registering a tournament-best 57 kills in two games. Winner had 29 kills in the final. A third team All-Ohio pick last year, Winner was the lone returning starter heading into the season. In every one of Marion’s tournament games, Winner registered over 20 kills, including 32 in a five-set win over New Bremen in the sectional final. “She is definitely one of the best players in the state regardless of division,” Steininger said. “She can do it all. She’s just as good in the back row as she is in the front. She picked up her game tonight. She only had five hitting errors. Yesterday she had 12 and she was mad at those even though she had 28 kills. She’s kind of a perfectionist. She’s huge for us.” The turning point for Marion this season came following its first meeting with Jackson Center, a five-set loss on its home court. The Flyers lead the game 2-0 before dropping three straight sets. Since then they’ve grown. “Last year we thought we had a good chance of doing well and going far,” Steininger said. “This year coming in we knew we had a young team and we started off strong, but then there in September we lost to Jackson Center and that was our fist loss. “It hurt. I remember the girls crying in the locker room and I remember telling them that the next time we played them it was going to be in the state championship game. Back then (state) seemed ions away.” A return trip isn’t that tough to envision. — OH

J J H U D D L E . C O M 21

Ohio High Cup

St. Ignatius Takes Early Ohio High Cup Lead Wildcats lead sixth annual Ohio High Cup standings after fall sports season; Kettering Alter and Mason are close behind

or the sixth year in a row, Ohio High will present the Ohio High Cup to the school that scores the most points in Ohio High School Athletic Association-sanctioned state championship events. This competition is patterned after the Directors’ Cup standings for colleges and universities. In the Ohio High Cup competition, schools accumulate points by finishing in the top four at OHSAAsanctioned state team championships. Schools that win a state title are awarded five points. Runner-up teams receive three points, third-place teams get two points and fourth-place teams get one point. In sports where state semifinal teams tie for third, they each receive 1-1/2 points. In this issue, we tabulate the first set of standings for the 2008-09 school year. These standings 2003-04 include points awarded for the fall season state championships in Versailles boys and girls golf, boys and girls 2004-05 cross country, field hockey, boys Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit and girls soccer, volleyball and foot2005-06 ball. After the fall season, there is a Cincinnati St. Xavier tight race at the top of the stand2006-07 ings with Cleveland St. Ignatius sitKettering Alter ting at the top with 12 points after claiming state titles in football and 2007-08 boys soccer and a third-place finish Lakewood St. Edward in boys golf. Kettering Alter, buoyed by a football title, is second at 11. Mason, with state titles in boys cross country and girls golf, is third at 10. Versailles captured the first Ohio High Cup in 2003-04. In 2004-05, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit claimed the cup. In 2005-06, Cincinnati St. Xavier won the Ohio High Cup competition. In 2006-07, Kettering Alter won the cup. Last year, Lakewood St. Edward took the Ohio High Cup.

Previous Winners

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STORY BY STEVE HELWAGEN

Ohio High Cup Standings Here is a look at the Ohio High Cup standings for the fall season: 12 – Cleveland St. Ignatius (D-I football champions, D-I boys golf third, D-I boys soccer champions), 11 – Kettering Alter (D-IV football champions, D-II volleyball runner-up, D-II girls cross country runner-up), 10 -- Mason (D-I boys cross country champions, D-I girls golf champions). 8-1/2 – Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown (D-II girls golf third, field hockey champions, D-II girls soccer semifinalist). 8 -- Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (D-II girls cross country champions, D-II boys soccer runner-up), 6-1/2 – Maria Stein Marion Local (D-V football semifinalist, D-IV girls volleyball champions), 6 -- Cincinnati St. Ursula Academy (D-I girls golf fourth, D-I girls soccer champions), Columbus Academy (D-III football runner-up, field hockey runner-up), Minster (D-III girls cross country champions, D-III boys golf fourth), Peninsula Woodridge (D-II boys cross country champions, D-II girls cross country fourth), Tipp City Tippecanoe (D-II boys cross country second, D-II girls golf runner-up). 5 – Albany Alexander (D-III girls volleyball champions), Aurora (D-III football champions), Bellaire St. John Central (D-III boys cross country champions), Cincinnati St. Xavier (D-I boys golf champions), Dayton Carroll (D-II boys soccer champions), Delphos St. John’s (D-VI football champions), Gates Mills Gilmour Academy (D-III girls volleyball runner-up, D-III boys golf third), Hunting Valley University School (D-II boys golf champions), Middletown Fenwick (D-II girls soccer champions), Olmsted Falls (D-I girls volleyball champions), Parma Padua Franciscan (D-II girls volleyball champions), Poland Seminary (D-II girls golf champions), Rocky River Magnificat (D-I girls cross country champions), Sugarcreek Garaway (D-III boys golf champions), Sylvania Southview (D-II football champions), Toledo Ottawa Hills (D-III boys soccer champions), Youngstown Ursuline (D-V football champions). 4-1/2 – Akron Hoban (D-II football semifinalist, D-II girls soccer runner-up), Dublin Jerome (D-I boys golf runnerup, D-I boys soccer semifinalist), Lima Central Catholic (D-III girls volleyball semifinalist, D-III boys golf runner-up), North Canton Hoover (D-I football semifinalist, D-I girls cross country runner-up), 3-1/2 -- Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (D-II boys cross country fourth, D-I girls golf tied for second), Versailles (DIII girls volleyball semifinalist, D-III girls cross country third). 3 – Attica Seneca East (D-III girls cross country runner-up), Bascom Hopewell-Beavercreek (D-I boys soccer runner-up), Loudon (D-VI football runner-up), Cincinnati Anderson (D-II football runner-up), Cincinnati Elder (D-I football runner-up), Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame (D-I girls volleyball semifinalist, field hockey semifinalist), Cincinnati Ursuline (D-I girls volleyball runner-up), Columbus DeSales (D-II football semifinalist, D-II boys soccer semifinalist), Dayton Chaminade-Julienne (D-II boys golf runner-up), Findlay Liberty-Benton (D-V football runner-up), Hilliard Davidson (D-I boys cross country runner-up), Jackson Center (D-III girls volleyball runner-up), Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas (D-III boys cross country second), Strongsville (D-I girls soccer runner-up), Steubenville (D-IV football runner-up), Worthington Christian (D-III boys soccer runner-up). 2-1/2 – Columbus Watterson (D-I girls golf tied for second), Upper Arlington (D-I girls cross country fourth, D-I girls soccer semifinalist) . 2 – Defiance (D-II boys cross country third), Granville (D-II boys golf third), McDonald (D-III boys cross country third), Mentor (D-I boys cross country third), Springboro (D-I girls cross country third), West Milton Milton-Union (D-II girls cross country third). 1-1/2 – Baltimore Liberty Union (D-V football semifinalist), Bay Village Bay (D-II boys soccer semifinalist), Brecksville-Broadview Heights (D-I girls volleyball semifinalist), Cincinnati Madeira (D-II girls soccer semifinalist), Cincinnati Mariemont (D-III boys soccer semifinalist), Columbus Hartley (D-II girls volleyball semifinalist), Gates Mills Hawken (D-III boys soccer semifinalist), Genoa Area (D-IV football semifinalist), Malvern (D-VI football semifinalist), Mansfield Madison (D-II girls volleyball semifinalist), New Lexington (D-IV football semifinalist), New Washington Buckeye Central (D-IV girls volleyball semifinalist), Newark Catholic (D-IV girls volleyball semifinalist), Newark Licking Valley (D-III football semifinalist), Pickerington Central (D-I football semifinalist), Shaker Heights (D-I girls soccer semifinalist), Sidney Lehman Catholic (D-VI football semifinalist), Sunbury Big Walnut (D-III football semifinalist), Whitehouse Anthony Wayne (D-I boys soccer semifinalist), Worthington Thomas Worthington (field hockey semifinalist). 1 – Chagrin Falls (D-II boys golf fourth), Cincinnati Moeller (D-I boys golf fourth), Fort Loramie (D-III girls cross country fourth), Green (D-I boys cross country fourth), Russia (D-III boys cross country fourth), St. Paris Graham (D-II girls golf fourth).

JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

STORY BY OHIO HIGH STAFF

State Football Finals

Photos by Nick Falzerano and Stephanie Porter

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J J H U D D L E . C O M 23

State Football Finals Division I State Football Final

Cleveland St. Ignatius becomes first Ohio school to win 10 football state titles St. Ignatius 28, Elder 20; Nov. 29, 2008 @ Fawcett Stadium

Since OHSAA implemented the playoffs in 1972, no school had reached double-digit championships - until now

hen the St. Ignatius football players arrived at practice the Thursday before the Division state final, 300 former Wildcats greeted them. Never mind that it was Thanksgiving. They had a tradition to uphold. Some had played on one or more of the school’s nine state championship teams from 1988 to 2001. Others hadn’t experienced the thrill. But their mere presence inspired the current edition to greatness. That greatness was achieved at Canton Fawcett Stadium. The Wildcats clawed their way to a 28-20 triumph over persistent Elder to win their first Division I crown in seven years. And if the performance of one particular junior is any indication, an 11th state title for Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle could certainly be earned in 2009. That player is linebacker Scott McVey, who registered four-and-a-half of the team’s eight sacks, added an interception, and spent half the evening in the Panthers’ backfield. McVey was so impressive that Kyle compared him to Massillon Washington legend Chris Spielman, who was a standout linebacker at Ohio State and three-time Pro Bowler in the NFL. “There have been some great players who have played on this field over the year, kids like Spielman, and this is a kid who can be like that,” Kyle exclaimed. “He loves playing the game. Send him on a blitz - he loves it. Put him out in coverage and he’ll get an interception for you. He has skill, that’s for sure, but you can also see that he loves the game. There are certain players who are just playmakers and he’s one of them.” So is Wildcats quarterback Andrew Holland, who placed his team in control from the start by engineering a scoring drive on the game’s opening possession. He fired a pass over the middle to tight end Brendan Carozzoni, who shed a tackle and raced into the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown that made it 7-0. The Panthers responded by driving into Ignatius territory, but an interception by McVey (who else?) killed the march. Hot-Hand Holland continued to fire away, then stretched the advantage to 14-0 on a perfect arc pass to senior Connor Ryan. The Wildcats were merely revving up. They

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Photo by Stephanie Porter

Cleveland St. Ignatius senior quarterback Andrew Holland completed 12-of22 passes for 208 yards and three TDs.

“Our offensive coaches called some great routes. And I had great protection. I tried to look at it like a regular season game, but that was hard to do. The coaches did a great job putting together a scouting report.” St. Ignatius senior QB Andrew Holland

made it three touchdowns in three possessions on a 2-yard run by Pat Hinkel, a brilliant safety who doubles as a goal-line back. The teams traded interceptions in the second quarter, after which prolific Elder quarterback Mark Miller and receiver Tim O’Conner went to work. The pair hooked up on a 9-yard scoring strike with three minutes remaining in the first half to give their team hope. It would become a trend. Miller continued firing away the rest of the game and finished with Division I title game records of 28 completions and 401 passing yards. O’Conner contributed 15 receptions, which is a championship game record for all divisions. But the Panthers couldn’t recover until their defense did. And that defenses yielded another touchdown on the Wildcats’ first drive of the second half when Holland dumped a short pass to Ryan, who broke a tackle and raced 51 yards down the right sideline to increase the lead to 28-7. “Our offensive coaches called some great routes,” said Holland, who completed 12 of 22 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns. “And I had great protection. I tried to look at it like a regular season game, but that was hard to do. The coaches did a great job putting together a scouting report. (Elder) played a 4-2 and dropped their defensive backs, so those curl routes in the middle of the field were going to be open all night.” Elder finally found itself defensively from that point on, but it was a classic case of too little, too late. A 45-yard bomb from Miller to 210-pound wideout Josh Jones chopped its deficit to 28-13 (Ignatius safety Dan Fox blocked the extra point) with 17 seconds left in the third quarter. Miller added a 2-yard scoring pass to O’Conner with 1:22 remaining in the game. The Wildcats, however, clinched it when Tommy Hunt snagged the ensuing onside kick. The Panthers were out of timeouts, which allowed Ignatius to run out the clock. And when it was over, Elder coach Doug Ramsey reflected on McVey’s dominance. “That kid hurt us, man,” he said, shaking his head. “He’s a good blitzer. We knew coming in that he would be a tough guy to handle. He beat linemen, he beat backs, he beat tight ends. He’s a great football player. “He was the guy who we were most concerned with, but they did a good job of doing different things so we couldn’t say, ‘OK, he’s going to be here, so let’s do this.’ They moved him around a little bit from side to side.” McVey was quite appreciative. “All we were trying to do was pressure the quarterback,” he said. “After that, everything fell into place. We just used our speed around the edge and our defensive linemen definitely helped me.” On the other hand, the Wildcats could do nothing to slow down O’Conner. But from the morose look on his face following the game, it appeared he would have traded in all 15 of those receptions for a victory. “We worked hard, but we couldn’t get anything going in the first half,” he said. “We just gave up too many points defensively.” And because of it, the number of Wildcats who have experienced a state championship just grew yet again. — Marty Gitlin

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State Football Finals Division II State Football Final

Sylvania Southview scores first state championship in dramatic, historical fashion

Southview 29, Anderson 25; Nov. 28, 2008 @ Paul Brown Tiger Stadium

Cougars roll up 465 yards of offense against defending champs, score TD with 32 seconds left for the win

ylvania Southview head coach Jim Mayzes’ cell phone was ringing off the hook at the press conference following the Division II state championship game. And it probably won’t stop ringing anytime soon following a 29-25 win over defending state champion Cincinnati Anderson on Nov. 28 at Massillon’s Paul Brown Stadium in front of 5,953 fans in a game that featured big plays on offense, timely defense and critical special teams play. For Southview, it marked the first football state championship in school history. "Wow! What a fantastic battle back and forth," Mayzes said after the game. Said Anderson head coach Jeff Giesting: "I just thought we had some breakdowns tonight that cost us the game. But my hat off to them – they had a good game plan and put their guys in position to make plays and they did." Southview’s second team All-Ohio quarterback Alex Pidcock set a Division II state title game record with 333 yards passing on 23-of-30 attempts with three touchdowns passes and an interception. He also had 94 yards rushing on 23 carries and a touchdown on the ground. "The offensive line gave Pidcock some time back there and when they do that (the receivers) run around and get open," Mayzes said. Wide receiver Shaun Joplin also set a Division II state title game record with 166 yards and was on the receiving end of one of those Pidcock touchdown tosses. Southview (15-0) tallied 465 total yards in the game to Anderson’s 300 and the defense made some key plays at opportune times. "They have been making big plays all year," Mayzes said of his defense. "They are a bunch of tough-minded, hard-nosed kids on that defense. The defense played really well. To give up as many points as we did, we’re disappointed, but they hung in there and played tough until the last play." After both teams opened the game trading punts, Anderson (12-3) scored on a 31-yard Kyle Slater touchdown run capping a 6-play, 81-yard drive. Slater’s second TD run gave Anderson a 13-9 lead late in the second quarter. Southview took over with 1:25 left on its own 24

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

Photo by Stephanie Porter

Southview QB Alex Piddcock had a D-II title game record 333 yards passing and three TDs. He also ran for a TD and 94 yards.

"The last drive, when we scored, I think every kid on the offense knew we were going to. We’ve run the 2-minute drill lots of times and when we got the ball back with 2:33 left and two timeouts, we knew that was going to be plenty of time." Southview head coach Jim Mayzes

and quickly moved into Anderson territory where it faced third down and 23 from the Anderson 38 with 0:01 left in the half. After Anderson’s final timeout, Pidcock took a shot at the end zone as time expired on the half. The ball was tipped by Anderson defensive back Kevin Cripe and Southview freshman receiver Allen Gant was there for the deflection for the touchdown in the back of the end zone. The Hausfeld point after gave Southview a 16-13 lead at the break. "(The touchdown) gave us a little bit of momentum going into the half," Pidcock said. "We had confidence throughout the whole entire game that we were going to get it done and we did." Said Giesting: "You give up a score like we did at the half and that is hard to overcome when you have two evenly matched teams. That really hurt us. Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way in this game. That’s the way it is." Despite the score, Anderson fought back to take the lead late. Pidcock connected with Joplin for a 38-yard touchdown to put the Cougars up 22-16 with just over nine minutes left in the game. Anderson quarterback Daniel Rod was intercepted by Mo May on the next Anderson drive giving Southview the ball on its own 1-yard line. The Cougars were unable to move the ball and on fourth down Southview elected to take the safety as Pidcock stepped out of the back of the end on the punt play. Clinging to a 22-18 lead with 4:44 left, Southview kicked and Anderson took over on the Cougars 45 after a nice Luis Perez return. Six plays later, Slater sprinted 20 yards to pay dirt putting Anderson up 25-22 with 2:33 left in the game. Southview started at its own 20 after the touchback and moved the ball willingly as Pidcock spread the ball around to four different receivers including a 16-yard touchdown pass to Paul Murphey while escaping defenders to give Southview the 29-25 lead with 0:32 left in the game. "I just dropped back, looked around, didn’t really see anything at first, started scrambling and saw Murphey across the middle wide open so I tossed it out there for him and he got in the end zone," Pidcock said. "It was a great read by him to find the open gap." Anderson was able to take a final shot at the end zone as time expired but the Rod pass was deflected by Jimmy Hall to seal the win. "The last drive, when we scored, I think every kid on the offense knew we were going to," said Mayzes. "We’ve run the 2-minute drill lots of times and when we got the ball back with 2:33 left and two timeouts, we knew that was going to be plenty of time." Slater finished the game with 180 yards rushing on 26 attempts and three touchdowns. “Kyle works hard and we have an offensive line that is very talented and they are physical," Giesting said. "Kyle is a physical runner with some burst and our coaches do a great job with getting some schemes and getting him into space." Anderson won its first football state title last year in Giesting’s first season at the helm. "He is in the show two years in a row. What do you say about that?" Mayzes said about Giesting. "The guy is incredible." Southview made one other appearance in the championship game in 1999 falling to Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit 19-18. — Matt Natali

J J H U D D L E . C O M 25

State Football Finals Division III State Football Final

Aurora capitalizes on Eastmoor mistakes to claim school’s first football title Aurora 21, Eastmoor 10; Nov. 29, 2008 @ Fawcett Stadium

Greenmen turn three turnovers into 14 points; Eastmoor just second Columbus City League school to make finals

or the Aurora football team, it sure is easy being green. In the Division III state championship game, Sat., Nov. 29 at Canton's Fawcett Stadium, the Greenmen won their first state championship 21-10 over Columbus Eastmoor Academy in front of approximately 11,000 fans. Despite being outgained 297-191 in total offensive yards, Aurora (13-2) took advantage of three Eastmoor (13-2) turnovers getting, 14 points from takeaways as the Warriors were penalized 11 times for 78 yards. "It is definitely cliché but you've got to take care of the football and force those turnovers and we definitely did that tonight and have done that the whole playoff run," Aurora head coach Bob Mihalik said. Said Eastmoor head coach Jim Miranda: "We knew coming into the game that (Aurora) was very opportunistic and they were able to capitalize on turnovers. Unfortunately, we had quite a few (turnovers) in the first half." Aurora's second team All-Ohio quarterback Brendan Gallagher was 7-of-15 passing for 120 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. "The (offensive) line protected me pretty well," Gallagher said. "I don't think I was sacked once all day. They gave me some time to deliver the football and that was a plus for us." Steven Yung and Dee Brizzolara each had three catches and a touchdown apiece. Aurora got play underway on offense but Gallagher was picked by defensive back Alex Coleman on the fourth play of the game giving Eastmoor the ball on the Aurora 42. "I just had to erase it from my mind," Gallagher said of the early interception. "I put it in the back of my head because I needed to stay composed being the quarterback of the offense." The Warriors got points off the turnover on a 35yard Kwesi Sample field goal giving Eastmoor the early 3-0 lead. The first half remiained a stalemate until Yung recovered a Touche Hopkins fumble on the Eastmoor 49 giving Aurora a short field. On third down and 10, Gallagher connected with Yung in the flat and he raced to the end zone for to give the Greenmen a 7-3 lead with 8:39 left in the half.

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Photo by Stephanie Porter

Aurora senior quarterback Brendan Gallagher was 7-of-15 passing for 120 yards and two TDs.

"Our game plan was to make them go on long drives. We wanted to keep everything in front of us and if they were going to score we wanted them to go on those long drives. Yeah, they scored but they took almost the whole third quarter to do it.” Aurora head coach Bob Mihalik

Then the floodgates opened just before halftime as Aurora scored twice in the span of 21 seconds to take a commanding 21-3 lead into the break. On the first score, Eric Schultz barreled into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown run capping an 11-play, 79-yard drive giving the Greenmen a 14-3 advantage. Hopkins was flagged for a costly pass interference call on third down and 10, keeping that scoring drive alive and Aurora took advantage. On Eastmoor's first play from scrimmage on the following possession, Johnson was intercepted by Brizzolara and returned to the Warriors 26. Gallagher found Brizzolara on the first down for a 26-yard touchdown pass, giving Aurora the 21-3 lead and momentum heading into halftime. "High school football is so much about momentum and emotion and we got rolling pretty good there, our crowd got into it and we felt pretty good at that point," said Mihalik. But Aurora was far from thinking the game was over. "We watched (Eastmoor) on film and we saw they were a second half team," Brizzolara said. "We knew they were going to come out in the second half and play and they did." Eastmoor made an effort in the second half to make the game close scoring on its first possession after an Aurora punt. The Warriors put together a 12-play, 93-yard 6:18 scoring drive capped off by a Coleman 30-yard touchdown reception from Johnson on fourth down and long to close in 21-10 late in the third quarter. "We tried to settle our kids down and told them were still in the ballgame (at halftime) and we came back in the second half and did a much better job," Miranda said. "Our game plan was to make them go on long drives," explained Mihalik. "We wanted to keep everything in front of us and if they were going to score we wanted them to go on those long drives. Yeah, they scored but they took almost the whole third quarter to do it. Time was on our side at that point. "Hats off to them. They didn't go into their shell when it was 21-3 and they battled back like we knew they would." Eastmoor had a couple of opportunities in the final minutes of the game to put points on the board but couldn't convert on a fourth down deep in Aurora territory on one series and after and Aurora punt, Johnson was picked off by Schultz off a deflected pass intended for Hopkins sealing the win for the Greenmen. Johnson was 10-of-19 passing for 152 yards, the touchdown and two interceptions. Coleman had all 10 catches and the score. Hopkins finished with 72 yards rushing on 12 carries. Eastmoor was making its first state title game appearance in school history and is only the second Columbus City League school to reach the finals. Columbus Brookhaven defeated Avon Lake 4221 in 2004 to win the Division II state championship. "We know that we made history today," Coleman said. "We know we're only the second team in City League history to go to the state. Even though we are disappointed that we lost, we know what kind of team we are and we know that we made history. "Nobody can take that from us." — Matt Natali

JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

State Football Finals Division IV State Football Final

Alter adds football title to its trophy case; Knights net revenge, championship Alter 21, Steubenville 6; Nov. 28, 2008 @ Paul Brown Tiger Stadium

Steubenville falls to Knights in rematch of 2006 D-III state final; Big Red can’t get it going against Alter defense

lter High School has a reputable trophy case that contains over 10 state championship trophies for boys soccer, boys basketball, girls basketball, volleyball and girls cross country. Make room for another. Making its second appearance in the state football championships, Alter earned its first title on the gridiron Nov. 28 with a 21-6 win over previously unbeaten Steubenville in the Division IV state final at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium. “It means the world,” Alter senior Chris Borland said. “This isn’t just for the ’08 team, this is for any one who has ever played Alter football. It’s been too long.” “You think about some of the teams that have been through Alter – especially recently – and when you’re a little kid they just seem like gods,” senior Phillip Sowar added. “To think now that we’ve won a state championship and we’re considered the best of alltime is just unreal. I’m at a loss for words.” Said Alter coach Ed Domsitz: “It’s certainly the biggest win we’ve ever had.” The Knights (13-2) extracted revenge on Big Red (14-1) for a narrow 34-33 loss in the 2006 D-III state championship in Massillon. Alter also improved to 1-3 against Steubenville, counting losses in the 1987 D-II state semifinals and 1972 regular season. In the 2006 title game Alter fell behind big early and rallied only to see two missed PATs make the difference. This year the doubt was gone long before the final whistle. Alter entered the contest averaging 43 points per game thanks mostly to a devastating rushing attack led by seniors Austin Boucher (QB), Borland (RB) and Justin Hall (RB) and junior Cody Taulbee (RB). The quartet didn’t disappoint. Boucher, a Toledo recruit, improved to 26-1 as a starter, completing 7-of-11 passes for 81 yards and a TD. He also rushed 19 times for 111 yards and a TD. Borland, headed to Wisconsin, countered with a game-high 130 yards and a TD on 15 carries. Borland also caught Boucher’s TD pass. Hall added 48 yards on nine carries and Taulbee chipped in 16 yards on four touches as Alter rolled up 305 yards on the ground. The Knights finished with 415 yards of offense. Alter operated behind a huge offensive line led by three-year senior starter Evan Neff at center. Neff, the lone holdover from the 2006 starting line up, is head-

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

Photo by Nick Falzerano

Alter’s Justin Hall was upended here, but the Knights rushed for 303 yards on 48 carries (6.3 yards per carry average).

“Their defense played better than our offense. They came to play more than any other team we faced this year. They wanted it. Don’t get me wrong we wanted it too, but they had that little umpf at the end...” Steubenville junior QB Dwight Macon

ed to Ball State. “Poise and leadership,” Borland said. “Austin runs the offense and we never get down. We always know that it’s just a matter of time with our line.” “They kept fighting,” Steubenville linebacker and West Virginia recruit Branko Busick said. “We fought too, but they kept swinging.” The Knights took a 7-0 lead when Boucher hit Borland for an 8-yard TD pass with 4:54 to go in the first half. Following a 3-yard Boucher TD run, Borland scored on a 21-yard run as Alter took command 21-0 with 10:47 to play. Steubenville got on the board when standout junior QB Dwight Macon hit Trey Wiggins for a 33-yard TD pass with 9:43 left, but Big Red never seriously challenged thereafter. Steubenville in fact had trouble generating anything all game against an Alter defense that held Big Red to single digit scoring for the first time in 70 games. Steubenville last failed to reach double-digits in a 47-7 loss to Cleveland Benedictine in the 2003 D-III state semifinals. Big Red ended with 311 total yards, 138 of which came in the fourth quarter with the outcome decided. Macon, one of the state’s top college prospects in the Class of 2010, completed 11-of-22 passes for 196 yards and a TD and also tossed an interception. He carried the ball 14 times for a team-high 68 yards, which were anything but easy. Macon actually ran for about 400 yards in the game, but most were sideline to sideline as he tried to elude Alter defenders and make things happen. More often than not, Alter’s defense – which featured 10 new starters when the season began and 11 after Week 2 with the loss of linebacker Collin Boucher – held tight. With the loss Macon dropped to 26-2 as a starter. “Their defense played better than our offense,” Macon said. “They came to play more than any other team we faced this year. They wanted it.” Steubenville, one of Ohio’s most storied programs and just one of three with over 700 wins (Canton McKinley and Massillon Washington), failed in its attempt to win a fourth state title in its third different classification. The Big Red won the D-II state title in 1984 and back-to-back D-III titles in 2005 and 2006. It was just the fourth loss for Steubenville – against 80 wins – since the start of the 2003 season. Big Red owns six straight undefeated regular seasons. “When you’re in a championship game you have to give a championship effort,” head coach Reno Saccoccia said. “You can give a championship effort and still come up short. All I know is we worked our tails off for 15 weeks to get here and all great things have to come to and end. Our trail ended tonight to a good Alter team.” Alter’s title is the crowning achievement for a program on the rise. The Knights own 14 playoff appearances and five trips to the state semifinals, but since 2001 Alter has poured it on. The Knights are 88-18 since 2001 with two finals trips in three years. The only thing between Alter and an undefeated season this year was two forfeit losses for playing an ineligible third string senior in the season’s first two games. “This whole season has been kind of our redemption season,” Neff said. “We got a second shot at Coldwater and now Steubenville. That one-point loss two years ago was heart-breaking. Now to come back and beat them by two touchdowns is unbelievable. It still hasn’t really sunk in.” Maybe it will when the Knights walk by the trophy case. — Eric Frantz

J J H U D D L E . C O M 27

State Football Finals Division V State Football Final

Ursuline’s “D” shuts down Liberty-Benton’s high-octane “O” in clash of unbeatens

Ursuline 21, Liberty-Benton 0; Nov. 29, 2008 @ Paul Brown Tiger Stadium

Irish return two interceptions for TDs in final five minutes, record first shutout in D-V state final since 1985

indlay Liberty-Benton’s defense owned the headlines entering Saturday’s Division V state final. Following 48 minutes of play, Youngstown Ursuline’s defense got to tackle the championship trophy. Intercepting L-B quarterback Aaron Craft four times, including three in the fourth quarter, Ursuline used back-to-back interception returns for touchdowns by Dale Peterman and LaVance Turnage in the game’s final five minutes to win its second state title 21-0 at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. The Irish, who lost last year’s D-V final to Marion Local, also captured the D-IV title in 2000. Both teams entered 14-0. A crowd of 5,997 watched the Irish shut down and out an L-B offense that was averaging 43 points per game. It was the first shutout in a D-V state championship game since Newark Catholic beat Delphos Jefferson 19-0 in 1985. Craft, a junior and one of the state’s top quarterbacks, had thrown just three interceptions all year. “We have a sign in our locker room that says if you can’t run you don’t belong on the field,” Ursuline head coach Dan Reardon said. “These guys bought into that and they attacked the football. “Obviously this was a defensive game. They have an outstanding team and if you would have told me before the game we were going to shut them out I would have said you were crazy. We hang our hat on our defense and we’ve always done that. I'm extremely proud of what they accomplished today.” Said Craft, who accounted for 57 TDs and over 4,000 yards of total offense this year: “We moved the ball but we couldn’t finish and capitalize. Some stupid mistakes here and there and turnovers and not making the right reads and things caught up to us. We couldn’t finish. We couldn’t get over the hump. “They did a good job of reading where the ball was going to go and then flying there.” L-B’s defense, which had given up only 31 points all season heading into the final, played a solid game as well. The Eagles limited Ursuline to just 37 yards on 22 plays in the first half, which ended with the teams tied 0-0. Minus a three-play drive that yielded 74 yards and a 60-yard TD run

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“They have an outstanding team and if you would have told me before the game we were going to shut them out I would have said you were crazy. We hang our hat on our defense and we’ve always done that.” Ursuline head coach Dan Reardon

by Allen Jones to start the second half, the Irish managed just 78 yards in 40 plays against the Eagles (an average of 1.95 yards per play). L-B, which had a school record 10 shutouts this season, was allowing just 113.5 yards per game coming into the championship. Jones led the Irish with 97 hard-earned yards on 17 carries. Combined, Ursuline’s quarterbacks – Dawalyn Harper and Paul Kempe – were just 2-of9 for 28 yards and two interceptions. The Irish were 2-for-11 on third downs and had just eight first downs. Ursuline was penalized one time. “I thought it was going to be like a 54-52 barnburner,” Reardon said. “There were some things I thought we could take advantage of heading into the game against their defense and clearly we weren’t as successful as we thought we were going to be. “Neither of us did much on offense either way.” L-B’s offense had more yards than Ursuline (241-152) but couldn’t crack the end zone. Twice the Eagles ventured inside Ursuline’s 10-yardline only to be denied points. Craft was stopped on fourth and inches from the 4-yardline in the second quarter and L-B missed a field goal from the 7-yardine in the fourth. The Eagles ran 22 more plays than the Irish and led in time of possession 28:1419:46. Craft finished the game 18-of-27 for 152 yards. He also rushed a game-high 26 times for 49 yards. “I’ve never faced pressure like that,” Craft said. “They’ve got some big name guys over there who lived up to the hype. We heard about them all week and tried to attack them but they came up and made more plays than we did.” Said L-B head coach Tim Nichols: “Against a team like that you don’t get many opportunities. When we had some they didn’t go our way.” — Eric Frantz

Photo by Stephanie Porter

Liberty-Benton junior QB Aaron Craft (4) may have accounted for 57 TDs heading into the D-V final, but he didn’t add to that total. The Irish, led by Ohio State commit Jamel Turner (11), intercepted Craft four times. He had thrown three all season prior.

JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

State Football Finals Division VI State Football Final

Delphos St. John’s rolls to fifth state football title with dominating second half

St. John’s 34, Hopewell-Loudon 13; Nov. 29, 2008 @ Paul Brown Tiger Stadium

Blue Jays earn the Midwest Athletic Conference’s seventh football title in four years, their first since ‘05

he day after Thanksgiving is commonly known as ‘Black Friday’. But for the Delphos St. John’s football team, the day after Thanksgiving was Blue and Gold – state championship gold – that is. With a 34-14 win over previously unbeaten Bascom Hopewell-Loudon Nov. 28 at Massillon’s Paul Brown Stadium in the Division VI state championship game, DSJ hoisted the title trophy for the fifth time in school history and its first since 2005. DSJ (13-2) utilized a stifling defense to force three turnovers and hold H-L (14-1) to its lowest point total of the season. The Blue Jays also scored more points on H-L than any other team this season. "It was just a matter of staying determined," DSJ head coach Todd Schulte said. "We made some adjustments on defense in the second half and had a pretty solid option game that we were able to run today." DSJ was paced by junior quarterback Wes Ulm, who tallied 198 yards rushing on 24 carries and a touchdown running the option offense. Sophomore running back Jordan Leininger added 58 yards rushing on 18 carries and two touchdowns as well as a score through the air. DSJ outgained HL 389-238 in total yards but 116 of the Chieftains yards came on two of their first three drives. The Blue Jays also held a 32:11-15:59 advantage in time of possession. "Their kids made big plays," H-L head coach Brian Colatruglio said. "The quarterback and tailback made some clutch plays on offense and we just couldn’t get off the field on defense." All-Ohio quarterback Tyler Brown was 14-of-27 passing for 182 yards and a touchdown but threw two costly interceptions. "We just can’t turn the ball over," said Brown. "I don’t think I have thrown two picks in one game all year and you can’t throw picks." Wide receiver Jay Yost reeled in eight Brown passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. But the DSJ defense was suffocating holding the H-L spread offense scoreless in three quarters. "We made some coverage adjustments and it was just a matter of letting our kids execute," Schulte said. DSJ scored on its first possession of the game

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

Photo by Nick Falzerano

Junior quarterback Wes Ulm accounted for three TDs (threw for two) and rushed for 198 yards in the win.

"It was just a matter of staying determined. We made some adjustments on defense in the second half and had a pretty solid option game that we were able to run today." DSJ head coach Todd Schulte

setting the tone for the afternoon after H-L opened with a three-and-out deep in its own territory. The Blue Jays took over with good position at midfield and wasted no time marching to the end zone in five plays in just over 1:30. Leininger got his number called and took it in from nine yards to give the Blue Jays an early 7-0 lead. H-L settled in and answered orchestrating a 6play, 65-yard scoring drive capped off by a 9-yard Aaron Kapelka run to knot the score 7-7. DSJ went four-and-out on its next possession and H-L, with good field position on its own 49, capitalized scoring in nine plays on a drive that included a fourth down conversion. Brown connected with Yost for a 12-yard touchdown strike to give H-L a 14-7 lead in the final seconds of the first quarter. H-L senior linebacker Justin Hohman picked off Ulm giving the Chieftains the ball on the DSJ 47 but the Chieftains offense couldn’t capitalize as DSJ stuffed a Brown run on fourth down. With the door open, DSJ put together a 5-play, 58yard scoring drive to tie game 14-14 midway through the second quarter. Ulm raced 26 yards to the end zone on the scoring play as the game’s momentum took a sudden shift towards the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays took possession again on the H-L 31 after an errant Yost punt that netted just 11 yards. DSJ scored two plays later with Ulm finding senior wideout Jay Leininger in the end zone for a 26-yard scoring strike to take a 21-14 lead into halftime. "With the shank punt, we would have been content going in the half 14-14 but to be able to get that score knowing we were going to get the ball back, that’s huge," Schulte said. Added Colatruglio: "I thought we controlled the game in the first half and we were where we needed to be but that was a big swing there in the second quarter." DSJ opened up the second half with an astronomical 16-play scoring drive that ate 8:55 off the clock. On fourth down and five from the H-L 6, DSJ looked to Jordan Leininger again and he barreled into the end zone. Matt Brickner blocked the point after attempt and DSJ held a 27-14 lead late in the third quarter. "In my wildest dreams I didn’t think we would get a (16-play) drive to start the second half and score on fourth (down) and five. It was just a heck of a drive," said Schulte. Added Colatruglio: "They took the whole quarter and scored. Teams have said for a couple of years the best way to stop our offense is to try and run the ball and control the ball and score points and they did that." On the next possession, H-L was marching but the drive was cut short when a Brown pass intended for Yost was picked off by defensive back Brad Hoffman. DSJ was forced to punt but Brown was picked off again – this time by A.J. Klausing – giving the Blue Jays the ball on their own 46. In fitting fashion, DSJ put a bow on the championship three plays later when Ulm connected with Jordan Leininger for a 53-yard touchdown. "All week, people were asking me what the keys to the game were and I told everyone of them that is was going to be turnovers, special teams and third downs," Colatruglio said. "And I think we pretty much got handled in all of those areas. "If you are going to win against a great team you are going to need to win in two of those three areas and I think we (didn’t win any)." — Matt Natali

J J H U D D L E . C O M 29

O N N / O h i o H i g h A l l - O h i o Te a m Coldwater senior Tony Harlamert returns a kickoff 99 yards for a TD against Marion Local. He had 32 TDs and nine interceptions this season.

or the fifth year in a row, Ohio High magazine has selected the Ohio News Network/Ohio High All-Ohio football team. We have picked a full team on offense and defense and have also selected special award winners for the player of the year and coach of the year. The team was revealed during a broadcast on ONN. There are three repeat first-team performers from the 2007 ONN/Ohio High All-Ohio team. They are Cleveland Glenville offensive lineman Marcus Hall, Newark Licking Valley running back Storm Klein and Youngstown Mooney defensive tackle John Simon. The team is selected via nominations made by the staff of Ohio High/JJHuddle.com and Bucknuts.com. The following is a look at the All-Ohio first team and special award winners, followed by the second team and honorable mention picks (all players seniors unless noted).

Player of the Year

Erick Howard, North Canton Hoover – Howard (5-10, 210) led the Vikings to a 12-2 mark and their first trip to the state semifinals in more than 20 years before losing to Cleveland St. Ignatius. Howard finished with 2,387 yards on 404 carries (5.9 average) with 31 touchdowns.

Coach of the Year

Scott Bartholomew, Circleville Logan Elm – Bartholomew coached previously at Oak Hill and Williamsport Westfall before taking a year off from coaching. He returned this season at Logan Elm, which was 0-10 in 2007. He helped guide the Braves to a 12-1 mark and a berth in the Division III regional finals. Photo by Nick Fazlerano

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ONN/Ohio High All-Ohio Team

STORY BY STEVE HELWAGEN

All-Ohio First Team Offense

Q B : An dr ew Holland , C lev elan d S t. Ig nat ius – Holland (6-2, 200) has completed 167 of 283 passes for 2,817 yards and 28 touchdowns in leading St. Ignatius to the Division I state title. He played little in the second half of several St. Ignatius blowout wins, leading an offense scoring 33 points per game against one of Ohio’s toughest schedules. He threw for 208 yards and three TDs in his team’s state title game win over Cincinnati Elder. R B : S t orm K lein , N ewa rk L ick ing Valle y – Klein (6-2, 230) was the driving force as Licking Valley went 12-2 and reached the Division III state final for the second consecutive year. For the year, he had 1,811 yards and 28 touchdowns on 257 carries (7.0 average). In his storied four-year career, this Ohio State verbal set Central District records with 6,368 yards and 99 touchdowns. He also excelled at linebacker and as a punter. R B : Er ic k Howa rd , j uni or, Nor t h C ant on Hoov e r – See page 34. W R : C hr is Field s, P aines v ille Har v ey – Fields (6-1, 181) followed up a 57-catch performance as a junior by catching 61 passes for 810 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior. He also had a punt return for a score. Fields has committed to Ohio State. W R : J er a l d R o b i n s o n, j un i o r , Ca nt o n S o ut h – Robinson (6-2, 175) was a two-way star for Canton South, which went 8-4 and reached the second round of the Division III playoffs. During the regular season, Robinson caught 25 passes for 584 yards and six touchdowns. He also played safety and made 48 tackles with four interceptions and 15 pass break-ups. T E: Dan Fox, Clev e land S t . Ig n atiu s – Fox (6-4, 220) was a two-way standout at tight end and defensive back for the Division I state champions. The Notre Dame verbal intercepted a pass and blocked a kick in the team’s D-I state championship game win. O L: Mar c us Hall, Clev e land G lenv ille – Hall (66, 305) is considered one of the nation’s top offensive line prospects. He is mulling scholarship offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, LSU and Miami (Fla.). This road grader helped power Glenville to an 11-1 season and a Division I playoff berth. O L : C o r e y L i n s l e y , Y o u n gs t o w n B o a r d m a n – Linsley (6-3, 270) is considered one of the Midwest’s top offensive line prospects. He displays above average strength in his work as a lineman for Boardman. He has committed to Ohio State. O L: Adam B e llamy , A ur ora – Bellamy (6-4, 285) helped lead Aurora to a 13-2 record and the Division III state championship. He was a standout on both the offensive and defensive lines for Aurora. He has verbaled to Ohio State. O L: Jac k M ewh ort , To ledo S t. Joh n’ s – Mewhort (6-6, 295) overcame some injury issues to have another fine season at St. John’s. He could project as a center or guard at the college level. He has committed to Ohio State and will play in the Under Armour All-American Game. O L: And re w N or well, ju nior , C inc inn ati A nd er son – Norwell (6-7, 275) helped lead Anderson to a 12-3 record and a berth in the Division II state championship game for the second year in a row. Norwell helped pave the way for 1,000-yard rusher Daniel Rod. Anderson averaged 40 points and 282 rushing yards per game. A ll-Pu rpos e: Ton y Har lamer t , Cold wat er – Harlamert (6-0, 185) set a state record with a catch in 40 straight varsity games - and he's a running back. This season Harlamert had 32 TDs and nine interceptions. He also had a couple kickoff returns for TDs, including a 99-yard one against Marion Local. Harlamert had two interceptions against the Flyers as well. He also excels in basketball and baseball. Go figure.

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

All-Ohio First Team Defense

D L: M elv in Fellow s, G ar field Heig ht s – Fellows (6-5, 235) is considered Ohio’s top prospect in the senior class and will play in the Under Armour All-American Game in January. As a senior, he had 79 tackles, 10 sacks and 11 tackles-for-loss. This Ohio State verbal leaves Garfield Heights with a school-record 51 tackles-forloss and 24 sacks in his career. D L: J oh n Si mon, Y oun g stow n M ooney – Simon (6-3, 280) is considered one of the Midwest’s top defensive line prospects. He was the anchor on Mooney’s defensive line and helped lead the Cardinals to a 9-3 season and a berth in the second round of the Division IV playoffs. He has committed to Ohio State. D L: J ame l Tur ner , ju nior , Y oun gst own U rsu line – Turner (6-3, 215) had a breakthrough sophomore year with 23 sacks in 2007. This year, he led Ursuline to a 14-1 mark and the Division V state championship. In the title game, he had 10 tackles and 1-1/2 sacks. D L: P at M uld oon, C inc inn at i St . X av ier – Muldoon (6-4, 255) had 64 tackles, 30 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks for St. X. Over three years as a starter, Muldoon amassed 29 sacks and nearly 60 tackles-for-loss. He is considering scholarship offers from Virginia, Duke, Wisconsin, Boston College and Cincinnati. LB : Zac h B or en , Pic ker in gt on C ent r al – Boren (6-1, 240) tallied 170 tackles and 14 tackles-forloss on the season for Pickerington Central, which went 13-1 and reached the Division I state semifinals. Boren also led Pickerington Central in touchdowns as a running back on offense. L B : S c o t t M cV e y , C l e v e l a n d S t . I g n a t i u s – McVey (6-1, 215) was one-man wrecking crew at outside linebacker in St. Ignatius’ Division I state championship game win over Cincinnati Elder. He had eight tackles, including 4-1/2 sacks, and also had an interception. For the year, he had 94 tackles and 35 tackles-for-loss. L B : Jo r d a n H i c k s , j u n i o r , W e s t C h e s t e r L a k o t a W est – Hicks (6-2, 210) recorded 70 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions for the 6-4 Firebirds. He is being heavily recruited by the nation's top programs including Ohio State, Florida, Texas and Stanford. D B : J amie W ood, Pic ker ing t on Ce nt r al – Wood (6-2, 195) had two interceptions and 80 tackles for Pickerington Central. Wood, considered one of the Midwest’s top safety prospects, has committed to Ohio State. D B : J .T. T ur ner , M assillon W ashin g ton – Turner (6-2, 180) was a two-way standout for Massillon at running back and at defensive back. This Michigan verbal rushed for 1,380 yards and 11 touchdowns on 207 carries on offense. Defensively, he had 29 tackles, three interceptions (two for touchdowns) and a forced fumble for the Tigers, who went 6-5 and qualified for the D-I playoffs. D B : C. J. B ar net t, Clay t on N or th mont – Barnett (6-1, 187) is regarded as one of the nation’s top prospects at cornerback. This Ohio State verbal excelled in the secondary as Northmont posted a 10-2 record and reached the second round of the Division I playoffs. He had one interception on the season. D B : B obby Spe nc e, Ray lan d B uc key e Loc al – Spence (5-10, 160) tallied a whopping 11 interceptions for a 7-4 Buckeye Local team that reached the Division III playoffs. K -P: Tony Mili ano, j un ior , Cin c inna ti Eld er – Miliano (6-1, 170) tallied 73 points during the regular season for Elder, which went 13-2 and reached the Division I state title game. He was 49 of 50 on extra points and 8 of 11 on field goals with a long kick of 47 yards.

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O N N / O h i o H i g h A l l - O h i o Te a m

ONN/Ohio High All-Ohio Team All-Ohio Second Team Offense

Q B – Corey Lisowski, Dover R B – Fitzgerald Toussaint, Youngstown Liberty; Bud Golden, Cincinnati Sycamore W R – Joey Parris, Cleveland St. Ignatius; Darwin Cook, East Cleveland Shaw TE – Brian Wozniak, Loveland OL – Sam Longo, Bellbrook; Matt James, junior, Cincinnati St. Xavier; John Prior, Portsmouth; Austen Bujnoch, Cincinnati Elder; Tyler Anevski, Cincinnati Elder

All-Ohio Honorable Mention

All-Ohio Second Team Defense

DL – Ben Pike, Mentor; Jonathan Newsome, Cleveland Glenville; Cornelius Carradine, Cincinnati Taft; Darryl Baldwin, junior, Solon LB – Josh Kusan, Columbus DeSales; Adam Homan, Coldwater; Branko Busick, Steubenville; Chris Borland, Kettering Alter DB – Luke Kuechly, Cincinnati St. Xavier; Mike Edwards, Cleveland Glenville; D.J. Hunter, Middletown; Ricky Steele, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit K -P – Mario de la Rosa, Coldwater

Q B – Mike Miller, Cincinnati Elder; Neal Seaman, Louisville; Spencer Ware, junior, Cincinnati Princeton; Dwight Macon, junior, Steubenville; Aaron Craft, junior, Findlay Liberty-Benton; Micah Hyde, Fostoria; Eric Page, Holland Springfield; Austin Boucher, Kettering Alter; Terrence Owens, Cleveland Glenville; Mitchell Faine, junior, Ada; Zach Toerner, Hamilton Badin; Ryan O’Rourke, Avon; Courtney Avery, junior, Lexington; Alex Gillett, Clyde; Alex Pidcock, Sylvania Southview; Tyler Tucci, Malvern; Tyler Brown, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon; Eric Schwietermann, junior, Norwalk St. Paul R B – Chris Snook, Medina Highland; Tyler Williams, sophomore, Cincinnati Colerain; Ben Moody, Cortland Lakeview; John Pettigrew, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy; Seth Millar, Waynesville; Tyler Fortner, Tallmadge; Zac Kreakbaum, Akron Manchester; Mike Hanhauser, Perry W R – Connor Ryan, Cleveland St. Ignatius; Steve Hull, Cincinnati Sycamore; Josh Jones, Cincinnati Elder; Logan McCormick, Clinton-Massie; Tyler Runk, Cincinnati Anderson; Heath Jackson, Ada; Patrick White, Pickerington Central; Tyrone Williams, junior, East Cleveland Shaw T E – Alex Smith, junior, West Chester Lakota West; Blake Annen, Upper Arlington; Ted Bolser, Cincinnati Indian Hill; Javon Cornley, Columbus Northland; Dan France, North Royalton; Anthony Talbert, Cincinnati Winton Woods O L – Jake Brandt, Bexley; Jake Feldmeyer, Centerville; Nate Klatt, Canal Fulton Northwest; Pat McShane, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit; Hugh Thornton, Oberlin; Clinton Shepard, junior, Eaton D L – Adam Replogle, Centerville; J.T. Moore, junior, Youngstown Boardman; Derek Bryant, junior, Columbus Brookhaven; Nick Galvin, Cincinnati Moeller; Davon Coleman, Cleveland Glenville; Davon Custis, Columbus DeSales; Dan Sprague, Worthington Kilbourne; Sean McClellan, Cincinnati Moeller; Cody Pettit, Hamler Patrick Henry L B – Denicos Allen, Hamilton; Will Studlien, Sunbury Big Walnut; Ryan Cheek, Lancaster; Brad Rogers, Toledo Central Catholic; Marcus Vicars, Genoa D B – Chris Woods, Cincinnati Winton Woods; Armand Dehaney, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit; Jordan Barbina, Belmont Union Local; Seth White, Bexley; Ethan Kagy, Tiffin Columbian K -P – Skyler Roberts, Findlay; Nate Freese, Strongsville; Nick Gundel, junior, Beavercreek; Drew Basil, junior, Chillicothe

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O N N / O h i o H i g h A l l - O h i o P l a y e r o f t h e Ye a r

STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ

North Canton Hoover’s Howard earns state’s top individual honor

Howard lived with his head coach this season, while his mother was in Seattle.

RB/LB is first junior to win ONN/Ohio High Football Player of the Year award

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Photo by Stephanie Porter

Erick Howard

rick Howard almost didn’t play football in Ohio in 2008. Now he’s the state’s top player. A junior running back/linebacker at North Canton Hoover Hoover, Howard is the 2008 ONN/Ohio High Football Player of the Year. He is the first junior to receive the award. On the field, Howard (5-10, 210) produced dramatic results. Off the field he’s done the same. Howard lost his father in an industrial accident when he was just 8 years old. He played most of this past season without his mother. Howard’s sister, who lives in Seattle, was pregnant over the summer and his ONN/Ohio High mother, Ruth Howard, went out to stay Player Of The Year with her daughter before and after the pregnancy. She left in September. Winners Howard thought he might have to move to the Northwest with his mom and on a 2003 visit scouted out what could have been Ted Ginn Jr., his new football team. A poor turnout at a Cleveland Glenville weightlifting session turned him off. 2004 Howard pleaded with his mother to return to Ohio, and thanks to a plane tickTyrell Sutton, et purchased by his teammates, flew Akron Hoban home. 2005 Howard’s mother allowed him to live Ross Homan, with head coach Don Hertler Jr. in her Coldwater absence. 2006 Howard blossomed this fall. Brandon Saine, In leading the Vikings to a No.6 ranking in the final ONN/Ohio High Power Poll, a Piqua 12-1 record, a regional championship and 2007 an appearance in the Division I state Danny McCarthy, semifinals, Howard was his best on the Cardinal Mooney big stage. He rushed for 2,387 yards and 31 touchdowns on 404 carries (5.9 average). During the regular season, Howard had 2,322 all-purpose yards and 28 total TDs. Defensively, he registered 98 tackles, three sacks and eight tackles for loss. Howard was the team's third-leading tackler and had two interceptions. On Nov. 25, Howard was also named Ohio’s 22nd annual Mr. Football award winner. Just the second junior to earn the distinction (Euclid’s Robert Smith won in 1988-89), Howard is the first player from storied Stark County to win Mr. Football. He is the third player to win both ONN/Ohio POY and Mr. Football honors. The others are Tyrell Sutton (Akron Hoban, 2004) and Brandon Saine (Piqua, 2006). — OH

JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

STORY BY BRAD MORRIS

hen Scott Bartholomew came home from a Week 3 football game during the 2007 football season, the former Williamsport Westfall head football coach had already made a decision. “After I came home from watching Game 3, my wife looked at me and said, ‘You’re going to coach again, aren’t you’, and I said ‘Yes’,” Bartholomew said. The decision turned out to be a historical one. Bartholomew accepted the head coaching position at Circleville Logan Elm last February, a program that went winless (0-10) in 2007. The Braves made a complete turnaround this season, posting the school’s first-ever undefeated regular-season (10-0). Logan Elm captured the Mid-State League Buckeye Division championship, won (and hosted) the school’s first ever playoff game, advanced to the Division III regional finals and finished 12-1. The Cinderella turnaround lands Bartholomew the Huntington Bank/Ohio High Magazine football coach of the year honor. Bartholomew (125-64 career record) kept the decision quiet until after the 2007 season, when he looked at available opportunities. “The opportunity at Logan Elm came up and it was the best for my family,” Bartholomew said. “We could continue to live in Pickaway County, my girls could keep going to Westfall and we didn’t have to sell our house. “It was also a chance to rebuild a program and that was something that I was excited about having the chance to do.” Despite the appearance, the cupboard was not bare. Logan Elm has a history of football success, winning the MSL-Buckeye and making the playoffs in 2000 and 2001, and appearing in the postseason again in 2004. “One thing a lot of people overlook about Logan Elm everything at Logan Elm is they have a good football program,” Bartholomew said. “They were in a lot of games in 2007, and had the opportunity to win if they made a play here or there. It just didn’t happen. “This season, we had a lot of situations where we needed a play here or there to win and always seemed to get it. It was a karma thing. Every time we had an opportunity for something to happen, something good happened and it built our kids confidence up and got them to believe we could win.” The world “believe” is the key to the winning equation for the Braves. In the opening game of the season, Logan Elm pounced on four Washington Court House turnovers and built a 200 lead. Then came an important Washington Court House drive in the second quarter.

Scott Bartholomew

JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

O N N / O h i o H i g h A l l - O h i o C o a c h o f t h e Ye a r Bartholomew came to Logan Elm after one year away from the game.

Photo by Circleville Herald

“Court House was going down the field to try and score before halftime, and we told the kids that if we got a stop here that we would win the game,” Bartholomew said. “They did and we won the game. Something like that gets the kids to believe in themselves and the message our coaching staff was preaching.” The following week brought another challenge as Bartholomew went up against his former school. “I came from Westfall, knew the Westfall kids and our kids wanted to prove they were better,” Bartholomew said. “They came back twice from 11 points down to win the game.” Trailing 21-10 at halftime, the Braves were aided by a lighting delay that lasted over an hour. Bartholomew is often credited with firing up Logan Elm for the comeback. There is only one problem with that – he wasn’t in the locker room during the crucial time. “The first time we came out, we weren’t ready to go,” Bartholomew said. “The second time we came out and there was a different attitude. The kids were more confident and ready to go. I don’t know what happened, but they got themselves up. “During that second break, I was outside the locker room on a bench talking to (Westfall head coach Scott) Keller and catching up with him.” Keller was Bartholomew’s offensive coordinator at Westfall. Bartholomew is modest about the many awards he has won for the turnaround of Logan Elm, deflecting praise to different avenues, including his players and coaches. “I had a very special group of young men,” Bartholomew said. “They had very good work habits and they stepped up. Those 14 seniors are going to have a lot of success in life. “We also have a good coaching staff that has a lot of chemistry and shares a lot of the same philosophy. I’ve worked before with Coach (Todd) Seymour and Coach (Evan) Galluagher at Westfall. Coach (Rod) Smith and Coach (Jason) Shepherd

have a great love for Logan Elm football. I also had an opportunity a lot of people don’t have. It was very special for me to get to coach with my son, Wade. I got to watch and coach him at practice and during games at Westfall when he played, and this season, I got to coach with my son.” Bartholomew also credited the past coaching the players received, and reflected about what a positive attitude can do for a program and community instead of a negative one. “When we came here, we saw these kids were already taught and knew how to play football,” he

These kids knew how to play football, all we did was to mold an attitude and make these kids believe they could be successful.”

Logan Elm head coach Scott Bartholomew said. “The credit for that goes to the past coaching they received. When a coaching staff comes in, a year isn’t enough to teach everything. These kids knew how to play football, all we did was to mold an attitude and make these kids believe they could be successful. A coach gets too much of the blame when something goes bad and too much of the credit when things go well. That’s a part of the job and we accept it. We saw what a positive attitude can do this season, and that’s an important lesson for the kids, coaches, parents and fans. “In high school sports, sometimes we are quick to jump on the negative when it is much better to stay positive and have a better position to work out of.” — OH

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Ursuline’s Jamel Turner

amel Turner is quick at getting to quarterbacks and was quick in making a decision in terms of where he wanted to play college football. The defensive end/outside linebacker from Youngstown (Ohio) Ursuline High School announced on Dec. 16 that he is headed to Ohio State. The 6-2, 220-pound Turner is only a junior and became the second member of OSU’s 2010 recruiting class when he made his choice. (Defensive end J.T. Moore of Youngstown Boardman was the first OSU 2010 verbal and Cincinnati Anderson offensive lineman Andrew Norwell joined them on Feb. 4.). As a junior in 2008, Turner had 57 total tackles, 181/2 sacks, 26-1/2 tackles-for-loss, eight pass breakups, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles. He also had six receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown as a tight end in leading Ursuline to the Division V state championship. He established himself as one of the top recruits in Ohio and in the nation for the 2010 class. Turner was also a first-team All-USA pick, according to USA Today. That is a rarity for a junior. As a sophomore in 2007, Turner burst upon the scene with 78 total tackles, 23 sacks, 31 tackles-forloss, nine pass break-ups and was named first-team All-Ohio (an honor he repeated as a junior). Turner had over a dozen scholarship offers including Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois, LSU, West Virginia and Stanford before he selected the Buckeyes. He announced his choice at a press conference at his school. “After my sophomore season, I had a chance to meet a lot of great people associated with a lot of great football schools,” Turner said. “My coaches helped me make a schedule to visit schools and make an informed decision and I narrowed it down to Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Penn State. I wanted to get my decision over with early so I could focus on being a studentathlete after this great football season where we accomplished all our goals. I’m very excited to announce my decision.” Turner – smiling ear-to-ear – then reached under the table to pull out an Ohio State helmet. “I’ve talked to (OSU head coach Jim) Tressel and let him know that I will play for Ohio State University once I graduate from Ursuline,” Turner said. “I’m very excited about playing for Coach Tressel and representing Ohio State at the next level.

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“I spoke to Coach Tressel about a week before I committed. He was very excited. He said he was very happy to have me and he was excited.” Turner explained why he picked the Buckeyes over his impressive list of offers and why he made his decision so early. “I’ve been around a lot of places and I feel most comfortable at Ohio State,” Turner said. “When I was there, the atmosphere was like … it was just calling

“I’ve been around a lot of places and I feel most comfortable at Ohio State. When I was there, the atmosphere was like … it was just calling me. I knew Ohio State is where I wanted to go.” Ursuline junior Jamel Turner

me. I knew Ohio State is where I wanted to go. Going to games there is electrifying, and I like just everything about the facilities and the campus and the relationship with the coaches. I knew it was the place for me. “I don’t think it would be fair to other colleges if I had my mind made up and misled them and they kept recruiting me. This way they can spend their time going after other recruits and that’s another reason I made my decision early. But the biggest reason was I could just focus on other things besides recruiting.” Turner is also a standout basketball player and track athlete, but has known for quite some time that football is his future. He has been an Ohio State fan for several years and he is anxious to play for the Buckeyes. “It’s an honor to me,” Turner said. “It’s my home school being from Ohio. I’ll be in front of my family and friends. It’s an honor that I’m allowed to go there. It’s very exciting. Being from Ohio, there was a lot of pressure to go to Ohio State, but that didn’t factor into my decision. It was just that I’ll still be able to play in front of my family and I’ll still have people from high

school that I can call or come and talk to like my coaches. “And all of the tradition at Ohio State can’t be beat. It’s just a great place for football and everything else that you want to do.” Turner is primarily a rush end in high school, but most project him as an outside linebacker in college. However, since he’s already 220 pounds as a junior, there is a chance he will put on enough weight to be a defensive end in college. By comparison, OSU junior starting defensive end Thaddeus Gibson was just 205 when he arrived in Columbus and is now 250 pounds. “I’ll play wherever they need me,” Turner said. “I’m just going to come in and work hard. Most likely I’ll play outside linebacker. I’ll drop into coverage sometimes and rush the passer other times.” Turner is known best for his athletic ability, his deceptive power and his ability to make plays in the backfield. However, he talked about other attributes when asked to describe himself as a player. “A lot of excitement and a lot of emotion,” he said. “I love to play the game and throw my body around. I bring leadership and I lead by example.” Ursuline head coach Dan Reardon was like a proud father when Turner announced he would be playing for Ohio State. “It’s been a joy for me to watch Jamel mature over the last several years, and he’s been a very productive football player,” Reardon said. “He’s been a very productive basketball player, track, you name it. He’s good at anything he does. “That being said, I think he knows as well as anybody that he has a lot of improvement ahead of him. Coach Tressel and his staff are getting a very good player here who has a lot of upside because once they really get him in the weight room and develops even more than he has so far, the sky is the limit for him.” Some might argue that Ohio State could use Turner for the 2009 season. However, Reardon and Turner got big smiles on their faces when they were told that at least high school athletes can’t “go college” early. (Well, at least not early enough to miss their senior football season.) “I’m glad we have him for another year, absolutely,” Reardon said with a laugh. “We’re going to see if we can get him another birth certificate and maybe keep him another two or three more years. I don’t know if that will happen. He’s been very productive as you know with some of his stats. As a junior, I think teams

JJ H u ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

Ursuline’s Jamel Turner

STORY BY DAVE BIDDLE

JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

Turner has helped Youngstown Ursuline to two straight appearances in the Division V state final.

Photo by Gary Housteau

Photo by Stephanie Porter

were really focused on him. And he still produced – not as much as he did as a sophomore – but if you look at what he did for us as a team … we had guys across the board that were freed up or were single blocked because teams were focusing on Jamel.” Reardon actually coached under Tressel as a graduate assistant at Youngstown State, something that certainly didn’t hurt the relationship between Turner and OSU. “Yeah, I was able to work for Coach Tressel for three years at YSU and with that I was able to see firsthand how he runs a program and we try and model a lot of things after what he did and still does,” Reardon said. “So, I think Jamel will see some similarities. It’s a different scope, obviously, but he’s certainly going to a great place. “I’m thrilled for him. The thing I always tell kids is to make sure you’re comfortable with the coaching staff and as he mentioned he’s very comfortable with Coach Tressel and his staff. I’m not going to hide the fact that I’ve been a lifelong Buckeye fan, but I don’t think that played anything to do with his decision. I’m thrilled for him.” Turner was pleased that Ohio State started recruiting him early. He still remembers getting the first letter from OSU and when it finally felt realistic that he could one day play for the Buckeyes. “I’ve been getting letters from them since my sophomore year,” Turner said. “My coaches told me I would have to narrow it down to so many schools and then I would have to think about it. I took a lot of time and thought about it, and my visits to Ohio State and other schools helped me figure out which one I wanted to go to, and Ohio State was the leader. So, I pretty much had my mind made up for a long time.” Due to the limitations placed on college head coaches during the recruiting process, Turner says it’s difficult to really get to know them. However, he thinks he has a pretty good feel for Tressel. “We have a relationship,” Turner said. “Of course it’s going to get better, but pretty much everybody says he’s a great man. I believe that about him and I’m looking forward to playing for him and getting to know him even better. Playing for him is one of the reasons I picked Ohio State.” In the 2008 D-V state title game on Nov. 29 in Massillon, Ursuline emerged with a 21-0 victory over Findlay Liberty-Benton and Turner finished with 10 tackles, 1-1/2 sacks and a pass broken up. Moments after the final gun, Turner put an Ohio State sweatshirt over his high school jersey. His mind was already made up. “Yeah, pretty much,” Turner said. “I had faith and confidence that we were going to win the state championship and the night before the game, one of my friends said, ‘If that’s where you want to go, you should do it like that and give people a little preview.’ So, I took it into consideration.” Turner, who has been clocked as low as 4.61 seconds in the 40-yard dash, admits it was very hard to stay quiet and not let the cat out of the bag too early. “Yeah,” Turner said. “A lot of people were coming up to me and asking, ‘Did you commit yet? Did you commit yet?’ My coaches just told me to be patient.” Now, it is Ohio State’s coaches that have to be patient. The fall of 2010 seems like a long time away, but Turner is well worth the wait. — OH

J J H U D D L E . C O M 37

ESPN National Top 150 Recruits

LSU brings in ESPN’s top class; Ohio State rated ninth

hen the dust settled on national signing day, ESPN.com declared LSU as the mythical recruiting national champion for 2009. LSU’s No. 1-ranked class included 10 members of ESPN.com’s national top-150 list. Coach Les Myles’ class included three players ranked in the national top 10, including Texas athlete prospect Russell Shepard (No. 3), Texas safety Craig Loston (No. 7) and Louisiana wide receiver Rueben Randle (No. 10). Alabama was next with nine national top-150 prospects. The Crimson Tide lured three of the nation’s top 12 prospects in Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (No. 4), Florida running back Trent Richardson (No. 6) and Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker (No. 12). Texas was rated third with nine top150 prospects, including in-state quarterback Garrett Gilbert (No. 11). 1. LSU USC’s class was ranked fourth, 2. Alabama keyed by nine top-150 prospects. 3. Texas USC nabbed the nation’s top prospect 4. USC in California quarterback Matt Barkley. Finishing at No. 5 was Florida, 5. Florida which had eight top-150 prospects 6. Georgia among its 16 signees. The Gators 7. Miami (FL) snagged a pair of outstanding wide 8. Florida State receivers in Maryland’s Jelani Jenkins 9. Ohio State (No. 9) and Florida’s Andre Debose 10. Michigan (No. 17). Jenkins picked Florida over Penn State on signing day. Rounding out the rest of the ESPN.com top 10 were Georgia (eight top-150 signees), Miami (Fla.) (six top-150), Florida State (five top150), Ohio State (seven top-150) and Michigan (seven top-150). OSU’s seven national top-150 prospects included Florida running back Jaamal Berry (No. 22), Pennsylvania linebacker Dorian Bell (No. 33), Ohio defensive back C.J. Barnett (No. 88), Ohio defensive back Jamie Wood (No. 99), Ohio defensive end Melvin Fellows (No. 124), Ohio offensive lineman Jack Mewhort (No. 126) and Florida wide receiver Duron Carter (No. 131). Schools in this region that also fared well included Notre Dame at No. 14 and Penn State at No. 16. Within Ohio, five players were deemed as national top-150 picks. That includes Barnett from Clayton Northmont, Wood from Pickerington Central, Fellows from Garfield Heights, Mewhort from Toledo St. John’s and Michigan-bound safety Isaiah Bell (No. 94) from Youngstown Liberty. The list over these pages shows where ESPN.com’s national top 150 prospects signed on national signing day Feb. 4. — OH

Top 10 Classes

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Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75

Name Matt Barkley Manti Te'o Russell Shepard Dre Kirkpatrick Jacobbi McDaniel Trent Richardson Craig Loston Bryce Brown Jelani Jenkins Rueben Randle Garrett Gilbert D.J. Fluker Aaron Murray Devon Kennard Greg Reid Vontaze Burfict Andre Debose Stephon Gilmore Devonte Holloman Nico Johnson Ray Ray Armstrong Jaamal Berry Gary Brown Marlon Brown Darius Winston Sam Montgomery Mason Walters Frankie Telfort Paden Kelley Branden Smith Tyler Stockton Dorian Bell Eric Fields Xavier Su'a Filo Christine Michael A.J. McCarron Morrell Presley Darren Myles Jr. Joshua Downs Shaquelle Evans John Martinez Damario Jeffrey Kevin Graf Demonte McAllister Randall Carroll Austin Long Craig Roh Morgan Moses David Wilson Xavier Nixon Prince Kent Jarvis Giles Corey Adams Jamarkus McFarland Jheranie Boyd Chris Davenport Chris Burnette Tajh Boyd Jarvis Jones Nick Alajajian Darrell Givens Brandon McGee Montrell Conner Ryne Giddins Kendall Kelly Waushaun Ealey Je'Ron Stokes Chris Watt David Barrent Byron Moore Jr. Gerald Demps Chris Whaley Bryce McNeal Eric Shrive Steve Williams

Pos. QB OLB ATH CB DT RB S RB OLB WR QB OT QB DE CB ILB WR S S ILB ATH RB DT WR CB DE OC OLB OT CB DT OLB OLB OG RB QB TE S DT WR OG S OT DE WR OT DE OT RB OT CB RB DT DT WR DT OG QB OLB OG CB ATH RB DE WR RB WR OG OT ATH S RB WR OT CB

Ht. Wt. 6-3 222 6-2 230 6-1 183 6-2 180 6-0 267 5-11 219 6-2 193 6-0 215 6-1 210 6-3 195 6-4 195 6-7 325 6-1 198 6-3 257 5-9 175 6-2 244 6-0 180 6-1 190 6-2 213 6-2 220 6-4 215 5-11 185 6-3 275 6-5 205 6-0 180 6-4 220 6-7 285 5-11 197 6-6 280 5-11 170 6-1 290 6-0 220 6-1 210 6-4 285 5-11 202 6-4 190 6-4 215 6-1 175 6-2 267 6-1 203 6-2 264 6-3 210 6-6 302 6-3 260 5-11 175 6-5 270 6-4 225 6-7 347 5-11 190 6-6 263 6-2 193 5-11 180 6-3 277 6-3 280 6-2 184 6-4 318 6-2 300 6-1 208 6-3 220 6-4 280 6-1 170 5-11 186 6-2 210 6-4 225 6-3 210 5-11 205 6-1 178 6-3 280 6-8 290 6-1 188 5-11 190 6-3 220 6-2 170 6-7 285 5-10 165

State CA HI TX AL FL FL TX KS MD LA TX AL FL AZ GA CA FL SC SC AL FL FL FL TN AR SC TX FL TX GA NJ PA GA UT TX AL CA GA LA CA UT SC CA FL CA TN AZ VA VA NC GA FL AZ TX NC LA GA VA GA FL MD FL LA FL AL GA PA IL IA CA GA TX MN PA TX

Grade 93 93 92 92 91 91 90 88 87 86 86 86 86 86 85 85 85 85 84 84 84 84 84 84 84 84 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 82 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82

Verbal USC Notre Dame LSU Alabama Florida State Alabama LSU Unsigned Florida LSU Texas Alabama Georgia USC Florida State USC Florida South Carolina South Carolina Alabama Miami (Fla.) Ohio State Florida Georgia Arkansas LSU Texas USC Texas Georgia Notre Dame Ohio State Unsigned UCLA Texas A&M Alabama UCLA Tennessee LSU Notre Dame USC South Carolina USC Florida State UCLA Georgia Michigan Virginia Virginia Tech Florida Miami (Fla.) South Carolina Arizona State Oklahoma North Carolina LSU Georgia Clemson USC Florida Penn State Miami (Fla.) Mississippi State South Florida Alabama Georgia Michigan Notre Dame Michigan State USC Florida State Texas Clemson Penn State Oklahoma

JJ H u dd le’s O h io High

ESPN National Top 150 Recruits

76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150

Darius Jones Thomas Ashcraft Marcus Davis Jamal Reid Gabe Lynn Quinton Washington Janzen Jackson Ronnell Lewis Chris Payne Tom Wort Donte Moss Terry Hawthorne C.J. Barnett Donavan Tate Zaccheus Mason T.J. McDonald Bryn Renner Barrett Matthews Isaiah Bell Richard Brehaut Rolando Jefferson Eugene Smith Craig Drummond Jamie Wood Justin Chaisson Denard Robinson Alshon Jeffrey Logan Thomas Michael Ford Kevin Brent Stavion Lowe Sheldon Richardson Jon Bostic Zach Martin Tana Patrick NuʼKeese Richardson Edwin Baker Pat Patterson Patrick Hall Kraig Appleton Keenan Davis Jamal Patterson Lamar Miller Chad Bumphis Malliciah Goodman Tariq Allen Cierre Wood Zach Mettenberger Melvin Fellows Tom Savage Jack Mewhort David Oku Moses Alipate Mike Gillislee Dexter Moody Duron Carter Drayton Calhoun Kevin Minter Antwan Lowery E.J. Banks Cliff Harris Josh Nunes Dexter Pratt D.J. Adams J.K. Jay Jordan Reed Petey Smith Eddie Lacy Tate Forcier Dyron Dye Morgan Newton Jerod Askew Taylor Lewan Alex Okafor Willie Downs

ATH OG CB ATH S OG CB OLB S OLB DE WR CB ATH TE S QB TE S QB WR QB DE S DE ATH WR ATH RB S OG DT OLB OT OLB WR RB WR ATH WR WR WR RB ATH DE ILB ATH QB DE QB OC RB QB RB OLB WR ATH OLB DT ATH CB QB RB RB OT QB ILB RB QB DE QB OLB OT DE DE

5-11 175 6-5 290 6-1 185 6-0 175 6-0 185 6-3 315 6-0 174 6-2 225 5-10 190 6-1 210 6-4 225 6-0 168 6-1 175 6-2 195 6-5 240 6-2 182 6-3 190 6-2 225 6-1 209 6-2 206 6-2 190 6-3 171 6-5 260 6-2 185 6-5 252 6-0 179 6-3 214 6-6 233 5-10 200 6-0 200 6-6 294 6-4 280 6-1 218 6-5 260 6-3 215 5-1 160 5-10 205 6-3 218 6-1 185 6-3 190 6-3 195 6-2 194 5-11 205 5-10 180 6-4 258 6-2 231 6-0 192 6-5 229 6-4 245 6-4 217 6-6 285 5-9 178 6-5 225 6-0 190 6-2 215 6-3 183 6-0 175 6-0 231 6-4 330 6-0 185 6-0 165 6-3 208 6-2 225 5-10 210 6-7 280 6-3 230 6-0 240 5-11 200 6-1 183 6-4 215 6-4 215 6-0 214 6-6 270 6-4 216 6-4 225

Red = Ohio State Recruit; Blue = Ohio Senior

JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

TX TX TX FL OK SC LA OK SC TX NC IL OH GA TN CA VA TX OH CA CA FL IL OH NV FL SC VA LA TX TX MO FL IN AL FL MI MS CA IL IA GA FL MS SC TX CA GA OH PA OH OK MN FL GA FL GA GA FL PA CA CA TX GA SC CT FL LA CA FL IN VA AZ TX TX

82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 82 81 82 82 82 82 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 82 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 80 80 80 80

Baylor Texas Texas Miami (Fla.) Oklahoma Michigan Tennessee Oklahoma South Car. Oklahoma N. Carolina Illinois Ohio State N. Carolina Mississippi USC N. Carolina Texas Michigan UCLA Unsigned West Virginia None Ohio State Oklahoma Michigan South Car. Virginia Tech LSU Oklahoma LSU Missouri Florida Notre Dame Alabama Tennessee Mich. State Mississippi USC Wisconsin Iowa Stanford Miami (Fla.) Miss. State Clemson Texas Notre Dame Georgia Ohio State Rutgers Ohio State Unsigned Minnesota Florida Georgia Ohio State LSU LSU Rutgers Notre Dame Oregon Stanford Okla. State Maryland Clemson Florida Alabama Alabama Michigan Miami (Fla.) Kentucky Tennessee Michigan Texas Florida State

Photo by Gary Housteau

STORY BY STEVE HELWAGEN

Garfield Heights senior Melvin Fellows is ranked the No. 124 prospect by ESPN.

J J H U D D L E . C O M 39

Ohio 2009 Football Recruits

STORY BY STEVE HELWAGEN

A look at where Ohio’s top 2009 football prospects signed

t was another strong year for football talent in Ohio in 2009. This is a year that will be remembered by early commitments as well as for Ohio State’s dominance – yet again – at the top of the class. Ohio State, for instance, had close to 90 percent of its class in place by September. The only late commitment from Ohio for the Buckeyes came from Cleveland Glenville offensive lineman Marcus Hall, rated as the state’s No. 3 prospect. He made his announcement on Feb. 2, two days before national signing day. He picked OSU over Miami (Fla.), Tennessee and Michigan. Otherwise, much of the suspense for the key Ohio prospects was over by the end of the football season. Hall’s verbal put the finishing touches on an Ohio State class that included the state’s top six prospects, eight of the top 10 and 12 of the top 21. In all, the Buckeyes got 14 of their 2009 signees from their home state. OSU ended up with the nation’s ninth-best recruiting class, according to ESPN.com. Besides Hall, OSU’s other top-10 Ohio signees included Garfield Heights defensive end Melvin Fellows (No. 1), Newark Licking Valley linebacker Storm Klein (No. 2), Youngstown Mooney defensive tackle John Simon (No. 4), Cleveland Glenville defensive end Jonathan Newsome (No. 5), Painesville Harvey wide receiver Chris Fields (No. 6), Clayton Northmont defensive back C.J. Barnett (No. 8) and Pickerington Central defensive back Jamie Wood (No. 9). Fellows played through knee problems to enjoy a fine senior season at Garfield Heights. Over his last two seasons of varsity football, Klein was known mostly for his exploits at running back. He ended his career as the central Ohio alltime leader in rushing yards and touchdowns. But he figures to play linebacker at the college level. Klein, Simon, Barnett and Wood have all enrolled or will enroll at OSU in time to participate in spring football. Cincinnati, coming off the school’s first 11-win season and its first-ever BCS bowl berth at the Orange Bowl, signed 14 Ohio players among its 28-man class. Two of UC’s key names came from hometown high school Winton Woods as defensive back Chris Williams (No. 40) and linebacker Maalik Bomar (No. 48) signed with the Bearcats. Michigan State, led by former OSU assistant

JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

Photo by Nick Falzerano

Northmont’s C.J. Barnett signs with Ohio State at the GWOC Signing Day Ceremony. coach Mark Dantonio, did a bang-up job in Ohio. The Spartans picked up seven Ohio players on signing day. That group was led by Hamilton defensive back Denicos Allen (No. 17), North Royalton lineman Dan France (No. 32), Pickerington Central defensive back Patrick White (No. 35) and Shaker Heights offensive lineman Henry Conway (No. 54). Indiana signed five Ohio prospects, most notable among them was Centerville defensive tackle Tyler Replogle (No. 18). Illinois had four Ohio signees. That group included Oberlin Meridian offensive lineman Hugh Thornton (No. 20) and Cincinnati Sycamore running back Bud Golden (No. 24). Michigan, Northwestern and Wisconsin all had three Ohio signees. Michigan grabbed Massillon Washington defensive back Justin Turner (No. 7), Youngstown Liberty safety Isaiah Bell (No. 32) and Youngstown Liberty running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (No. 49). Northwestern’s haul included Columbus DeSales defensive end Davon Custis (No. 19) and Sunbury Big Walnut linebacker Will Studlien (No. 26). Wisconsin had a pair of top-50 Ohio prospects

in Cincinnati St. Xavier defensive end Pat Muldoon (No. 29) and Loveland tight end Brian Wozniak (No. 30). Two of the state’s top 15 prospects remained unsigned following signing day. Cincinnati Taft defensive Cornelius Carradine (No. 10) still was working through academic issues, while Middletown defensive back D.J. Hunter (No. 12) had off-the-field concerns. Other notable top-30 signees included: Cleveland South quarterback Devontae Payne (No. 11), Eastern Michigan; Portsmouth offensive lineman John Prior (No. 14), Florida State; Cleveland St. Ignatius linebacker Dan Fox (No. 22), Notre Dame; Trotwood-Madison offensive lineman Chris Freeman (No. 23), Missouri; Dresden Tri-Valley offensive guard Ryan Spiker (No. 25), West Virginia; Bexley lineman Jake Brandt (No. 27), Akron; Dublin Scioto defensive back Bradley McDougald (No. 28), Kansas. McDougald originally committed to Ohio State. But after serving a three-game suspension for offthe-field issues, his offer was pulled and he ended up signing with Kansas instead. The graphic with this story looks at where the state’s top 100 prospects ended up. — OH

J J H U D D L E . C O M 41

Ohio 2009 Football Recruits

Where Ohio’s top 2009 football prospects signed

Rank 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64.

Name Melvin Fellows Storm Klein Marcus Hall John Simon Jonathan Newsome Chris Fields Justin Turner C.J. Barnett Jamie Wood Cornelius Carradine Devontae Payne D.J. Hunter Adam Bellamy John Prior Corey Linsley Sam Longo Denicos Allen Tyler Replogle Davon Custis Hugh Thornton Jack Mewhort Dan Fox Chris Freeman Bud Golden Ryan Spiker Will Studlien Jake Brandt Bradley McDougald Pat Muldoon Brian Wozniak Dan France Isaiah Bell Darrell Mason Chris Snook Patrick White Mike Edwards Branko Busick Aaron Mershman Adam Homan Chris Williams Terrence Davis Nate Cadogan Bryan Underwood Luke Kuechly Javon Cornley Jeffvon Gill Jairus Campbell Maalik Bomar Fitzgerald Toussaint Eric Finklea Patrick Nicely Zach Boren Dannell Smith Henry Conway Jeff Walker Rickey Steele Erique Geiger Jowan Peterson Jeff Duckworth Cody Pettit Alex Bayer Nate Klatt Austin Moore Steve Hull

42 J J H U D D L E . C O M

Ht. 6-4 6-3 6-6 6-3 6-4 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-6 5-11 6-4 6-6 ½ 6-4 6-5 6-0 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-4 6-8 6-0 6-3 6-2 6-6 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-6 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-3 6-3 5-11 6-4 6-6 5-10 6-3 6-5 6-0 6-5 6-2 5-10 6-1 6-4 6-1 6-4 6-7 6-4 5-11 5-9 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-4 6-0 6-1

Wt. 255 225 300 277 230 180 190 175 190 230 220 190 280 280 275 260 205 265 220 285 285 215 325 190 290 220 260 190 240 225 260 200 210 220 175 185 220 200 233 175 205 265 175 215 215 190 240 185 180 185 210 230 290 320 200 175 200 180 200 230 225 270 210 190

Pos. DE LB OL DT DE/LB WR ATH CB DB DE QB DB DT/OT OL OG OL/DT ATH DT DE OL C LB/DE OL ATH OG LB DT/OL ATH DE TE ATH S ATH LB CB/WR CB LB QB FB DB/WR WR DE/OL WR LB DE ATH DE/OLB LB RB RB QB LB/FB OT OL WR CB SS S WR DL/OL TE C LB S

School/Verbal Garfield Heights/Ohio State Newark Licking Valley/Ohio State Cleveland Glenville/Ohio State Youngstown Mooney/Ohio State Cleveland Glenville/Ohio State Painesville Harvey/Ohio State Massillon Washington/Michigan Clayton Northmont/Ohio State Pickerington Central/Ohio State Cincinnati Taft/Unsigned Cleveland South/Eastern Michigan Middletown/Unsigned Aurora/Ohio State Portsmouth/Florida State Youngstown Boardman/Ohio State Bellbrook/Ohio State Hamilton/Michigan State Centerville/Indiana Columbus DeSales/Northwestern Oberlin Meridian/Illinois Toledo St. Johnʼs/Ohio State Cleveland St Ignatius/Notre Dame Trotwood-Madison/Missouri Cincinnati Sycamore/Illinois Dresden Tri-Valley/West Virginia Big Walnut/Northwestern Bexley/Akron Dublin Scioto/Kansas Cincinnati St. Xavier/Wisconsin Loveland/Wisconsin North Royalton/Michigan State Youngstown Liberty/Michigan Youngstown Ursuline/Unsigned Medina Highland/West Virginia Pickerington Central/Michigan State Cleveland Glenville/Tennessee Steubenville/West Virginia Bowling Green/Ball State Coldwater/Ohio State Cincinnati Winton Woods/Cincinnati Fremont Ross/Unsigned Portsmouth/Penn State Cleveland Heights/N.C. State Cincinnati St. Xavier/Boston College Columbus Northland/Indiana Euclid/Buffalo Pickerington North/Bowling Green Cincinnati Winton Woods/Cincinnati Youngstown Liberty/Michigan Cincinnati Woodward/Miami (Ohio) Willoughby South/Akron Pickerington Central/Ohio State. Newark/Unsigned Shaker Heights/Michigan State Akron Coventry/Kent State Cincinnati LaSalle/Toledo Huber Heights Wayne/Bowling Green Cincinnati Withrow/Unsigned Cincinnati Princeton/Wisconsin Hamler Patrick Henry/Central Michigan Pickerington North/Bowling Green Canal Fulton Northwest/Michigan State Springfield/Miami (Ohio) Cincinnati Sycamore/Illinois

Storm Klein

Marcus Hall

Justin Turner

John Simon

Cory Linsley

Jamie Wood

Chris Freeman

Dan France

Dan Fox

Sam Longo

Sub

Chris Snook

Will Studlien

Patrick White

Isaiah Bell

JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh

Ohio 2009 Football Recruits 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103.

Perez Ashford Travis Freeman Sean McClellan Brad Rogers Aunre Davis Brian Slack John Taylor Jake Feldmeyer T.J. Fatinikun Terrence Owens Ricky Harris Brian Winters Tyler Scott Dan Molls Mark Mays Dale Peterman RonCarlos Hilton Brian Smith Dwayne Woods Adam Schneid Brandon Rice Ryan Cheek Patrick Tucker Zakee Bashir Xavier Fugate Mark Hilty Anthony Talbert Blake Fraley Randy Greenwood Danny Gress Zac Costlow Ryan OʼRourke Lamar Passmore Zach Murray Kevan Westenbarger Jeremy Johnson Trae Tiller Tommie McBride Tyler Arend

5-11 6-1 6-4 5-10 6-0 6-5 6-5 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-1½ 5-8 5-11 5-11 6-7 6-0 6-4 5-9 6-1 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-3 5-11 6-0 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-5

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

175 190 241 220 180 225 260 260 225 160 320 280 230 215 170 175 185 280 200 265 180 225 200 210 210 235 220 205 175 205 235 190 190 230 190 310 235 205 290

WR LB/S DE RB ATH TE ATH OL OLB/DE QB OL DT LB LB CB CB/WR SS OL LB OL RB LB ATH OLB/DE ATH DT TE/DE LB ATH LB DE/DT QB WR LB QB OL DE/DT LB OL

Shaker Heights/Northern Illinois Cleveland Glenville/Ball State Cincinnati Moeller/Cincinnati Toledo Central Catholic/Iowa Warren Harding/Bowling Green Akron Hoban/Miami (Ohio) North Olmsted/Ohio U. Centerville/Illinois Perrysburg/Bowling Green Cleveland Glenville/Toledo Westerville South/Cincinnati Hudson/Kent State Warren Howland/Northwestern Padua Franciscan/Ohio U. Clayton Northmont/Bowling Green Youngstown Ursuline/Syracuse Youngstown East/Unsigned Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit/Northwestern Cincinnati Princeton/Bowling Green Avon Lake/Central Michigan Columbus Walnut Ridge/Unsigned Lancaster/N.C. State Cincinnati Princeton/Unsigned Columbus Walnut Ridge/Marshall Trenton Edgewood/Unsigned Olentangy Liberty/Cincinnati Cincinnati Winton Woods/N.C. State Hilliard Darby/Akron Mentor Lake Catholic/Akron Clayton Northmont/Kent State Steubenville Central Catholic/Pennsylvania Avon/Unsigned Cincinnati Sycamore/Unsigned Avon Lake/Wofford McComb/Unsigned Springfield/Buffalo Canal Winchester Harvest Prep/Unsigned Cincinnati Taft/Unsigned Paulding/Kent State

Tyler Scott

Dale Peterman

RonCarlos Hilton

Aunrae Davis

Perez Ashford

Randy Greenwood

Ricky Harris

Jeffvon Gill

J J H U D D L E . C O M 43

Ohio 2010 Football Recruits

he state of Ohio is always loaded with outstanding high school football talent and the Buckeye State Class of 2010 is certainly no exception. Once again this year, some of the top junior prospects in the Midwest reside in Ohio and there is some outstanding depth of talent behind those top prospects. It is a very tight call at the top of this list. A case could be made for any of the top four prospects to be the No. 1 pick. At this point, though, our choice for the No. 1 prospect in the 2010 class is West Chester Lakota West linebacker Jordan Hicks. The next three prospects would be Cincinnati St. Xavier offensive lineman Matt James, Cincinnati Anderson offensive lineman Andrew Norwell and Youngstown Ursuline defensive end Jamel Turner. Norwell and Turner have each made early verbal commitments to Ohio State. Youngstown Boardman defensive end J.T. Moore, who checks in at No. 8, is also verbaled for the Buckeyes. Here is a look at the early Ohio High top 25 football prospects for 2010, followed by more players to keep in mind. * 1. Jordan Hicks, linebacker, West Chester Lakota West – Hicks (6-2, 210) recorded 70 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions for the 6-4 Firebirds. He has offers from a host of schools from across the country. He lists Texas as an early favorite. However, he did attend several Ohio State games this past year. Those two have offered as have Kentucky, Notre Dame, Alabama, Stanford, Illinois, Florida, West Virginia, Michigan State and Cincinnati. * 2. Matt James, offensive lineman, Cincinnati St. Xavier – James (6-8, 280) is a tremendous tackle prospect. He had early offers from Ohio State, Tennessee, Michigan, Cincinnati and others. * 3. Andrew Norwell, offensive lineman, Cincinnati Anderson – Norwell (6-6, 270) helped Anderson post a 12-3 record and reach the Division II state championship game for the second year in a row. He had a number of early offers

44 J J H U D D L E . C O M

– including Cincinnati, Indiana and Duke – before verbaling to Ohio State on Feb. 4. * 4. Jamel Turner, defensive end, Youngstown Ursuline – Turner (6-3, 220, 4.6) selected Ohio State in mid-December over scholarship offers from LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois, West Virginia and others. Turner registered over 40 sacks during his sophomore and junior seasons, helping Ursuline claim the Division V state title this past fall.

Check JJHuddle.com daily for breaking recruiting information * 5. Darryl Baldwin, defensive end, Solon – Baldwin (6-6, 240) is an outstanding talent who has the potential to develop into an impact defender at the next level. His scholarship offer list includes West Virginia, Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois and Stanford. * 6. Scott McVey, linebacker, Cleveland St. Ignatius – McVey (6-1, 220) McVey was one-man wrecking crew at outside linebacker in St. Ignatius’ Division I state championship game win over Cincinnati Elder. He had eight tackles, including 41/2 sacks, and also had an interception. For the year, he had 94 tackles and 35 tackles-for-loss. * 7. Christian Bryant, athlete, Cleveland Glenville – Bryant (5-11, 174, 4.53) may be the next top defensive back recruit out of Glenville. He was impressive at the U.S. Army All-American combine down in San Antonio. Bryant reportedly has been offered by Tennessee and Stanford and is also looking at Cincinnati, Ohio State, Maryland, Michigan State, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. * 8. J.T. Moore, defensive end, Youngstown Boardman – Moore (6-4, 230, 4.75) was the first 2010 player to commit to Ohio State. He verbaled to the Buckeyes in mid-September. * 9. Andrew Donnal, offensive lineman, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne – Donnal (6-7, 265, 4.9) is a rangy offensive line prospect. He already had offers from the likes of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State and Stanford. He was also looking at Ohio State and Wisconsin.

* 10. Spencer Ware, quarterback/athlete prospect, Cincinnati Princeton – Ware (5-11, 210, 4.48) threw for 2,200 yards and rushed for almost 1,000 during his sophomore season. Ware also threw for just under 2,000 yards during his junior season. Ware does not have prototype size, which has many schools recruiting him as an “athlete’ including Ohio State. The Buckeyes have offered a scholarship as have Cincinnati, Wisconsin and Duke. * 11. Erick Howard, running back, North Canton Hoover – Howard (5-10, 210, 4.5) led the Vikings to a 12-2 mark and their first trip to the state semifinals in more than 20 years before losing to Cleveland St. Ignatius. Howard finished with 2,387 yards on 404 carries (5.9 average) with 31 touchdowns. He was the the Mr. Football award winner, according to The Associated Press. Howard had academic issues in his first two years of high school, but seems to be working hard to improve his academic profile. Once that issue gets squared away, he could see a number of scholarship offers. Right now, he lists Ohio State, Michigan, Cincinnati, Michigan State and North Carolina as his top schools. * 12. Alex Smith, tight end, West Chester Lakota West – Smith (6-5, 230, 4.87) had 25 catches for 375 yards and caught four touchdown passes as a junior. He already has offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky to name a few. * 13. Derrick Bryant, defensive end, Columbus Brookhaven – Bryant (6-4, 230, 4.55) transferred from Gahanna Lincoln to nearby Brookhaven before his junior year. Bryant recorded 85 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior. He already has offers from the likes of Illinois and Michigan. He is also interested in Michigan State, Notre Dame and Ohio State, among others. * 14. Tyrone Williams, wide receiver, East Cleveland Shaw – Williams (6-5, 200) had 11 catches for 372 yards (33.8 average) and eight touchdowns over four games as a junior before going down with a knee injury. He lists Ohio State, USC, West Virginia, Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State as his top schools. * 15. Jayrone Elliott, outside linebacker, Cleveland Glenville – Elliott (6-3, 205, 4.65) tallied close to 50 tackles, 15 sacks and one interception as a junior for the Tarblooders. Elliott is interested in Ohio State, Michigan State, Illinois, Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia, Tennessee, Miami (Fla.) and a few others. * 16. Jerald Robinson, wide receiver, Canton South – Robinson (6-2, 180, 4.55) had over 500 receiving yards during his sophomore season. He caught 48 passes for close to 600 yards through 10 regular season games his junior season. Robinson has committed to the University of Michigan. * 17. Latwan Anderson, safety, Lakewood St. Edward – Anderson (5-11, 185, 4.4) played safety, wide receiver and returned punts and kickoffs during his junior season. He intercepted four passes. He reportedly has early offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Cincinnati and Virginia. He is also interested in Ohio State. * 18. Justin Favors, tight end, TrotwoodMadison – Favors (6-2, 227, 4.8) is a transfer from Dayton Meadowdale. His stock has been quickly on the rise this off-season.

JJ H u ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

Ohio 2010 Football Recruits

STORY BY BILL KURELIC

Anderson junior offensive lineman Andrew Norwell (middle) has committed to Ohio State.

Photo by Stephanie Porter

* 19. Deron Brown, athlete prospect, Akron North – Brown (6-3, 185) has played defensive end at North, but could in a number of directions at the college level. * 20. Dwight Macon, quarterback, Steubenville – Macon (6-0, 190, 4.5) has already started two seasons for the storied Steubenville program. He rushed for 1,290 yards and 12 touchdowns and also threw for 1,666 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore. This past year, he rushed for 837 yards and 12 touchdowns and also threw for 2,424 yards and 28 touchdowns against four interceptions. The Big Red reached the Division IV state title game. His list of school preferences includes most of the Big Ten, including OSU. * 21. Josh Davis, defensive tackle, Plain City Jonathan Alder – Davis (6-6, 270, 5.5) moved to Ohio from Indiana prior to his junior year. He has attended junior day events at Notre Dame and Indiana and also lists Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State and others. * 22. Antonio Kinnard, linebacker, Youngstown Liberty – Kinnard (6-4, 210) displays good speed and gets upfield quickly to make plays. He also played fullback on defense.

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

* 23. Anthony Schrock, wide receiver, Wadsworth – Schrock (6-3, 175, 4.52) caught 32 passes for 738 yards and seven touchdowns during his junior season. Akron has offered. He is also looking at OSU and Pittsburgh. * 24. Taylor Miller, offensive lineman, Trenton Edgewood – Miller (6-5, 300, 5.2) was a varsity starter at nose tackle his freshman season. He started at offensive left guard his sophomore season. He has offers from Western Michigan, Ohio U. and Akron. He also lists Ohio State, Cincinnati, Illinois and Purdue. * 25. Zac Rosenbauer, linebacker, Lima Shawnee – Rosenbauer (6-2, 235, 4.6) was a starter at inside linebacker his sophomore season when he made 117 tackles including 16 for loss. He broke his right collar bone during the first scrimmage before his junior season, then broke it again on the first play of game six, and with the exception of that one play, missed his entire junior season. Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Northwestern and Cincinnati are among the schools Rosenbauer has visited.

More Players To Watch

Here are some more Ohio prospects who were

considered for top-25 spots: Derek Roback, QB, Waverly; Mitchell Faine, QB, Ada; Alex Zordich, QB, Youngstown Mooney; Clint Shepherd, OL, Eaton; Skyler Schofner, OL, Johnstown Monroe; Courtney Avery, CB, Lexington; Brynt Ausperk, OL, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary; Leveon Bell, RB, Groveport Madison. Brad Ferguson, OL/DL, Beloit West Branch; Davion Rogers, LB, Warren Harding; Mike Dorsey, ATH, Warren Harding; Braylon Heard, ATH, Youngstown Mooney; Matt Rotheram, OL, North Olmstead; Josh Russ, WR/OLB, Elyria Catholic; Kurtis Drummond, WR/DB, Hubbard. Eric Franklin, OL, Youngstown Mooney; Dominique Brown, QB, Cincinnati Winton Woods; Dan Schneider, TE, Avon Lake; Jon Ballard, QB, Austintown Fitch; Dominic Flewellyn, OL, Maple Heights; Kyle Widder, TE, New Philadelphia; Braylon Heard, RB, Youngstown Mooney; Tyson Gulley, RB, Akron Garfield; Antonio Banks, RB, Middletown; Nick Galvin, LB, Cincinnati Moeller; Jewone Snow, LB, Canton McKinley; Aaron Edwards, DB, Austintown Fitch; Ray Vinopal, DB, Youngstown Mooney; Cameron Ontko, DB, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit; Tony Miliano, K, Cincinnati Elder. — OH

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Ohio 2011 Football Recruits

STORY BY BILL KURELIC

Wayne’s Braxton Miller

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ational signing day 2009 has just passed and the ink is barely dry on recruiting for the many Ohio prospects who signed national letters of intent. However, recruiters are already making their pitch to the top class of 2010 prospects in the state of Ohio. Recruiters are also working ahead on 2011. It is still very, very early when talking about prospects that are currently just sophomores in high school, but over a dozen talented Ohio prospects already stand out. Heading the list is quarterback Braxton Miller from Huber Heights Wayne. The 6-2 and 185pound Miller, who is the cousin of former Ohio State wide receiver Dee Miller, is a super talent who already has a scholarship offer on the table from Ohio State. Braxton Miller has been Wayne’s starting quarterback since his freshman year when he passed for over 1,000 yards and rushed for over 500. Miller broke his right leg and missed much of his sophomore season, but will be 100 percent healthy and ready for a big junior season. He reportedly already has verbal offers from Cincinnati and Ohio State, among possible others. Defensive end and outside linebacker Steve Miller from Canton McKinley made 116 tackles including six sacks during his sophomore season. The 6-4 and 205-pound Miller is an outstanding athlete who also plays basketball. The Ohio State coaching staff invited Miller to the OSU-Michigan game marking the second time Miller has been a guest of the Bucks at one of their home games. The Ohio State coaching staff is also very interested in linebacker Trey DePriest from Springfield. Jim Tressel, Doc Tressel, Luke Fickell and Taver Johnson have all already stopped at Springfield to check on the talented DePriest. DePriest attended the Buckeyes Jan. 25 junior day and toured the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and watched the Ohio State-Michigan State basketball game. No Ohio class of top prospects would be complete without at least one Cleveland Glenville prospect in it and for 2011 the Tarblooder at the top of the list is wide receiver and return man Shane Wynn. Wynn is just 5-8 and 155 pounds,

but he is very fast. Wynn runs the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. He caught 56 passes during his sophomore season and scored 12 times on kickoff and punt returns. Wynn is drawing comparisons to former Glenville greats Ted Ginn Jr., and Ray Small. Defensive lineman Chris Rock helped lead Columbus DeSales into the state playoffs during his sophomore season. The 6-5 and 240-pound Rock is an outstanding prospect who could play defensive tackle or end in college. On the other side of the ball, two offensive linemen who are already drawing attention from recruiters are Chase Hounshell from Mentor Lake Catholic and Aundrey Walker. Walker is another talented prospect at Glenville. In addition to Walker and Wynn, Glenville also boasts at least three other sophomores recruiters are very interested in. Quarterback/athlete Cardale Jones, running back Robert Walton and linebacker Aundre Sturdivant join Walker and Wynn among the top 2011 prospects in the Buckeye state. At this early point, the top sophomore tight end prospect in the state of Ohio is Ray Hamilton. Hamilton stands 6-4 and 215-pounds, and is an equally adept blocker and receiving threat. There have been some very good prospects at Trotwood-Madison the past few years so when coach Maurice Douglas says wide receiver A.J. Jordan could be his best, that is saying something. The 6-1 and 170-pound Jordan caught 30 passes for almost 500 yards during his sophomore season. He is drawing interest from Ohio State and others. Defensive end Kenny Hayes from Whitmer and quarterback/athlete Cheatham Norrils from St. John’s are two Toledo area prospects who are among the top sophomores in the state of Ohio. The 6-5 and 215-pound Hayes and the 5-10 and 170-pound Norrils are drawing plenty of attention from recruiters. Norrils landed an early football scholarship offer from Toledo and has basketball offers, too. Defensive back Doran Grant from Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary is one of the top sophomores in northeast Ohio. The 5-11 and 175-pound Grant is also one of the top hurdlers in the state of Ohio. His father was a football starter for the Michigan State Spartans. — OH

JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ

D a v i d Ta y l o r v e r s u s C o l l i n P a l m e r

JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

Photo by Greg Beers

Palmer (left) and Taylor squared off in Ohio’s first meeting ever between three-time defending state champions.

J J H U D D L E . C O M 47

D a v i d Ta y l o r v e r s u s C o l l i n P a l m e r here have been several wrestling greats walk the halls of St. Paris Graham High School. David Taylor is arguably the best. Count Lakewood St. Edward's Collin Palmer among the believers. In one of the most memorable matches in the history of Ohio High School wrestling – and the first between two three-time state champions – Taylor beat Palmer 8-5 at 140 pounds on Jan. 24 in a match up of elite wrestlers at Graham. Taylor usually wrestles at 135. Both are No. 1 in the country at their respective weight classes. This match – witnessed before a standing room only crowd – was memorable, historical and any number of other adjectives. It was also arguably the biggest ever between two Ohio kids. For years, Taylor and Palmer have been on the same course. They finally collided. “David Taylor has a lot of guts,” Graham head coach Jeff Jordan said. “He moved up to wrestle a legend in Collin Palmer. It was a great match. And it gave the crowd and wrestling (community) what they wanted to see.” Both wrestlers won three junior high state titles and for the last three years have manhandled the competition. In March at the state championships, Taylor should become the 17th four-time title winner in Ohio history minutes before Palmer becomes the 18th. To put it bluntly, Taylor is a machine. And a finetuned one that runs smooth, strong and stealth. He’s a hybrid. One of the most decorated wrestlers ever at Graham with three state titles, five Junior & Cadet National Championships, two Super 32 Challenge titles and a Beast of the East crown, Taylor became the only four-time winner in the history of the nationally renowned Walsh Ironman event earlier this year. In three years at state, Taylor has been taken the full six minutes once – in the final his freshman year, which he won with a major decision (10-2). Of his 12 career state meet bouts, three were won via pin. In the other nine (eight by technical fall and one by major decision) he outscored his opponents 147-16. At the Top Gun Tournament in Alliance, Taylor never was pushed the distance en route to multiple titles. In fact, since the start of his sophomore season only four opponents have gone six minutes with Taylor. Palmer made it five. Incredible. Taylor, who used to drive an hour and a half just to find suitable competition when he lived in Wyoming, visits the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Co. once a month in the offseason. He’s headed to Iowa State. Palmer is a legend in his own right. Only one wrestler in Ohio history – Graham graduate C.P. Schlatter – has gone undefeated against Ohio competition. Palmer was vying to become the second. The loss was Palmer’s fourth in his high school career with the other three all coming at the Ironman to out-of-state nationally-ranked wrestlers. Palmer’s closest match to an Ohio competitor

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“David Taylor has a lot of guts. He moved up to wrestle a legend in Collin Palmer. It was a great match. And it gave the crowd and wrestling (community) what they wanted to see.”

Graham wrestling coach Jeff Jordan

“Ever since I was little my first coach told me you wrestle the whole match no matter what happens. I wrestled the whole match. This is an awesome feeling.”

Graham senior David Taylor

“Once I got on the bottom (in the third period) I could just feel myself getting tired. I should have kept going and fighting through it, but that’s just something I have to work on.”

St. Edward senior Collin Palmer

Taylor-Palmer Meeting Good For Wrestling

David Taylor got his bell rung. And it wasn’t from an opponent. “When I got that turn it was so loud it was echoing in my headgear,” Taylor said. “It was crazy. You always dream of that match – not be cheesy – but that match in Vision Quest when those guys wrestle and everyone goes crazy. That’s the image you think of in your head. And that’s what it was.” Vision Quest is a famous wrestling movie that was released in 1985. On. Jan. 24, Taylor and his foe – Collin Palmer – filmed their own script. A senior at St. Paris Graham, Taylor bumped up a weight class and outlasted Palmer, a senior from Lakewood St. Edward, 8-5 at 140 pounds in Ohio’s only meeting ever between three-time state champions. Taylor usually wrestles 135. Both competitors are ranked No. 1 in the country at their respective weights. A vocal and energized crowd packed Graham High School’s gymnasium to watch the event, which many since have called “the greatest wrestling match ever.” How popular was it? A thread on JJHuddle about it generated over 22,000 views. Although Taylor won the match, wrestling also won. “I wanted to go up and wrestle Palmer, because nobody does that,” Taylor said. “I thought it would be good for our program and look at all the people here. I bet there are people here that have never been to a wrestling match. That is awesome.” Said Palmer: “It was a good crowd but it would have been better if we were at our place. It definitely brought in a lot of people and it’s good for the sport.” A standing room only crowd watched Taylor rally from a 4-3 deficit after two periods to stake the win. After the match Taylor entered the bleachers to hug his parents and then went to the Graham student section to celebrate with class and schoolmates. They serenaded him with chants of “Da-vid Tay-lor.” Coach Jeff Jordan and Taylor’s teammates mobbed him as well. “I dreamed about having a match like this in our gym,” Taylor said. “Not to brag about our team, but as good as we are, we don’t get that kind of crowd – ever. It was everything I ever dreamed of.” Hollywood would have been proud. — Eric Frantz

JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh

D a v i d Ta y l o r v e r s u s C o l l i n P a l m e r

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

Palmer exploded for a 4-3 lead after two periods, but Taylor fought back to get the win 8-5.

Photos by Greg Beers

coming in was a 5-2 decision over Maple Heights’ Tim Peskar his freshman year. Until this season, weight has been the only thing separating the two giants. Taylor wrestled 103 as a freshman and sophomore and 112 last year. He’s “ballooned” to 135. Palmer wrestled 112 as a freshman, 125 as a sophomore and 135 as a junior. The sudden proximity made Taylor start thinking of such a meeting in the summer. Seven days prior he pulled the trigger. “I didn’t want to bring it up to Coach Jordan (earlier in the season) or anything because I didn’t want it to be a distraction,” Taylor said. “But after Top Gun, when this was the next thing we had coming up, I told coach I had something I wanted to talk to him about.” Said Jordan: “We’re freezing on the bus coming home from Alliance and David just comes up and sits in my seat and says ‘Coach I need to talk to you.’ He said he wanted to move up to 140 to wrestle Palmer. I went ‘Wow.’ That was the last thing I was thinking.” After discussing the opportunity with Graham’s regular 140 Matt Stephens, who gave his blessing, the wheels were set in motion. “We decided Sunday at noon because I wanted to make sure that everyone knew and I wanted to be fair to Collin and didn’t want to surprise him,” Jordan said. “We made the decision and called some people in Cleveland to make sure they got the word out.” It didn’t take long for the fire to spread and Graham’s packed gym was evidence of the appeal and importance of the event. Palmer exploded out of the gate and held a 2-1 lead after one. In the second period both wrestlers scored two points. Taylor entered the final frame down 4-3. He came away with the win. “I knew I needed to take him down and turn him,” Taylor said. “I got a take down and a turn. I wasn’t expecting to get taken down myself, but whew…Ever since I was little my first coach told me you wrestle the whole match no matter what happens. I wrestled the whole match. This is an awesome feeling.” Said Palmer: “Once I got on the bottom (in the third period) I could just feel myself getting tired. I should have kept going and fighting through it, but that’s just something I have to work on.” Taylor expected his conditioning to play a part. “He’s real strong but he kind of gets tired in some of his matches and I knew that something to my benefit was conditioning,” Taylor said. “It came down to that at the end. I am 100-percent convinced that there is not a better wrestling room in this country than at Graham. There’s not one day when you go in that room and don’t get taken down. No matter what, you’re never going to be the king of the room.” Taylor has been in – and won – big matches before. His sophomore year he handed Monroeville’s Logan Stieber the only loss of his high school career in the 103 finals of the Ironman. Like the Palmer match, Taylor fell behind quickly but posted a 7-3 win. Stieber, the nation’s No. 1 junior at 125 pounds, is a two-time state champion who committed to Ohio State two weeks before Palmer this summer. Now the two future Buckeyes have something else in common as well. — OH

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Wrestling Postseason Preview

2009 State Wrestling Tournament Preview

t seems like history is made every year in some way at the OHSAA Wrestling Championships, and fans of history will not want to miss this year’s edition. Ohio has never seen a wrestler win seven state titles but this year will likely see it happen twice as Lakewood St. Edward’s Collin Palmer and St. Paris Graham’s David Taylor are heavy favorites to win their fourth straight high school title after three junior high titles. There’s also a chance that a historic streak could come to an end as many feel that Lakewood St. Edward will have a battle on their hands for their 13th straight team title. Meanwhile, St. Paris Graham will bring such a loaded squad to Columbus that some feel they have a shot at breaking the team record for overall points as well as the all-time record for individual champions on a single team. Here is a look at some of what to expect from this year’s tournament.

Division I

Not quite as loaded as they have been in years past, Lakewood St. Edward could be in for a fight this year in the team standings. The Eagles will be going for their 13th straight state championship and their 25th overall. But Massillon Perry and Wadsworth will both be fielding deep, competitive teams that could put up plenty of points. On an individual level, the main attraction could be St. Edward senior Collin Palmer. Palmer and brother Lance, also a four-time winner, would become only the third pair of brothers in state history to each have four state championships. Here is a glance at the top of each weight class in this year’s Division I field. * 103: The favorite here could be Lorain Southview junior Uland Ralston, who gained a third-place finish at 103 in 2008. Among the competition will be two talented freshmen, John Dillon of Boardman and George DiCamillo of Cleveland St. Ignatius. * 112: The top of the 112-pound class will be very competitive as a handful of 2008 place-win-

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Photo by Nick Falzerano

Miamisburg junior Shawn Fayette (left) and Graham freshman Felipe Martinez are both favorites to walk away with titles at 130 pounds in Divisions I and II, respectively Perry senior Seth Horner (back) and Wadsworth junior Brad Squire could get a rematch in the finals of Division I. Instead of meeting at 130 pounds, though, the duo could clash at 145

Photo by Nick Falzerano

ners from 103 will be trying to reach the top, including second-place finisher Kory Mines of Maple Heights (could end up at 103) and fourthplace finisher Garrett Manley of Holland Springfield. Also at the top of the list will be freshman Kagan Squire of Wadsworth, junior Gus Sako of Lakewood St. Edward and junior Jerome Robinson of St. Ignatius. * 119: St. Edward junior Jamie Clark is expected to reign supreme at 119 after winning at 112 in 2008. Clark is ranked as one of the nation’s top wrestlers at his weight class. Also watch for fifthplace winner Dan McNulty (soph.) of Mayfield. * 125: The favorite here is Massillon Perry senior Sam White, who finished second to Jamie Clark at 112 last season while beating him at 103 in 2007. We will not be seeing an encore out of White and Clark this year, which means that both will be expected to win their second title. Senior Callen Vanderhoff of Marion Harding and junior Jake McCombs of Marysville will be in the mix here as well after each posting an eighth-place finish in 2008 at different weight classes. * 130: Two wrestlers who finished second in 2008 will be looking to reach the top this year at 130. Juniors Shawn Fayette of Miamisburg and Nick Lawrence of Westlake are among the favorites after finishing as the runner-up at 125 and 119 respectively. Also watch for seniors Austin Sanders of Grove City Central Crossing and Dalton McHenry of Elyria. * 135: St. Edward will be hoping to score points in this class with junior Anthony Salupo, who could reach the top after finishing fifth at 125 last year. Uniontown Lake senior Scott Mattingly, who took third at 125 in 2008, will be in the thick of things as well unless he winds up at 130. * 140: This weight class will be the Collin Palmer show as he is the type of wrestler that others avoid when picking a weight class. Palmer is the overwhelming favorite to win at 140, while senior Tommy Sasfy of Reynoldsburg could be next in line after a sixth-place finish at 135 last year. * 145: There’s plenty of talent to be found at 145. Massillon Perry will be hoping to score big points here with senior Seth Horner, who won at 130 last year. Horner will be pushed hard by the one he bested in last year’s finals, junior Brad

JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh

STORY BY OHIO HIGH STAFF St. Edward junior Jamie Clark is going for his second state title and first at 119 in Division I.

Wrestling Postseason Preview Squire of Wadsworth, along with junior David Habat of St. Ignatius, who finished third at 140. Also watch for Cincinnati Moeller junior Pierce Harger here. * 152: This crowded weight class features last year’s runner-up at 145 in New Carlisle Tecumseh senior T.J. Rigel along with two third-place finishers in juniors Josh Demas (145) of Westerville North and Nick Sulzer (130) of St. Edward. The favorite, however, could be former St. Edward wrestler Andrew Gasber, now a senior at Madison. Gasber was declared ineligible last season by the OHSAA after making a transfer. * 160: Is this the year for three-time state placewinner Kyle Lang? The Brecksville-Broadview Heights senior will be aiming to finish first after finishing fourth as a freshman, third as a sophomore, and second as a junior. Junior Caleb Marsh of Marysville and senior Darren Rhodes of Nordonia will be among those competing with Lang here. * 171: The favorite here is senior Nick Heflin of Massillon Perry, who finished second at 152 as a junior. Heflin winning here would be a big part of Perry’s bid for a team crown. Among the competition will be senior Kyle Dilley of Lancaster and senior Ethan Taylor of Cuyahoga Falls. * 189: The 189-pound class returns three of the top four placers from 2008, and each of them will be in the mix this time around. Senior Greg Isley of Sylvania Southview, who finished second last year, will be joined by third-place finisher Andrew Tumlin (sr.) of Harrison and fourth-place finisher Cody Lamberg (jr.) of Akron Kenmore. * 215: There might not be much suspense here as Cincinnati Elder senior Orlando Scales is the returning champion and a solid favorite. Scales posted an unbeaten record in 2008 and is rated as one of the best in the nation at 215 this year. His main competition could come from Huber Heights Wayne senior Cody Smith, who finished third in 2008. * 285: There should be plenty of experienced competition at the heavyweight class. Three of the top four finishers return from last year in secondplace winner Delonne Baker of Sandusky, thirdplace winner Jordan Beverly of West Carrollton, and fourth-place finisher Ben Buzzelli of Wadsworth. Also in the mix will be Beavercreek senior Adam Walls, a transfer from St. Paris Graham who finished second at Division II in 2008. Brecksville senior Jeremy Johnson and Parma Heights Valley Forge senior James Meder are two others who could find their way to the top of the podium.

Division II

Photos by Greg Beers

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

The only two questions surrounding the race for the Division II crown seem to be how many St. Paris Graham wrestlers will win and how many overall points will they score? Graham brings an extremely powerful lineup to this year’s tournament, one that could win over half the weight classes in Division II. Leading the way of course is David Taylor, the 135-pound senior who is thought by some to be the nation’s top wrestler regardless of weight class. Taylor proved it in January by jumping up to the 140-pound class and defeating Collin Palmer 8-5

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Wrestling Postseason Preview Monroeville sophomore Chris Phillips is going for his second state title in Division III.

Photos by Nick Falzerano

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in an already legendary battle of three-time state champions. The Iowa State-bound Taylor is expected to cruise to an undefeated season and his fourth state championship. With Taylor leading the way, Graham should dominate the lower weight classes and the tournament in general. Here is a look at who to watch in each class. * 103: Graham sophomore Nick Brascetta placed third as a freshman at 103 and could be the one to win the title this year. Two seniors – John Gould of Lexington and Cody McGee of Minerva – will also put up a fight. * 112: This class could see a major battle between a freshman standout – Graham’s Isaac Jordan – and a defending champion in Aurora junior Ty Mitch. Mitch placed first at 103 as a sophomore. Jordan is the brother of three-time state champion Ben Jordan and the son of former fourtime Ohio champ and two-time NCAA champ Jim Jordan. Also in the mix will be three-time placer Nate Westfall of Perry. * 119: This weight class will be interesting at the top as a handful of competitors with plenty of experience will be battling to reach the top of the podium. Sophomore Johnni DiJulius of Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit and junior Codey Neff of Washington C.H. Miami Trace finished as the runner-up at 103 and 112 respectively last season, while senior James Ingraham of Hunting Valley University School, who finished third at 112, and senior and two-time placer Alex Minnard of Lancaster Fairfield Union will be right in the thick of things. * 125: This class is expected to belong to Graham senior Zach Neibert, a three-time placer and 2008 state champion at 119. His main competition could come from three-time place winner Jacob Garringer of Miami Trace and freshman Nate Skonieczny of Walsh Jesuit. * 130: 130 features 2008 119-pound runner-up Cody Garabrandt (jr.) of Uhrichsville Claymont, but watch for another Graham freshman, Felipe Martinez, to make noise here. Also keep an eye on senior Jacob Vaughan of Columbus DeSales. * 135: Most wrestlers have understandably tried to avoid this weight class due to the presence of David Taylor, who will most likely cap his career as an all-time Ohio great with his fourth title. Senior Manuel Cintron of Alliance, a fifth-place finisher in 2008, is among the brave souls who could run into Taylor on the mat in this year’s tournament. * 140: This could be a solid competition for the top spot as 2008 130-pound champion Harrison Hightower (jr.) of University School, 125-pound runner-up Kyle Leek (sr.) of Warren Howland, 140pound fourth place finisher Matt Stephens (soph.) of Graham, and 140 fifth-place finisher Dylan Ice of Lisbon Beaver will be among the names to watch here. Stephens is the projected favorite. * 145: With Matt Stephens gunning for the top of 140, 145 could be where Graham senior Brian Stephens reaches the top. Stephens had a disappointing tournament last year as he fell short of placing but seems to be the popular pick this season. Also watch for senior Corey Dulaney of Whitehall, junior Adam Fondale of New Lexington, and sophomore Konner Witt of Oak Harbor. * 152: Another outstanding Graham freshman,

JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh

Wrestling Postseason Preview Huston Evans, can be found in this weight class, but he will face stiff competition from two-time place winner Brad Wukie of University School and 145-pound third place finisher Jonathan McGookey of Sandusky Perkins. * 160: This weight class seems to be up for grabs, with the top contenders being senior Adam Walters of West Geauga, sophomore Kyle Ryan of Graham, junior Riley Kilroy of Parma Padua, and senior Darren Tate of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary. * 171: The favorite here is likely Graham senior James Mannier, who finished third at 160 in 2008, but he could be pushed by two-time place winner Zach Garabrandt (sr.) of Uhricsville Claymont. * 189: This could be a battle between senior Nick Mills of University School and junior Max Thomusseit of Graham. Both captured third-place finishes in 2008 – Mills at 171 and Thomusseit at 189. * 215: There should be plenty of competition at 215 as three out of the top four finishers from last year’s group return for another shot this year: second-place winner Tyler Houska (sr.) of Medina Highland, third-place winner and West Virginia football recruit Branko Busick (sr.) of Steubenville, and fourth-place winner Logan Erb (soph.) of Wapakoneta. Joining them will be senior Logan White of Graham and senior Dave Pickerel of Toledo Central Catholic. * 285: The heavyweight class appears up for grabs as the majority of qualifiers from 2008 were seniors. The lone underclassman place-winner, Adam Walls, moved from St. Paris Graham to Division I Beavercreek. Only seniors Alex Jackson of Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan, Ray Spence of Amanda-Clearcreek and Ricky Williams of Geneva return from last year’s group of qualifiers, and each one could be a candidate to make a run at a title.

Photos by Nick Falzerano

Tiffin Calvert senior Kyle Kwait (top) and Indian Lake’s Kevin Christman are both expected to place at 160 pounds in Divisions III and II, respectively. Kwait is considered a title threat. Troy Christian senior Zach Toal is looking for his third state title. Toal is the favorite at 160 pounds in Division III. He’ll also look to lead the Eagles to their third straight team title.

Division III

With St. Edward and Graham working on extending their amazing streaks of championships at the higher divisions, Troy Christian will be working to stretch theirs to three straight at Division III. The Eagles have the lineup to do just that, with two returning champions and six returning qualifiers. Right on Troy Christian’s heels will be Monroeville, who returns four state champions, each of whom is expected to win again this year. Others to watch include Bedford St. Peter Chanel and Marion Pleasant. * 103: The 103-pound class will be wide open after the majority of last year’s qualifiers have moved up in weight. Among the competitors are Sandusky St. Mary’s junior David Harrington, Beachwood junior Alex Dronzek, Chanel sophomore Cody Tschantz, and Bloomdale Elmwood sophomore Nick Goebel. * 112: This should be a very competitive weight class with plenty of experienced wrestlers. Leading the way are senior Spencer Pierce of Richwood North Union and junior Tyler Reed of Waterford, who finished second and third respectively at the 103-pound class last year. Seniors Tim Majoy of Milan Edison and Johnny Tolson of Delta were place-winners in 2008 as well.

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

Photos by Nick Falzerano

* 119: The first of Monroeville’s likely state champions can be found at 119 with sophomore Hunter Stieber being expected to make it two-fortwo in the state championship category. Others to watch here include junior Mike Kovach of Chanel and senior Travis Harbert of Garrettsville Garfield. * 125: Hunter Stieber’s brother Logan, an elite wrestler with a lofty national ranking, is expected to win his third state title in three years here, barring a stunning upset. Stieber has been sidelined for much of the season with a fractured left hand, but when healthy, there isn’t much competition for him in Division III. Others to keep an eye on include junior Patrick Lopez of Hamler Patrick Henry and senior Eli Donahue of Massillon Tuslaw. * 130: Monroeville is expected to pick up yet another title at 130 from sophomore Cam Tessari,

who won at 112 as a freshman. Tessari is a strong favorite over the field. Also keep an eye on junior Brandon Sommers of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and sophomore Johnny Carpenter of Maderia. * 135: Troy Christian senior Jordan Thome has a second, fourth, and sixth place finish on his list of career accomplishments, and he will be hoping this year to go on top. Thome is the favorite here; also watch for senior Tyler Powers of CVCA and junior Payton Oney of South Central. * 140: Troy Christian is expected to get more points at this class as senior Zac Hancock, who won at 130 last year, will be a strong favorite. Others to watch include senior Josh Pfister of Sullivan Black River and senior Cody Coomes of Marion Pleasant. * 145: The 145-pound class will be a competitive class that could play out a number of ways. Among the names to watch here include senior Robbie Chilson of Bellaire, senior Alex Betts of Bloomdale Elmwood, sophomore Andrew DeHart of Covington, junior Kurtis Jefferis of Barnesville, and senior Chris Burns of Troy Christian. * 152: Another wide open weight class, 152 will be a contest that several wrestlers could win. Among them will be senior Ethan Price of Mechanicsburg, senior Michael Cawley of Norwalk St. Paul, senior Ron Pajestka of Cuyahoga Heights, junior Kyle Gladieux of Oregon Cardinal Stritch, and sophomore Cody Walters of Chanel. * 160: Senior Zach Toal of Troy Christian will be the favorite here. Toal will be trying to win his third state championship after winning at 145 in 2008 and 140 in 2007. He will have some stiff competition though, among them being sophomore Alex Utley of CVCA, who finished third at 160 last year, and senior Kyle Kwiat of Tiffin Calvert, who finished fifth. * 171: Barring a major, major upset, the 171pound class will belong to Monroeville sophomore Chris Phillips. One of the very best wrestlers in the nation, Phillips has only lost one match in his high school career and will likely not have any wrestlers that can match him in this weight class. * 189: This will be an interesting, competitive weight class. Senior Colton Bowers of Marion Pleasant finished fifth at 189 in 2008, and also watch for Clinton-Massie junior Corby Running, West Salem Northwestern sophomore Kurtis Schafer, and CVCA senior Greg Hojnacki, among others. * 215: The favorite at 215 is senior Stuart Miller of Delphos Jefferson, who finished second at 189 in 2008. Watch also for senior Scott Barnes of Spencerville and senior Schuyler Bondy of Woodsfield Monroe Central. * 285: The heavyweight class boasts a former state champion, albeit one from outside of Ohio. Oberlin’s Hugh Thornton, who is a University of Illinois football recruit, won a state championship in the state of Idaho last season before moving to the Buckeye State. Among those he will be battling include senior Josh Morosko of Massillon Tuslaw and junior Tyler Obringer of Spencerville, who finished fifth and sixth in 2008. Also keep an eye on seniors Nick Hamilton of South Central and Mike Treon of Versailles. — OH

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Northland versus San Diego

Northland’s Jared Sullinger (34) got the better of San Diego’s Jeremy Tyler (behind) in a meeting of top 10 nationallyranked juniors.

Photo by Nick Falzerano

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Northland versus San Diego

STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ he game that almost wasn’t finally was. Despite circumstances which nearly cost both teams the chance to compete – and did cost San Diego’s head coach his job – Columbus Northland outshined San Diego (CA) 56-39 on Saturday, Jan. 17 at a sold out Trent Arena in Kettering as part of the Flyin to the Hoop boys basketball invitational. Northland forward Jared Sullinger led all scorers with 23 points, while San Diego post Jeremy Tyler countered with 22. Sullinger (6-9), an Ohio State recruit, is the No. 1 ranked junior in the country by ESPNU, while Tyler (6-11), a Louisville commit, is ranked No. 7. The highly anticipated match up of big men almost didn’t happen – numerous times. On the Thursday before, Northland was originally pulled from the event due to a then-believed Columbus City School District rule, which said no athletic teams could compete on a weekend if classes were canceled Friday. They were. The ruling was overturned early that Friday morning. Friday night, less than 24 hours before tip-off, San Diego High placed its head coach Kenny Roy and two assistants on administrative leave just before a game with Serra (CA). Roy is accused of recruiting violations concerning three-high profile players who moved into the district prior to this season. All three players were ruled ineligible by the California Interscholastic Federation's San Diego Section before the season began. The three players and their families have fought the ruling in San Diego Superior Court. A decision is expected soon. As of 9:30 p.m. Friday night, San Diego was not coming to Kettering and had not purchased plane tickets. FTTH president Eric Horstman said he received the news and immediately started trying to get the team here. By 1:00 a.m. Horstman, on his personal credit card, had secured plane tickets on Orbitz and the game was back on. San Diego brought two coaches and seven players. “We had a tough time getting here,” Tyler said. “We left last night at like three in the morning to drive the two hours to LA to get on a plane at six right after a game. We were extremely tired and worn out. We had jetlag and some of us didn’t eat or sleep. We came out here with seven guys and played on heart.” Said Sullinger: “I was real disappointed that we were going to let them come all the way out here and not have a game. Unfortunately our superintendent said the game was off and then we went through the policy and found out what should happen if this happened and it happened.” The meeting was important for many reasons, one of which was showcasing the talents of Sullinger and Tyler. Not often do players the caliber of these two get to match games, but here they did. And ESPN was on hand. The cable sports giant sent a three-man crew to document the game and they recorded a memorable clash – eventually. Sullinger was sent to the bench early with two questionable fouls in the game’s first two minutes and 30 seconds. Both were drawn by Tyler.

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Sullinger didn’t resurface until the second half. His team, though, led 22-17 at the break. To begin the third quarter Northland continued to increase its advantage by steadily feeding and finding Sullinger. Sullinger scored 21 of his gamehigh 23 points in the second half. He also sent Tyler to the bench with his fifth foul late in the fourth quarter. Sullinger added nine rebounds in 18 minutes of action.

"I didn’t show them all of it," said Sullinger when asked if the thought he gave a solid Ohio State contingent a solid performance. "I only played like two minutes in the first half so I could have done a lot more than that." Tyler grabbed a game-high 11 boards to go with his 22 points. He also had two blocks and a steal in 28 minutes. Both bigs were happy to have had the opportunity to finally meet and compete. “We were talking off and on,” Sullinger said. “He said he was going to kill me and I said I was going to kill him and we were talking trash. And you know what we won. “The challenge was playing against a shot blocker. I hardly ever get to play against a shot blocker in my conference games. I got to play against him and adjust my game to his and he had to adjust his game to mine…I can’t say anything bad about his game” Added Tyler: “In San Diego there aren’t many kids that can match up with me so I was looking forward to the meeting and some competition. Sullinger’s a very good player and he’s going to have a great future. He’s my friend. I’m going to call him later tonight and tell him good game.” — OH

“The challenge was playing against a shot blocker. I hardly ever get to play against a shot blocker in my conference games. I got to play against him and adjust my game to his and he had to adjust his game to mine…I can’t say anything bad about his game” Columbus Northland junior Jared Sullinger

“In San Diego there aren’t many kids that can match up with me so I was looking forward to the meeting and some competition. Sullinger’s a very good player and he’s going to have a great future.” San Diego junior Jeremy Tyler

Photo by Nick Falzerano

Sullinger is headed to Ohio State, while Tyler has committed to Louisville.

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Boys Basketball State Tournament Preview

2009 Boys Basketball State Tournament Preview New Knoxville is looking to become the second MAC school to win back-to-back boys basketball state titles.

approaches:

eople who support public schools in the ever-present argument “public versus private” might want to check out the 87th annual Boys Basketball State Tournament which will be held March 26-28 at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center. The last five years public schools have dominated their private brethren by winning 18 of 20 state championships. Last year, for the third time in five years, public schools took home all four trophies. Can they keep it up? Here is a look at the boys basketball field as the tournament

Division I

Newark shocked most Ohio high school basketball fans last season by winning its fourth state title and its first in 45 years. The Wildcats returned three starters from last season’s team, including center Dane Kopp, guard Cody Dennison and guard Rahlin Watson. Newark played well in the regular season in the reconfigured Ohio Capital Conference. The biggest obstacle for Newark to get out of the region will be Columbus Northland. Forward and Ohio State recruit Jared Sullinger paces the Vikings as the top junior player in the country, according to ESPN.com. Junior wing J.D. Weatherspoon is a Xavier verbal and forward Javon Cornley is an Indiana football recruit. Coming into the season, Northland boasted back-to-back undefeated regular seasons but lost to Canton Timken 67-61 in overtime in late January snapping a 58game regular season winning streak. Sullinger is the early favorite for the prestigious Mr. Basketball award and Northland is the frontrunner to raise the Division I state title trophy in Columbus. The Vikings had good regular season wins over Dayton Dunbar and San Diego (Calif.) High School in the Flyin’ to the Hoop tournament. In northeast Ohio, Warren G. Harding was only two points shy of making the trip to Columbus last season before losing to Lakewood St. Edward 77-75 in overtime. The Raiders bounced back this season and are the favorites in the Warrensville Heights District and the Cleveland Region. But Harding will have to face the tournament without senior guard Sheldon Brogdon, who suffered a season-ending knee

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Photo by Nick Falzerano

injury as the tournament approached. Senior guard Desmar Jackson and junior point guard Fred Williams will have to pick up Thurs., March 26 - Semifinals their respective games with the loss of Brogdon. 10:45 a.m. - Division IV Game Harding’s marquee regular season wins included a 70-60 victory 2:00 p.m. - Division IV Game over Canton Timken in the Pizza 5:15 p.m. - Division III Game Oven Classic and a win over Cleveland St. Ignatius. 8:30 p.m. - Division III Game The win over Timken ended a 27-regular season game winning Friday, March 27 - Semifinals streak for the Trojans but they are 10:45 a.m. - Division II Game still in the hunt for another district title and hope to take the next step 2:00 p.m. - Division II Game to Columbus after losing in the Canton Regional final last year. 5:15 p.m. - Division I Game Leading the charge for the 8:30 p.m. - Division I Game Trojans this season is senior Jared Porrini, who is a transfer from Saturday, March 28 - Finals North Canton Hoover. Porrini had 23 points in the win over Northland 10:45 a.m. - Division IV and has been complemented well 2:00 p.m. - Division III by his younger brother Cory and seniors Chazz Moore and 5:15 p.m. - Division II Cameron Howard. Staying in the northeast part of 8:30 p.m. - Division I the state, Cleveland Glenville has quietly cruised through the regular season and could be the favorite in the Euclid District. The Tarblooders had a big 73-67 win over St. Edward in early January. Bedford senior transfer Randal Holt netted his 1,000th point of his career and the Kent State recruit is averaging 20

State Schedule

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STORY BY OHIO HIGH STAFF

Boys Basketball State Tournament Preview

points per game. Cincinnati has been represented each of the last two seasons in the big-school state championship game and there is no shortage of talented teams in the Queen City that could make a case for Columbus. Middletown and Cincinnati Princeton dominated the Greater Miami Conference as both teams were mainstays in the top 10 teams in the state and are on a collision course for the regional final. The Middies are led by senior forward Bill Edwards, who was fourth in the conference in scoring and led the GMC in assists and rebounds. He eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career in early February. Senior guard Allen Roberts is adding 15.2 points per game for Middletown. Of course, Middletown claims the most state titles in the state regardless of Division with seven, but the Middies haven’t won a championship since they had the legendary Jerry Lucas in 1957. Princeton senior guard Orlando Williams is third in the conference in scoring with 18.3 points per game, but the marquee player for the Vikings is junior and Ohio State recruit Jordan Sibert. He averages 14.3 points per game and is third in the conference in steals with 2.7. Sibert is rated as the No. 41 player in the country for his class according to ESPN.com. Princeton is the emotional favorite following the sudden death of longtime head coach Bill Brewer last season. Current head coach Josh Andrews has his Vikings team in good position to make a run at Columbus. Cincinnati Moeller claimed the Division I state championship in 2007 and the Crusaders will challenge Middletown and Princeton for the regional title. Moeller dropped a game in late December at a tournament in California and stumbled against Greater Catholic League for Cincinnati LaSalle in late January were the only two blemishes on the schedule heading into the tournament. The Crusaders are led by senior guard Tony Harris (14.3 ppg), senior guard Brian Vonderhaar (8.6) and sophomore guards Charlie Byers (7.9) and Alex Barlow (7.1). Moeller has won three basketball state championships (most recent 2007). From the Dayton area, Greater Western Ohio Conference foes Centerville and Trotwood-Madison are the headliners. The Elks and Rams are on a collision course for the Dayton 3 District Final to advance to the regional tournament. Senior center and Dayton-recruit Matt Kavanaugh (6-foot-10) is fourth in scoring (16.6) and rebounding (8.8) in the GWOC for Centerville, while Trotwood senior guard Aaron Robinson is third in the conference in scoring (17.6 points). Others teams to keep an eye on are Lima Senior, Barberton, Canton GlenOak, Cincinnati LaSalle, Dublin Scioto, Upper Arlington, Cincinnati Aiken, Cleveland Heights, Garfield Heights, Huber Heights Wayne and Sylvania Southview. Final Four Favorites Canton Timken, Warren G. Harding, Columbus Northland, Cincinnati Moeller State Champion Favorite Columbus Northland – Matt Natali

Division II

Chillicothe won its first basketball state title last season with a memorable 70-69 overtime win over Toledo Libbey. The Cavaliers have had to face this season without guard Anthony Hitchens, who is now at Akron, and center Ray Chambers. Senior Seth Dawes has filled in nicely for Chambers and senior Gregg Van Volkinburg has been solid in the paint. Senior guard Caleb Knights is good for double-digit points on any given night and the Cavaliers are going to need that consistency to get through the district. To escape the Zanesville Region and make a return trip to Columbus, Chillicothe is going to have to deal with Dover and Circleville Logan Elm. Both teams were ranked in the state’s top 10 in the regular season. Dover notched quality regular season wins over Cambridge, Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas and Akron Hoban and is paced by captains Cory Lisowski, Kyle Sattler and Carson Gessner. Cory Dechiara has been a good role player for the Tornadoes as well. Logan Elm has been led by captains Adam Blake and Tim Congrove, who was an All-Ohio third-team selection last season. Chad Holbrook was a returning letterman and has played well as the Braves had good regular season wins over Canal Winchester Harvest Prep and Chillicothe. St. Paris Graham is on pace to complete its second straight undefeated regular season and is the early favorite in the Cincinnati Region. All-Ohio second teamer Josh Schuler has led the Falcons this season and has Columbus on his mind after the Falcons fell to Toledo Libbey in the state semifinals last season. Ethan Ward, Austin Jones and Ben Rosenberger were all starters last season as well and that experience will be invaluable in the tournament. The Falcons had a quality win in the regular season over Chaminade Julienne.

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Graham is on a collision course in the Dayton 1 District with Cincinnati Indian Hill and that is the most likely match-up to advance in the region. Indian Hill ran away in the Cincinnati Hills League with good wins over Cincinnati Taft, Xenia and Cincinnati Anderson in the regular season. Sam Hendricks led the league in scoring with 14.7 points per game and Indiana football recruit Ted Bolser was the CHL leader in blocks with 2.4 per contest. The Dayton 2 District in the Cincinnati Region is arguably the toughest in D-II. With Thurgood Marshall, Kettering Alter and St. Bernard Roger Bacon all in the mix, the district champion will be battle tested heading into the regional tournament. Marshall junior point guard and Dayton recruit Juwan Staten was an All-Ohio third-team selection last season. He is rated as the No. 13 point guard in the country in his class, according to ESPN.com, and is one of the top 60 players in the nation. Marshall dropped some games in the regular season against a tough schedule but is still one of the top teams in the state and dangerous. Alter cruised in the Greater Catholic League North Division after a slow 2-3 start to the season. The Knights had a quality win over Cincinnati Elder in early January and knocked off league rival C-J twice. Senior guard Ryan Siggins led the tough GCL in points (18.6) and rebounds (9.6) per game. Senior guard Jamarre White was fourth in the league in rebounding with 6.8 per game off the bench. Bacon picked up good wins over Cincinnati St. Xavier, Purcell Marian and Hamilton Badin in the regular season pacing the GCL Central Division. Freshman phenom Adolphus Washington led the league in field goal percentage (62.0) and sophomore sensation Jared Bryant was second (61.8). In the Dayton 3 District, Wilmington and Dayton Dunbar are on course to meet in the district semifinal. Both teams were ranked in the top ten in the state in the regular season. Wilmington blew through the Fort Ancient Valley Conference Cardinal Division with regular season wins over Clinton-Massie, Cincinnati Walnut Hills, Elder and Centerville. Junior guard Jordan Berlin had 15.5 points per game in leading the Hurricane and junior forward Malcolm Heard pulled down 6.2 rebounds per game while adding eight points per contest. Three-time state champion Dunbar faced a tough regular season schedule and fared well, making the Wolverines dangerous come tournament time. Columbus DeSales has been a regular visitor to the final four in recent years making the state tournament two of the last three seasons. The Stallions are one of the top teams in the state once again with seniors Nick Kellogg, Ike Ariguzo, Nick Goff and Zak Gabarcik and junior Adam Griffin as the floor generals. DeSales had regular season wins over Toledo Whitmer, Garfield Heights, Columbus Watterson and two wins over 2008 Division IV state runner-up Worthington Christian. Cleveland Benedictine, with junior wing and Ohio State recruit Cameron Wright, recorded a win over DeSales in mid-January. In addition, Junior point guard Derek Jackson has played well in quality wins over Youngstown Mooney, Chagrin Falls Kenston, Walsh Jesuit, Akron Hoban and Hunting Valley University School. The Bennies fell to Akron St. Vincent St. Mary 75-65 in late January and the Fighting Irish are the early favorite in the Canton District of the Canton Region. SVSM had wins over Garfield Heights, Akron Hoban, Lakewood St. Edward and Warren G. Harding. Senior Daylen Harrison has led SVSM in the paint in addition to sophomore Ricky Johnson on the perimeter. Johnson started 28 games as a freshman, which is the most starts in the SVSM program by a freshman since LeBron James. In the Youngstown District in the Canton Region, Poland Seminary could be the early favorite coming off last season’s state semifinal finish. The Bulldogs were without Ben Umbel but junior guard Niko Fatimus, junior guard Ben Brocker and junior forward Ben Donlow have played well in the second season in an entirely new offensive scheme. Poland had a three-game slide in January but recovered nicely heading into postseason play. Final Four Favorites Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Columbus DeSales, Dover, St. Paris Graham State Champion Favorite Akron SVSM – Matt Natali

Division III

It can be debated who is going to win the Division III state title, but there’s no debating the division’s toughest district. That belongs to Elida, where last year’s state champion – Ottawa-Glandorf – came out of. It could happen again. Along with the Titans, potential state titlists Findlay Liberty-Benton and St. Henry also reside among the district’s 13 teams. L-B is led by Tennessee-recruit Aaron Craft, who also excels as one of the state’s top quarterbacks. The Eagles were D-V state finalists in football in the fall. St. Henry, a town that knows something about football and basketball state titles, counters with Spencer Niekamp (13.4 points), Victor Fortkamp (11.2 points) and

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Boys Basketball State Tournament Preview Jordan Post (10.5 points). Niekamp and Fortkamp each average over six rebounds a game. Last year the Redskins beat L-B, then No. 1 in the state, in the district semifinals. O-G beat St. Henry in the district final. Whoever wins will be the favorite for the Bowling Green Regional title. Others that could challenge are Colonel Crawford, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and Ottawa Hills. Cleveland Villa Angela St. Joseph has owned the Canton Regional of late, winning three straight regional titles. Don’t expect a fourth. The Vikings, who lost all five starters from last year’s team, were just 5-9 through 14 games. Cleveland Central Catholic and Kirtland expect to be the beneficiaries of VASJ’s youth. Others who figure to factor into the regional tournament include Wayne County Athletic League rivals West Salem Northwestern and Smithville. The Smithies were undefeated through 16 games and ranked No. 1 in the state. The Huskies are led by Lucas (20.1 points) and Brennan McKean (15.6 points).

High Hopes

The Athens District, which will produce an Athens Regional finalist, appears to be anyone’s for the taking with Seaman North Adams, Chesapeake, Williamsport Westfall, Piketon and Ironton among the ones to watch. Out of the bottom regional bracket, Grandview Heights, London Madison Plains, Beverly Fort Frye and Sugarcreek Garaway are contenders. The Wilmington Regional will include three district winners from Dayton and one from Columbus. Don’t be surprised to see Columbus Academy or Hartley coming south on Interstate 71. As for the Dayton representatives, Anna is the team to beat. The Rockets were state semifinalists last year and return six of their top eight players. Anna has only dropped four games in two years, including two against New Knoxville and one to O-G in last year’s state semifinals. Other teams to watch from the Dayton District are Middletown Madison, Miami East, Dayton Christian, Hamilton Badin and Maderia. Final Four Favorites Findlay Liberty-Benton, Anna, Fort Frye, Smithville State Champion Favorite Anna – Eric Frantz

Division IV

Last year New Knoxville completed the state’s only undefeated season en route to winning its first boys basketball state title. Don’t be surprised if the Rangers do it

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again. Actually, be surprised if they don’t. Although New Knoxville hasn’t coasted through the season like it did last year, when it won its games by an average of 27 points, it has shown the ability to continue a pair of impressive win streaks. As of early February, the Rangers had won 43 straight games and 59 straight regular season games. Heading into the final stages of the regular season the Rangers were four wins shy of their third straight undefeated regular season. New Knoxville, which is looking to match St. Henry (1990-91) as the only teams in Midwest Athletic Conference history to win back-to-back boys basketball state titles, again possesses multiple options. Senior wing Caleb Allen leads four Rangers in double-digit scoring with 15.1 points per game. Senior post Brad Piehl, a 6-8 Robert Morris-recruit, nearly averages a double-double (14.1 points and 9.3 rebounds). Senior Austin Arnett and sophomore Ryan Vanderhorst each average 12 points. Vanderhorst averages 5.8 assists. The Rangers own quality wins over Anna (5549), Delphos St. John’s (55-51) and Fort Recovery (73-64). New Knoxville’s biggest challenge en route to another regional final appears to be a potential meeting with Graham’s Josh either Sidney Lehman Catholic or Cincinnati Seven Hills in the Kettering Regional semifinals. Schuler (far left), Dayton Jefferson and 6-9 junior post Adreian Payne, Northland’s J.D. which could be waiting in the regional final, looks to be Weatherspoon the biggest hurdle – literally – between the Rangers (middle) and and a return to Columbus. South Charleston Southeastern is also on the other side of the bracket. Centerville’s Matt The other three regional sites – Canton, Bowling Kavanaugh are all Green and Athens – aren’t as cut and dried. players to keep At Canton, several good teams will be gone before the regional tournament starts. A potential district final an eye on come between two of the region’s best teams – Bedford St. the postseason. Peter Chanel and Cleveland Heights Lutheran East – Watch out for looms, as does a potential district semifinal meeting between Berlin Hiland and Malvern. their teams as The survivors of those two games would meet in a well. regional semifinal. McDonald could be a sleeper coming out of the Struthers District. The Bowling Green regional might be the most wide open in the division. Toledo Christian is the favorite in the Findlay District, while Pettisville earns that distinction in the Napoleon District. The other side of the regional shapes up with Plymouth (Willard District) and Delphos St. John’s (Elida District) the favorites to meet in the other semifinal. Photos by Nick Falzerano DSJ gets the nod as the favorite to reach Columbus. Also a MAC member, the Blue Jays resume includes wins over bigger schools Wapakoneta, Elida, Van Wert, Lima Shawnee and St. Marys. DSJ also handed St. Henry its only loss through 16 games and almost took down New Knoxville. Two-time state 100-meter champion Cameron Hermiller leads the Blue Jays in scoring with 14.8 point per game. Scott Recker chips in 13.2 points, while Nate Webb, a 3-point threat, averages 10.5. Brandon Hemker leads the team in assists (4.3 per game), while Hermiller is second (3.4). Recker is the team’s leading rebounder (6.1 per game). Worthington Christian, which lost to New Knoxville in last year’s state final, appears on a collision course with Lancaster Fisher Catholic in the Columbus 2 District. Should this match happen, it will feature two of the division’s best bigmen. Worthington Christian senior post Brian Hecker (24.2 points) is the reigning D-IV player of the year, while FC’s Luke Roesch casts a 6-7 presence of his own (19 points, 10 rebounds). Through 16 games, WC had only lost to DeSales (twice), Trotwood-Madison and Hartley. Newark Catholic is the favorite in the Columbus 1 District. Out of Athens, Oak Hill is generating a lot of talk. The Oaks were regional finalists last year. Final Four Favorites New Knoxville, Delphos St. John’s, Berlin Hiland, Oak Hill State Champion Favorite New Knoxville – Eric Frantz

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STORY BY OHIO HIGH STAFF

Boys Basketball Recruiting

he 2008-09 boys basketball regular season already is winding down but an exciting March lies ahead, as do the very bright futures of the top players in Ohio. The postseason should be rife with excitement and palpitating games and, as usual, many of the elite players in the state will come to center stage. What makes this season different from many in the past and certainly the next few down the line is that the senior class simply lacks pizzazz compared to the hoops standard. In fact, analysts such as our resident expert, Chris Johnson, the Ohio editor of HoopScoopOnline.com, are labeling the 2009 class as weak in terms of star power and depth when weighing it against the ones directly preceding and following it. The 2010 class, for example, is loaded with high-caliber talent and some of the best prospects on a national scale. Many of the top players from that group already have dealt with significant attention from college coaches and are now promised to particular schools. Still, several of the seniors are in line to play major and mid-major college basketball and will have a chance to showcase their skills at the next level. Three in-state Ohio college coaches – longtime Miami boss Charlie Coles, Kent State’s Geno Ford and first-year Ohio University head coach John Groce – have to be smiling after landing signatures from multiple top-15 Ohio players. The following list contains pertinent recruiting and signing information for key in-state players and our updated rankings for each class, including the most recent national class rankings by ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. (ES) and HoopScoopOnline.com (HS) where applicable:

Seniors (Class of 2009)

1. Garrick Sherman, 6-10, center, Kenton (ES 99th, HS 129th) – Sherman had a breakout junior season in which he averaged 23.6 points per game and committed to Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, choosing the Spartans over other Big Ten schools such as Purdue, Iowa and Penn State. He signed with MSU in November and then proceeded to pick up where he left off, making the physical post man a legitimate “Mr. Basketball” candidate and perhaps the top Division II player in the state. Sherman was second-team all-state last year and appears to be a lock for first-team honors in his final season. 2. Jon Smith, 6-7, power forward, Grove City (HS 186th) – The fastest rising and potentially best senior in the state when all is assessed at season’s end, Smith is versatile, consistent and leading his team to contention in the hefty Ohio Capital Conference. “Smith has the most upside of any player in this class,” Johnson said. He signed with St. Louis University and was averaging 18.6 points and 10.7 rebounds per game through Feb. 10. 3. Carl “Tay” Jones, 5-10, point guard, Garfield Heights (HS 153rd) – A prolific scorer for one of the state’s most dynamic teams, Jones

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doesn’t mind being in the glare of the spotlight. In fact, he thrives on it. He has a chance to surpass last season’s scoring average of 25.7 ppg. After drawing attention from major programs such as Michigan, Penn State and Dayton, Jones signed with St. Joe’s in the fall. His improved play enabled him to move up 10 spots on this list from No. 13. Scoring 24.1 ppg and adding 4.2 assists per game. 4. Robert Capobianco, 6-7, power forward, Loveland (ES 100th, HS 178th) – An inside force who averaged 19.5 ppg and 11.3 rpg last season, he is also highly skilled and shows excellent shooting range. Indiana scooped up Capobianco before others could get deeply involved and he signed with coach Tom Crean’s Hoosiers in November. 5. Matt Kavanaugh, 6-10, center, Centerville (HS 193rd) – Big center keeps inching up this list as he followed up second-team All-Ohio honors as a junior with an outstanding summer on the AAU circuit. Averaged 20.3 ppg last year. Won’t go far next season – he’s signed with the University of Dayton. Was averaging 18.3 ppg and 9.0 rpg through the end of January. 6. Bill Edwards, 6-7, wing forward, Middletown (HS 218th) – The son of the former Wright State superstar with the same name, Edwards is receiving overtures from WSU, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Dayton and several MAC schools. Penn State also is now interested. He averaged 17.5 ppg last season and received All-Southwest District acclaim. With Edwards leading the charge, the Middies won 14 of their first 15 games. 7. Drew McGhee, 6-9, center, North Ridgeville (HS 168th) – A Miami (Ohio) signee who is looking like a nice get for the RedHawks. Very skilled big man who has range out to 18 feet 8. Desmar Jackson, 6-4, shooting guard, Warren Harding (HS 279th) – Outstanding athlete who can take over games at times. Averaged 14.1 ppg last season but tried to be more of a distributor at Harding after transferring in from nearby Warren JFK. Second team all-district last season. Jackson looks to be leaning on pursuing a scholarship in basketball over football but he is yet to sign with a school. 9. Reggie Keely, 6-7, power forward, Cleveland Heights (HS 240th) – Having an outstanding season for one of the most powerful teams in northeast Ohio. A consistent performer with skills that should translate to the next level. Signed a letter-of-intent with Ohio University. Averaging 22.8 ppg through 13 games this season. 10. Orlando Williams, 6-3, point guard, Cincinnati Princeton – Plays in one of the most talented backcourts in the state next to junior offguard Jordan Sibert. With Williams running the point, Princeton was 14-1 and ranked second in the Division I state poll on Feb. 10. Averaged 13.3 ppg as a junior. Signed with Miami (Ohio). 11. Danny McElroy, 6-7, power forward, Cincinnati LaSalle (HS 233rd) – McElroy’s prep Photo by Nick Falzerano career has had its share of peaks and valleys. His stock has dipped recently and he’s also changed his mind about his future school. After committing Garfield Heights senior point guard Carl to the University of Cincinnati, he ended up sign“Tay” Jones is headed to St. Joe’s. ing in the fall with Bowling Green.

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Boys Basketball Recruiting 12. Marquis Horne, 6-7, power forward, 6-0, point guard, Canal Winchester (Wright State); Cincinnati Princeton (HS 256th) – Another Jamel Harris, 6-8, power forward, Euclid (Eastern future Bobcat who has signed with Ohio U., Horne Michigan); Lamar McKnight, 6-6, power forward, also considered offers from Kent State, Bowling Bedford Chanel (Youngstown State); Ethan Green and Tennessee State and also gave conMichael, 6-5, wing forward, Toledo Christian (Air sideration to LSU. Athletic forward who can finish Force); Brad Piehl, 6-7, power forward, New plays with power or touch. Knoxville (Robert Morris); Devin Russell, 6-8, 13. Randal Holt, 5-11, point guard, Cleveland power forward, Toledo Start (Toledo); Josh Glenville – Second-team all-district pick after Schuler, 6-3, shooting guard, St. Paris Graham averaging 20.4 ppg as a sophomore and was just (North Dakota); Anthony Wells, 6-1, point guard, under 21 ppg again as a junior, both season at Shaker Heights (Cleveland State); Sir Christian Bedford. Holt transferred to Glenville, helping that Williams, 6-2, shooting guard, Cleveland Heights team become one of the best in the state. In fact, (Rider). the Tarblooders shot out to a 13-0 record. Best of the Rest – Jared Porrini, 6-4, shooting Holt originally committed to Cleveland State but guard, Canton Timken; Cortez Howell, 5-11, point after receiving offers from most of the top teams guard, Cincinnati Lockland; D.J. Cunningham, 6in the MAC he opted to sign an LOI with Kent 9, center, Waterford; Dane Kopp, 6-9, center, State. Newark; Aaron Robinson, 6-2, point guard, “It’s close to home, I like the coaching staff and Trotwood-Madison (signed with Findlay); Justin I’m going to be my degree,” he told The Jamison, 6-9, center, Strongsville; Daylen (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. Harrison, 6-6, power forward, Akron St. Vincent14. Allen Roberts, 6-2, shooting guard, St. Mary; Ryan Siggins, 6-5, wing forward, Middletown – Continues to improve and has Kettering Alter; Tony Harris, 5-10, point guard, meshed well this season with Edwards. Capable Cincinnati Moeller; Erik Stenger, 6-6, power forof getting hot from the outside in a moment’s ward, Cincinnati St. Xavier; Will Felder, 6-5, wing notice. Roberts is signed with Miami (Ohio). forward, Cleveland Lutheran East; Andrew 15. Robert Johnson, 6-6, wing forward, Pavloff, 6-8, power forward, Cuyahoga Falls Photo by Nick Falzerano Bedford (HS 252nd) – Dominant three-man who Walsh Jesuit. recently was named The Plain Dealer player of the week after racking up 65 points, 23 rebounds Cleveland Heights senior forward Reggie Juniors (Class of 2010) and 10 assists in two games, including a win over Keely has signed with Ohio University. 1. Jared Sullinger, 6-8, power forward, previously undefeated Lyndhurst Brush. Was Columbus Northland (ES 1st, HS 3rd) – Big averaging 21.4 ppg and 10.5 rpg at last check. Sully simply is the most reliable and consistent big man in the state and possiSigned and sealed for the Kent State Golden Flashes. bly the country. His soft hands are magnets for all entry passes and he uses 16. Luke Kraus, 6-0, point guard, Findlay – Kraus has been compared to his powerful, wide body to wall off defenders and score in the post. Shows an former Willard star Nick Dials. Crafty and able to score even against more atharray of moves and a nice touch. Also adept at getting to the free-throw line letic defenders. Averaged 21.3 ppg as a junior and earned third-team All-Ohio and hitting a high percentage from there. honors. He signed with Bowling Green. Sullinger is already committed to Ohio State and currently headlines a five17. Andre Paulk, 6-3, shooting guard, Kent Roosevelt – Not as well man class that could be the best in the country. He has lost just twice at the know as just about every other senior in the top prep level. Even with the setback to Canton 20 but is putting together a very solid senior seaTimken this season, Northland was at 15-1 overall son. Still unsigned. Averaging 23.5 ppg and 4.4 and ranked atop the state’s Division I poll through assists a game. Feb. 10. he was among the area’s leading scor18. Darren Goodson, 6-4, wing forward, ers at 19.9 ppg and also was pulling down 13.9 Cincinnati Aiken – Dropped 10 spots but still rpg while shooting a hefty 65.7 percent from the among the better wings in the state. Plays for a field. balanced team that showcases Chane Behanan 2. Adreian Payne, 6-9, center, Dayton inside. Still a promising prospect with good size Jefferson (ES 28th, HS 25th) – A long-armed and a nose for the ball. shot blocker with a developing game, Payne has 19. C.J. McCollum, 6-2, shooting guard, not always looked motivated this season while Canton Glen Oak – Signed with Lehigh. Racked playing for D-IV Jefferson but he still manages to up 25.1 ppg last season and currently is leading take ownership of the paint. the Akron area with 29.0 ppg and also is pulling Dayton, Xavier, Cincinnati, West Virginia and down 8.3 rpg. Ohio State are all still jockeying for position for “He’s one of the best shooters in the state and the uncommitted center. Was named secondhas probably seen his stock increase more than team All-Ohio last season after averaging 15.4 any other player in the state from the end of last ppg. Right around 14 points, 12 rebounds and season until now,” Johnson said. “He is an four blocks per game this season. absolute steal for Lehigh.” 3. Jordan Sibert, 6-4, wing forward, 20. Mario Hines, 6-8, power forward, Garfield Cincinnati Princeton (ES 42nd, HS 42nd) – Heights – Outstanding athlete who has returned Sibert has blossomed to the point where he shot to form after missing last season due to personal up from the 10 hole to third on this list and is now reasons. Provides the inside muscle for one of considered a top-60 prospect nationally by virtualOhio’s elite teams. Signed in the fall with ly every reputable service. An Ohio State commitIndiana/Purdue-Fort Wayne. Averaging 11.8 ppg ment, he teamed up with Sullinger, Payne and and 10.1 rpg. several others over the summer for the dominatOther Division I Signees – Phillip Beans, 6-8, Photo by Nick Falzerano ing All-Ohio Red AAU squad. Confident player center, Toledo Ottawa Hills (Holy Cross); Sheldon who can drive the ball and is not afraid to take big Brogdon, 5-11, shooting guard, Warren Harding shots. Averaging right around 14 ppg for a loaded Bedford senior forward Robert Johnson is (Youngstown State, verbal); Zach Brown, 6-1, team. point guard, Mason (Lipscomb); Darian Cartharn, headed to Kent State University. 4. Juwan Staten, 5-10, point guard, Dayton

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Boys Basketball Recruiting Thurgood Marshall (ES 55th, HS 64th) – Super big-time recruiting commodity who has already quick and able to blast all the way to the bucket for selected the University of Cincinnati as his future points, Staten scored 23.8 ppg last season and is school, Behanan has been at the head of the class back at it as a junior. He signed with nearby Dayton almost from the moment he splashed onto the in the fall and is considered the best PG in Ohio scene at Aiken last season. and also may be the most talented player at the He struggled to stay on the floor because of foul Division II level. Also played in the All-Ohio Red trouble in a highly anticipated January showdown program. Had Thurgood Marshall off to a 13-4 start with Sullinger but since then has been back to his and was popping for 20.4 ppg. dominant self. Sometimes strays out of the paint 5. Cameron Wright, 6-5, shooting guard, and looks to do damage facing up now. Cleveland Benedictine (HS 124th) – Explosive Behanan averaged 20.2 points and eight and versatile performer who has come a long way rebounds per game as a frosh and he’s continuing with his jump shot. Also committed to Ohio State. that pace this season. Simply the best player in this Has been right around 18 ppg all season much like class. last year. Willing defender and passer who has 2. James “Zach” Price, 6-9, center, Lakewood Benedictine fans thinking about a deep postseason St. Edward – Left-handed big man is coming into run. his own this season. Already an excellent shot 6. J.D. “Air Spoon” Weatherspoon, 6-6, wing blocker with advanced post skills for a player his forward, Columbus Northland (HS 116th) – Highage. Several major programs are charting and Ohio flying, energetic wing who lights up the gym when State already has made a scholarship offer. he is finishing off one of his two-handed dunks. 3. Markus Crider, 6-5, wing forward, Huber Shooting an area-best 69.0 percent from the field. Heights Wayne – Exciting athlete who is beginning Has been a more reliable rebounder and defender to draw interest from major programs. this season. Xavier commitment who might be the Attended the Ohio State-Michigan State game in most exciting player to watch in the state. Columbus on Jan. 25 and could become a Big Ten7. Aaron Craft, 6-2, point guard, Findlay caliber recruit. Liberty-Benton (HS 133rd) – Plays the game at a 4. Paul Honigford, 6-8, power forward, Photo by Nick Falzerano frenetic pace and also has the toughness and Sugarcreek Garaway – Led Garaway all the way savvy to run the point and play through contact and to the state title game in Division III last spring and changing defenses. Outstanding outside shooter may be headed back. Able to score facing the basWayne sophomore wing Marcus Crider is but just as happy to set up teammates. Also the ket and an improving rebounder. being courted by Dayton, Xavier and others. quarterback on the football team but is committed 5. Anton Grady, 6-7, power forward, to playing hoops at Tennessee for Bruce Pearl. Yet Cleveland Central Catholic – Blessed with good another All-Ohio Red standout. size and frame to possibly get bigger. Athletic four man that should get more 8. Geron Johnson, 6-3, shooting guard, Dayton Dunbar (HS 154th) – The notice soon. Wolverines always seem to have athleticism and scoring and Johnson fits right 6. Stevie Taylor, 5-8, point guard, Gahanna Lincoln – Started off hot by into the program tradition. Was ineligible last season but has come on this year scoring right around 17 ppg but is also a true lead guard who likes to run plays and could begin fielding offers soon. He was averaging 17.0 ppg through the and dole out assists. Butler, Akron, Ohio U. and Ohio State are among the more first eight games of the season. interested schools already. 9. Allen Payne, 6-6, wing forward, Cincinnati Winton Woods (HS 163rd) – 7. Jakarr Sampson, 6-7, power forward, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary – Wiry performer who rebounded nicely last season from a knee injury and is now Long, athletic PF who played at Solon last year. One of several talented young moving up the charts. Playing well on a regular basis against top competition in players for the Irish. the Cincy area. Virginia may be among Payne’s suitors. 8. Kirby Wright, 6-8, power forward, Middletown – Newcomer via transfer 10. Nick Kellogg, 6-2, point guard, Columbus DeSales (HS 180th) – Son who plays on one of best D-I teams in the state. Already well known on the AAU of former Ohio State star Clark Kellogg who averaged 10.0 ppg as a frosh and circuit. then shot up to 22.1 ppg last season. Kellogg’s production was down a bit this 9. Trey Burke, 5-10, point guard, Columbus Northland – Stepped in for the season but he had the Stallions off to a 13-3 start and a No. 8 ranking in the departed Devon Moore and is already one of the area’s top assist men at more state in Division II. Wise and feisty with the ball in his hands. than seven per game. Runs the show for the state’s premier team. 11. Griffin McKenzie, 6-9 power forward, Cincinnati Moeller (HS 204th) – 10. Trey Lewis, 6-0, guard, Garfield Heights – A dangerous outside shooter One of the state’s storied programs has another strong team recently made on one of the state’s top teams. Averaging 16.1 ppg and 6.1 assists per game. stronger by the return to the court from McKenzie. He resumed practice in early Coach Sonny Johnson said he already has received offers for Lewis from Ohio January but had not played all year until recently due to a back injury. Helped U., Kent State, Akron, Miami (Ohio), Cleveland State and St. Joe’s. 11. Aaron Thomas, 6-4, wing forward, Cincinnati Aiken Moeller to a win over rival Cincinnati St. Xavier with 13 points. So far mostly 12. Travis Trice, 6-0, point guard, Huber Heights Wayne MAC schools are recruiting him. 13. Jehvon Clarke, 6-0, point guard, Canton Timken 12. Derek Jackson, 6-0, point guard, Cleveland Benedictine (HS 226th) – 14. Traevon Jackson, 6-2, combo guard, Westerville South A lead guard who also gets out on the wings and hurts teams with his drives 15. Ricky Johnson, 5-9, point guard, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary and jumpers. His strong bond with Wright is evident on the court and gives the Bengals one of the top backcourts in the state. Recently committed to Central Michigan. Freshmen (Class of 2012) 13. Anton Hutchins, 6-3, shooting guard, Lima Senior (HS 241st) – Knowing the importance that is placed upon identifying top players young and Athletic scoring wing who brings it every night. Looks natural on the move and younger for the sake of recruiting, Ohio High has decided to play along and sincan dish it to others. gle out some elite freshmen in the state. Johnson has come up with this magnifi14. Ralph Hill, 6-6, wing forward, Westerville North (HS 265th) – Having a cent seven to watch (listed by height): breakout season for the Warriors. Among the central Ohio area leader with 18.9 Malik London, 6-8, center, Chillicothe; Jermaine Davis, 6-8, center, Garfield ppg through the first 16 contests of the season. Several MAC schools and Heights; Elijah Macon, 6-7, power forward, Columbus Marion Franklin; Adolphus Dayton are on his early list of potential colleges. Washington, 6-5, power forward, Cincinnati Roger Bacon; Lorenzo Cugini, 6-5, 15. Kenny Knight, 6-7, power forward, Cincinnati Aiken (276th) – Talented wing forward, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary; Kyle Molock, 6-1, point guard, Dublin performer but has been in and out of the lineup due to off-the-court difficulties. Coffman; Cameron Wilson, 6-0, point guard Dublin Jerome.

Sophomores (Class of 2011)

1. Chane Behanan, 6-6, power forward, Cincinnati Aiken (ES 23rd) – A

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For more updates on Ohio’s top prospects and those nationally, check out Chris Johnson’s work at hoopscooponline.com

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Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview

2009 Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview Alter and junior Ashley Christie are out to defend their Division II state title.

hey say you have to have your heart broken before you can become a champion. Come March and the 34th annual OHSAA state girls basketball tournament, Ohio will become Heartbreak Hotel. Never before in my previous 10 years associated with Ohio high school girls basketball has the road to Columbus been so crowded. While there are favorites in all four divisions and in each of the 16 regional tournaments, there are no “clear-cut, sure-fire, lead-pipe-lock” favorites to win those regional championships or to win any of the four state championships. The state final four games will be contested over three days (March 19-21) at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. Here is a look at the girls basketball landscape as the tournament quickly approaches:

Division I

Could this be the seventh straight season the Division I state champion has come from southwest Ohio? North Canton Hoover from northeast Ohio was the last team from a region other than southwest Ohio to win a D-I state title back in 2002. Beginning in 2003, Beavercreek, Dayton Chaminade-Julienne and Mount Notre Dame have all collected championships. If MND gets out of the Southwest (Fairborn) Region, the Cougars will be the favorite in Columbus. The senior trio of guard Ashley Fowler (Ohio U.), forward Kendall Hackney (USC) and wing Gabby Smith (Vanderbilt) have the opportunity this year to become only the second team in OHSAA girls basketball history to win four straight state championships and the first in Division I. Even with Lakota West opting for the second straight year to go in the Harrison 5 bracket (through the Central Region), MND faces more than orange barrel obstacles on its sixth straight trip up I-71. Winton Woods, although untested this season, has one of the state’s best backcourt combinations in Dayeesha Hollins (Michigan) and Jasmine Shaw and may be the biggest obstacle in the road for MND. Beavercreek with Stanford bound Michaela Ruef, Kettering Fairmont with 6-

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Photo by Nick Falzerano

2 junior Cassie Sant and the Jessica Alexander-led Xenia clubs out of the Dayton area are all potential candidates to knock Thurs., March 19 - Semifinals off MND come tournament time. Let us not forget arguably the 1:00 p.m. - Division IV Game best player in Ohio is at tradition rich Dayton Chaminade-Julienne, 3:00 p.m. - Division IV Game junior Samarie Walker 6:00 p.m. - Division III Game (Connecticut verbal). Walker with her longtime running mate, sen8:00 p.m. - Division III Game ior Shene Fleming (St. Francis Pa.), can beat any team in Ohio Friday, March 20 - Semifinals on any given day or night. 1:00 p.m. - Division II Game But as former Houston Rockets coach Rudy 3:00 p.m. - Division II Game Tomjanovich once stated, “Never underestimate the heart of cham6:00 p.m. - Division I Game pion,” and the Cougars of MND 8:00 p.m. - Division I Game are the favorite to come out of the Southwest (Fairborn) Region Saturday, March 21 - Finals once again. In the Central (Westerville) 10:45 a.m. - Division IV Region, the shoe is on the other 2:00 p.m. - Division III foot this year. Lakota West was the favorite 5:15 p.m. - Division II a year ago but Dublin Coffman has set itself ahead in the 8:30 p.m. - Division I Central Region. Lakota West, led by Alexis Rogers (Duke), Tessa Elkins (Murray State) and Brittany Harriel (SE Missouri State) lost to MND and Coffman in the regular season. Hence, Coffman with it’s inside-out combination of Sam MacKay (Dayton) and Becca Bornhorst (Butler) are the favorites

State Schedule

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STORY BY TOM JENKINS (OGBR)

Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview

this year to give central Ohio only its third team in the final four in six years (the OHSAA changed the Division I tournament format in 2004 allowing one Southwest Ohio team to come thru the Central Region). In the Central Region there will be “something old” with Emilee Harmon (Ohio State) and Company at Pickerington Central, “something new” with the Mathews twins, Anasa and Makeda at Delaware Hayes and the sophomore trio of Shicole Watts, Chelsea McKnight and Aryealle Beavers at Grove City and the Vikings from Northland, “something borrowed” with head coach Marty Brice trying to re-use Tri-Valley’s Division II magic from their 2005 run and “something blue” with head coach Dave Butcher at Pickerington North longing for the glory days. But in the end they will all be bridesmaids because it is a two-horse race in the Central Region with Coffman edging Lakota West by a nose. There is a shift in power in that animal kingdom in northeast Ohio known as

High Hopes

years as the Twinsburg Tigers begin their reign as Queens of the Jungle in northeast Ohio. Like Twinsburg, in last year’s tournament preview I stated “mark my word here and now, next year Toledo Start will be the clear cut favorite out of the (Northwest/Norwalk region).” Start is the only team in Northwest Ohio that can start five legit nationally ranked NCAA Division I prospects in Yolanda Richardson (Toledo), Tiffani Blackman (junior), Azia Bishop (soph.), Maleeka Kynard (soph.) and Jaimie Jackson (freshman). The Northwest Division I region is a college coach’s dream. It is loaded with heavily recruited players, including Marion Harding junior Shawnta Dyer and sophomore Brenae Harris, Westlake sophomore Kalpana Beach, Sylvania Northview sophomore Katelyn McCoy and Toledo Central Catholic’s senior Brianna Jones (Illinois) just to name a few. As good as all these players are, there are just not enough supporting weapons to slow the Spartans from Start rampage towards Columbus. Only the best player in northwest Ohio, Toledo Waite junior Natasha Howard, can put her team on her back and challenge these talented Spartans from Start. Final Four Favorites Lima Bath’s Mount Notre Dame, Dublin Coffman, Twinsburg, Toledo Start Stefanie Mauk (far State Champion Favorite left), Hathaway Mount Notre Dame

Brown’s Alexis Dobbs (middle) and South Euclid Regina’s Tay’Ler Mingo all have thoughts of leading their teams back to the state tournament and leaving with a title.

Photo by Nick Falzerano

Photo by Gary Housteau

the Canton Regional. Last year, as stated in my tournament preview, Twinsburg was a year away. Well, that year away is here and the Tigers are the favorites to come out of the Canton Region and should be for the foreseeable future. When the No. 1 national scouting service (Collegiate Girls Basketball Report) has one of your players – Malina Howard – rated as the No. 1 freshman in America, you should be the favorite in your region. When you play the top two teams in Ohio regardless of division to the wire as Twinsburg (one-point loss to MND in Classic in the Country and an overtime loss to South Euclid Regina at the Holiday Cage Classic), you should be the favorite to win your region. When you have an outside game as Twinsburg does to go along with the No. 1 freshman post player in America you should be the favorite in your region. Two teams have a legit shot this year to take a bite out of the Twinsburg’s Tigers tail. One is Shaker Heights, led by Illinois recruit Karisma Penn, and the other is Canton McKinley and their “Pup” phenom Ameryst Alston. Both could get close enough to chomp down. No offense to the traditional rulers in northeast Ohio -- Wadsworth, Boardman and North Canton Hoover – but they may have a four-year ride in the backseat of the safari wagon. Nor any disrespect intended towards Akron Kenmore, Mayfield and Warren Howland but their window of opportunity to become Queen may have shut last year and may stay shut for four more

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Division II

Like Division I, the Division II state championship is open to any of the four regional tournament winners. In three of the four regions, it is the same cast of characters that are favored to make an encore appearance in Columbus. However, the road to Columbus this year is full of potholes for these favorites and any one of these three returning favorites could be calling AAA from the side of the road. Despite dropping several games in the regular season, Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown is still the favorite to make its third consecutive appearance at the Final Four coming out of the Northeast (Barberton) Region. The Blazers have navigated their way through, arguably, the toughest and most challenging schedule in the state. The Mylan Woods (Northwestern), Alexis Dobbs and Erica Almady-led club are one of five teams in the state that can start five NCAA Division I prospects. Geneva has had a good regular season but is untested. The same is true for the Shavon Robinson-led Canton South Wildcats. There is not enough support for the Amy Scullion-led Salem Quakers nor enough contributors for the Jillian Halfhill (Bowling Green) led Canfield Cardinals for either to challenge HB. The bitter rivalry between Lake Catholic and Hathaway Brown provides the Blazers with their most formidable foe but in the end HB will be back in Columbus for the third straight year. Can anyone say Buffalo Bills? In the Northwest (Ontario) Region, Lima Bath with Mauk twins and Central Michigan recruits, Rachel and Steph, their Mauk cousin, Emily, Nicki Hopkins (Buffalo) and Alyssa Brandon are the favorites to have their second straight appearance at the final four. Greg Mauk, father to Emily and uncle to Rachel and Steph, is in his 11th season as Wildkittens head coach. To hold their family affair in Columbus again, the path presents some obstacles but not like last year when Sandusky Perkins was in the way. This year, the Wildkittens have to keep from losing their scalp to a quality Redskins tribe from Wapakoneta in the district and then weather the highly heralded Tiffin Columbian Tornadoes in the regional semifinals. In the regional finals, Mauk’s club will have to get by one of two teams that have both beat the Northeast Regional favorite, HB, on their respective home courts: the youthful Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit Warriors led by freshman talent Rachel Theriot or the experienced Archbishop Hoban Knights led by veteran Rachel Tecca (Akron). So, Mauk’s Wildkittens to get back to Columbus for a second straight year all they have to do is save their scalp, weather a storm, dodge a spear and duck from a swinging sword. The Southwest (Vandalia) Region is the most crowded and most competi-

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Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview tive field of any of the four Division II regional tournaments this season. Kettering Alter, last year’s state champion, is the favorite to return as the Southwest Ohio representative. Alter, led by last year’s Division II Most Outstanding Player junior Ashley Christie, returns five of its top eight players this year all with quality minutes in their state championship run. Crawling in the ring at this year’s Vandalia Regional will be the winner of the undercard match between the youthful Kenton Ridge Cougars and the Scott Rogers-coached Indian Hill Braves in the Mason 2 District Final. Tippecanoe, Alter’s most notable opponent in this year’s Southwest Ohio Division II Region, will face the Kenton Ridge/Indian Hill winner in the regional semifinals, while Alter gets a sparring match against one of the outsiders from Columbus – Mifflin, DeSales or Eastmoor. For Kenton Ridge, Indian Hill and Tippecanoe, this is the year of opportunity as Dayton Chaminade-Julienne figures to move down a division next year. Look for Warsaw River View to make its third trip to Columbus in four years by coming out of the Zanesville Regional. Head coach Caroline Daugherty and senior daughter Kari (Dayton) could drive those back roads blindfolded with Kari having been the Most Outstanding Player in the Division II State Championships her freshman year and both having two previous state championships in the last three years to use as their roadmap. The Sherman Tanks from Chillicothe Unioto have had a respectable regular season but their firepower hasn’t tested. If Unioto gets by Jamie Stutzman’s talented Washington C.H. Miami Trace team in the Athens District, the Tanks could blow a hole in the Daugherty’s road map in the regional semifinals. On the other side of this Eastern Region, New Albany will be the biggest roadblock for the Black Bears of River View. The Robertson twins, Haley and Hannah and New Albany will have to first get by the much underrated West Homes Knights. Of the four Division II regionals, Zanesville is the most wideopen and will provide a new face and a new name from last year’s quartet in the final four. Final Four Favorites Hathaway Brown, Lima Bath, Kettering Alter, Warsaw River View State Champion Favorite Lima Bath

Division III

Just like Larry Bird used to say in the NBA three-point shooting contest, “Everyone else is competing for second place.” As stated in last year’s state tournament preview, “It is Regina and the field.” Wrong, but also stated was “only Justine Raterman (Dayton) and Versailles out of the Vandalia Region have a shot in one game on one day against Regina.” Right. Versailles defeated Regina and won the Division III state championship a year ago. While there is a multitude of teams in Division III having great years, there is no Justine Raterman and Versailles out there this year. South Euclid Regina is the best team in the state this year regardless of division. Only five teams in the state can start five Division I college prospects and Regina does start five Division I college prospects. MND, Toledo Start, Lakota West and Hathaway Brown are the others that can. No one has an answer to all-world point guard Tay’ler Mingo; no one has an answer to the inside-out game of Old Dominion-bound Jackie Cook; no one has an answer to the versatility of Toledo signee Riley McCormick; no one has an answer to the competitive fire of Evansville recruit Amber Boyd, and no one has an answer to the dominant inside presence of super sophomore Therany Dunnigan and juniors Pa’Sonna Hope or Surya Gaffney. In Regina’s Region (Cuyahoga Falls), Pymatuning Valley…no answer; Youngstown Ursuline…no answer; Smithville…no answer; Orrville…no answer;…West Salem Northwestern…no answer. In the Lexington Region, Mt. Blanchard Riverdale…no answer; Findlay Liberty-Benton…no answer; Milbury Lake…no answer; Genoa Area…no answer. In the Lancaster Region, Sugarcreek Garaway…no answer; Oak Hill…no answer. The Vandalia Region is where it gets interesting. In the seeding draw, Marion Pleasant is the top-ranked Division III team as of press time and is in the best position “to compete for second place” going into the Powell 2 District and be the state runner-up because they will not meet Regina until the state championship game. But still…no answer. Final Four Favorites South Euclid Regina, Findlay Liberty-Benton, Cincinnati Oak Hills, Marion Pleasant

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State Champion Favorite South Euclid Regina

Division IV

Over the last four years, Division IV has been Berlin Hiland and Columbus Africentric – mostly Berlin Hiland (3-of-4) – winning Division IV state championships. Although I don’t think he was thinking about the Ohio Division IV state championship, Sam Cooke once sang, “A change is gonna come.” The Division IV district and regional battles are the most open and will be the most exciting of any division in the state this year. In the Northeast Ohio Region (Massillon), the regional final game will feature the size and athleticism of Cleveland Lutheran East (Latisha Walker and Amber Bogard) against the best four-guard combination in the state in Berlin Hiland’s Hilary Weaver, Noelle Yoder and Mast girls, Karli and Mykeila. Last year in the state championship game against Africentric, Hiland head coach Dave Schlabach, the 2008 National Federation Coach of the Year, painted a Van Gogh masterpiece. This year he will have to get his brush out again to get by coach Melvin Burke’s high flying Lutheran East Falcons. The Elida Regional is up for grabs. In the Elida Regional (northwest Ohio) we have Van Buren and Fostoria St. Wendelin in the Findlay District…no favorite here, Mansfield St. Peter’s and Bucyrus Wynford in the Lexington District…no favorite here, Stryker and Pettisville in the Archbold District – probably a favorite here – and New Riegel in the Tontogany District...maybe the favorite. The Archbold District winner should be the favorite to come out of the Elida Regional and I am going to go with New Riegel in the Tontogany District to represent northwest Ohio at the Division IV final four. The Central Region (Pickerington) should return the same four finalists from a year ago: South Webster out of the Athens 2 District, Harvest Prep out of the Westerville 2 District, Waterford out of the Athens 1 District and Africentric out of the Westerville 1 District. The winner of the regional semifinal between the Waterford and Africentric will be the central Ohio representative at this year’s Division Final Four. This is the third try for Waterford to get over its mental block and get by Africentric. If the Sina King-led Wildcats are ever going to get by head coach Will McKinney’s trio of Raven Ferguson, Ashar Harris (Morehead State) and Shardai Fountain (Marshall), this will be the year. On the flip side, this could be the last hurrah for Africentric in its five-year run at Columbus and as one of the two dominant forces in Ohio’s Division IV. The winner that comes out of the Van Wert District will be the winner of the Vandalia Regional – period – no ifs, ands or buts…sorry Fort Loramie, sorry Seven Hills, sorry Troy Christian. The Van Wert District will be the most competitive of any of the 64 district championships in the state of Ohio. Will it be Minster? The Wildcats are probably a year away. Will it be Fort Recovery? Not enough ammo; Will it be Delphos St. John’s? Not enough to go with Zefiryn Bryan; Will it be New Bremen? Maybe; Will it be Convoy Crestview? Maybe the Associated press gets this one right and we do see its No. 1 Convoy Crestview and No. 2 Berlin Hiland in the Division state championship game. Final Four Favorites Berlin Hiland, New Riegel, Waterford, Convoy Crestview State Champion Favorite Berlin Hiland — OH

Ohio Girls Basketball Report started 11 years ago and for the last eight years has been voted the No. 1 single-state scouting service in America by NCAA Division I womens’ basketball head coaches. Currently there are 202 colleges across America that subscribe to Ohio Girls Basketball Report and rely on the information provided by Tom Jenkins in evaluating players from Ohio. Tom has over 40 years of playing, coaching and evaluating experience associated with the game of basketball. He is devoted solely to the promotion of the game of Ohio girls basketball through his publication, Ohio Girls Basketball Report and the promotion of the players of the game through his services.

JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh

STORY BY STEVE HELWAGEN

Girls Basketball Recruiting Gabby Smith, 5-10, shooting guard, Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame, Vanderbilt signee Asia Taylor, 6-1, power forward, Columbus Whetstone, Louisville signee

The Next 10 Seniors

lthough it may not be the bumper crop of talent Ohio is used to, the state’s girls basketball Class of 2009 has churned out its share of college prospects. “The 2009 class turned out better than I thought it would a year or two ago,” said Tom Jenkins, executive director of the Ohio Girls Basketball Report. “I thought we might only see 45 or 50 Division I signees. It is a little thinner than normal. Ohio usually signs 65 to 80 Division I signees. So far this year, we’ve seen 63 signees.” An example of the lack of depth in the 2009 class may be the fact only one Ohio player is ranked in the national top 50 by ESPN-affiliated HoopGurlz.com. That player is Beavercreek forward Mikaela Ruef. The Stanford-bound Ruef is rated as the nation’s 16th-best prospect overall. That same site lists six Ohio prospects among its national top 60 list for the 2010 class. That group is led by a pair of players in the top five, Photo by Nick Falzerano including Dayton Chaminade-Julienne 6-1 small forward Samarie Walker (No. 2 overall) and Toledo Waite 6-3 Beavercreek senior post Mikela small forward Natasha Howard (No. Ruef is headed to Stanford. 5). Walker has already verbaled to Connecticut. Jenkins predicts big things out of Ohio’s next two classes coming in 201011. “The two best years in Ohio were 2003 with 103 Division I signees and 2004 with 87,” Jenkins said. “The 2010 and 2011 classes will be the best back-to-back classes since what we saw with 2003-04.” Seniors in the Class of 2009 were able to sign letters-of-intent during the early signing period in November. Below is a look at the state’s top seniors, juniors and sophomores as rated by Ohio Girls Basketball Report.

Top 10 Seniors

Here are the top 10 seniors, listed alphabetically (national rankings from HoopGurlz.com listed in parentheses): Kari Daugherty, 6-2, small forward, Warsaw River View, Dayton signee Kendall Hackney (55th overall nationally), 6-2, small forward, Cincinnati Mt. Notre Dame, USC signee Emilee Harmon (63), 6-2, power forward, Pickerington Central, Ohio State signee Dayeesha Hollins, 5-7, point guard, Cincinnati Winton Woods, Michigan signee Karisma Penn, 6-1, power forward, Shaker Heights, Illinois signee Alexis Rogers (82), 6-1, forward, West Chester Lakota West, Duke signee Mikaela Ruef (16), 6-3, forward, Beavercreek, Stanford signee Brianna Sanders, 5-11, shooting guard, Cincinnati Princeton, Ohio State signee

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Here are players ranked 11th to 20th, listed alphabetically: Jackie Cook, 5-10, small forward, South Euclid Regina, Old Dominion signee Andola Dortch, 5-6, point guard, Akron Kenmore, Toledo signee Tessa Elkins, 5-7, point guard, West Chester Lakota West, Murray State signee Shene Fleming, 6-0, power forward, Dayton Chaminade-Julienne, St. Francis (Pa.) signee Ashley Fowler, 5-6, point guard, Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame, Ohio U. signee Ashar Harris, 6-0, power forward, Columbus Africentric, Morehead State signee Breanna Jones, 6-3, center, Toledo Central Catholic, Illinois signee Samantha McKay, 5-9, shooting guard, Dublin Coffman, Dayton signee Yolanda Richardson, 6-3, center, Toledo Start, Toledo signee Jessie Tamerlano, 5-11, small forward, North Royalton, Bowling Green signee

More Division I Signees

Here are more Ohio seniors who have signed with Ohio Division I schools: Katie Bubna, Bedford Chanel, Akron; Riley McCormick, South Euclid Regina, Toledo; Allison Papenfuss, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, Bowling Green; Yolonda Richardson, Toledo Start, Toledo; Kaitlin Rohrs, Liberty Center, Youngstown State; Taylor Ruper, Garfield Heights Trinity, Akron; Rachel Tecca, Akron Hoban, Akron; Melissa Thompson, Solon, Youngstown State.

Top 10 Juniors

Here is a look at the state’s top 10 junior prospects for 2010, listed alphabetically (national rankings from HoopGurlz.com listed in parentheses): Shawnta` Dyer (16), 6-2, forward, Marion Harding Natasha Howard (5), 6-3, small forward, Toledo Waite Tay'ler Mingo (46), 5-7, point guard, South Euclid Regina Darryce Moore, 6-2, center, Youngstown Boardman, verbaled to Ohio State Cassie Sant (55), 6-2, power forward, Kettering Fairmont Amy Scullion (33), 6-0, small forward, Salem, could play Division I volleyball or basketball Latisha Walker, 6-2, power forward, Cleveland Lutheran East Samarie Walker (2), 6-1, small forward, Dayton Chaminade-Julienne, verbaled to Connecticut Ashley Wanninger, 5-10, shooting guard, Cincinnati Colerain Mylan Woods, 5-10, shooting guard, Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown, verbaled to Northwestern

More Junior Verbals

Here are more Ohio juniors who have made verbals to Division I schools: Phylesha Bullard, Cincinnati Walnut Hills, Syracuse; Jillian Halfhill, Canfield, Bowling Green; Jamonica Orton, Dayton Stebbins, Mississippi; Haley Robertson, New Albany, Miami (Ohio); Hannah Robertson, New Albany, Miami (Ohio);

Top 10 Sophomores

Here is a look at the state’s top 10 sophomore prospects for 2011, listed alphabetically Kalpana Beach, 6-1, forward, Westlake Azia Bishop, 6-3, power forward/center, Toledo Start Therany Dunnigan, 6-2, power forward/center, South Euclid Regina Raven Ferguson, 5-10, small forward, Columbus Africentric Brenae Harris, 5-9, guard, Marion Harding Sarah Hunter, 5-4, point guard, Mason Maleeka Kynard, 5-6, point guard, Toledo Start Allyson Malott, 6-2, small forward, Middletown Madison Kathyrn Reynolds, 5-7, guard, Cincinnati Mt.Notre Dame Dominque Singletary, 5-7, guard, Hamilton, verbaled to Xavier

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