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Spring Players of the Year
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Spring Sports State Recap
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Amazing Pace
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On your mark, Get set, Photo
Who were the state’s best performers? We’ve got them here...and it’s an impressive list
Baseball, Softball and Tennis champs crowned; Elyria snaps losing skid, Strasburg adds to legacy, Indian Valley stuns Hamilton Badin State track meet provides heroics and some of the country’s top athletes - again Through The Lens: Over 40 pages of pictures from the state track and field championships
Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin upset Walsh Jesuit in the D-II state championship.
Volume 6
Issue 6
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, Jeff Williams, David Gatwood, Brad Morris, Shayne Combs
Photography
Stephanie Porter, Gary Housteau, Nick Falzerano, Greg Beers, Joe Maiorana, Jim Rinaldi, Scott Grau, Jim Metzendorf
Printing Miami Valley Sports Magazine (MVP) miamivalleysports.com
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Photo by Joe Maiorana/www.impactactionphotos.com
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Ohio High Magazine is published online nine times a year and also produces an online and hard copy issue in July (Football Preview/Year in Review). 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. Ohio High is not authorized, sponsored or sanctioned by any university, athletic conference or athletic governing body. Subscriptions are available and may be purchased online at jjhuddle.com. c Copyright 2009, Ohio High Magazine and MVP Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. COVER PHOTOS: Jim Metzendorf, Impact Action Sports Photography
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Baseball Softball Boys Track Boys Field Girls Track Girls Field Boys Tennis t was another great spring sports season in Ohio high school athletics and Ohio High is proud to partner with Huntington
Banks to present player of the year awards in all four spring sports. Among those honored below are some of
BASEBALL
Junior hurler looking to end his high school career undefeated
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y definition, there is no way to improve on perfection. But Walsh Jesuit pitcher Tyler Skulina still has his best days ahead of him. The junior hurler was 9-0 on the season leading the Warriors to a state runner-up finish with a 0.75 earned run average and 84 strikeouts and 32 walks in 56.33 innings of work. He has yet to lose a game in his high school career (20-0). Skulina (6-6, 240) was nearly perfect in the Division II 2-0 state semifinal win over Columbus DeSales tossing a complete game allowing just three hits, three walks and striking out 11. Walsh (28-4) fell to Cardon Notre Dame Cathedral Latin 2-1 in the state title game. Skulina was also named Ohio’s top baseball player by Gatorade automatically qualifying him for the national player of the year.
SOFTBALL
t’s only appropriate that Tess Sito closed out her high school career by striking out the last batter she faced. The fact that is was for a state title only adds to the legend. A senior at Elyria High School, Sito capped an incredible prep career by leading the No. 1-ranked Pioneers to the Division I state softball championship with a 10-1 win over Hudson at Akron’s Firestone Stadium on June 6. Playing in its fourth straight state tournament, Elyria had lost in the state finals the last three years. Not again. Not with Sito. A three-time first team All-Ohio selection, Sito is arguably the best softball player ever from Lorain County. The 2009 Huntington Bank/Ohio High Magazine Softball Player of the Year, she also ranks high among the state’s best ever. Since her freshman year, Sito has dominated. As a pitcher Sito has been nearly untouchable, tallying 814 career strikeouts and 75 wins. The last two years have been especially remarkable. After registering 22 wins and 170 strikeouts in spot duty her first two years, Sito broke out for 313 Ks and a 27-3 record as a junior. As a senior she went 26-3
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Tyler Skulina, Walsh Jesuit
“I was shocked,” Skulina told the Cleveland Plain Dealer following the announcement in early June. “There are a lot of good players out there. It definitely is an honor.” Past Gatorade baseball players of the year include major leaguers Ken Griffey, Jr. (Cincinnati Moeller, 1987), Chad Billingsley (Defiance, 2003) and Kent Mercker (Dublin 1986). Skulina is the first Walsh Jesuit player to win the award in the tradition-rich program. After going 9-0 this “Tyler Skulina continues to amaze me with seaon, Skulina is now his combination of elite skill, unrelenting work ethic, and maturity beyond his years,” Walsh 20-0 for his high school Jesuit head coach Chris Kaczmar said. “But I career. am most impressed of all by his kind heart, his consistently warm smile, and his humility. “He’s a tremendous teammate first, then he’s a dominant pitcher second.” Though Walsh Jesuit finished state runner-up, Skulina is aiming to bring home a fifth state trophy for the Warriors – and the fourth in seven seasonsnext spring. — MN
Tess Sito, Elyria
and had 331 Ks. She issued just 22 walks. Sito, who bats leadoff, is just as valuable with a bat in her hand. She’s hit over .400 all four years of high school and the last two years combined to hit 11 homeruns and knock in 49 runs. She scored 46 runs herself this spring and batted .505. As a pitcher, Sito went Honored as the D-I 53-6 as a junior and state player of the year this season by senior and tallied 644 the Ohio High School strikeouts. Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association, Sito is the youngest of five siblings. The other four (three sisters and a brother) all played softball and baseball, respectively, in college. Sito will follow suit. In a bit of a coup, Cleveland State signed the standout in December. “Tess is simply one of the best pitchers in the country,” CSU head coach Angie Nicholson said. “She throws hard with good location and will become even better once she learns the college game. She is also strong offensively and will play in the field when she isn't in the circle.” Memo to Horizon League batters – and pitchers – buckle up and bear down. — EF
Photo by Scott Grau/www.impactactionphotos.com
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Standout pitcher leads team to elusive state title, wraps career with a strikeout
the nation’s best athletes at their rspective sports. Here is a look at the six player of the year award winners for the spring season.
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STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ & MATT NATALI
BOYS TENNIS
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f one were to author the ideal high school tennis career, Peter Kobelt’s recent run may make the director’s cut. A senior at New Albany High School, Kobelt wrapped his final season in dramatic fashion by beating defending state champion Wyatt Lippert in three sets for the Division I singles state championship at Ohio State’s Stickney Tennis Center on May 30. The meeting was a rematch of last year’s state final that Lippert, also a senior, won in three sets. Both players are headed to Ohio State. Kobelt, who choose the Buckeyes over Kentucky and Michigan State, is the 2009 Huntington Bank/Ohio High Boys Tennis Player of the Year. No stranger to tennis or state success, Kobelt is a four-time state qualifier and placer – he’s never finished worse than second. As a freshman, Kobelt teamed with senior Ryan Dodd to finish runner-up in the D-II doubles. As a sophomore Kobelt and junior Skyler Engel captured the D-II doubles title. Moving up to D-I last year, Kobelt made it all the way to the finals before falling to Lippert. He actually opened the match with a 6-4 win in the first set before dropping the next two 3-6, 3-6.
Peter Kobelt, New Albany
This year Koblet beat Lippert 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, to improve his two-year singles record to 48-4. At 6-6, 190 pounds, Kobelt is intimidating. “Pete is a physical presence,” New Albany coach Andrew Sinclair told the Columbus Dispatch. “He's big and strong and his serve and his forehand are world class.” Kobelt, whose father Kobelt played in four Paul was a high school state championship tennis state champion in Wisconsin and curmatches and has a sinrently teaches tennis at gles and doubles title. the New Albany Country Club, owns a serve that’s been clocked at 130 mph. That force and his desire to get better have led to a successful run on the national level. After a third place finish in singles at the U.S. Tennis Association's Midwest Closed Finals in 2007, Kobelt finished runner-up there last year. He’s a twotime defending doubles champion in the event. Nationally, Kobelt’s rank has gone from No. 151 as a freshman to No. 55. Said Sinclair. “He plays the game the way most weekend hackers dream of playing it.” — EF
Photo by Joe Maiorana/www.impactactionphotos.com
Kobelt ends impressiive career with another state title
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GIRLS TRACK Candace Longino-Thomas, Gilmour Academy Sophomore sprints to the head of the pack; Longino-Thomas wins for events at state
BOYS FIELD
he high jump competition at this year’s Division I state track and field championships offered arguably the deepest, most talented and toughest field in the 102-year history of the event. Fittingly the state’s record holder in the event won it. Toledo Rogers senior Erik Kynard captured his second straight state title and survived a gauntlet that featured four competitors that cleared 7-0 this spring. Kynard’s winning leap of 7-1 ranks as the fourth best mark all-time at the state meet. Kynard was the state runner-up as a sophomore. After sailing over 7-4.5 during the indoor season, Kynard opened the outdoor season by winning the fabled Mehock Relays in Mansfield with a leap of 7-2.5.
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Erik Kynard, Toledo Rogers
Kynard’s best jump during the outdoor season was 7-3.5 at the Toledo City League Championships. Kynard is also an accomplished long jumper and owns the state’s farthest leap in that event this summer (24-3). Kansas State is Kynard’s college destination. Kynard cleared 5-8 in his first high jump Kynard has cleared 7-0 attempt in junior high over 25 times in his and sailed 6-6 as a freshman at Toledo career; his mark of 74.25 is Ohio’s best ever. Start. He transferred to Rogers for his sophomore year, specifically to work with jumping coach Eric Browning. The move has paid off. Kynard plans to compete in several national and possibly international events this summer. — EF
Photo by Gary Housteau
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State record holder owns the nation’s second best high jump mark this year
Photo by Gary Housteau
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here have been 35 girls state track and field championships, which have hosted over 20,000 competitors. Up until this year, just 15 of those athletes had won four events in the same year. Now there are 16. Although just a sophomore, Gates Mills Gilmour Academy sprinter Candace Longino-Thomas has already done more than most veterans. At the girls state meet on June 6, Longino-Thomas finished first in the Division III 100 (12.05), 200 (24.42), 400 relay (48.70) and 800 relay (1:41.31). Her hand in 40 points helped the Lancers win their fourth state title in five years. Gilmour was second last spring. Heading into her junior year, Longino-Thomas already owns three D-III state records.
Individually she set the state record in the 200 (24.19) in early May at the 29th Optimist Classic in Austintown. She’s also a part of two record-setting relays – the 400 and 800 – which also set state meet records with their times. Longino-Thomas’s performance at the Logino-Thomas already state meet should not owns three Division III have been a huge surprise. state records: 200, 400 Last year as a relay and 800 relay. freshman, she finished second in both the 100 and 200 and anchored both the 400 and 800 relays to third and fourth place finishes, respectively. Only two girls have won four events in the same year twice…none has done it three times. Longino Thomas has that chance. — EF
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BOYS TRACK
Neff defends 1,600 title and adds 800 crown, also swept events at state inddor meet
GIRLS FIELD
season when he placed third in the 800 despite being seeded 10th. He was also second in the 1,600 at the 2008 indoor state championships. Neff’s best efforts in the 800 (1:51.36) and 1,600 (4:08.41) this year, respectively, rank seventh and eighth nationally for high school. In regards to the Greater Western Ohio Neff owns the Greater Conference, which has Western Ohio Confernece produced some standrecords in the 800, 1,600 out runners, Neff holds the conference records and 3,200. in the 800 (1:54.22), 1,600 (4:15.64) and 3,200 (9:25.46). The 3,200 record he achieved this spring when he ran the event for the first – and last – time at the GWOC championships. Neff is headed to Georgia. He picked the Bulldogs over Ohio State. “I ‘m not saying that I don’t love Ohio!,” Neff said. “I’ve lived here for almost eighteen years! I just wanted to try and get a different experience. I wanted to see what the south was like, and hey, it’s a different climate! “The running weather will be much better in the winter (laughs). When it gets really cold out my knees get a little… stiff.” — EF
Photo by Gary Housteau
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ad knees turned Danny Neff into one of the country’s top high school runners. A senior at Vandalia-Butler High School, Neff recently defended his 1,600 meter state title and added an 800 crown at the Division I state track and field championships held June 6 at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Those two titles go with a pair of indoor state championships in the same events that Neff earned in March. Neff, undefeated during his senior season, is the 2009 Huntington Bank/Ohio High Boys Track Runner of the Year. Neff never thought of himself as a runner until a few years ago when injury ended his team sport days. He blew out his right ACL in seventh grade playing football and then did the same to his left ACL as a freshman. After that he turned to running. “I needed something that was competitive,” Neff said, “that didn’t demand that I cut.” Now all he does is cut time. Neff dropped seven seconds alone from regional to state his sophomore
Danny Neff, Vandalia-Butler
Erin Pendleton, Woodmore
Pendleton earns family’s sixth straight Division III discus state champinship
Photo by Nick Falzerano
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Photo by Gary Housteau
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t was probably the safest bet at the 35th Annual State Track and Field Tournament in early June. Elmore Woodmore senior Erin Pendleton earned her second straight gold medal in the Division III discus event with a toss of 16000 capping off her high school career. Despite being the heavy favorite going into the state meet, Pendleton didn’t think the title was automatic. “You can never say that you are going to win something. Everyone has an opportunity but I just wanted to get out there and try to do my best,” she said. Pendleton won the state gold last year with a 168-10 throw, which is a state meet and Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium record. Her farthest throw this spring was 167-6, which ranks as the second farthest throw nationally among high school girls. “I threw farther last year but this year is better because now I am a two-time state champion and I am really happy about it,” she said. “I got the win, so that’s what really counts. I am just really happy.” All told, between Pendleton and her older sister Emily, the Woodmore products have now notched six straight D-III discus titles. The elder sister set the state record (183-03) in 2007. Emily was on hand at the state meet to support her younger sister. “(Emily is) happy. She gave me a big hug. I’m happy I got to keep the tradition going,” said Erin. “Six years is awesome and I am really excited I won again. I am sad that high school is done but I am excited for college, too.” Pendleton’s heave of Pendleton will join her older sister at the University of Michigan in 167-6 earlier this year is the fall after competing in the Nike Outdoor Nationals and the Junior Nationals this summer. the second farthest H.S. “Emily and I get along really well, so I’m happy we will be togeththrow in the country er,” she said. “We’re good training partners. We know what we do this spring. and have been throwing with each other since we were little when we started.” But don’t think this will be the last time the Pendleton name is announced at state. Sophomore Carly Pendleton is the next in line with her furthest throw this season at 143-3. She finished fifth in the regional meet (129-06). “I think she has a good chance (to win a state title). She’s been working pretty hard and she has been doing really well,” Pendleton said. With the second state title in hand, winning has become routine for Pendleton but she has not grown tired of it. “Winning is the nice part that comes with it. This is fun for me,” she said. — MN
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S p r i n g S p o r t s P l a y e r s o f t h e Ye a r
COMING IN DECEMBER... Football POY Soccer (Boys & Girls) POYs Volleyball POY Cross Country (Boys & Girls) POYs Golf (Boys & Girls) POYs Field Hockey POY Girls Tennis POY
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Spring Sports Recaps
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OHSAA REPORTS (ohsaa.org)
State Champions crowned in baseball, softball and tennis Strasburg-Frankiin celebrates its fifth state softball title.
he Buckeye State witnessed several stellar performances – both on individual and team levels – again this winter. The following is a look back at the finals in four OHSAA sanctioned state championships. A roundup of the wrestling state tournament can be found on page 17, while state basketball reviews start on page 32. For more information, please visit www.jjhuddle.com and www.ohsaa.org.
BOYS TENNIS
May 29-30 OSU Stickney Tennis Center
All four state champion trophies went to first-time recipients as the Ohio High School Athletic Association boys tennis championships concluded May 30 at The Ohio State University’s Stickney Tennis Center. Division I Singles In a rematch of last year’s Division I singles title match, New Albany senior Peter Kobelt outlasted West Chester Lakota West senior Wyatt Lippert 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 in a match that lasted two hours and 38 minutes. Lippert won their 2008 championship meeting, which also went three sets, and ends his career with four top-four finishes. Division I Doubles In Division I doubles, Worthington Kilbourne junior Kevin Metka and senior
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Photo by Scott Grau/www.impactactionphotos.com
Johnny Price topped defending state champion Columbus Bishop Watterson brothers Philip, a senior, and Chris Diaz, a sophomore, 6-4, 6-4. Division III Singles Cincinnati Country Day junior Joey Fritz, who finished third last year, beat Beachwood junior Mark Goldberg 6-1, 6-2 to win the Division II singles crown. Fritz surrendered only six points in his four tournament wins. Goldberg had to win a marathon semifi¬nal match, topping Columbus Wellington School sophomore Ian Wagner 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6) before facing Fritz in the finals.
Division II Doubles Sophomores Alex Aleman and Lou Konstan from Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy won the Division II doubles crown, topping junior Andrew Enslen and senior Joey Frank from Columbus Academy 6-3, 7-5.
BASEBALL
June 4-6 Huntington Park, Columbus
Division I Sixth-ranked Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller captured its fifth state title by knocking off second-ranked Pickerington North 5-2. North scored a run in the top of the first, but the Crusaders (24-5) answered with three tallies in the bottom half, getting an RBI base hit from junior Tyler Hutchison, an RBI groundout from senior Eric Smith, and senior
Brett Cisper coming around to score on a passed ball. Senior Eric Brindle had an RBI single for North in the fourth to cut it to 3-2. The Crusaders, though, came back with a run of their own in the fourth, with junior Ethan McAlpine scoring on an error. Moeller pushed across its final run in the fifth on Smith’s RBI single. Brindle, Smith and senior Sage Iacovone each had two hits to lead Moeller’s offense. Junior Robby Sunderman worked five innings and yielded just one earned run to earn the win, while Cisper closed the game with two scoreless frames to pick up the save. North, playing in its first state championship game, finished its season at 30-4, as Brindle and senior Alex Bayer both went 2for-3.
Division II Behind a two-hitter from senior Erik Okleson, unranked Chardon Notre DameCathedral Latin (28-4) defeated secondranked Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit 2-1 to claim its second state title. Okleson allowed a one-out home run in the top of the first to senior Joe Pawlowski and a two-out single in the second, but held the Warriors hitless the rest of the way. He walked four and struck out six in the complete game victory. NDCL tied the score at one in the bottom of the second, with senior Sean Stricker’s single plating senior Matt Bencic. The Lions pushed across the go-ahead run in the sixth as Bencic singled home senior Rob Searles with two outs. The Warriors then put two runners aboard in the seventh, but Okleson ended it by forcing a groundout and flyout. Walsh Jesuit, the defending and four-time state champion, finished with a 25-6 record and as state runners-up for the first time. Division III Gnadenhutten Indian Valley took advantage of a Hamilton Badin miscue and won its first state title with a 7-6 victory over the topranked Rams in eight innings. Badin (29-3) tied the score at six with a run in the sixth inning that eventually forced the game to extra innings. After the Rams went down in order to start the eighth, junior Matt Wheeler walked and junior Logan Gray singled, with Wheeler coming around to score on a throwing error to end it. The Rams had taken a 4-1 lead in the third, with the big hit being senior Brett McKinney’s two-run double. But the Braves responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to take their first lead of the game. Indian Valley (27-2) took advantage of a walk, two errors, a wild pitch and a
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
Spring Sports Recaps
Division IV Hamler Patrick Henry (25-4) succeeded in its title defense by defeatElyria celebrates winning ing New Middletown Springtown the D-I softball state champiLocal 3-1. Fifth-ranked Patrick Henry is the onship after losing in the first school since Newark Catholic last three state finals. (2002-04) to repeat as state baseball champions. Newark Catholic accomplished the feat in Division IV Pioneers broke through with a six-run fourth. as well. With two outs and two runs already in, sophThe fifth-ranked Patriots scored twice in omore Kristen Boros launched a grand slam the top of the first. Senior Chris Boyer had a to cap the scoring flurry. Elyria tacked on four sacrifice fly and senior Tyler Phillips hit an more runs in the sixth, with junior Ashlee RBI single to put Patrick Henry on the board. Stolarski having a two-run hit in the frame. Springfield (29-5) tallied its lone run in the Senior Tess Sito hurled a two-hitter, giving second on junior Matt Semach’s sacrifice fly, up a solo home run to junior Callie Drohan in which scored senior Bryan Visingardi. Patrick the sixth inning. After striking out 17 hitters in Henry tacked on an insurance run in the fifth, Elyria’s semifinal win, Sito fanned 11 as senior Brian Kline’s RBI basehit scored Explorers in the championship game. senior Clay Maas. Eight of Elyria’s nine batters had at least Kline went the distance on the mound for one hit and scored at least one run. Stolarski the Patriots, yielding just three hits and two was the lone Pioneer with two hits, while walks. Senior Mitch Leonard had three hits Boros reached base three of her four plate and senior Cody Meyer had two, and both appearances. scored a run as well. Eighth-ranked Hudson, winners of the Unranked Springfield was making its sec2007 title, finished its season at 29-3. ond appearance in the state tournament and finished as runners-up for the first time. Division II Junior Dylon DeJane had two of the Tigers’ Hamilton Ross (26-7) used a four-run fifth three hits. inning to propel itself to a 4-2 victory over Bellville Clear Fork for the school’s first state championship. SOFTBALL Clear Fork (29-5) scored on a Ross error June 4-6 and sophomore Mor¬gan Ruhl’s sacrifice fly Firestone Stadium, Akron to build a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Ross, which strung together four hits in the first inning but Division I did not score, finally cracked through in the After finishing as state runners-up each of fifth. Seniors Kaitlyn Strunk and Nell Wilson the past three seasons, Elyria (29-3) claimed both had RBI doubles, and junior Brittany its second state title by defeating Hudson 10Fernandez and sophomore Gina Huff added 1. RBI singles. The game was scoreless through three Clear Fork put two runners aboard in the and a half innings when the top-ranked
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sixth but could not score, and Fernandez set the side down in order in the seventh for the complete game victory. She allowed six hits and struck out five without walking anybody. Senior Rachael Connaughton, Fernandez and Wilson each had two hits to pace the Rams’ offense. Clear Fork, making its first state tournament appearance since 1980, was led by sophomore Taylor Thomas, who went 3-for-3 with a run scored. Both Clear Fork and Ross were unranked in the final state poll.
Division III Second-ranked Hebron Lakewood (30-4) repeated as state champions, shutting out fifth-ranked Youngstown Ursuline (27-7) 5-0. Lakewood starter Alissa Birkhimer went the distance and al¬lowed just four hits, striking out nine without issuing a walk. Birkh¬imer, a senior, also earned the victory in the 2008 state title game when Lakewood defeated Wellington. The Lancers did most of their damage in the fifth, as Birkhimer helped herself with a bases-clearing double to score three runs. A single by junior Caitlin Houk scored another run to put Lakewood on top 4-0, and sophomore Brayan Gault’s RBI double in the sixth accounted for Lakewood’s fifth run. Birkhimer set down 13 of the last 14 hitters she faced. Ursuline junior Kasey Foley had two of the team’s four hits in the Lady Irish’s first trip to the state tournament. Photo by Scott Grau/www.impactactionphotos.com
passed ball to do its damage. The Braves scored again in the fourth on sophomore Logan Cozart’s RBI single, but Badin knotted it up with junior Scott Purcell’s sacrifice fly in the fifth and senior Zach Toerner’s RBI double in the sixth. Junior Adam Mizer pitched the final 5 2/3 innings for sixth-ranked Indian Valley and gave up one earned run to earn the win. Gray had three hits and Wheeler reached base four times, scoring three runs. For Badin, Corey VanNatta scored three times, while Toerner, McKinney and Purcell each drove in two runs. The Rams finished as runners-up for the second straight year and the third time since 2005.
Division IV Strasburg-Franklin brought home its fifth state championship and first in 18 years as the top-ranked Lady Tigers downed fifthranked Convoy Crestview 2-0. Junior Carly Clark and sophomore Kasey Gerber combined for the one-hit shutout. The Lady Tigers (32-2) shut out all eight opponents they faced in the postseason. The game was scoreless entering the top of the seventh. Sophomore Kristen Smith hit a one-out double and freshman Anne Dreher brought her home with a single. After a fielder’s choice, senior Emmy Hensel’s RBI single scored Gerber. Gerber then worked a 1-2-3 seventh to close out the game. Junior Lydia Etzler had the lone hit for the Knights (27-4), while fellow junior Chelsey Lare threw a complete game and gave up eight hits while fanning five. The Knights finished as runners-up for the second time (2005). — OH
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State Track Recap viable threat to win three state titles. Owning the Midwest’s top times in the 100, 200 and 400 this spring, Jones was surprisingly denied a title in all three events. She finished second in the 100 (12/17) and third in both the 200 (24.69) and 400 (55.61).
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REDEMPTION Warren Howland senior Nicole Pachol missed her entire junior year rehabbing from knee surgery. This season she spent her spring working towards – and attaining – a state title. Pachol won the 300 hurdles title with a time of 42.12.
he boys state track and field championship is the longest running state championship event in Ohio. This year marked the 102nd running of the boys meet and the 35th rendition of the girls. Just as impressive as the longevity, is the fact that the meets continues to produce some of the country’s top athletes. This year was no exception.
Reynoldsburg ends Central Ohio drought in state track
Photo by Gary Housteau
DIVISION I GIRLS
If you like blowouts, the Division I girls state track and field championships were to your liking. Reynoldsburg obliterated the competition en route to its first state title, beating second place Cincinnati Withrow 8235 in the team race Saturday at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
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The 82 points were the fourth most in the 35 year history of the girls championships. Cleveland Beaumont scored 98 points in 1990 and also had tallies of 89 (1999) and 87 (1997). The title is also the first for a Central Ohio school in the big school division since 1985 when Upper Arlington claimed the Class AAA championship. It doesn’t appear to be the last. The Raiders are heavy on underclassmen and Saturday was their personal playground. Freshman Destinee Gause had a hand in three titles. She won the 200 (24.21), ran a leg on the winning 1,600 relay and anchored the winning 800 relay. Just for good measure, both the 1,600 and 800 relays set new state and state meet records. The 1,600 quartet, which also included freshman Faith Washington and sophomores Azia Walker and Taneisha Cordell, bettered the previous mark (3:45.89 set last year by Walnut Hills) by over two seconds (3:43.83). Cordell also won the open 800 (2;10.79). Walker, who won the individual 400 (54.74), teamed with Gause, Washington and senior Timia Ingram to set the record in the 800 relay (1:37.02). Senior Melissa Dodaro defended her discus title (146-04) and won another individual title for the Raiders. The Raiders 400 relay of Ingram, Gause, sophomore Kacia Grant and senior Ashley Phillips was second. SOPHOMORE SENSATION Medina sophomore Taylor Burke captured the first of what could be three state high jump titles, with a leap of 5-9. Burke was seventh last year. HARD TO SWALLOW Heading into the state meet, Cleveland Rhodes senior Mahogany Jones was a
REDEMPTION II Last year’s long jump experience for Euclid’s Tamica Harbour was forgettable. This year’s effort was memorable. A senior, Harbour captured the long jump title with a leap of 18-6. Last year she didn’t place and fouled in her third and final prelim attempt.
REDEMPTION III Last year Hilliard Davidson’s Brittany Cheese finished dead last in her prelim heat of the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.84. This year Cheese finished ahead of everyone in the event’s finals with a time of 14.64. SAME RESULTS A school change didn’t stop Harrison senior Brittany Wilson-Farley from winning her first state title in the shot put. Wilson-Farley previously finished fourth and eighth the last two years while attending Colerain.
MAKE ROOM Olmsted Falls senior Katie Nageotte capped a memorable senior season with a state title in the pole vault with a state meet and Owens Memorial Stadium record vault of 12-8. Nageotte tied the state record earlier this season with a mark of 13-0.
TIGER STRIPES Although Withrow didn’t win the team title, the Tigers did set a state, state meet and Owens Memorial Stadium record in the 400 relay. The foursome of seniors Jonnique Lawrence, Brittany Smith and Jade Clingman and junior Genesis Calhoun turned in a lightening time of 46.53. The old state meet record of 47.12 by Elyria had stood since 2003.
CAN THEY DO IT? Heading into next season, these three underclassmen will have targets on their backs. That’s what accompanies a state title,
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STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ & MATT NATALI which these three earned: sophomore Kandace Thomas, Canton GlenOak (100; 12.04), junior Madeline Chambers, Rocky River Magnificat (1,600; 4:49.18) and sophomore Hannah Neczypor, North Royalton (3,200; 10:39.92).
MAGNIFICENT MAGNIFICAT Rocky River Magnificat didn’t even make it to the podium in the 3,200 relay last season but the 9:09.42 time the Blue Steaks clocked this year would have won the gold. More importantly, it won the gold this season.
letes had cleared 7-0, including defending state champion Erik Kynard of Toledo Rogers, Shaun Joplin of Sylvania Southview and Dwayne King of Cleveland Heights. After the dust had settled, Kynard had defended his title with a leap of 7-1, while Marietta’s Cody Westbrook added his name to the 7-0 club with a second place finish. Joplin was third (6-10) and King fourth (610). All told, five jumpers cleared 6-10 and nine cleared 6-6. Kynard was also runner-up as a sophomore. FAST RAMS Last year William Henry and Jordan Paschal made up two fourths of TrotwoodMadison’s 1,600 relay, which set an all divisions record en route to the state title. This year the duo was part of another foursome that broke the record again. Flying around the track in 3:13.32, Paschal, Henry and sophomores Julius Ruby and Michael Jordan set a new state standard across the board (state, meet and stadium).
Photo by Gary Housteau
DIVISION I BOYS
Gahanna-Lincoln edges Cleveland Glenville
HIGH FLYERS There might not be a high jump competition at the state meet like this year’s for a long time. Coming into the event three ath-
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REVENGE Last year Glenville finished second to Trotwood-Madison in the 800 relay. This year the Tarblooders got revenge. Glenville won the 800 relay (1:26.38) and survived challenges from Warren Harding (second; 1:26.98) and Trotwood (third; 1:27.14).
ATOP THE PODIUM Additional event winners included: Sandusky senior Dailyn Moore (100 hurdles; 14.12), Warren Harding junior Deaver Williamson (100; 10.90), Hilliard Darby senior Jordan Rispress (300 hurdles; 37.56) and Mason sophomore Zach Wills (3,200; 9:02.90). Wills effort was a new Owens Stadium record.
MAKING UP GROUND The Glenville 3,200 relay team found itself in fifth place halfway through the D-I final but the Tarblooders turned on the jets to claim the gold medal.
FIRST STATE TITLE Springfield sophomore Josh Bass netted Springfield its first state track title with a win in the long jump (23-2.5). This is the first year that former North and South highs joined together.
DOUBLE DUTY Vandalia-Butler senior Danny Neff defended his 1,600 title (4:10.57) and added the 800 crown (1:51.36) to his resume. SHOT PUT Canfield junior Dustin Brode captured the shot put title with a heave of 62-11.25. Joining Brode in the Top 4 were two Ohio State football recruits. Youngstown Boardman senior Corey Linsley was second (62-9), while Bellbrook senior Sam Longo was fourth (56-2.75). HIGH MARKS Greenville senior Kevin Leland, who cleared 16-1 at the regionals, didn’t have to go that high to win the state title. He wrapped up the title by clearing 15-9.
YOUNG GUNS The 400 relay is Westerville Central’s to lose the next three years. The Warhawks won the 400 relay with a time of 41.83. The most impressive thing? Three of the four legs were run by freshman: John Howard, Davon Reed and Channing Doermann. Senior Gibril Kamara ran the opening leg.
Photo by Gary Housteau
Coupled with Reynoldsburg’s runaway win in the Division I girls competition, GahannaLincoln gave Central Ohio a sweep of the big school state titles at the D-I boys state track and field championships Saturday. Although its win wasn’t as convincing as Reynoldsburg’s, G-L’s victory was just as sweet. The Lions edged perennial power Cleveland Glenville 48-45 for the title. G-L also won the state championship in 1979. It was the first title by a Central Ohio team since 1999 (Thomas Worthington) and just the third since 1983 (Marion Harding). Junior Blake Heriot captured the only two titles for the Lions, winning the 200 (21.25) and 400 (47.47). He was also second in the 100. Junior Herman Washington was second in the 110 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles.
State Track Recap
DIVISION II GIRLS
Last race decides Division II girls state track and field title
With two events to go Saturday, Columbus Bishop Hartley led Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy by four points in the Division II girls team standings at the state track and field championships. With one event to go, Hartley suddenly trailed CVCA by two. Needing to finish ahead of the Royals in the meet’s final event – the 1,600 relay – the Hawks came through in the clutch, placing second in 3:55.24. CVCA was third
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State Track Recap Jackson to win the 800 relay too (1:40.41).
SHE’LL TAKE IT Gallipolis Gallia Academy long jumper Alexis Geiger has jumped farther at the state meet than she did this year, but she’s never placed as high. A two-time runner-up with jumps of 18-1.25 and 18-11.75 the last two years, respectively, Geiger won her elusive state title with a mark of 17-10.25. She was also seventh as a freshman (17-1.5).
HART(LEY) TIMES Hartley grabbed its share of the team title thanks in part to its success in the meet’s fastest events. Junior Chesna Sykes swept both the 100 (12.05) and 200 (24.53), while sophomore Aisha Cavin was second in the 200 (24.63). Junior CharAnna Dixon was seventh in the 100 (12.79). The Hawks 400 relay team of Dixon, Sykes, Cavin and senior Ashlee Hoffman was also first with a new state record and state meet record time of 47.09.
THREE-TIME CHAMP It will be weird when Gnadenhutten Indian Valley’s Kayla Caldwell isn’t in the D-II pole vault competition next year considering she’s been a fixture in the field for four years. Caldwell captured her third straight state title in the event by clearing 12-0. She won as a junior and sophomore with vaults of 12-4 and placed second as a freshman (11-6).
TWICE AS NICE Mansfield Ontario dominated the girls shot put competition as junior Kelly Barnhill won the title (42-11) and senior Ashtan Hibar placed third (40-10.25). Both Barnhill and Hibar were in the field last year and failed to place.
CAT AND MOUSE Sophomores Jerica Sanders (Mentor Lake Catholic) and Bridget Doughty (Bay Village) recorded the first session in what looks to be a three-year act at state. Sanders beat Doughty (14.48-14.65) to win the 100 hurdle title, while Doughty beat Sanders (43.5344.24) to claim victory in the 300 hurdles. Those two are by no means shoe-ins for the next two years though. Seven underclassmen placed in the 100 hurdles and five placed in the 300 hurdles.
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS Warrensville Heights was third in the team race with 40 points, but the Tigers did go home with something no one else did – a new state and state meet record in the 1,600 relay. WH’s quartet of seniors Noelle Johnson and Angelique Lykes and juniors Asia Hill and Daianna Barron blazed to a time of 3:50.08 in the event which beat their own record of 3:51.22 set last year. Barron, who also won the 400 (55.36), teamed with senior Ashlei Ruglei, junior Katherina Gentry and freshman Shayonna
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KNIGHT TIME After a year hiatus, Kettering Alter hung the gold around their necks in the 3,200 relay with a 9:17.10 effort. Anchor leg Catherine Crisler, now a senior, was part of the state title team as a sophomore. Crisler plans on running cross country and track at Loyola (Chicago). “When I was running I was thinking this would be the last 800 I would get to run with these girls so I had to make it my best,” Crisler said. Sophomores Ashley Rodgers and Rebecca Esselstein with freshman Olivia Albers set the tone for the race for Crisler’s final leg.
GOING THE DISTANCE In the distance races, Akron Hoban’s Julianna Libertin (2:16.01), Peninsula Woodbridge’s Erin Mercer (5:00.71) and Ashtabula Edgewood’s Mallory Kreider (10:57.73) took gold in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, respectively.
OUTLASTING THE FIELD Thanks to jumps, Cambridge junior Katie Davis claimed the gold in the D-II girls high jump with a 5-4 effort. Overall, four girls cleared 5-4, but Davis was declared the winner. Davis was happy to make the podium, let along stand on top of it. “I was here my freshman and sophomore year and I didn’t even place on the podium, so this is ridiculously exciting,” she said.
DECADE DROUGHT ENDED Hanoverton United sophomore Victoria Bates tossed the discus 122-10 to win the state title. Bates’ gold marks the first state title for United Track in ten years. “I never thought 122 would win it,” Bates said. “I was trying to get farther and father to try and get the school record (130) but I popped that 122 out there and that was enough to win it.
DIVISION II BOYS
Photo by Gary Housteau
(3:58.59). As a result, both Hartley and CVCA scored 55 points and grabbed a share of the D-II girls track title at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The state championship is CVCA’s first in track It’s and Hartley’s fourth (first since 1988).
Field events lead Pemberville Eastwood boys to first D-II state track title
When people hear “track” championships they often forget about the “field” part. Pemberville Eastwood is taking home a huge reminder. After finishing runner-up last year, the Eagles captured their first Division II boys state track and field title Saturday by besting second place Cortland Lakeview 47-38 at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Eastwood was also runner-up in 2003. The Eagles accumulated nearly 75-percent of their points in the field events. Junior thrower Justin Welch defended his discus title with a stadium record heave of (196-1). He was also third in the shot put. Senior Crosby Schemenauer won the pole vault (15-4), while senior Josh Hoodlebrink was second in the long jump (22-9.25). On the track, the Eagles got fifth place finishes from the 400 relay and Schemenauer (110 hurdles). The 1,600 relay finished fourth.
PIRATE REPEAT Matthew Hoty is used to being on the top of the podium. The Sandusky Perkins junior defended his D-II state title by surviving an upset bid from Kettering Alter’s Chris Borland in the shot put event. Borland went 61-0.75 but Hoty’s best heave was 61-3.25. “It was an alright day,” Hoty said. “I didn’t throw as far as I wanted. I had a couple big (throws) in warm-ups and I got a little tense. But I won and I defended it so I was happy.” Last year Hoty set the D-II state meet
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State Track Recap record with a winning put of 62-0.25. Earlier this season, Hoty set the D-II state record with a mark of 64-8.25. That throw ranks seventh in the country.
DOUBLE-DIP If there was an MVP award for the D-II state meet, Cortland Lakeview’s Ben Moody would get it. The senior sprinter pulled off a rare double by winning both the 110 hurdles (14.19) and 100 (10.97). The events are back-to-back. Moody also anchored Lakeview to a third place finish in the 400 relay and took fourth in the long jump on Friday.
WE’LL BE BACK The Salem quartet of Ben Eisel, Dustin Matak, Dustin Huffman and Zack Penick captured the 800 relay title with a time of 1:28.37. Expect a similar outcome next year. Eisel, Matak and Huffman are juniors. Penick is a freshman.
OUT OF NOWHERE Last year Alliance Marlington’s Jarrod Eick wasn’t in the 1,600 field at the state meet. This year he led it across the finish line. Eick captured the 1,600 state title with a time of 4:16.43.
WE CAN RUN TOO Youngstown Cardinal Mooney has long been known for its football. Looks like the Cardinals can run a little too. The 400 relay foursome of seniors Scott Johnson and Matt Mcwilson and juniors Braylon Heard and Ray Vinopal escaped a competitive field with a state title time of 42.67. A total of 0.3 seconds separated first through fourth.
DOUBLING UP Creston Norwayne senior Cody Miller and London senior Ethan Fleet both successfully defended their 2008 titles in the 400 and 300 hurdles, respectively. Miller beat the field in the 400 with a time of 47.48, while Fleet turned in a time of 37.92. Fleet was eighth in the 300 hurdles
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NOT THIS TIME Last year Caledonia River Valley’s Zach Lathrop had to watch from the second step of the podium as Sandusky Perkins’ Cory Leslie was recognized as the state champion in the 800. This year, Lathrop stood in the top spot. Nearly besting the field by two full seconds, Lathrop crossed the line first in 1:51.44.
HAWKS FLY Columbus Bishop Hartley finished with 33 points and was third in the team standings. Headlining a very productive meet was senior Rufus Walls and the 1,600 relay team. Walls took first in the 200 (21.57), while the quartet of seniors Luke Evans, Carwin Hill and Domonic Colvin and freshman Isaiah Walls was first in the 1,600 relay (3:20.43).
UP FRONT Last year Circleville’s Brad Liston made the state 3,200 field but drifted to the back at the end of the race and finished 10th. This year the junior pressed on and bested the field with a time of 9:18.30. That mark was 37 seconds better than what he ran at state last year. SKY HIGH Delta senior and Ohio State recruit Korbin Smith claimed his second straight D-II long jump state title with a 23-7 leap. “It feels good,” Smith said. “I was a little worried coming in. I knew Josh and a couple of other guys were right up there. I knew if I could jump 23 (feet) I felt pretty confident.”
FAMILIAR FOES Defiance and Napoleon have been two of the top long distance teams all season so it was fitting the D-II boys 3,200 relay came down to the Bulldogs and Wildcats. Defiance edged Napoleon by just over a second to earn the gold medal in the event clocking a 7:57.24. Napoleon had a 7:58.36. “It was pretty typical to have Napoleon and Defiance up in front on the last leg,” said senior anchor leg runner Zac Wiles. “It was a picture perfect day to run and a great day for all of us.” And Wiles preferred running against a team Defiance had face so many times this season. “I think it gives you some confidence going in that you know they have played their hand and they don’t have anymore tricks up their sleeves and they are not hiding anything from us,” he said. “I think that gave us some confidence.”
DIVISION III GIRLS
Photo by Gary Housteau
JUMP FOR JOY Dayton Stivers senior Nate Davis captured the high jump title and in doing so is believed to be the first individual and/or team state champion from the school. The last Stivers team to finish this high at state was the 1975 basketball squad that was runnerup in Class AA. Davis’s winning jump was 6-7. He cleared 6-10 last year. Davis, who will play basketball and jump at Heidelberg, was third in the event at state last year.
as a sophomore.
Gilmour Academy adds to girls legacy; Versailles sports state's top overall athletic program
Gates Mills Gilmour Academy is the undisputed class of Ohio when it comes to Division III girls track. Saturday the Lancers added to their reputation. Rallying from a 24-8 deficit after the first six events, Gilmour captured its fourth D-III state title in five years by scoring a whopping 65 points in the meet’s final 11 events for 73 overall. That’s an average of 5.9 points, meaning the Lancers averaged no worse than third in any event on Saturday. The 73 points was the most for a smallschool girls team since Minster put up 75.33 in 1979. Gilmour was state runner-up last year. Versailles was second this year with a solid 62 points. Relays and sophomore sprinter Candace Longino-Thomas did most of the damage for Gilmour. Longino-Thomas became just the 18th girl in state history to capture for firsts when she won the 100 (12.05) and 200 (24.42) and anchored the winning 400 (48.70) and 800 (1:41.31) relays. Gilmour’s 400 and 800 relays also set new state and state meet records with their times. Sophomores Alexandria Dahlhausen and Longino-Thomas, junior Kathryn Drew and senior Rebbecca Bloom ran the 400, while Dahlhausen, Longino-Thomas, Drew and junior Bekka Simko competed in the 800. Simko also won the 400 (56.11). Gilmour’s 1,600 relay (Dahlhausen, Simko, senior Melanie Frank and junior
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State Track Recap Grace Brennan) won in 3:57.19, while the Lancers 3,200 relay finished second to Versailles on Friday by less than a second. With the stable of underclassmen it returns, Gilmour better make more room in its trophy case. It appears the Lancers are far from slowing down.
THE HAMMER Barnsville senior Stephanie Morgan capped her high school career with another outstanding effort. One of the state’s best female runners ever, Morgan won her third straight 1,600 title (4:50.93) and defended her 800 title with a new state and meet record time of 2:09.77. Morgan set the old state record of 2:09.87 at last year’s state meet. Coupled with her freshman year in Michigan where she teamed with her sister Jenny to win the 3,200 relay at Clarkston High, Morgan has seven state titles. She also won the 3,200 D-III state championship as a sophomore in 2007. Morgan is headed to Baylor.
RECORD SETTER Ottawa Hills junior Katherine Jamieson broke her own state record en route to the 300 hurdles title. Jamieson, who had run 43.58 earlier this year, went 43.18 to set a new state and state meet standard.
PHOTO FINISH Steubenville Catholic Central sophomore Teddi Maslowski edged Alecia Daniels of Edgerton at the tape to claim the 100 hurdles title. Both runners finished in 14.83.
REDEMPTION Despite finishing seventh in the event last
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BEE-UTIFUL Tipp City Bethel senior Kylie Kopp saved her best for last. In the finals of the long jump, Kopp recorded a 17-11.25 to earn the gold medal. Kopp failed to place as a freshman and sophomore and missed her junior season due to injury. “I think God is finally rewarding me,” Kopp laughed. “I have been praying to him a lot lately. I worked really hard to finally get a medal and I am glad it is gold.”
FAMILY TRADITION Elmore Woodmore senior Erin Pendleton won the D-III discus event last season with a toss of 168-10 but she only needed 160-00 this year to claim her second gold. All told, between Pendleton and her older sister Emily, the Woodmoore products have now notched six straight D-III discus titles. “I am happy that I kept the tradition going,”Pendleton said, “Six years is awesome and I am really excited I won two times.” Erin will join Emily, who was in attendance, at Michigan this fall. Pendleton’s farthest throw this spring (167-6) is the second farthest in the country by a high school girl. She was the heavy favorite coming in but Pendleton didn’t think the title was automatic. “You can never say that you are going to win something because everyone has an opportunity to win,” she said. “I just wanted to come in and try and do my best.”
VAULTING ONTO THE SCENE In her first trip to Columbus, North Baltimore freshman Amanda Hotaling vaulted her way to the pole vault state title with an 11-8 performance. “I didn’t think (I would win) but it was one of my goals and I am glad I accomplished it,” Hotaling said. “It was a rough start getting back into the swing of things but I worked hard and it paid off.” Hotaling tied her personal record with the winning jump tallying the same height she recorded in the Midland Athletic League championship. FAMILIAR TERRITORY Anna high-jumper Laura Gehret set the DIII state record last season with a 5-8.25 jump and defended her state title this spring with a jump of 5-7. She is also a state champion in volleyball.
“It is totally different,” she said. “With volleyball, you do it as a team. Everybody has to work together but with the high jump that is totally individual. You can’t rely on anyone else to pull you through. You have to do it all yourself. It is really cool because it is all you.”
Photo by Gary Housteau
HEFTY TOTAL, PROGRAM Versailles second place tally of 62 points would have been good enough to win the state title in every state meet from 19852007. The Tigers will have to settle for knowing they are the best small school girls sports program in the state. Saturday’s second place track finish came on the heels of a third place finish by the cross country team in the state finals and state semifinal appearances by the volleyball and basketball teams. No other program can match that wealth of excellence. Senior Mary Prakel and freshman Tammy Berger lead the Tigers on Saturday by performing in the distance events. Berger was second in the 3,200 and third in the 1,600, while Prakel was third in the 3,200 and fourth in the 1,600. Both ran on Versailles winning 3,200 relay Friday.
year and having four runners who placed better than her coming back, Cincinnati Maderia senior Lauren Dehan captured the 3,200 title (11:06.51).
DIVISION III BOYS
Garfield Heights Trinity adds D-III boys track title to trophy case
Garfield Heights Trinity has dominated the North Coast League in boys track, winning 18 of a possible 24 championships and 10 of the last 12. Now the Trojans can add the rest of the state to their list of conquests. Saturday at the 102nd annual boys state track and field championships, Trinity won its first Division III state title by outscoring Pandora-Gilboa 45-38 at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The state championship is just the second earned by a boys program at Trinity (also won football in 1980) and the sixth state title in school history. The Trojans also own three girls basketball titles (1990, 1994, 1996) and a softball crown (1991). Trinity’s rise to the top has been fast. In 2007 the Trojans didn’t score a point at state and last year managed just nine en route to finishing 22nd. Things were different this year. Senior standout Jonathan Bobak captured both the 100 (11.11) and 200 (21.92) titles and anchored the winning 800 relay (1:28.96), which also included junior Brian Smith and seniors Steve Mlinaric and Nick Swanson. Sophomore Nick Gliha (9:28.16) won the
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State Track Recap 3,200 title. Trinity’s lone individual state title before Bobak and Gliha’s on Saturday, came from Lenny Jatsek who won the 2003 state title in shot put. DEFENDING HIS GROUND Findlay Liberty-Benton junior Seth Butler captured his second straight 800 title with a time of 1:52.86. Last year Butler was clocked at 1:52.54. He was fifth in the event as a freshman. WATCH OUT The Versailles foursome of sophomore Damian Winner and juniors Tom Gorman, Mitch Pitsenbarger and Keith Schlater not only won the 1,600 relay title, they established themselves as a threat to set anew state record in the event. Winner, Gorman, Pitsenbarger and Schlater ran 3:22.97 on Saturday. The state and state meet record of 3:21.08 was set in 1994 by Dayton Jefferson Township. Next year it could fall.
OUT OF NOWHERE Senior Tyler Nichols of Gates Mills Hawken won the 110 hurdles (14.64) despite not qualifying for state last year.
MOVING UP Junior Carson Britton from North Robinson Colonel Crawford won the 1,600 state title with a time of 4:20.76. Britton was fourth as a sophomore. FASTEST FOURSOME The East Palestine quartet of seniors Jeff Farkas and Dalton Cope and juniors Shane Peterson and Travis Patterson wont he 400 relay in 43.11.
STRAIGHT TO THE TOP Cardington-Lincoln senior Silas Jolliff bettered his state placement from a year ago by seven spots, moving from eighth to first on the podium in the 400. Silas dropped nearly three seconds off his time at state, running 48.43 this spring as opposed to 51.03 at last year’s meet. RECORD-SHATTERING Hannibal River’s D.J Duke went home empty-handed his sophomore year in the DIII state shot put. Now, the senior has two gold medals. Duke broke his own state record and the
state meet record with a heave of 68-8.25. That mark is the fifth farthest in the country this spring by a high school athlete. “It feels great,” Duke said. “I came out with the goal to hit 70 and I came as close as I possibly could and it feels great today.” Duke’s old personal record was 66-10.25, which was also the old state record. The old D-III state meet record of 62-0.75 was set by Smithville’s Larry Kolic in 1981. Duke, who won last year’s D-III title with a 60-foot throw, is headed to Ashland University. “I came in with a goal and tried my best at it.” The crowd applauded enthusiastically when his record-setting toss was announced as Duke stood on the top spot on the podium. Said Duke: “It sent shivers down my spine when everyone applauded. It felt pretty great. I am going to miss it.” RUN AND JUMP Gates Mills Gilmour Academy senior Preston Hoge took home the 300 hurdles title in 38.32. Last year Hoge was fourth.
LONG TIME COMING The last time Kirtland won a state track title, none of runners on the 4x800 relay team were born. Now, the Hornets are golden. Kirtland outlasted favorite Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas in the event clocking a 7:53.90 to win the state title. “(It means) everything for us, for our coaches and our school,” Dominic Samf said. “Our coach (Jim Pilewski) is a great coach and he has been working with us really hard and pushes us throughout the season. He wants us (to get a personal record) every meet whether or not we have competition.
GREEN WAVE The boys discus competition was green with envy thanks to Newark Catholic junior Clay Harris and senior Luke Webster. Harris won the gold with a 166-7 throw and Webster placed fifth with a toss of 160-8. “It started (to sink in) when they announced it,” said Harris of his state title performance. “I was hoping (I would win). I thought if was going to happen in either event it would be discus. I wasn’t 100 percent sure though.” Said Webster: “I was hoping for the podium but to call something like that is bold.
There were a lot of nice distances today. I came in and wanted to throw well today and I did and got to the podium and it was awesome.”
REBEL WITH A CAUSUE Columbiana Crestview senior Jakob Leon came to the state track meet with a purpose. He wanted to win the high jump state title in his fourth trip to Columbus. And the fourth time was a charm. Leon, an Akron recruit, won the gold with a 6-10 jump which was four inches higher than second place Matt Sindelar of New Bremen. “Fourth year being down here, to come out with a state title is really just amazing,” Leon said. “It gives you some motivation because you have been down here and it would be real nice to go out with a bang.”
PR AT THE RIGHT TIME Mineral Ridge sophomore Dan Skiba saved his best for last. Skiba set a personal and school record with a leap of 22-10.75 to win the long jump. “I (got a personal record) by a whole foot, which surprised me,” he said. Skiba sailed 21-11 earlier in the season. “I never thought I would get close to it again,” he said. “I never thought I would go 22 feet. I don’t know if it was just the adrenaline rush from being at state or what. I would have been happy with making the podium.” With two more years of high school left, Skiba is now the jumper to beat. “It is kind of nerve-racking now because there will be a lot of pressure and expectations for next year.,” Skiba said. “But it hasn’t sunk in.” SENIOR SEND OFF Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic senior Alex Slattery finished second in the pole vault last season. This season, he won the gold. Slattery vaulted 15-0 to claim the state title. “My goal was to get 15 and I finally got it,” he said. “My main goal was to win state but those were my two main goals. To get the both today was amazing.” Slattery felt he had a good chance of winning this year after finishing second to state record holder Heath Nickles (Columbus Grove) last year. The 15-0 performance was a personal record for the Akron recruit. — OH
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JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 37
State Track: in Pictures
38 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh
State Track: in Pictures
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 39
State Track: in Pictures
40 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ Hu ddle’s O h io H igh
State Track: in Pictures
JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h io H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 41
State Track: in Pictures
42 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ H u ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
State Track: in Pictures
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h io H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 43
State Track: in Pictures
44 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
State Track: in Pictures
JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 45
State Track: in Pictures
46 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh
State Track: in Pictures
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 47
State Track: in Pictures
48 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh
State Track: in Pictures
J J Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 49
State Track: in Pictures
50 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh
State Track: in Pictures
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 51
State Track: in Pictures
52 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh
State Track: in Pictures
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 53
State Track: in Pictures
54 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh
State Track: in Pictures
J J Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 55
State Track: in Pictures
56 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh
State Track: in Pictures
J J Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 57
State Track: in Pictures
58 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh
State Track: in Pictures
J J Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 59
State Track: in Pictures
60 J J H U D D L E . C O M
JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh
State Track: in Pictures
J J Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 61