Ohio High Magazine is going online, going green
hio High Magazine is a one-of-a-kind publication dedicated to covering high school sports in your area and across the state. We have been covering athletics at every school district in all 88 Ohio counties for over six years. There is nothing else like it. Just like its companion website JJHuddle.com – the premier state-specific high school sports site in the country – Ohio High is the leader in its field as the official publication of the Huddle.
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GOING ONLINE, GOING GREEN Delivered straight to your desktop, Ohio High Magazine, as an online publication – “Webzine” – Eric Frantz is going “green” – Green as in “go” because our subscribers will be getting the same great content we provide fast, fast, fast! No production and postal delays, just high school sports news while it’s hot! From an environmental standpoint, Ohio High will be a whole lot greener, as well. And that will be even more important since we’ve more than doubled the number of issues we’ll be putting out annually (check out the publishing schedule below).
GOING LONG, GOING STRONG Ohio High carries coverage that ventures outside the lines and continues even after the games are over. When play stops, we don’t! And just like its companion website JJHuddle.com – the premier state-specific high school sports site in the country – Ohio High Magazine is the leader in its field as the official publication of “The Huddle.” Delivered straight to your desktop, Ohio High remains a true magazine in the traditional sense… just now published electronically, as a “webzine.”. Most important, however, is that Ohio High Magazine remains the headquarters for the die-hard high school sports fan. Unique by nature, Ohio High is defined by its standout content, which includes award-winning photography and writing. At Ohio High you get coverage that ventures outside the lines and continues even after the games are over. When play stops, we don’t. High school sports are popular in every state, but in Ohio they take on an added importance. We understand that. And that's why we bring you Ohio High. WHAT YOU GET What can Ohio High Magazine subscribers expect? Just this: Coverage. Timeliness. Access 24x7x365. Easy-fun read. PLUS… more than double the number of issues as before. Ohio High subscriptions include: - Four quarterly online issues of Ohio High - Six additional online “Special” issues, including state tournament results, high school football playoff preview, winter sports previews and the National Signing Day spectacular - Ohio High’s High School Football Preview and Year in Review Spectacular issue accessible both online and mailed (hard copy)* - Timely editorial coverage from Ohio High’s award-winning sportswriters and photographers - Immediacy, convenience, readability
- Special online publication viewer (password protected for subscriber-only access) - Free download/print feature - Free, instant, unlimited access to all archived past issues during subscription term One-, two- and three-year subscription plans are available. Singleissue sales accepted.
OHIO HIGH’S HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW AND YEAR IN REVIEW In addition to the 10 Webzine issues, annual subscribers also receive a hard copy of Ohio High’s annual High School Football Preview and Year in Review. This highly-sought after publication previews the upcoming high school football season and wraps up the previous school year. Football preview coverage includes team and divisional previews, top recruiting prospects, top games, and features Ohio’s top players, coaches, and programs. The Year in Review includes article and pictorial recaps of all state tournaments from the school year before and all Huntington Bank/Ohio High Players of the Year.
PUBLISHING SCHEDULE * Ohio High Winter Issue (late-January): Player, coach and program 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. * Winter Sports State Tournament Supplement (early April): Winter sports state tournament recap and Players of the Year announced; Ohio High alltournament teams for boys basketball, girls basketball and wrestling; Boys and Girls basketball recruiting updates. * Ohio High Spring Issue (mid-May): Release of the top football prospects for the upcoming season/class; previews of summer All-Star football games; player, coach and program features; 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/North-South; 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 (early-December): Fall sports state tournament recap and Players of the Year; State football finals recaps and pictorials; ONN/Ohio High All-Ohio team and Player and Coach of the year announcements; recruiting updates. SUBSCRIBE TODAY!!!
Eric Frantz Managing Editor
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Winter Sports Players of the Year
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Winter Sports State Tournaments
The Huntington Bank/Ohio High annual awards presented A look back at the state championships in winter sports
‘09 State Wrestling Tournament 17 24 25
St. Edward, Graham and Troy Christian repeat; Pictorials of all individual winners in each division Ohio High’s All-Tournament Team
Graham’s Taylor named Wrestler of the Year
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‘09 Girls Basketball State Tourney 32 DIV Semifinals 40 DIV Championship 34 DIII Semifinals 42 DIII Championship 36 DII Semifinals 44 DII Championship 38 DI Semifinals 46 DI Championship 48 Ohio High’s All-Tournament Team Notre Dame’s Harlan and Hackney 49 Mount sweep Coach and Player of the Year honors
‘09 Boys Basketball State Tourney 52 DIV Semifinals 60 DIV Championship 54 DIII Semifinals 62 DIII Championship 56 DII Semifinals 64 DII Championship 58 DI Semifinals 66 DI Championship 68 Ohio High’s All-Tournament Team 69 Northland’s Sullinger tabbed Player of the Year 72 Oak Hill’s Persin named Coach of the Year
Volume 6
Issue 4
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, Dave Long
Photography
Nick Falzerano, Greg Beers, Stephanie Porter, Gary Housteau, Joe Maiorana, John Cox, Ben Barnes, Jim Metzendorf, Jeff Mills, Erin George
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: Nick Falzerano and Gary Housteau
W i n t e r S p o r t s P l a y e r s o f t h e Ye a r Boys Bowling Girls Bowling Boys Swimming Girls Swimming Ice Hockey t was another great winter 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 six winter sports. The basketball POY awards, boys and girls, are revealed on pages xx and xx, respectively, while the basketball coaches of the year are
Girls Swimming
Auburn recruit leads Golden Bears to sixth swimming title
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pper Arlington senior Darcy Fishback was a bit surprised when she found out she had been named the Ohio High Magazine/Huntington Bank Girls Swimmer of the Year. Despite the initial reaction, there was nothing unexpected about the finish to her outstanding high school swimming career the past four seasons. "It was really fun," Fishback said of her senior season. "Everything went as I expected and hoped it would be. It's kind of sad not to be going to Canton anymore, but I felt like my time was good. It's time to move on and I know I've grown individually." In February, Fishback, an Auburn signee, won her fourth consecutive Division I title in the 100 butterfly (53.83) and set a state record in the prelims (53.38) at Canton's C.T. Branin Natatorium. She was also the anchor on Darcy the 200 freestyle relay that set a state Fishback record in 1:34.24. All of that helped Upper Arlington to win Upper its fifth consecutive Division I state title. The Arlington Golden Bears defeated Watterson 349-176 in the final standings. Fishback said it wasn't just about her performances. She thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the relay. "I always cherish relays," said Fishback. "It's more than you - it's about your team and your school. Relays are definitely a focus of mine." Upper Arlington coach Dan Peterkoski said Fishback was always clutch in the postseason. She was a vocal leader the entire season. "It was a lot of fun to have Darcy for the last four years," Peterkoski said. "She understands herself very well. She was one of the athletes that taught me as much as I hope to have taught her." Fishback said she never took anything for granted during this past winter. "I think because we've had a lot of success in the past, so the key was we tried not to be overconfident about (the season)," Fishback said. "We always wanted to start from scratch." Fishback, 17, is blessed with a ton of natural ability, but is also able to effectively lead her teammates in a significant manner, Peterkoski said.
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located on pages xx and xx. The wrestling POY is announced on page xx. Here is a look at the six other player of the year award winners for the winter season.
"Darcy is like most of the athletes on my team with regards to practice," Peterkoski said. "She works hard consistently throughout the year and remains focused on her goals when things get difficult." Peterkoski said Fishback could've helped Auburn succeed this season so he has no doubt the standout will succeed in the Southeastern Conference the next four years. Auburn co-head women's coach Dorsey Tierney-Walker said Fishback should give Upper Arlington senior the Tigers some additional depth as freshDarcy Fishback man next season. "Darcy has shown amazing talent during her high school career," Tierney-Walker said. "She is absolutely incredible in the butterfly. She's worked very hard to get to where she is right now and I'm sure her success will continue in Auburn." Fishback, who would like major in secondary math education, said she felt comfortable with the Auburn staff and team. "I love the team atmosphere," Fishback said. "It was like a family, it just felt right." Fishback said she would like to win an NCAA title - either individual, relay or as a team sometime in her college career. All three would be preferable, but Fishback knows not many competitors win a title. "I expect big things from Darcy in the future," Peterkoski said. "She is the real thing when it comes to an elite athlete. Once she settles in with her Auburn coaches and they get to know her, she will show a lot of improvement. She has a lot of areas she can still grow in which will help her performances." Photo by Joe Maiorana/impactactionphotos.com
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Gymnastics
— Ohio High Staff
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Columbus helps Bombers regain state swim title
t didn’t take long for Cincinnati St. Xavier senior Matt Columbus to set the tone for this winter. As one of a handful of St. Xavier seniors coming off a rare state runner-up finish, Columbus was clearly focused on the state meet in Canton. That keen focus and strong mental approach paid off in late February when Columbus won the Division I state title in the 500 freestyle (4:28.10) and was part of the state champion 400 free relay team (3:05.04). Maybe even important was the fact that the Bombers reclaimed the Division I state title – its 30th overall. As a result, Columbus is the 2009 Ohio High Magazine/Huntington Bank Boys Swimmer of the Year. “I could tell from the first day of practice that Matt had the desire to win the 500 free at the state meet this year," St. X coach Jim Brower said. "He had the same determination I saw in (former St. X standout) David Matt Mosko when David was a senior and Columbus set the state record in the same event. He worked his tail off.” Cin. St. Xavier Columbus said the Bombers’ state runner-up finish in 2008 to Columbus St. Charles “was definitely a bummer” and the challenge this season was evident all winter. “I learned more from not winning (the 2008 state title),” said Columbus, who was named an All-American in 2008. “I think we grew up as a team and I did as a swimmer. It was a humbling experience – something I probably won’t ever forget.” This year was different. The Bombers were a younger squad, but they improved dramatically as the season went on. “The difference from this year to last year was amazing,” Columbus said. “We swam out of our minds this year at state. It was so satisfying.” St. X scored 322 points at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton en route to the school’s 10th title in the past 11 years. The Bombers 30 titles overall are the most by any program in history – regardless of OHSAA sport. After the meet, Columbus stood front and center in a front-page newspaper photo that printed March. 1. His euphoric expression as he held the state championship trophy said it all: Columbus had helped bring the state title back. “He’d rather be a sprinter than a distance swimmer, but he knows where his talents lie,” Brower said. “As a freshman I think Matt was only focused on his own performances (swimming leads itself to an individualistic approach). As he has grown in our program, Matt’s focus has been all about helping the team. He has been a great leader for us.” Brower said Columbus stayed well-rounded in his efforts throughout the season and was inspiration to the younger swimmers at St. X. “We all know what the past teams have done,” said Columbus, who has signed to swim at South Carolina. “The state title banners from 1970-2007 are all on the pool wall (at Keating Natatorium). To be a part of something that special everyday is a blessing.” The 18-year-old Columbus will bring what he’s learned at St. X to the Southeastern Conference next year. Although he prefers sprinting,
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Columbus knows his future will continue to be in distance form. “I’d like to win an SEC championship by the time I’m a senior,” Columbus said. “I’d like to further my ability in swimming.” Columbus, who also considered Ohio State, Georgia Tech, LSU and California-Irvine, also has plans for his education in Columbia. He wants to major in a biology-related field and eventually become an orthopedic surgeon. “Matt is a young man that we believe has everything we look for in a student-athSt. Xavier senior lete,” South Carolina Matt Columbus coach McGee Moody said. Moody said academics, athletics and personality are three priorities the Gamecocks use for recruiting in the swimming program. “We believe Matt brings all of these to the table,” Moody said. “He is an outstanding young man and we are lucky to have him joining the South Carolina program. I believe he is just starting to scratch the surface of how good he can be.” Photo by Joe Maiorana/impactactionphotos.com
Boys Swimming
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— Ohio High Staff
Gymnastics
Nortz dominates at state, wins three events and all-around
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n March 6, the Magnificat gymnastics team proved to be only second best in Ohio - just barely. But the following day, one of its gymnasts showed she was the best in Ohio – by a mile. And that gymnast was Kelly Kelly Nortz. The sophomore overcame the disNortz appointment of watching her Blue Streaks fall by a razor-thin total of Rocky River .125 points to Brecksville-Broadview Magnificat Heights in the team tournament by dominating the individual event. Nortz took first place in the vault, floor exercise and bar, which made her the obvious choice as the Ohio High/Huntington Bank Gymnast of the Year. Not that her dominance surprised many. Nortz shared the spotlight in 2008 when she finished second to teammate Kelly Kmiecik in the all-
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Photo by Jeff Mills/impactactionphotos.com
around. But considering that Nortz missed nearly the entire 2009 regular season with a stress fracture in her tibia, the achievement was quite remarkable. She lost six weeks and barely rounded into form in time for sectionals. In fact, she was quite concerned about her ability to perform until she proved herself early in the postseason. “I was worried going in because I hadn’t even done floor yet, but when I did well (in sectionals) it brought up my confidence a lot,” Nortz explains. “I’m proud of what I accomplished, but I knew I was capable of it because at sectionals and districts no one was coming close to my scores.” Magnificat had been a perennial team champion, but has given way to Brecksville-Broadview Heights, which came from behind to win its sixth consecutive title. This one was particularly tough to swallow, but Nortz didn’t allow it Magnificat to affect her with the senior individual crown on the Kelly Nortz line. “We did so well as a team and I’m proud that we did the best we could that Friday,” Nortz said. “I think the fact that we lost by such a close score gave me even more determination on Saturday. “I knew I could do well. Most of the girls I was competing against are not going to be in gymnastics in college and that’s one of my main goals. I knew that the other girls looked at the events a little differently than I do because I need it for college. I think most of the other girls are just doing it for fun.” Blue Streaks coach Joe Gura, however, doesn’t only see a serious side to Nortz’ approach to gymnastics. He appreciates her rather light-hearted outlook at the sport. “If she took it very seriously, I don’t think it would work for her,” Gura says. “It always depends on personality. I think that day-to-day she has fun with gymnastics and she gets better too. But other athletes are very serious about their sport and that works for them.” Gura recalls well when 10-year-old Kelly Nortz first appeared at Great Lakes Gymnastics, an Avon Lake establishment he owns. She stood out among the hundreds of young gymnasts, many of whom were preschoolers. It didn’t take long for Gura to realize that he had someone quite special under his tutelage. “When she first came in, I remember her being very spunky with a lot of talent and a lot of energy,” Gura says. “She just liked to flip around and I knew she was going to be a good gymnast someday. When she was about 13, she really began making strides. She began developing her body and getting stronger and developing more twists than the other kids. Plus she was more of a free spirit and more good-natured than the other kids.” Nortz’ parents had every reason to place their daughter in gymnas-
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tics class at a young age - she was climbing around everything in the house. But Nortz stresses that she was never pushed into the sport. She doesn’t even remember many details about her early gymnastics career, but she does recall being included with the better and older group of gymnasts well before she reached middle school. The rest is history. Nortz would have won the individual state event a year ago if the talented Kmiecik hadn’t been standing in her way. And unless a younger gymnast from Magnificat or elsewhere in the state displays remarkable talent, it appears quite possible that Nortz will leave the high school ranks with three state championships. And then what? Nortz knows that she wants to continue participating in the sport at the college level, but is leaving her options open. “I want to get a scholarship, but I don’t know if I’m good enough to get one from one of the best colleges,” she admits. She would like to combine athletics and academics, so she is considering studying nutrition. Nortz is also quite creative in other endeavors, such as scrapbooking. If she’s creating a scrapbook that will include all the mementos of her achievements in gymnastics, it’s going to have to be a very thick book.
Ice Hockey
– Marty Gitlin
Shedlock transforms his game, excels in all facets for Preppers
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leveland sports fans know all about the philosophy that one can’t maximize his contribution to a team or realize his full athletic potential without becoming a lock-down defender. Just ask Cavaliers superstar LeBron James. His emergence as a defensive force has helped make him the favorite to earn NBA Most Valuable Player honors in 2009. On an albeit smaller and far less glorified stage, the same holds true for University School hockey player Pat Shedlock. Though he actually increased his scoring, the senior center also embraced his responsibilities on the defensive end. And that, in turn, aided the Preppers in their run to the state championship. The Huntington Bank/Ohio High Pat Magazine Player of the Year explains: Shedlock “Physically on the ice, I didn’t change anything, but I did play the defensive University School zone a lot more,” Shedlock says. “I became much more aware of the defensive zone whereas in my junior year I was so offensive-minded and I wasn’t worried about the defensive zone. “At first it was hard to get use to it and I really didn’t like it, but I realized that our team was really a defensive team and if we could take care of our zone and just put a couple goals on the board, we could win a lot of low-scoring games. And as it turned out we got the first state championship the school has ever won.” The Preppers finished the season at 31-6-3, which is a testament to their motivation from the opening face-off of the first game to the final celebration. They had been badly disappointed after falling to Mentor in the 2008 districts and vowed to play every game this season as if it were their last.
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one that worked out.” That means the organized hockey career of Pat Shedlock just might be over. But if it is, he sure went out on a high note.
Boys Bowling
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– Marty Gitlin
Carter caps sensational season with state title
he biggest challenge a bowler could face on the lanes is a 7-10 split. For Riverside Stebbins bowler Chase Carter, that is nothing. The junior rolled his way to an individual state championship March 7 at Lancaster’s Tikki Lanes with games of 223, 243 and Chase 257 for a 723 series – all while coping Carter with Type 1 diabetes that requires seven insulin shots per day and comStebbins plete hearing loss in his right ear. “It’s really exciting,” Carter said of winning the state title. “It is something I am never going to forget. One day I will be able to show my kids that I did this and hopefully they will be able to do it one day.” Carter, who has been a Central Buckeye Conference First Team selection three times and was named the CBC Athlete of the Year this season, had a benign tumor discovered in his ear in fifth grade and has had three surgeries since. He was diagnosed with diabetes shortly after his first ear surgery. “That was a big lifechanger right there,” he said. “I couldn’t hear and I had diabetes – that was a rough time for me for a while. “I am good with everything now, though. I never got a hearing aid even though I can’t hear at all (in my right ear). I just adjusted to life being half deaf.” Carter took up bowling and competed in junior leagues prior to Stebbins junior high school. Chase Carter “Bowling has helped me a lot,” he said. “It sort of relaxes me and it’s like I am in my own little world. I have fun with it – a lot of fun.” Stebbins (13-3) head coach Don Brown first met Carter when he Photo by Nick Falzerano
Shedlock sure did. He scored 68 points, which included a goal and two assists in a thrilling state semifinal victory over St. Edward. Eighteen seconds after the Eagles snagged a 2-0 lead a Shedlock goal gave the Preppers momentum they would ride to a 3-2 victory. The 3-0 title-game win over Toledo St. John’s was almost anti-climactic. “We lost that district game last year to Mentor and all the juniors from that team didn’t want that to happen again,” Shedlock says. “We got up mentally for every game we played this year. We took the same mindset into every game no matter who we were playing. We took the same attitude and aggressiveness into every game.” Shedlock played for Lake Catholic as a freshman, which made his two-goal performance in a district win over the Cougars far sweeter. He transferred to University before his sophomore year, in University School which he scored 36 senior Pat Shedlock points. He tallied 45 more his junior season Photo by Erin George/impactactionphotos.com before blossoming in every aspect of his game in 2009. One man who fully appreciated the transformation was University coach Bill Beard. “Pat is definitely one of the best and certainly the most skilled player I’ve had in 11 years here,” Beard exclaims. “He always had the skill, but this year he had more determination than ever. It wasn’t just his offense. His defense was phenomenal. He was our top plus-minus player this year. He played defense so much better. Couple that with his offensive potential and it was truly a great year for Pat.” Beard added that Shedlock contributed both off the ice and in practice by keeping things loose with his sense of humor. Shedlock enjoys making others laugh, but he insists there was a method to his occasional madness. “I wasn’t one of the captains and I didn’t try to be the guy who pumped everyone up by giving speeches,” he says. “I tried to lead by example. I tried to keep my composure and be confident whether we were up 6-0 in the third period or if we were in double-overtime, like we were against St. Ed’s. And when things we’re stressful, I tried to say something funny to loosen everyone up. It’s all about keeping your composure and you can’t do that if you’re all stressed. You just hold the stick tighter and don’t play as well.” Despite his brilliance on the ice, it’s his talent on a mound that he will take to the next level. A lights-out left-hander, Shedlock struck out 46 batters in 38 innings a year ago and has earned a scholarship with Cleveland State. “Baseball was the sport that ended up working out for me,” says Shedlock, who plans on majoring in accounting. “I love both sports, but one of my goals was to play a college sport. I was fortunate enough to have been pretty talented in two different sports, but baseball was the
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Girls Bowling
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Beavercreek’s Figler is a model of consistency
mily Figer's analytical approach to bowling was in place when her parents introduced her to the game at age 4. "She'd watch how the ball rolled," said her father, Charles. "If it didn't go where she wanted, she'd try to figure out to make it work and then practice and practice "That's the way she's approached everything does. She very analytical Emily and very adaptive." Figer Those traits has severed Figer well on the lanes. So much so that the Beavercreek senior at Beavercreek, an eastern Dayton suburb, has been chosen as the Huntington Bank/Ohio High Magazine High School Girls Bowler of the Year. "Cool, really cool," said Figer of the honor. "I was really consistent for most of the season. I had a hip injury around Christmas, which bothered me for a couple weeks and my scores were down. "But I was able to come back strong at the end of the year and help my team get to state again. We qualified to state for last three years. We're one the only teams in our school history to do that. I'm as proud of that accomplishment as anything I did individually." Figer carried a 203.5 regular season average. That was the No. 2 in the Greater Western Ohio Conference. The 16-team, three-division conference of schools surrounding Dayton is considered the toughest bowling conference in the state.
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It was her performances in sharpened competition in February and March which led a group of state-wide coaches to recommend her for the award. In those two months she averaged 214 in seven outings at five different venues to help her team win the Central Division of the GWOC, come in second in the sectional, third at district and get to state. She was the top individual in the sectional on her home lanes at Beaver-Vu with three-game total of of 662 and was fourth in the district at Eastern Lanes in Middletown shooting a 661. The inevitable one bad game came of 152 game in the opening round of the state tournament Friday, March 6 at Tiki Lanes in Lancaster. "It took me a while to adjust to the lanes conditions and I missed some spares," she said. "That took me out of chance for a real high finish." But she adjusted nicely throwing a 179 and 193 in her final two games for a 524 series and 28th place finish.. Following the state tournament was she back in form in Dayton area traveling leagues with back-to-back series of 690 (230 Beavercreek senior average) 680 (226 Emily Figer average). "Emily was so consistent throughout her high school career, very team-oriented and very competitive," said Beavercreek coach Dave Hartsock. "She's a great person. I'm really happy she won the honor. She deserves it. "Emily is very pragmatic in her approach to bowling. She pays attention to the movement of the ball and the oil patterns on the lanes and adjusts accordingly. She's one of the best I've seen in high school at doing that." Figer, who carries a 3.68 grade point average, has gotten interest from numerous college bowling programs. But she will forego being a college kegler to concentrate on academics. "I want to be a chemical engineer," she said. "I've applied to the University of West Virginia and Virginia Tech. I'm waiting to see if I get accepted. "I've always like chemistry, math and physics. I like to analyze things, see how they work and why they work like they do. With a chemical engineering degree I can apply it to all kinds of different areas — maybe helping find more efficient energy sources. "I'll bowl wherever I go to college, but it'll work it around my studies." Along with bowling, Figer is very involved in the Beavercreek High School band. "I play trumpet in the concert band and mullophone (a modified French horn which looks like oversized trumpet) in the marching band," she said. "I've only been playing the mullophone for two
Photo by Ben Barnes/www.impactactionphotos.com
was a junior league bowler. “He has bowled all his life,” Brown said. “He is always so polite and that is what stands out about Chase but I knew when he started bowling for (Stebbins) it was going to be a real special four years.” Carter, along with 2007-08 Ohio High Bowler of the Year Jonathan Miller and Chase Kolosi, claimed the team state championship last season as – what Brown called – his ‘Super Sophomores’. This season, the team failed to make it out of the district tournament but Carter had an individual state championship in mind, according to Brown. “Once we didn’t make it out of district to state, we were all disappointed,” he said. “But I just had a feeling that (Carter) was bowling so well that he was going to compete at a real high level. “He never lets anything get him down and battles from the start to the finish. When it is time to bowl, he just puts everything aside.” For Carter, who only bowled two games under 200 this season, the state title has changed his perspective on the sport. “It changed a lot of things and how I thought of my bowling career. I think it is going to take me to the next level as far as college bowling goes,” he said. Wright State and Urbana are interested in Carter’s skills on the lanes but with another year of high school left, he has his sights set on more state accolades. “My main goal is to repeat individually and to (win a championship) as a team,” he said. “That would definitely be the way I would want to end high school.” – Matt Natali
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W i n t e r S p o r t s P l a y e r s o f t h e Ye a r years. It was a real challenge learning to play it while we were working on all our different routines for the band competitions. "But I spent a lot of time on it and got to do a mullophone solo this year. That was a real feeling of accomplishment." Her involvement in the sport comes naturally. Wendy, her mother, is the general manager at Beaver-Vu. er father, a patent attorney a Cincinnati firm, is president of the state youth bowling association. Both parents are certified bowling instructors and coordinate the youth program for the Dayton Area Bowling Proprietors Association. "Wendy and I have bowled together even before we got married," said Charles Figer. "I carry about a 200 average and Wendy might be at 185. But neither one of us are as smooth and consistent as Emily. "We brought her bowling with us when she was a baby and got her
JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
into one of the bumper leagues when she was four. By the time she was seven, we got her in the Saturday morning kids league and I think she was 10 or 11 when she started in the youth traveling leagues." Figer's average began to rise about 170 in the sixth or seventh grade. "I spent a whole season just concentrating on making my spares," she said. "I never worried much about strikes. Just making the ball work the way I wanted it to and picking up spares. Since then my average has gone up every year. "I was probably around 190 for all of last year in school and summer and fall competition. I'd been higher, but I didn't bowl as much as I had in the past because of my commitment to the band."
— Dave Long
J J H U D D L E . C O M 13
Winter Sports State Recap
T
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.
SWIMMING
February 25-28 C.T. Branin Nataorium, Canton
Boys Division I Cincinnati St. Xavier regained the state
Cincinnati St. Xavier became the first school in history to win 30 state titles in one sport with the another D-I swim title. Photo by Joe Maiorana/impactactionphotos.com
14 J J H U D D L E . C O M
University School, which took third in last year’s Division I competition, became the first Cleveland-area boys swimming team to win a state title since Cleveland Heights in 1965. Seniors Ian Stewart-Bates and Tyler Bailey led the way for the Preppers, as both swam on the winning 400 freestyle relay team, Stewart-Bates won the 200 and 500 freestyle, and Bailey took home the 100 freestyle title. Wyoming senior Jonathan Profitt won the 100 breaststroke, while New Albany had a pair of titles as Brian Barrett won the 50 freestyle, and Barrett was also a member of the winning 200 freestyle relay team.
championship, besting 2008 Champion Columbus St. Charles 322 to 265. It’s the 30th state title for St. Xavier’s swimming and diving team, already the winningest program in state history. St. Xavier took first in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays, and junior Matt Columbus won the 500 freestyle. St. Charles junior Sandy Whitaker won a pair of titles, placing first in both the 100 backstroke and the 100 butterfly. Upper Ar¬lington senior Eric Huffman defended his titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle as well.
Girls Division I Upper Arlington claimed its fifth straight title and sixth overall, scoring 349 points to outdistance Columbus Bishop Watterson (176). The Bears swept the three relays, while senior Darcy Fishback won her fourth title in the 100 butterfly, setting a state record dur¬ing the prelims (53.38). Watterson junior Gracie Finnegan defended her championships in both the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle. Olentangy Liberty senior Ashley Specht took her third title in the 100 breaststroke.
Boys Division II In the first year featuring a second division in boys swimming and diving, Hunting Valley University School scored 288 points to fend off Cincinnati Wyoming, the runner-up with 180 points.
Girls Division II Gates Mills Hawken won its 19th state champion¬ship in the past 26 years, tallying 334 points. Hawken has won 11 titles in a row and 13 out of 14, and only Cincinnati St. Xavier’s boys swimming and diving team (30) and Lakewood St. Edward’s wrestling team (24) have won more championships in state
Gates Mills hawken continued its D-II swimmming domination by claiming its 19th state championship.
Springfield Kenton Ridge won its first state bowling title with a four-set win over Kettering Fairmont.
Photo by John Cox/impactactionphotos.com
Photo by Jim Metzendorf/impactactionphotos.com
JJ H u ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
Winter Sports State Recap
STORY BY OHSAA REPORTS history. Hawken senior Brittany Rospierski set a state record in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.98), repeating as winner in that event. Sopho¬more Alana Arnold won the 100 butterfly, and Hawken finished first in both the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Milford Center Fairbanks junior Margo Geer broke her own state records in both the 50 freestyle (22.58) and 100 freestyle (49.39), and she has won both events each of her three years. Bay Village Bay junior Nikki Craft set a new state tournament mark in one meter diving as well (475.40).
Magnificat, which has 10 state titles, finished as runner-up for the third straight year and sixth time overall. In 2002, Magnificat edged St. Francis DeSales 145.875 to 145.750, the only other time a team championship was decided by .125 points.
ICE HOCKEY
March 14-15 Nationwide Arena, Columbus
assist from junior forward Matt DeGulis. After’s Robertson’s stunning goal just five seconds into the third period, it was all but over. Senior forward Pat Shedlock assisted on the goal. In the semifinals, University School beat defending champion St. Edward 3-2 in ovetime, while St. John’s beat Centerville 7-0.
BOWLING
March 6-7 Tiki Lanes, Lancaster
One year removed from what had been the second-closest score in state history, Brecksville-Broadview Heights and Rocky River Magnificat matched the record for the tightest team race in state history Saturday. But like last year, the Bees came out on top again, coming from behind to defeat Magnificat 145.825 to 145.700 to become the first school to win six straight titles and claiming its ninth overall championship. The Bees scored 36.700 points on the uneven bars in the final event to cap the comeback. Magnificat’s Kelly Nortz won the all-around after finishing second behind graduated teammate Kayla Kmiecik in 2008. Nortz won the vault, floor and the bars this year, while Gracey Brown from Columbus St. Francis DeSales won the beam.
Sophomore forward Ian Robertson scored on a 15-yard slap shot just five seconds into the third period, and Hunting Valley University School went on to win, 3-0, over Toledo St. John’s Jesuit in the 2009 OHSAA ice hockey state championship Sunday in Nationwide Arena. After winning their state semifinal game in double-overtime Saturday over defending state champion Lakewood St. Edward, some questioned if the Preppers would have enough left in the tank to challenge St. John’s, which cruised in its semifinal game, 7-0, over Centerville. But the Preppers (31-63) applied more pressure from the start and held the Titans (23-10-4) to just 10 total shots in the game after they had 42 yesterday. It marks the second state championship for University School – their first came in 2003 – and caps off a season that saw the Preppers reach the state’s final weekend for the sixth time in the last eight years. University School junior goalie Jamie Regan notched 10 saves. The Preppers got on the board with 1:30 left in the second period when senior forward Charlie Clark found the back of the net off an
First-time champions were crowned in both girls and boys competition, as Pemberville Eastwood took home the girls title March 6 and Springfield Kenton Ridge the boys honors March 7. Eastwood, a first-time state qualifier, rallied back from a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-five Baker score finals against Troy, which had reached the final for the first time and was the top-seeded team in the qualifying round. Troy’s Alicia Benson was the top individual, rolling a three-game score of 608 to best Eastwood’s Carrie Lorenzen (601). Benson’s teammate Alicia Simpson finished in fifth (594). Kenton Ridge was the top-seeded boys team, and after needing five games to knock off Beavercreek in the semifinals, took down second-seed Kettering Fairmont 3-1 in the championships. Chase Carter from Riverside Stebbins won the individual crown with a score of 723, while North Ridgeville’s Justin Harnden (717) and Canfield’s Jeremy Hammond (715) were second and third, respectively. — OH
Upper Arlington brought home its fifth straight D-I girls swimmming state title and sixth overall.
Brecksville-Broadview Heights became the first school to win six straight gymnastics state titles. The Bees have nine overall.
Hunting Valley University School won its second state ice hockey title (first in 2003) with a 3-0 win over Toledo St. John’s.
GYMNASTICS
March 6-7 Hilliard Darby High School
Photo by Joe Maiorana/impactactionphotos.com
JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
Photo by Jeff Mills/impactactionphotos.com
Photo by Joe Maiorana/impactactionphotos.com
J J H U D D L E . C O M 15
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ
State Wrestling Finals
Graham junior Max Thomusseit won the D-II 189 title to give Graham a record seven individual champions.
Photo by Nick Falzerano
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 17
State Wrestling Finals Division I-III State Wrestling Finals
Graham shatters state records; St. Edward and Troy Christian also defend team titles March 6-8, 2009 @ The Schottentstein Center
F
Falcons break 58-year old record with seven individual champions; St. Edward wins 13th straight D-I championship or 72 years Ohio has held a state championship in wrestling. None of the previous 71 can compare with the latest. On March 7 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center, the 72nd annual State Wrestling Championships produced history, heroics and the flat out absurd. A 58-year old record was broken, the team scoring record was shattered and there was a four-time winner. And that was all done by one team. Want more? There’s plenty.
18 J J H U D D L E . C O M
First Place Finals 103: Kory Mines, Maple Hts. dec. Brian Hauser, Lyndhurst Brush 4-1 112: Jerome Robinson, Cle. St. Ignatius dec. Gus Sako, Lakewood St. Edward 4-2ot 119: Jamie Clark, Lakewood St. Edward maj. dec. David Bolger, Strongsville 12-4 125: Sam White, Massillon Perry dec. Nick Lawrence, Westlake 3-2 130: Shawn Fayette, Miamisburg dec. Ty Davis, W. Chester Lakota West 9-4 135: Robert Shepherd, Mason dec. John Gallagher, St. Xavier 7-5 140: Collin Palmer, Lakewood St. Edward dec. Tommy Sasfy, Reynoldsburg 3-1 145: David Habat, Cle. St. Ignatius dec. T.J. Rigel, New Carlisle Tecumseh 4-3 152: Josh Demas, Westerville North dec. Nick Sulzer, Lakewood St. Edward 4-3 160: Kyle Lang, Brecksville-Broad. Hts. pin J.T. Rice, Hilliard Davidson 3:04 171: Nick Heflin, Massillon Perry dec. Cory Hayes, Mayfield Vill. Mayfield 3-1 189: Andrew Tumlin, Harrison dec. Mike Lanigan, Brecksville-Broad. Hts. 5-3ot 215: Orlando Scales, Cin. Elder pin Denicos Allen, Hamilton 3:26 285: Jeremy Johnson, Brecksville-Broad. Hts. dec. James Meder, Parma Hts. Valley Forg 5-1 Third Place Finals 103: John Dillon, Young. Boardman dec. Mike Labry, Twinsburg 6-5 112: Kagan Squire, Wadsworth dec. Leslie Polley, Maple Hts. 5-0 119: Jake Corrill, Cin. Arch. Moeller maj. dec. Dan McNulty, Mayfield Vill. Mayfield 11-3 125: Jake McCombs, Marysville dec. Jake Sage, Ket. Fairmont 6-4 130: Dalton McHenry, Elyria dec. Zach Dailey, Massillon Perry 13-6 135: Anthony Salupo, Lakewood St. Edward dec. Scott Mattingly, Uniontown Lake 4-2 140: Waquiem Comar, Twinsburg dec. Tommy Fehring, Glen Este 3-1 145: Pierce Harger, Cin. Arch. Moeller maj. dec. Kevin Drake, Upper Arlington 12-0 152: Andrew Gasber, Madison dec. Aron Brenner, Canfield 6-4 160: Darren Rhodes, Macedonia Nordonia dec. Tylan Coleman, Mayfield Vill. Mayfield 6-5 171: Kyle Dilley, Lancaster dec. Cody Lamberg, Akron Kenmore 12-7 189: Greg Isley, Sylvania Southview dec. Kyle Sanders, Col. St. Charles 3-0 215: Nick Tavanello, Wadsworth pin Nate Weeks, Marysville 4:59 285: Adam Walls, Beavercreek dec. Ben Buzzelli, Wadsworth 2-1
BEST OF ALL-TIME?
Can you picture a football team scoring 100 points in a state final? How about a basketball team scoring 200? That’s the equivalent of what St. Paris Graham did en route to its ninth Division II state title and 11th overall. The Falcons scored a head-shaking 282 points and produced seven individual champions. Both are state records. The previous points record of 229 was set by Lakewood St. Edward in 2007. Graham had 221 by the end of competition on March 6. The D-II runner-up – Uhrichsville Claymont – finished a full 201 points behind. As for the seven individual state titles, that mark breaks the old record of six set by Cleveland West in 1951. Graham qualified 13 wrestlers to state and all of them stood on the podium. The Falcons also had wrestlers place second (two), third (three) and seventh. “I’m very happy with our performance,” Graham head coach Jeff Jordan said. “A lot of people were talking about the record and whether we could break six and get seven and I said somebody is going to have to step up and do something. We were kind of favored in five of them, but when Kyle Ryan won that one I said ‘Well you know maybe this is possible.’ “This is a great team and this is probably the closest team I’ve ever coached. We’re all on the same page. It’s a real privilege to be the head coach of this team.” Graham’s winners were: sophomore Nick Brascetta (103), senior Zach Neibert (125), freshman Felipe Martinez (130), senior David Taylor
Division I Placers
Fifth Place Finals 103: Nick Garcia, Oregon Clay maj. dec. Corey Selmon, Princeton 10-1 112: Shawn Ague, Austintown-Fitch dec. Jeremy Artrip, Mason 3-1 119: Nick Hannan, Massillon Perry dec. Nick McSorley, Trenton Edgewood 7-4 125: Callen Vanderhoff, Marion Harding maj. dec. Jesse Walker, Clayton Northmont 14-6 130: Charlie Packard, Brecksville-Broad. Hts. dec. Ryan Hoyt, Cle. St. Ignatius 3-2 135: Mike Hillock, Massillon Perry dec. Joe Parra, Barberton 4-2ot 140: Dylan Zivcic, Mentor over Brad Squire, Wadsworth forfeit 145: Jerrel Valliant, Sandusky dec. Seth Horner, Massillon Perry 3-2 152: Joe Crabtree, Hilliard Darby pin Phillip Egnor, Elyria 4:59 160: Zack Goins, Elyria over Caleb Marsh, Marysville default 171: Marc Bryan, Cle. St. Ignatius dec. Marlon Baker, Twinsburg 5-3 189: Andrew Borgstrom, Middletown dec. Nick Miller, Centerville 7-5ot 215: Kyle Rose, Centerville over Ryan Nelisse, Elyria default 285: Sean Brooks, Northmont dec. Zach Laird, Olmsted Falls 3-1
Photo by Nick Falzerano
St. Edward senior Collin Palmer won his fourth state title to become just the 18th wrestler in Ohio history to do so.
“This is a great team and this is probably the closest team I’ve ever coached. We’re all on the same page. It’s a real privilege to be the head coach of this team.” Graham Head Coach Jeff Jordan
Seventh Place Finals 103: George DiCamillo, Cle. St. Ignatius tech. fall Trevor Fiorucci, Lewis Center Ole 15-0 112: Max Byrd, LaSalle dec. Angelo DiSabato, Hilliard Davidson 16-9 119: Alex Marzec, Tol. DeSales dec. Alex Gray, Wadsworth 5-4 125: Tyler Dalton, Barberton dec. Cody Shivener, Springboro 4-2 130: Austin Sanders, Gr. City Central Crossing pin Tyler Riegle, Springboro 2:43 135: Louden Gordon, Wadsworth pin Randy Languis, Dublin Scioto 3:53 140: Joe Grandominico, Lewis Center Olentangy dec. Jerrell Hodge, Bedford 1-0 145: Louis Greco, Austintown-Fitch dec. Trevor Nickolai, Piqua 5-2 152: Chet Bissell, Twinsburg pin Justin Sneary, Tecumseh 2:57 160: Justin Wharton, Oregon Clay dec. Ian Korb, Cin. Elder 7-2 171: Michael Alexander, Findlay dec. Patrick Rigsby, St. Charles 8-5 189: Andrew Phillips, Massillon Perry dec. Caleb Busson, Wadsworth 3-1 215: Roman Lawson, Shaker Hts. dec. Seth Nelson, GroveportMadison 10-5 285: Steve Powell, Moeller dec. Dennis Cox, Bowling Green 3-1ot
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ
State Wrestling Finals
PHOTOS BY NICK FALZERANO
103
112
119
125
130
Kory Mines
Jerome Robinson
Jamie Clark
Sam White
Shawn Fayette
Maple Heights H.S., Jr. 41-4
St. Ignatius H.S., Jr. 39-3
St. Edward H.S., Jr. 35-0 (two-time champion)
Massillon Perry H.S, Sr. 41-1 (two-time champion)
Miamisburg H.S., Jr. 43-2
Robert Shepherd
Collin Palmer
David Habat
Josh Demas
Kyle Lang
Mason H.S., Jr. 35-3
St. Edward H.S., Sr. 39-2 (four-time champion)
St. Ignatius H.S., Jr. 40-3
Nick Heflin
Andrew Tumlin
Orlando Scales
Massillon Perry H.S., Sr. 42-2
Harrison H.S., Sr. 42-1
135
171
140
189
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h io H i g h
145
215
152
160
Westerville North H.S., Jr. Broadview Heights H.S., Sr. 46-1 40-3
285
Team
Jeremy Johnson
St. Edward
Elder H.S., Sr. Broadview Heights H.S., Sr. 39-0 (two-time champion) 36-2
Lakewood, OH 13th Straight State Title
J J H U D D L E . C O M 19
State Wrestling Finals (135), senior Brian Stephens (145), sophomore Kyle Ryan (160) and junior Max Thomusseit (189). Thomusseit pushed the Falcons past the brink with a hard-fought 4-1 win over University School senior Nick Mills. Taylor and Martinez won by pin. Brascetta and Stephens won by major decision. It was a third place finish by senior James Mannier at 171 that gave the Falcons the scoring record. “James Mannier had a heartbreak last night when he lost in the semis,” Jordan said. “He’s the only senior who didn’t win a title but you know what? He’s the one who broke the (scoring) record this morning when he pinned the guy. That got us over 229 points and I’m real happy James did that. I’m really happy that Max finished off the night with the win too.” Jordan joked that Thomussiet had told him he hadn’t been able to sleep for the last three weeks. “He would just lie in bed thinking about winning a state title,” Jordan said. “Now hopefully he’ll be able to get some sleep.” ZZZs will be easy for the coach to catch too. “I never thought that we’d break that record,” Jordan said. “But once we put the guys in the finals we knew we had a legitimate shot at it. “Boy, did we perform.”
NOT SO FAST
Much has been made this year of St. Edward’s possible demise. Who’s laughing now? That chuckle you hear is from Lakewood. The Eagles withstood challenges from Wadsworth, Massillon Perry and surprise Brecksville-Broadview Heights to capture their 13th straight D-I title and 25th overall. Only Cincinnati St. Xavier’s boys swim team (30) has more state titles in one sport. During the regular season the Eagles lost twice to Wadsworth in duals and lost to Massillon Perry at the Medina Invitational. Both teams were still in contention after the first two sessions, but St. Ed separated itself during the semifinals. The Eagles advanced four to finals and took home two titles: junior Jamie Clark (119) and senior Collin Palmer (140). St. Edward ended with 111.5 points, while Perry was second – for the sixth time in seven years – with 91. Broadview Heights (84) was third and Cleveland St. Ignatius fourth (76.5). Wadsworth finished fifth (74).
CALL OF DUTY
Some saw Troy Christian senior Jordan Thome’s loss in the D-III quarterfinals as a huge upset. And on paper it was. In reality it was a win – literally – for TC that he was even out there. Thome – a four-time qualifier and three-time placer – broke his ankle at last week’s Fairmont District yet tried to gut out the state tournament. He wore a brace for his D-III 135 opener and beat Monroeville’s Cal Clark. Thome then dropped his next two bouts. The victory over Clark though made all the difference. The three points Thome earned in that match helped propel the Eagles to their third straight D-III title. TC beat Monroeville by one point (113-112). Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy was third with an impressive showing (103 points). Thome – appropriately – is going to wrestle for
20 J J H U D D L E . C O M
the U.S. Military Academy. “He broke his ankle in the semis in two spots last week,” TC head coach Steve Goudy said. “He’s got an appointment to West Point and we were worried about him coming out here, but he put a brace on it and wrestled a kid from Monroeville in the first round. That’s the difference. He won and we got three instead of them getting three. We win it by one point. “He stepped up huge for us. I’m really proud of that kid and the leadership he showed. Every point counts.” TC had three individual champions in seniors Zac Hancock (140), Chris Burns (145) and Zach Toal (160). The state title was Hancock’s second and Toal’s third. The Eagles also had two seventh place finishers on the final day that earned a point apiece. TC knows a thing about winning close ones. Two years ago the Eagles edged Marion Pleasant 154-151.5. “Getting three in a row has been a real focus all year,” Goudy said. “We just had the right kids step up at the right time. The kids see those wall brackets up on the wall and they want to get up there. They want to get on that wall.”
TWO FOR FOUR
Graham’s Taylor and St. Edward’s Palmer added their names to an elite list by winning their fourth state titles. Taylor became the 17th wrestler in history to accomplish the feat, minutes before Palmer became the 18th. Both received standing ovations after their match and during the awards ceremony. Taylor added his 135 championship to a resume that includes titles at 103 (freshman and Sophomore) and 112 (junior). R anked No. 1 in the country, Taylor wraps his high school career with a record of 180-2. He hasn’t lost for two years and won at least 42 matches every high school season. Taylor is headed to Iowa State. Palmer ends his career 147-4 and adds his 140 title to a haul that includes hardware from 112 (freshman), 125 (sophomore) and 135 (junior). Headed to Ohio State, Palmer is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation. The duo both became the third wrestlers from their schools to win four state titles. No other program can claim more than one. Graham does have two other wrestlers who earned two of their four state titles as a Falcon. Both Dustin and C.P. Schlatter won two titles apiece at Graham. They won their other two at Massillon Perry and Columbus DeSales, respectively.
WAY TO REBOUND
A year after losing his first two state matches and going home, Cleveland St. Ignatius senior Jerome Robinson went to the top of the podium. Robinson beat St. Edward’s Gus Sako 4-2 in overtime to net the Wildcats first state title since 1993. Robinson finished third at 103 as a freshman, but last year bowed out after two matches at 119. Not to be outdone, Ignatius junior David Habat added another title for the Wildcats at 145. Habat who finished third the last two years won arguably the state tournament’s toughest and deepest weight class.
Division II Placers
First Place Final 103: Nick Brascetta, Graham maj. dec. Andrew Bertubin, Cambridge 13-4 112: Ty Mitch, Aurora dec. Brandon Gambucci, Lexington 12-7 119: Johnni DiJulius, Walsh Jesuit dec. Drew Stone, Oak Harbor 1-0 125: Zach Neibert, Graham dec. Nate Skonieczny, Walsh Jesuit 8-6 130: Felipe Martinez, Graham pin Ryan Nakama, Big Walnut 1:14 135: David Taylor, Graham pin Manuel Cintron, Alliance 2:39 140: Harrison Hightower, Hunting Val. Univ. School dec. Matt Stephens, Graham 5-2 145: Brian Stephens, Graham maj. dec. Mike Fee, Lake Cath. 14-6 152: Jonathan McGookey, Sandusky Perkins dec. Huston Evans, Graham 9-3 160: Kyle Ryan, Graham dec. Adam Walters, W. Geauga 5-2 171: Zach Garbrandt, Uhrichsville Claymont dec. Dennis Raber, Orrville 4-3 189: Max Thomusseit, Graham dec. Nick Mills, Univ. School 4-1 215: Tyler Houska, Medina Highland dec. Dave Pickerel, Tol. Central Cath. 3-2ott 285: Josh Jackson, Uhrichsville Claymont dec. Ian Jones, Harvey 5-4
Third Place Finals 103: Luke Langdon, Uhrichsville Claymont dec. Brian Spangler, LaGrange Keystone 11-4 112: Isaac Jordan, Graham dec. Erik McLaughlin, Canal Fulton Northwes 8-2 119: James Inghram, Hunting Val. Univ. School dec. John Worthington, Shelby 3-1 125: Brent Fickel, Parma Padua Franciscan dec. Jacob Garringer, Wash. C.H. Miami Trac 3-2 130: Jake Vaughan, Col. St. Francis DeSales pin Shelton Morris, Ravenna Southeast 2:00 135: Ian Miller, Oak Harbor over Matt Hefner, Lima Bath default 140: Dylan Ice, Lisbon Beaver pin Kyle Leek, Warren Howland 2:07 145: Adam Fondale, New Lexington dec. Corey Dulaney, WhitehallYearling 7-5 152: Shane Gifford, Circleville Logan Elm over Brad Wukie, Hunting Val. Univ. School default 160: Brett Mellor, Warsaw River View pin Riley Kilroy, Parma Padua Franciscan 1:34 171: James Mannier, Graham dec. Dustin Sarosy, Perry 5-2 189: Beau Wenger, Navarre Fairless dec. Joe Poyser, Louisville 8-2 215: Logan White, Graham dec. Garren Dilley, Amanda-Clearcreek 6-2 285: Jared Torrence, Norwalk dec. Danny Demick, Chillicothe 3-1ot
Fifth Place Finals 103: John McComas, Lisbon Beaver dec. Cory Stainbrook, Streetsboro 2-0 112: Kyle Warner, Uhrichsville Claymont over Arizona Miller, Lisbon Beaver disq. 119: Alex Minnard, Lancaster Fairfield Union pin Dan Cook, Tol. Central Cath. 1:45 125: Nick Hile, Lexington dec. Tyler Alsip, Norwood 10-6 130: Jake Strausbaugh, Orrville maj. dec. Jake Mellinger, Beloit W. Branch 14-5 135: Randy Henline, Akron Coventry dec. Levi Barnett, Thornville Sheridan 7-3 140: Conrad Rosch, Canal Winchester dec. Mitchell Beemer, Wapakoneta 6-3 145: Mikkal Johnson, Maumee dec. Selo Ramjattan, Greenville 7-4 152: Michael Graves, Maumee pin Rob Eddy, Harrison Central 1:59 160: Darren Tate, SVSM dec. Andrew Nealan, New Richmond 6-5 171: Brian Borac, Lake Cath. dec. Ian Howell, Harrison Central 9-7 189: Jake Henderson, Tol. Central Cath. dec. Ashton Brown, Pemberville Eastwood 3-2 215: Robbie Lias, Hubbard over Branko Busick, Steubenville default 285: Ray Spence, Amanda-Clearcreek pin Vincenzo Cardone, Tol. Central Cath. 4:27
Seventh Place Finals 103: Jordan Burkhart, Carrollton pin Jon Edwards, Greenville 4:25 112: B.J. Miller, Defiance dec. Joey Ward, Goshen 2-0 119: Sheldon Kegley, Graham dec. Michael Perez, Wauseon 10-4 125: Dillon VanDyne, Cambridge over Jake Kazimir, Kenston default 130: Carson Frey, Wauseon pin Evan Storts, Spring. Shawnee 4:53 135: Jeremy Maiwurm, Orrville dec. Chaz Gresham, Goshen 4-3 140: Michael Slaga, Rayland Buckeye Local dec. John Fraley, Streetsboro 8-6 145: Terry Wagenhauser, Defiance maj. dec. Joe Schindel, Akron Arch. Hoban 8-0 152: Tucker Gregor, Buckeye dec. Eric Hildenbrand, Franklin 4-0 160: Reno Bernardo, Col. St. Francis DeSales dec. Mike Mallernee, Oak Harbor 7-4 171: Jason Brown, Napoleon dec. Nick McCall, Wauseon 10-6 189: Paul Lauth, St. Marys Memorial dec. Jake Mallernee, Cadiz Harrison Central 5-2 215: Patrick Sanford, Conneaut dec. Nick Thompson, Tallmadge 6-4 285: John Eckroth, Cadiz Harrison Central dec. Danny Quallich, Medina Buckeye 3-1 ot
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
State Wrestling Finals
PHOTOS BY NICK FALZERANO
103
112
119
125
130
Nick Brascetta
Ty Mitch
Johnni DiJulius
Zach Neibert
Felipe Martinez
Graham H.S., So. 45-0
Aurora H.S., Jr. 40-4 (two-time champion)
Walsh Jesuit H.S., So. 32-1
Graham H.S, Sr. 45-1 (two-time champion)
Graham H.S., Fr. 45-2
David Taylor
Harrison Hightower
Brian Stephens
Jonathan McGookey
Kyle Ryan
Graham H.S., Sr. 48-1
Perkins H.S., Sr. 52-3
Graham H.S., So. 45-9
135
140
University School, Jr. Graham H.S., Sr. 48-0 (four-time champion) 45-4 (two-time champion)
145
152
160
171
189
Zach Garbrandt
Max Thomusseit
Tyler Houska
Josh Jackson
Graham
Claymont H.S., Sr. 27-3
Graham H.S., Jr. 46-2
Medina Highland H.S., Sr. 46-0
Claymont H.S., Sr. 33-6
St. Paris, OH Ninth Straight State Title
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h io H i g h
215
285
Team
J J H U D D L E . C O M 21
State Wrestling Finals NEW HEIGHTS
Broadview Heights didn’t win the D-I team title, but the Bees showed they are a program on the rise. Coming into the state tournament, BH had two state champions in program history. This year they added two more and had a runner-up. Senior Kyle Lang completed the cycle, adding a state title to previous second, third and fourth place finishes. Lang pinned Hilliard Davidson’s J.T. Rice in 3:04 to win the 160 title. At 285, nationally-ranked Jeremy Johnson won the title with a 5-1 win over Parma Heights Valley Forge’s James Meder. Senior Mike Lanigan nearly added another title, losing 5-3 in overtime in the 189 final.
LOOK OUT
Monroeville missed out on the D-III team title by a point, but it made one in the process. The Eagles enter next season as the D-III favorite thanks to a foursome of state champions – again. A year after winning four individual state titles, Monroeville did it again with the same horses. And they did it convincingly. Sophomore Hunter Stieber won his second title by pinning Galion Northmor’s Tyler Heminger in 1:42, while junior Logan Stieber, his brother, won his third title via tech fall (16-1) over Patrick Henry’s Alex Lopez. Sophomore Cam Tessari won his second title with a major decision (13-0) over Bellaire’s Erik Canter and the hammer – sophomore Chris Phillips – won his second title with a pin of Apple Creek Waynedale’s Jonathan Beam in 2:28. Remarkable.
KNOW HOW
Miamisburg junior Shawn Fayette won his school’s first state title with a 9-4 decision over West Chester Lakota West’s Ty Davis in the D-I 130 final. Fayette, who was second at 125 last year, has a mentor that knows something about winning state titles. Burg’s head coach Willie Wineberg was a four-time champion at Fairfield and has built the Viking program into one of respectability. The Vikings have won four straight Greater Western Ohio Conference titles and are suddenly a regular at the state tournament.
THREE IN THREE
There were three wrestlers in D-III that won their school’s first state titles: Blanchester’s Jake Howe (152), Delphos Jefferson’s Stuart Miller (215) and Greenwich South Central’s Nick Hamilton (285). Miller also wrapped an undefeated (51-0) season.
DOUBLE DOWN
Bloomdale Elmwood’s wrestling history contained two state champions before Saturday. Now it has three – and nearly had four. Sophomore Nick Goebel capped an undefeated season (47-0) by winning the school’s first title since 1998 with a victory at 103. Senior Alex Betts tried to duplicate the feat but fell short at 145.
UNDEFEATED
There were a total of nine wrestlers who finished
22 J J H U D D L E . C O M
undefeated seasons. They were: Tyler Houska, Medina Highland (46-0, D-II, 215) Jamie Clark, St. Edward (35-0, 119, D-I) Orlando Scales, Cincinnati Elder (39-0, 215, D-I) Nick Brascetta, Graham (45-0, 103, D-II) David Taylor, Graham (48-0, 135, D-II) Nick Goebel, Bloomdale Elmwood (47-0, 103, DIII) Logan Stieber, Monroeville (35-0, 125, D-III) Zach Toal, Troy Christian (47-0, 160) Stuart Miller, Delphos Jefferson (51-0, 215, DIII).
REMEMBER WHEN
There were several wrestlers who made history or snapped long exiles from the state podium for their school. The list includes: - Bryce Baker, Mechanicsburg, D-III, 112: Became school’s second champion and first since 1996. - Travis Harbet, Garrettsville Garfield, D-III, 119: Became school’s first two-time placer with a fourth place finish. - Chris Block, Johnstown-Monroe, D-III, 140: Fifth place finish is highest ever by a Johnnies wrestler. - Beau Bowden, North Lima South Range, DIII, 171: Became school’s first placer ever by finishing third. - Matt Dues, Harrod Allen East, D-III, 189: Fourth place finish earned school’s first visit to the podium ever. - Ethan Hayes, New Lebanon Dixie, D-III, 215: Second place finish is highest ever by a Greyhounds wrestler. - Matt Hefner, Lima Bath, D-II, 135: Became school’s highest placer ever with third place finish. - Corey Dulaney, Whitehall-Yearling, D-II, 145: Earned school’s first spot on the podium since 1990 with fourth place finish. - Shane Gifford, Circleville Logan Elm, D-II, 152: Third place finish is highest ever by a Braves wrestler. - Andrew Nealen, New Richmond, D-II, 160: Is school’s first state placer since 1993. Finished sixth. - Danny Demick, Chillicothe, D-II, 285: Earned school’s first spot on the podium since 1996 with fourth place finish. - Dennis Cox, Bowling Green, D-I, 285: Became school’s first placer since 1993 with eighth place finish.
BLAME THE ECONOMY
The finals and overall attendance for the state tournament were the lowest they have been since the event moved from Wright State’s Nutter Center in 1999. A crowd of 14,787 witnessed the finals, while the five-session total was 64,914. Last year crowds of 14,498 and 65,835 took in the finals and tournament, respectively. In 2007 the numbers were 15,685 and 69,746. The largest five-session total ever is 75,582 in 2003.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
The 73rd annual state wrestling championships will be held March 4-6, 2010 at the Schottenstein Center. — OH
Division III Placers
First Place Finals 103: Nick Goebel, Bloomdale Elmwood dec. Alex Dronzek, Beachwood 3-2 112: Bryce Baker, Mechanicsburg dec. Spencer Pierce, N. Union 6-3 119: Hunter Stieber, Monroeville pin Tyler Heminger, Northmor 1:42 125: Logan Stieber, Monroeville tech. fall Alex Lopez, Hamler Patrick Henry 16-1 130: Cam Tessari, Monroeville maj. dec. Erik Canter, Bellaire 13-0 135: Tyler Powers, CVCA dec. Ben Kuzma, Hopewell-Loudon 7-1 140: Zac Hancock, Troy Christian dec. Zach Noernberg, Cle. Cuyahoga Hts. 13-7 145: Chris Burns, Troy Christian dec. Alex Betts, Bloomdale Elmwood 2-1 152: Jake Howe, Blanchester maj. dec. Kyle Burns, Troy Christian 14-4 160: Zach Toal, Troy Christian maj. dec. Alex Utley, CVCA. 15-5 171: Chris Phillips, Monroeville pin Jonathan Beam, Apple Creek Waynedale 2:28 189: Corby Running, Clarksville Clinton-Massie dec. Colton Bowers, Marion Pleasant 5-3ot 215: Stuart Miller, Delphos Jefferson dec. Ethan Hayes, Dixie 7-1 285: Nick Hamilton, S. Central dec. Josh Morosko, Tuslaw 7-4
Third Place Finals 103: David Harrington, Sand. St. Mary C.C. dec. Jeremy Border, Caldwell 4-3 112: Jonny Tolson, Delta dec. Seth Powers, Cuy. Val. Chr. Acad. 2-0 119: Santino Pizzuto, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton dec. Travis Harbert, Garrettsville Ga 2-1 125: Zak Vargo, CVCA dec. Eli Donahue, Massillon Tuslaw 6-4 130: Joe Bruewer, Cin. Deer Park dec. Johnny Carpenter, Cin. Madeira 9-4 135: David Malkus, Burton Berkshire dec. Dominic Prezzia, St. Clairsville 6-5 140: Dann Miller, Brookfield dec. Cody Coomes, Marion Pleasant 3-2 145: Robbie Chilson, Bellaire dec. Andrew DeHart, Covington 6-5 152: Cody Walters, Bedford St. Peter Chanel maj. dec. Bryson Hall, Doylestown Chippew 10-0 160: Kyle Kwiat, Tiffin Calvert dec. Ashton Packard, Belpre 4-2 171: Beau Bowden, N. Lima South Range dec. Cody Rodgers, Mechanicsburg 9-7 189: Kurt Schaefer, W. Salem Northwestern dec. Matt Dues, Harrod Allen East 9-4 215: Greg Hojnacki, CVCA dec. Craig Ritz, Milan Edison 7-6 285: Hugh Thornton, Oberlin dec. Mike Treon, Versailles 7-1
Fifth Place Finals 103: Thomas McLaughlin, Nelsonville-York dec. Vinnie Pizzuto, N. Jackson Jackson-Milt 3-2ott 112: Zach Porter, Bellaire dec. Tim Triskett, Cle. VA-St. Joseph 3-1 119: Mike Kovach, St. Peter Chanel dec. Dom Barlow, Heath 9-7 125: Riki Reynolds, Marion Pleasant dec. Kyle Burns, Milan Edison 6-3 130: Jimmy Dankle, Cle. Cuyahoga Hts. over Brandon Sommers, CVCA default 135: Jeff Vitallo, Apple Creek Waynedale dec. Brendon Klaus, Mechanicsburg 12-9ott 140: Chris Block, Johnstown-Monroe dec. Joshua Goebel, Edgerton 4-3 145: Quinton Cooperider, Marion Pleasant over Aaron Hunter, Akron Manchester default 152: Tyler Rayl, Bluffton dec. Johnny Merryman, Shadyside 7-4 160: Shayne Stewart, Mogadore dec. Peter Lewis, W. Liberty-Salem 7-5 171: Royal Brettrager, Kirtland pin J.J. Hrabak, St. Wendelin 2:56 189: Colton Zody, Wooster Triway dec. Justin Cheesman, Ashland Crestview 7-4 215: Kyle Kelly, Akron Manchester dec. Dan Clawson, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton 4-1 285: Chris Doughty, Norwalk St. Paul over Tyler Obringer, Spencerville default
Seventh Place Finals 103: Michael Ratay, CVCA dec. Anthony Elchert, Arcadia 8-7 112: Tim Wiseman, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton dec. Brandon Booker, Cin. Purcell Marian 4-0 119: Jordan Hancock, Troy Christian dec. Carl Moody, NelsonvilleYork 8-5 125: Johnny Matacic, Jackson-Milton dec. Alex Panno, Blanchester 12-6 130: Tony Cardiero, Girard dec. Marco Gualtieri, W. Jefferson 11-4 135: Kyle Begg, Bluffton dec. Keith Tanner, Johnstown-Monroe 7-1 140: Chad Sonnenberg, Van Buren dec. Donny Montoney, Peninsula Woodridge 5-3 145: Kyle Freiberg, Middlefield Cardinal dec. Dustin Chatterton, Dixie 10-4 152: Nico Francis, Girard maj. dec. Sean Prather, W. Jefferson 11-2 160: Matt Ramage, Wellington dec. Jake Elling, Liberty Center 10-5 171: Kyle Keplinger, Troy Christian dec. Geoff Hainline, Norwalk St. Paul 11-6 189: Zack McKnight, Carlisle dec. Robert Blake, Defiance Tinora 5-4 215: Schuyler Bondy, Woodsfield Monroe Cent. pin Josh Salyers, Mechanicsburg 4:24 285: Greg Dailey, Independence pin Mimmo Lytle, Swanton 4:52
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
State Wrestling Finals
PHOTOS BY NICK FALZERANO
103
Nick Goebel Elmwood H.S., So. 47-0
112
119
125
130
Bryce Baker
Hunter Stieber
Logan Stieber
Cam Tessari
Mechanicsburg H.S., Sr. Monroeville H.S., So. Monroeville H.S, Jr. Monroeville H.S., So. 36-9 47-1 (two-time champion) 35-0, (three-time champion) 43-2 (two-time champion)
140
145
152
160
Tyler Powers
Zac Hancock
Chris Burns
Jake Howe
Zach Toal
CVCA H.S., Sr. 37-2
Troy Christian H.S., Sr. 43-4 (two-time champion)
Troy Christian H.S., Sr. 27-2
Blanchester H.S., Jr. 50-2
Troy Christian H.S., Sr. 47-0 (three-time champion)
Chris Phillips
Corby Running
Stuart Miller
Nick Hamilton
Troy Christian
Monroeville H.S., So. 49-1 (two-time champion)
Clinton-Massie H.S., Jr. 43-2
Delphos Jefferson H.S., Sr. 51-0
South Central H.S.,Sr. 45-2
Troy, Oh Third Straight State Title
135
171
189
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h io H i g h
215
285
Team
J J H U D D L E . C O M 23
S t a t e W r e s t l i n g A l l - T o u r n a m e n t Te a m
PHOTOS BY NICK FALZERANO
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ
103
112
119
125
130
Nick Brascetta
Jerome Robinson
Jamie Clark
Logan Stieber
Felipe Martinez
Graham H.S., So. 45-0, D-II Champion
St. Ignatius H.S., Jr. 39-3, D-I Champion
St. Edward H.S., Jr. 35-0, D-I Champion
Monroeville H.S, Jr. 35-0, D-III Champion
Graham H.S., Fr. 45-2, D-II Champion
135
140
145
152
160
David Taylor
Collin Palmer
David Habat
Jonathan McGookey
Zach Toal
Graham H.S., Sr. 48-0, D-II Champion
St. Edward H.S., Sr. 39-2, D-I Champion
St. Ignatius H.S., Jr. 40-3, D-I Champion
Perkins H.S., Sr. 52-3, D-II Champion
Troy Christian H.S., Sr. 47-0, D-III Champion
Chris Phillips
Andrew Tumlin
Orlando Scales
Jeremy Johnson
Jeff Jordan
Monroeville H.S., So. 49-1, D-III Champion
Harrison H.S., Sr. 42-1, D-I Champion
Elder H.S., Sr. 39-0, D-I Champion
Broadview Heights H.S., Sr. 36-2, D-I Champion
Graham H.S. Best Team Ever? Yes.
171
189
24 J J H U D D L E . C O M
215
285
Coach
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ
Photo by Nick Falzerano
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h io H i g h
O h i o W r e s t l e r o f t h e Ye a r
J J H U D D L E . C O M 25
I
O h i o W r e s t l e r o f t h e Ye a r t’s hard to imagine David Taylor as an ordinary wrestler. Let alone one that wasn’t very good. “I was absolutely terrible,” said Taylor, recounting his first year. “I didn’t win a match all year until the very last tournament. I remember after that my dad asked if I wanted to do it again the next year and I couldn’t believe wrestling season was already over. He seemed surprised that I wanted to do it again since I was so bad, but he thought maybe I had a passion for it, and I did. “I remember that first year the beginning wrestlers had to wrestle on the gym floor and the advanced wrestlers got to wrestle on the stage. I wanted to wrestle up on that stage.” Since earning an invitation in elevation the next year, Taylor has been on a different level in his wrestling career.
One of Ohio’s top wrestlers ever regardless of weight, Taylor, a senior at St. Paris Graham High School, is arguably the state’s top lightweight wrestler in history. Any list of Ohio’s Top 10 wrestlers of all-time has to include him. Taylor’s resume reads like Aesop wrote it. - Four Division II state titles - Three Ohio junior high state titles - Four Walsh Ironman titles (only wrestler ever to do so) - Five Junior and National Cadet National Championships - Two Super 32 titles - A Beast of the East crown There’s literally nothing Taylor hasn’t accomplished during his high school career. He’s even lost. Ending his prep run with a 180-2 career record on March 7 at the Ohio High School State Wrestling Championships in Columbus, Taylor wrapped an impressive four-year stretch that includes an undefeated record the past two seasons. Ranked No. 1 in the country this season at 135 pounds, Taylor also has four state team titles to his credit and a national championship (2008). This season Graham set the state team scoring record and had a record seven individual state champions. The Falcons were ranked No. 2 in the nation. No, Taylor doesn’t own a cape, but it sure seems like he should. “Graham has produced a lot of hammers throughout the years and without question David Taylor is right at the top of that list as one of the best ever to come out of here,” Graham head coach Jeff Jordan – a four-time state champion himself – said. “David has stepped up one more level than what most people get to.” Taylor’s trail to the top has had plenty of turns, detours and hazards – but like his opponents – he’s overcome 99-percent of them.
YOU’RE FROM WHERE?
Evanston, Wyoming is a small town located in the southwest part of the state. It’s four miles from Utah and 10 from Colorado. Its population is 11,507. It’s also the place where David Taylor’s story starts. His mom Kathy gets credit for the first push. “When I was little I tried all sports and I was real hyper,” Taylor said. “My mom saw an ad in the local newspaper for a youth wrestling program and
26 J J H U D D L E . C O M
“There are kids that want to wrestle, there are kids that have to wrestle and there are kids that love to wrestle. I love to wrestle. I love the sport. I think about it all the time and I have a passion for it. I’m always looking to get better every day.”
Graham High School senior David Taylor she signed me up and took me. That was it.” Taylor started wrestling at age 5 and struggled, losing every bout his first year except for the season’s final tournament where something clicked and he won a match. The next year the snowball began. Taylor improved as a six and seven year-old and blossomed when he turned eight. “I look back on it, and that first year fueled me,” Taylor said. “I just kept going and kept getting better.” Taylor’s dad also played an integral part. A former high school wrestler, Taylor’s father Dave moved the family around when David was younger, finishing out his military duty with stints in Florida and Georgia. David was born in Nevada (Reno). After settling in Evanston and getting a job (pilot) with Delta Airlines at the Salt Lake City Airport, Dave Taylor started to nurture his son’s wrestling addiction. On trips the elder Taylor would watch wrestling videos and attend meets, taking notes of technique. When he returned home the duo would refine the form in the basement. David got so good, the family had to start leaving the state to find suitable competition. What they found was a gold mine. One of the venues Taylor landed at was Wasatch High School in Heber, Utah. There, under the guidance of Wasatch varsity coach Steve
Sanderson, Taylor would regularly drill against an up and coming wrestler one-year his elder named Jason Chamberlin. Chamberlin (Springville, Utah/Boise State) as it turns out became the country’s No. 1 ranked wrestler in the Class of 2008. Taylor – many think – holds the same distinction for 2009. And Coach Sanderson? He’s the father of Iowa State wrestling legend and Olympic Gold Medalist Cael Sanderson. Sanderson went 159-0 at Iowa State and is the only collegiate wrestler ever to finish his career undefeated. He’s also got three brothers that won Utah High School state titles at Wasatch. “That’s where I got to know Cyler and Cael and Cody and Cole,” Taylor said. “When they would come home during the summers I would wrestle with them. That was before Cael was Cael. I think he was a red-shirt freshman.” The Sandersons aren’t the only famous wrestling family to have an influence on Taylor. After getting his “butt kicked” at the Cliff Keen Tournament and finishing “one spot out of placing” at the ensuing Tulsa Nationals, Taylor broke through to win the Reno Worlds as an eight-year old. He was named the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler. “That was when I turned the corner,” Taylor said. “That was the watershed moment if I had to look back on one thing.” The next year Taylor came to Ohio and attended camp with his friends from Cleveland – the Palmers, Lance and Collin. “We were really good friends,” Taylor said. “I would stay with them and then go to camps with Lance and Collin. That’s how I got to my first Jordan Camp.” Lance and Collin were both four-time Ohio High School state champions at Lakewood St. Edward High School. Jeff Jordan’s summer camps are also legendary. And once Taylor attended that first one he was hooked. Fate got pinned too. A few months later Dave Taylor got orders for a transfer. The choices were Boston, Atlanta or Cincinnati. Wrestling-wise the choice was a nobrainer. As for the school district, that was another matter. “When we knew we were moving to Ohio we started looking around at some programs,” Taylor said. “At the time there was a big article about
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
O h i o W r e s t l e r o f t h e Ye a r Moeller and how they had just got a big, brand new wrestling room. My dad actually emailed their coach and he never returned the email. So we looked elsewhere. If he had returned that email, it’s possible I’d be at Cincinnati Moeller.” Taylor landed at Graham. “Dad asked me where I might like to go so I told him that I liked Coach Jordan and I liked his camps,” Taylor said. “I told him that if we could move there, that would be awesome.” Done. “When you get a guy that fired up for wrestling – who all he wants to do is wrestle – that’s good for your room,” Jordan said. “David had been to our camp for 5-6 years before he enrolled. It was either here or Atlanta or Boston. And Georgia doesn’t have the best high school wrestling and neither does Massachusetts, so it was just kind of lucky for us that Ohio was an option. “We’re glad Cincinnati has a Delta hub.” Taylor arrived prior to the sixth grade and won the first of three junior high state titles later that year. Winning over friends wasn’t so easy. “It took me a while to fit in with friends and I sat by myself at the lunch table for two weeks,” Taylor said. “I’m not sure why it took me so long – I’m not a shy kid – but the friends I finally made then are still my best friends today. Josh Schuler, he plays basketball, he’s my best friend. Austin Jones (basketball) and Seth Rogers (baseball) are also two of my really good friends.” Just for good measure, Schuler is arguably the best basketball player in Graham history, having led the Falcons to back-to-back district titles and undefeated regular seasons and a state Final Four appearance last season. He’s the program’s alltime leading scorer and was named the Southwest District D-II Player of the Year. Jones is the basketball program’s all-time leader in assists. Rogers is an All-Central Buckeye Conference baseball player.
Taylor received a standing ovation after winning his fourth state title.
DIFFERENT BREED
Photo by Nick Falzerano
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h io H i g h
Graham High School had a strong wrestling legacy long before Taylor enrolled. Jeff and older brother Jim Jordan both won four state titles for the Falcons in the early 1980s. As a program, Graham has won nine straight D-II state titles and 11 overall. Individually, Graham wrestlers have won 50 state championships. Without Taylor the Falcons resume is absurd. With him it’s mythical. While he became the 17th wrestler in Ohio history to win four state titles in March, Taylor became the first Ohio wrester ever to do something else in January. On the bus ride home from the Alliance Top Gun Invite, Taylor sought out Jordan and made an astonishing proposition. “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,’” Jordan said. “He said he wanted to move up to 140 to wrestle (Collin) Palmer. I went ‘Wow.’ That was the last thing I was thinking.” Palmer, like Taylor, was ranked No. 1 in the country at his weight class and was a three-time defending state champion. Never before had two three-time defending state
J J H U D D L E . C O M 27
O h i o W r e s t l e r o f t h e Ye a r champions squared off in Ohio history. Let alone two nationally No. 1 ranked wrestlers. “We decided (that) 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.” The following weekend a standing room only crowd watched as Taylor defeated Palmer 8-5. He trailed 4-3 entering the third period. “I’ve had a lot of people ask me what makes David Taylor so good,” Jordan said. “He’s good in
Talk about a titanic tilt. “A lot of guys nowadays shy away from the bigname wrestlers,” Jordan said. “They always tend to be a weight class above or below. I think there is going to be more matches now where guys say ‘What the heck, if I get beat I get beat.’ I mean David Taylor came to me and said ‘Coach there’s a 50-50 chance I lose this match but it’s something that I just want to do.’ “Whether we won or lost I thought it was the right thing to do.” “People don’t do that,” Taylor added. “People don’t bump up a weight to do that. If you’re as
Photo by Nick Falzerano
Photo by Greg Beers
he’s fulfilling a self-prophecy. “(During those days at Wasatch High) I remember telling my dad how cool it would be if Cael was the head coach at Iowa State one day and I got to wrestle for him,” Taylor said. “Now I do.” Taylor also considered Oklahoma State and Ohio State. Ultimately though he choose the Cyclones. “In the end, Iowa State just had the environment I wanted,” Taylor said. “Cael’s a great guy and I have a pretty good relationship with him. We talk about once a week. They had everything I wanted.”
Photo by Nick Falzerano
Taylor is headed to Iowa State University after also considering Oklahoma State and Ohio State.
Taylor beat St. Edward’s Collin Palmer in Ohio’s first match-up ever between threetime defending state champions.
Taylor hugs his father Dave after winning his fourth Division II state title. Taylor’s mother Kathy is in the background.
all positions and he’s good on the mat, but I think his best attribute is he never violates position. He never comes out of his stance and he always sticks to the game plan. He always does what needs to be done when it needs to be done. He has unbelievable discipline as a wrestler. He’s never flustered. “Palmer took him down in the first eight seconds. The second period he got reversed and he was down 4-1, but it never shook him. He stuck to the plan and showed no emotion until after the match. Then I think he was pretty happy.” So were his teammates. Taylor’s challenge didn’t go unnoticed or underappreciated. “When Palmer took him down in the first eight seconds I thought uh-oh this might go bad, but David never quit,” senior James Mannier (171) said. “That was a great day for Graham wrestling and for David.” “I didn’t see how he could lose,” senior Brian Stephens (145) added. “I don’t want to sound cocky, but when David sets his mind to do something he does it. I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do.” The loss was Palmer’s first to an Ohio wrestler. He – like Taylor – won his fourth state title on March 7.
high-profile as we are you try to stay away from each other, but I wanted to do it so now maybe more kids will stop running from each other.” The competition has run from Taylor plenty. It’s no fun knowing you’re going to lose. Of his 16 state matches over four years, only one went the full six minutes. That bout – the state final his freshman year – Taylor won by major decision 10-2. Only five times since his sophomore year did Taylor go six minutes with any opponent, and one was Palmer. He won at least 42 matches every year of high school. “Wrestling at Graham is not so much a sport but rather a way of life,” Jordan said. “Kids eat, sleep and breath wrestling here and David’s taken that a step farther. Wrestling is his life. It’s been that way for a long time.” “There are kids that want to wrestle, there are kids that have to wrestle and there are kids that love to wrestle,” Taylor said. “I love to wrestle. I love the sport. I think about it all the time and I have a passion for it. I’m always looking to get better every day.”
At the state wrestling championships, Taylor received a much-deserved standing ovation after his finals match and again at the medal presentation. He plans to experience applause like that a couple more times. Including once on the world’s biggest stage. “When I was younger I had a goal – and its was kind of crazy,” Taylor said. “ But I wanted to be a four-time high school champion, a four-time NCAA champion and an Olympic Champion. Being a four-time NCAA champ is a hefty goal, and if I can be lucky enough to win one title that would be great. But when I go out there I plan on being competitive. Ultimately I want to make the Olympic team in 2016. “I want to be an Olympic champion.” Said Jordan: “David Taylor is going to go to college and be very successful. He’s going to be contending for national titles every year and hey, the Olympics is the long-term goal and David Taylor is going to shoot for that. “David reaches his goals. He’s one of the few guys that once he sets his mind to something he puts his whole life into it. I know his next goal is to win four national titles and make the Olympic team. He’s got just as good a chance to do that as anyone else.” — OH
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CYCLONE
Fittingly, Taylor is headed to Iowa State to wrestle for head coach Cael Sanderson. In the process
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
STORY BY OHIO HIGH STAFF
Girls Basketball State Finals Count the fingers. That’s right, South Euclid Regina now has six state titles. The Royals tied now-defunct Pickerington High School for most ever regardless of division.
Photo by Gary Housteau
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 31
Girls Basketball State Finals Division IV State Semifinals, March 19, Schottenstein Center Africentric 39, Crestview 33
Columbus Africentric, Berlin Hiland advance to set up state championship rematch Berlin Hiland 73, Carey 42
C
Nubians hand Convoy Crestview its first loss of the year; Hawks dominate Carey, have 11 players score
OLUMBUS – The score was right where Convoy Crestview wanted it. The outcome, however, wasn’t. In a rematch of last year’s Division IV state semifinal between Crestview and Columbus Africentric, Africentric advanced to it’s third straight D-IV state championship with a 39-33 win on March 19 in the opening game of the 34th annual Ohio High School Girls Basketball State Tournament at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. Crestview took its first – and only – lead of the game, 26-25, with 2:04 left. The Nubians responded with 12-of-14 free throw shooting in the final 1:20 to advance. Africentric won last year’s meeting 47-42. Crestview, which entered the tournament as the top defensive team regardless of division (25.2 points), finishes the season 25-1. The Knights were ranked No. 1 in the final AP state poll. Africentric, the tournament’s top offensive team (78.1 ppg), fell 39 points shy of its average but won. The Nubians (22-4) were No. 4 in the final state poll. “I knew it was going to be that type of game,” Africentric head coach Will McKinney said. “I knew we were going to have to grind it out. It was a test to see how good we are as a program, because Crestview is No. 1 in the state for a reason. Today we gave them everything we had and they shot it right back at us. Fortunately we were able to hit some free throws at the end.” Said Crestview head coach Greg Rickard: “We just got off to a slow start offensively in the first half. We scored 11 points and didn’t shoot the ball well. If we would have shot better it would have made it a little easier for us in the second half instead of having to try to dig out of a hole. Defensively I thought we played pretty well overall.” The score after the first quarter was 5-5 and Africentric held a 15-11 lead at halftime. The Knights started off slow offensively, missing four shots and turning the ball over once in the first five possessions. Things never got much better for Crestview in the first 16 minutes as they shot just 28percent from the field (4-of-14), went 0-for-6 from 3point range and had nine turnovers. Africentric didn’t perform much better, but senior
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standout Ashar Harris kept them afloat. The Morehead State recruit scored eight of her team-high 15 points in the first half to help the Nubians establish their cushion. Africentric led 25-19 at the end of the third. In the fourth, Crestview rallied behind senior Melissa Eickholt. Eickholt, who went to the bench with her fourth foul in the waning moments of the third, scored 12 of her team-high 15 points in the fourth quarter. Her basket with 2:04 left capped a 7-0 run by the Knights and their senior that gave them a one-point lead. Eickholt is no stranger to the state scene, having played in five state tournaments (three softball, two
“I knew it was going to be that type of game. I knew we were going to have to grind it out.” Africentric head coach Will McKinney basketball). She’s headed to Mount Vernon Nazarene College. “(Melissa’s) effort in the fourth quarter, especially offensively, was huge,” Rickard said. “We always talk about seniors stepping up and performing in big games and she was able to do that.” Eighteen seconds after Eickholt’s basket, Africentric sophomore Raven Fergusen scored to give the Nubians the lead for good. Down the stretch, costly turnovers and missed shots did in the Knights. Africentric, which shot a pedestrian 67-percent from the free throw line coming into the game, hit 79-percent of its foul shots (19-of-24) to create separation. Senior Shardai Morrison-Fountain, a Marshall recruit, was exceptionally strong down the stretch hitting 8-of-10 in the final minute. She finished with 11 points. McKinney said it was arguably his team’s best free throw shooting performance of the season. The Knights were 9-of-11 from the foul line. Said Harris: “We knew we had to finish those last two minutes hard.” As a team, Africentric shot a miserable 32-percent from the field. The Nubians did however protect the
ball, turning it over just eight times. Crestview shot 37-percent from the floor, but made just 2-of-10 3s and turned it over 16 times. The Knights got no favors from the referees who whistled them for 19 fouls. Africentric was called for eight. The Crestview faithful voiced their displeasure several times. Hoping to win their first title in their fourth trip to state, the Knights fell to 0-4 in state semifinals. Africentric, despite being just a six-year old school, improved to 3-0. — Eric Frantz
BERLIN HILAND HEADS TO TITLE GAME FOR SIXTH TIME COLUMBUS – Berlin Hiland earned the opportunity to defend its Division IV state championship after advancing to the title game for the second straight season and sixth time overall. Hiland cruised past Carey 73-42 in the Division IV state semifinals March 19 in the 34th Annual State Girls Basketball Tournament at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. Hiland (26-1) advanced to the title game utilizing its depth getting significant minutes from 11 different players. "It was a typical style of game for us," Hiland head coach Dave Schlabach said. "We played a lot of kids and I thought our depth was a factor. A lot of young kids had to play a lot of minutes for us." Hiland was a near perfect 27-of-30 from the free throw line. "Getting (to the free throw line) is a big deal and we have really good shooters fundamentally and I think they did a nice job," Schlabach said. "I thought the kids walked up there with confidence and did a good job at the line." The Hawks were paced by junior guard Noelle Yoder with 22 points, six rebounds and three steals off the bench. "I just tried to focus on making plays and I just hit a few shots and got it going," Yoder said. Added Schlabach: "She got going about as well as she has all season for us. It was nice seeing her attack and play with a lot of confidence." Senior guard Karli Mast added 16 points going 5-of6 from the free throw line and junior guard Hilary Weaver chipped in 11 points. Carey (23-3) trailed 39-23 at halftime but pulled within eight in the third quarter. The Blue Devils, however, struggled to hit shots down the stretch as Hiland pulled away. Carey shot just 28.6 percent from the field and was a dismal 4-of-19 from three-point range in its first state tournament appearance scoring just five points in the fourth quarter. "I was pleased with our shot selection but sometimes shots just don’t go in," said Carey head coach Phil Vaughn. "You take a good shot and you hope the percentage is on your side, "You would like to put the ball in the basket more but I felt real good about our team coming out and playing with Berlin Hiland. There was no giving up on my team’s part. They are a great basketball team and do what they do well." Senior forward Karrah Windu led Carey with 15 points and senior forward Brooke Distel netted seven points and pulled down six rebounds. Senior guard Courtney Holsinger added five points and five boards. "This was pretty much everyone’s dream," Holsinger said. "We got this far and it was really exciting." — Matt Natali
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Girls Basketball State Finals Division III State Semifinals, March 19, Schottenstein Center Regina 59, Liberty-Benton 30
Regina handles Liberty-Benton, Oak Hill ousts defending state champion Versailles Oak Hill 47, Versailles 43
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Royals overwhelm Eagles in second half; Oaks stage fourth quarter comeback, defense forces 24 turnovers
OLUMBUS – Last year South Euclid Regina got blindsided in the Division III state semifinals, losing its first game in six state appearances. This winter the Royals returned to form. Regina earned the opportunity to play for an all-divisions record-tying sixth state title thanks to a 59-30 win over Findlay Liberty-Benton in the D-III semifinals at OSU’s Schottenstein Center on March 19. The win ran the Royals state tournament record to 11-1, the lone loss coming to Versailles in last year’s semis. Regina has made all seven of its trips to Columbus since 2000. One thing the Royals, ranked No. 2 in the final AP state poll, haven’t done is had an undefeated season. They earned an opportunity to achieve that as well. “26-0 (current record) doesn’t matter unless we get to 27-0,” Regina junior PG Tay’ler Mingo said. “Then we can discuss it as far as going down in history.” “After the regular season, I told the girls that we did not plan to be undefeated – now we have no choice,” Regina head coach Pat Diulus said. “We knew that to make this run we had to remain undefeated. (Going undefeated) is not our goal. It certainly never has been, but you lose one now and you call the dry cleaner. We’re not looking to do that.” Liberty-Benton (23-2), ranked No. 4 in the state and playing in its first state semifinal, was game for much of the contest. The Eagles took a 3-0 lead and trailed just 14-10 at the end of the first quarter. Regina led 30-23 at the half. L-B was aided in the first two quarters by Regina foul trouble. Mingo, one of the country’s top players in the Class of 2010, picked up three first half fouls, while senior forward Jackie Cook, headed to Old Dominion, picked up two. The Royals were able to establish their first half advantage, though, thanks in part to the play of 6-2 sophomore center Therany Dunnigan who scored 11 of her game-high 17 points in the first 16 minutes. She also grabbed six rebounds and shot 8-of-9 from the floor for the game. “There’s no question about it, that’s the best that (Dunnigan) has played,” Diulus said. “Before the game I said ‘T, are you nervous.’ She said ‘Not at all.’ A coach always likes to hear that kind of stuff.”
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In the third quarter, Dunnigan, Mingo and Cook got things rolling for Regina by making back-to-back-toback baskets as the Royals took a 37-23 lead. They led 45-28 after the third. With his team down 54-30 with 2:59 left, L-B head coach Nate Irwin pulled his starters to a standing ovation. The Eagles were outscored 29-7 in the second half. Game, set, match. “I thought we did what we could,” Irwin said. “Regina is a very talented team and it was just a matter of time before they wore us down. Their defense is unbelievable.” Said Diulus: “We made a slight adjustment at half and came out in the second half and played defense like we never have before. I’m not sure how many points they had in the second half but it wasn’t a lot. We took away pretty much everything they wanted to do.” In addition to Dunnigan’s double-double, Regina also got big games from Mingo and Cook. Mingo scored 12 points and had five rebounds and four assists. Cook had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. As a team the Royals blistered the nets, shooting 54.5-percent from the floor. They also outrebounded the Eagles 36-19. “We didn’t come in with a gameplan where we were going to try to feature any one player,” Diulus said. “We did come in with a gameplan to get the ball inside because we didn’t think they could compete with us inside and that’s pretty much the way it was. Every coach loves defense and rebounding and today was one of those games.” L-B was led by standout junior Amanda Hyde who exited the game early with a dislocated finger but returned to a chorus of cheers in the second quarter. She ended with a team-high 11 points. The Eagles, who thrive on the 3-pointer, shot just 26.7-percent (4-of-15) from behind the arc. L-B had been shooting over 35-percent for the season. The Eagles shot 25.6-percent overall (11-of-43). “The way they were able to guard us was frustrating,” Irwin said. “They had a little more team speed and a little more depth. We haven’t seen anything like their speed all year. They forced us away from the
basket and into uncomfortable spots that we just weren’t used to in the previous 24 games. That was by far the best team we’ve faced.” — Eric Frantz
OAK HILL RALLIES, IMPROVES TO 2-0 IN STATE SEMIFINALS COLUMBUS – Oak Hill finished the regular season ranked No. 5 in the state in Division III but the Lady Oaks will be playing for the top spot after knocking off defending state champ Versailles in the state semifinals March 19. Despite a slow start, the Lady Oaks used physical defense and timely runs to edge the Tigers 47-43 at the 34th Annual State Girls Basketball Tournament at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. "Our kids have just played great, we’ve worked hard, I pushed them, we’ve stayed happy and we’ve stayed healthy so we have an opportunity to go into the state championship game," Oak Hill head coach Doug Hale said. "I am really happy for our team and our community." Freshman guard Breanna Butler led the Lady Oaks with 18 points, including 4-of-8 from three-point land, and pulled down five rebounds. "We just knew we had to come out in the second half and hit some really good shots because we didn’t have a really good first half and we were ready," Butler said. Sophomore guard Mikie Strite and junior post Rebecca Plunkett each netted eight points for Oak Hill, respectively. Defense was key for the Lady Oaks holding Versailles to single digit scoring in three of the four quarters and forcing 24 Tigers turnovers. "I felt we could play tough defense and that is what we have been challenging our kids since Sunday when we found a little bit about Versailles," Hale said. Oak Hill (25-1) scored on its first possession on a Puckett field goal but the Lady Oaks didn’t score again in the first quarter until Puckett sunk a free throw in the final moments of the quarter. Versailles (18-9) held an 8-3 lead after the first quarter. "We had a really shaky first quarter and at the end of the first quarter I just said, ‘We got that out of the way now let’s start playing’," Hale said. "I just challenged the kids. We were in a tough spot and we have been in tough spots all year and we’ve overcome those things and we could overcome (that)." The Lady Oaks exploded for 16 points in the second quarter to take a 19-17 lead into the half. "I thought the second quarter was much better and in the second half we just battled it out," said Hale. Versailles settled in after the half scoring 17 points in the third quarter to take a 34-29 lead into the final frame. But Oak Hill dropped 18 points in the fourth quarter including six free throws in the final minutes to seal the win the 47-43 win. Senior forward Emily Frey paced Versailles with 20 points and seven rebounds and senior guard Karen Smith had 11 points and eight rebounds. "I thought we came out in the first half and played our basketball we wanted and put them in shell-shock for a while," Versailles head coach Jacki Stonebreaker said. "Their quickness (forced) some turnovers and got them back into the game and it was basically a game of runs from there. We made some runs at them and they made some runs at us and unfortunately their runs were at the right time and ours were not." — Matt Natali
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Girls Basketball State Finals Division II State Semifinals, March 20, Schottenstein Center Hathaway Brown 53, Kettering Alter 40
Hathaway Brown earns another shot at the title, Wapakoneta continues run Wapakoneta 40, River View 31
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Blazers get revenge on Knights for last year’s finals loss; Redskins punch ticket to first state final
OLUMBUS – Winning state semifinal games isn’t Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown’s problem. Winning state title games is. HB remained unbeaten (3-0) in Division II state semifinals with a 53-40 win over defending state champion Kettering Alter on March 20 in the Ohio High School Girls Basketball State Tournament at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. The game was a rematch of last year’s championship, which Alter won 60-46. The Blazers also lost in the 2007 final to Warsaw River View. HB head coach Paul Barlow went so far as to make sure his name placard at the press conference didn’t say “Marv Levy,” the infamous head coach of the Buffalo Bills who lost four straight Super Bowls. “With this being our third time down here we know it’s all business now,” HB standout junior Mylan Woods said. “We just have to take it home this year. We’re a lot more prepared, ready and focused.” The game was never seriously in doubt. The Blazers (20-6) took commanding leads of 9-2 and 18-7 in the first quarter and never let off the throttle. The lead was double-digits for the majority of the contest. HB led 26-19 at the half and 39-26 at the end of three. Alter, making its third trip to state, finishes the season 24-3. “We would have played hard no matter who we played,” Woods said. “But it is nice to know we got some payback.” Woods, first team All-Ohio and the D-II co-player of the year, was visibly emotional from the get-go, flexing and yelling after several big plays. She ended with 11 points, five rebounds and five steals. Senior Alexis Dobbs and sophomore Alanna Guy tied for team-high honors with 12 points each, while Dobbs added five rebounds and four assists. As a team HB hit 48.6-percent of its shots and went 15-of-17 from the foul line. “They shot the ball lights out,” Alter co-head coach Chris Hart said. “We saw them play four times this year and several of their kids shot better tonight than they did in those four games combined. They stepped it up when it mattered the most. Give them an awful lot of credit.”
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Defensively, the 53 points was the most by an Alter opponent this season. It also marked just the seventh time in 26 games someone had scored 40 or more on the Knights. Offensively, Alter was led by senior Mary Bruner and freshman Megan Courtney. Bruner scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds, while Courtney had a team-high 11 points. The Knights outrebounded the much taller Blazers 32-28 and had an astonishing 19 offensive boards. Ultimately poor shooting stalled any comeback (17-of-53, 32-percent from the floor). “I thought we played a very good defensive game,” Barlow said. “Really this whole state tournament run we’ve stressed defense and rebounding as the two things that would get us back down here and hopefully get us over the hump. We played very good half-court defense against a very, very good basketball team. They are a talented team. We knew we had our work cut out for us.” Alter’s outstanding senior class graduates with a record of 92-12, three trips to state and a state championship. “We went 24-3 and there’s no shame in making it here,” Alter co-head coach Kendal Peck said. “I think if our season ended up here every year everyone would be real happy. “I’m looking at the stat sheet here and we shot 32-percent. They shot 50-percent. That’s pretty much the difference.” — Eric Frantz
WAPAKONETA ADVANCES WITH FOURTH QUARTER FLURRY COLUMBUS – In the Division II state semifinal match up between Wapakoneta and Warsaw River View characterized by physical defense, something eventually had to give. And fortunately for Wapakoneta, it was River View that gave way down the stretch as the Redskins advanced to the state title game with a 40-31 win at the 34th Annual State Girls Basketball Tournament at Ohio State’ Jerome Schottenstein Center. Leading River View 23-22 at the start of the fourth quarter, Wapakoneta outscored the Lady Bears 17-9 in the final frame to seal the victory. "I thought River View did a nice job of disrupting
our offense," Wapakoneta head coach Rusty Allen said. "Our timing wasn’t really where it should have been those first three quarters. "We just talked a little bit going into that fourth quarter that we needed to slow down and I think the girls responded pretty well to it and we were able to get some better looks at the basket." Wapakoneta was led by senior point guard Devon Golden with 13 points and eight rebounds. She also sunk 7-of-8 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter. "I think we came out composed but lost our composure for quite a while there in the first half," said Golden, who was a second team All-Ohio selection. "You try to keep your team relaxed and under control. When we struggled there for a while in the first half, I take the blame for not getting us in our sets." Wapakoneta (25-1) was 16-of-21 from the free throw line in the game. Junior forward Heidi Schlegel tallied nine points and 13 rebounds. Wapakoneta jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter but River View battled back and took its first lead midway through the second quarter. The Lady Bears clung to a 4-point lead in the final minute of the first half but Wapakoneta tied the game on two quick field goals – the first two of the quarter for the Redskins – to knot the game 15-15 heading into the break. Frustrations mounted a bit late in the third quarter as Wapakoneta junior guard Erica Bryan was whistled for a technical foul and River View post Kari Daugherty splashed both free throws to take a 22-20 lead. Despite the foul, the Redskins did not let their emotions get the better of them and pulled off the fourth quarter run. "I was real happy with the way our girls played," Allen said. "That was three tough quarters there and we knew it was going to come down to someone starting to make a play. We had some girls that really stepped up in that fourth quarter and helped gets us a victory tonight." River View (23-3) shot a dismal 12-of-43 from the floor, including 0-for-6 from three-point range. "I hate for them to end like this," River View head coach Caroline Daugherty said. "Wapakoneta played a great game but I don’t think it was one of our better games. So, you hate to go out like this but you have to credit the other team for the way that they played. "I thought the shots we got were great shots but we just couldn’t knock them down. Sometimes it seems like there is a lid on the bucket." Division II co-player of the year and Dayton recruit Kari Daugherty paced River View with 19 points but had difficulty in the post. "I think (Wapakoneta) was exactly what we expected," said the younger Daugherty. "We had a good game plan coming in but we just couldn’t put the ball in the hole." Added Golden: "We knew (River View) had a good player in Daugherty and I thought we did a good job limiting her. She is a very good player and you have to give her respect and play the best defense on her you can." Wapakoneta, which was making its first state tournament appearnace, also won its first District and Regional Championships this season. "We’re really happy to be here," Golden said. "This isn’t a fluke. This isn’t a coincidence. We’re here because we deserve to be here and we’ve worked to be here." — Matt Natali
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Girls Basketball State Finals Division I State Semifinals, March 20, Schottenstein Center Toledo Start 61, Lakota West 56
Mount Notre Dame moves closer to history, Start’s magical season goes on Mount Notre Dame 62, Canton McKinley 51
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Cougars defensive pressure forces 25 Bulldog turnovers; Spartans overcome huge effort from West’s Rogers
OLUMBUS – The much anticipated rematch between Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame and West Chester Lakota West in the Division I girls basketball state championship didn’t pan out. Toledo Start made sure of that. Taking its first lead in the fourth quarter, Start capped a furious rally and final eightminute onslaught with a stunning 61-56 win over Lakota West on March 20 in a D-I state semifinal at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. The victory continued a magical run for the Spartans who up until this season had never won a district title. “That was a war,” Start head coach Bob Brown said. “We kept fighting and fighting, even when it looked like we were in trouble. We’re fortunate to come out on top. I’m happy right now, I don’t what else to say.” Start had plenty of heroes, but the main ones were 6-1 senior Yolanda Richardson, 6-2 sophomore Azia Bishop and 5-6 sophomore Maleeka Kynard. Richardson, headed to the University of Toledo, scored 15 points, grabbed five rebounds and dominated inside. She kept the Spartans close in the first half. Bishop was Richardson’s sidekick in the paint. She scored 10 points and hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds. Said Brown: “She was a stud.” Kynard added 19 points and turned in the game’s biggest defensive play, stealing the ball with :01.9 seconds left and Start up three. It was her only steal of the game but came at the most important time. Kynard was fouled and hit the ensuing two free throws for the final margin. She was 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final 29 seconds. “I’ve said from the begining that (Kynard) and (Tay’ler) Mingo from Regina are the best guards in the state,” Brown said. “I know Mt. Notre Dame has some great players too, but she keeps stepping up and stepping up. All these kids keep stepping up.” Lakota West took a 30-24 lead into halftime and
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scored the first five points of the third quarter to take its biggest lead, 35-24. The Firebirds led 4440 entering the fourth. Then the fireworks started. Start took its first lead, 47-46, with six minutes left on two free throws by Bishop. Richardson added two more foul shots on the next possession to give the Spartans a 49-46 cushion. The game was frenetic after that. Lakota West clawed back to within one at 56-55 on two Alexis Rogers free throws with 41 seconds to go, but that’s as close as it got.
“That was a war. We kept fighting and fighting, even when it looked like we were in trouble.” Start head coach Bob Brown The Spartans hit 14-of-16 free throws down the stretch to punch their ticket. “We’ve struggled at the free throw line but in the big games when we’ve needed them we’ve hit them,” Brown said. “I didn’t know we were going to hit them tonight but we did.” Start shot an impressive 61-percent from the floor for the game (19-of-31) and outrebounded the Firebirds 25-20. Everything Start did was needed to fend off Rogers. A Duke recruit, Rogers scored a gamehigh 27 points and had eight rebounds. “The Rogers girl is a beast,” Brown said. “We had no answer for her. We tried to put Yolanda on her and then we tried to beat her up a little bit with Tiffani (Blackman). We tried to force her left and she just went left. We tried to play her straight up, we tried to double her. Obviously she’s star. “We just buckled down at the end.” — Eric Frantz MOUNT NOTRE DAME RIDES DEFENSE TO SIXTH STRAIGHT STATE FINAL COLUMBUS – Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame
continues to rewrite the history books. The Cougars became the first Division I girls basketball team to win three straight state champions last season and MND earned a shot this season for No. 4. MND had three players score in double figures and forced 25 Canton McKinley turnovers to down the Lady Pups 62-51 on March 20 in a D-I semifnal at the 34th Annual State Girls Basketball Tournament at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. "The game pretty much went the way I expected it to go," MND head coach Dante Harlan said. "We knew they were going to try and create easy baskets for ourselves through defense. "The girls stayed together and we tried to grind it out and tried to get as many easy baskets as we could and keep pressure on (McKinley)." Senior forward and recipient of this year’s prestigious Ms. Basketball Award Kendall Hackney led all scorers with 17 points while pulling down eight rebounds. "They were a tough team and they were fast," said the Southern California recruit. "We were doing our best to keep up with them. We have a very fast team as well but we didn’t want to get into a track meet so we tried to do our best to control what was going on on the court." Senior forward Gabby Smith, who will play her college ball at Vanderbilt, added 13 points and five steals. Running the point, Ohio recruit Ashley Fowler netted 10 points and four steals in 31 minutes of play. "The thing with Ashley is if I even try to (substitute her), I am going to get a little bit of an attitude," Harlan laughed. "I trust her with the utmost respect as far as her being my floor leader. "If Ashley isn’t showing signs of fatigue, I’m not going to take her off the court." In addition to the turnover ratio, MND (26-1) held a 22-5 advantage in offensive rebounding. McKinley (22-4) battled early in the game going into the half down 33-25. "At halftime, we talked about the turnovers and the rebounding and we were still in the ballgame only down by eight (points)," McKinley head coach Pam Davis said. "We didn’t feel like we were completely out of the ballgame and we had the capability of coming back. "I thought my kids worked hard, play hard and executed well." The Lady Pups pulled within a point late in the third quarter cutting the MND lead to 39-38 on a pair of Ameryst Alston free throws. But McKinley went 10:20 in the second half without scoring a field goal and made only three free throws in that span. MND took advantage of the drought and pulled away clamping down on defense. "By the fourth quarter, you could see the tide start to turn as far as momentum with our kids and we changed up some of our defensive sets and it seemed to work a little bit," said Harlan. Freshman guard Alston, who was a first team All-Ohio selection, paced McKinley with 16 points and six rebounds. "We came out and it was a challenge," she said. "If we had less turnovers, I think we could have (won) that game." Senior guard Shauntiva Humphries added eight points but also had six turnovers. — Matt Natali
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Girls Basketball State Finals Division IV State Championship
Africentric storms back, beats Berlin Hiland for D-IV state championship Africentric 55, Hiland 46; March 21, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Nubians rally from 16-point third quarter deficit to win second title in three years
OLUMBUS – Berlin Hiland and Columbus Africentric have an extensive postseason history against one another. March 21 they staged another classic. Meeting for the fifth straight time in the postseason and the second straight time in the state championship, Africentric capped a furious comeback from a 16point third quarter deficit to win its second state title 5546 over Hiland in the Division IV state championship at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. Hiland beat Africentric 44-37 in last year’s state championship and also ousted the Nubians from the tournament in 2005 (regional semifinal) and 2006 (regional final). Africentric beat the Hawks in the 2007 regional final en route to its first title. “We knew Berlin Hiland wasn’t going to lie down,” Africentric head coach Will McKinney said. “You have to beat them. They’re not going to give up because we made a run. It was a situation where we had to continue to play. When we match up with Berlin Hiland it’s all about who is going to make the big plays. Last year Jenna Stutzman made a lot of big plays. This year we were fortunate enough to make them. That’s the way it’s always going to be when we face each other. It’s just going to boil down to which team makes more big plays.” Hiland made all the plays in the first half. The Hawks led 26-11 at halftime. Africentric, which entered the state tournament averaging 78.1 points per game, shot just 17-percent from the floor in the first 16 minutes, and coupled with its state semifinal win over Convoy Crestview, generated just 50 points in six quarters of state play. Then the second half started. “I felt like at halftime we had a game that was kind of picture-perfect for us,” Hiland head coach Dave Schlabach said. “We kept them out of the paint, made them shoot perimeter jumpers, we rebounded the basketball, they couldn’t press and we executed some things at our end. It was pretty much just the opposite in the second half.” “As a coach I didn’t want to come in at the half and seem too rattled and overly concerned with the scoreboard,” McKinney said. “I just wanted to convey to them that we had 16 more minutes of basketball left and that if they turned the defensive pressure up things would change for us.” It did.
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Photo by Gary Housteau
Africentric senior Ashar Harris had a doubledouble in the state title game with 14 points and a D-IV finals record 16 rebounds.
After Hiland took its largest lead of the game, 36-20, with 3:55 left in the third quarter, Africentric owned the Hawks. The Nubians closed the quarter with a 15-4 run to draw within 40-35. Hiland scored its final basket with 6:55 left in the game to take a 46-37 lead. The Nubians then closed with an 18-0 run. Defense, including full-court pressure, was Africentric’s catalyst. The Nubians forced 10 second half turnovers and held the Hawks to 25-percent shooting from the floor (6-of-24) en route to outscoring Hiland 44-20 in the 16 minutes. “The third quarter we came out aggressively with man-to-man,” McKinney said. “We knew to be successful we had to give Berlin Hiland some different looks. In the first half we did a lot of 1-3-1 zone and showed diamond but we really weren’t trapping and we fell back into a 1-2-2. In the second half we started trapping with the diamond and showed them some 21-1 stuff and face-guarded them with some man-toman. Just me saying all that you see all the things they had to make adjustments to. And we didn’t just cause turnovers. We got points out of those turnovers.” “In the first half we played with a little more patience and poise,” Schlabach said. “But he changed up (in the second half) and went to more in your face pressure and it really had us on our heels. We’ve seen that type of pressure this year and we’re capable of handling it. On this particular afternoon, though, we didn’t do a very good job of it.” Africentric was led by senior forward Ashar Harris who set a D-IV title game record with 16 rebounds, including 10 offensive. She also scored 14 points. Harris’s contribution led to a decisively one-sided rebounding margin for the Nubians as well. After being outrebounded 20-17 in the first half, Africentric outrebounded the Hawks 27-11 in the second. “We felt Harris was the best rebounder in the state,” Schlabach said. “She was a difficult match-up.” Sophomore Raven Ferguson scored a game-high 17 points for the Nubians, while senior point guard Shadri Morrison-Fountain (Marshall recruit) added 13 points and four boards. Senior Karli Mast (11 points) and junior Mykeila Mast (10 points) paced the Hawks who were attempting to win their fourth title in five years and fifth overall. Surprisingly the D-IV state player of the year – junior Hilary Weaver, who shared the honor with Harris – was held scoreless. She did contribute five assists and three rebounds before fouling out. Hiland faithful shouldn’t fret though. The Hawks lose only one senior from a squad that started four juniors and played four freshmen. “Because we’ve had some success this year, you really forget how many young kids we’re playing and the five seniors we lost (from last year’s team),” Schlabach said. “(Africentric was) extremely motivated to be playing us again, though. They came in with that fire to get one back. They were relentless.” Said Ferguson: “The second half was just about defense. We got steals. We got baskets.” — Eric Frantz
“When we match up with Berlin Hiland it’s all about who is going to make the big plays...This year we were fortunate enough to make them. That’s the way it’s always going to be when we face each other.” Africentric head coach Will McKinney
JJ H u ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
Photo by Gary Housteau
Despite being a six-year old school, Africentric now has two state titles in its trophy case.
Photo by Gary Housteau
Regina has been to the state tournament seven times since 2000 and has won six state titles.
Girls Basketball State Finals Division III State Championship
Regina claims sixth state title, ties record for most championships
Regina 63, Oak Hill 48; March 21, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Royals improve to 12-1 in seven trips to state, only Pickerington can match championship haul
OLUMBUS – Pickerington now has company. With a 63-48 win over Oak Hill in the Division III championship at the 34th Annual Girls State Basketball Tournament on March 21 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center, Regina joins the traditional Central Ohio power as the only girls programs to claim six state basketball titles. The Royals, which have never lost a state championship game, won a record four straight titles from 2000-2003 and another in 2005. They have made seven state tournament appearances with the only loss coming to Versailles last year in the semifinals. Regina is the only team this season to go undefeated in winning a title. "I don’t really look back but there is no question this team had all the elements," Regina head coach Pat Diulus said. "It is very difficult to defeat a team that has the weapons and has the mindset to use those weapons. That is the kind of group we had all year long." Regina kept Oak Hill to its second lowest scoring output of the season holding the Lady Oaks to 37 percent shooting from the field. Regina shot 50 percent from the floor but Oak Hill disrupted the Royals inside game. "I thought Oak Hill did a great job all day," said the 11-year veteran coach Diulus. "Give a lot of credit to Oak Hill. They played an outstanding game and had a good strategy offensively and defensively." With Regina having trouble on offense in the paint, the Royals moved their game to the perimeter. Enter Evansville recruit Amber Boyd. The senior guard set a Division III tournament record for three-pointers going 6-of-8 from beyond the arc and finished the game with 23 points and three rebounds. "I just kept shooting the ball and it didn’t seem like I could miss," said Boyd. "It is a great feeling. I waited all year to have this moment and it was the perfect game to have that moment." Added Diulus: "What was open today was the outside shot and Amber was able to handle that the right way. It was a career performance for her
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h io H i g h
and I am not surprised. She has been a great shooter for us for the last two years." Toledo recruit Riley McCormick netted 12 points in the post and Old Dominion signee Jackie Cook added nine points in the paint. Regina (27-0) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first quarter off the tip. Oak Hill (25-2) pulled within three points midway through the opening frame but that is as close as the Lady Oaks would get in the game. Regina took a 37-21 lead into halftime after a Boyd three-pointer from near half court at the buzzer. "Do you want to talk about how that play was designed right before the half?," Diulus joked to Boyd after the game. Oak Hill needed the break to catch its breath. "We just knew Regina was such an athletic team," Oak Hill head coach Doug Hale said. "We got behind in the first half and at halftime I challenged the kids and the team to try and cut the lead down to under ten." Oak Hill indeed made it interesting in the fourth quarter opening up the final period with an 8-0 run to narrow Regina’s lead to 55-46. "I felt at that time we had things rolling," Hale said. "Our kids were back into the game but we just couldn’t convert." Royals junior guard Tay’ler Mingo sunk 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the win. She finished with eight points. The Lady Oaks were paced by freshman forward Lakin Caudill with 16 points and seven rebounds while junior post Rebecca Puckett added
Did You Know? Regina head coach Pat Diulus has won a record nine basketball state titles, which is the most in Ohio history (boys or girls). He has six at Regina and three at Garfield Heights Trinity.
Photo by Gary Housteau
Sophomore Therany Dunnigan had a huge state tournament, tallying 24 points and 15 rebounds in two games.
15 points and eight rebounds. "Regina is an overall good team and it is not a team we are ashamed to lose to," Puckett said. "But it is still a hard loss to take." For Oak Hill it was the second title game appearance in as many trips to the state tournament. "I am super proud of our kids from Oak Hill," Hale said. "They battled and got back into the game when they could have just rolled over and continued to get blown out. "They really fought hard and I am super-proud of them." — Matt Natali
"I don’t really look back but there is no question this team had all the elements. It is very difficult to defeat a team that has the weapons and has the mindset to use those weapons. That is the kind of group we had all year long." Regina head coach Pay Diulus
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Girls Basketball State Finals Division II State Championship
Hathaway Brown finally gets it done, Blazers win Division II state title Hath. Brown 52, Wapakoneta 46; March 21, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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HB delivers in the clutch, closing game with 19-10 run; Wapakoneta led after each of first three quarters
OLUMBUS – Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown made history March 21, and not the wrong kind. Trying to keep from becoming the first school in state history to lose three straight state championship games, the Blazers came through in the clutch, winning the first state title in program history with a 52-46 victory over Wapakoneta in the Division II state championship at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. The Blazers broke a 44-44 tie with 2:07 to go on a basket by Molly Crosby and then hit 6-of-8 free throws down the stretch, including four by Erica Almady in the final 14 seconds. Wapakoneta had chances late but failed to convert. The Redskins were limited to two free throws in the final 3:32. Wapakoneta led after the first (12-8), second (22-20) and third quarters (34-33), but could not close the deal. HB had no such problem. “Wapakoneta came out and gave us everything we could handle,” HB head coach Paul Barlow said. “They did a great job on the glass and they slowed the tempo down to their pace. We felt very fortunate going into halftime only down two because we felt we didn’t play at the level we needed to play at in a state championship game. We made a few adjustments at halftime and our defense stepped up a little bit in the third and fourth quarters. We hit free throws down the stretch and finally got the job done.” “(Runner-up) is not exactly what we came here tonight to walk away with,” Wapakoneta head coach Rusty Allen said. “I thought we played pretty good basketball, but we probably could have played a little better. We had some opportunities we just didn’t convert.” Early on it looked like the Blazers would be on the other end of history. Wapakoneta – with a vocal and large following clad in red and white – took a 7-0 lead in the first four minutes and remained in front until HB junior Mylan Woods put the Blazers ahead for the first time 24-22 with 6:03 left in the third quarter. HB pushed its advantage to 29-22 before Woods, the D-II Ohio player of the year, picked up her fourth foul and went to the bench with 4:36 left
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Photo by Gary Housteau
Sophomore Alanna Guy played a key role in the state final win by scoring seven of her nine points in the fourth quarter.
in the third. She returned at the 4:26 mark of the fourth quarter with the Blazers ahead 41-40 and fouled out 13 seconds later. The loss looked like a devastating blow, but in fact it allowed other HB players to step up, which they did. “I remember being mad that (Woods) was out,” sophomore Alanna Guy said. “I think it made us all want to win it more (when she fouled out). I was a little scared at first but I knew we could fight through it and win it.” Guy scored seven of her nine points in the fourth quarter to help spark the Blazers. Almady came up big as well. A transfer from Lakota West who played in the D-I state tournament last year, Almady scored a team-high 13 points. Woods finished with nine points, while fellow standout junior Alexis Dobbs had eight points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. “We had kids today that stepped up and played fantastic roles, especially in the fourth quarter when Woods fouled out,” Barlow said. “The experience they got during the year with the schedule we play and the environments we played in certainly helped us today. That Wapakoneta crowd – for my money – is second to none.” The Blazers tested themselves during the regular season with games against Columbus Africentric (D-IV state champion), South Euclid Regina (D-III state champion), Toledo Start (D-I state runner-up) and Canton McKinley (D-I state semifinalist) among others. The Blazers needed every bit of their experience. Wapakoneta, which was representing its community in the school’s first state tournament ever (regardless of sport), continued to swing until the end. Senior Devon Golden led the charge with a game-high 18 points, wile junior post Heidi Schlegel had 17 points and 11 rebounds. The loss ended the most successful season in Redskins history. Wapakoneta won its first district and regional titles en route to state. They fell six points shy of the ultimate goal. “I know these girls wanted to win, but they weren’t trying to win for just themselves, they were trying to win for the whole community,” Allen said. “Growing up there and graduating from there I definitely wanted to bring home a state championship to the community and I know these girls feel the same way.” Said Golden: “We left it all out there.” HB can say the same. “There were a lot of questions about this being our third time down here,” Barlow said. “Are we finally going to get it done? What’s it going to take to get it done? Why haven’t you got it done? We felt that we needed to come down and win. “That feeling when that buzzer went off is going to remain with me for the rest of my life.” — Eric Frantz
“There were a lot of questions about this being our third time down here. Are we finally going to get it done? What’s it going to take to get it done? Why haven’t you got it done? We felt that we needed to come down and win.” Hathaway Brown head coach Paul Barlow
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Hathaway Brown avoided becoming the first school in history to lose three straight state championship games.
Photo by Gary Housteau
Mount Notre Dame tied South Euclid Regina for mot consectuive state championships (four), regardless of division.
Photo by Gary Housteau
Girls Basketball State Finals Division I State Championship
Mount Notre Dame inks itself in the record books, Cougars win fourth straight state title MND 52, Start 38; March 21, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Mount Notre Dame seniors end outstanding careers with record of 101-10; Start wraps most successful season ever
OLUMBUS – The atmosphere was electric for the Division I girls basketball state championship game on March 21 as the Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame faithful came out hoping to witness history. And the Cougars delivered. MND became the first D-I team to win four straight state titles and tied South Euclid Regina out of Division III for the most consecutive championships. The Cougars faced adversity in the title game against Toledo Start but MND relied on its veteran leadership and looked to the bench to notch the 5238 win at the 34th Annual Girls State Basketball Tournament at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. The Cougars jumped out to a 17-5 first quarter lead but were outscored 10-4 by Start in the second quarter and MND took a 21-15 lead into the break. "In close games, too many coaches blame their players for not getting things executed," MND head coach Dante Harlan said. "But as a coach, you try and put your players and team in a position to win the game. You have to be willing to suck it up and take the heat if it doesn’t pan out just like you expect your players to." MND (27-1) had four players score in double digits with senior forward Gabby Smith - a Vanderbilt signee - and sophomore guard Kathryn Reynolds leading the way with 13 points each. Ms. Basketball award winner and Southern California recruit Kendall Hackney tallied 12 points in the paint and pulled down four rebounds. But Hackney got in early foul trouble and was forced to the bench with four fouls with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter. "Last year, I fouled out in the state championship game so it was only tradition," Hackney joked. "After I went out, I was confident in my teammates and trusted my teammates. We have so much talent on this team and they all play to their strengths. We just did a great job. I trusted them completely and I am so proud of them." Seniors Maria Redwine, who netted four points, and Amanda Wilken saw valuable playing time with Hackney on the bench. Junior post Bridgit Williams had four points and four rebounds in the paint in place of Hackney. Wilken was physical in the post fouling out in the
JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
Photo by Gary Housteau
Sophomore Kathryn Reynolds was one of four Cougars in double figures in the title game. She tied for team-high honors with 13.
fourth quarter. "The bench really stepped up tonight and that was exactly what we needed," Hackney said. "I just think it completely turned the game around." MND forced 25 turnovers and committed only 15 as Harlan adjusted his strategy with Hackney on the bench. "We had to go back to doing what we did earlier in the game," he said. "I felt when we got a couple of fouls on Kendall, we got hesitant and started to get passive. We were too busy trying to protect (the lead) instead of trying to attack it and I had to trust the kids of the bench." Hackney reentered the game with 4:27 left and a 41-30 lead. She remained in the game until Harlan subbed out his starters at the 1:19 mark with the game well in hand. They got a standing ovation from the crowd. "I had to trust (Hackney)," Harlan said about his decision to put her back in the game when he did. "She is a senior, she is a leader and she deserved to finish out her career the right way and not sitting on the bench." Senior point guard and Ohio recruit Ashley Fowler added 10 points. "I think every senior came in and gave a lot of effort," Harlan said. "I am proud of every single kid that went in that game." Start (22-4), which won its first district and regional titles this season and made the title game in its first state appearance, was led by first team All-Ohio selection Yolanda Richardson with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Maleeka Kynard added 12 points and eight rebounds. But Richardson and Kynard combined for 12 turnovers. "They are going to be back here again," Harlan said about Start. "I wouldn’t be surprised if they came back the next two years. They have a great, young squad and I thought (Start head coach Bob Brown) with the kids they’ve got and the staff they have are going to be right back here." For MND, the championship marks the fifth in school history tying the Cougars for No. 2 all-time with Delphos St. John's. MND has won all five titles in the last six seasons. Harlan took over as co-head coach for the first of the four consecutine titles when Hackney, Smith, Fowler and the rest of the seniors were freshmen. The MND seniors are 101-10 in four years. “We knew, all of us seniors, that this was our last chance to win another state championship and we were going to leave our hearts on the floor tonight," Hackney said. "I think we did exactly that. I am so proud of my teammates and we played so well." Added Harlan: "I am a little emotional because this was a special group. That was the last game I will ever get to coach them and I am speechless right now and I am blessed to have been able to coach a group of young ladies that special." "I don’t think I am ever going to believe (this championship) happened." — Matt Natali
"I am a little emotional because this was a special group. That was the last game I will ever get to coach them and I am speechless right now and I am blessed to have been able to coach a group of young ladies that special." Mount Notre Dame head coach Dante Harlan
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O h i o H i g h G i r l s B a s k e t b a l l A l l - T o u r n a m e n t Te a m
STORY BY OHIO HIGH STAFF
FIRST TEAM
Devon Golden Wapakoneta H.S. Senior went for 31 points and 14 rebounds in two state games
Kendall Hackney
Yolanda Richardson
Amber Boyd
Mount Notre Dame H.S. Toledo Start H.S. South Euclid Regina H.S. Ms. Basketball winner Junior had double-double Senior guard set D-III title instrumental in Cougars in state final (15 points, 12 game record with 6 3s en fourth straight title rebounds) against MND. route to 23 points.
SECOND TEAM
Ashar Harris Africentric H.S. Senior had 29 points and 15 rebounds in two state games.
Heidi Schlegel
Alexis Dobbs
Alexis Rogers
Ameryst Alston
Ashley Fowler
Wapakoneta H.S. Senior
Hathaway Brown H.S. Junior
Lakota West H.S. Senior
Canton McKinley H.S. Freshman
Mount Notre Dame H.S. Senior
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JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh
STORY BY MATT NATALI
O h i o H i g h G i r l s B a s k e t b a l l P l a y e r / C o a c h o f t h e Ye a r MND senior Kendall Hackney is headed to the University of Southern California, while coach Dante Harlan (inset) has claimed three straight D-I state titles.
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here is a first time for everything. For Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame, the Cougars became the first Division I girls basketball team to win four straight state championships in the 34-year history of the Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournament. MND is now tied with South Euclid Regina of Division III as the only programs to win four straight and its five trophies in the last six seasons ranks the Cougars No. 2 for all-time championships – just one behind Pickerington and Regina. All told, the formula for success the past four years has been utilizing the talent in the Class of 2009, led by forward Kendall Hackney, under the direction of head
coach Dante Harlan. “I don’t think it is going to sink in until right before next season starts,” Harlan said. “I still can’t get over the fact that it has been four years with this group of young ladies. I think I am more caught up on that than us winning the state championship. “My relationship with them is very special and I think I am more caught up on that being the last game I am ever going to be able to coach those young ladies. “That is what hit me more than the championship itself.” Harlan took over as co-head coach for the 2005-06 season under the tutelage of Dr. Scott Rogers when Hackney and her class were freshmen. Coming off the first state title of the four-year run, Harlan took the reigns of the program that following season as Rogers stepped aside. Since then, he has tallied an extraordinary 76-7 record and, of course, three more state titles. “I owe a lot of credit to Dr. Scott Rogers,” Harlan said. “I knew the X’s and O’s of the game and a lot of people don’t understand that it is the little things that he taught me. That is the one thing that has really helped with my growth as a coach.” Rogers imparted particular knowledge on maintaining the concept of team
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Photos by Gary Housteau
J J H U D D L E . C O M 49
O h i o H i g h G i r l s B a s k e t b a l l P l a y e r / C o a c h o f t h e Ye a r
Kendall Hackney
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four state championships because we have an amazing team full of players that are talented. I think that is the most important thing.” Despite MND’s emphasis of the team concept, Hackney set herself apart earning the prestigious Ohio Ms. Basketball award from the Associated Press the week of the state tournament. “I am truly honored to be chosen for (Ms. Basketball). But no one can have that record by themselves,” Hackney said. “That is complete teamwork. Any award I have ever gotten, I can thank my teammates for. They make me better and they are the ones that have helped me achieved what I have achieved and we have all helped each other. ” Hackney, who averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this season and is rated as the No. 11 forward in the country by ESPN and the No. 55 player overall, is also a member of the National Honor Society with a 4.0 GPA. “Kendall is truly special. She comes from a great family and she is just as dynamic off Mount Notre Dame the court as she is on the court,” Harlan said. “That’s what makes all of this special to even be able to coach her. “To watch her grow from being a kid that I wasn’t sure was going to be tough enough mentally to be a part of our program and where she is at now – it has just been fun to watch.” Harlan cites Hackney’s leadership this season as a major component of the success experienced on the floor. “Her maturity over this last season really took flight,” he said. “What Kendall embraced this year was her play was a reflection of her teammates. She realized that everything she did was not for Kendall Hackney but for her team. That is where she matured. “(She), Ashley and Gabby transformed the program to where they put their face on this team. They’ve accomplished something that none of us ever dreamed was going to happen and Kendall has been a huge part of that. Kendall is leaving her mark on this program. Now when they talk about Mount Notre Dame Basketball, they are going to talk about Kendall Hackney, Gabby Smith and Ashley Fowler.” And now those players will move on to college with Hackney heading west to suit up for USC. “I am so excited to play at that level. It is going to be amazing and it is going to be so much fun,” she said. Harlan’s original plan was to make this season his last as MND head coach and leave with this particular group of seniors. But he will return to the Cougars program for at least one more season. “Originally, that was my plan but I think I needed to detach myself from the moment,” he said. “At the time, I looked at it and I wanted to be able to spend time with my (4year-old) son. I just can’t put as much work in the off-season like I usually do. I have to make sure I balance that better. But I still have a passion for coaching and as long as I can continue to give the amount of effort I expect from (the players) on a regular basis, then I am going to coach.” Since the title game last month, Harlan has been coaching 11-year-old girls in an AAU league. And that has further strengthened his decision to return to MND next season. “It made me remember why I coach,” he said. “When you can get a smile on those little kids’ faces because they accomplished something simple – that is what it goes back to – your love for the game and your love for the kids. “If you can help them achieve something, then that is special. That is what is still inside of me and as long as it is I am going to keep coaching.” — OH
Hackney and Harlan share an embrace after the Cougars latest D-I title.
Photo by Gary Housteau
over the individual, expectations and communication. “That is the secret to our success – that we truly believe in ‘team’. One kid is never going to make or break the team,” Harlan said. “The kids have bought into that and they understand that. That is how we always coached and that is how we are going to continue to coach. It’s never going to change.” With the great success MND experienced, came greater challenges. “There is nothing wrong with setting standards high for you kids as far as level of expectations,” said Harlan. “But you have to be willing to hold them accountable every single day. You can’t let them step away from that – not one time. And they have to be held accountable across the board – from your best player to the last player off the bench. “It can’t change and the biggest thing coaches fail at is getting kids to that level of expectation and that each kid is different. You have to take the time to learn what gets each kid motivated and how to reach them.” Mount Notre Dame For Harlan, that learning process is honned through communication. “That has been another huge part of success – that line of communication with our kids,” he said. “We communicate and we do it as a family. We have an understanding that it is not personal on that court. Both sides have to do their best to put this team in a position to go to Columbus and possibly play for a state championship. “Between the lines, it is business. Off the court, we are a family and (the players) have a voice and I am willing to listen to it.” Enter MND’s Class of 2009. Led by Southern California recruit Hackney, the group includes Vanderbilt signee Gabby Smith on the wing and Ohio University recruit Ashley Fowler running the point. Role players include guard Evy Iacono, post Amanda Wilken, guard Maria Redwine and post Kati Driscoll. In the past four seasons, this group posted 101-10 record. “After we won state, it was like a whirlwind,” Hackney said. “The whole tournament really flew by. When we had our pep rally a week after and we were watching highlights of the game it seemed like it happened years ago. But it was a great feeling. “We all knew inside we’d win state, seniors especially. After doing it, it was awesome. It is hard to describe.” The team mentality of the MND (27-1) senior class was never more evident than in the 52-38 state title win over Toledo Start. Hackney tallied 12 points in the paint and pulled down four rebounds but was forced to the bench with four fouls with 6:13 remaining in the third quarter. Redwine, who netted four points, and Wilken saw valuable playing time with Hackney on the bench. Smith had 13 points and Fowler added 10. “Last year, I fouled out in the state championship game so it was only tradition,” Hackney joked. “After I went out, I was confident in my teammates and trusted my teammates. We have so much talent on this team and they all play to their strengths. We just did a great job. I trusted them completely and I am so proud of them.” Hackney reentered the game with 4:27 left and a 41-30 lead. She remained in the game until Harlan subbed out his seniors and starters at the 1:19 mark with the game well in hand. “That was the one point it hit me and we did it,” Hackney said. “Freshman year, I would have never thought any of this would have happen. “We just know we can’t do it without each other, especially in the state tournament, because that is when you have to trust and rely on each other. We won
Dante Harlan
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Boys Basketball State Finals Northland won just the third state title by a Columbus City League school since 1971.
Photo by Gary Housteau
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Boys Basketball State Finals Division IV State Semifinals, March 26, Schottenstein Center Kalida 57, Cleveland Heights Luthern East 46
Schnipke leads Kalida past Lutheran East, Oak Hill defense clamps down on Ada Oak Hill 55, Ada 46
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Wildcats hold East 26 points below its average; Oaks shoot blistering 52.9-percent from the floor in semifinal win
OLUMBUS – Kalida earned an opportunity to ‘win one for the gipper’. The Wildcats cruised past Cleveland Heights Lutheran East 5746 in the Division IV semifinals in the 87th Annual State Boys Basketball Tournament at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center on March 26 and long-time head coach Dick Kortokrax – the OHSAA record holder for coaching wins – earned the right to coach one more game for the Wildcats in the final year of his contract. "We weren’t perfect by any means but we did come out with the greatest respect for Lutheran East," Kortokrax said. "We knew they had a fantastic record and they had a fine record against Division I schools." Kalida (23-4) was paced by senior forward Scott Schnipke with 24 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Senior guard Justin Kahle added ten points. "You’ve got to play both ends of the floor and we take special pride now in playing at the defensive end of the floor," said Kortokrax. "We’re not the tallest team and we’re not always pleased as coaches with our rebounding but we talk about it constantly and how important it is to the game." Kalida out-rebounded Lutheran East 31-23. "We need to take care of the ball and we have done a good job of that," Kortokrax said. "Therefore we are getting the shots, especially the ones we need." The Wildcats had 10 turnovers in the game but shot 50 percent from the floor. Lutheran East (23-3) battled back and forth in the first quarter with Kalida but the Wildcats got some separation in the second quarter taking a 3220 lead into halftime. The Falcons held Kalida to just six points in the third quarter but Lutheran East was unable to capitalize shooting a dismal 38 percent from the floor in the game. "I am extremely proud of my team," Lutheran East head coach Roger McClinton said. "This was a very good basketball team – the best I have had in my six years "But we did not shoot the ball very well. You
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can’t win very many basketball games with that percentage." Senior forward Ladell Trotty had 18 points and eight rebounds for Lutheran East and senior post
"With the defense (Kalida was) playing, we did not penetrate the zone, We did not penetrate that zone in the first half. In the second half we were a little more successful but the shots just didn’t fall for us. Nothing would go in the basket..." East head coach Roger McClinton William Felder had ten points and five rebounds. Lutheran East averaged 72 points per game this season. "With the defense (Kalida was) playing, we did not penetrate the zone," McClinton said. "We did not penetrate that zone in the first half. In the second half we were a little more successful but the shots just didn’t fall for us. Nothing would go in the basket. There was a lid on it." – Matt Natali
OAK HILL BOYS MATCH GIRLS, EARN SHOT AT STATE TITLE It’s like déjà vu all over again. A week after the Oak Hill girls basketball team advanced to the Division III state championship game, the boys team locked up a berth in the Division IV title game knocking off Ada 55-46 on March 26 in the 87th Annual State Boys Basketball Tournament at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. Oak Hill (24-2) shot a blazing 52.9 percent from the field and locked down Ada’s offense to notch the win. "We challenged our kids," Oak Hill head coach Norm Persin said. "Ada is one excellent basketball team. They are very well-prepared and very wellcoached. "We told our kids we have to be the best defen-
sive team on the floor and I think everyone that witnessed the game tonight knows we are an excellent defensive team." Junior guard Kyle Ondera led all stat-getters with 20 points while senior center Cody Cannon added 11 points filling in for J.D. Hale, who got in foul trouble. Hale chipped in eight points and pulled down four rebounds. "I shot it well from the free throw line and I think that was the main thing," Ondera said. "When it is
"On the offensive end, it seemed like we just couldn’t buy a bucket. We’ve been shooting the ball well from (three-point range). I think we took some good shots out there tonight but they didn’t fall for whatever reason." Ada head coach Chris Sautter a close game like this, free throws (are) what win games. When I started to get into the game a little bit I got the confidence to handle the ball well, hit open guys and knock down some free throws." The scored was knotted 9-9 after the first quarter but Ada scored just four points in the second frame as Oak Hill went on a 9-0 run to close out the half taking a 23-13 lead into the break. "I think it all starts on the defensive end and rebounding," Persin said. "We were giving Ada one shot and out and if you give Ada more than one shot, you’re in trouble." Oak Hill out-rebounded Ada 14-9 in the first half but each had 24 for the game. "They went on a run in the second quarter and it seemed like there was a lid on the basket and that was the difference in the game," Ada head coach Chris Sautter. "That second quarter really seemed to be the difference." Ada (22-4) shot 36.4 percent from the field and was just 4-of-18 from three-point range. "On the offensive end, it seemed like we just couldn’t buy a bucket," said Sautter. "We’ve been shooting the ball well from (three-point range). I think we took some good shots out there tonight but they didn’t fall for whatever reason." Ada was led by senior forward Aaron Cross with 19 points but went 3-of-11 from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs pulled within six points in the third quarter and again in the fourth quarter but were unable to get over the hump. “We just couldn’t get going and by the time we did it was too late," Sautter said. "It just seemed like we never had control but (Oak Hill) was always in control with what was going on." Ada’s leading scorer Mitchell Faine had only seven points fouling out early in the fourth quarter. "He has been in foul trouble before," Sautter said. "It is not really something he is prone to and for him to get in foul trouble and not be able to get going offensively, that definitely hurts when one of your leading scorers is on the bench." – Matt Natali
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Boys Basketball State Finals Division III State Semifinals, March 26, Schottenstein Center Cleveland Central Catholic 76, Piketon 52
Cleveland Central Catholic flexes depth, Tinora’s defense shines in fourth quarter Defiance Tinora 43, Dayton Christian 38
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Ironmen open up 20-point halftime lead, cruise to win; Rams hold Dayton Christian under 40 points for first time
OLUMBUS – In order to get to the state tournament Piketon had to overcome a 10-point deficit in the final 2:30 of its regional final game against Grandview Heights. There were no such heroics March 26. Down 10 points after the first quarter and 20 at halftime, Piketon fell to Cleveland Central Catholic 76-52 before a crowd of 11,056 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center in a Division III boys basketball state semifinal. The Ironmen utilized a balanced attack (11 players scored), a stifling rotation (13 players played) and efficiency at both ends of the floor to end the Red Streaks season. Piketon ends at 24-3, while CCC improved to 23-3. “We were very loose today in warm-ups and I saw it in their eyes,” CCC head coach Kevin Noch said. “They had the Eye of the Tiger tonight.” Piketon had one lead in the game – 2-0. After that the Ironmen went on a 10-0 run and never let of the gas. Piketon standout Jordan Brabson picked up his second foul with 1:34 left in first quarter and the Steaks down 13-5. The whistle put Chall Montgomery at the line for two shots. He made both for a 15-5 lead and the Ironmen’s advantage never dipped below double-digits again. CCC used a 10-1 run to open the second quarter and led 34-14 at the break. In the first half the Ironmen shot 50-percent from the floor, turned the ball over just three times and had 13 players log minutes. Ten scored at least a basket and only two had more than three points. Defensively CCC forced 13 Piketon turnovers. Piketon opened the second half on 10-0 run and three times got the deficit to 10 points in the third quarter. That’s as close as it got. “We intentionally didn’t call a timeout (after the 100 run), because I believe that builds character,” Noch said. “Piketon’s crowd was amazing and (Piketon) came out strong, but by not calling a timeout our guys were able to step up and we hit a big bucket. Then we got comfortable and our defense kicked in again.” Said Piketon head coach Jeff Lisath: “We didn’t quit. We got down big in the first half but we came out in the third quarter and played hard. We did do some
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good tings, but we just couldn’t get over the hump.” Piketon was making the first appearance by a Scioto Valley Conference school in the state tournament since Richmond Dale Southeastern and Chillicothe Unioto made back-to-back trips in 199091. The Streaks, who averaged 70 points per game and had two 1,000-point scorers on their team (Brabson and Cody Smith), were held well below their average. They shot 37-percent from the field for the game and turned it over 23 times. Smith led Piketon with 17 points, while Brabson finished with 15. Both exited to standing ovations. Lisath was denied his 200th win (199-117 career record). “I think (Piketon was) uncomfortable shooting their shots (today),” Noch said. “They look like they are very comfortable around the arc but we covered them well and made them shoot it where we wanted them to.” CCC was paced by standout sophomore Anton Grady who had 19 points. Grady, a 6-8 forward, also added game-highs in rebounds (nine) and blocks (four). Montgomery was the only other CCC player to reach double-digits (12 points). As a team the Ironmen shot an ironclad 51-percent from the floor and had an impressive 18 assists on their 27 baskets. Eleven of 13 players scored at least three points and CCC’s bench outscored Piketon’s 32-3. The Ironmen held a 44-30 scoring advantage in the paint. Said Lisath: “We knew going into the game that their depth was going to be an issue for us.” — Eric Frantz DC MUSTERS JUST FIVE POINTS IN FOURTH QUARTER, TINORA STEPS UP Too many second half turnovers and too much Treg Lymanstall spelled disaster for Dayton Christian on March 26. Behind suffocating defensive pressure and the timely shooting of Lymanstall, Defiance Tinora advanced to its first state championship game in history with a 43-38 victory over DC in the Division III state semifinals at the Schottenstein Center. Tinora improved to 23-3. DC finishes 22-5. A crowd of 11,156 watched as the team’s battled back-and-forth throughout. The contest featured three lead changes and nine ties. The largest lead of the
game for DC was six points in the first half. Tinora, thanks to six free throws from Lymanstall in the final 35 seconds, built a seven-point lead that eventually ended at five. DC, which led 20-18 at the half and 33-31 heading into the fourth quarter, managed just three points in the final eight minutes before Jay Allen scored an inconsequential bucket with two seconds left. The outcome was already decided. “We expected it to be pretty hard-fought and even,” DC head coach Chip James said. “All week long people in our community were asking us to compare Tinora to someone we’d played against this year and I said ‘Dayton Christian.’ I think we have a lot of similarities. Both are senior-led, both rely on their defense and value possessions. I think Tinora did just a little bit better job defensively and with plays when it mattered.” “It’s a sign of a championship team when team’s can make plays under pressure and down the stretch,” Tinora head coach Rob Mahnke. “This year and especially through our tournament run we’ve been able to make the plays. We have a very balanced team that’s playing well in the clutch.” It was the first time DC was held to under 40 points all season. Tinora entered the semifinals with the state tournament’s top defense, allowing just 38.4 points per game. They hit that mark and enough shots on offense to advance. Lymanstall made most of the plays. The generously listed 5-9 junior guard scored 12 of his team-high 13 points in the second half, including back-to-back 3s that turned a 27-23 deficit into a 2927 lead midway through the third. To close the game, Lymanstall scored the Rams last eight points, including the clutch free throws. “We’ve been in this situation before so we definitely know how to handle it,” Lymanstall said. “Free throws are definitely big. My teammates knew I was hitting and they got me the ball so I credit them.” The Warriors also struggled late against Tinora’s full-court pressure. DC committed only five turnovers in the first half but had 10 in the second. Tinora had 10 turnovers for the game. “We gave them too many possessions in the fourth quarter,” James said. “Our turnovers down the stretch were very uncharacteristic of our team. We feel like typically that if people want to pressure us we can make them pay and tonight we did the opposite. You look at the stats and you never really know who won the game until you get to the turnovers and that’s five more possessions that they earned.” DC was led by senior Aaron Deister, the school’s second all-time leading scorer, who finished with 15 points. Fellow senior standout Nathan Serenius chipped in eight. The Warriors shot 39.5-percent from the field (15-of-38) and 18-percent from 3s (2-of-11). Tinora shot 34-percent from the floor (14-of-41) and 21-percent from 3s (3-of-14). Jon Gerken joined Lymanstall in double-figures with 11 points. “Neither one of us shot a good percentage,” James said. “It just comes down to who gets the ball more.” Turnovers dictated that was Tinora. The win kept the Rams magical run afloat. Tinora entered this season with one district title in school history (1980) but has added another district crown and regional title to the trophy case. Quite an accomplishment for a team that never appeared in or got a sniff from the AP state poll at any point this season. — Eric Frantz
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Boys Basketball State Finals Division II State Semifinals, March 27, Schottenstein Center Dayton Thurgood Marshall 62, Circleville Logan Elm 53
Marshall stages one of state’s greatest comebacks, SVSM holds off late DeSales charge Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 75, Columbus DeSales 61
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Cougars rally from 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to reach title game; Irish earn sixth berth in state championship
OLUMBUS – One basket. That’s all Logan Elm needed to score in the fourth quarter. Instead Dayton Thurgood Marshall scored six, including an overtime-forcing 3-pointer from Shawn Robinson with five seconds left, as the Cougars capped an improbable comeback in the Division II state semifinals on March 27 with a stunning 62-53 win before 12,415 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. “I’ve got to praise God,” Marshall head coach John Ralph said. “It is because of him that these young men came into my life and that we were able to come back from almost insurmountable odds against one of the best teams in the state of Ohio. We were able to overcome.” Logan Elm led 44-32 with 7:36 left, but managed just six free throws in the fourth quarter. By the time the Braves made their first field goal since the third quarter there was 1:21 left in overtime and Marshall was ahead 56-51. Free throws – six to be exact – in the final 1:19 catapulted Marshall into the state final. Defense – the full court kind – catapulted the Cougars into overtime. “It was not looking good (when we were down 12),” Ralph said. “At the time they were hitting shots, they were getting rebounds and they were making all the big plays and we weren’t. We made some adjustments and it worked out. We were able to get at least a piece of the game we like to play in gear.” “The fourth quarter they turned up the heat,” LE head coach Doug Stiverson said. “They have some guys that can get to the basketball and we had some turnovers that obviously hurt us. I also think a couple loose balls or a rebound here and there and we still get a win today.” After a back and forth first half which ended in a 22-22 deadlock, LE caught fire in the third quarter. Down 27-24, the Braves closed the stanza with an 18-5 run that ended with a Logan Hauserman bucket at the buzzer. It was the last field goal the Braves would score for more than 10 minutes. Two Brandon Amann free throws to start the fourth increased the LE advantage to 44-32. Then momentum changed uniforms. “When they hit the point to put us down 12, my
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head went down,” Marshall junior point guard Juwan Staten said. “But then I had to pick my head up and say to myself that the game isn’t over until there’s a zero on the clock.” Robinson kick-started the Cougars defensive pressure by flipping the switch. His teammates followed suit, ratcheting up the intensity. The result? An 11-0 run that drew Marshall to within 44-43 with 3:29 to go. The Cougars had chances to tie and take the lead as LE continued to struggle offensively, but when Hauserman hit one of two free throws with 32 seconds left it looked like the Braves would hold on. That’s when Robinson responded again. Corralling the long rebound on a missed shot, Robinson drained a 3 with 5.8 seconds left to tie it at 48-48. He stood there for five more seconds with his hand still over his head as he was mobbed by teammates. LE’s Adam Blake missed the potential gamewinner as time expired. Stiverson was asked why LE didn’t foul on Marshall’s last shot. “When they got the ball there was quite a bit of time left on the clock,” Stiverson said. “They did miss a shot and there was a loose rebound that kind of just bounced out to him to make it. (Fouling) is something you think about but he hit it from deep so you have to give him credit.” Said Robinson: “When the ball came to me I knew it had to go in and I had to shoot it.” In the overtime Staten took over. The University of Dayton recruit hit six of six free throws and assisted on two of the Cougars three baskets. Marshall scored the first four points in OT and LE never got the deficit below three again. The heroes were numerous for Marshall. Staten ended with 24 points, eight rebounds, four assists and just two turnovers in 33 minutes. He was 12-of12 from the foul line. Robinson, who played all 36 minutes, had 15 points, six steals, five assists and four rebounds. DeAngelo Gates, just one of two seniors on the Marshall roster, logged 10 points, 15 rebounds and two steals. The Cougars shot 34.5-percent from the floor (20of-58) and were a miserable 5-of-27 from 3-point range (18.5-percent). They hit 17-of-23 free throws. Marshall’s win is even more remarkable when you consider that their second leading scorer – Greg
Gainey (18 ppg) – was limited to one shot in four minutes of action due to a reoccurring leg injury. LE was led by senior Tim Congrove who closed out an outstanding career with 18 points. A 1,000point scorer, Congrove also hit three 3s to raise his career total to 229. Amann, another 1,000-point scorer and senior, had 17 points and nine rebounds. Hauserman ended with 13 points. The Braves hit just 4-of-19 attempts from 3 and were 18-of-48 (37.5-percent) from the floor. They had 15 turnovers, including 10 in the second half. Robinson accounted for five. “I saw fear, so I took advantage of it,” Robinson said. “They started to buckle. I knew if others saw me trying to get steals then they’d follow my lead.” Said Staten: “Once I saw him pick it up, I knew we were going to do good. When he picks it up defensively it makes us all pick it up. If you’ve got one guy out there playing hard it doesn’t look right if the other four aren’t.” The Cougars picked up the stunning victory as a result. — Eric Frantz
IRISH SENIORS COMBINE FOR 48 POINTS IN WIN OVER DESALES Don’t call it the luck of the Irish – Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary is that good. SVSM earned its sixth trip to the state championship game after holding off a late Columbus DeSales run on March 27 in the D-II semifinals. The Irish won 75-61 at Ohio State’s Value City Arena. "We’re on a mission," SVSM head coach Dru Joyce said. "These guys have been focused since way back. We came into the season and you could just see there was something different about the group. I think you saw some great team basketball by our two leaders. And senior leadership is essential when you get this far." Those seniors were guard Michael Hammonds (25 points) and forward Daylen Harrison (23 points and nine rebounds). "They have led the team and my heart goes out to them," Joyce said. "They played great today and did the things you want the seniors to do." SVSM (24-4) shot a blazing 66.7 percent from the floor including 6-of-13 from three-point range. DeSales (22-4) shot 50.9 percent from the field but a dismal 4-of-15 from beyond the arc. "Over the course of the 32 minutes they out performed us in critical areas that you need to play well in in a tournament game," DeSales head coach Blair Albright said. "(SVSM deserves) the credit. They earned this one today." Both teams came out with high energy and moved up and down the court at a high-tempo pace. SVSM held a 17-15 advantage after the first quarter but exploded for a 22-5 run in the second frame taking a 39-20 lead into the break. "The difference was the defense," Joyce said. "I think the defensive pressure got to (DeSales). We knew early on we were going to have to keep guys fresh and keep the subs in and try to wear them down." "We played pretty good today in the first half,” Harrison said. “We came out strong and hard, got some steals, played defense and I don’t think it can't get much better than that.” Said Albright: "I was proud of our guys and how they responded in the second half. I think in the second half we proved we belonged in that game.” — Matt Natali
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Boys Basketball State Finals Division I State Semifinals, March 27, Schottenstein Center Columbus Northland 73, Warren G. Harding 59
Northland powers past Harding, Sibert and Horne lead Vikings in fourth quarter Princeton 55, Toledo St. John’s 41
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Watherspoon and Sullinger combine for 47 points in Northland win; Defense leads Princeton to state final
OLUMBUS – Ohio’s Mr. Basketball center Jared Sullinger - is known for his post game. So when the 6-8 Columbus Northland junior canned a 3-pointer to open the Division I state semifinal with Warren G. Harding on March 27, one could sense this was the Vikings night. And it was. Utilizing depth, size and sturdy doses of Sullinger and fellow junior J.D. Weatherspoon in the paint, Northland surged past Harding 73-59 before a crowd of 13,997 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. “The guys are focused,” Northland head coach Satch Sullinger said. “It’s been their goal all year to win the last game of the season and we’re in that position. These guys play extremely hard, they are very unselfish and it’s all about a ‘W.’” Northland (26-1), ranked No. 16 in the USA Today Super 25 and No. 1 in final AP state poll, never trailed. Weatherspoon, a 6-6 high-flyer, led the Vikings with 25 points, while Sullinger, who is headed to Ohio State, added points 22 and 14 rebounds. The duo went a combined 20-of-24 from the field and grabbed 22 of the Vikings 37 rebounds. As a team, Harding swiped just 18 boards. Overall, Northland scored 56 of its 73 points in the paint. “Coming out to warm up one of our assistants said ‘They’re bigger than we thought,’” Harding head coach Steve Arnold said. “And I said yeah. We looked at it as speed versus power and tonight the power won out. It’s hard to defend 6-9, 260 with 6-4, 200.” Said Jared Sullinger: “From Day One we always want to go inside first – inside out. J.D. also dominated on the inside too. I didn’t do it by myself. Both of us feed off of each other.” The Raiders (23-3) were led by their own superstar, senior DesMar Jackson. A Wyoming recruit, Jackson had a game-high 29 points. He also had five rebounds, five steals and four blocks. “He’s good man. He’s really good,” Satch Sullinger said. “He’s a great ballplayer. He’s first team all-state and there’s a reason why – he’s
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good.” Following Sullinger’s 3-pointer to start the party, the Vikings outscored Harding 19-9 for a 22-9 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, Northland built a 38-19 advantage before the Raiders rallied to make it 40-27 at half. In the third quarter Harding cut the deficit to
“Coming out to warm up one of our assistants said ‘They’re bigger than we thought. And I said yeah. We looked at it as speed versus power and tonight the power won out.” Harding head coach Steve Arnold eight points three times but couldn’t draw any closer. The Raiders, who were making the second state appearance in school history and first since 1966, were held well below their tournament-best 74 points per game average. Harding shot 45-percent from the floor (24-of-53) and committed 17 turnovers. Fred Williams added 11 points, while Angel Gonzalez chipped in nine. “Our gameplan was to make it a baseline to baseline game for four quarters,” Arnold said. “We were going to try to wear them down. We just couldn’t get that key bucket. We didn’t have that extra step. We couldn’t get the turnover and convert. We needed to convert in the open court because it’s hard to score against a big team like that in the paint. We thought we had the perfect gameplan.” Only five players scored for Northland, including Trey Burke (eight), Dimonde Hyde (nine) and Ricky Bennett (nine). The Vikings blistered the nets, shooting 64-percent from the floor (32-of-50). The negatives for Northland were 24 turnovers and horrid free throw shooting. The Vikings were just 2-of-8 from the foul line in the first half and went 7-of-18 for the game.
It didn’t matter. When asked if this was the best that Northland had played since the tournament started, Satch Sullinger responded: “Yes. I think the engine is starting to purr.” — Eric Frantz
PRINCETON USES HUGE FOURTH QUARTER TO TURN TIDE For the Princeton Vikings, their ship has finally come in. Clinging to a 34-32 lead heading into the fourth quarter of the Division I state semifinal game at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center, Princeton poured in 21 points in the final frame to down Toledo St. John’s Jesuit 55-41 in front of 12,154 fans on March 27.. Junior guard Jordan Sibert netted eight points and senior forward Marquis Horne added six in the fourth quarter to lead the Vikings to the win. Sibert, an Ohio State recruit, had 15 points, four rebounds and six steals in the game. Horne, an Ohio University recruit, finished with 18 points, six rebounds and four blocks. "We felt confident as soon as we came out at half time," Sibert said. "We knew at some point in time we were going to have to make a run and as we got out there and continued to make a run, we felt good about it and we continued to play from there." Said Princeton head coach Josh Andrews, "(Sibert and Horne) show what we have been about all year. You are not guaranteed to makes shots and things don’t always go your way but these guys have great poise and character. We have won four or five games because of these two guys." Senior guard and Miami (Ohio) signee Orlando Williams chipped in 10 points and five rebounds for Princeton. Defense was big on the night for the Vikings forcing 24 turnovers. "We just had way too many turnovers," said St. John’s head coach Ed Heintschel. "Some of them were forced and some we just dribbled into bad situations. They were able to get a large number of steals which resulted in easy baskets for them. "They are a very good team and I am very impressed by them." Princeton (25-1) also out-rebounded St. John’s 34-25. "Rebounding was another concern," Heintschel said. St. John’s (20-6) held a 32-29 lead late in third quarter but Princeton went on a 13-0 run paced by Sibert and Horne. "We’ve done that all year where we go in spurts," said Andrews. "We wish we could do that for all 32 minutes. Just grinding the game out and being tough, we like to think that how athletic and conditioned we are will wear on a team." St. John’s was led by guard Michael Taylor with 18 points and five rebounds. Forward Tim Simmons had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. But the seniors combined for eight turnovers. "I just think we had too many turnovers and it helped their confidence," Taylor said. "I think we broke down a little bit after (that run) and it hurt us. We couldn’t pick it back up after that." — Matt Natali
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Boys Basketball State Finals Division IV State Championship
Borden’s heroics help Oaks win school’s first state title; Senior drills two huge 3s
Oak Hill 48, Kalida 43 (2 OT); March 28, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Longtime coach Persin finally nets elusive state title; Kalida coaching legend Kortokrax may have coached last game OLUMBUS – The Oak Hill boys basketball team’s motto this season was ‘We Believe!’ And you better believe the Oaks lifted the Division IV state championship trophy for the first time in school history on March 28. But the championship didn’t come
easy. The Oaks had to get past Kalida 48-43 in double overtime at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center in front of 13,582 fans before being crowned state champions. "I am on cloud nine," Oak Hill head coach Norm Persin said. "Getting here was the big thing but I told our kids the whole time to act cordial and play exciting. That is how we have done it all week. They were focused the whole time. "I think we were a little antsy this morning and were a little nervous but the way they played they just hung right in there. "I just feel so great for our players. They battled (today)." Kalida led 33-30 late in the fourth quarter. Coming out of a timeout, Oak Hill set a screen freeing up forward Ryan Borden for a three-point bucket from the corner to tie the game and send it into overtime. "Ryan is the type of kid that when he gets into a rhythm he can make shots," Persin said. In overtime, Kalida clung to a 38-35 lead but with 30 seconds left Oak Hill ran the same play to Borden and he sunk an off-balanced shot from beyond the arc sending the game into double overtime. "I didn’t have a very good look," said Borden. "When I caught the ball, I got bumped a little and that made my feet get out from under me. I kind of shot it falling down but I got the shot off in the end." Oak Hill and Kalida were knotted midway through the second overtime but a costly Wildcats turnover with Oak Hill up 43-40 forced by the Oak's defense down the stretch sealed up the state championship. "We switched defenses on (Kalida) and they didn’t exactly know what we were doing in there," Persin said of the turnover. "To win this thing, you need a break and that was our break. You need a play like that to win a state championship. We didn’t catch a break early but we got the one that we
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needed." Borden and sophomore guard Westen Hale each netted 13 points pacing the Oaks (25-2) on the offensive end. Center J.D. Hale added eight before fouling out in the second overtime. Borden was 3-of-7 from three-point range as Oak Hill shot 46.7 percent from beyond the arc. "Oak Hill won this game because of the very fine three-point shooting that they had. That was the difference in the game," Kalida head coach Dick Kortokrax said. Oak Hill’s second leading scorer Kyle Ondera was held to just six points but had 10 rebounds in the winning effort. Junior center Jordan Bassinger led Kalida (23-5) with 19 points and five rebounds. Senior Scott Schnipke had nine points and seven rebounds. "I was very proud to be a part of the basketball game that was just witnessed," Kortokrax said. "Naturally, it would have been a lot better for us if we could have won the game because it was such a tremendous game. When you lose those kinds of games, it hurts even more than if you lose in regulation." For Kortokrax, who is Ohio’s all-time leader in coaching wins, the title game loss marks the end of his 34-year tenure at Kalida. He is in the final year
Did You Know? Head coaches Norm Persin (Oak Hill) and Dick Kortokrax (Kalida) have combined for 1,263 wins. Kortokrax, Ohio’s all-time leader in coaching wins, has 788, while Persin has 575.
Photo by Gary Housteau
Senior Ryan Borden drained this 3-pointer at the end of regulation and another at the end of the first OT. Both forced extra minutes.
of his contract with the school and the board has not renewed it yet. "It could very well be my last game coaching in high school. I am just absolutely proud of the fact that if it has to be my last game – what a place to lose," he said. "I have been blessed to have a long career. "Because of the success I enjoyed this year, if they don’t want to hire me back at Kalida, I am going to hang it up. If you are going to lose, right here is where you are going to do it." Between Person and Kortokrax, the title game match up featured 1,263 coaching wins. Kortokrax has 788 and Persin has 575, respectively. For Persin, it was his first trip to the state tournament after 13 career regional tournament appearances. And he can hardly believe it. "We’re the number one team in the state of Ohio in (Division IV) and it is just a tremendous feeling," he said. — Matt Natali
"I am on cloud nine. Getting here was the big thing...I think we were a little antsy this morning and were a little nervous but the way they played they just hung right in there. I just feel so great for our players. They battled (today)." Oak Hill head coach Norm Persin
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Oak Hill overcame late Kalida leads in regulation and the first OT to capture its first state title.
Photo by Gary Housteau
These early birds got the worm. Cleveland Cental Catholic, which practiced at 5:30 a.m. all season, won its first state title on March 28.
Photo by Gary Housteau
Boys Basketball State Finals Division III State Championship
Cleveland Central Catholic claims first state title, outlasts Tinora in defensive tilt CCC 45, Tinora 38; March 28, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Rams held scoreless in first quarter, manage D-III record low for points in a state championship
OLUMBUS – Something took place during the Division III state championship game that had not happened since 1931. Two other things materialized that had never happened before. Defiance Tinora’s scoreless first quarter was the first time in 78 years that a team had not scored a single point in a quarter of a state championship game. Cleveland Central Catholic’s 45-38 win over the Rams marked the first state title in program history. Tinora’s 38 points was a D-III finals record low. This game was not a thing of beauty. It was memorable though. On March 28, a crowd of 12,041 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center witnessed the Ironmen (24-3) run out to an 11-0 lead after one quarter and then rally to head home with the hardware. That’s right, Tinora (23-4) came back to take the lead – twice. “I’ve never been more proud of 13 guys in my life,” CCC head coach Kevin Noch said. “It’s a humbling experience and these boys have endured a lot. It’s a tough situation down there at Central Catholic. Fleet Avenue is a tough area and these are tough kids.” Tinora, which had overcome hefty deficits in each of its previous three games, dug itself a sizeable hole after the tip. The Rams went 0-of-9 from the field, were outrebounded 10-6 and committed six turnovers in the first eight minutes. “I don’t think we could have played a worst first quarter,” Tinora head coach Rob Mahnke said. “Unfortunately we shot the ball extremely poorly tonight. Give the credit to CCC. We’ve had better shooting nights.” In the second quarter, the teams traded uniforms. Tinora (23-4) opened the stanza with a 14-1 run and took its first lead (14-12) at the 3:28 mark thanks to a bucket by Taylor Wiemken. CCC (23-3) rallied for a 17-14 halftime lead. Tinora’s Gregg Gerken hit four straight free throws to open the third quarter and the Rams took their second and last lead 18-17. CCC responded with a 6-0 run. The Ironmen led 31-27 after three quarters and used a 9-1 run to open the fourth to separate
JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
Photo by Gary Housteau
Cleveland Central Catholic junior Chall Montgomery led the Ironmen with 16 points and six rebounds.
themselves. Tinora cut the lead to five points (43-38) with 15 seconds to go but it was too little too late. Tinora’s scoreless first quarter was the first since Lancaster St. Mary’s failed to score in the fourth quarter of the 1931 Class B final. It was the fourth scoreless first quarter in state finals history and the first since Rome High School failed to do so in the 1930 Class B final. As a team the Rams shot a miserable 13.6-percent from 3-point range (3-of-22) and were just 14of-52 from the floor overall (26.9-percent). Tinora committed 17 turnovers. “They put a lot of pressure on the ball handler and made it hard to bring the ball up the court,” Mahnke said. “They were denying our wings and making it hard for us to get into the sets we wanted to run. With the big guy in the middle (sophomore Anton Grady) we’d get in there and then struggle to finish because of his presence. The pressure they brought made it tough for us.” The Rams starters scored just eight points combined. Gerken, coming off the bench, led Tinora with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while sub Jon Garmyn added eight points. Tinora’s bench outscored CCC’s 30-3. “We figured they liked to keep the score low and that they can shoot the ball,” Noch said. “I think because they are so patient on offense I thought that our quickness and a few of our blocks really made them adjust. It was obvious, they didn’t shoot the ball with a lot of confidence and I thought it was because our pressure was excellent.” CCC was led by junior Chall Montgomery who had 16 points and six boards. Derrick Buford and Brandon Campbell each scored 10 points and had four rebounds. Campbell dished out seven assists. Grady, a 6-8 sophomore who had a big outing in Friday’s semifinal win over Piketon, was limited to six points on 3-of-11 shooting. He also had three rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals. Despite his lack of offense, Grady’s length was instrumental at the defensive end. “We rely on defense and if it’s close we think that our defense is going to push us over the top,” Grady said. “It was a little frustrating that with five minutes left it was still close. We’ve had eight games this year though that have been decided by three points or less so we know how to get it done down the stretch. And we got it done today. We won it all.” Said Noch: “In the summer I saw a potential for us to make a run this year. You never predict to win it all but it’s always been a goal to hang a banner at Central Catholic. We didn’t get the NCL this year but we got the biggest one of all. It was a goal – but it was the furthest goal. And we hit it.” — Eric Frantz
“They were denying our wings and making it hard for us to get into the sets we wanted to run. With the big guy in the middle we’d get in there and then struggle to finish because of his presence. The pressure they brought made it tough for us.” Tinora head coach Rob Mahnke
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Boys Basketball State Finals Division II State Championship
SVSM wins fifth state title in front of its most famous alum NBA star LeBron James SVSM 59, Marshall 53; March 28, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Irish rallly to top Marhsall and standout Staten; Cougars junior scores game-high 28 points in loss
OLUMBUS – Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s most notable alum – NBA superstar LeBron James – was on hand March 28 to watch his alma mater in the Division II basketball state championship game. And the Fighting Irish didn’t disappoint. In a back-and-forth match up with Dayton Thurgood Marshall in front of 11,160 fans at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center, SVSM edged the Cougars 59-53 for its fifth state championship in school history. The Irish have made the state Final Four nine times. SVSM (23-4) trailed 29-23 at the half but amped up its defense outscoring Marshall 35-24 in the second half forcing 16 turnovers in the game, including seven steals. "When the game got on the line, we challenged our guys at halftime to play St. V basketball," SVSM head coach Dru Joyce said. Like in the state semifinal win over Columbus DeSales, senior forward Daylen Harrison and senior guard Michael Hammonds led the way for the Irish. Harrison paced SVSM with 21 points and four rebounds and Hammonds added 11 points and three steals. "You can’t win without senior leadership and that is what these guys provided," said Joyce. Trailing 47-45 midway through the fourth quarter, Hammonds scored four straight points, including one bucket created by a forced Harrison turnover, to give the Irish a 49-47 lead late in the game. "Basketball is a game of runs and (that run) helped us get the momentum back, which I think helped us pull it off," Hammonds said. "We stepped up and played with some heart in the second half and that is what won us the game." In the final 2:21, SVSM outscored Marshall 11-1 hitting 5-of-7 free throws. Sophomore forward Jakarr Sampson contributed 11 points and nine rebounds. Marshall junior point guard Juwan Staten, who has verballed to Dayton, led all stat-getters with 28 points. "The whole game all I thought was (winning a) state championships," said Staten.
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Photo by Gary Housteau
LeBron James consoles Thurgood Marshall junior Juwan Staten after the Cougars fell to James’ alma mater St. Vincent-St. Mary.
"It is something that my dad says a lot – that great players step up in big games so I just kept telling myself that." But 20 of his points came in the first half, including 4-of-4 from three-point range. SVSM focused in on him in the second half and disrupted his rhythm holding him to just eight points. "I knew that would be their goal," Staten said. "Any time you score 20 points in the first half that has to be the goal of the other team. They did a great job. They wore me down but I knew I couldn’t back away from it." Said Joyce, "(Juwan) is a great player. He was hot but he was going to cool off. Those jump shots he made in the first half – he isn’t going to make those in the second half if we wear him down and we pressure him." Staten struggled from the free throw line finishing 2-of-6 from the charity stripe including a dismal 1-of-4 in the last two minutes of the game both with a 52-49 lead and trailing 54-52. After the game, Staten’s right hand was iced up from an apparent sprained thumb ligament but he said that wasn’t what affected his free throws. "The only thing affected the free throws at the end was me," he said Marshall (22-5) also got 15 points from DeAngelo Gates. The Cougars were without second leading scorer Greg Gainey for the game, who was nursing two sprained ankles. "On each day (of the state tournament) he came out and tried to see if he was physically able to go and he just wasn’t," Marshall head coach John Ralph said. Marshall won a state title in 1990 as Dayton Colonel White High School. The school moved buildings 14 months ago and was renamed Thurgood Marshall and was in the state tournament for the first time as the Cougars. "I think that my kids played hard and they played well," Ralph said. "The other team got the trophy but I feel my athletes and my team are champions. "The character, the heart and the willingness to work together for a common goal - it doesn’t get any better than that. I am very proud of them." For SVSM, the title is the first title since James’ senior year in 2003. The Irish made the Final Four in 2006 but lost to eventual state champion Dayton Dunbar in the semifinals. Prior to the 2003 title, SVSM won championships in 1984, 2000 and 2001 and is now tied for second place with Columbus East for most state titles. "This is about a tradition that has grown and it is bigger than all of us," Joyce said. "We’ve got guys here that understand that we’ve built something here and we are going to keep building it." — Matt Natali
"This is about a tradition that has grown and it is bigger than all of us. We’ve got guys here that understand that we’ve built something here and we are going to keep building it." SVSM head coach Dru Joyce
JJ H u dd le’s O h io High
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary won its first state title since LeBron James led the irish to the 2003 state championship.
Photo by Gary Housteau
Northland completed a clean sweep, winning both the AP state poll title and Division I state championship.
Photo by Gary Housteau
Boys Basketball State Finals Division I State Championship
Sullinger’s late free throws lift Northland to state title, Princeton rally falls short Northland 60, Princeton 58; March 21, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Mr. Basketball drains two foul shots with 2.7 seconds left to give Vikings their first state championship OLUMBUS – No matter how the Division I boys basketball state final finished the ending was going to be storybook. Turns out it’s Northland that gets to live happily ever after. A year after watching his team lose with him on the bench, Northland star and 2009 Ohio Mr. Basketball Jared Sullinger delivered in the clutch, draining two free throws with 2.7 seconds left to lift the Vikings past Princeton 60-58 in a clash of Ohio goliaths and nationally-ranked teams before 12,104 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center on March 28. Northland, the No. 16 team in the USA Today Super 25 and No. 1 team in the state poll, finishes the season 27-1, while Princeton, ranked No. 15 by USA Today and No. 2 in the state, wraps its season at 25-2. Neither team disappointed in primetime “Our goal from Day One was to win the last game of the season and we did it,” exhausted Northland head coach Satch Sullinger said. “It feels good but I know it’s going to feel better once I calm down and get home and it really hits me. When we get back to school and to the community it’s going to be awesome.” “For whatever reason it just wasn’t meant to be,” Princeton head coach Josh Andrews said. “Our guys fought for 32 minutes like champions. I hate to see the game settled like that, but we coach champions at Princeton and these guys are fighters. It was an honor to be here in this atmosphere.” Princeton led once at 1-0, but a free throw by Orlando Williams with 14 seconds left knotted the score 58-58. Northland got the ball across the timeline and set up the decisive play. It went to Sullinger. “I knew at the end of the game I was going to get the ball,” Sullinger said. “I went over there and said ‘Fellas give me the ball. I’ll get it done for us.’” Off the inbounds at halfcourt Sullinger took the ball down the lane and was fouled on an off-balanced 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left. He hit the first two free throws and Princeton’s Hail Mary after the ensuing miss came up short. Mayhem ensued. “We expected it would go to Sullinger,” Andrews said. “I didn’t think he’d be shooting a wild 3 and get a foul called, but sometimes that’s the way it goes.”
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h io H i g h
Photo by Gary Housteau
A pair of Ohio State commits went against each other in Princeton’s Jordan Sibert (back) and Northland’s Jared Sullinger (front). “He said he wanted the ball and I gave him the ball,” Satch Sullinger said. “I mean at that point, the mismatch with him being a big and whether or not he could shoot off the dribble or make a decision with the pass? I mean why not him? “At the end of the end of the game you put the ball in the hands of your best player whether it’s your son or not.”
The win was sweet for Northland, and especially its star. In leading the Vikings to just the second title by a Columbus City League school since Walnut Ridge in 1971 (Brookhaven won the D-I title in 2002), Sullinger, a 6-foot-9, 255-pound specimen, lifted an immense weight off his shoulders. Strongly regarded as the No. 1 high school player in the country for the Class of 2010, Sullinger was sat out of last year’s district semifinals against Westerville South due to a self-imposed sentence for sloppy schoolwork by his father. The Vikings, ranked No. 2 in the state, were upset and sent home. The burden has at times been nearly unbearable. “I told the seniors tonight that we are going to win this game no matter what,” Sullinger said. “I said I don’t care how we have to do it or how ugly it is, we’re going to win. “(Redemption) takes a whole lot of pressure off my back. I know I’m not a bust.” Sullinger, who is headed to Ohio State, ended with 15 points and game-highs in rebounds (12) and blocks (three). Northland junior J.D. Weatherspoon scored a team-high 18 points to go with seven boards and several crowd-pleasing dunks. Freshman phenom Jordan Potts played a huge role, scoring nine points and grabbing six boards when called into duty early with Weatherspoon sidelined by foul trouble. Sophomore point guard Trey Burke went 3-for-4 from the free throw line late and scored eight points to go along with a team-high four assists. Princeton’s effort was just as impressive. Playing all season long for former head coach Bill Brewer who passed away due to a heart attack one week before the start of the 2007-08 season, Princeton almost authored its own amazing ending. With chants of “Brewer” and “It’s for Brewer” rattling the arena from the Princeton student section, Princeton overcame a 10-point fourth quarter deficit after a chippy third quarter which saw them whistled for nine fouls to Northland’s three. Andrews, just 26 years old, was given a technical with 25 seconds to go in the period for defending his players. Andrews pointed to the scoreboard and yelled at the referee “that’s wrong sir!” One of Northland’s two fouls came with five seconds left in the stanza. The Vikings led 40-30 heading into the fourth quarter. Down 57-51 with 49 seconds left, Princeton staged a furious rally. Following two free throws from junior Jordan Sibert, Princeton forced a five second call on the ensuing inbounds and got the ball back. Williams proceeded to hit a 3-pointer three seconds later. After a Burke free throw, Williams was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit two of three free throws. Sullinger’s dramatics ensued. Sibert, another Ohio State recruit, scored a game-high 21 points for Princeton, while Williams, who is headed to Miami (Oh.), added 19 points and 10 rebounds. Defensively Princeton forced 14 Northland turnovers and scored 18 points off of them. They just needed one more. “These guys have kept their poise all year,” Andrews said. “We’ve been behind in a handful of games but they’ve shown great character and maturity to get to this level. “If that game lasts 30 more seconds I think we win it.” — Eric Frantz
J J H U D D L E . C O M 67
O h i o H i g h B o y s B a s k e t b a l l A l l - T o u r n a m e n t Te a m
STORY BY OHIO HIGH STAFF
FIRST TEAM
Jordan Sibert
J.D. Weatherspoon
Jared Sullinger
Juwan Staten
Princeton H.S., Jr. Northland H.S., Jr. Northland H.S., Jr. Dayton Marshall H.S., Jr. Ohio State recruit scored a Weatherspoon scored a Hit a 3-pointer to open Carried Cougars to brink of game-high 21 points in D-I combined 47 points in two tourney run and two free title with games of 28 and state final state games throws to end it 24 points
SECOND TEAM
Daylen Harrison Akron SVSM H.S., Sr. Had 44 points and 13 rebounds in two state games
DeAngelo Gates
Orlando Williams
Anton Grady
Kyle Ondera
Desmar Jackson
Dayton Marshall H.S. Senior
Princeton H.S. Senior
Cle. Central Catholic H.S. Sophomore
Oak Hill H.S. Senior
Warren Harding H.S. Senior
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JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh
STORY BY JEFF RAPP
O h i o H i g h B o y s B a s k e t b a l l P l a y e r o f t h e Ye a r
Sullinger is headed to Ohio State.
Photo By gary Housteau
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J J H U D D L E . C O M 69
O h i o H i g h B o y s B a s k e t b a l l C o a c h o f t h e Ye a r
I
t’s not surprising that Jared Sullinger is finding success at the game of roundball. After all, his father, Satch Sullinger, was a pretty good basketball player in his day and also is Jared’s coach at Columbus Northland. Jared’s oldest brother is J.J. Sullinger, a highly athletic 6-5 swingman who helped Ohio State win the Big Ten championship in 2006 and is currently playing professionally. His other brother is Julian Sullinger, a 6-6 forward who just finished up a notable playing career at Kent State, a stint that included a MAC title. Thanks in part to that impressive pedigree, Jared is now a 6-8, 235-pound junior post player, and, according to some services, the best recruit nationally in the 2010 class. He also has more than proved his worth as a tireless competitor, winner and unstoppable force down low, which is why he is this year’s recipient of Ohio High’s state boys basketball Player of the Year honors.
Michigan State signee Garrick Sherman of Kenton, a 6-10 center, had a fantastic senior year and other veteran players also excelled this season, including 6-3 Cincinnati Princeton guard Orlando Williams and Garfield Heights 6-foot scoring machine Carl Jones. So did several other talented underclassmen such as Dayton Thurgood Marshall point guard Juwan Staten, a 5-11 flash who is committed to the University of Dayton, and fellow Northland star J.D. Weatherspoon, a 6-6 skywalker who is promised to Xavier University. However, none of them went into the year carrying as much fanfare and onus, and none of them were so completely instrumental in so many victories. Northland was a marked team from the start even after losing talented point guard Devon Moore. The front line showcased Sullinger, Weatherspoon and senior power forward Javon Cornley while Dimond Hale was emerging as a talent at wing and sophonmore Trey Burke settled into the point guard spot – that is when freshman Jordan Potts wasn’t helping him out with those duties, moving the smooth Burke off the ball. Even after losing a regular-season game at Canton Timken, Northland still went into the stretch run of the 2008-09 season as the top-ranked team in Division I and Sullinger was making headlines with his outstanding play on both ends of the court despite drawing double and triple teams and having to live up to the considerable preseason hype as an Ohio State commitment and a nationally elite prospect. “My brothers, they help me identify pressure,” he said during the Vikings’ postseason. “It’s a blessing to have everybody watching you and watching over you, but at the same time it is a lot of pressure because as soon as you make one mistake it’s like a first impression. Other people get more leeway and I’ve got to be a player every game. At times I get so frustrated in my room I just sit there and listen to music. But overall I’m handling it pretty well.” He handled it well enough to average 19.9 points, 14.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting a hearty 67.8 percent from the field. The Vikings (27-1) missed out on an undefeated regular season but cruised to another City League title, got through the districts, took down Grove City and Dublin Scioto in the gritty regionals and then captured the school’s first-ever boys basketball state championship by subduing Warren Harding in the semis and the state’s No. 2-ranked D-I team, Cincinnati Princeton, in a gut-wrenching title game on March 28. Earlier that week, Sullinger was named the player of the year in Division I and then was honored as Ohio’s “Mr. Basketball” by The Associated Press. The award itself is prestigious but carries even
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Jared Sullinger Northland
more meaning considering only four juniors had ever claimed it: Jimmy Jackson, Greg Simpson, LeBron James and O.J. Mayo. The last two winners of the award are Jon Diebler of Upper Sandusky and William Buford of Toledo Libbey, who are both currently in
the Ohio State program. According to the AP, others considered for the award this year included Sherman, Jones, Williams, C.J. McCollum of Canton GlenOak, St. Paris Graham’s Josh Schuler, Tyler Tucci of Malvern and Aaron Craft of Findlay Liberty-Benton. Another in-state player who is already committed to OSU, 6-4 junior guard Jordan Sibert of Cincinnati Princeton, apparently got caught up in a numbers game and was not a finalist. Still, he provided yet another obstacle both for Sullinger’s plaudits and championship aspirations.
Greatness Becomes Him
When Sullinger began to play for his father in high school, his talent, consistency and fortitude soon became evident to the point where college coaches and recruiting analysts began to take notice. Already about 6-6 and skilled, Jared was an easy prospect to follow when he splashed onto the prep scene. He helped Northland to a 24-1 mark as a freshman power forward but came off the bench as an asset on a deep team. He suffered a broken bone in his foot soon after the season but healed quickly and made an impression at the AAU level, leading his team to the 15-and-under championship at the end of the summer. After a productive first year of high school and his decision to accept a scholarship offer from Ohio State head coach Thad Matta, Sullinger found himself among the elite recruits in his class. Blessed with nimble moves, soft hands and an innate ability to time his jump and snare rebounds, he put together a fantastic sophomore season, averaging 20.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Northland once again posted an undefeated regular season and claimed the City League championship only to lose early in the postseason, this time to Westerville South. Not coincidentally, Sullinger did not play in that game. His father sat him out after learning that his youngest son had
fallen behind on a class assignment. It was a painful double whammy for young Jared – the loss and the personal responsibility that went with it. “Lesson learned,” he said last year. “It’s obvious the lesson is learned. What he did really changed my whole perspective of life. He told me, he said, ‘I’m doing this for you. I’m not doing this for the team. I’m not going to put my team around junk so we can just win the state championship.’ “When he said that, at first it killed me. I thought it was supposed to be about basketball. But I see what he meant. Every time I go to school now I have a different perspective about school. I laid low, I was down, but I got back up – and now I’m going to kick it up.” Even with the unfortunate ending to his sophomore season, Sullinger had become a legitimate force. He was named first-team all-Central district and third team all-state, the only sophomore to make any of the first three teams in Division I. “That’s nice, but for me it’s all about the wins,” he said. He proved his words were not bluster as he put together a dominant summer with the All-Ohio Red AAU squad even though his college path was already secured. In fact, with Sullinger up to 6-7 and 245 pounds and the focal point of that program, the 16-and-under team lost just once all spring and summer and laid waste to everyone in its path at prestigious events such as the King James Shooting Stars Classic in Akron, Ohio, the It Takes 5ive Classic in Cincinnati and the AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla. Many believe All-Ohio Red was the best team on any prep level with Sullinger on top of his game and along the same front line with 6-9 shot blocker Adreian Payne of Dayton Jefferson and Weatherspoon. The backcourt was loaded as well with Staten, Craft and Sibert, Jared’s close friend and future college teammate. Even with multitudes of talent around him on his AAU and high school teams, Sullinger is a clear standout. His success rate is no accident – and neither was Northland’s loss without him last year. He understands what needs to be done on the floor in certain situations and he rarely gets out of control or tries too hard to make a play. He is effective on the block and while driving from the wing, and he’s also a heady passer both in the half court and when firing an outlet to start a fast break. “Some kids are tremendous players but they’re one-dimensional,” said his father. “They’re going to score it on the block or they’re going to use a pick to get to the cup. Jared can score multifaceted. I mean, he can hit you with the three, he can hit you with the jump shot off the dribble, he can get to the cup, he can post, he can bring the ball up the floor. He can hurt you with his pass as well. He’s so mul-
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O h i o H i g h B o y s B a s k e t b a l l P l a y e r o f t h e Ye a r tifaceted that he’s a matchup problem. Who are you going to match up with? “Because he can do that he makes the other players around him better. The great player can do that. I know he’s my son, but he helps make other people better with his passes that they know if I cut I’m going to get it. Cutting and passing is two different worlds if the guy can’t pass it. So he has their faith and their confidence.” Even with his wide lower body, Sullinger still manages to get by defenders, especially when using his patented spin move on the dribble. He also is now able to pull up and knock down the midrange jumper when he is cut off or defenders retreat on him. “I have to give that to my brothers, because all summer I would play them one on one, and they would never let me get on the inside, so they made me take the jump shot,” he said. “Jared’s got a little bit of both his brother’s games,” Satch Sullinger said during the season. “He’s got enough to go out and be enough of a threat so that if he has a mismatch, he can be very effective.”
54-53 victory in overtime in the regional final with Dublin Scioto. Emotion flowed when Northland clinched the berth in the state final four, like when young Jared was asked what it was like to play for his dad. “It’s great,” he said. “There are times when I want to say, ‘Leave me alone. I don’t want to get better.’ But then there are times when it’s like, ‘You know what, he’s right.’ Right now from my sophomore year, me and his relationship got so much
The score was tied at 58 with 7.5 seconds left and the Vikings were huddled during a timeout when Jared took the role of his father and decided to bark out the plan. “I went over there and I said, ‘Give me the ball. I’ve got this, Man. I’ve got this.’ I knew I was going to handle it,” he said. Sure enough, the 6-8 Sullinger took the ball in a clearout situation and drew a foul shooting a three from the top of the key. He made 2 of 3 free throws
Anatomy Of A Title
After outdueling everyone in his path on the AAU circuit over the summer – a list that included 6-8 Josh Hairston of Spotsylvania, Va., and 6-11 Evan Anderson of Eau Claire, Wis. – Sullinger did the same during his junior season while seeking the elusive state championship. Ironically, Northland’s quest began with a preview against Cincinnati Princeton and Sibert on Nov. 28, which drew a full house the night after Thanksgiving at World Harvest Preparatory School in Canal Winchester. Again Sullinger won the battle and the war, exposing Princeton inside in a leave-no-doubt 4728 win. Sullinger served notice for his “Mr. Basketball” candidacy by eating up 6-7 Marquis Horne in the paint and displaying improved stamina along with his superb all-around game. “You can tell Sully’s been working,” Sibert said. “That’s one thing me and him have been working on. Both of us want to be great. We want to be great college teammates, great high school buddies, great AAU teammates.” During the regular season, Sullinger stared down 6-10 Tyler Smith of San Diego High School and outperformed the springy-legged top-five recruit at the Flyin’ To The Hoop Classic in Dayton on Jan. 17. The previous weekend he schooled 66 power forward Chane Behanan, the top sophomore in Ohio, in an easy win over Cincinnati Aiken at the Scholastic Play-By-Play Classic, held at Ohio State. Sullinger had 23 points and 12 rebounds in the 71-45 shellacking of one of the top teams in the state while Behanan was mired in foul trouble and scored just three points. “This is the best I’ve ever seen him,” Weatherspoon said afterward of his teammate. As Northland plowed through City League foes and entered the postseason, Sullinger’s expression became even more determined. Also, his academics were no longer in question as his gradepoint average climbed to a 3.2. After leading the Vikings to the district title, Sullinger came through in the clutch of a comefrom-behind win over Grove City and a palpitating
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h io H i g h
Photo by Gary Housteau
Sullinger, seen here with future Ohio State teammate Jordan Sibert, had 15 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in the state championship. better just because I was doing my schoolwork. And now, I really appreciate what he did last year – because without what he did last year, we would have never gotten this far, because I would still be slacking off.” Jared nearly won the game with Scioto in regulation, but his 35-foot heave was just a few inches short of dropping home. “A whole bunch of things were going through my mind,” he said. “But one thing when we came out of that huddle was I let the team down last year with my grades and I wasn’t going to let them down again. I told them, I said, ‘Overtime. I’m taking over.’ I said that to the four seniors. I was not going to let them down this year. I told them, ‘We’re going to make it to the Schott one more time.” That’s exactly what Northland did, with Sullinger lighting the lamp again. He pummeled Harding inside in a comfortable semifinal win and was in the middle of the drama against Princeton with the state title on the line and a crowd of more than 12,000 on its feet.
with 2.7 seconds left and the two points were the difference in a 60-58 win. “Hey, he said he wanted the ball, and I gave him the ball,” Satch said amid the postgame celebration. “At that point the mismatch with him being a big and being able to shoot off the dribble and make a decision, why not him? “At the end of the game put the ball in the hands of your best player, whether it’s your son or not. If (former point guard) Devon Moore were here, I would have put it in his hands.” Sulliner finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, but, as usual the box score still didn’t illustrate his true value to his team or his uncanny ability to take over whenever necessary. “When it’s the fourth quarter I feel like players come to play, and I feel like I’m one of those players and I just get like a demon,” he said. “My eyes get real low, I get this little mean face and all of a sudden you’ll see me yelling at people. At home, I’m like the softest 6-9 dude you ever met in your life. I don’t know. It’s my alter ego.” — OH
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anked in the top 10 all-time for coaching wins in Ohio, Oak Hill boys basketball coach Norm Persin has been at it for a while. But his last win – No. 575 – he will remember most. With a 48-43 double-overtime win over Kalida in the Division IV state championship, Persin hoisted the trophy for the first time in his 32-year career. In fact, it was the first time he advanced to the state tournament despite reaching the regional tournament 13 times. “We were tickled to death that we were able to do what we did,” said Persin. “That was our goal – to try and win a state championship. Finally it has come true. “It is almost like growing up as a little kid when you wake up on Christmas morning. You know what you want but you’re not sure it is going to be there. But then you see it and your eyes just sparkle.” Persin played high school basketball for Warren G. Harding and was a sophomore in 1966 when the Raiders were state semifinalists. That was his only taste of the state tournament until this year. His coaching career includes a previous stint at Oak Hill from 1977-1983. He then moved to Wilmington for two years followed by 21 successful seasons at Chesapeake. He returned three years ago to a struggling Oak Hill program that won nine games in the previous three seasons. “When I took over, there was just no energy in the program,” he said. “They hadn’t won at anything and they just didn’t have that fire. I think once they bought in and they started winning some games it just picked up and it kind of carried over from there. “The kids accepted what we did and started working hard in the summer and did the extra things to win. You could see it in their eyes that there was something special there.” Oak Hill lost to eventual state runner-up Worthington Christian in last season’s regional final. But Persin knew his Oaks had the pieces in place to get over the hump this season. “We were one game short last year but we had all of our kids back,” he said. “We told our kids that if they wanted to be special they were going to have to do the extra things and they have had that type of mindset all season. “We had a feeling we could accomplish what we needed to do. So, there was definitely a gut feeling that this could happen but everything had to go right.” Oak Hill (25-2) rolled through the regular season winning games by an average of 25 points. It took a 12-of-15 second half shooting effort in the 5652 regional final win over Newark Catholic to lift Oak Hill to the state tournament for the first time in school history. Persin was named co-coach of the year in Division IV by the Associated
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STORY BY MATT NATALI
Photo by Gary Housteau
Press the week of the state tournament. In the state semifinal, Oak Hill shot 52.9 percent to get the 55-46 win over favored Ada. Kalida and Dick Kortokrax – the all-time leader in coaching wins – were up next. Oak Hill had not played an overtime game all season but needed two to secure the state title. Kalida led 33-30 late in the fourth quarter. Coming out of a timeout, Persin called a play that set a screen to free up forward Ryan Borden for a threepoint bucket from the corner to tie the game and send it into overtime. In overtime, Kalida clung to a 38-35 lead. With 30 seconds left Persin called the same play to Borden and he sunk an off-balanced shot from beyond the arc to send the game into double overtime. Oak Hill and Kalida were knotted midway through the second overtime but a costly Wildcats turnover with the Oaks up 43-40 forced by the Oak Hill defense and 6-of-6 from the free throw line down the stretch sealed up the title. “If you are ever going to win a state Oak Hill championship, that is the type of game you want to win it,” Persin said. “When I replay everything that happened and I can remember some of the regional championship games we lost, we lost those games just like we won (the state championship game). Maybe it was all due process.” What’s more, Persin and the Oaks won the championship up against a coaching legend in Kortokrax and his 788 career wins. “It probably makes it even a little more special,” said Persin. “I told (Kortokrax) after the game that it was an honor and a privilege to coach against him. Any time you can beat a legend, it’s got to be something that you cherish forever.” Coming into the season, the motto for the Oaks team was ‘We Believe!’ But for Persin, he can hardly believe he finally won the state championship that eluded him for so long. “We’re the No. 1 team in the state of Ohio in (Division IV) and it is just a tremendous feeling,” he said. “When you put 32 years into something like this and you’re rewarded, it just means something that much more. “I think when I kick back and reflect on everything that has happened it will hit me.” — OH
Norm Persin
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