The Athens Messenger

Saturday, June 9, 2018 Page B1

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Page B2 Saturday, June 9, 2018 The Athens Messenger

Alexander
DISTRICT RECAP

Accepting New Patients

www.hopewellhealth.org

John Whittington Eduardo Robles,

DO, RPh DO

MESSENGER PHOTO BY LOUISE FISH

Farhana Hamid-Scanlin Margaret Tonkovich, Mary McPherson
Alexander’s Abby Howard swings at a pitch during a game last season. Howard was honorable

Spartans’ soccer
APRN, DNP, FNP - BC APRN APRN, MSN, WH-
mention all-Ohio in Division III. NPBC, CLC, CTTS

88 N. Plains Rd. Suite 1 | The Plains | 740-797-2352 | M-F 8am - 5pm

piled up victories
BY KEVIN WISEMAN der player in a single season. in 2016, but 2017 was the best Lacey Whitlatch Mark Reininga

The program’s all-time lead- overall season in the 10 years

DNP, APRN, FNP-C MD
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR
ing scorer earned first team of the program. 90 Hospital Drive Athens | 740-592-3091 | M-F 8am - 5pm
Alexander High School has all-Ohio honors in Division II. The 13 wins were a school
always been home to solid The Spartans won the pro- record under first-year head
soccer. gram’s second district title in coach Tom Fauber, who previ-
That was certainly the case three years, earning a dramatic ously had a long stint leading
last fall, as both the boys’ and 2-1 win over Marietta in the the boys’ program. Not only
girls’ soccer teams piled up district finals. Norris scored did Alexander beat Athens
victories. both goals in the win. twice in the regular season,
The boys team started 9-0 The Spartans then went on but it also owned regular sea-
on their way to a 17-2-2 finish. to beat Athens in the regional son wins over Lynchburg-Clay
The girls team went 13-2-4. semifinals 3-1, with Norris and Logan. Darcy Cook, Amanda Humphrey,
Neither team lost to Athens getting a goal and two assists. McKena Rice and Taylor DDS Dental Hygienist

during the regular season. It Alexander’s season went Meadows led Alexander’s
was the first time the girls’ all the way to the regional offense, as the Spartans won
program beat Athens twice in finals and Bloom-Carroll High their third straight sectional
a season, and was also the first School. The Spartans lost title. They beat Eastern Brown
time they won a girls’ soccer to traditional state power- 2-1 to advance to the district
game at Athens. house Columbus St. Francis finals for the third year in a
The boys team was led by DeSales. row.
an 11-member senior class. The girls soccer team won
Michael Norris scored 39 a district title two years ago,
Pamela Suver, Stephanie McClelland, Patricia Scholl,
SEE VICTORIES CNP CRNP-FNP CNP
goals, the most by an Alexan- and advanced to a district final ON PAGE B12
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TOP MOMENTS

Spartans beat rivals in

regional tournament David Moore,
MD
Stacey Walter,
MD
Andy Boyd,
MD

BY KEVIN WISEMAN out, it didn’t seem like it the game.

MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR would happen in 2017. Norris also had two as-
The Spartans and Bulldogs sists, as Alexander led 3-1 at
Here are the top moments, would have to both win halftime. Zach Scripp’s goal
and toughest defeat, for the district titles for the matchup gave Alexander a 2-0 lead.
Alexander Spartans during to occur. When Athens’ Jerry Ber-
the 2017-18 school year. That’s exactly what hap- ryman scored to make it 2-1, Jacob Venoy, Deborah James, Ashley Zinn,
1. Boys’ soccer beat Ath- pened, and Athens and Alex- Norris was able to find his DDS DDS Dental Hygienist
ens in regional semifinals, ander met up in a Division II younger brother Todd Norris
November 1 regional semifinal at Logan for another goal, and the 3-1
31891 State Route 93 N | McArthur | 740-596-5249 | M-F 8am - 5pm
It’s no secret that Athens High School, with a spot in lead.
and Alexander are rivals in the Elite Eight on the line. Athens wasn’t able
all sports. It was one of the biggest to mount a second-half
But the rivalry seems to Athens-Alexander soccer comeback from there, and
intensify during boys’ soccer games in the two team’s his- Alexander was on its way
matchups. tories. The fact that Athens to the regional finals for the
So when Alexander played Alexander to a draw first time in 25 years.
bumped up to Division in the regular season only 2. Softball team beats
II before last season, the added to the matchup. Meigs for sectional title,
possibility of an Alexander- The Spartans struck May 11
Rebecca Smart, Mindey Durst
LPN FNP-BC, CNP
Athens tournament game quickly, with Michael Norris
was real. scoring an early goal. Alex- SEE SPARTANS 8461 State Route 144 | Stewart | 740-662-0541 | M-F 7:45am - 3:30pm
When the brackets came ander led 1-0 just 5:55 into ON PAGE B10

Norris, Mace provided

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

big moments for Spartans

Kimberly Spencer Regina Reed Jennifer Fields
BSN, MSN CNP APRN-C, BC-ADM FNP-BC

25716 Wilson Street | Coolville | 740-846-0008 | M-F 8am - 5pm

BY KEVIN WISEMAN
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR
Male Athlete of the Year
— Michael Norris, senior,
soccer
Michael Norris set scoring
records at Alexander High
School that will be tough for
future generations of Spartans
to top.
Norris is the all-time lead-
ing goal scorer for Alexander
soccer as he capped off a bril-
liant career last fall.
Norris helped the Spartans
post two of the best seasons
back-to-back in program
history.
Norris scored 39 goals in
just his senior season, putting
him just under a hundred
goals scored in his career.
As a result, Alexander had
a season to remember. The
Spartans went 17-2-2 and fin-
ished as a regional runner-up
in Division II. It was their first
win in a regional tournament
since 1992.
Norris dazzled all season
for the Spartans. In the biggest
game of the season, a Division
II regional semifinal matchup
against Athens, Norris set the
tone with an early goal. He
added two assists in Alexan-
der’s 3-1 win. He scored two
goals in Alexander’s 2-1 dis-
trict final win over Marietta.
The Spartans would
advance all the way to the
regional finals against state
power Columbus St. Fran-
cis DeSales behind a strong
senior class.
Norris led the way, earning
first-team all-Ohio honors on
the OSSCA Division II team.
He has signed to play soccer
collegiately at the University
of Indianapolis.
Female Athlete of the
Year — Jadyn Mace, fresh-
man, volleyball, basketball,
softball
Jadyn Mace burst onto
the scene and made a big
difference during her first
year playing varsity sports at
Alexander High School.
The Spartans had numerous Prakash Kudlapur Douglas B. Carr Laurel Danes-Webb
strong efforts during their fe- MD MD APRN-FNP-BC, CDE
male sports season, but Mace
was a constant every season.
She started as a setter on Melissa O’Harra-Brown
NP-C
the varsity volleyball team.
She started at guard on the 541 State Route
girls’ basketball team. She 664N, Suite C | Logan
then started at first base on the 740-385-6594
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Mace made strong contribu- Amy Black Bethany Jagers Olubukola Adelola
tions on all three teams. She APRN-FNP-BC APRN-FNP-BC MD
was an all-league performer
on the volleyball team, help- 30381 Chieftain Dr. | Logan | 740-385-2555 | M-F 8am - 5pm
ing the Spartans advance to
the district championship
game. Like and Follow Us on Facebook!
SEE ALEX https://www.facebook.com/HopewellHealthCenters/
ON PAGE B10
The Athens Messenger Saturday, June 9, 2018 Page B3

Athens
DISTRICT RECAP

Bulldogs kept
winning in
boys’ soccer
BY KEVIN WISEMAN
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR

The Athens boys’ soccer team gave the high school

plenty of moments to remember thanks to a thrilling
tournament run.
The Bulldogs were just a No. 5 seed for the Division
II sectional tournament, but three one-goal victories
later they were playing in the regional tournament.
Head coach Simon Diki had the Bulldogs in most
every game during the regular season and once the
tournament rolled around they simply refused to lose.
Athens traveled to No. 4 Jackson and earned a 3-2
win in a sectional final. That allowed the ‘Dogs to once
again play in the district tournament.
Athens then beat No. 1 Fairfield Union in double
overtime to advance to the district finals before knock-
ing off No. 2 Warren in double overtime in the district
finals.
Danny Goetz scored a goal from nearly 40 yards out
to deliver the Bulldogs their second sectional title in
three seasons.
Two years ago, Athens was a juggernaut, going
unbeaten in the regular season before winning a district
championship.
The 2017 version of the Bulldogs weren’t expected
to advance all the way to the regional brackets, but
they kept playing and achieved great heights.
A 3-1 loss in the regional semifinals to Alexander
ended the Bulldogs’ season with a 10-5-4 record.
The Athens girls’ soccer team was coached by Nick
Dioguardi. Maddie Davis was a standout on the Bull-
dogs, who went 4-7-2 on the season.
The fall season also saw Athens win its fifth Tri-
Valley Conference Ohio Division volleyball title in a
row. The Bulldogs went 12-0 in the TVC-Ohio, as it
was also their fourth outright title during that five-year
span.
Athens and Alexander shared the league title in
2016, but that wasn’t the case in 2017.
Athens traveled to Alexander on Oct. 10 and earned
a four-set win to clinch the league title outright. The
Spartans were playing for another possible share of the
title, but senior Gabby Carey finished with 19 kills to
lead Athens.
Athens went 18-6 on the season, losing a sectional
final at Gallia Academy.
First-year coach Haley Dake was the TVC-Ohio co-
coach of the year, while libero Serena Smith was the
TVC-Ohio Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Smith was joined on the all-league team by her twin
sister, senior Sierra Smith, Carey, senior Sydney Rutter
and junior Ava Myers.
The football team at Athens once again had a win-
ning record and contended for a league championship
up until the final game of the season.
Athens went 8-2 overall, including 5-1 in the TVC-
Ohio. It was the seventh consecutive winning season
for the program.

MESSENGER PHOTO BY LOUISE FISH

Athens’ Logan Maxfield goes up for a shot during a game against Alexander. SEE ATHENS ON PAGE B9

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR TOP MOMENTS

Buckley, Tonkovich and Bulldogs went double

Zatta competed on state level overtime for district crown
BY KEVIN WISEMAN The two continued to do feet, 6 inches to get her spot BY KEVIN WISEMAN The Bulldogs were able to His 15-yard run with
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR big things during the spring on the podium. MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR rally back to a strong finish 10:11 left in the fourth quar-
as they specialized in sepa- It was the culmination of of the season, propelled by ter cut Athens’ lead to 14-13.
Male Athletes of the Year rate events in the track and three years of competing Here are the top moments, a 54-51 upset win at Vinton Treyce Albin made the
— Peter Buckley, senior, field season. against Division I competi- and toughest defeat, for the County. play of the game from there,
cross country, track and Tonkovich won a TVC- tion for Zatta. She didn’t Athens Bulldogs during the The Vikings had beaten blocking the extra point and
field and Tony Tonkovich, Ohio title in the 800, while make it to the state meet 2017-18 school year. Athens by double digits allowing Athens to maintain
junior, cross county, swim- Buckley won his TVC-Ohio after competing in the tough 1. Athens goes double earlier in January but the re- the one-point lead.
ming, track and field crown in the 3,200. Pickerington North regional overtime for soccer title, match was a different story. Wellston attempted a last-
Peter Buckley and Tony They both advanced to the her sophomore and junior October 28 Isaiah Butcher scored 21 second drive, and got down
Tonkovich pushed each other Division I, Region 3 meet. seasons. As a junior, she The Athens Bulldogs en- points to lead Athens to the to Athens’ 20-yard line. Jus-
to new heights during the Neither was able to advance vaulted 11-8 but was edged tered the Division II postsea- road win. tin Hynes and Tanner Tritipo
cross country season, so it’s to the state meet, but they out by four vaults of 12 feet. son tournament as a No. 5 Athens led just 52-51 were able to tackle QB Mi-
fitting the two share athlete still ended the season on a As a senior, Zatta was seed, but a series of thrilling with 30 seconds left and the chael Graham on a scramble
of the year honors. high note. finally able to punch her victories propelled them into Vikings had the basketball. attempt on fourth down with
Buckley and Tonkovich Tonkovich got seventh state ticket and become an the regional tournament. Jake Speakman got to just nine seconds left.
ran side by side for nearly in the 800 with a time of all-Ohioan. The final win was a the basket and put up a shot The Bulldogs had es-
the entire cross country sea- 1:55.61 in the 800. It broke a Zatta holds the school double-overtime thriller over in the lane. It went off the caped.
son. They both broke the 5K 29-year old school record. record in the pole vault at 11 No. 2 Warren, 2-1. rim, and Athens secured the Evan Adams had 115
school record during a regu- Buckley was 11th in the feet, 9 inches. She also holds Danny Goetz launched defensive rebound. yards rushing and a touch-
lar season meet at Watkins 3,200, but the 9:47.84 time the TVC girls’ pole vault an improbable game-winner Butcher made two free down, while Clay Davis
Memorial. Tonkovich came was his personal best. record at 11 feet, 6 inches. from close to 40 yards out in throws with 5.3 seconds left completed 9 of 21 passes for
in at 16:13.5, while Buckley Tonkovich was also a She broke the Division I the second overtime period. for the three-point lead. 116 yards and a touchdown.
was 16:15.0. member of Athens’ sectional Southeast District record The shot went just out of the A final missed 3 by the Albin caught six passes for
At the Tri-Valley Confer- title winning swim team. when she vaulted 11 feet, 2 reach of Warren goalkeeper Vikings allowed Athens 77 yards.
ence meet, Buckley won the Female Athlete of the inches. Thomas Williams and into to gain its fourth win in The Bulldogs improved
league title, but Tonkovich Year — Lindsay Zatta, Zatta’s name is in the the net. McArthur over the last five to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in
was less than three seconds senior, track and field record books for Southeast Goetz’s second goal of the seasons, setting the stage for the TVC-Ohio. For that
behind him. Lindsay Zatta was able to Ohio, and she will continue game provided Athens with 2018’s turnaround. night, they survived a trip to
As the Division I district conclude her Athens track her pole vault career at Bay- its second district title in the 3. Football team wins Wellston and kept them-
meet, Tonkovich finished and field career in grand lor University. last three seasons. thriller at Wellston, Octo- selves alive in the league
fifth and Buckley was sixth, fashion. Coach of the Year — It was a series of three ber 13 race.
less than two seconds behind Zatta was not only able to Todd Nuzum, baseball heart-pounding games that The Athens Bulldogs Tough loss of the year
his teammate. advance to the 2018 OHSAA Todd Nuzum took over led to the district title. Ath- were chasing both a possible — Boys’ basketball falls
Then at the Division I State Track and Field Cham- the Athens baseball pro- ens won at No. 4 Jackson league title and playoff berth to Vikings in OT, Febru-
regional meet, Tonkovich pionships out of Division I, gram for the 2018 season. 3-2 to win a sectional title. when they traveled to C.H. ary 23
finished 17th and Buckley but she was able to earn all- The Bulldogs were coming The Bulldogs then upset No. Jones Field in Wellston for The Athens Bulldogs and
was 18th, less than a second Ohio status in the pole vault. off consecutive Division II 1 Fairfield Union in double a week 8 contest with the Vinton County Vikings had
behind Tonkovich. Zatta was able to finish Southeast District titles, but OT to advance to the district Rockets. a much-anticipated rematch
It was a wild competition tied for seventh place on the only had two starters return- finals. Wellston gave Athens in the Division II sectional
between the two, as they final day of the track and ing and both were sopho- Goetz’s double-overtime a steady dose of Travis finals at Logan High School,
pushed each other to the field season as she competed mores. goal against No. 2 Warren Jayjohn running plays and and the game lived up to the
state cross country meet, inside Jesse Owens Memo- The Bulldogs had to be then pushed Athens to the nearly knocked the Bulldogs hype.
despite competing in Divi- rial Stadium. considered to have exceeded regional tournament. off. After splitting the regular
sion I. Zatta was able to emerge expectations though, as they 2. Boys’ basketball wins Athens was able to make a season series, Vinton County
At the state meet, Tonkov- from a competitive field to eventually ended up with a at Vinton County, Janu- last-second stop, leading to a took the tournament meet-
ich was 47th in a fast 5K earn her all-Ohio spot, which record of 19-6. ary 23 14-13 win at Wellston. ing, 69-60, in overtime.
field with a time of 16:20.9. comes with a top-eight fin- Athens didn’t get the start Jayjohn had 30 carries
Buckley wasn’t far behind at ish. SEE STATE to the basketball season that for 149 yards and both of SEE BULLDOGS
16:44.2, good for 84th place. Zatta was able to vault 11 ON PAGE B11 it wanted, starting 3-9. Wellston’s touchdowns. ON PAGE B11
Page B4 Saturday, June 9, 2018 The Athens Messenger

Federal Hocking
DISTRICT RECAP

MESSENGER PHOTO BY LOUISE FISH

Lancers found success on the

The Lancers celebrate after beating Trimble during a sectional championship game.

volleyball, basketball courts

BY KEVIN WISEMAN
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR
Volleyball has long been
the most successful program
at Federal Hocking High
School.
Now girls’ basketball is
joining the party.
The Lancers experienced
a good deal of success in
both volleyball and girls’
basketball during the 2017-18
school year.
The volleyball team won
20 games, advancing to the
Division IV district finals.
The girls’ basketball team
won 15 games — posting
their second straight win-
ning season — and advanced
to the Division IV district
semifinals.
Both teams went 13-3 in
the Tri-Valley Conference
Hocking Division, good for
an outright second place
finishes.
One commonality between
the two programs is continu-
ity with the coaching staff.
John Young finished his sev-
enth season with the Lancers
last fall, while Jeremy Tolson
finished his fourth season
prowling the sidelines.
In volleyball, libero Taylor
Gillian, middle Paige Wat-
kins, outside hitter Hannah
Dunfee and setter Audrey
Blake were all-league selec-
tions.
Federal Hocking had a
big non-league win during
the season when it won at
Alexander. The Lancers beat
Trimble to win their fourth
sectional title in five sea-
sons, then beat Glenwood to
advance to the district finals
for the first time during their
current run.
The season ended with a
competitive three-set loss to
powerhouse Notre Dame in
the district finals.
The Lancers rolled that mo-
mentum into girls’ basketball
season with a 15-8 record.
Hannah Dunfee, Paige Tolson
and Emily Beha were all-
league selections.
Federal Hocking had a big
win at Eastern during the
regular season, as well as
sweeping the season series
with Miller and Belpre. It
was the first time the Lancers
beat Belpre or Eastern during
Tolson’s four seasons.
Federal Hocking’s second
sectional title in a row came
when it downed South Gallia,
40-27.
The Lancers’ season came
to an end when they lost to
Peebles in the district semifi-
nals. But with three freshmen
and a sophomore in the start-
ing lineup, the future is bright
for Tolson’s group.
During football season,
Federal Hocking had Justin
Lopez, Branden Gould and
Trevor Bell earn all-league
honors. The Lancers were
able to be more productive
offensively behind freshman
quarterback Hunter Smith. He
passed for 1,087 yards and
seven touchdowns despite
missing the last game due to
injury.
SEE FED HOCK
ON PAGE B9

TOP MOMENTS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Sectional final provided Roark, Dunfee led

thrilling moment for Lancers Federal Hocking
BY KEVIN WISEMAN Conference Hocking Division during 27, when the Lancers were able to BY KEVIN WISEMAN team the last two seasons.
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR the 2017-18. gain a 60-53 win at South Gallia. MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR Roark transfered to Federal
A thrilling win early in the season It was the first win for the Lancers Hocking from Amanda-Clear-
Here are the top moments, and that helped pave the way was a 46-41 since the end of the 2015-16 season. Male Athlete of the Year — creek High School before his
toughest defeat, for the Federal home victory over Belpre on Decem- Freshman Nathaniel Massie led Colten Roark, senior, football, junior season, and he made an
Hocking Lancers during the 2017-18 ber 14. the way with 31 points in the win. wrestling impact on Lancers’ athletics
school year. The Lancers had a 10-point lead The Lancers led 10-0 and 16-7 before Colten Roark made school during his two years in Stewart.
1. Volleyball wins sectional title late in the third quarter but Belpre South Gallia came back to lead 29-22 history with the Federal Hock- Female Athlete of the Year
over Trimble, October 19 went on a 17-5 run to lead 39-37 with at halftime. ing Lancers. — Hannah Dunfee, senior,
The Federal Hocking Lancers had less than three minutes remaining. It The Lancers still trailed 40-32 In just the second year of re- volleyball, girls’ basketball,
to dig deep to claim their fourth sec- appeared the Golden Eagles might after three quarters, but they won the starting the wrestling program, softball
tional title in five seasons. steal a road win. fourth 28-13 to come back for the Roark was able to advance to The Federal Hocking Lancers
The Lancers were a No. 2 seed in Then Audrey Blake hit a big shot. win. Massie scored 12 in the fourth, the Division III state wrestling enjoyed a big year in female
the Division IV sectional tournament Point guard Paige Tolson was able and Brad Russell scored eight of his tournament. sports.
and got the No. 7 seeded Trimble to push the pace and find Blake open 14 in the fourth. Not only was Roark able to Both the volleyball and girls’
Tomcats in the sectional champion- for a 3 in the right corner. The senior The win ended a 28-game losing advance to the big stage, but he basketball teams went 13-3 in
ship game. hit the shot, and the Lancers quickly streak for the Lancers, including a 20- was able to win a match during the TVC-Hocking, finishing
Federal Hocking beat Trimble took the lead back, 40-39. game TVC-Hocking losing streak. his time in Columbus. alone in second place.
twice in the regular season, but the Federal Hocking trailed for about Tough loss of the year — Vol- Roark scored points for the Dunfee was a key member
old sports cliche that it’s hard to beat eight seconds in the game, then never leyball loses district final to Notre Lancers at the state meet when of both of those teams as she
a team three times proved true this trailed again after Blake’s shot. Dame, October 28 he won a consolation match concluded her athletic career
time. The Lancers went ahead 44-41 Federal Hocking’s historic vol- in the Division III, 195-pound with the Lancers.
Trimble won the first two sets and when Tolson found Emma Beha open leyball season came to an end during bracket. He defeated Ash- Dunfee has been a three-sport
appeared poised to pull off a shocker under the basket with 18 seconds left. a Division IV district final loss to the land Crestview senior Colton athlete for the Lancers during
on Federal Hocking’s own McInturf Tolson then made two free throws Portsmouth Notre Dame Titans. Campbell, and won the match her four years in high school.
Gymnasium. with 3.7 seconds left to clinch the The Titans were a powerhouse by getting a pin 42 seconds into She was an outside hitter in
The Lancers were able to win the win. team that would eventually advance the match. volleyball, helping the Lancers
third and fourth sets convincingly, It was Federal Hocking’s first win all the way to the Division IV re- That win allowed Roark to a 20-win season and a spot in
25-15 and 25-16 to set up a fifth set over Belpre during head coach Jer- gional finals. to advance to the second day the district finals as an outside
with a trip to the district semifinals emy Tolson’s four years in Stewart. But the Lancers played with Notre of the state tournament. He hitter.
on the line. There were a number of key wins Dame nearly point for point despite dropped his last match via a During basketball season,
Federal Hocking trailed in the along the way that led the Lancers to the 3-0 sweep. tech fall, ending his season with Dunfee was an athletic guard
fifth set, 8-4 and 12-10 in the race to their second place TVC-Hocking fin- The opening set was a 26-24 loss, a 29-8 record. He came one win who was always a threat from
15 points. The Lancers were able to ish. They won the rematch at Belpre, as Federal Hocking nearly took an away from clinching a spot on behind the 3-point line as the
force a 12-12 tie and the teams went they swept Miller and they won at early lead against the Titans. The the all-Ohio podium. Lancers advanced to the district
back and forth from there. Eastern. But Blake’s shot to beat match was tied at 21-21, 23-23 and Roark was 57-17 during tournament. She averaged 10.0
The match was tied at 18-18 and Belpre in December helped pave the 24-24 before a Notre Dame kill and a his two years of wrestling at points per game during basket-
Jaylen Rogers took over from there. way for the second-place finish to be Federal Hocking error ended the set. Federal Hocking. He was a ball season.
She had back-to-back windmill kills possible. The last two sets were also com- runner-up at 195 pounds at the During spring season, Dunfee
that allowed the Lancers to win 20-18 3. Boys basketball wins at South petitive, with the Lancers leading Tri-Valley Conference meet and patrolled third base for the
and celebrate the sectional champion- Gallia, December 27 15-11 in the second set before falling. the sectional meet at Barnes- Lancers’ softball team.
ship against their rivals from Trimble. The Federal Hocking boys basket- Federal Hocking also led 13-10 in the ville High School. He was then Dunfee had the distinction
2. Girls’ basketball beats Belpre ball team fell on hard times for the third set. also second place at the district of being selected to the all-
thanks to Blake’s big shot, Decem- 2016-17 season, going winless. There was certainly no shame in meet at Heath High School to TVC-Hocking team in all three
ber 14 The feeling going into the 2017-18 having their season end to the power- advance to the state tourna- sports.
The Federal Hocking girls bas- season was that the Lancers would ful Titans, as the Lancers showed ment.
ketball team enjoyed an outright take a step forward. they were close to being able to push Roark was also a two-way SEE LANCERS
second-place finish in the Tri-Valley That became a reality on December a regional finalist to multiple sets. starter on the Lancers’ football ON PAGE B9
The Athens Messenger Saturday, June 9, 2018 Page B5

When I say “good,” you say “neighbor.”

Shawna Stump, Agent Now that’s teamwork.
328 West Union St. • Athens, OH 45701 CALL FOR A QUOTE 24/7.
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Nelsonville-York
DISTRICT RECAP

MESSENGER PHOTO BY LOUISE FISH

Buckeyes were champions in 2017-18

Nelsonville-York’s Garrett Maiden makes a move against Coal Grove in a Division VI, Region 23 championship game at Jackson High School.

BY KEVIN WISEMAN
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR
The Nelsonville-York
Buckeyes have the smallest
enrollment in the Tri-Valley
Conference Ohio Division.
However, the 2017-18
school year showed that the
Buckeyes can compete just
fine in the Ohio Division.
The Buckeyes claimed a
league title in each season of
the school year in a successful
year for sports.
The success began in the
fall when Nelsonville-York’s
football team won the TVC-
Ohio for the second year in a
row, going 10-0 in the process
and eventually advancing to
the Division VI Final Four.
In the winter, Nelsonville-
York’s wrestling team won the
league title for the fourth year
in a row, advanced to the state
tournament in the team duals
and eventually placed fifth in
Division III at the individual
state tournament.
In the spring, Nelsonville-
York made school history by
winning its first ever TVC-
Ohio boys track and field title.
The Buckeyes’ football
team went 10-0 for the first
time since 1997, winning a
regional title for the first time
since 1982.
Garrett Maiden was a Co-
Offensive Player of the Year
in the TVC-Ohio, as well
as winning the Division VI
Southeast District Offensive
Player of the Year. Ronnie
Wend was the TVC-Ohio
Defensive Player of the Year.
Maiden and Wend were both
first team all-Ohio picks
in Division VI, and Rusty
Richards was named one of
the Division VI Coaches of
the Year.
Keegan Wilburn was a
third team all-Ohio tailback in
Division VI, and Tyler Speel-
man was a third team all-Ohio
defensive end.
The Buckeyes concluded
the regular season with a
52-26 win at Athens in a
winner-take-all game for the
TVC-Ohio title. It was N-Y’s
first win at Athens since 2009,
and allowed the Bucks to
complete their 10-0 season.
Nelsonville-York then beat
Shadyside, Fort Frye and Coal
Grove to win the Division
VI, Region 23 champion-
ship and advance to the state
semifinals. The Buckeyes lost
to state power Kirtland in the
Final Four matchup at New
Philadelphia High School.
SEE CHAMPIONS
ON PAGE B11

TOP MOMENTS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Football season Maiden, Yinger and Addis led Bucks

provided BY KEVIN WISEMAN
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR
a 13-1 season, going 10-0 for
the first time since 1997 and
Northridge senior Forest
Belli, 8-4, in the Saturday
Year — Jessie Addis, senior,
volleyball, girls basketball

thrilling
winning a regional title for night final to finally grab the Jessie Addis will go
Male Athletes of the the first time since 1982. elusive state championship. down in the record book for
Year — Colt Yinger, senior, Yinger finished with Maiden also had a huge Nelsonville-York, as future
football, wrestling and Gar- 209 yards rushing and four year for the Buckeyes, as he girls’ basketball players will

moments for N-Y

BY KEVIN WISEMAN
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR
Here are the top moments,
and toughest defeat, for the
Nelsonville-York Buckeyes
during the 2017-18 school
year.
1. Nelsonville-York beats
Fort Frye in OT, November
10
The Buckeyes’ football
season had many thrilling
moments, but perhaps no mo-
ment was better than the 26-20 overtime 15 yards for a first-
overtime win over Fort Frye
in the Division VI, Region 23 ahead from five yards for the
semifinals at New Lexington
High School.
The Buckeyes were seem-
ingly in control with a 20-0
lead before Fort Frye staged a
comeback. Three fourth-quar-
ter touchdowns allowed Fort
Frye to tie the game at 20-20
with just 25 seconds left.
The Buckeyes season was
hanging on an extra point.
In the bitter cold, Fort Frye’s
Zach Schilling missed the PAT,
giving the Buckeyes new life.
N-Y took advantage in the
extra session. The Buckeyes’
defense got a stop, then Colt
Yinger took over.
He took the first carry in
and-goal. He when plowed
walk-off touchdown, sending
N-Y to the regional finals.
SEE THRILLING
ON PAGE B11
rett Maiden, senior, football, touchdowns in a week 10 shared the TVC-Ohio Offen- chase her scoring mark.
baseball, track and field win at Athens. He scored the sive MVP in football, earning Addis capped off her Buck-
The Nelsonville-York game-winning touchdown in first-team All-Ohio honors in eyes’ career by becoming
Buckeyes had plenty of overtime in a regional semi- Division VI. the school’s all-time leading
superb efforts during the final win over Fort Frye. He Maiden had the best quar- scorer.
2017-18 school year, but the finished the season with 1,000 terback season in Nelsonville- Addis broke the record in
exploits of Colt Yinger and yards rushing and more than York history, passing for what turned out to be her final
Garrett Maiden were hard to a hundred tackles. He seemed 2,145 yards and 23 touch- game in an N-Y uniform. She
top, and hard to separate. to always step up in the big- downs. Both were school finished with 1,532 career
Yinger and Maiden both gest games. records. points, breaking Kim Kline’s
starred on the Buckeyes’ re- Yinger then made more Maiden was also an all- mark of 1,514, set in 2009.
gional championship football school history in the win- league baseball player in the Addis was a four-year
team as two-way players. ter, becoming the fifth state spring, collecting more than starter at point guard for the
Yinger won a state cham- champion in school history. 100 career hits on the baseball Bucks, never missing a game
pionship during wrestling He finished his season 48-1 in diamond. He also helped during that time. She scored
season, while Maiden thrived the 160 pound weight class, N-Y win a team league title 507 points her senior season,
in two spring sports. dominating the competition in track and field, as he was averaging exactly 22.0 points
Yinger had a memorable during the last weekend of the part of N-Y’s state qualifying per game.
career, and senior season at season. 4x200 relay team. The Buckeyes went 70-26
Nelsonville-York. His year Yinger’s four wins in the The 2017-18 school year during Addis’ four years at the
started as a hard-hitting line- state tournament featured a was certainly owned by helm, winning three sectional
backer and punishing fullback pin in the quarterfinals with Yinger and Maiden, two titles and one Tri-Valley Con-
on the Buckeyes’ football the other three wins com- talented athletes who were ference Ohio Division title.
team. ing by a combined score of part of many big moments
Yinger’s addition was huge 42-18. throughout the school year. SEE BUCKEYES
toward the Buckeyes posting Yinger beat Johnstown Female Athlete of the ON PAGE B10

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Page B8 Saturday, June 9, 2018 The Athens Messenger

Trimble
Tomcats won another playoff game in 2017
DISTRICT RECAP

BY KEVIN WISEMAN
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR

The Trimble Tomcats

started the 2017-18 football
season with another success-
ful football campaign.
The Tomcats went 8-2 for
the third season in a row,
once again qualifying for the
postseason.
The Tomcats were able to
bounce back from a 2-2 start
to win seven games in a row,
ultimately finishing 9-3.
The Tomcats’ season start-
ed turning around with a key
33-12 win over the Miller
Falcons. Miller, which went
7-3, was looking for its first
win over the Tomcats since
2000.
Armed with the win
over Miller, Trimble rolled
through the rest of the
regular season, at one point
posting three shutouts in a
row.
The Tomcats were also
able to play another season
at historic Glouster Memo-
rial Stadium. The stadium’s
bleachers were condemned
before the season opener
against Nelsonville-York,
but temporary bleachers
were brought in, the score-
board moved to the end zone
and the Tomcats were able
to continue playing games at
their regular home field.
Another trip to the play-
offs followed the regular
season, as Trimble picked
up its first true road playoff
win in school history. The
Tomcats traveled to Lucas
and earned a 20-19 victory.
Trimble’s season ulti-
mately ended in the Division
VII, Region 27 semifinals to
eventual regional champion
Danville, 27-10.
Max Hooper, Cameron
Roback, Ian Joyce, Colton
Wright, Sam Ives and Saw-
yer Koons were all-league
players in 2017.
QB Cameron Kittle and
Hooper, a running back,
were both third team all-
Ohio in Division VII, while
lineman Anthony McLaugh-
lin was a third-team all-Ohio
defensive selection.
The volleyball season saw
the Tomcats’ Taya Lackey PHOTO FOR THE MESSENGER BY JULIE BILLINGS
and Sydney Hardy earn Trimble pitcher Max Hooper delivers from the mound during a sectional final at Beaver Eastern.
all-Tri-Valley Conference
Hocking Division honors. semifinal game, setting up a season with a 10-13 record, inside the TVC-Hocking on erett, Braydon Weber, Dillon country team.
The Tomcats improved rematch with Federal Hock- including 8-8 in the TVC- the golf course. Banik, Danuel Persinger, Trimble was able to win
down the stretch, taking ing. Hocking. The Tomcats were able to Zayne Moore and Andrew another TVC-Hocking title
Nelsonville-York to four The Lancers won the The Tomcats’ golf team claim a TVC-Hocking title Monroe were members in boys basketball, its third
sets in a late-season match- game in five sets, but the was led by senior Nathan in boys cross country, back- of the winning boys cross in four years.
up. They were able to sweep Tomcats made them work Riley, who was an all-league ing that up with a district country teams. Haily McKee
South Gallia in a sectional for it. Trimble finished the pick. Trimble was 5-35 title. Tyler Hudson, Eric Ev- led the Trimble girls’ cross SEE PLAYOFF ON PAGE B10

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR TOP MOMENTS

Trimble’s Hixson, Football, basketball provided

Brammer were all-Ohio big moments for ‘Cats
BY KEVIN WISEMAN 53 points on 18 of 35 Division II Ohio Valley BY KEVIN WISEMAN 5 seed in Region 27, which passing in the win.
MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR shooting against Waterford, University. MESSENGER SPORTS EDITOR meant a long bus ride to No. 2. Randy Hixson goes for
making a school record 10 It will be the chance to 4 Lucas. 53, Tomcats win league title,
Male Athlete of the Year 3-point shots. make more memories on the Here are the top moments, Lucas entered at 8-2 but March 7
— Randy Hixson, senior, The career night helped basketball court for Hixson. and toughest defeat, for the lost the home game to the The Trimble Tomcats were
basketball Trimble win the Tri-Valley Female Athlete of the Trimble Tomcats during the Tomcats. Trimble took a 14-7 originally supposed to host
Trimble High School has Conference Hocking Divi- Year — Breanna Bram- 2017-18 school year. lead at halftime thanks to the Waterford Wildcats in
a rich history of producing sion outright. mer, sophomore, basket- 1. Football team wins second-quarter touchdowns early January, but the contest
memorable boys’ basketball Hixson was showered ball, track and field road playoff game at Lucas, from Max Hooper (11-yard was snowed out. A second
players. with accolades after the sea- Breanna Brammer made November 3 run) and Bryce Richards postponement late in the
Randy Hixson will go son ended. He was named her mark on the track and The Trimble football (3-yard pass from Cameron regular season forced the
down in the record books as the TVC-Hocking Most field season as a sopho- program has accomplished Kittle). game to be played after both
one of the top shooters the Valuable Player, as well as more. plenty during the last six Hooper’s 31-yard run in teams had been eliminated
Trimble basketball program winning the the Division IV As a freshman, Bram- seasons, but one thing the the fourth quarter gave the from the postseason.
has seen. Southeast District Player of mer’s season ended at the Tomcats hadn’t done was win Tomcats a 20-13 lead. Randy Hixson and the
Hixson made shot after the Year. He was a first- district meet. She was ninth a true road playoff game. When Lucas scored on a Tomcats turned what could
shot during his Trimble team All-Ohio selection in place in the shot put. That changed on Nov. 3 9-yard run by Jeb Grover have been a tough situation
career, resulting in an all- Division IV. Brammer improved so of last football season, as the with 5:19 left in the fourth, — getting up to play after
Ohio senior season. Hixson helped Trimble much in one season that she Tomcats traveled to Lucas the Tomcats were able to stop their tournament run was
Hixson averaged 26.4 win sectional titles all four earned all-Ohio status in the and earned a 20-19 thriller the 2-point try when Sam over — into one of the top
points per game his senior years of high school. He shot put. in a Division VII, Region 27 Ives and Cameron Roback moments of recent Trimble
season, scoring 633 points. was a starter on a district Brammer set a personal quarterfinal. stuffed a screen pass in the basketball history.
He finished his career with championship team as a best mark of 41 meet in the The win allowed Trimble right flat. Hixson scored 53 points on
1,390 points despite seeing sophomore. Veteran head event. She was second in to advance in the playoffs for Trimble was able to run the 18 of 35 shooting, making a
limited playing time as a coach Howie Caldwell the district meet, but then the sixth season in a row. The clock out, and went home to school record 10 3-pointers
freshman. hailed Hixson as one of the won a Division III, Region previous five years saw the Glouster with the program’s in Trimble’s 74-60 win over
Hixson was a go-to play- best players he’s coached. 11 championship at Fair- Tomcats win home playoff 11th playoff win since 2012. Waterford.
er for the Tomcats the last Hixson will get the op- field Union High School. games in week 11. Hooper had 135 yards
three seasons, culminating portunity to play at the next The 2017 version of the rushing, while Kittle had 62 SEE TOMCATS
in his final game. He scored level, as he’s signed with SEE TRIMBLE ON PAGE B10 Tomcats finished as a No. yards rushing and 32 yards ON PAGE B10

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fed hock
Continued from page B4
The Lancers scored 76
points last season, up from
52 in 2016. The Lancers
were young with a number
of freshmen in the lineup, as
they try to end an overall los-
ing streak of 31 games next
season, including 25 inside
the TVC-Hocking.
The golf team was led by
sophomore Brandon Bond
and his all-league effort.
In cross country, Audrey
Blake and Ashlynn Jarvis
were key runners on the girls
team. Cedric Newman was
a key member of the boys’
team.
The boys’ basketball team
was led by coach Kevin Du-
nigan during the 2017-18 sea-
son. The Lancers went 2-21
during the season, including
2-14 in the
TVC-Hocking.
However, it was still a year
of improvement. The Lancers
ended a 28-game losing streak
with a win at South Gallia
in December. They beat Wa-
hama in their next game for a
two-game winning streak.
The season ended with a
16-game losing streak from
there, but the improvement
was still evident even in
defeat. For example, Federal
Hocking had a pair of narrow
defeats against Waterford.
Freshman Nathaniel Massie
led the team in scoring and
showed he has a bright future
on the hardwood.
Colten Roark enjoyed a big
season on the wrestling mats
for Federal Hocking, as he
advanced to the Division III
state wrestling tournament at
195 pounds.
Roark was able to win a
match at the state meet as
well, finishing just one win
away from reaching all-Ohio
status.
Roark was also second
place in the TVC, sectional
and district meets.
The spring season saw
Federal Hocking pick up five
wins on the baseball diamond,
which was more than the last
two seasons combined. The
Lancers also won their first
tournament game since 2012
when they beat South Webster
8-1 in a Division IV sectional
semifinal game.
Nate Dearth pitched a
complete game to lead the
Lancers to their tournament
victory. Dearth and Justin Lo-
pez earned all-league honors
for Federal Hocking, which
went 4-12 in league play. It
was the final season for head
coach Luke Richards.
The girls’ track and field
team saw Jaylen Rogers take
first place in both the TVC-
Hocking high jump and the
Division IV Southeast District
meet. She finished in fifth
place in the Region 11 high
jump, just missing a spot in
the state meet.
On the boys’ track and field
team, Noah Robinson, Terrell — John Young, volleyball a second-place finish in the has won 106 matches over ment wins over Trimble and
Mayle, Seth Frost and Gabriel Lancers John Young has led TVC-Hocking at 13-3. They Young’s seven seasons. Glenwood advanced Federal
Fuller were TVC-Hocking Continued from page B4 Federal Hocking’s most were able to break through Federal Hocking was Hocking to the district finals
champions in the 4x400 relay Dunfee was an athletic consistent program in recent the district semifinal round behind league-champion before falling to No. 1 Notre
with a time of 3:53.01. presence on both the court years. That didn’t change in before ultimately finishing Waterford in the TVC- Dame.
Tyra Mayle and Han- and the softball diamond the 2017. as Southeast District runner- Hocking, but finished ahead Young has given the
nah Dunfee were all-league last four seasons and was a The Lancers put together ups in Division IV. of Eastern in the league Lancers stability over the
performers during the Lancers part of a lot of victories in a another successful volley- Young was on the bench standings. The Lancers won years and the continuity has
softball season, as the team Federal Hocking uniform. ball season last fall. They to lead the way during the a match at Alexander in helped lead to team success
finished 0-19 overall. Coach of the Year were 20-5 overall, including season. Federal Hocking the regular season. Tourna- on the court.

each broke the school record coach Mickey Cozart drew Sophomore Laura Manderick 19-6 overall and 12-0 in the Stewart and junior Elianna
Athens in the 5K. up — Athens was 3-9 at one again led the team in scoring, TVC-Ohio. For the second Toppercer on the all-league
Continued from page B3 Buckley and Tonkovich point — but the ‘Dogs rolled averaging 15.7 points per year in a row, the Bulldogs team.
Athens was 1-1 after would both advance to the off nine wins in a row to end game. were outright league-league The track season saw Ath-
a week 2 loss to Canal Division I State Cross Coun- the regular season. Manderick was joined on champions. ens win its 10th consecutive
Winchester, but rolled off try Championships. Included was a thrill- the all-league team by junior The Bulldogs had close league title in girls’ track and
seven wins in a row to reach Max Strohm, Bozeman ing overtime win at Vinton Emma Harter, as Athens went games inside the league, but field. The Bulldogs had 195
8-1. Included were con- Koonce and Andrew Ste- County. After losing earlier 3-9 in TVC-Ohio games. the final standings were lop- points in the league meet,
secutive shutout wins over phens also scored for Athens in the year at Wellston, Ath- The Bulldogs finished in sided. Athens was five games ahead of second-pale Vinton
Watkins Memorial (27-0) in the league meet. ens won the rematch by 50 second place in the TVC ahead of Meigs, Wellston and County by 88 points.
and Alexander (48-0) as Rebekah Shoup led the points, 88-38. wrestling meet. Jonathan Alexander, which all went Olivia Bean was the high-
well as one-point wins over way for the girls’ cross The Bulldogs closed the Kimball (113 pounds) won 7-5. point scorer on the day with
Meigs (19-18) and Wellston country team, winning an regular season with a 71-60 an individual TVC champi- Athens defeated Warren 24 points. Athens had first-
(14-13). individual TVC-Ohio crown. home win over Alexander, onship. to win a sectional title, then place finishes in 11 events.
Athens was also able to She also advanced to the Di- avenging another early-sea- Chris Jackson (132 beat Logan Elm to advance Lindsay Zatta was able to
knock off Logan for the first vision II state cross country son loss. The result allowed pounds) also won an individ- to its third straight break her own TVC record,
time since 1995. The Bull- meet for the fourth season in Athens to finish alone in ual sectional title for Athens, district final. clearing 11 feet, 6 inches in
dogs were 21-3 winners over a row. second place in the TVC- as Kimball, Brian List (126 Athens would fall to the pole vault.
the Chiefs in a week 6 battle On the golf course, Athens Ohio at 9-3. pounds), Bill Wallace (138 Unioto, denying the Bulldogs Zatta would advance all
at R. Basil Rutter Field. finished alone in second Athens closed the season pounds), Devin Macy (145 a third straight district title. the way to the state tour-
Athens would lose at home place in the TVC-Ohio stand- at 12-10 after a hard-fought pounds), Tyler Shuler (160 Athens was young in 2018. nament in Division I for
to Nelsonville-York in week ings at 33-9. Senior Drew overtime loss to rival Vinton pounds), Drake George (182 Sophomores Nate Trainer, the first time. She tied for
10 in a game that decided the Zorn and junior Preston County in the Division II pounds) and Josh Poches Rece Lonas, Carson Baker seventh in the pole vault,
league champion. The result Hayes were all-league golf- sectional finals. Even though (220 pounds) all advanced to and Jack Cornwell were all- clearing 11 feet, 6 inches.
also left Athens out of the ers. the Bulldogs didn’t return to the district tournament. league performers. Seniors The Bulldogs finished
Division III postseason. The Athens girls ten- the Convocation Center, the Athens also won sec- Easton McCollum and Drew in second place in the boys
Senior linebacker Tanner nis team had another solid 2017-18 season still provided tional titles in both boys’ Zorn were also all league, as TVC-Ohio meet. Tony
Tritipo was the Division III season even though they no great moments for Athens, and girls’ swimming. Cirus was junior Eli Kennedy. Tonkovich broke a league
Southeast District Defensive longer had a league to com- and plenty to build on for the Stowe, Alyssa Suh, Noah Athens had an improved record in the 800 with a time
Player of the Year, earning pete in. Veda Conjeevaram, future. Fox, Martin Benecia Cour- season in softball, going 8-14 of 1:59.40. Peter Buckley
first-team all-Ohio honors. Kiki Chen and Yushin Jeng The girls’ basketball team reges, Kristina Rana, Sofie overall and 5-7 in the TVC- also won the 3,200. The two
He was joined on the all- were solid singles players at Athens was led by first- Dabelko, Sylvie Wilson, Ohio. teamed with Kieran Delach
TVC-Ohio team by Treyce for Athens, while doubles year coach for the program, Shifra Narasimhan, Tony The Bulldogs were able and Nicholas Moulton to win
Albin, Evan Steenrod, Caleb teams consisted of Ami Bran- Seth Matheny. The Bulldogs’ Tonkovich, Gabi Santiago- to beat Wellston for the first the 4x800.
Rogers, Clay Davis and nan and Divya Yellamraju finished the season at 5-18 Flores and Martin Benencia time since 2012, and also The boys’ tennis team saw
Easton McCollum. and Olivia Bean and Sandy after a sectional tourna- Courreges were all individual rallied for four runs in the Freddie Hassett, Yo-Shing
Athens added another Strickland. ment loss to eventual district sectional champions as well. bottom of the seventh in a Jeng and Raymond Frost
league championship in boys’ Athens ended up having champion Sheridan. The spring season saw 10-9 win over Gallia Acad- compete in singles matches,
cross country. The ‘Dogs a successful season in boys’ The Bulldogs’ lineup can Athens win another league emy, part of an 8-9 start to with Josh Goetz and Danny
easily beat River Valley, 20- basketball. all return for the coming title on the baseball diamond. the season. Goetz competing in doubles
61. Peter Buckley and Tony The year didn’t start out season, as the regular rota- Led by first-year coach Athens had freshman matches, along with Tate
Tonkovich paced the team, as the way second-year head tion didn’t have any seniors. Todd Nuzum, Athens went Gracie Casto, junior Kaylee Held and Ishan Matta.
Page B10 Saturday, June 9, 2018 The Athens Messenger

Trimble
Continued from page B8
That advanced Brammer to state com-
petition. She was able to advance to the
finals in the shot put, eventually finishing
seventh in Division III. The performance
gave her a spot on the podium and all-
Ohio honors.
Brammer also won a district title in the
shot put, eventually placing sixth in the
Region 11 meet in the event.
Brammer was also a starter on the girls’
basketball team. She played nearly every
minute of the season before the campaign
was cut short due to a lack of players.
Brammer established herself as one of
the best throwers in the Southeast Dis-
trict, and she should continue to compete
for spots in the state track and field meet
the next two seasons.
Coach of the Year — Howie Caldwell,
boys’ basketball
Howie Caldwell added to his coach-
ing legacy during the 2017-18 basketball
season.
Caldwell coached the Trimble Tomcats
back to the top of the TVC-Hocking in
2018. Trimble won the league for the third
time in Caldwell’s four seasons, as they
wrestled the league title away from Water-
ford on the final night of the season.
Caldwell coached the Tomcats to an
18-6 overall record, including 13-3 in the
TVC-Hocking. He was awarded the TVC-
Hocking Coach of the Year award.
Caldwell was able to build a winner
around sharp-shooter Randy Hixson and a
gritty roster that lacked size but made up
for that with plenty of heart and tenacity.
Caldwell was able to earn his 500th
career coaching victory along the way. He
became the 46th coach to accomplish the
feat in Ohio, as he concluded the season
with 503 coaching wins.
Caldwell also took the Tomcats back to
the Convocation Center for the Division
IV district tournament.
Caldwell has a four-year record of
78-21 at Trimble, with three league titles,
four sectional titles and two district titles,
as he continues to find success with the
Tomcats.

the soccer pitch. The Spar- campaign was cut short due eighth out of 13 teams in graduated with 20 career
alex tans were nearly unbeatable, Playoff to a lack of players. the TVC wrestling champi- home runs.
Continued from page B2 going 17-2-2 and finishing as Continued from page B8 Trimble was 1-8 overall onships. The Tomcats were able to
She was a starter and strong regional runner-up. The title was highlighted after a January 11th loss to In the spring, the Tom- beat Miller 18-1 to advance
contributor on Alexander’s The Spartans moved up by a winner-take-all game Miller. The Tomcats fin- cats were able to return to to a Division IV sectional
basketball team as the Spartans from Division III to Division II against Waterford in the ished that game with three the district tournament in final. Going for a fourth
won a sectional title. for the 2017 season. The move season finale, 74-60. Senior players and decided shortly baseball. The Tomcats did sectional title in a row, the
Mace made her presence up didn’t slow down Alexan- Randy Hixson powered afterwards to cancel the rest so by beating No. 3 Beaver Tomcats lost at Symmes
felt the most in the spring on der, as it still advanced through Trimble with 53 points in of the season. Eastern 6-4 on their home Valley however.
the softball team. Mace led the the brackets to an Elite Eight the win, a mark that was be- Trimble started the season field on May 8. Trimble’s track and field
team in hitting from her first finish for the first time since lieved to be a school record with only seven players, and Hooper pitched a com- season was highlighted by
base position. Alexander won 1992. in the post-consolidation injuries ultimately forced plete game in the win, and sophomore Breanna Bram-
the outright TVC-Ohio title Alexander didn’t have era. the school to make the Noah Rossitter had three mer. She qualified for the
and Mace won the league’s Of- a league to compete in last The Tomcats went 18-6 tough decision. hits and three RBIs. state track and field meet
fensive Most Valuable Player season, but it didn’t stop them on the season, including Before the season ended, The Tomcats lost a tough and made it all the way to
award, despite being only a from ripping off a 9-0 start 13-3 for the outright TVC- Trimble did gain a 40-37 game, 1-0, in the district the podium in the Division
ninth grader. before tying South Webster. Hocking crown. Hixson win at Southern on Dec. 11. semifinals to Clay in an- III shot put.
Mace didn’t play like a The Spartans were then able was the TVC-Hocking Most Sydney Hardy had 16 points other gem on the mound Brammer was able to
freshman during the last school to win sectional and district Valuable Player, and Howie and Kaitlyn Spears scored by Hooper. place seventh in the state
year, but she was espe- titles before earning a 3-1 Caldwell won the TVC- 12 points in the comeback But it was still a suc- on the final weekend of
cially effecting on the softball win over rival Athens in the Hocking Coach of the Year win. It was the highlight of cessful season for Trimble, the season. She also was
diamond, hitting seven home regional semifinals. award. the season for Trimble. which went 13-9 overall and a league champion and
runs. The good news for the The Spartans were also able Trimble was also able to The Tomcats had three 9-7 in the TVC-Hocking. regional champion in the
Spartans is they still have three to retain the Challenge Cup win a sectional title for the underclassmen on the roster Hooper, Rossitter, Cameron event. She also was a dis-
years of Mace left. agains the Bulldogs in the fifth year in a row to ad- — juniors Skylar Moore and Kittle and Tyler Roback trict champion in the discus
Coach of the Year — Kirk regular season. vance to Ohio University’s Sidney Moore and sopho- were all-league selections throw.
Crow, boys’ soccer Crow has continued to build Convocation Center. more Breanna Brammer — after the conclusion of the Trimble’s boys 4x200
The Alexander Spartans on Alexander’s success when it The run ended with a as they work for better days season. team of Sam Ives, Reece
enjoyed another big season on comes to boys’ soccer. tough 68-66 loss to Green in ahead. On the softball diamond, Mohler, Zayne Moore and
the district semifinals. In wrestling season, the Trimble went 8-11 overall, Dillon Banik were TVC-
Max Hooper, Cameron Tomcats were able to boast and 6-10 in the TVC-Hock- Hocking champions with a
Kittle and Brayden Weber two TVC champions in ing. Rhiannon Brown, Sky- time of 1:38.87. Trimble’s
year head coach Tom Fauber. joined Hixson on the all- Todd Fouts and Ian Joyce. lar Moore and Taya Lackey 4x800 team of Eric Everett,
Spartans The 13th and final win of league team. Fouts won the league title were all-league picks. Daniel Persinger, Dillon
Continued from page B2 the season was a 2-1 thriller at The Tomcats suffered a at 126 pounds, while Joyce Brianna Lunsford pa- Banik and Tyler Hudson
The Alexander Spartans a chilly Waverly High School. tough blow during girls’ won at 195 pounds. Their trolled the pitching circle finished 12th in Division
were able to dethrone the Alexander downed Eastern basketball season when the efforts helped Trimble place all season and Alyssa Turley III, Region 11.
Meigs Marauders to win the Brown in a district semifinal
Tri-Valley Conference Ohio thanks to two goals by Taylor
Division crown during the Meadows.
regular season. They beat The result allowed Alexan- winning way. halftime, leading Trimble the regular season.
Meigs twice to do so. der to advance to the district Tomcats 3. Hixson powers to the dramatic victory. But when the stakes were
However, when the tourna- finals for the third season in a Continued from page B8 Tomcats to sectional title, Hixson finished the game raised, the Tomcats proved
ment brackets were released, row. The teams entered the February 27 10 for 20 shooting, and was to be a tough out.
Alexander knew it would have Meadows scored both of her game tied for the league The Tomcats needed 9 for 12 from the field in Trimble fought and
to beat Meigs a third time in goals on breakaway opportuni- lead, so the Tomcats were Hixson’s 53 points to edge the second half. He made clawed during a Division
order to advance to the district ties. The game was tied 1-1 outright Tri-Valley Con- Waterford for the league 5 of 8 3-point tries for the IV sectional final at Fed-
tournament. when the sophomore gave ference Hocking Division title, but a few days earlier game, including 4 of 5 after eral Hocking’s McInturf
The Spartans were able to do Alexander the lead. champs thanks to the win. they needed another big halftime. He scored 19 Gymnasium before ulti-
just that, beating Meigs 5-0 to Margo Roof went a pass The night turned into a effort in order to claim a points in the fourth quarter. mately dropping a five-set
win the sectional title. ahead to Meadows, who got party for the Tomcats, as sectional crown. Simply put, the Rebels match.
The third time wasn’t the ahead of the Warriors’ defense. Hixson hit shot after shot Hixson helped Trimble couldn’t keep pace with Trimble roared out to a
charm for the Marauders, as Meadows scored with 26:08 in front of a loud White hold off the upset-minded Hixson’s offensive on- 2-0 lead after winning the
Alexander junior Gracie Hill to play to give Alexander the Gymnasium. The Wildcats South Gallia Rebels in a slaught, despite making 10 opening sets 25-16 and 25-
was able to pitch a complete 2-1 lead. were hanging tough with 71-58 win in a Division 3-point field goals them- 19. A No. 7 seed, Trimble
game shutout. Alexander also played the Tomcats in the fourth IV sectional final at Meigs selves. was poised to upset the No.
Meigs was perhaps stronger through a delay of more than quarter, but Hixson’s hay- High School. The win allowed the 2 Lancers.
than a usual No. 7 seed, but 30 minutes due to an injury makers finally allowed the The Tomcats were the Tomcats to win their 19th However, Federal Hock-
that lower seed dropped the to an Eastern Brown player. Tomcats to pull away for No. 1 seed and had beaten sectional title in program ing came back to win the
Marauders into a matchup with When play resumed, Alexan- the league title. South Gallia twice in the history, including their fifth last three sets, 25-15, 25-16
No. 2 Alexander. der kept the Warriors off the Fans and family mem- regular season, but the in a row. and 20-18.
Meigs had a chance early, scoreboard, and advanced to bers lingered on the court Rebels owned a 26-22 Tough loss of the year It was that 20-18 final
putting runners on base early in the Division III district finals. for a while after this one, halftime lead, and weren’t — Volleyball team drops set that ultimately decided
a scoreless game. Tough loss of the year taking pictures with the backing down from the sectional final, October 19 the match, as the Tomcats
That changed in the third — Boys’ basketball falls to league champion Tom- Tomcats. The Trimble Tomcats pushed the Lancers to the
inning. Alexander went ahead Piketon, March 3 cats. It was the final home That’s when Hixson took lost a pair of three-set brink of elimination, and
thanks to a Meigs throwing er- The Alexander Spartans ap- game for Hixson, and he over. He scored 34 of his matches to the Federal nearly won a sectional title
ror. It was then 3-0 after senior peared poised to win their first certainly went out in a big, game-high 38 points after Hocking Lancers during in the process.
Abby Howard hit a two-run district semifinal game since
single. Amber Hart followed 1997. They led by 12 points
later in the inning with another with 5:51 left against No. 1
two-run hit, and it was 5-0. seeded Piketon.
Alexander scored all five The Redstreaks made a setter some as a senior. After a 10-0 regular season, a bigger enrollment.
of its runs in the third. The stunning comeback from there, Buckeyes Addis will leave big shoes he’s coached the Buckeyes The regular season
Marauders, who came to stealing the 54-44 win over Continued from page B5 to fill both in volleyball and to 17 straight regular season featured a dramatic win at
Albany hungry for an upset, Alexander. She was awarded with the in girls’ basketball as the victories. Newark Catholic, a last-
ultimately weren’t able to keep The Spartans led 40-28 after TVC-Ohio MVP after the Buckeyes will move forward The Buckeyes exceeded second victory over Vinton
the Spartans from advancing to a drive by Luke Kish. Piketon season. She joined Whitney without her. expectations last fall by go- County, and a week 10 win at
the district tournament. then went on a 26-4 run for the Maiden (2002, 2005) and Coach of the Year — ing 13-1, losing to Kirtland Athens. The Buckeyes then
3. Girls’ soccer team stunning win. Kim Kline (2008, 2009) as Rusty Richards, football in the Division VI state won three playoff games for
advances to district finals, Piketon’s Tanner Perdue had the only Buckeyes to win the Rusty Richards has piled semifinals. the school’s third regional
October 25 17 of his 27 points in the fourth TVC-Ohio girls’ basketball up the victories during his It was one of the best title, and first since 1982.
The Alexander girls’ soccer quarter. Alex Blanton made MVP. two seasons leading the seasons in school history for Richards has a coaching re-
team enjoyed the best season in four of his six 3-pointers for Addis was also an all- Buckeyes’ football program. a program steeped in history. cord of 22-4 in his two years
program history. the game during the comeback, league player in volleyball. Richards is a perfect 12-0 Nelsonville-York went 10-0 with the Buckeyes, leading
The Spartans set a school each one building momentum She was a four-year starter inside the TVC-Ohio, win- for the first time in 20 years, the program to heights not
record for 13 wins under first- for Piketon. at libero, but also filled in at ning a pair of outright titles. beating eight schools that had seen in two decades.
The Athens Messenger Saturday, June 9, 2018 Page B11

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Buckeyes were able to celebrate result even more improbable. The

THRILLING
Continued from page B5
QB Garrett Maiden had 230
yards passing and three touch-
downs in the win, as Keegan
Wilburn had 109 yards receiving
and two touchdown receptions.
The Buckeyes were 12-0 for the
first time in 36 years.
2. Bucks stay unbeaten with
last-second win over Vinton
County, October 20
The Nelsonville-York Buck-
eyes were off to an 8-0 start to
the football season, and they had
a potential TVC-Ohio title clash
looming in week 10 at Athens.
But the Vinton County Vikings
nearly put a blemish on the Bucks’ loss.
perfect mark if not for Garrett
Maiden, Keegan Wilburn and a
last-second drive for the ages.
Maiden found Wilburn for a
2-yard touchdown pass as time
expired, leading to a 27-24 thriller N-Y over Vinton County in 20
of a victory.
The Vikings, led by QB Naylan ing streak overall to the Vikings.
Yates, took a 24-21 lead on Eli
Downs’ 24-yard field goal with
36.6 seconds left. The Buckeyes
were out of timeouts.
They took over at their own 33
yard line with 32.3 seconds left.
Maiden engineered the 67-yard
scoring drive in five plays.
Maiden scrambled 15 yards,
then hit Shakim Williams for a
14-yard completion. With 16.9
seconds left, Maiden was able to
roll left and hit a diving Wilburn
along the sideline for 28 yards.
Now with 10.4 seconds left,
Maiden hit Ronnie Wend for an
eight-yard completion to the 2, set-
ting up Wilburn’s final catch.
It was the final home game of
the regular season for N-Y, and the
after the dramatic drive resulted in
a 9-0 start to the season.
The Buckeyes of course would
start 13-0 before eventually losing
in the state semifinals, a playoff
run that may not have happened
had Maiden not pulled off the
remarkable drive against the
Vikings.
3. Boys basketball upsets Vin-
ton County, December 8
The Vinton County Vikings
were once again outright TVC-
Ohio champions in boys basketball
for the 2017-18 season.
But for one night, the Nelson-
ville-York Buckeyes were able
to hand the Vikings a rare league
The Buckeyes stunned Vinton
County on the basketball court
with an 84-81 overtime win in the
league opener.
It was the first home win for
years and ended an eight-game los-
Junior Ethan Bohyer had a
huge game with 33 points and 23
rebounds. He had 21 points after
the third quarter. He was able to
outduel Vinton County guard Jake
Speakman, who finished with 42
points, six rebounds, five assists
and four steals.
N-Y led all game but fell behind
72-68 with just 1:37 left. It ap-
peared the Vikings would pull out
the win.
However, the Buckeyes were
able to rally back to force over-
time, where they won the extra
session 12-9.
The Vikings missed a 3-pointer
that would have forced double
overtime.
The rest of the season made the
Vikings ended up going 10-2 in
the TVC-Ohio, winning the league
outright.
It was also the Buckeyes’ only
league win of the season, but it
was a win that certainly got people
talking early in the season.
Tough loss of the season —
Girls’ basketball loses to Crooks-
ville in sectional tournament,
February 15
The Buckeyes’ girls basketball
program entered the season win-
ners of four sectional titles in a
row.
N-Y was favored to at least win
its first tournament game and get a
chance to play in another sectional
final, but Crooksville senior Car-
son Miller ruined those plans.
Miller had 32 points on 10 for
15 shooting, adding 18 rebounds,
five assists, four steals and a block
shot.
It was enough for the No. 11
seed Ceramics to beat the No. 6
Buckeyes 59-57 in overtime.
N-Y senior Jessie Addis became
the school’s all-time leading scorer
in the first half, and the Buckeyes
were able to surge ahead in the
second half. to Unioto in the district champion-
But Crooksville was able to STATE ship game.
rally back and get a lead in the Continued from page B3 Of the Bulldogs seven all-league
closing seconds. Athens went a perfect 12-0 in performers, only two were seniors.
Sophomore Grace Sinnott the TVC-Ohio despite having new They had four sophomores land on
buried a corner 3 at the buzzer for starters nearly everywhere on the the all-TVC-Ohio team.
N-Y to force overtime, and extend diamond. The Bulldogs have won Nuzum had a lot of pieces to
the season. 24 games in a row in league play, as replace and he did so with young
But Addis was short on a final they beat the rest of the league by players. The Bulldogs even beat Di-
3 attempt at the buzzer that would five games in the 2018 standings. vision II state semifinalist Circlev-
have given N-Y the win. In the tournament, Athens ille during the regular season.
The Buckeyes had beaten downed Waverly to win a sectional With a bevy of young players
Crooksville in the sectional tourna- title. The Bulldogs then beat Logan back, and a year of experience
ment the previous two seasons, but Elm to advance back to the district under Nuzum’s belt, the Bulldogs
the third meeting went to the Ce- finals. should have big days ahead of them
ramics by the slimmest of margins. The run ended with a close defeat in 2019.

The Buckeyes’ third TVC- 13-9 overall on the season. McCulloch scored a The girls’ track and field Wellston and Meigs.
CHAMPIONS Ohio championship team During the golf season, career-high 29 points in the season saw a pair of sprint Against Wellston, N-Y
Continued from page B5 was their boys track and N-Y didn’t have enough to victory, making six 3-point- relay teams come close to trailed 11-0 after the top
The Buckeyes’ wrestling field team, which dethroned fill out a team score during ers. The win allowed the qualifying for the state track of the second but rallied
team had another banner sea- Athens for the top spot. The league matches, but siblings Buckeyes to remain ahead and field meet. The 4x200 for a 14-13 win with Bryce
son in winning a TVC-Ohio Buckeyes scored 168 team Clay Hall and Caitlyn Hall of Alexander in the league relay team of McCulloch, Parker-Lent hitting a go-
title. Colt Yinger, Collin points, ahead of Athens’ competed during the season, standings going into the sec- Madison Campbell, Court- ahead two-run single in the
Yinger, Noah Inboden, Brian 123 points. Chris Cook and with Caitlyn Hall taking ond half of the season. nee Heskett and Sidney bottom of the sixth.
Heller, Tyler Speelman and Keegan Wilburn shared the home all-league honors. N-Y had a shot at win- Fick finished in fifth place, Against Meigs, DJ Hop-
Donovan McCollister all high point honors during the The cross country season ning a league title but a pair while the group was sixth in kins hit a walk-off double in
took home individual TVC meet, each winning two indi- was led by Addison Bowers of close losses to even- the 4x100. Fick was also a the eighth-inning to lead the
titles. vidual events and combining and Travis Meeks, Em- tual league-champ Vinton TVC-Ohio champion in the Buckeyes to a 2-1 win over
The Buckeyes were able for wins in two relays. ily McWilliams and Collin County swung the league 100 meters, winning in 13.30 the Marauders.
to advance to the team duals The Buckeyes continued Yinger. standings in the Vikings’ seconds. Reece Robson, Garrett
in Division III for the first their success in the tourna- In the winter, Nelsonville- favor. Addis, McCulloch and The baseball team was Maiden and Shakim Wil-
time. Nelsonville-York went ments. Their 4x200 relay York was in contention for Haley Hurd were all-league able to rally for a strong liams were all-league play-
on to win sectional and dis- team of Wilburn, Brady a TVC-Ohio title in girls’ performers. finish in the TVC-Ohio slate. ers.
trict team titles. Jones, Bryce Parker-Lent basketball until late in the Nelsonville-York’s boys’ The Buckeyes were 1-6 at During softball season,
Nelsonville-York sent a and Cook advanced to the season. Senior point guard basketball season saw a new one point before rallying for Nelsonville-York was able
school record seven ath- state track and field meet Jessie Addis was the league’s coach in Jamie Justus. The a 5-7 finish. to end a 49-game TVC-Ohio
letes to the individual state for the third year in a row. Most Valuable Player, as she Bucks upset Vinton County The comeback helped losing streak with an 8-5 win
tournament — Colt Yinger, Maiden was the team’s fifth became the school’s all-time in the league opener, part of head coach Wayne Dicken at River Valley to open the
Collin Yinger, Donovan member, and ran in both leading scorer. a 4-3 start to the season. win Coach of the Year hon- season.
McCollister, Noah Inboden, regional races when Parker- The Buckeyes enjoyed a But the Bucks lost 15 of ors in the TVC-Ohio. Taylor Shockey and Skylar
Tyler Speelman, Colton Sny- Lent was injured. key win on Jan. 4, when Mary their last 16 games to end the Perhaps the Buckeyes’ Riffle were all-TVC-Ohio
der and Brian Heller — with Cook also made the state Kate McCulloch shot them to season, with Brayden Allen best two wins were dra- players on the softball dia-
Colt Yinger, Inboden and track and field meet in the a 57-53 win at Alexander. earning all-league honors. matic triumphs at home over mond.
McCollister winning district 200 meters, with Justin Perry
titles. qualifying in the 300 meter
At the state tournament, hurdles.
Collin Yinger and McCollis-
ter each placed fifth in their
In the fall, the Nelsonville-
York volleyball team fea-
Diles Hearing Center would like to congratulate the
weight class, with Speelman tured a talented senior class.
placing fourth. Jessie Addis, Sidney Fick AthensTrack & FieldTeam on their amazing season!
Colt Yinger then capped and Alexis Bostater were all-
off the Buckeyes’ season by league selections. Addis and
winning a Division III state
title at 160 pounds. He is
Fick were four-year starters,
and Bostater, a setter, was
Congratulations, Coach Gonczy, for being named Coach
the fifth state champion in named the league’s Offen-
program history, going 48-1 sive Most Valuable Player.
of theYear for Girls Division 1 Southeast Ohio District.
on the year. Head coach Stephanie
As a result, N-Y placed Breeze was also one of the
fifth as a team in Division TVC-Ohio Coaches of the Congratulations to the girls' team for 10 Consecutive
III with 61 points, just half a Year, as the Buckeyes were
point out of fourth place. 8-4 in the TVC-Ohio, and Years as the girlsTVC Champions, Boys and Girls' teams
for outstanding seasons, and a special congratulations to
BULLDOGS Once in overtime, the Vi-
kings surged ahead, scoring
Lindsay Zatta for placing at the State meet in Division 1
Continued from page B3
The Bulldogs had won
five quick points.
The Bulldogs weren’t able
girls PoleVault! We are so proud of you all!
nine in a row to close the to recover, and the Vikings
regular season, and a 10th advanced to the district
consecutive win would have tournament.
led to a sectional champion- Athens and Vinton County Athens • 275 W. Union St.
ship. have played countless clas- (740)594-3571
The contest was back and sics on the basketball court
forth, but a pair of missed in the last decade, Febru-
free throws by Athens with ary’s tournament game just Jackson • 659 Main St STE. D
7.8 seconds left in the fourth happened to bounce in the
Dr. Bethany Gonczy
www.dileshearing.com • 800-237-7716 (740)288-3571 Owner/ Doctor
of Audiology
quarter kept the game tied. Vikings’ favor.

So Proud Of All Of Our

Local Teams This Year!
Call : 740-593-7393 Fax: 740-592-5945 • athensorders@minutemanpress.com • 17 West Washington Street Athens, Ohio
Page B12 Saturday, June 9, 2018
Victories
Continued from page B2
Lynchburg-Clay was able to
win a rematch, beating Alexan-
der in the district finals for the
second year in a row.
The Spartans’ volleyball
season saw an influx of young
talent that helped keep the
program in the hunt for district
championships.
Despite returning just one
starter from a 2016 league
championship team, Alexander
was still able to win 16 games
on the season, going 16-9.
Freshman Karsyn Raines
led the offensive as an outside
hitter. Freshman Jadyn Mace
took over as the setter, as both
players finished on the all-
league team.
Sophomore libero Mallory
Rankin was also all-league, as
was senior hitter Hope Small-
wood.
Alexander went 10-2 in the
Tri-Valley Conference Ohio
Division, finishing only behind
Athens.
The Spartans won another
sectional title, then beat Min-
ford to advance to the district
finals for the 12th time in the
last 15 seasons.
The season ended just shy
of a district championships —
the Spartans lost in five sets
to Westfall — but the young
Spartans showed they have the
capability to contend for spots
in the regional tournament.
The football season saw Al-
exander go 1-9 for the second
season in a row. The Spartans
enjoyed a season-opening win
at Federal Hocking for first-
year coach Earich Dean before
suffering nine losses to end
the season. Sophomore Luke
Chapman, junior Connor Kim-
brough and senior Nate Belville
were all-league performers.
Carter Carr and Matt Belville
helped pace Alexander’s cross
country team in the fall. Payton
Remy paced the girls’ cross
country team. Carr and Remy
qualified for regional competi-
tion.
During golf season, Alexan-
der went 22-20 in TVC-Ohio
play. Whit Byrd and Andrew
Vogt were all-league perform-
ers.
Alexander enjoyed suc-
cess during the boys and girls
basketball season.
The girls’ basketball season
saw new head coach Jeff Grin-
stead take over the program.
Junior Rachel Richardson
scored her 1,000th career point
during the regular season as she
continued her stellar Spartans’
career.
She was joined on the all-
league team by McKena Rice
and Kristen Taylor.
Alexander suffered a string
of tough defeats against good
competition before peaking
toward the end of the season.
A big win at Nelsonville-York
allowed Alexander to finish at
9-3 in the TVC-Ohio, tied for
second place with the Buck-
eyes.
Alexander turned that strong
finish into another sectional
title. The Spartans beat Coal
Grove 41-40 behind a go-ahead
basket in the final minute by
Richardson to win a sectional
championship.
The Spartans squared off
with Minford in the Division
III district semifinals and nearly
pulled off an upset. The Fal-
cons only lost one game in the
regular season, and ultimately
held off the Spartans, 50-42, as
the Spartans finished the season
17-7.
The boys’ basketball
season finished 13-11 as
Alexander broke in a young
group of sophomores.
Ryan Davidson and Luke
Kish were Alexander’s seniors,
and sophomores Caleb Terry
and JK Kearns made their pres-
ence felt.
The Spartans were in the
thick of the TVC-Ohio race
most of the season. They
earned a home win over Athens
early in the season. They also
came within a possession of
beating Oak Hill in a late De-
cember game, as the Oaks were
unbeaten at the time.
A pair of close losses to
Vinton County ultimately
swung the league title toward
the Vikings. A 56-53 OT win
for the Vikings at Alexander
denied the Spartans of a chance
at the league title.
Alexander rebounded to
win two sectional tournament
games at Jackson High School.
The Spartans beat Nelsonville-
York, 64-47, then beat South
Point 61-43 to return to the
district tournament.
Alexander was close to
pushing the season to a district
championship game, but a
close loss to Piketon at the
Convocation Center ended the
season.
On the wrestling mat,
Alexander was led by Griffin
Chmiel and Wes Radford. Both
were runner-ups in the TVC
meet. Chmiel competed at 106
pounds and Radford competed
at 120 pounds.
The softball season was a
highlight of the school year for
Alexander, as the Spartans re-
claimed the outright TVC-Ohio
crown. It was the third such
title in the last four seasons.
Freshman phenom Jadyn
Mace led a potent Alexander
offense, as she earned TVC-
Ohio Offensive MVP honors.
Pitcher Gracie Hill was the
league’s Defensive MVP and
Marilyn Scurlock won Coach
of the Year honors in the TVC-
Ohio.
Abby Howard, Erin Scur-
lock, Halie Miller, Audrey
Ross and Brooke Casto also
were all-league. The Spartans
had four freshmen land on the
all-league team, as the future is
bright in Albany. Howard was
honorable mention all-Ohio in
Division III.
Alexander trailed Meigs by a
game in the loss column before
beating the Marauders twice
in one week’s time. The wins
propelled Alexander past Meigs
for the league title.
The Athens Messenger
The Spartans then beat
Meigs a third time to win a
sectional championship.
The season was cut short in
the district semifinal round in
a loss to Fairfield. However,
it was still a season that saw
Alexander go 20-4.
The baseball team at Al-
exander was also young and
improved. The Spartans went
11-13 overall, losing a sectional
final at Zane Trace 4-3.
Senior Andy Merckle, junior
Connor Kimbrough, sopho-
mores Dalton Skinner, Ben
Wolfe and freshman Isaac York
were all-league players for
Alexander.
The Spartans were able
to sweep the season series
against both rivals Wellston
and Nelsonville-York, helping
them go 7-5 in TVC-Ohio
play. Alexander then beat
Jackson in the opening round
of the Division II sectional
tournament.
The track and field season
saw Carter Carr win a TVC-
Ohio title in the 1,600 meters.
He won the league meet with
a time of 4:32.06. Hanna
Cremeans was the TVC-Ohio
champ in the high jump at 4
feet, 10 inches.