ThisWeek Dublin Villager
Page A12
March 13, 2014
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Commentary
Bounce helps lift Coffman to state
Call it the shot heard around Dublin. Or perhaps the shot that sent the first Dublin City Schools basketball program – boys or girls – to a state semifinal, as the Dublin Coffman High School girls team defeated Reynoldsburg 39-26 in a Division I regional final March 7 at Otterbein. Kamerine SCOTT Taylor faced HENNEN the basket, standing just to the right of the top of the key, and released a 3point shot with a high, arching trajectory. The ball hit the rim and bounced high near the backboard before falling, rattling back and forth on the iron and tumbling through the net as the Coffman faithful erupted. The basket was worth three points on the scoreboard, but more in the context of the game. It gave Coffman the lead for good at 24-23 with 2 minutes, 2 seconds left in the third quarter and swung momentum in favor of the Shamrocks, who went on to win their first regional title. Taylor’s 3-pointer began a 12-0 run and gave Coffman its first lead since the opening quarter. The Raiders would score only three points in the final 10:02. “The shot looked good when I took it, but it had to bounce
Members of the Coffman girls basketball team celebrate with the championship trophy March 6 after defeating Reynoldsburg 39-26 in a Division I regional final at Otterbein University. CHRIS PARKER/THISWEEKSPORTS
Girls Basketball
Coffman ‘finally over the hump’
By SCOTT HENNEN THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
Bryan Patton has never been a part of one of the final four teams remaining in the state — until now. The fifth-year coach gets his shot when his Dublin Coffman High School girls basketball team takes the court at Ohio State at 8 p.m. Friday, March 14, in a Division I state semifinal against fifth-ranked North Canton Hoover. It’s something he believes his players always will remember. “It’s really hard to fathom,” said Patton, who graduated from Westerville South in 1998. “I’m so excited for the HENNEN >> A15 girls because it’s a special moment.
“I’ve (now) made it (to state) as a coach. When I played at Westerville South, we had some very good teams but never got to make that run. The girls get that chance to play against the best in the state and the chance to show what they can do.” The Shamrocks improved to 22-6 by defeating 10th-ranked Reynoldsburg 39-26 in a regional final March 7 at Otterbein. It is the first state tournament appearance by any Dublin school in boys or girls basketball. “We’re finally over the hump after losing in regional finals in the past,” said junior post player Sade Olatoye, who had 18 points and 16 rebounds
against Reynoldsburg. “It’s just so amazing.” Coffman was making its third regional appearance, with the others coming in 2008 and 2009. Those years the Shamrocks went on to lose to West Chester Lakota West in regional finals, falling 62-48 in 2008 and 57-49 in 2009. The Shamrocks now focus their attention on Hoover, which improved to 242 by defeating Solon 65-42 in a regional final March 7. The Vikings won the Division I state title in 2002 when coach Abbey Allerding was a senior in the program. Julie Worley, a 6-foot forward and Ashland University signee, averages 13.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals
for Hoover. Another 6-0 forward, Niagara signee Kaylee Stroemple, averages 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds. Marquia Turner, a 5-8 senior guard headed to Xavier, averages 10.7 points, 4.1 assists and 3.0 steals. Senior guard Kelsey Lensman averages 8.7 points and 2.3 steals, and senior guard Kaitlyn Runner averages 5.3 points. “(The Vikings) are very balanced and they have smart, heady kids who can play a lot of different ways,” Patton said. “They can win games in the 30s or win them in the 70s. They also pride themselves on playing good defense and making teams uncomfortable.”
GIRLS >> A17
ThisWeek Dublin Villager
March 13, 2014
Page A13
Boys Basketball
’Rocks upend Newark in district final By FRANK DiRENNA THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
After a 44-34 loss to Olentangy Liberty on Feb. 7, Dublin Coffman High School boys basketball coach Jamey Collins challenged his players to improve their games if they planned on advancing in the Division I district tournament. The Shamrocks responded by winning five of their next six, including a 61-50 victory over Newark in a district final March 8 at the Fairgrounds Coliseum. “These guys feel comfortable in the last few weeks of what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to accomplish basketball-wise,” Collins said. “We had a little tough stretch in there where we had to find ourselves a little bit. The great thing about these kids is they listened and learned … (and made) just a couple little adjustments that we needed to make.” Ninth-seeded Coffman pulled away late from fifthseeded Newark as junior guard C.J. Saunders scored the Shamrocks’ final 16 points. He finished with a team-high 22. It was the Shamrocks’ first district title since 2010, when they defeated Marion-Franklin 78-59 before losing to Gahanna 59-53 in a regional semifinal. “This feels right,” Saunders said of winning a district title. “I remember being a ball boy always coming here (to the Fairgrounds) and now playing (in a district final here), it’s unreal.” The Shamrocks were 19-5 before playing Northland in a regional semifinal March 12 at the Fairgrounds. The Vikings, who were the district’s top seed, improved to 21-4 by defeating Westerville Central 64-53 in a district final March 8. The semifinal winner plays Pickerington Central or Upper
Arlington in a regional final at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at the Fairgrounds. UA is 24-1 and Pickerington Central is 20-5 entering their regional semifinal Thursday, March 13, at the Fairgrounds. The Golden Bears, who were seeded third in the district, beat Coffman 42-39 on Feb. 14. That was the Shamrocks’ last loss before playing Northland. UA also defeated Coffman 43-40 on Jan. 10. The Bears won the OCC-Central Division at 13-1 and the Shamrocks were third (10-4). UA defeated second-seeded Gahanna 55-49 in a district final March 8, while sixthseeded Pickerington Central advanced by beating fourthseeded Zanesville 58-42. Pickerington Central, which shared the OCC-Ohio title at 11-3 with Gahanna and Newark, is without Ohio State signee Jae’Sean Tate (torn labrum in right shoulder) and coach Jerry Francis (health issues). The regional champion advances to a state semifinal March 21 at Ohio State. Against Newark, Coffman was able to remain in control for most of the fourth quarter despite playing without sophomore forward Luke Vargo, who sat out the final 6 minutes, 44 seconds with four fouls. Vargo left the game with his team leading 42-35 and, led by Saunders, Coffman maintained its advantage. “When one guys goes down, we have another guy to put in and that’s the beauty of this team,” Collins said. “Our second five probably could play about even with our first five if we go at it in practice. They all bring a little different type of talent, but it doesn’t change much when one guy comes in
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Coffman’s C.J. Saunders (center), Sam Payne (left) and Luke Vargo celebrate with their fans March 7 after defeating Newark 61-50 in a Division I district final. JOHN HULKENBERG/THISWEEKSPORTS
for another.” Newark closed to within 4643 on Grant Russell’s two free throws with 4:14 left. Saunders made a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 52-45, and Newark never got closer than six points after that. Vargo had 14 points, sophomore Sam Payne scored 10 off the bench and the Shamrocks made nine 3-pointers. “It was really exciting. You really don’t have that happen too much,” said guard Nate Axelrod, who is the only senior on the team and accepted the district title trophy after the game. “My teammates mean everything to me. They were the ones that really won this game. It was really exciting and I wanted to share it with
them.” Jordan Dartis led Newark with 27 points. Coffman advanced to the district final by defeating seventh-seeded Walnut Ridge 5047 in a semifinal March 5 at Liberty. Noah Vollmer’s layup with 2:14 left provided what proved to be the winning points, and Axelrod added two free throws with 7 seconds remaining. Walnut Ridge led by as many as 11 points in the third quarter before Coffman answered with an 11-0 run to tie the game at 34 heading into the fourth. Saunders led the Shamrocks with 13 points. fdirenna@thisweeknews.com
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Coffman’s Nate Axelrod drives past Newark’s Grant Russell. JOHN HULKENBERG/THISWEEKSPORTS
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ThisWeek Dublin Villager
Page A14
March 13, 2014
ThisWeek’s 2013-14 Super 12 Wrestling Team The Captain
State title is dream come true for Pfarr
By FRANK DiRENNA THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
Marysville High School senior wrestler Austin Pfarr fulfilled a dream at the Division I state tournament. On March 1, he won the state title at 220 pounds by defeating Cincinnati Moeller’s Chalmer Frueauf 5-4 with 6 seconds left in the one-minute overtime. After a season in which he finished 46-1, Pfarr has been named captain of ThisWeek’s Super 12 team. “This was definitely worth it. It was awesome,” Pfarr said of his state title. “I love the sport. I love the Austin Pfarr grind. When you’re little, a fourth-grader, what you look forward to is winning a state title once you get into high school. I got that done and I’m pretty excited.” Frueauf was the defending state champion at 220, but Pfarr proved to be the aggressor throughout the match. “Austin put himself on the map from the first week of the season,” coach Shawn Andrews said. “I don’t consider it an upset. I understand why people might look at it that way, but I believe in our kids.” Pfarr’s only loss of the season came Dec. 15, a 3-2 decision against Lombard (Ill.) Montini Catholic’s Edgar Ruano in the 220-pound final of the Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit Ironman Tournament. Pfarr, who went 139-41 for his career, was making his third appearance at state. He went 0-2 at 182 as a sophomore and finished fifth at 195 as a junior. “Austin is probably the most competitive kid I’ve ever coached and that comes through in that (state final) match (against Frueauf),” Andrews said. “He just wants to win more than anybody I’ve ever coached. I’m so proud of him. I can’t say enough great things about him.” Joining Pfarr on the Super 12 are three of his Marysville teammates – senior Hayden Lee (won state title at 113) juniorTaleb Rahmani (fourth at 145) and senior David Sparks (fifth at 138). The four helped Marysville finish third (77.5 points) at state behind Massillon Perry (185) and Perrysburg (90.5) as 78 teams scored. He plans to wrestle in college and is considering Brown, Northwestern and Ohio University. fdirenna@thisweeknews.com
JAKE ADKINS Adkins, a junior from Northridge, qualified for the Division III state tournament for the third consecutive season and placed for the second year in a row, fining fourth at 106. Adkins, who went 49-6 and has a 13828 career record, will try next season to better the program’s best state finish, a third-place effort by Joey Simcoe in 1999. “Jake has worked hard to get where he is and we expect that to continue,” coach Eric Potts said. “He goes all over the country in the summer, wrestling against top competition. Doing that this summer and working in the weight room will help him do even better as a senior.”
CLAYTON BULLARD Bullard went 53-1 and didn’t lose until the Division II state tournament, where he placed third at 195 for the highest state finish in Johnstown history. The senior defeated Perry’s Kyle Kremiller 5-4 in the third-place match, after losing to Kremiller 9-3 in the second round. Last season at state, Bullard was sixth at 195 in Division III. He had a 168-28 career record. “Clayton is big, powerful and strong. However, what separates him from the rest is his ability to move quickly,” coach Bob Fresch said. “I have always reminded him that he moves like a 145-pounder.”
JONATHAN FURNAS Furnas was one of the most consistent 120-pounders in the state, earning a 45-3 record while winning Division I sectional and district titles. The Olentangy Liberty junior also placed fourth at state. “Jonathan’s one of the hardest-working kids I’ve coached and he wasn’t distracted by the atmosphere of wrestling in front of thousands of fans at the state tournament,” coach Mark Marinelli said. “Jonathan hasn’t wrestled for nearly as many years as most of the kids who made it to state, so he has a huge learning curve and he will pass some of the guys who beat him this year as he gets better.”
PATRIK GARREN Garren took a big step forward when he finished third in the Division III state tournament at heavyweight as a sophomore, and he stayed at that level for the rest of his career at Ready. After going 22-18 and advancing to district as a freshman at 189, Garren went 41-6 as a sophomore. He was 42-1 while winning the state title at heavyweight as a junior. As a senior, Garren went 47-2 and took third at state, giving him a 152-27 career record. “I was so blessed to be able to coach a guy like Patrik, and I got him in my first year as a coach,” second-year coach James Yonushonis said.
SHAKUR LANEY Laney qualified for the Division I state tournament for the second consecutive season and finished fifth at 113. The Groveport junior, who was fourth at 106 last season, went 4-2 at state and finished 47-6. Laney lost twice to state champion Hayden Lee of Marysville, in sectional and district finals. He also lost twice to L.J. Bentley of Lakewood St. Edward, who was fourth at state. Another loss was to Uhrichsville Claymont’s Dustin Warner, who won the Division II state title at 120. “I’m going to work at getting stronger next year,” Laney said. “I want to win a state championship.”
HAYDEN LEE Lee, who transferred from Garrett (Ind.), capped his only season at Marysville by winning the Division I state title at 113 pounds, defeating Massillon Perry’s Jose Rodriguez 5-2 in the final. The senior finished 43-3 after being a two-time state placer in Indiana.
“His legacy is not only winning a state title, but the pace that he put in our room for our younger kids that are lightweights,” coach Shawn Andrews said. “That’s going to be his legacy going forward because some of our younger kids picked it all up from him — not just the technique and how to wrestle — but the way to wrestle.”
About the athletes... ThisWeek’s Super 12 team profiles the top high school wrestlers – regardless of weight class – in our coverage area. The team was determined by the sports staff and by nominations from area coaches.
TALEB RAHMANI Rahmani, a three-time state qualifier, finished fourth at state at 145 in Division I. Next season, he will look to become Marysville’s second four-time state placer, joining 2013 Super 12 captain Noah Forrider. Rahmani, a junior, finished the season 45-9 and is 117-19 for his career. “Taleb had another outstanding season,” coach Shawn Andrews said. “He is on pace to become the second ever four-time state placer in Marysville history. I know that Taleb will work extremely hard in the offseason to make every effort to be standing on the top step of the podium next winter.”
TIM ROONEY Rooney finished the season 41-7 after qualifying for the Division I state tournament for the third year in a row. The St. Charles junior placed fourth at 138, following a fifth-place finish at 126 in 2013 and a 1-2 effort at 120 as a freshman. Rooney is the program’s only three-time state qualifier. His 116-17 career record makes him the program leader in wins. “Although Tim is a talented athlete, his greatest asset comes from his true love of the sport,” coach Joe Moyer said. “He enjoys the challenge the sport presents and looks forward to competing against the best wrestlers.”
BOBBY SMITH Smith capped his career at Hilliard Davidson by going 48-5 and finishing fifth at state at 132 in Division I. He became a three-time state placer despite hurting his lower back in his quarterfinal win, competing in the rest of the tournament while injured. Last season, Smith, who attended Ready his freshman and sophomore seasons, was second at 126. “It’s not only the two years he’s given us, he had a heck of a career,” coach Dominic DiSabato said. “He’s a two-time state placer at Davidson. He brought more than just being a two-time placer (at Davidson). He was a good leader.”
DAVID SPARKS A four-time state qualifier, Sparks finished fifth at 138 in Division I.That capped a 39-11 season and 152-44 career. The Marysville senior was eighth at 126 last season at state. “David has had a great career here at Marysville,” coach Shawn Andrews said. “He is one of only a handful of guys in our program’s history to be a fourtime state qualifier. In addition, he placed twice at the state tournament. In four years in our program he never missed a match, he has been a great leader and he will be truly missed. I know he fell short of his ultimate goal of being a state champion, but he has an incredible amount to be proud of.”
JOSH WIMER Wimer qualified for the Division I state tournament for the third consecutive season and finished fourth at 126. The Central Crossing senior went 445 to finish 153-33 for his career, which included a fifth-place state effort at 106 as a sophomore. Last season, he qualified for state at 120 but did not participate because of a skin infection. “What I will remember most about Josh is his willingness to wrestle anybody regardless of weight or credentials,” coach Jamie Ramirez said. “He bumped up two weight classes multiple times this season to wrestle a state-caliber (opponent) with much success. … He is technically sound and at the same time dangerous with the ability of hitting a big move to end the match.”
Marysville’s Austin Pfarr celebrates after winning the Division I state title at 220 pounds March 1. LORRIE CECIL/THISWEEKSPORTS
Super 12 NAME Jake Adkins Clayton Bullard Jonathan Furnas Patrik Garren Shakur Laney Hayden Lee Austin Pfarr Taleb Rahmani Tim Rooney Bobby Smith David Sparks Josh Wimer
SCHOOL Northridge Johnstown Olentangy Liberty Ready Groveport Marysville Marysville Marysville St. Charles Hilliard Davidson Marysville Central Crossing
YR. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr.
WT. 106 195 120 Hwt. 113 113 220 145 138 132 138 126
Honorable Mention NAME Ana Abduljelil Sean Black Dominick Demas Alec Eisnnicher Nate Hall Kristopher Hill Jhulyis Monroe Caleb Ohl Trevor Parker Guiseppe Penzone Grant Rathburn Andrew Sierawski Dain Steffeny Jake Stratton Aaron Yarger
SCHOOL Whitehall Hilliard Darby Dublin Coffman Big Walnut Olentangy Hartley Marion-Franklin Newark Catholic Hilliard Darby Olentangy Liberty Hartley Delaware Granville Hilliard Bradley Pickerington Central
YR. So. Sr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr.
WT. 113 160 138 170 182 113 182 126 182 126 138 220 152 170 152
Past Captains Marysville’s Noah Forrider (2013), Olentangy Liberty’s Roy Daniels (2012), Hilliard Davidson’s Chase Delande (2011), Westerville North’s Josh Demas (2009, 10), Westerville North’s Jesse Dong (2008), Westerville Central’s Brendan Barlow (2007), Westerville South’s Anthony Ciraky (2006), Hamilton Township’s Nick Hackett (2005), New Albany’s Larry Reichard (2004),Westland’s T.J. Enright (2003), Hamilton Township’s Jason Hackett (2002), DeSales’ C.P. Schlatter (2000, 01), Ready’s Tommy Rowlands (2000) and Pickerington’s Keaton Anderson (1999).
Sports briefs McQuade earns NCAC honor
Dublin Coffman High School graduate Sarah McQuade has been named second-team all-North Coast Athletic Conference as a member of the Ohio Wesleyan University women’s basketball team. McQuade, a 5-foot-6 junior guard, averaged 8.4 points, 3.4 rebounds
and 3.5 assists this season.
USTA youth event slated
The United States Tennis Association is holding a free event in Columbus as part of a nationwide effort to get children interested in the sport. The session is scheduled for 1:30
to 2:30 p.m. March 28 at Colerain Elementary School, 499 E. Weisheimer Road. For more information, visit www.youthtennis.com.
Gym Rat Basketball offering programs
Gym Rat Basketball is holding its annual spring programs, includ-
ing skill-development workouts, camps and leagues for children in grades 1-8. For more information, visit www.basketballgymrats.com or email Sharon Kaplan at skaplanb@aol.com.
Girls golf clinics offered in April
The Ohio Girls Golf Foundation
will hold clinics from 10 to 11 a.m. April 5, 12, 19 and 26 at Bent Tree in Sunbury. The clinics, which are taught by LPGA and PGA instructors, are open to girls of all skill levels ages 8-18 and will cover all aspects of the game. Visit www.oggf.org or email juddstephenson@yahoo.com. The deadline is April 1.
ThisWeek Dublin Villager
March 13, 2014
Page A15
HENNEN FROM >> A12
around three or four times before it fell through,” said Taylor, a junior guard who was 2-for-5 from 3-point range and scored 10 points. “We really needed that perimeter shot to get the ball inside to (post player) Sade (Olatoye).” Olatoye, a 6-foot-1 junior who had 18 points and 16 rebounds, was in the paint as Taylor’s shot bounced around the rim “I was thinking, ‘I gotta fight for that rebound. I gotta get that rebound,’” Olatoye said. “That moment really pumped us up.” Coffman was making its third regional appearance, having won its other district titles in 2008 and 2009. Both years the Shamrocks went on to lose to West Chester Lakota West in a regional final, falling 62-48 in 2008 and 57-49 in 2009. “When Kamerine hit that shot, (Reynoldsburg) called timeout,” said senior guard Griffin Tullis, whose team improved to 22-6. “That really brought us together. We said, ‘This is it. This is where we can do it.’” Taylor’s 3-pointer “was the first time all game that I felt like we were in control,” coach Bryan Patton said. “Then (the Raiders) called timeout, and we were able to build from that.” Taylor bounced back from a 2-for-10 3-point shooting performance in a 55-40 victory over Upper Arlington on March 4 in a regional semifinal. “Kamerine is a notorious big-game player who embraces those kinds of situations,” Patton said. “She had a tough game (against UA), but came up huge for us (against Reynoldsburg). She wanted to show she could do better.” Tullis wasn’t ready for the moment to end. She said she was going to take a strand of net cut down during the regional awards ceremony and tie it around her finger before going to sleep that evening. Olatoye searched for words to capture her feelings. “I really don’t have words to describe this,”
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Coffman coach Bryan Patton said Kamerine Taylor “is a notorious big-game player.” CHRIS PARKER/THISWEEKSPORTS
she said. “This is the first time we’ve gone past the regional.” The Shamrocks play North Canton Hoover in a state semifinal at 8 p.m. Friday, March 14, at Ohio State, with the winner advancing to the state final at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15. And that gives Taylor, or perhaps one of her teammates, a chance to sink another shot to remember. shennen@thisweeknews.com
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ThisWeek Dublin Villager
Page A16
March 13, 2014
Wrestling
’Rocks overcame injuries to post strong finish By SCOTT GERFEN THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
There was a point early in the season when Dublin Coffman High School wrestling coach Chance Van Gundy might have considered dismissing any thoughts of his team having postseason success. The Shamrocks had lost two of their leaders to season-ending injuries in seniors Andrew Muncrief (182 pounds) and Riley Young (heavyweight), leaving their lineup in an even more youthful state.
“We showed a lot of promise at the beginning of the season, but by mid-December, we were merely a shell of the team we thought we’d have,” Van Gundy said. “We had to play the cards we were dealt and a lot of kids who weren’t expected to step up helped us finish strong.” Coffman had eight Division I district qualifiers, the most among the Dublin teams, and one state qualifier in freshman Dominick Demas (138). Demas went 3-2 and placed sixth in the state tournament
that concluded March 1 at Ohio State, finishing 36-4 on the season. He scored eight points for Coffman, which tied three teams for 46th behind champion Massillon Perry (185). “He didn’t quite have the postseason he wanted to have,” Van Gundy said. “For Dominick, it was a disappointing ending to a great regular season. If it makes him a better wrestler in the long run, his postseason losses are worth it. He has a bright career ahead of him.” Demas had advanced to state
by placing third at district Feb. 21 and 22 at Hilliard Darby. The Shamrocks scored 29.5 points at district to finish 19th behind champion Marysville (147) as 37 teams scored. Also competing at district were senior Aaron Miller (195, 23-11), junior Adam Zennouzi (152, 15-12), sophomores Nate Longo (132, 22-16), Willy Plaisir (145, 25-13) and Sterling Roseberry (220, 20-16) and freshmen Jakaria Hossan (106, 20-16) and Joey Lowers (113, 11-19). Coffman finished fourth (160.5) in the 11-team sectional Feb. 15 at Pickerington Central behind champion Teays Valley (229). Demas and Miller both won sectional titles. Coffman went 3-4 in the OCC-Central Division to tie Central Crossing for fourth, behind Marysville (7-0), Hilliard Davidson (5-2) and Olentangy Liberty (5-2) and ahead of Thomas Worthington (2-5), Upper Arlington (2-5) and Westland (0-7). Seeded fourth in Region 6B, the Shamrocks defeated fifth-seeded New Carlisle Tecumseh 39-33 in the first round of the state team tournament Jan. 22 before losing to top-seeded and eventual regional champion Marysville 50-22 in the second round that same day.
At a glance
COFFMAN •Finishes: Tied for fourth in OCCCentral, fourth at sectional, 19th at district, tied for 46th at state, lost in second round of state team tournament •Seniors lost: Aaron Miller, Andrew Muncrief, Jarrod Sotos and Riley Young •Key returnees: Dominick Demas, Jakaria Hossan, Nate Longo, Joey Lowers, Willy Plaisir, Sterling Roseberry and Adam Zennouzi
Irish expect state qualifier to return
Scioto struggled to remain competitive in dual meets, but coach Aaron McKenzie saw individual improvement over the course of the season. “Every individual on the team progressed throughout the season, even though some may not have noticed the change or would like to admit it because they did not reach personal goals,” he said. “Many of our wrestlers have little experience compared to others. If their progression continues, we should be able to help them achieve their personal goals.” Despite missing significant time early in the season because
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JEROME •Finishes: Fourth in OCC-Cardinal, sixth at sectional, tied for 23rd at district •Seniors lost: Josh Transue •Key returnees: Justin Chon, Liam Dunlea, Owen Stein and Seth Transue SCIOTO •Finishes: Seventh in OCC-Cardinal, eighth at sectional, 22nd at district, did not score at state •Seniors lost: Nick Horvat, Jeff Jarry and Cameron Wallace •Key returnees: Connor Hubschman, Ras Lumpkins, Robert Martinez, Brennen Sawicki, Andrew Shaver, Dereal Vasser and Brian Zimmerman
of a leg injury, junior Brennen Sawicki (heavyweight) went 4-0 to win a sectional title and went 4-2 and placed fourth at district, marking the 19th consecutive season in which the Irish have had at least one state qualifier. Sawicki went 0-2 at state to finish 19-5. Scioto finished 22nd (24) at district and finished eighth (73) in the 11-team sectional Feb. 15 at Watkins Memorial behind champion Delaware (248.5). The Irish did not score at state. Scioto, which did not compete in the state team tournament, went 1-6 in the OCCCardinal to finish seventh, behind Westerville North (70), Hilliard Bradley (6-1), Hilliard Darby (5-2), Jerome (4-3), Westerville Central (34) and Westerville South (2-5) and ahead of Canal Winchester (0-7). The Irish had two other district qualifiers in senior Jeff Jarry (182, 26-11) and sophomore Ras Lumpkins (220, 3313). In addition to Jarry, Scioto is losing two other seniors in Cameron Wallace (152, 26-15) and Nick Horvat (145, 13-14). Other expected to return include juniors Andrew Shaver (152, 15-11) and Dereal Vasser (152, 21-9), sophomores Connor Hubschman (heavyweight,
WRESTLING >> A19
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ThisWeek Dublin Villager
March 13, 2014
Page A17
STATE
FROM >> A12
Olatoye averages 15.6 points and 17.3 rebounds, and junior guard Kamerine Taylor averages 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Senior guard Griffin Tullis averages 8.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists, and sophomore guard Christine Szabo averages 8.6 points. Junior guard Maddie Andrews (5-7) rounds out Coffman’s starting lineup. She averages 3.0 points and 1.2 assists. “The thing that’s scary about (the Shamrocks) is they work so well as a team,” Allerding said. “Olatoye is a phenomenal rebounder and also is great defensively, but they also have three strong guards and more coming off the bench. They are a strong team unit, clicking on the inside as well as the outside.” The state final is 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Ohio State against top-ranked Cincinnati Princeton (24-2) or seventh-ranked Toledo Notre Dame (23-3). The Shamrocks lost to Notre Dame 56-48 in the season opener Nov. 23, but they played without Tullis, who sat out with a left hip flexor injury. The Eagles have a pair of 6-2 standouts in junior guard Tierra Floyd (16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists) and sen-
Sade Olatoye fights off the Raiders’ Alyssa Rice (left) and Shanice Johnson to secure the ball. CHRIS PARKER/THISWEEKSPORTS
ior post player Kaayla McIntyre (12.9 points, 9.8 rebounds). Notre Dame is making its third consecutive appearance at state. Princeton is led by senior twins and Ohio State signees Kelsey and Chelsea Mitchell. Kelsey is a 5-7 guard who averages 24.9 points and 4.2 assists, and Chelsea is a 5-10 forward who averages 6.6 points and 2.2 rebounds. Chelsea Pogue, a 6-2 senior center who has signed with New Hampshire, averages 12.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.3
blocks. “The field is really loaded and every team has a different style,” Patton said. “Across the board, there are a lot of talented kids who compete at a high level.” To reach the regional final, the Shamrocks defeated Upper Arlington 55-40 on March 4 at Otterbein. Olatoye had 22 points and 24 rebounds, Tullis had 14 points and seven rebounds and Taylor had 11 points. shennen@thisweeknews.com
Sports briefs Spielman camp set for July 15-16
The eighth annual Chris Spielman youth football camp will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. July 15 and 16 at Dublin Coffman. Participants will learn fundamental football skills and have the opportunity to interact with Spielman, a former Ohio State and NFL linebacker who directs the camp
with area prep and college coaches. For more information and registration, visit ChrisSpielmanCamp.com.
GCSTO to hold tryouts April 7-8
The Greater Columbus Swim Team of Ohio will hold tryouts for its spring and summer season from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. April 7 at Columbus Academy and
from 5:45 to 7 p.m. April 8 at St. Charles Preparatory School. New swimmers are allowed a week with the team before deciding to commit. The team practices at Academy and St. Charles in the spring and at the Gahanna pool in the summer. For more information, contact coach Steve Nye at (614) 478-5445 or stevenye@sbcglobal.net.
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ThisWeek Dublin Villager
Page A18
March 13, 2014
Track & Field
Area competitors excel in indoor state meet By SCOTT HENNEN THISWEEKSPORTS.COM
Despite competing with only eight athletes, the Pickerington High School North boys track and field team made a strong showing in the Division I indoor state meet
March 8 at the University of Akron. The Panthers scored 36 points to place second behind Lakewood St. Edward (49) as 65 teams scored. Hilliard Davidson was fourth (27). “We don’t have nearly the numbers we do in the spring
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with only eight guys, but most of the ones who competed also did last winter,” North coach Dave Spring said. “I guess it gives us a little bit of a jump on the season and it whets our appetites for the outdoor season. Hopefully, this sets the tone for that.” One North athlete who seemed to be in midseason form was Nick Gray. The junior won the 400 meters (48.7 seconds) and was runner-up in the 200 (21.75). He also was on the winning 800 relay (1:29.75) with Jaye Williams, Jayvonta Tolliver and Darius Ragland and teamed with Trey Browder, Luke Miller and Tolliver to place third in the 1,600 relay (3:23.25). “Nick was on the podium four times and scored most of our points,” Spring said. “He
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At a glance
Below are local competitors who finished among the top eight in the state indoor track and field meet March 8 at the University of Akron: COFFMAN (Division I) Boys – 3,200 relay: Simon Alford, Zach Bons, John Graf and Tyndale Hannan (fifth, 8:04.03); Girls – Beat-
had an outstanding meet, as did freshman Jayvonta Tolliver. He was in both relays that placed and is just getting into high school competition, but just performed well.” Dublin Coffman’s Beatrice Hannan is trying to make up for lost time from her junior
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rice Hannan: 60 (second, 7.61), 200 (first, 24.51) JEROME (Division I) Boys – Mitch Leitch: 3,200 (fourth, 9:28.17); Jake Mandel: 3,200 (sixth, 9:30.05); Chase Stewart: 1,600 (seventh, 4:22.6); 3,200 relay: Nick Foley, Leitch, Mandel and Graham Stecz (fourth, 8:03.99) SCIOTO (Division I) Boys – Kenny Mayes: 800 (seventh, 1:57.25); Girls – Mya Hodge: 60 hurdles (sixth, 9.5)
year. The senior won the 200 (24.51) and placed second in the 60 (7.61). “I’m extremely happy with my performance, especially after last year,” Hannan said. “Last year, I pulled a hamstring before the indoor (state) meet, but competed anyway. I thought it was just tightness and it kept getting worse as the outdoor season went on. By regional, it was so bad that I couldn’t make it back to state.” Hannan believes she made a name for herself with her performance in the indoor state meet. “I think it’s a great confidence boost, but now I also have a target on my back,” she said. “I have to stay motivated because there are a lot of great runners in our district.” New Albany junior Karring-
ton Winters won the girls 400 for the second consecutive season, finishing in 55.81. She won the Division I outdoor state title in the 400 as a freshman (53.95) and sophomore (53.59). Her winning indoor time last season was 55.38. “We’re going for back-toback state championships for both indoor and outdoor,” New Albany coach Otis Winston said. “She ran a good meet for our training. We train later than a lot of the teams and people don’t think we’re that good. When they see us at the state (indoor) meet, they wonder if we’re the same team.” Winters also teamed with Debi Bhanja, Haley Lyles and Dena White to place fourth in the 1,600 relay (4:06.01). “Our girls are dedicated,” Winston said. “We give them stuff to do and the girls respond. I’m really excited for outdoors. We had some talented freshmen who are now juniors and seniors and it’s limitless what they can do.” Gahanna was the highest finisher in Division I among area girls teams, placing fifth (26) behind champion Solon (33.5) as 59 teams scored. Pickerington Central finished seventh (21). The Lions’ Sara Richards, Ivy McKee, Cierra Hill and
TRACK >> A19
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March 13, 2014
ThisWeek Dublin Villager
TRACK
Schools announce coaching vacancies
FROM >> A18
when I go to Ohio State next year.” Also in the Division I girls meet, Pickerington Central’s Irene Skinner, Cortisha Short, Tyler Williams and Shalon Conley combined to win the 800 relay (1:41.33) and Canal Winchester’s Jocselyn Powell won the 60 hurdles in a meet-record 8.62, breaking her own record (8.67) that she set last year. Finishing second in Division I was Olentangy’s Nicey Bauman in the girls 60 hurdles (8.71), Thomas Worthington’s Ashley Forte in the girls 800 (2:21.24) and Jalen Wells in the boys 400 (49.32), Westerville Central’s David Hatchett in the boys 60 (6.92), Westerville North’s Evan Larrick, Matt Parkhurst, Nick Horton and Trevor Dilley in the boys 3,200 relay (8:02.66), Davidson’s Garrett Knapik in the boys 3,200 (9:26.94) and Damarcus Nelson in the boys triple jump (43-4 3/4) and Watkins Memorial’s Hunter Holton in the boys high jump (6-7) and Josie Woosley in the girls 3,200 (11:07.17). Hartley’s Naja Greer placed third in the girls 200 (25.02) in Division I. Columbus Academy finished third (20) in the Division II-III boys meet behind champion Dayton Dunbar (68). Jack Lint led the Vikings, winning the 60 hurdles (meetrecord 7.93) and placing second in the 400 (49.68).
Samantha Shaw won the 1,600 relay (4:00.93), edging runner-up Austintown-Fitch (4:01.52). Gahanna’s 800 relay of Richards, McKee, Hill and Mi’Angel Daniels finished fourth (1:43.78), and Daniels third in the 60 hurdles (9.18). “(Winning the 1,600 relay) was a nice springboard (to the outdoor season),” Lions coach Roger Whittaker said. “We finished sixth (3:55.14) outdoors at state (last season). Our goal was to get under four (minutes), but we came close. “We had a freshman (McKee) who had run in two other races and our anchor, Sam Shaw, passed the Austintown-Fitch runner with 10 meters to go. We had run against Austintown-Fitch earlier in the indoor season and we knew their personnel and what we would be able to do.” Big Walnut’s Olivia Small won two events for the second year in a row, finishing first in the long jump (18 feet, 4 inches) and triple jump (37-3 1/2). Last year at indoor, she won the long jump in a meetrecord 18-8 1/4 and won the triple jump in 37-3. “I like having both events, but it can be really exhausting,” said Small, who won the outdoor state title in the long jump (19-8 3/4) last season. “But I don’t catch a break in outdoors because I still do the high jump instead of the triple jump. I’ll do the triple jump shennen@thisweeknews.com
food & wine
The following schools are seeking coaches: Columbus School for Girls – Basketball. Send letter of interest and résumé to athletics director Megan Henry at mhenry@columbusschoolforgirls.org. Hartley – Field hockey. Contact athletics director Pat Murphy at pamurphy@cdeducation.org. Heath – Girls basketball. Send letter of interest and résumé to athletics director
WRESTLING FROM >> A16
27-4) and Robert Martinez (138, 16-8) and freshman Brian Zimmerman (220, 29-6).
Celtics looking to build on season
Mark DeLaney at medelaney@laca.org. Horizon Science – Boys soccer, volleyball. Send letter of interest and résumé to Thomas Edwards at edwards@horizoncolumbus.org by Friday, March 14. Hilliard Davidson – Boys basketball. Send cover letter and résumé to jobs@hboe.org. Put “Boys Basketball Coach” in the subject line. •To add to this list, contact ThisWeek at (740) 888-6069.
lea (120, 28-11) and Owen Stein (152, 27-18) and sophomores Justin Chon (145, 9-7) and Seth Transue (106, 41-12). The Transue brothers both went 3-2 and placed fifth at district and were state alternates. “Josh will be a huge loss for next season,” Huddle said. “His 118 (career) wins are the most of any Jerome wrestler, but the future is bright as four other district qualifiers are expected to return.” The Celtics tied Reynoldsburg for 23rd (23) at district and finished sixth (98.5) in the 11-team Feb. 15 at Marysville behind champion Marysville (218.5). They finished fourth in the OCC-Cardinal and did not compete in the state team tournament.
Jerome did not have a state qualifier for the first time in four seasons, but coach Adam Huddle is pleased with his young team’s growth. “When I look at the team we had day one in November verses the team we had the last week of the season, we grew up on the mat,” he said. “Most of our guys saw their first varsity action this season or had their first-ever wrestling match.” Jerome had five district qualifiers in senior Josh Transue (113, 41-9), juniors Liam Dun- sports@thisweeknews.com
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