Volume 7
Photo by Ben Barnes/Impactactionphotos.com
St. Xavier celebrates its 31st state swim title.
Issue 7
Managing Editor Eric Frantz
Recruiting Editors Mark Porter, Bill Kurelic
Staff Writers Kirk Larrabee, Steve Helwagen, Dave Biddle Contributors
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Winter Sports Players of the Year
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Winter Sports State Recap
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State Wrestling Championship
The annual Huntington Bank and Ohio High Winter Sports Player of the Year awards go to...
Tom Jenkins, Jeff Williams, Kurt Stubbs, Brad Morris, Shayne Combs
A look at who won the state bowling, swimming, ice hockey and gymnastics titles - and how they did it
Stephanie Porter, Gary Housteau, Nick Falzerano, Joe Maiorana, Jim Rinaldi, Scott Grau, Jim Metzendorf, Os Figuero, Ben Barnes
News, Notes & Nuggets from the state wrestling meet, including all the individual placers
Photography
Printing Miami Valley Sports Magazine (MVP) miamivalleysports.com
Subscriptions
Order online at www.jjhuddle.com. One year ($19.95), two-year ($34.95) and threeyear ($49.95) subscriptions available.
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Letters to Editor
Questions, comments or suggestions can be sent to staff@jjhuddle.com. We encourage your feedback.
Ohio High Magazine is published online nine times a year and also produces an online and hard copy issue in July (Football Preview/Year in Review). Ohio High is an independent source of news and features relating to Ohio high school sports. Ohio High strives to report information based on fact, but assumes no responsability for any inaccuracies that may appear. Ohio High is not authorized, sponsored or sanctioned by any university, athletic conference or athletic governing body. Subscriptions are available and may be purchased online at jjhuddle.com. c Copyright 2010, Ohio High Magazine and MVP Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. COVER PHOTOS: NICK FALZERANO (miamivalleysports.com)
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13
All-State Tournament Team
Girls Basketball State Tournament
Canton McKinley survives, Hathaway Brown thrives, Liberty-Benton nets redemption and Harvest Prep...wins?
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20
All-State Tournament Team
Boys Basketball State Tournament
Massillon Jackson, Lima Central Catholic net first titles; Dayton Dunbar, Dayton Jefferson add to storied legacies
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All-State Tournament Team
O h i o H i g h W i n t e r S p o r t s P l a y e r s o f t h e Ye a r
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Boys Swimming Girls Swimming Wrestling Boys Basketball Girls Basketball Boys Basketball Coach Girls Basketball Coach Gymnastics Boys Bowling Girls Bowling Ice Hockey t was another great fall season in Ohio high school athletics. Ohio High is proud to partner with
Huntington Banks to present the player of the year awards in all five winter sports.
Ohio’s Best At What They Do...
WRESTLING Logan Stieber, Monroeville Stieber, an Ohio State recruit, won his state record 171st straight match and his fourth straight state title with a pin of Miami East’s Zane Goldberg in the Division III 125 final on March 6. With the win Stieber finished his high school career with an overall record of 1741. Stieber’s lone defeat is a 7-3 setback as a freshman in the finals of the 2006 Ironman. Stieber, who has been ranked No. 1 in the country in his weight class for the last three years, has been especially dominant on the sport’s final weekend. In 16 state matches, Stieber won nine by pin and seven by tech fall. GIRLS BASKETBALL Natasha Howard, Toledo Waite Howard was the most dominant girls player in the state this year and her resume reflects it. In addition to winning the state’s Ms. Basketball award, Howard also earned MVP honors at the McDonald’s All-American game. Howard, who is headed to Florida State, led the Indians to the D-I state championship game and a runner-up finish. Howard averaged 24.7 points, 11 rebounds and 2.6 assists during the regular season.
GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH Paul Barlow, Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown During his first six years at HB, Barlow went a respective 84-51. The last four years though his squads have gone 87-20 and made the Division II state championship game all four seasons. In March the Blazers won their second straight state title to cap an amazing run in which they’ve gone 27-2 in the postseason since 2007. Barlow’s honor is long overdue.
BOYS BASKETBALL Jared Sullinger, Northland The nation’s top player is also Ohio’s best. For the second season in a row, Sullinger is the Ohio High Player of the Year award winner. He’s also a back-to-back Mr. Basketball winner. In addition to being named the James A. Naismith Award winner (national POY honor), Sullinger followed up his ultra-successful career at Northland by earning MVP honors in the McDonald’s All-American game, which was played in his future home – Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. Sullinger averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds this year and shot 78percent from the field en route to leading the Vikings to a 23-1 record.
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Here is a look at the player/coach of the year award winners for the winter season.
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Northland was ranked No. 1 in the country for most of the season before losing 71-45 to Gahanna Lincoln in the Division I regional final. Over Sullinger’s four years, Northland went 95-4 and won the 2009 D-I state title.
BOYS BASKETBALL COACH Bob Seggerson, Lima Central Catholic Seggerson led his sixth team to the state tournament and captured his first state title when the Thunderbirds edged Orrville for the D-III title. The state championship was the lone missing piece to Seggerson’s resume which now includes 517 wins, 13 district titles, six regional championships and three state finals in 32 years. His TBirds were state runners-up in 1989 and 1994. When Seggerson accepted his state championship medal he placed it around his wife’s neck, hugged her and capped it with a kiss. He then went to the locker room and told his team he’d coached his last game. Storybook is right. GIRLS SWIMMING Margo Geer, Fairbanks At the state finals on February 27, Geer became the first athlete – male or female – in the history of the state swim meet to win two events four times. In the 50 freestyle, Geer won her fourth title with a state tournament and pool record (C.T. Branin in Canton) time of 22.43. Last year in the districts, Geer set the state record in the 50 free with a time of 22.40. Both those times rank among the top six high school times ever in U.S. history. En route to winning her fourth straight 100 free title, Geer broke her own state, state meet and pool records with a time of 48.63 in the prelims. That time also ranks in the top five nationally in history. Geer is headed to Arizona.
BOYS SWIMMING Andrew Malone, Hunting Valley University School The junior won two state titles and finished second in two other events at the Division II state meet on February 27. Malone set a state record in the 100 breaststroke (56.83) and was also a member of the state record setting 200 medley relay (1:34.85). His second place finishes came in the 50 freestyle and 200 free relay. GYMNASTICS Leah Miko, Brecksville-Broadview Heights Senior won the vault state title en route to winning the individual
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ
O h i o H i g h W i n t e r S p o r t s P l a y e r s o f t h e Ye a r
all-around state title as well on March 6. Miko, who is headed to Bowling Green, was fourth on the bars last year. Her improvement has been monumental.
BOYS BOWLING Chris Via, Kenton Ridge A senior, Via was called “the man” by one expert after leading the Cougars to their second straight boys state bowling title. Via, who employs a two-handed bowling style, had an average of 230 this year. He was named first team All-Ohio.
Fairbanks senior Margo Geer is the only swimmer in state history to win two events four times.
Photo by Ben Barnes/Impactactionphotos.com
GIRLS BOWLING Mary Wells, Westerville Central The sophomore’s 729 series at the state championship that earned her the individual title was the perfect ending to an outstanding season. Wells rolled one of the two 300 games turned in by a female in Ohio this year and also had games of 280 and 279 (three times).
ICE HOCKEY Matt White. Perrysburg En route to leading Perrysburg to the Northwest Hockey Conference White Division title, the senior finished the year with 135 points, including a single-season record 78 goals. He also had 57 assists. White was all-conference and the division player of the year. As a junior last season, White set the then-school record for goals scored in a season with 53. He also had 27 assists for 80 points. — OH
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Winter Sports State Tournament Recap Morrow Little Miami junior Steven Zimmerman was named the boys Swimmer of the Meet after winning the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke.
Cincinnati St. Xavier, Upper Arlington and BrecksvilleBroadview Heights shine OHSAA Winter State Tournaments
Bombers claim 31st state swim title, while Bees and Golden Bears run state title streak to seven and six straight, respectively, in gymnastics and swimming
SWIMMING
Boys Division I With Cincinnati St. Xavier’s lead cut to just 16 points entering the final race of the meet, the Division I boys swimming title was yet to be decided. Not falling to the pressure though, a second place performance by the St. Xavier 400 freestyle relay team of sophomore John Galvin and seniors Cole Dennis, Max Bierman and Alex Miller gave St. Xavier 228 total points and the 2010 OHSAA boys swimming state title at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton. A second-place finish from lane seven by Phil Barone in the 100 breaststroke moved Toledo St. Francis DeSales within striking distance but in the end the Knights would fin-
ish with 218 points, 10 shy of the 228 collected by the Bombers. The title for St. Xavier is the 31st and the most for any school in OHSAA history in any sport. Although several Bombers turned in podium worthy performances, Miller seemed to find his way to the top half of the podium more than most. Miller finished first in the 500 freestyle, second in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay and third in the 200 freestyle relay. Keeping Miller from the top step of the podium in two events were sophomore Dan DiSalle and junior Rowan Williams of Toledo St. Francis DeSales. The pair teamed up on both the 400 freestyle and 200 medley championship relay teams. In addition, each placed in the top eight in two other events.
Photo by Ben Barnes/Impactactionphotos.com
Upper Arlington celebrates its sixth straight Division I girls swimming state title. The Golden Bears had a swimmer in the Top 8 in every event.
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Boys Division II In the second year for the boys Division II state swimming tournament, Hunting Valley University School walked away from C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton with a second state title after collecting 298 points. The Preppers took first in three events, the 200 medley relay, the 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. Winning the 100 breaststroke for Hunting Valley University was junior Andrew Malone, who set a new state record with a time of 56.83. Malone was also a member of the 200 medley relay that included sophomores Kevin Stang and Russell Stack and juniors Korey Schneider that set a new state record with a time of 1:34.85 Junior Mike Gaudiani won the 500 freestyle and finished second in the 200 freestyle for the Preppers. Junior Andrew Malone was named the Boy’s Swimmer of the Meet thanks to a first-place finish in the 100 breaststroke and second-place finishes in the 50 freestyle and the 200 freestyle relay. Cincinnati Wyoming won both the 200 and 400 freestyle relay helping the Cowboys to their second state runner-up performance and a 70-point improvement from the 2009 tournament.
Girls Division I It may have been cold outside, but inside C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Upper Arlington High School was heating things up. The Golden Bears’ 295 points proved too much for Columbus Bishop Watterson and Cincinnati Turpin, winning the 2010 Division I OHSAA Girls Swimming State Title, its sixth straight title. Although Upper Arlington won only one event, the 200 medley relay, the Golden Bears had swimmers finish in the top eight in every event. Junior Abby Chin landed second on the podium in three different events, the 500 freestyle and 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Cincinnati Turpin sophomore Molly Hazelbaker managed to catch Chin in the last 25-meters to take the title in the 500 freestyle. Also turning in a strong performance for Upper Arlington was sophomore Lauren Comer, who was a member of the state champion 200 medley relay team. Comer picked up second place finishes in the 200 individual medley and 400 freestyle relay and third place in the 100 backstroke. Besting Upper Arlington in four of those
JJ H u ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
Winter Sports State Tournament Recap
STORY BY OHSAA REPORTS events was Columbus Bishop Watterson, led by senior Gracie Finnegan. Finnegan picked up individual medals in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle for the third consecutive year and also swam the anchor leg in both the 200 and 400 freestyle champion teams. Finnegan finishes her prep career with eight state titles. Dublin Scioto senior Kate McNeilis, who set a new pool record of 54.21 with her preliminary swim in the backstroke, was named the girls Swimmer of the Meet, winning both the 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.
Girls Division II With 333 points and a state title at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Gates Mills Hawken has now won 20 out of the last 26 girls Division II swimming titles. The Hawks are the only team to ever be crowned Division II champions, having won every year since a second division was added for the 1999-2000 school year. Columbus Bishop Hartley turned in its best team finish ever, earning second place with 157 points. Napoleon and Sandusky Perkins tied for third with 149 points. Senior Margo Geer of Milford Center Fairbanks leaves the Ohio high school state meet as the only swimmer, boy or girl, to ever win two different events four straight years. Her preliminary time of 48.63 in the 100 freestyle broke the state, state tournament and pool records she set last year. Likewise in the 50 freestyle, her time of 22.43 reset her own state tournament and pool records. Her dominance in the sport is demonstrated by the fact that her times in both the 50 and 100 freestyle would have placed her in the top 20 swimmers in the boys Division II tournament. Senior Samantha Zuch of Napoleon and junior Celia Oberholzer of Cincinnati Wyoming successfully defended their state titles. Zuch won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:50.91 and won the 400 freestyle by a margin of nearly seven seconds. In the closest finish of the night, Oberholzer won in the 100 backstroke by just .01 seconds.
BOWLING
Boys Springfield Kenton Ridge made it back-toback state boys bowling titles, topping Warren G. Harding in the championship round. Kenton Ridge placed three bowlers among the top 16, led by senior Chris Via, who finished fourth overall with a 220-227-224-671. Senior Drew Snyder finished 11th (206-221213-640) and senior Dustin Snyder finished
JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
16th (227-223-176-626). Beavercreek junior Daniel Glascoe rolled a tournament-best 730 (248-228-254).
Girls Youngstown Boardman won its first Ohio High School Athletic Association girls bowling state title, topping Westerville Central in the championship round 750-748 at Shawnee Lanes in Chillicothe. A pair of Westerville Central bowlers finished first and second among individuals, but Boardman placed three of its own in the top 13, led by junior Tiffany Terlecki, who finished fifth overall with a 642 (212-214-216). Westerville Central sophomore Mary Wells was the top bowler, rolling a 729 (206-255-
Mahnke, Broadview Heights (floor) and Megan Gill, Beavercreek (beam).
ICE HOCKEY
Cleveland St. Ignatius captured its second OHSAA State Ice Hockey Championship Sunday by defeating Sylvania Northview 4-1 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. The first title for the Wildcats came in 2000. St. Ignatius took a 2-0 lead into the third period thanks to a first-period goal from sophomore forward Colton Riemenschneider and a second-period score from senior defenseman Chris Knoth. Northview pulled to within a goal early in the third period when senior forward Mark Hall found the back of
Photo by Ben Barnes/Impactactionphotos.com
Springfield Kenton Ridge became the first bowling program in history (boys or girls) to capture back-to-back state titles. The Cougars had three bowlers finish in the Top 16. 268).
GYMNASTICS
Brecksville-Broadview Heights won its seventh-consecutive state gymnastics title and its 10th overall as the Ohio High School Athletic Association held its state tournament at Hilliard Bradley High School. The 10 team titles ties the Bees with Rocky River Magnificat for the most gymnastics team titles. Their 6.450 margin of victory Friday over runner-up Strongsville is the largest in the state tournament sInce 1991 when Magnificat beat Worthington by 9.05. Individual winners were: Leah Mike, Broadview Heights (all-around, vault); Diana Moock, Broadview Heights (bars), Emily
the net, but St. Ignatius answered quickly. Just over three minutes later, sophomore forward Paddy Spellacy, who also collected two assists, broke away to score an unassisted goal. Senior defensemen Sam Nader’s power-play goal two minutes later iced the contest. St. Ignatius, who finishes its state championship season at 31-7-3, held a dominating 32 to 17 shot advantage and registered six penalty kills en route to the victory. Junior goalie Josh Potts collected 16 saves. The game was a rematch of a regular season tilt that saw the two teams battle to a scoreless tie. Sylvania Northview, making its fourth state final appearance, ends the season at 21-9-3 with the program’s fourth state runner-up finish. — OHSAA
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State Wrestling Finals
Graham freshman Isaac Jordan tosses Medina Highland’s Daniel Mirman during the D-II 135 final. Graham won its 10th straight state title and its second national championship in three years.
10 J J H U D D L E . C O M
Photo by Nick Falzerano
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ
PHOTOS BY NICK FALZERANO
Division I-III State Wrestling Finals
Wadsworth ends St. Edward’s reign; Graham continues its own; and Monroeville wins D-III March 4-6, 2010 @ The Schottentstein Center
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Grizzlies end 33-year championship drought for public schools in Ohio’s big school division y the time you read this, the party in Wadsworth might still be going on. And for good reason. The last time a school did what the Grizzlies accomplished, Star Wars was two months away from making its debut at the box office. March 6, Wadsworth defeated a comparable
Empire. Before a crowd of 14,886 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center, the Grizzlies removed the Division I state championship trophy from the parochial stranglehold it had been under for 33 years. Not since 1977 had a public school won the D-I state wrestling title. Not since 1996 – a staterecord span in all sports of 13 straight years – had anyone but Lakewood St. Edward won it period. Not anymore. The Final? Wadsworth 172, St. Edward 167.5. It was that close. And memorable. “We had to fight for it,” Wadsworth head coach John Gramuglia said. “Eds didn’t give it up easy. And it wasn’t an off year for them. They have some outstanding people and it wasn’t that we were that much better than them. It was even. It was even in duals and it was even in the tournament. I mean it was six (finalists) and six (finalists) and four (champions) and four (champions). It was nip and tuck.” Last year Wadsworth had St. Ed in its sights and let the Eagles go with a horrendous 0-4 showing in the semifinal round. This year the Grizzlies made amends – barely. Winning its first state title since 1942, Wadsworth finally conquered the mountain. The Grizzlies had beaten St. Ed in the state dual championships the last two years and owned three victories over the Eagles in the last 24 months. None, though, had come at the sport’s pinnacle until now. Last year’s meltdown was a sizeable reminder. “Last year kind of upset us,” senior Loudon Gordon said. “Every tournament – no matter what it was – there was a picture of the score from last year’s semis that showed us winning. Before every semifinal of every tournament this year they pulled that out and made us think about it. This year we were ready.”
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Photo by Nick Falzerano
Wadsworth senior Brad Squire reacts after outlasting St. Edward’s Anthony Salupo 3-2 in the D-I 145 final
“Last year we had basically the same team and in the semis we dropped the ball. All year our main goal was to win it and we knew we could.” Wadsworth senior Loudon Gordon
State Wrestling Finals
Division I Placers
First Place Final 103: Dean Heil, Lakewood St. Edward dec. Jack Young, Mentor 9-3 112: Kory Mines, Maple Hts. dec. Mitch Newhouse, Mass. Perry 7-0 119: Jerome Robinson, Cle. St. Ignatius dec. Kagan Squire, Wadsworth 8-3 125: Gus Sako, Lakewood St. Edward dec. Jake McCombs, Marysville 3-1 130: Jamie Clark, Lakewood St. Edward dec. Kodie Egnor, Elyria 3-0 135: Louden Gordon, Wadsworth pin Mark Martin, Lakewood St. Edward 5:59 140: Randy Languis, Dub. Scioto dec. Shane Foster, Mass. Perry 5-4 145: Brad Squire, Wadsworth dec. Anthony Salupo, Lakewood St. Edward 3-2 152: Waquiem Comar, Twinsburg dec. David Habat, Cle. St. Ignatius 8-6 160: Nick Sulzer, Lakewood St. Edward pin Josh Linden, BrecksvilleBroad. Hts. 0:31 171: Josh Demas, Westerville North dec. Sam Wheeler, Copley 9-3 189: Nick Miller, Centerville dec. Caleb Busson, Wadsworth 8-5 215: Nick Tavanello, Wadsworth dec. Kyle Rose, Centerville 6-4 285: Ben Buzzelli, Wadsworth dec. Billy Vaughan, Brecksville-Broad. Hts. 4-1TB
Third Place Finals 103: George DiCamillo, Cle. St. Ignatius pin Nick Garcia, Oregon Clay 4:22 112: Stephen Myers, Cin. Arch. Moeller dec. Filandus Boyd, Col. Marion-Franklin 3-1 119: Uland Ralston, Lor. Southview dec. Davion Caston, Sandusky 4-3 125: Josh Stevens, Beavercreek pin John Dillon, Young. Boardman 1:55 130: Cody Shivener, Springboro dec. Matt Hammer, Medina 8-1 135: Shawn Fayette, Miamisburg dec. Francis Calarco, N. Royalton 65 140: Robert Shepherd, Mason dec. Alec Marsico, Pickerington North 5-3 145: Tyler Giffin, Harrison dec. Tyler Luft, Ashville Teays Valley 8-4 152: Pierce Harger, Cin. Moeller dec. Brian Mathews, Centerville 6-2 160: Caleb Marsh, Marysville dec. Charles Mason, Cin. Princeton 8-4 171: Ian Korb, Cin. Elder dec. Kwan Bailey, Groveport-Madison 4-2 189: Chriss Kelly, N. Olmsted dec. Kevin Hyland, Cin. Elder 7-3 215: Nate Weeks, Marysville dec. Anthony Wise, Massillon Perry 5-2 285: Max Gladstone, Findlay dec. Greg Kuhar, Lʼwood St. Edward 8-2
Fifth Place Finals 103: Ryan Murdock, Dub. Coffman pin J.R. Perry, Warren Howland 0:21 112: Alfredo Gray, Wadsworth dec. Edgar Bright, Lakewood St. Edward 2-1TB 119: Tyler Regan, Miamisburg dec. Max Byrd, Cin. LaSalle 4-3 125: Andrew Boehm, Pataskala Watkins Mem. maj. dec. Tywan Claxton, Lyndhurst Brush 14-6 130: Drew Hammer, Cin. Arch. Moeller dec. Jay Kunzi, Pataskala Watkins Mem. 7-3 135: Austin Sams, Fairfield dec. Mark Orth, Oregon Clay 8-2 140: Devon Range, Lyndhurst Brush dec. Nate Ball, Wadsworth 3-2 145: Jerrel Valliant, Sandusky dec. Kyle Roddy, Brecksville-Broad. Hts. 11-7 152: Kyle Bryant, Piqua dec. Sam Conners, Cin. Elder 15-8 160: Sheldon Brandenburg, Wadsworth dec. Damien Perry, Mentor 8-4 171: Michael Alexander, Findlay dec. Tylan Coleman, Mayfield Vill. Mayfield 5-3 189: Nick Justus, Pickerington North maj. dec. Taylor Franz, Springboro 12-4 215: Ray Gordon, Fairfield dec. Michael Samijlenko, Parma Normandy 7-5SV 285: Brandon Bucknell, Twinsburg pin Kosta Karageorge, Worth. Thom. Worthington 4:50
Seventh Place Finals 103: Nick Montgomery, Madison maj. dec. Eddie Noble, Lebanon 8-0 112: Artem Timchenko, Olent. Orange dec. Mike Griffith, Medina 7-6 119: Jerry Pasquale, Young. Boardman dec. Noah Forrider, Marysville 3-2 125: Jake Corrill, Cin. Arch. Moeller dec. Narcisco Inchaurregui, Lorain Southview 5-3SV 130: Mike Carlone, Mayfield dec. Collin Riley, Mt. Vernon 10-6 135: Tyler Riegle, Springboro dec. Ty Davis, Lakota West 3-0 140: Conner Dempsey, Westlake pin Ryan Ruffing, Cin. Elder 2:23 145: Kenny Locsei, Willoughby South pin Tanner Lemon, Massillon Perry 1:18 152: Teddy Hammer, Medina pin Kyle Swan, Strongsville Forfeit 160: Chet Bissell, Twinsburg dec. Josh Erb, Uniontown Lake 5-4 171: Matt Ferguson, Pick. North dec. Nate Brubaker, Tol. Start 8-6 189: Fred Robertson, Maple Hts. dec. Irayel Williams, Cle. Rhodes 2-1 215: Will Porter, Willoughby South pin Dane Cullen, Mt. Vernon 4:22 285: Jordan Marerro, Reynoldsburg dec. Nick Rajcsak, Stow-Munroe Falls 3-2
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State Wrestling Finals
Division II Placers
First Place Final 103: Ryan Taylor, St. Paris Graham maj. dec. Trevor Fiorucci, Lewis Center Olentangy 13-3 112: B.J. Miller, Defiance dec. Calvin Campbell, Lexington 6-0 119: Ty Mitch, Aurora dec. Nick Brascetta, St. Paris Graham 7-4 125: Johnni DiJulius, Cuy. Falls Walsh Jesuit dec. Drew Stone, Oak Harbor 5-1 130: Bo Jordan, St. Paris Graham dec. Jake Mellinger, Beloit W. Branch 4-1 135: Isaac Jordan, St. Paris Graham dec. Daniel Mirman, Medina Highland 7-2 140: Felipe Martinez, St. Paris Graham dec. Tucker Armstrong, Spring. Kenton Ri 7-1 145: Ian Miller, Oak Harbor tech. fall Dylan Ice, Lisbon Beaver 19-4 152: Harrison Hightower, Hunting Val. Univ. School dec. Konner Witt, Oak Harbor 5-2 160: Brad Wukie, Hunting Val. Univ. School dec. Kyle Ryan, St. Paris Graham Local 2-1 171: Huston Evans, St. Paris Graham dec. Kevin Christman, Lewistown Indian Lake 5-2 189: Max Thomusseit, St. Paris Graham pin Travis McIntosh, Wash. C.H. Miami Tra 0:53 215: Logan Erb, Wapakoneta dec. Jake Henderson, Tol. Central Cath. 3-2UTB 285: Drew Carpenter, Thornville Sheridan dec. Vincenzo Cardone, Tol. Central Cath. 4-1
Said fellow senior Brad Squire: “Coach G always told us ‘There will be a next time, and we will be ready.’ And we lived by that.” Wadsworth held a 154-149.5 edge over St. Ed heading into the finals and two key wins in headto-head meetings propelled the Grizzlies to the trophy. Not surprisingly, Gordon and Squire supplied them. At 135, Gordon battled back from a 3-2 deficit after two periods to pin St. Ed sophomore Mark Martin with one second to go in the match. The extra two points for the pin were crucial. “I knew I could win,” Gordon said. “I knew I was in his head a little bit. I just wanted to stay focused, stay solid and do what I usually do. With about 30 seconds left I was up by one and I said ‘I got this.’ I just stayed in my position and he locked up and tried to throw me and that’s where I feel comfortable – with scrambles and throws – and I
as Wadsworth, but needed one more. Dean Heil (fr., 103), Gus Sako (sr., 112), Jamie Clark (sr. 130) and Nick Sulzer (sr., 160) all won titles. Clark’s was his third. Sixty-some days before Luke Skywalker blew up the Death Star in 1977, Macedonia Nordonia edged Maple Heights 58.5-56 for the Big School team title. Since then St. Ed (25), Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (five), Cleveland St. Ignatius and Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph are the only teams to take home the D-I hardware. Not anymore. Said Gramuglia: “Obviously it’s trite to say, but words don’t express it.”
CRESTWOOD’S NEMEC MAKES HISTORY; FIRST FEMALE TO COMPETE Mantua Crestwood senior Paige Nemec became the first girl in history to wrestle – and win
Third Place Finals 103: Cory Stainbrook, Streetsboro maj. dec. Mike Rix, Akron St. Vin.St. Mary 9-0 112: Ryan Cash, Aurora dec. Luke Langdon, Claymont 3-1SV 119: Brandon Gambucci, Lexington tech. fall Josh Nelson, Carroll 18-3 125: Andrew Romanchik, Parma Padua Franciscan dec. Arizona Miller, Lisbon Beaver 7-6 130: Nate Skonieczny, Cuy. Falls Walsh Jesuit dec. Brent Fickel, Parma Padua Franciscan 2-1 135: Randy Henline, Akron Coventry dec. Jake Kazimir, Kenston 6-0 140: Matt Fee, Mentor Lake Cath. dec. Joe Conrad, Ham. Ross 9-6 145: Matt Stephens, St. Paris Graham maj. dec. Joe Grandominico, Lewis Center Olentangy 11-1 152: Chaz Gresham, Goshen dec. Tony Martin, Tol. Central Cath. 6-1 160: Eric Hildenbrand, Franklin dec. Seth Hoffmann, Eastwood 2-1 171: Cody Lamberg, Akron Kenmore dec. Joey Young, Athens 8-1 189: David Day, Valley View dec. Bobby Blankenship, Jonathan Al 9-4 215: Joe Poyser, Louisville maj. dec. Riley Shaw, Wash. C.H. 11-3 285: Kevin Malone, Carrollton dec. Mike Rutherford, Norton 3-1
Fifth Place Finals 103: Sean Fee, Mentor Lake Cath. dec. Tyler Price, Licking Hts. 7-3 112: Joey Morris, Can. South dec. Andrew Bertubin, Cambridge 3-1TB 119: Jake Beemer, Wapakoneta pin Collan DaFonseca, Parma Padua Franciscan FORFEIT 125: Tre Smith, Chagrin Falls Kenston maj. dec. Thomas Butryn, Ashtabula Edgewood 13-5 130: Kyle Warner, Uhrichsville Claymont dec. Nick Hile, Lexington 6-1 135: Jake Faust, Lexington pin Eric Wolfe, Pataskala Licking Hts. 3:40 140: Jake Cramer, Oak Harbor over Matt Hefner, Lima Bath default 145: Conrad Rosch, Canal Winchester dec. Jim Klosz, Parma Hts. Holy Name 7-4 152: Cody Ryba, Mantua Crestwood maj. dec. Alex Dues, Celina 13-4 160: Anthony Nadeja, Hubbard dec. Micah Kullman, Minerva 3-0 171: Nick McCall, Wauseon dec. Todd Gaydosh, Pad. Franciscan 8-4 189: Frank Viancourt, Parma Hts. Holy Name dec. Tyler Matte, Wapakoneta 5-2 215: Cody Bloom, Napoleon dec. Trevor Strickland, Clyde 2-0 285: Danny Demick, Chillicothe pin John Eckroth, Cadiz Harrison Central 2:52
Seventh Place Finals 103: Joey Miller, Carrollton dec. Kyle Lang, Norwalk 6-4 112: Brodie Scherer, War. River View over Dylan Stiffler, Clyde forfeit 119: Matt Perez, London dec. Keaton Webb, Miami Trace 3-1 125: Sheldon Kegley, St. Paris Graham Local pin Jordan Westfall, Norton 2:33 130: T.J. Fox, Mogadore Field dec. Alex Kooser, Day. Oakwood 3-2 135: Evan Storts, Spring. Shawnee dec. Dan Cook, Tol. Cent. Cath. 3-2 140: Mitchel Porter, Mantua Crestwood dec. Brandon Staudacher, Wintersville Indian Cr 6-5 145: Joe Schindel, Akron Hoban pin Connor Massillo, Van Wert 4:35 152: Randy Carpenter, Ravenna dec. Tyler Bloniak, Med. Highland 5-4 160: Adam Kluk, Med. Highland pin Neal Williams, Cin. Wyoming 3:46 171: Keith Johnson, Dover over Delane King, Hebron Lakewood default 189: Joe Henderson, Louisville dec. Joey Monroe, Man. Crestwood 32TB 215: Patrick Sanford, Conneaut pin Jared Gravely, Gallipolis Gallia Acad. 2:16 285: Ian Jones, Painesville Harvey pin Codey Welker, Celina 2:46
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Photo by Nick Falzerano
Division II State Champions: Graham just used his leverage against him. I caught him on his back. “One thing coach said was if we wanted to win this thing we had to get pins when it counts. I looked at my bracket and it said 5:59. I just held him there. I wanted that pin and I got it.” At 145, Squire scored a 3-2 decision over St. Ed senior Anthony Salupo. The state title was the second for Squire who started his high school career with a championship as a freshman. The actual match that gave the Grizzlies the win was sophomore Nick Tavanello’s 6-4 victory in the 215 final – the second to last weight class. An overtime victory by Ben Buzzeli at 285 was insurance. “Last year we had basically the same team and in the semis we dropped the ball,” Gordon said. “All year our main goal was to win it and we knew we could. We beat them twice last year and once this year and we knew we could beat them. That’s what we came out here to do.” St. Ed had just as many individual champions
– at the state wrestling championships on March 4 when she competed in the 103-pound weight class in Division II. Nemec lost her first match to Olentangy’s Trevor Fiorucci 8-0, but she rebounded to win her first bout in the consolation round. On March 5, Nemec was ousted (3-1 decision) in the second round of consolation action by Mentor Lake Catholic sophomore Sean Fee. Fee beat Nemec 6-1 in the third place match at last week’s Akron Firestone District. Nemec finished the season 34-11 and won five tournament titles this year. Her career record was 115-34. She was recognized before the start of Session 3. Nemec is the cousin of former three-time D-I state champion and current Ohio State wrestler Sean Nemec (St. Edward). TEAM TITLE...FINALLY Led by the final performance from one of the state’s all-time greats – senior Logan Stieber – Monroeville captured its first Division III team title
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State Wrestling Finals
PHOTOS BY NICK FALZERANO
103
112
119
125
130
Ryan Taylor
Kory Mines
Ty Mitch
Logan Stieber
Jamie Clark
Graham, So.
Maple Heights, Sr. Two-time Champion
Aurora, Sr. Three-time Champion
Monroeville, Sr. Four-time Champion
St. Edward, Sr. Three-time Champion
135
140
145
152
160
Isaac Jordan
Felipe Martinez
Brad Squire
Harrison Hightower
Nick Sulzer
Graham, So.
Graham, So. Two-time Champion
Wadsworth, Sr. Two-time Champion
University School, Sr. Three-time Champion
St. Edward, Sr.
285
Coach
Chris Phillips
Max Thomusseit
Nick Tavanello
Drew Carpenter
John Gramuglia
Monroeville, Jr. Three-time Champion
Graham, Sr. Two-time Champion
Wadsworth, So.
Thornville Sheridan, Sr.
Wadsworth 33-year drought...over.
171
189
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215
J J H U D D L E . C O M 13
State Wrestling Finals with relative ease. Although the Eagles were thought to get challenges from Bedford Chanel and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, they didn’t. Monroeville finished with 116 points, while runner-up CVCA had 76. Stieber, an Ohio State recruit, won his state record 171st straight match with a pin of Miami East’s Zane Goldberg in the 125 final. He finished his high school career with an overall record of 174-1. Stieber’s lone defeat is a 7-3 setback as a freshman in the finals of the 2006 Ironman to current Penn State freshman and four-time state champion David Taylor (Graham). Stieber, who has been ranked No. 1 in the country in his weight class for the last three years, has been especially dominant on the sport’s final weekend. In 16 state matches, Stieber won nine by pin and seven by tech fall.
GRAHAM GREAT – AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONS – AGAIN A year after breaking a 58-year old record for most individual state champions with seven, the Falcons fell one short of tying their record with six. The consolation prize was the program’s 10th straight D-II state title and 12th overall. The Falcons scored 223 points to runner-up Oak Harbor’s 78.5. Individual champions for the Falcons were Ryan Taylor (so., 103), Bo Jordan (fr., 130), Issac Jordan (so., 135), Felipe Martinez (so., 140), Huston Evans (so., 171) and Max Thomusseit (sr., 189). Graham also appears to have wrapped at least a share of its second national championship as well. Tied with Apple Valley (MN) for No.1 in the Amateur Wrestling News national poll, expect the Falcons to stay there once the final rankings are
Division III Placers
First Place Final 103: Nathan Tomasello, CVCA dec. Brian Spangler, LaGrange Keystone 6-4 112: Alex Dronzek, Beachwood maj. dec. Cade Mansfield, Defiance Ayersville 9-0 119: Hunter Stieber, Monroeville maj. dec. Tyler Heminger, Galion Northmor 14-4 125: Logan Stieber, Monroeville pin Zane Goldberg, Miami East 1:48 130: Johnny Matacic, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton dec. Mike Kovach, St. Peter Chanel 5-3SV 135: Payton Oney, Greenwich S. Central dec. Marco Gualtieri, W. Jefferson 5-4 140: Cam Tessari, Monroeville maj. dec. Chad Sonnenberg, Van Buren 10-0 145: Kyle Burns, Troy Christian dec. Andrew DeHart, Covington 5-3 152: Jake Howe, Blanchester dec. Kurtis Jefferis, Barnesville 8-1 160: Dennis Raber, Orrville dec. Nick Leforce, Carlisle 4-3TB 171: Chris Phillips, Monroeville dec. Alex Utley, CVCA 7-5 189: Corby Running, Clarksville Clinton-Massie dec. Kurtis Schaefer, W. Salem Northwestern 7-6 215: Ethan Hayes, Dixie dec. Justin Schafrath, Chippewa 9-4 285: Tyler Obringer, Spencerville pin Greg Dailey, Independence 6:47SV
Third Place Finals 103: Aaron Assad, St. Peter Chanel pin Cody Steiner, Waynesville 2:04 112: Nick Goebel, Bloomdale Elmwood dec. Vinnie Pizzuto, N. Jackson Jackson-Milton 1-0TB 119: Tyler Thompson, Brookfield dec. Jacob Haas, McComb 12-5 125: Josh Coulter, Cardington-Lincoln dec. Alec Jacober, Beachwood 9-8 130: Kyle Burns, Milan Edison dec. Seth Callarik, St. Clairsville 3-2 135: Zak Vargo, CVCA dec. Dom Barlow, Heath 3-0 140: Samuel Faykus, Bellaire dec. Joe Bruewer, Cin. Deer Park 3-2 145: Dominic Prezzia, St. Clairsville dec. Lucas Cummins, CardingtonLincoln 7-1 152: Thomas Fullenkamp, Versailles dec. Sean Prather, W. Jefferson 7-2 160: Miles Chapman, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon dec. Bryson Hall, Doylestown Chippewa 5-0 171: Dillon Kwiat, Tiffin Calvert dec. Xavier Dye, Patrick Henry 5-0 189: Royal Brettrager, Kirtland dec. Jonathon Beam, Waynedale 5-0 215: Tyler Fabry, W. Jefferson dec. Brent Allerding, Loudonville 5-3 285: Mimmo Lytle, Swanton pin Kyle Kelly, Akron Manchester 0:12
Photo by Nick Falzerano
Division III State Champions: Monroeville “It’s a lot harder then people think. There’s a lot of stress,” Stieber said. “But I was relaxed this week and I felt good and I usually wrestle better when I’m like that. I was thinking about it in the tunnel, but freshman year I was all stone-faced and nervous before I came out and this year I was joking around with people and trying to relax. “Ever since I was a little kid one of my main goals has been to win four state titles. No one likes to lose. It’s very easy to get motivated.” Monroeville was also powered by its trio of monster juniors, who each added their third state titles. Logan’s brother Hunter won at 119, while Cam Tessari and Chris Phillips won at 140 and 171, respectively. On the season the quartet of the Stieber brothers, Tessari and Phillips went a combined 190-1. Cal Clark added points with a seventh place finish at 135. Monroeville’s title ends a string of three straight by Troy Christian. The Eagles finished fifth.
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released in a week following the Pennsylvania State Championships next weekend.
ANTICIPATED MATCH-UP In a meeting of defending state champions, Aurora’s Ty Mitch won his third championship with a 7-4 victory over Graham’s Nick Brascetta in the D-II, 119 final. Despite having lost to Brascetta twice earlier this year, Mitch came out fast and scored on a takedown seconds into the match. He never let up or trailed. ANTICIPATED MATCH-UP II The third, fourth and fifth times weren’t the charm for Kenton Ridge senior Tucker Armstrong. Neither was the sixth. In a bout between state champions, Armstrong fell to Graham’s Martinez for the sixth time this year in the D-II 140 final. It was the fourth straight week the duo had met in the finals (Central Buckeye Conference, Tipp City Sectional, Goshen District and State). Martinez’s 7-1 win was also the most lopsided of the duo’s
Fifth Place Finals 103: Zon Fields, Marion Pleasant pin Robert Carter, Day. Northridge 3:13 112: William Spangler, LaGrange Keystone over Joe Dauch, Sand. St. Mary C.C. default 119: Aaron Branham, W. Jefferson dec. Dillon Nolte, St. Clairsville 139 125: Chase Kinemond, Shadyside maj. dec. Jeremy Walden, St. Peter Chanel 10-1 130: Shane Brown, Akron Manchester dec. Alex Lopez, Patrick Henry 7-5SV 135: Johnny Carpenter, Cin. Madeira dec. Jim Dankle, Cuy. Hts. 8-3 140: Dan Orrill, St. Peter Chanel dec. Josh Goebel, Edgerton 9-4 145: Brandon Sommers, CVCA over Luke Boehm, Montpelier default 152: Anthony Ferber, Greenwich S. Central dec. Scott Robinson, Johnstown-Monroe 7-5 160: Kyle Gladieux, Cardinal Stritch pin Cody Rodgers, Mechanicsburg 0:52 171: Mitchell Gross, Nor. St. Paul pin Jeff Oberdick, Martins Ferry 3:54 189: Rich Ulmer, Galion pin Brandon Tantari, Millbury Lake 1:57 215: Andrew Wright, Galion Northmor over Josh Salyers, Mechanicsburg default 285: Tyler Jewell, Carlisle pin Mike Stenger, Clinton-Massie 2:40
Seventh Place Finals 103: Dexter Lee, Elmwood dec. Cam Michel, Milan Edison 4-1 112: Jeremy Border, Caldwell tech. fall Zack Cantrell, Coshocton 15-0 119: Wyatt Music, Ash. Crestview dec. Luke Kern, Liberty Center 4-0 125: Tyler Reed, Waterford pin Jared Beatty, Arcanum 4:21 130: Dylan Wheeler, Utica maj. dec. Tristan Gerber, Sugarcreek Garaway 15-4 135: Cal Clark, Monroeville pin Justin Petersheim, Waynedale 4:19 140: Pawlos Campbell, Troy Christian dec. Zane Nelson, Massillon Tuslaw 9-6 145: Dustin Chatterton, New Lebanon Dixie dec. Vincent Pickett, Williamsport Westfall 5-4 152: Jeff Stover, Tiffin Calvert dec. Kyle Keplinger, Troy Christian 11-5 160: Trevor Kunk, Coldwater dec. Matt Meadows, CVCA 8-5 171: Nick Zele, Kirtland dec. Jake Cochran, W. Jefferson 9-3 189: John Sullenbarger, Arcanum dec. Kaleb Miller, AmandaClearcreek 4-1 215: Josh Roberts, Wellington dec. Joe Whisler, Ashland Crestview 11-9SV 285: Clint Endicott, Ash. Crestview pin Cody Johnson, Dixie 2:15
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
State Wrestling Finals six meetings, three of which had been decided by a point. UNDEFEATEDS There were a total of seven wrestlers who finished undefeated seasons. They were: B.J. Miller, Sr., Defiance (54-0, D-II, 112): Miller is the school’s first state champion since 1971.
Logan Stieber, Sr., Monroeville (55-0, D-III, 125): Stieber as noted above won his fourth state title. Felipe Martinez, So., Graham (38-0, D-II, 140): The championship is Martinez’s second. Cam Tessari, Jr., Monroeville (53-0, D-III,
their school. The list includes:
Artem Timchenko, Olentangy Orange, D-I, 112: The freshman became his school’s first state placer with a seventh place finish. Brian Spangler, LeGrange Keystone, D-III, 103: The sophomore is his school’s highest state placer ever after finishing runner-up.
Matt Perez, London, D-II, 119: The senior became his school’s first state placer with a seventh place finish.
Jared Beatty, Arcanum, D-III, 125: The junior became his school’s first state placer ever after finishing eighth. Thomas Butryn, Ashtabula Edgewood, D-II,
John Sullenbarger, Arcanum, D-III, 189: The senior became his school’s second placer and it’s highest ever by finishing seventh.
FUTURE FOUR-TIME WINNERS? There were three freshmen that won state titles his year. Heil from St. Edward, Bo Jordan from Graham and Nathan Tomasello of CVCA (D-III, 103).
GWOC…GWOW The Dayton-based Greater Western Ohio Conference had a banner year at the state tournament in D-I. Last year the GWOC had just two wrestlers finish in the Top 3 and this year it had five, including Centerville teammates Nick Miller and Kyle Rose who placed first and second, respectively, at 189 and 215.
Photo by Nick Falzerano
Division I State Champions: Wadsworth 140): Tessari won his four state matches 3:41, 1:22, 9-2 and 10-0.
Nick Sulzer, Sr., Lakewood St. Edward (40-0, D-I, 160): Sulzer’s title was his first after finishing second twice and third once. Chris Phillips, Jr., Monroeville (42-0, D-III, 171): Phillips dominated his competition again, winning his four state matches 20-5, 1:25, 26-12 and 7-5.
Nick Miller, Sr., Centerville (21-0, D-I, 189): Miller dropped 51 pounds to get down to 189 for the season. He was a fullback for the Elks and played football at 240. The dedication and sacrifice far outweigh the doubt now. He is Centerville’s first state champion since 1985. REMEMBER WHEN There were several wrestlers who made history or snapped long exiles from the state podium for
JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
125: The senior became his school’s first state placer since 1998 with a sixth place finish.
Tyler Luft, Asheville Teays Valley, D-I, 145: The senior became the Vikings first state placer since 1999 by finishing fourth.
Caz Gresham, Goshen, D-II, 152: The senior’s third place finish was the highest by anyone from Goshen since 1979. Waquiem Comar, Twinsburg, D-I, 152: The senior’s state title was the first for a Twinsburg wrestler since 1988.
Dennis Raber, Orrville, D-III, 160: The senior became his school’s first state champion since 1986. Logan Erb, Wapakoneta, D-II, 215: The junior’s state title was just the second in school history and first since 2000.
Other top 3 finishers were Miamisburg’s Fayette (third at 135), Springboro’s Cody Shivener (130) and Beavercreek’s Josh Stevens (125). In all, 11 GWOC wresters placed.
ATTENDANCE The finals and overall attendance for the state tournament was the lowest its been since the event moved from Wright State’s Nutter Center in 1999. A crowd of 14,886 witnessed the finals, while the five-session total was 64,617. Last year crowds of 14,787 and 64,914 took in the finals and tournament, respectively. The largest five-session total ever is 75,582 in 2003. Regardless, the state wrestling championship (Session 5) remains the single highest attended OHSAA state championship event, eclipsing finals in both football and basketball. MARK YOUR CALENDARS The 74th annual state wrestling championships will be held March 3-5, 2011 at the Schott. — OH
J J H U D D L E . C O M 15
Girls Basketball State Finals Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown is 27-2 in the postseason the last four years.
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Photo by Gary Housteau
JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
Girls Basketball State Finals
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ Division II State Championship
Hathaway Brown wins its second straight D-II state title; Blazers knock out Alter - again March 20, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Knights and Blazers renew rivalry with third straight meeting in the state tournament
OLUMBUS – The possibility of losing three straight state championships is long gone. Now the question is can Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown win three in a row? On March 20 in the Division II state final, HB not only won its grudge match with Kettering Alter, the Blazers also captured their second straight state title 48-35 before a crowd of 3,686 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. In 2008 the Knights beat the Blazers for the D-II title. Last year the Blazers returned the favor in the semifinals. This year HB edged ahead in the budding rivalry. “It’s still sinking in,” HB head coach Paul Barlow said. “I think we had two teams that knew each other really well. We either scouted each other really well or we were in each other’s huddle. There wasn’t a lot of mystery as to what was going on out there.” Said Alter co-head coach Kendal Peck: “We have a saying in our program that there’s a difference between getting beat and losing. Getting beat is OK, and today we got beat. They were the better team. We probably felt today the frustration people feel when they play us.” The championship game performance was a proper send-off for a Hathaway Brown senior class – including Mylan Woods (Northwestern) and Alexis Dobbs (American) – that played in four state championships and had a record of 6-2 in eight state tournament games. Over the past four years, Woods and Dobbs helped HB rack up a 27-2 postseason record. No group has grown or performed more on the state tournament stage in the last four years than HB and heading into last year’s final the possibility of becoming the first school in history to lose three straight state finals was very real. Now it seems just as distant. “It went by really fast,” Woods said. “Being able to come into a program and turn it around with Alexis has been great. We’ve been playing with each other since the fourth grade. I’m going to miss it. I think we had a nice little run and we put the school on the map.” Added Dobbs: “Freshman and sophomore year you come in for the experience and you’ve got
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nothing to lose. As a junior and senior you come here and it’s more like you’re expected to be here and perform. It’s great to see how we’ve shown up as a team here four years in a row and now we’ve pulled it off two years in a row.” Alter, the other staple of the D-II tournament the last three years, also closed the curtain on the standout careers of seniors Ashley Christie and Ali Mygrants. Key contributors since their freshman seasons, Christie and Mygrants led Alter to a 3-2 record in state games the last three years and an overall postseason record of 24-3 the last four years. Their legacy – like those of HB’s standout duo – is cemented. “I thought our kids played their tails off today,” Alter co-head coach Chris Hart said. “We played
against a very talented and deep team. We needed to get a couple shots to fall and a couple breaks here and there to change things. A few times we had them on their heels.” Like last year’s semifinal between the two, HB never trailed. Alter fell behind 11-5 after the first period and was down 19-15 at halftime. In the third quarter the Knights used a 7-0 run to get within 2827, but a basket by Woods to end the stanza put the Blazers in front 30-27 after three. Alter never got any closer. Woods led all scorers with 16 points, while Alanna Guy chipped in 10. Dobbs contributed five points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists. Woods also supplied seven boards, four assists and three steals. As a team, HB committed 19 turnovers and made 19 field goals – but it was more than enough. Defensively the Blazers forced 18 Alter turnovers. The Knights shot 13-of-34 from the floor. Whitney Dabbelt led Alter with eight points, while Christie and her junior sister Courtney each had six. Over the past four years, HB and Alter have a combined record of 182-32. The pair also owns seven state tournament berths, six finals and three championships. Wow is right. “You couldn’t ask for more from a high school career,” Woods said. “To be able to come here four straight times is a blessing. Alexis and I don’t know anything else. Yeah the first two years it was rough, but the third year we finally got over the hump. “To be able to say we made state four straight years, played for a championship four straight years and won two state titles is a great accomplishment many people will never be able to say.” — OH
Division I State Championship
Canton McKinley, Alston deliver
March 20, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center Ameryst Alston
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Photo by Gary Housteau
anton McKinley survived a late rally by Toledo Waite – and potential game-tying free throws with no time left – to capture the Division I girls basketball state title 49-47 on March 20 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. The title is McKinley’s first in four trips to state. On a night when Ms. Basketball – Waite’s Natasha Howard – was on the floor, Canton McKinley sophomore Ameryst Alston made her own pitch for next year’s honor. Alston scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds en route to helping the Bulldogs (25-3) deliver a state title to Stark County. Sydnee Penn added 15 points for McKinley, while Laneisha Lennon chipped in seven points and nine rebounds. Howard, who is headed to Florida State, led Waite (24-3) with 23 points before fouling out with 6.6 seconds left. Shanice Mcneal contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds. — EF
J J H U D D L E . C O M 17
Girls Basketball State Finals Division III State Championship
Liberty-Benton nets state title and redemption; Eagles soar a year after getting grounded March 20, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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L-B finishes season as state’s lone unbeaten, hands Middletown Madison its first loss
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climbed back to within 40-38 with 5:19 remaining in the third quarter, but a 13-2 L-B run to end the period decided the outcome. Overall, L-B outscored Madison 28-10 in the second half. “We have good shooters, but we also have girls who attack the basket,” Irwin said. “That is our offense. We attack the rim. And when teams close down we get girls open for the 3s.” “We ran into a buzz saw,” Rossi, Jr. said. “We knew they were pretty good and they’re pretty
Division IV State Championship
Harvest Prep shocks Berlin Hiland
March 20, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Harvest Prep shares a moment in the huddle before winning the D-IV title.
Photo by Gary Housteau
OLUMBUS - Sometimes it takes a loss to get a win. Just ask Findlay Liberty-Benton. Last season the Eagles left Columbus with their heads down. This time they left with one finger in the air. A year after getting blind-sided 5930 by South Euclid Regina in the Division III state semifinals, Liberty-Benton captured its first girls basketball state championship March 20 with a 6644 win over Middletown Madison in the D-III state final before a crowd of 6,098 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. The Eagles finished the season as the state’s only unbeaten team (27-0) regardless of division, and in the process became just the 40th team in state history – since the girls tournament started in 1976 – to complete an undefeated run. L-B also shed the distaste of last year’s defeat, where the most memorable thing about the game for L-B fans was a graphic image of Amanda Hyde’s dislocated finger. This year the hurt was all Madison’s. “Last year’s experience was huge for us,” L-B head coach Nate Irwin said. “We were able to see the other side of it and get beat by 20 points by a very talented Regina team. Last year wasn’t our best performance but I don’t know if it would have mattered. They were just that good. But it helped the girls taste it and want it more. This whole offseason they wanted to get another chance and they did.” Said Madison head coach John Rossi, Jr.: “We won our semifinal game (Thursday) and got a little bit of a taste of it, but I’m sure their game experience the year before had a little bit to do with it. They just played a little bit better than we did today. We just didn’t finish.” The Eagles accomplished their goal by doing what they do best – shooting. L-B entered the season as the second most prolific 3-point shooting team in state history with 229 treys on the season. They added six more on Saturday. Fittingly the Eagles took the lead for good on a 3-pointer from senior Amber Peterson late in the first quarter. Down 12 in the second quarter, Madison
good for a reason. The sting is pretty fresh right now.” L-B was led by IPFW recruit Hyde who scored a game-high 23 points to go with eight rebounds. Sophomore Catie Craft added 19 points, while Peterson chipped in 13. The Eagles were especially deadly from the free throw line, hitting 24-of-28 and their last 18 in a row. Madison, the only other undefeated team in this weekend’s state tournament, was trying to become the first team from the Southwestern Buckeye League to capture a girls basketball title. At the first tournament in 1976, SWBL member Bellbrook finished runner-up in Class AA, thanks to a 45-44 loss to Columbus Hartley. It had taken 34 years for an SWBL team to make it back to the title game – and it will be even longer before one wins it. Sophomore Brittany Shields led the Mohawks – who shot just 4-of-21 in the second half – with 13 points. Junior Ally Malott added 10. Rossi, Jr., fell points shy of a personal milestone as well. Rossi’s father John captured a state title as head coach of Middletown Fenwick’s boys team in 1982 and son was trying to match father. Next year Rossi, Jr. should have a good shot as well. Madison returns 15 of its 17 players, including Malott, the No. 1 ranked junior in Ohio. “We just told the kids, we’re going to be back,” Rossi, Jr. said. “They got a taste of it and we’d like a little more. Once you get a little bite of it you want to take a bigger bite.” L-B got a mouthful. — OH
ith his team trailing Fort Loramie by 18 points in the Division IV state semifinals on March 20, Canal Winchester Harvest Prep girls basketball coach David Dennis employed his team that if it were to lose, the least it could do was go down swinging. The coach wanted effort. And he got it - along with a state championship. Rallying from a 45-27 hole against Loramie with a game-ending 22-1 run, Harvest Prep capped a miraculous season the following day by claiming its first D-IV state title with a 45-41 win over Berlin Hiland before a crowd of 4,529 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. The Warriors, making their state tournament debut, outlasted the seasoned Hawks who were looking for their fourth state title in six years. Instead Hiland dropped its second straight D-IV final after holding a halftime lead. Harvest Prep oustscored Hiland 17-10 in the third quarter to take a 38-37 lead heading into the fourth. Over the last eight minutes the teams combined for 11 points with HP netting seven. Junior Shicole Watts led HP (27-1) with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Hiland (25-3) was led by Hilary Weaver who had 19 points. – EF
JJ H u ddle’ s O h io Hi gh
Girls Basketball State Finals Liberty-Benton’s Amanda Hyde (11) and Catie Craft (15) battle for a loose ball with Madison’s Lindsay Hoskins.
Photo by Nick Falzerano
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J J H U D D L E . C O M 19
O h i o H i g h G i r l s B a s k e t b a l l A l l - T o u r n a m e n t Te a m
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ
FIRST TEAM
GH
GH
GH
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Natasha Howard
Ameryst Alston
Mylan Woods
Shicole Watts
Ally Malott
Toledo Waite Canton McKinley Hathaway Brown Harvest Prep Middletown Madison Senior had 45 points and Sophomore guard scored Senior had her best state Junior tallied 30 points, 19 Junior had 28 points, 16 18 rebounds in semis and 22 points in state final; Had tournament with 31 rebounds and seven steals rebounds, seven assist and final. 16 in semis. points and 14 rebounds. in final and semis. six blocks in two games.
SECOND TEAM
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Cassie Sant
Alexis Dobbs
Amanda Hyde
Catie Craft
Hilary Weaver
Kettering Fairmont Senior
Hathaway Brown Senior
Liberty-Benton Senior
Liberty-Benton Sophomore
Berlin Hiland Senior
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Boys Basketball State Finals
Port Clinton senior Allen Tigner is hoisted on his teammates shoulders after making a gamewinning shot with 3 seconds left in a 51-50 D-II semfinal win over Zanesville. Tigner had 14 points and seven assists in the game.
Photo by Gary Housteau
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Boys Basketball State Finals Division IV State Championship
Dayton Jefferson wins its third state title, survives Newark Catholic’s bid for its first March 27, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Junior Cody Latimer comes up huge for the Broncos with 24 points and 12 rebounds
OLUMBUS – One question surrounding the Division IV boys basketball state championship was answered during player introductions. The most important question wasn’t answered until 32 minutes of hoops had been played. With Michigan State recruit Adreian Payne in the starting line-up – a decision that was made prior to tip off – Dayton Jefferson captured the D-IV state title on March 27 by outlasting Newark Catholic 59-52 before a crowd of 10,781 at OSU’s Schottenstein Center. Although Payne was literally a big issue entering the game – he stands 6-foot-10 – it was Jefferson junior Cody Latimer that garnered most of the applause. Latimer, a 6-3 junior, scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. He was 10-of-11 from the field for the game. His only miss came on
a put back dunk with seven seconds left. Regarded as one of Ohio’s top junior football prospects, Latimer’s basketball play was reputable too. “The last three months Latimer’s stock has just climbed and climbed and climbed,” Newark Catholic head coach Drew Meister said. “He has a blend of power and explosion that’s a handful. He was the one aspect of the game that was the difference maker. He was a beast.” “That’s my mentality,” Latimer said. “I wasn’t going to let nothing stop me.” Earlier this season a concussion did what Newark Catholic couldn’t. Latimer missed several key midseason games while recovering from the injury sustained in a contest Jan. 9 versus Dayton Meadowdale. Since his return, Latimer has been leading the team, which was also without the services of Payne for several games as he recovered from a dislocated shoulder sustained in a win over D-II Photo by Nick Falzerano
Jefferson junior Cody Latimer cuts down his share of the net following the Broncos 59-52 win. Latimer led the club with a double-double (24 points, 12 rebounds) in the final.
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state champion Dunbar. Payne was “80-percent” in the state final and had surgery on his shoulder the Monday following at 6 a.m. at Grandview Hospital in Dayton. “I told my team when I came back I was going to come back stronger and get us here,” Latimer said. “With AP out I knew I had to step up big time because that’s a big piece of our puzzle. So that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve been getting as many rebounds as I can and finishing strong when I go to the hole.” On the same day Dayton neighbor Dunbar earned its fourth state title, the Broncos (17-10) rallied to win their third and give Montgomery County its 24th championship overall. Jefferson’s 10 losses – five via forfeit – are also the most for a state champion since Youngtown Ursuline won the 1994 D-III title with the same 1710 record. The Broncos led 14-8 after the first quarter and 27-23 at halftime, but NC fought back – behind a bombardment of three 3s – to take the lead 42-41 heading into the fourth. A Latimer basket to open the final period gave
“The last three months Latimer’s stock has just climbed and climbed and climbed. He has a blend of power and explosion that’s a handful. He was the one aspect of the game that was the difference maker. He was a beast.” Newark Catholic head coach Drew Meister the Broncos the lead for good, and although NC forced a tie twice in the final eight minutes, it never regained the lead. Payne and Joby Jackson each had 11 points for Jefferson, while Matt Dawson led NC with 20. James Moerman added 10 points for the Green Wave. “We were able to regain our poise and get it done,” said Jefferson head coach Art Winston, who also led the Broncos to a state title in 1998. “Cody’s rebounding and the way he established himself in the post was key. He got us some easy points.” Newark Catholic (25-2), playing in its first basketball state championship game, fell just short of adding to its program’s stored athletic tradition. The Green Wave own eight football titles and six baseball championships. “There are a couple things we try to do at Newark Catholic and that’s compete and do it with class,” Meister said. “There’s no question this group of men did that today. We just went up against an opposing obstacle that was relentless.” Said Latimer: “They’re scrappy. They wanted it bad like we did so they tried to match our intensity and that’s what made it hard. They were fighting down low and doing a good job of breaking our press and pushing us. “It was a nice little fight.” — OH
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STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ
Boys Basketball State Finals
Jefferson senior and Michigan State recruit Adreian Payne overcame foul trouble to score 11 points and grab nine rebounds in the D-IV state final.
Photo by Nick Falzerano
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Boys Basketball State Finals
Lima Central Catholic senior Desi Kirkman scored 37 points combined in the semifinal and final to help lead the T-Birds to their first title in six trips.
Photo by Gary Housteau
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Boys Basketball State Finals
STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ Division III State Championship
Lima Central Catholic provides Seggerson with a storybook ending and title March 27, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Legendary coach wins his first championship in sixth trip; Announces retirement at post game press conference
OLUMBUS – Perhaps no team or head coach has felt the agony of defeat at the boys basketball state tournament more than Lima Central Catholic and it’s head coach Bob Seggerson. Saturday, Seggerson and Co. finally got to taste the thrill of victory. After having its five previous trips to state – all under Seggerson – end in one or two point losses, the Thunderbirds broke through for their first state title with a 60-57 win over Orrville in the Division III state championship game before a crowd of 14,008 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center in Columbus. At the postgame press conference, Seggerson announced his retirement. Whew…is right. Orrville didn’t go lightly. “In those last two minutes, anyone who knows what we’ve been through in those five previous games knows that those were tough losses,” Seggerson said. “I’ll have to admit that the feeling those last two minutes was all too familiar. I’m sitting there going ‘Man, no way.’ But we collectively held our composure and we bent, but we didn’t break.” LCC (23-4) had to overcome a sluggish start as Orrville (21-6) exploded out of the gate for a 7-2 lead. The T-Birds clawed back to make it 12-12 after one and led 26-20 at halftime. LCC had to whether another storm to open the third quarter as Orrville scored eight of the first 10 points to tie it at 28-28. The T-Birds responded with their own 10-2 run to distant themselves. LCC was up 43-34 after three. The fourth quarter got interesting. The T-Birds led 48-34 with 6:37 to go, but Orrville cut the deficit to 56-55 with 59 seconds left. Four free throws – two each by Desi Kirkman and Ty O’Connor – in the final 55 nervous seconds preserved the win. Orrville still had a shot down three with the ball with 15.3 seconds left, but a last second 3-pointer slid off the rim. Mayhem, tears and a collective sigh of relief ensued for LCC. “I thought it was fitting that with 15 seconds left they had a chance to tie it with a 3 and we defended it,” Seggerson said. “He wasn’t getting that 3. That’s fitting, because that’s what we do. We play defense. No one was overly impressed with anything we did offensively in the eight quarters we were here. But we
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“I’ll have to admit that the feeling those last two minutes was all too familiar. I’m sitting there going ‘Man, no way.’ But we collectively held our composure and we bent, but we didn’t break.” Lima Central Catholic head coach Bob Seggerson still battled and played great defense and that’s what this team does.” Austin Stolly led LCC with 16 points, while Kirkman added 15. O’Connor chipped in 12. Although it forced LCC into 19 turnovers, Orrville had 17 of its own and shot a dismal 3-of-18 from 3-
point range. LCC was even worse (2-of-14) from distance, but it didn’t matter. Joey Bescanson and Jacob Bolyard led the Red Riders with 14 points each. Zach Wasson added 12. Under first year head coach and alum Sly Slaughter, Orrville fell just short of adding the school’s fourth state title, which would have moved it into a tie for fourth place all time with Cleveland Villa AngelaSt. Joseph, Columbus Wehrle, Dayton Stivers, Hamilton, Newark, Portsmouth and St. Henry. The Red Riders previous three championships all came under the guidance of Orrville’s own legendary coach Steve Smith. Slaughter played for Smith on Orrville’s first title team in 1992. “When I got hired my staff and I put together basketball shirts for our basketball camp and the very first word that went on there was character,” Slaughter said. “That was one of the things we wanted these guys to play with and they have all year. What you saw tonight was just a little bit of what we’ve seen all year along. They’re never going to quit. They never give up and they always think they have a chance to win.” The state championship was the lone missing piece to Seggerson’s resume which now includes 517 wins, 13 district titles, six regional championships and three state finals. His T-Birds were runners-up in 1989 and 1994. When Seggerson accepted his state championship medal he placed it around his wife’s neck, hugged her and capped it with a kiss. He then went to the locker room and told his team he’d coached his last game. “This year it became clear that this was my last year,” Seggerson said. “That whisper in my ear got a little louder. I knew a month ago. So everything I did, was the last time I was going to do it. I never dreamed in my wildest dreams, though, that the last game of my life would be the biggest of my life and that we would come home with the win. This was my last basketball game and I’m walking out on top.” Said Slaughter: “Anyone who has been here six times has nothing to be ashamed of.” — OH Photo by Gary Housteau
LCC coach Bob Seggerson has cut down his share of nets, but this is the first time in 32 years he’s gotten to slice one up after the state championship game.
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Boys Basketball State Finals Division II State Championship
Dayton Dunbar pulls away from Port Clinton; Wolverines win fourth title March 27, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Down at half, Dunbar rallies with big third quarter push; Redskins fall one win shy of perfect season
OLUMBUS – Port Clinton may have won a moral victory on March 20, but Dayton Dunbar got the victory the Redskins really wanted – and the state championship trophy that went with it. Believed by many to be a huge underdog despite its undefeated record, PC led explosive Dayton Dunbar in the third quarter before finally succumbing down the stretch and falling 64-50 in the Division II state championship game at OSU’s Schottenstein Center. A crowd of 13,658 watched in astonishment as the Redskins (26-1) hung with the Wolverines for 28 minutes. In the end, though, it’s Dunbar (25-3) that gets to hang another state championship banner in its gym. It’s the fourth overall for the Wolverines and their third in the last six years. Only Middletown, Columbus East and Akron St.
Vincent-St. Mary have more state basketball titles than the Wolverines. “Our opponent came out and played well,” Dunbar coach Peter Pullen said. “We knew we were going to have to make adjustments at halftime, but we also knew our pressure was going to get to them – eventually. We just had to keep it on.” “Our kids are competitors,” Port Clinton head coach Troy Diels said. “I don’t care who we would have played here, these guys were going to bring it and be ready. We believed we could beat them.” Dunbar had to earn this win. Playing inspired from the tip, Port Clinton trailed just 14-12 after the first quarter and thanks to a last second and deep 3 at the buzzer by Derek Colston took a 27-26 lead into halftime. In the third quarter, the Redskins held a 29-26 advantage with 7:02 left to play. Then the Wolverines started applying their will Photo by Nick Falzerano
Playing in its fourth state tournament in six years, Dunbar captured its third title over that span. The championship was the 17th earned by a schoool from the city of Dayton.
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and fresh legs. Consistently hounding PC with full court pressure and a rotation of 10, Dunbar wore down the Redskins who relied heavily on their starting five. Four PC players played 30-plus minutes, while another logged 27. Only six Redskins played over a minute. Dunbar is used to opponents wilting – just not this late into the game. The Wolverines outscored the Redskins 22-13 in the fourth quarter and 38-23 in the second half. “We thought we’d eventually wear them down and part of my halftime speech was actually to keep attacking them,” Pullen said. “In the fourth quarter they finally started to slow down. They were turning the ball over in one-on-one situations and that was a sign of fatigue. This group wanted it and they got after them.” Said Diels: “I thought we were in a good position going into the fourth. I felt good about where we were at, but I think we just wore down at the end and made some mistakes we typically don’t make.” In the fourth quarter, Dunbar was also fueled by the play of standout senior Geron Johnson, who scored 10 of his game-high 24 points in the final
“We thought we’d eventually wear them down and part of my halftime speech was actually to keep attacking them. In the fourth quarter they finally started to slow down. They were turning the ball over in one-on-one situations and that was a sign of fatigue.” Dayton Dunbar head coach Peter Pullen eight minutes. Johnson also finished with seven assists, four rebounds and four steals. Ryan Bass added 13 points for Dunbar, while Deon Stewart had 10. The loss was Port Clinton’s first and concluded a remarkable run by the Redskins. Last year PC lost in the D-III sectional tournament and this year, after bumping up to D-II, made its surprising run to the championship. Prior to this year, the Redskins hadn’t won a district title since 1943. PC was led by Colston and Ryan Hicks who each had 15 points. Josh Francis added 12. “We didn’t come here to lose and we didn’t think we were going to,” Hicks said. “It sucks.” Said Francis: “It hurts. You want to finish off a perfect season and we didn’t.” Dunbar, which improved to 4-2 in state championship games, captured the City of Dayton’s 17th state title and moved into a first place tie with Stivers for total overall championships by a Dayton City League school. The title was the 23rd won by a school from Montgomery County. “We said before the game that we had to step up because we had one chance,” Johnson said. “There’s no state championship tomorrow – we’re either here to win it or go home. “My team came to bat.” — OH
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STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ
Boys Basketball State Finals Dayton Dunbar senior Geron Johnson had a huge state title game with 24 points, seven assists, four rebounds and four steals.
Photo by Nick Falzerano
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Boys Basketball State Finals Senior Mark Henninger exploded in the state final for 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Photo by Gary Housteau
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STORY BY KURT STUBBS (OHSHoops.com)
Boys Basketball State Finals
Division I State Championship
Massillon Jackson rolls Moeller; Polar Bears win school’s first state title March 27, 2009 @ The Schottenstein Center
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Jackson uses 24-5 third quarter run to separate itself; senior forwards Henninger and Egner play huge
OLUMBUS – It's not often a team is able to force Cincinnati Moeller into submission, but in the Division I state championship game on March 27 Massillon Jackson did just that en route to earning the school's first boys basketball state championship. The Polar Bears out scrapped, out rebounded and out played the Crusaders in all facets of the game leading head coach Mike Fuline and his squad to a 57-34 victory. Ahead 20-15 at halftime, Massillon Jackson came out of the locker room and ran off 16 consecutive points to take a 36-15 lead with 2:43 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Jackson outscored Big Moe' 24-5 in the frame to take a 4420 advantage into the fourth. Other than the formality of running the final eight minutes off the clock, the game was all but over as a staggering, stunned and gassed Moeller team was spent. Perhaps, the previous night’s overtime semifinal contest with a very good Mentor team played a factor, but it just wasn't a typical Crusaders performance specifically in the second half. Jackson was terrific especially on the defensive end where it held the Crusaders to a dismal 13-of51 (25.5-percent) from the field. It was almost a role reversal of what Moeller is used to. Jackson dominated the paint with seniors Mark Henninger and Josh Egner and forced Moeller into uncomfortable shots on the perimeter. Constant pressure from the Jackson guards did a lot of the damage. The Polars Bears were able to dominate the glass as well, holding a decisive 38-20 advantage. Moeller had more offensive rebounds (12) than defensive boards (8). The Purple and White, who shot 59-percent from the floor, got 21 points and 12 rebounds from Henninger along with four points and 10 rebounds by Egner. Junior guard Michael Shull showed great efficiency shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from distance in accumulating 17 points. The little lefty was hitting pull up jumpers, catch-and-shoot treys and attacking the rack. Senior guard Brad Dupont added 11 points and five assists while doing an outstanding job of forcing the tempo into a pace Moeller wasn't able to
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handle. C.J. Julian contributed eight rebounds for the winners. Moeller received huge games from senior Josh Morelock and juniors Alex Barlow and Charlie Byers in the semifinal win over Mentor, but the final was not as enjoyable to say the least. The three were a combine 5-of-28 from the field for 15 points. Xavier signee Griffin McKenzie led Moeller with nine points on just 4-of-13 shooting. — OH
By The Numbers Here’s a look at the five most attended games during the Boys State Tournament:
14,614 D-I Semifinal Massillon Jackson vs Gahanna Lincoln
14,008 D-III Final Lima Central Catholic vs Orrville
13,658 D-II Final Dayton Dunbar vs Port Clinton
12,920 D-I Final Massillon Jackson vs Cincinnati Moeller
11,979 D-II Semifinal Port Clinton vs Zanesville Photo by Gary Housteau
Massillon Jackson might not have been looked at as the favorite heading into the state tournament but wins over Gahanna Lincoln and Moeller silenced any doubters.
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O h i o H i g h B o y s B a s k e t b a l l A l l - T o u r n a m e n t Te a m
STORY BY OHIO HIGH STAFF
FIRST TEAM
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Mark Henninger
Cody Latimer
Geron Johnson
Desi Kirkman
Josh Egner
Massillon Jackson Dayton Jefferson Dayton Dunbar Lima Central Catholic Massillon Jackson Senior tallied 33 points and Junior finished two-game Standout senior guard had Senior guard posted 37 Senior forward powered 21 rebounds in final and run with 35 points and 38 points, 13 assists and points, 10 rebounds, nine way to 27 points and 21 semis. 21 rebounds. 12 rebounds at state. assists and seven steals. rebounds in two games.
SECOND TEAM
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Jacob Bolyard
Adreian Payne
Matt Dawson
Ryan Bass
Jason Crowe
Orrville Senior
Dayton Jefferson Senior
Newark Catholic Senior
Dayton Dunbar Senior
Mentor Senior
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