The Warriors took control of the Licking County League standings with a three-set win at state-ranked and defending LCL champ Granville. After suffering back-to-back losses, Watkins has won eight straight and is 16-3.
Week 7 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Newton Local (Pleasant Hill) GolfThe Indians rallied from a seven-stroke deficit after nine holes to claim the program's first Division III District title with a one-stroke win over Fort Loramie at Beavercreek Gold Club. It is the first time Newton, whcih shot 343, has advanced to state. Senior Chet Jamison shot a blistering 33 on his final nine holes to claim medalist honors with a 73.
The Indians finished the regular season 11-2-2 and set a school record with 104 goals.
Lilly Gray leads the charge with 42 goals (and 17 assists), while
Kristen Bradford has chipped in 23 goals (and 13 assists).
Kierra Stone (48 points),
Breauna Shoemaker (40 points) and
Arayha West (28 points/team-high 22 assists) have also contributed heavily to the offensive output.
Week 8 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
GIRLS: Vanlue VolleyballThe Wildcats beat Lima Perry 3-0 in the regular season finale to finish with 11 wins, which is the most for the program in 41 years. Vanlue's 11-11 record is also the first time since 1977 that a Wildcats team finished with double-digit wins.
Under the direction of new head coach Nick Wilson, the Lady Roughriders took down undefeated Lima Shawnee on Oct. 4 in a game rescheduled due to a flooded field. St. Marys beat Shawnee 2-1 to move into a first-place tie in the Western Buckeye League and then won their first outright title in 10 years with a 4-2 comeback win over defending Wapakoneta.
Week 9 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Dublin Jerome GolfThe Celtics claimed the program's eighth state title and second in a row with a 25-stroke victory in Division I. Jerome, which held a five-stroke lead after the first day, wrapped the two-day event by shooting a 625 at Ohio State's Scarlett Course.
The Blazers dominated the D-II girls state tournament. Junior Nicole Gillinov, a three-time finalist, won her second straight title with a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory over sophomore Sydni Ratliff from Gahanna Columbus Academy. In doubles action, the HB duo of Isabellla Daverio and Rebecca Wolf defeated teammates, junior Isabella Godsick and senior Megan Qiang, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the final. Godsick and Qiang were the defending state champions.
Week 10 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Madison (Middletown) FootballA year after earning the program's first postseason berth and winning a regional title, the Mohawks capped their first undefeated season with a 64-0 win over Waynesville. Madison outscored its opponents 450-45 this year and recorded six shutouts. The Mohawks outscored their six SWBL Buckeye Division foes 320-22.
The Bruins, two-time defending D-II state champions (five titles in last 10 years), won a Division I district title with a 3-1 victory over Wadsworth. Padua moved up a classification this year due to competitive balance. Padua (24-1) is currently ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 5 nationally according to the
MaxPreps Computer Rankings. The Bruins only lost three sets in the regular season (two came in the team's only loss to nationally-ranked Louisville Mercy).
Week 11 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Buckeye (Medina) FootballThe Bucks rallied from a 25-21 deficit with 1:53 to go to captured the proram's first postseason win in 10 trips with a 28-25 victory over Alliance in a Division III regional quarterfinal. The decisive score came when quarterback Jacob Doerge hit Anthony Watkins for a 64-yard touchdown pass. The screen pass was Watkins only reception of the evening and Doerge's only completion (three attempts).
Despite not winning a league title this season, the Comets could win the state championship. Solon captured it's first regional title since 2006 with a 3-1 win over Massillon Jackson in D-I. Also beat Nordonia in the district finals and Riverside in the regional semis. Rides a nine-match win streak into
Friday's semifinal with Parma Padua Franciscan.
Week 12 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Summit Country Day (Cincinnati) Day SoccerThe Silver Knights won their sixth state title in seven years and a record fourth straight with a 4-0 win over Revere in the D-II state final. Due to competitive balance, Summit bumped up a division this season after playing in D-III in all its previous seasons. The Silver Knights have won a record 29-straight postseason games and own seven state titles overall. Summit's four goals ties a D-II state final record.
The Beavers recorded one of the best seasons in state history. Creek became the third team ever to finish 24-0-0 and captured the program's first state title with a 4-2 win over Strongsville in the D-I state final. The Beavers led 4-0 at half. Creek finished with 19 shutouts and had 14 consecutive at one point. Both tallies are good for second most in state history. The Beavers also finished with 140 goals, which also ranks second in state history.
Week 13 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Fort Loramie FootballStrapped with an athletic tradition that includes multiple state titles in boys basketball (three) and baseball (three), the Redskins captured the program's first regional title in football with a 48-20 win over Convoy Crestview in Division VII. The game was tied 14-14 at halftime. The Redskins are riding a 12-game win streak since losing to defending state champion Minster in Week 1.
The Green Wave advanced to the volleyball state tournament for the first time since 1982 and won the program;s first state title with a four-set win over Fenwick (semis) and a five-set win over Hartley (final). It was the school's first state title in any sports since 2006 (girls soccer). Holy Name finished 26-3.
Week 14 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Johnstown-Monroe FootballThe Johnnies dispatched defending D-V state champion Wheelersburg and earned the program's first trip to the state football final with a 32-14 win in the state semifinals. Johnstown ran for 349 yards and completed its lone pass attempt.
The Indians punched the program's first ticket to the state football finals with a 53-48 shootout win over Licking Valley in a D-IV state semifinal.
Week 15 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Kenston (Chagrin Falls) FootballThe Bombers won the program's first state title in their third state final appearance and first since 1995 with a convincing 42-6 victory over Alter in the Division III final. Kenston, which trailed 6-0 in the first quarter, was led by junior quarterback
Jon Tomcufcik (three touchdown passes), junior running back
Jack Porter (three rushing touchdowns) and senior receiver
Bransen Stanley (two touchdown receptions). Senior kicker
Anna Sanders went 6-for-6 on PATs and became the first female to score a point in an OHSAA state football final. Kenston averaged 40.3 points per game this season and scored 40 or more in four of five playoff games.
The Eagles captured the fourth state title in program history (all since 2010) with a stunning 24-10 win over nationally-ranked and undefeated Colerain in the D-I final. The Cardinals, which entered ranked No. 16 in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25, had won only two games by less than 23 points all season. St. Edward trailed 10-7 at half. Eagles senior quarterback
Garrett Dzuro connected with senior receiver and Michigan recruit
Quintel Kent for third and fourth quarter touchdowns. St. Edward, which opened the season 0-2, opened the playoffs by avenging a Week 10 loss to rival St. Ignatius. The Eagles, seeded seventh in Region 1, also beat Euclid, Mentor and Olentangy Liberty in the postseason.
Week 16 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Elder (Cincinnati) BasketballThe Panthers rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to beat longtime neighborhood rival and host Western Hills 56-51 for head coach Joe Schoenfeld's 400th career victory (all at Elder). Schoenfeld is 400-233 in 27-plus years at Elder and has led the Panthers to two state finals. Elder was the OHSAA D-I state champion in 1993.
Grizzlies won a an early season showdown of Northeast heavyweights with Stow (53-43) and also added double-digit wins over Cuyahoga Falls and North Royalton to improve to 5-0.
Week 17 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Westerville Central BowlingThe Warhawks won the 32-team Pioneer Baker Bash in Columbus. WC finished first after the qualifying rounds and then won all three bracketed matches 2-0. In the finals the Warhawks edged runner-up Ashland 245-244 in the first game before winning the second 221-175.
The Rangers improved to 9-0 with road wins over Euclid and Chardon.
Ranked No. 6 in the state, North is averaging 67 points per game and has won every contest by double-digits.
Week 18/19 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Wadsworth (Wadsworth, Ohio) WrestlingThe Grizzlies captured the title at the distinguished Medina Invitational with a 211-188 win over Davison (MI). Wadsworth had six placers, including three champions -
Luke Baughman (138),
Michael North (145) and Dom Loparo (170).
The Patriots played four games in eight days, won the Kings Holiday Classic and improved to 11-0 with wins over Valley View, Kings, McNicholas and Sheridan. Carroll is
ranked No. 2 in the overall MaxPreps Ohio Girls Basketball Rankings (regardless of division) and is currently
ranked No. 79 nationally. Junior Julia Keller is averaging 14.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, while senior Elisabeth Bush is averaging 14/1 points (4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists). Both rank among the Greater Catholic League Co-Ed Division's Top 5 in field goal percentage. Junior Allie Stefanek is averaging 8.8 points, 3.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals.
Week 20 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Marion Harding Boys BowlingThe Presidents finished third after qualifying, but then knocked off the top two seeds (Westerville Central and Mentor, respectively) en route to winning the 26-team Ohio State Buckeye Classic title.
Since starting the season 1-3, the Firebirds have gone 7-1 and are riding a five-game win streak (beat Mason, Beavercreek, Tippecanoe, Toledo Notre Dame and Lebanon). They're only loss during the run is a 35-34 double-OT setback at Mercy-McCauley.
Week 21 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Celina Boys BasketballThe Bulldogs downed Bath 63-36 to claim the program's 1,000th win.
The Firebirds beat previously unbeaten and Greater Miami Conference mate Princeton 61-50 to secure head coach Andy Fishman his 400th career victory. Fishman becomes the 41st girls coach in state history to achieve that feat (according to the OHSAA). West is currently ranked 10th in the MaxPreps Ohio Computer Rankings (regardless of division). Princeton was ranked ninth. New rankings are released Friday. West has won 10 games in a row heading into this weekend's Classic in the Country.
Week 22 Ohio HS Teams of the Week
BOYS: Steele (Amherst) Ice HockeyThe
Comets outlasted upset-mined North Olmsted 4-3 in OT to win the
Southwestern Conference tournament for the second straight year. It is
Steele's third SWC tournament title since 2000. The Comets are 22-2.
After
starting the season 4-6, Ed Zink's club has rattled off six straight
wins, including a 57-44 road victory over previously unbeaten and No. 1
ranked (in D-II) Carroll. All six wins have been by double-digits. Other
victims include Alter, Bellbrook, Tippecanoe, Northmont and Miamisburg.
