‘She’s as tough as they come’: Olentangy girls basketball’s Whitney Stafford breaks new ground
Thursday, January 29, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Olentangy senior Whitney Stafford, a Kent State commit, is the school’s all-time leading scorer, a mark she set on Jan. 10. Photo: John Hulkenberg
RELATED: See our PHOTO GALLERY of Olentangy’s game at Thomas Worthington on December 5th
Whitney Stafford was fouled driving to the basket in the fourth quarter as the Olentangy girls basketball team was trying to overcome a deficit against rival Big Walnut at home on Jan. 10. Unremarkable considering Stafford doesn’t shy away from contact.
It’s that kind physicality that resulted in a broken nose earlier this month. And it’s a physicality that caused her problems with her shoulder a couple of years ago.
But when Stafford buried the ensuing free throws, she achieved something truly remarkable. The senior guard and four-year starter passed Sean Marks’ 1,419 points to become the school’s all-time leading scorer regardless of gender.
It came less than two quarters after she passed 2016 graduate Kelly Meade’s record for the girl’s program of 1,410 points just before halftime of the Braves’ 59-56 loss to the Golden Eagles.
The play sums up Stafford’s career perfectly.
“It’s just the competitive spirit,” Stafford said of her physicality. “Losing doesn’t sit well with me, so I’m always putting my body on the line to win a ballgame. I’m trying to work on my control going up, but it’s really the competitive spirit that drives it.”
Marks, a 2019 graduate, is now an assistant coach for the Olentangy boys team under his former coach John Feasel, who led the girls program for 13 seasons prior to switching before the 2016-17 season.
“I felt a lot of joy for her,” he said. “I was excited for her just because I know how much work I put in to get to that and she works just as hard, if not harder than I did. So, she definitely deserves it. It was very exciting to see and I was super happy for her.”
Stafford grew up in the program with older sisters Jessica (2015 graduate) and Bridget (2022 graduate). She learned to play the game attending camps like the Mini Dribblers that were led by Feasel.
Klarke Ransome (right) has seen Whitney Stafford play as the former head coach at Marysville and now as her head coach with Olentangy. Photo: John Hulkenberg
That Feasel and Marks, as well as members of Stafford’s family, were there just made the moment more special.
Meade wasn’t in attendance that night. But Stafford said she got a congratulatory text after the game and the two saw each other when Meade was inducted into the school’s athletic Hall of Fame Jan. 24.
“I remember being 4 years old and shooting on the little hoops in the practice gym while the varsity team was practicing,” said Stafford, a Kent State signee. “Growing up in the program and watching the players that are also up on the board (of 1,000-point scorers) – it just meant everything to be able to watch those players and then be able to go out and break that record.”
Stafford is averaging 21.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game to lead the Braves, who are 16-2 overall and lead the OCC-Cardinal Division at 7-0 heading into a matchup at Marysville on Jan. 30. Olentangy, which hosts second-place Hilliard Darby (6-1) Feb. 6, is seeking its third consecutive league title.
Second-year coach Klarke Ransome has seen both sides of the coin with Stafford, opposing her as he led Marysville Stafford’s freshman and sophomore campaigns before taking over at Olentangy ahead of last season.
“On the other side, I (saw) just how talented she was as a player – how competitive she was, how tough and how hard she played,” he said. “On (this) side, I’ve been lucky enough to see how hard she competes every day – not just on game days.
“Every day, I walk into the gym – I know what I’m going to get. She’s always on. She’s constantly pushing herself and others. It’s been really cool to see her on (our) side.”
Stafford plays with a physical determination. Currently, she’s sporting a face mask after taking an elbow to her nose during Olentangy’s 50-40 win over Dublin Jerome on Jan. 9.
Olentangy junior Kareena Agrawal drives against Thomas Worthington in a December contest. Photo: John Hulkenberg
She says she’s fully recovered from a partially torn labrum in her right shoulder, caused by a couple of shoulder separations her sophomore year. She wore a brace to protect the injury that season.
“(Stafford is) as tough as they come,” Ransome said. “She’s the all-time leading scorer. What’s special about that is the hard work that goes into it. She hasn’t cheated the system. She’s stayed true to the process. She doesn’t miss a day. She’s in there every rep. She’s in there before practice, after practice. … She’s definitely someone who deserves it.”
Olentangy has won its last six games since the loss to Big Walnut. They are ranked fifth in the state in Division I and the top-ranked team in the Central District according to MaxPreps.
It hasn’t come easy for the Braves. They’ve been without sophomore guard Ava Alexander since the new year after she tore her ACL in practice ahead of a Jan. 3 game against Olentangy Liberty.
Junior Kareena Agrawal (15.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals per game), seniors Ryan Kirtley, Mia Kirtley and junior Peyton Kolberg have all stepped up in Alexander’s absence, Ransome said.
Senior Aly Bretzinger and juniors Mallory Vedra and Aiden Conkling have also been key contributors in the rotation.
Stafford, a three-time all-Ohioan, including first-team the last two seasons, helped the Braves to district championships in each of the last two years, ending a 25-year drought since the last time they held that trophy.
The Braves have never won a regional championship, though, and it’s a goal for Stafford as her high school career winds down.
Stafford has been through all of it with Olentangy. It was something that Stafford discussed with her mom, Jeanette, last week.
“We had our little Mini Dribblers before a game (earlier this season), and she was like, ‘I remember when you were a little girl out there doing your ball handling,’” Stafford said. “So, it’s definitely crazy to think that this is my last year and it’s definitely sad to say it’s my last year. Everything that’s happened so far has just been amazing.”
Olentangy senior Ryan Kirtley shoots against Thomas Worthington in an OCC contest in December. Photo: John Hulkenberg