Central Ohio High School Stories - March/April 2024
‘It’s definitely different’: Olentangy Liberty’s Austin Mallory making most of senior season
Monday, April 29, 2024
By Michael Rich
Austin Mallory admits that it took him a little while to find his bearings as the Olentangy boys lacrosse team played at Hudson on April 13. Forgive him – he just spent a little over three hours in the car. A senior attacker and the Patriots’ top returning point-scorer from last season, Mallory also happens to be a standout volleyball player. [More]
Baseball: Pitching, defense, Buirley homer help undefeated Big Walnut by Westerville North
Monday, April 22, 2024
By Michael Rich
Mike Stafford has a pretty simple formula for winning games. It’s pitching, defense and then some timely hitting. It took all three of those things working together to help the Big Walnut baseball team stay undefeated with a 4-0 win over Westerville North in an OCC-Capital Division game on April 22 in Sunbury. [More]
Girls Lacrosse: Pohmer sisters step into spotlight for Liberty
Sunday, April 21, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
One grade apart and standouts for the Olentangy Liberty girls lacrosse team throughout their prep careers, senior Isabelle Pohmer and her junior sister, Madeline Pohmer, already have enjoyed memorable times in the sport together at both the prep and club levels. What they didn’t have much of – until this spring – were similar experiences with either of their other two siblings. [More]
‘It just brought us together’: Westerville North softball trio leaves their mark in final season
Friday, April 19, 2024
By Scott Gerfen
When Brian Anderson prepared his roster for the 2021 season, he didn’t hesitate to include three freshmen in the starting lineup. Three years later, those same players are seniors, and pitcher Sophie Minister, centerfielder Ryanne Wilson and shortstop Anna Williams are ready to leave their mark on the program. [More]
‘I love pitching’: East Knox’s Householder making most of possible final year
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
By Michael Rich
Bryar Householder loves the control that comes with being on the mound. A standout two-way player, the East Knox senior right-hander has been putting that control on full display these last couple of weeks where he’s amassed 41 strikeouts in 18 innings. Householder has been a staple in the Bulldogs lineup since his freshman year as the ace of the pitching staff and stout offensive threat. [More]
Boys Track & Field: Football recruitment, title chase come into focus for Devils’ Galloway
Monday, April 15, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
Based on what’s transpired over the past 10 months, a future filled with big events seems inevitable for Marion-Franklin junior Dawayne Galloway. The moments of maturity Galloway has experienced along the way has helped set his path forward. [More]
Lacrosse: Worthington Kilbourne boys, girls sweep rival Thomas Worthington
Sunday, April 14, 2024
By Michael Rich
Cole Fisher has settled into being a facilitator rather nicely for the Worthington Kilbourne boys lacrosse team. Part of the reason is he’s got a talented goal-scorer in Thomas Tyack to feed the ball. Tyack scored five goals – all assisted by Fisher – to lead the Wolves to a decisive 16-5 victory over Thomas Worthington to cap a full day of WoTown Showdown lacrosse. [More]
‘It was total destruction’: Olentangy Berlin athletics weathers the storm
Friday, April 12, 2024
By Michael Rich
When Mike Weaver woke up the morning of March 15, he wasn’t sure the text he got the previous night was real. Weaver, who has led the Olentangy Berlin baseball program since the school opened in 2018, was sent a video around midnight from senior catcher Parker McDaniels that showed the damage of a tornado that had ripped through Delaware County on the night of March 14. [More]
Boys Lacrosse: Janowicz hopes to help senior-laden UA add to title total
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
Growing up in a boys lacrosse community with a tradition of success unmatched across Ohio, Upper Arlington senior Tommy Janowicz remembers picking up a stick for the first time when he was in second grade. That doesn’t mean he’s unwilling to try new things to expand his skills in a sport where his future looks bright for years to come. [More]
‘We can play with anyone’: Undefeated Pickerington North boys volleyball coming together
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
By Scott Gerfen
Kyle Buchwalter earned the nickname “pup” as a starting freshman among a group of seniors. The moniker has stuck with him even in his senior year. Along the way, Buchwalter became a leader for the Pickerington North boys’ volleyball team. But he wouldn’t have gotten there without the tutelage of those who helped him along the way. [More]
Baseball: Olentangy Orange’s Hemrick shines in 1-hit shutout of Worthington Kilbourne
Sunday, April 7, 2024
By Michael Rich
Reid Hemrick made the most of a rare opportunity to show what he can do on the mound on April 7. In a rare Sunday start, the sophomore right-hander allowed very little to lead the host Olentangy Orange baseball team to a 10-0 victory in six innings over Worthington Kilbourne in a non-league game. [More]
‘He finds a way to outwork others’: All-around player Holmstrom leading Grove City baseball
Friday, April 5, 2024
By Scott Gerfen
Keegan Holmstrom’s introduction to the Grove City baseball team included hangouts in the dugout and chasing foul balls at age 10. Coach Ryan Alexander encouraged it. “He was always like, ‘Show up whenever you want, you’re in,’ and I was like, ‘Alright, I guess I’m in,’” Holmstrom said. [More]
‘I just have to embrace it’: Worthington Kilbourne goalie Marissa Dolciato stands on her head
Thursday, April 4, 2024
By Michael Rich
Marissa Dolciato was a little confused at the advice she received as a freshman during a timeout from the late Bill Wolford. The Worthington Kilbourne girls lacrosse team was in a close battle with rival Dublin Scioto and the numbers were against them. But the advice has stuck with her over the years and it’s part of what has turned her into one of the area’s top goalies. [More]
‘Pace-setter’: Westerville Central standout leads program to new heights
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
Nearly every time senior Olivia Pace steps onto the track to prepare for a meet, questions come flying her way. The Westerville Central girls track and field star is used to becoming the center of attention considering she enters her final prep season as the defending Division I state champion in the long jump and is a multiple-time state placer in sprinting events. [More]
Softball: Watkins Memorial thrives on competition
Thursday, March 28, 2024
By Michael Rich
Jordyn Wycuff laughed when recalling her first experience playing for Watkins Memorial coach Michael Jellison. Wycuff was in her first year as a softball player when Jellison cut her from the Watkins Youth League 8U All-Star team. [More]
Boys Lacrosse: Dublin Coffman edges Hilliard Davidson as clock winds down in opener
Thursday, March 28, 2024
By Michael Rich
Kyle Taylor was wasting time before his game-winning goal on March 28. It’s counterintuitive to bleed the clock in a tie game, but the senior midfielder had a pretty good reason. The Dublin Coffman boys lacrosse team had just allowed Hilliard Davidson to score six consecutive goals to tie the game. [More]
Softball: Big fifth inning lifts Hilliard Bradley over Gahanna
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
By Michael Rich
When Cora Moine took a one-out walk with Sophia Lopez on third base in the fifth inning of a non-league softball game, she looked at first base coach Heather Moody and saw the sign to keep going. Her job was simple: get in a rundown. The Hilliard Bradley junior executed it to perfection, drawing the attention of Gahanna’s defense long enough for Lopez to score to tie the game. [More]
Boys Volleyball: St. Charles serves up win at defending champ DeSales in CCL opener
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
By Michael Rich
Stuart Hankinson walks up to the end line and then takes four steps back on every serve. That routine and a change in approach has served the senior well this season. Hankinson had six consecutive aces to close out the second set and nine overall to lead the St. Charles boys volleyball team to a victory over host DeSales to open CCL play on March 26. [More]
Boys Tennis: Finding balance between individual, team success crucial to Eagles, Vikings
Monday, March 25, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
Amassing deep pools of talent has helped the New Albany and Columbus Academy boys tennis teams remain among central Ohio’s annual favorites. The battle for spots in both programs’ lineups can be as competitive – or more so – than a key league or OTCA tournament match for both the Eagles, who compete in Division I, and the Vikings, who are in Division II. [More]
Boys Basketball: Harvest Prep goes cold in Division III final, falls to Lutheran East
Sunday, March 24, 2024
By Michael Rich
There are plenty of lessons to be learned in defeat. But one stuck out to Khalil Daniels after the Harvest Prep boys basketball team’s 45-36 loss to Cleveland Heights Lutheran East in a Division III state championship on March 24 at the University of Dayton Arena. [More]
Boys Basketball: Delaware Hayes comes up just short to St. Ignatius in first state trip
Saturday, March 23, 2024
By Michael Rich
Adam Vincenzo couldn’t wait to get his Delaware boys basketball team to the state tournament for the first time. So, the Pacers showed up to the University of Dayton Arena a day early to take it all in. Ultimately, Delaware came up just 13 seconds short of playing for a Division I state championship, falling to Cleveland St. Ignatius 54-53 in a semifinal on March 23. [More]
Boys Basketball: Harvest Prep holds off Ottawa-Glandorf to reach Division III title game
Friday, March 22, 2024
By Michael Rich
It was a helpless feeling for Khalil Daniels as he sat on the bench watching Colin White put up a last-second, game-winning 3-point attempt on March 22. But for Harvest Prep boys basketball coach David Dennis, Sr., it was déjà vu. White put up a 3-point attempt from the right corner despite heavy pressure by Ephraim Campbell and it fell well short. [More]
Girls Lacrosse: Defending champs Watterson, Upper Arlington face season of change
Monday, March 18, 2024
By Michael Rich
Sophia Monesi will never forget the feeling of winning a Division II state championship last season. The attacker scored the game-winning goal to give the Watterson girls lacrosse team its first state title. “Honestly, it just felt so surreal to me,” said Monesi, now a senior, who had 76 goals and 17 assists last season. [More]
Boys Basketball: Big second half propels Delaware Hayes to first regional championship
Saturday, March 16, 2024
By Michael Rich
Landon Vanderwarker received some advice after the last game and he put it to good use this time around. The junior forward put together a strong performance on both ends. The Pacers rode a big second half to beat Olentangy Orange 74-56 to win their first Division I regional championship on March 16 at Ohio Dominican’s Alumni Hall. [More]
Girls Basketball: Balance leads Africentric to record ninth state championship
Saturday, March 16, 2024
By Michael Rich
Kamryn Grant got the ending she wanted. The senior, who missed last year’s state championship run because of a torn ACL and meniscus in her right knee, got the storybook ending she wanted with the Africentric girls basketball team. Grant was one of four players to reach double figures in a balanced attack that led the Nubians to a 58-47 win over Ottawa-Glandorf in the Division III title game on March 16 at the University of Dayton Arena. [More]
Girls Basketball: Pickerington Central falls to Springboro in state semifinal
Friday, March 15, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
The Pickerington Central girls basketball team was within one possession against Springboro during the final two minutes of its Division I state semifinal Friday at the University of Dayton when its hopes of a rally slipped away for good. Panthers junior guard Bryn Martin, a Ms. Basketball finalist, was at the crux of the reason why. [More]
Girls Basketball: Africentric overwhelms Keystone on way to 10th title game appearance
Thursday, March 14, 2024
By Michael Rich
Jeniya Bowers had no trouble finding her form in the deep backdrop of the University of Dayton Arena. The sophomore guard hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first half to jumpstart the Africentric girls basketball team to a 62-35 win over LaGrange Keystone in a Division III state semifinal on March 14 at the University of Dayton Arena. [More]
‘Keeping the tradition alive’: Dublin Jerome boys lacrosse aiming for another state title
Thursday, March 14, 2024
By Scott Gerfen
Call it tradition or expectation — whatever the word — the Dublin Jerome boys lacrosse team is ready to make another run at what would be its third Division I state championship in four seasons. But senior midfielder Kyle White and the rest of his offensive counterparts are charged with replacing a group of graduates who accounted for more than 800 career points. [More]
Boys Basketball: Olentangy Orange rallies past Newark; seeks 1st state tournament
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
By Michael Rich
Levi Davis proved to be the spark the Olentangy Orange boys basketball team needed late in their 50-44 win over Newark on March 13. Newark has a knack for stifling opponents and the Pioneers were no different for much of the first three quarters. [More]
Boys Basketball: Lowman finds comfort zone; leads Delaware Hayes to 1st regional title game
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
By Michael Rich
Jake Lowman feels awfully comfortable at Ohio Dominican’s Alumni Hall. The senior guard hit three 3-pointers in the first half to help the Delaware Hayes boys basketball team seize control in a 56-40 win over Hilliard Bradley. Lowman ended up with 17 points to lead the Pacers in the regional semifinal game on March 13. [More]
Boys Volleyball: Olentangy Liberty ready for another run at state
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
By Michael Rich
Connor Severson didn’t feel like the Olentangy Liberty boys volleyball team choked away a two-set lead in last year’s state final. Cincinnati Moeller just made enough plays in the final three sets to win the match. Did the loss serve as motivation in the offseason? Absolutely. But it also serves as a reminder that there are no guarantees. [More]
Boys Wrestling: Coffman’s Birden, DeSales’ Max Shulaw lead area contingent at state
Sunday, March 10, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
For Dublin Coffman’s Ethan Birden and DeSales’ Max Shulaw, the championships they left with Sunday at Ohio State provided the culmination of a prep career filled with accomplishments that both believe will lead to big things at the next level. The three other area champions, Bexley freshman Marius Garcia, Watterson freshman Michael Boyle and Hartley junior Aiden King, also showed how bright their respective futures are. [More]
Girls Wrestling: Olentangy Orange captures first OHSAA state title
Sunday, March 10, 2024
By Scott Gerfen
The Olentangy Orange girls wrestling team endured some tough results on the mat March 10 in the OHSAA state tournament, but the sting of those defeats was diminished by a program accomplishment. The Pioneers, who had nine wrestlers competing in the three-day event at Value City Arena, raised the team championship trophy into the air following their first-place finish with 95 points. [More]
Boys Basketball: Delaware Hayes wins first district crown since 1986
Saturday, March 9, 2024
By Michael Rich
Jake Lowman was willing to take a back seat when Landon Vanderwarker decided to join the Delaware Hayes boys basketball team. Lowman and Jesse Burris were the primary scorers for the Pacers for much of the last three years. But Lowman wanted to win and was willing to play any role the team needed. [More]
Boys basketball: Godfrey’s fourth-quarter 3s help Hartley secure D-II district title
Saturday, March 9, 2024
By Scott Gerfen
Ethan Godfrey isn’t a top scorer for the Hartley boys basketball team, but his six points in Saturday’s Division II district final at Central Crossing couldn’t have been bigger. The senior guard’s two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter helped hold off second-seeded Caledonia River Valley 55-52 in a back-and-forth championship game fitting for the central district’s top two seeded teams. [More]
Big Walnut’s Furukawa, Newark’s Gabor stand out at Division I state bowling tourney
Saturday, March 9, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
Coming in as district champions and seniors with high expectations, the Division I state bowling tournament yielded a mix of disappointment and thrills for Big Walnut’s Aidan Furukawa and Newark’s Jade Gabor. Furukawa was gunning for the championship and fell just short Friday in the boys event at HP Lanes, rolling a 728 series to finish runner-up behind Kettering Fairmont senior Isaiah Shannon (743). [More]
Boys Basketball: Northside Christian pulls away for 2nd straight district title
Friday, March 8, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
Winners of the MOCAL and the district’s No. 1 seed, the Northside Christian boys basketball team entered the Division IV tournament with a reputation for having one of central Ohio’s deepest and most athletic teams. One area first-year coach Tim Kusan believes the Lions have been overlooked in is regarding how well they play defense. [More]
Girls Basketball: Pickerington Central locks down Watterson en route to 15th regional title
Friday, March 8, 2024
By Michael Rich
Pickerington Central girls basketball coach Chris Wallace had a plan to combat Watterson’s prolific scorer Sophie Ziel. The Tigers executed it flawlessly late in the game, holding the Eagles without a basket for the last 11 minutes, 13 seconds of the game. [More]
Hockey: St. Charles stymied by University School’s defense
Friday, March 8, 2024
By Scott Gerfen
St. Charles ran up against a scoring machine Friday at Nationwide Arena in its OHSAA state hockey semifinal. Huntington Valley University School blistered the Cardinals 6-0, scoring two shorthanded goals in the first period en route to its seventh shutout in the last nine games. [More]
Girls basketball: Cold third quarter ends Newark Catholic’s undefeated run
Thursday, March 7, 2024
By Scott Gerfen
With its unbeaten streak and a trip to a Division IV regional final on the line, the Newark Catholic girls basketball team appeared confident with a six-point halftime lead. Ten minutes later, the Green Wave looked like a much different team in their regional semifinal contest Thursday night against Waterford at Pickerington North. [More]
Boys Basketball: Daniels’ late bucket seals another Harvest Prep district crown
Thursday, March 7, 2024
By Michael Rich
It didn’t matter to Khalil Daniels who got the winning basket. He just happened to score the game-winner to give the Harvest Prep boys basketball team its third consecutive Division III district title.Brandon Roddy dumped a pass off to Daniels from the top of the key for a layup with 10 seconds left. [More]
Girls Basketball: Africentric celebrates another trip to regional final
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
By Michael Rich
The muffled sound of music turned loud and then muffled again as Africentric girls basketball coach Janicia Anderson walked out of the locker room postgame on March 6. The Nubians had plenty to celebrate after a 61-50 win over Cincinnati Country Day in a Division III regional semifinal. But there is still plenty of work left to do. [More]
Girls Basketball: Pickerington Central pulls away from Liberty to reach regional final
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
As it has done so many times during its current run of nine consecutive seasons competing in the Division I regional tournament, the Pickerington Central girls basketball team seemed to turn on a switch Tuesday night. The Tigers put together a 19-0 run to turn an early six-point deficit into a double-digit lead and pulled away from Olentangy Liberty 66-46. [More]
Girls Basketball: Watterson holds off Olentangy in regional semifinal
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
Having a double-digit lead disappear during the final two minutes Tuesday in a Division I regional semifinal at the Otterbein Rike Center nearly signaled the end of one of the best postseason runs in the Watterson girls basketball program’s history. The Eagles then showed that the moment indeed wasn’t too big despite facing an Olentangy team that entered with just one loss. [More]
Girls Basketball: Bloom-Carroll’s Bratton goes for 26 in regional semi loss to top-ranked Purcell Marian
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
By Michael Rich
Emily Bratton wore the emotion on her face of playing in her final high school girls basketball game on March 5. Already leaving as Bloom-Carroll’s all-time leading scorer, the senior guard scored 26 points in her final game. But the Bulldogs couldn’t keep up with top-ranked Cincinnati Purcell Marian and fell 77-43 in a Division II regional semifinal. [More]
Wrestling: Pioneers blaze championship trail to state for fourth straight season
Sunday, March 3, 2024
By Scott Hennen
Olentangy Orange won its fourth consecutive state-qualifying girls wrestling tournament March 3, but the Pioneers have their eyes on an improvement next weekend at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. Host Orange sent nine performers to state as it totaled 236 points to easily outdistance the 95 scored by runner-up Gahanna. Watkins Memorial (84), Delaware (80) and Teays Valley (72) rounded out the top five. [More]
Berlin’s Swain leads area contingent at state gymnastics meet
Sunday, March 3, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
Not getting hung up on scores and placements is all part of the process of being successful for Olentangy Berlin sophomore gymnast Tayten Swain. During her inaugural prep season last winter, Swain showed immediately that she was one of the state’s best by winning the all-around championship at the district meet and then earning a state runner-up finish all-around. [More]
Girls Basketball: Bloom-Carroll, Granville win district titles
Saturday, March 2, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
Whether it was her efficiency, the way she got her teammates involved, or that she didn’t miss a free throw, Bloom-Carroll senior Emily Bratton – as usual – was at the center of everything that took place during her team’s Division II district championship game Saturday at Central Crossing. [More]
Berlin takes 3rd, Olentangy eighth at state gymnastics meet
Saturday, March 2, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
Having Olentangy Berlin challenge for the championship before coming up just short at last year’s state gymnastics meet showed how much of a factor central Ohio can be against top prep competition. The two programs which represented the area at this year’s event both left Saturday’s competition at Hilliard Bradley believing they’d represented the area well again. [More]
Girls Basketball: Mosher, defense lead Olentangy to first district title since 1998
Saturday, March 2, 2024
By Michael Rich
Just as there are many ways to skin a cat, there are more than one way to run a 1-3-1 zone. The Olentangy girls basketball used one version of it earlier in the week and came back with a different version on March 2 at Ohio Dominican’s Alumni Hall. Kate Mosher sparked the Braves with three steals on their way to a 57-40 win over Upper Arlington. [More]
Wrestling: Strong culture helps Dublin Coffman overcome adversity to win district title
Saturday, March 2, 2024
By Scott Hennen
Family has been an important element for the Dublin Coffman wrestling team in winning six consecutive Division I district titles. The perfect half dozen came March 2 in the finale of the two-day tournament at Hilliard Darby. “This is just as special as the first one,” coach Chance Van Gundy said. [More]
Pleasant boys title headlines strong area finish at state bowling tourney
Saturday, March 2, 2024
By Jarrod Ulrey
A hot start and an even hotter finish lifted the Marion Pleasant boys bowling team to new heights at the Division II state tournament Friday at HP Lanes. The Spartans were making their fourth state appearance, but this year marked the first time they reached the championship round. [More]
Hockey: ‘Hot’ goaltender Fansler helps lead St. Charles past Olentangy Liberty in regional final
Saturday, March 2, 2024
By Scott Gerfen
The biggest fear defending state champion Olentangy Liberty had going into the postseason was coming up against a “hot” goaltender, according to interim coach Jonathon Falvo. St. Charles sophomore Dylan Fansler fit that description Saturday, leading a strong defensive effort in the Cardinals’ 4-2 victory over Liberty in an OHSAA regional final at OhioHealth Ice Haus. [More]
Girls Basketball: Gibson catches fire in 4th to lead Newark Catholic to district title
Friday, March 1, 2024
By Michael Rich
Kylie Gibson freely admits there were times she was frustrated on March 1. But she didn’t let the feeling consume her. The senior guard bided her time and caught fire in the fourth quarter. She knocked down four 3-pointers to help the Newark Catholic girls basketball come back from a nine-point deficit and beat Fisher Catholic 54-48 to win a Division IV district championship at Ohio Dominican’s Alumni Hall. [More]
