NU football, FHS soccer, local wrestlers top area stories of 2025
Sports
January 3, 2026
From left, North Union’s Griffin Osborne and Alek Orders and Mollie Thrush of Fairbanks are pictured in action during 2025 contests. The trio helped their respective teams to the best post-season finishes in school history. (Osborne photo submitted; Journal-Tribune photos of Orders and Thrush by Aleksei Pavloff)

NU football, FHS soccer, local wrestlers top area stories of 2025

By Tim Miller 

The calendar year of 2025 had some very good things happen for local high school sports programs.

The Journal-Tribune sports department has selected its top local stories for the past 12 months.

The top local sports story centers around the North Union High School football squad.

The Wildcats struggled...

Panther cagers roll past Triad Cardinals
Sports
Fairbanks’ Cody Gallmeyer (10) splits Triad’s Makye Gaston (2) and Caleb Jordan (3) on defense during the first half of action. The sophomore guard accounted for 13 points in the team’s win over the Cardinals. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
Panther cagers roll past Triad Cardinals
By Aleksei Pavloff 
January 12, 2026
Fairbanks’ boys basketball team made quick work of Triad, 67-34, to remain unbeaten in conference play. Fans for both Ohio Heritage Conference squads packed Triad’s  gym for Friday’s North Division co...
NU boys, girls wrestlers compete in weekend tournaments
Sports
NU boys, girls wrestlers compete in weekend tournaments
By Bob Putman 
January 12, 2026
North Union finished fourth overall in the “A” Classic wrestling tournament, held Friday and Saturday at Elmore Woodmore High School. The Wildcats had six wrestlers place in the top eight, led by Coll...
North Union boys hoopsters defeat Shawnee
Sports
North Union boys hoopsters defeat Shawnee
By Bob Putman 
January 12, 2026
North Union defeated Shawnee 59-51 in Central Buckeye Conference boys basketball play on Friday at North Union. The Wildcats (3-5 overall, 2-1 CBC) trailed 27-25 at the half, but outscored the Braves ...
Other news
Panther cagers roll past Triad Cardinals
Sports
Fairbanks’ Cody Gallmeyer (10) splits Triad’s Makye Gaston (2) and Caleb Jordan (3) on defense during the first half of action. The sophomore guard accounted for 13 points in the team’s win over the Cardinals. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
Panther cagers roll past Triad Cardinals
By Aleksei Pavloff 
January 12, 2026
Fairbanks’ boys basketball team made quick work of Triad, 67-34, to remain unbeaten in conference play. Fans for both Ohio Heritage Conference squads packed Triad’s  gym for Friday’s North Division co...
NU boys, girls wrestlers compete in weekend tournaments
Sports
NU boys, girls wrestlers compete in weekend tournaments
By Bob Putman 
January 12, 2026
North Union finished fourth overall in the “A” Classic wrestling tournament, held Friday and Saturday at Elmore Woodmore High School. The Wildcats had six wrestlers place in the top eight, led by Coll...
North Union boys hoopsters defeat Shawnee
Sports
North Union boys hoopsters defeat Shawnee
By Bob Putman 
January 12, 2026
North Union defeated Shawnee 59-51 in Central Buckeye Conference boys basketball play on Friday at North Union. The Wildcats (3-5 overall, 2-1 CBC) trailed 27-25 at the half, but outscored the Braves ...
Jonathan Alder bowlers win matches; Triad drops two
Sports
Jonathan Alder bowlers win matches; Triad drops two
By Tim Miller 
January 12, 2026
Jonathan Alder’s boys bowling team downed Springfield Shawnee by a 2998-2755 count. Braden Warren led JA with a two-game series of 496. He was followed by Fred Bluhm-452, Gavin Murphy-402, Cooper Flem...
Lady Monarchs get back on track with victory over Olentangy Berlin Bears
Sports
Marysville’s Laine Dumbauld (20) and Jenna Hackworth (right) battle for a rebound against Olentangy Berlin. The Lady Monarchs won, 57-52. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Lady Monarchs get back on track with victory over Olentangy Berlin Bears
By Tim Miller 
January 12, 2026
Marysville girls basketball coach Chris Freeman was hoping for a good response from his squad on Friday after a tough loss at Dublin Coffman earlier in the week. A 57-52 victory over Olentangy Berlin ...
Olentangy Berlin beats Marysville gymnasts
Sports
Marley Phillips of Marysville works on the bars during a gymnastics meet against Olentangy Berlin this week. The Bears won the meet 131.1-124.95. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Olentangy Berlin beats Marysville gymnasts
By Tim Miller 
January 10, 2026
Marysville’s gymnastics team dropped a 131.1-124.95 decision to Olentangy Berlin. The competition was held earlier this week at the Marysville Early College High School. Top individual performances fo...