North Union’s Owen Davis (13) drives toward the basket against Marysville’s Ryker Bowden on Tuesday. The Wildcats edged MHS, 42-41. (Photo submitted) Just two games into the season, the North Union boys basketball team has experienced exciting finishes that it may not see again the rest of the year. For the second time in as many games, both on their home floor, the Wildcats found themselves standing around to see if free throws would give them a victory or defeat. After losing by one point on a free throw with .1 second left in the game last week to River…
Author: Bob Putman
North Union’s Audrey Benedict guards Lauren Leslie of Ridgedale during Saturday’s non-league girls basketball game at Ridgedale. The Lady Cats pulled away in the fourth quarter to earn a 47-25 victory over the Lady Rockets. (Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman) There were few blips along the way, but there were many more high points for North Union on Saturday as the Lady Cats defeated Ridgedale 47-25 on the Lady Rocket hardwood. “I was able to see a lot of things that will help us along the way,” North Union coach Bre Jackson said. Several times during the game North Union…
Max Parish (3) of North Union rises above River Valley’s Blake Mosher during Wednesday’s boys basketball game at North Union. The Wildcats’ Zach Vernon (2)moves in from the right. River Valley won the game 63-62. (Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman) The calendar may have read November and it was the season opener for both teams. Wednesday’s non-league boys basketball game between North Union and River Valley, though, looked like a late-in-the-season contest with both teams vying for a league title. The game was not decided until literally the final tick of the clock. The Vikings took a 63-62 victory on…
It was a struggle at times for the North Union girls basketball team in its season opener on Tuesday at home against Fredericktown. The Lady Cats, however, found their way through the hard times and came away with a 46-38 victory. “We were able to battle through the tough moments,” NU head coach Bre Jackson said. “We have to polish up some things, but I am pleased with our first game.” North Union turned up the pressure in the second quarter to take a lead it would not relinquish. Trailing 9-6 after the opening eight minutes, North Union was still…
Fairbanks junior Elaina Lahmers (30) grapples with Pleasant’s Whitney Waddell (10) as both fight for possession of the ball. Also pictured is Fairbanks’ Ellie Carter (24) and Pleasant’s Kayla Columber. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff) The opening minutes of a basketball game can be a little nerve-wracking for both coaches and players. It is amped up even a little more when it is the first game of the season. Fairbanks got off to a little bit of a slow start Friday night in girls basketball action at Marion Pleasant. However, once the Lady Panthers got settled down they were able…
Members of the Fairbanks girls soccer team display their Division III regional runner-up trophy. They from left, front row, Gracie Pyers, Anna Poling, Avery Groves, Brynne Stanley, Kate Ruff and Liliana Jeronimo; second row, Ava Orders, Abby Wurster, Tara Rice, Ellie Carter, Madi Cook, Kate Coy, Grace Hockman and Lexi Cushman; third row, assistan coach Brent Segner, assistant coach Andy Hockman, Lilly Dean, Becca Dean, Kendra Turner, Elaina Lahmers, Grace Zahn, Addie Thrush, Liz Nicol, Alice Ruff, assistant coach Courtney Walk, assistawnt coach Maddie Spain and head coach Randy Spain. (Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman — Maybe a little more…
Owen Davis of North Union evades a tackler in this file photo. Davis is the Central District’s Division V offensive player of the year. (Journal-Tribune file photo) — North Union running back Owen Davis helped lead the Wildcats to an 8-3 record during the 2021 high school football season. He totaled 1,059 yards rushing on 115 carries and scored 19 touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 174 yards and one score. Davis, a junior, was named Division V Offensive Player of the Year in the Central District today by The Associated Press. Several of his teammates also received recognition…
North Union’s Trey Bossaller (14) chases a Genoa Area ball carrier Saturday evening. Also pictured for NU is Tucker Wedding (4). The Wildcats lost their Division V playoff game. (Photo submitted) For a large part of the 2021 high school football season it was North Union that was able to control the line of scrimmage. More times than not, NU found itself getting into the end zone. The tables turned the other direction Saturday evening as the No. 8-seeded Wildcats took on No. 9 Genoa Area in a Division V, Region 18 playoff contest. Trailing by three points early in…
North Union’s Nolan Draper (11) prepares to stop a Kenton Ridge ball carrier. Also pictured for the Wildcats is Trey Bossaller (14). NU will host Genoa Area in the Division V state playoffs on Saturday. (Photo submitted) The work began even before two-a-day practices started. The pre-season goals for the North Union football team were not any different than any other squad… earn a league title and qualify for the state playoffs. Both goals turned into reality for the Wildcats in 2021. With its win last Friday over Urbana that turned into a share of the Central Buckeye Conference’s Mad…
North Union’s Journey Blevins (11) blasts the ball over the net in this 2020 file photo. Blevins, who is a freshman player at the University of Findlay, has earned conference player of the week honors three times this season. (Journal-Tribune photo) University of Findlay freshman volleyball athlete Journey Blevins was named North Division Player of the Week this past Wednesday by the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. It is the third time this season that Blevins has earned Player of the Week honors. Blevins, a 2021 North Union High School graduate, led the Oilers to victories over Tiffin University and Ashland…
Bailey Gross, left, and Bryn Hothem of Marysville are pictured competing in the Division I district meet on Saturday. They helped the Lady Monarchs to a spot in this Saturday’s regional meet. (Photo submitted) Rachael Hoover of Fairbanks is pictured in this file photo. Hoover placed third in the Division III district race and qualified for regional competition. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) The Jonathan Alder girls and boys cross country teams, along with Marysville’s girls squad, each advanced to regional competition last Saturday. That was the result of Central District action that was held at Hilliard Darby. In addition,…
North Union’s Body Wilson (5) covers on this play as an Urbana receiver catches a pass. (Photo submitted) North Union did what it had to do Friday during its regular-season finale at home against Urbana. The Wildcats used a strong first half to derail the Hillclimbers 33-0 and then had to wait to see if that victory would bring another good thing. The wait was worth it as North Union received word that Indian Lake lost 42-41 to St. Paris Graham. That sent the Wildcats into a tie with Indian Lake for the Central Buckeye Conference’s Mad River Division title.…
North Union’s Riley Heminger (13) puts the ball past a Cardington blocker Tuesday evening. NU’s season ended with a loss to the second-seeded Pirates in the Division III tournament. (Photo submitted) The records of the two teams in Tuesday’s Division III sectional volleyball tournament match at Cardington were very much slanted in one direction. Cardington, the second seed, sported a 17-3 mark while North Union, seeded 16th, came into the contest with a 5-17 record. Through the first two sets, though, the Lady Cats stood toe-to-toe with the Lady Pirates, forcing them to stage late rallies to win the opening…
Owen Davis (1) of North Union looks to avoid a tackle against Indian Lake. The Wildcats fell, 28-21. Also pictured for NU is Lincoln Harrah. (Photo submitted) The fans who traveled to North Union High School on Friday to watch the Wildcats take on Indian Lake surely got their money’s worth. Both teams were able to move the ball up and down the field for a good part of the game. When the final whistle blew, it was Indian Lake that made a few more plays and defeated North Union 28-21. The Lakers (4-0 Central Buckeye Conference, 7-2 overall) clinched…
Fairbanks’ Caydee Breneman goes for a kill during a 2021 match. The Lady Panthers have been seeded seventh for the upcoming Division III tournament. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) — Area high school volleyball teams know who and where they will be playing in the sectional tournament as Ohio High School Athletic Association district associations held their tournament draws on Sunday. Fairbanks, competing in the Central District Division III tournament, earned the highest seed of the local teams. The Panthers are seeded seventh and will meet ninth-seeded Centerburg at Fairbanks on Tuesday, Oct. 19. Should Fairbanks win, it would host…