North Union’s wrestling team competed in a number of matches last week. The Wildcats won their dual against Ontario, but lost to Marion Pleasant on Wednesday. NU next competed in a duals tournament at River Valley and finished third behind River Valley and the tournament champions Applecreek Waynedale. The Wildcats defeated Bishop Hartley to take third place. NU also defeated Mt. Gilead and Rocky River in the second and third rounds of the tournament. Individual weekly records were as follows: -106: Casey Clark 5-2 -113: Tarren Riffle 5-2 -120: Hayden Pacha 6-1 -126: Austin Jamison 4-3 -132: Ethan Wagy 3-3…
Author: Sam Dillon
Ethan Chippas, right, of Fairbanks attempts to reverse a hold by Gaven Webb of Buckeye Valley during a tri-meet between the Panthers, Barons and Jonathan Alder at Fairbanks High School on Wednesday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)–––– The wrestling squad from Jonathan Alder came, saw and conquered its opponents during a tri-meet against Fairbanks and Buckeye Valley on Wednesday. The Pioneer crew swept the meet with a 45-33 victory over the Barons and a 48-26 verdict over the host school Fairbanks. The Panthers tallied their second loss of the night after a tight battle with BV, losing by a score…
NU’s Preston Crabtree leaps for a shot while Shawnee defenders attempt to block the attempt. Crabtree tallied 11 points during the Wildcats’ 50-48 loss. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon) –––– The young North Union boys basketball team is a program that is on the cusp of being something special. However, the senior-less squad still has some work to do before it can call itself “solid.” With their second consecutive single-possession loss, this time to Springfield Shawnee, 50-48, the Wildcats sit at 6-4 on the season. The Wildcats came off the tip with a slow and methodical approach. They probed the…
Triad’s Frani LeVan, left, attempts a shot while drawing a foul during an Ohio Heritage Conference basketball game against Northeastern on Thursday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)–––– The Lady Cardinals of Triad picked up another Ohio Heritage Conference win on Thursday with a 58-36 triumph over Northeastern. The victory came on the backs of the LeVan twins, Frani and Cati, who combined for 41 of the Lady Card’s points. Head coach Jeff Merklin credites Frani LeVan for helping lead Triad to the win. “I notice when Frani is scoring, our whole offense seems to go a little better,” he said.…
Abby Jones of Jonathan Alder, right, leaps for a layup while a London defender attempts to block her shot during a Central Buckeye Conference contest on Wednesday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon) –––– For the Lady Pioneers of Jonathan Alder, a 51-50 loss to London Wednesday came down to two things, according to head coach Steve Cawley. “We didn’t rebound the ball defensively and turned it over way too many times,” he said. “That is the story. When we got back and set defensively, they couldn’t score on us, at least not very consistently, but they got three and four…
Cross Hackathorne of Fairbanks drives to the basket for a layup in overtime while a West Liberty defender attempts to block his path to the basket. Hackathorne made a three in the finals seconds of regulation to push the game into overtime and made the layup to win the ball game.(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)––––– Athletes don’t always have to be great from the start to finish of a game to be an impact basketball player. Sometimes it is answering the call when needed that really impacts the game. That was the case for Fairbanks’ Cross Hackathorne as he helped…
Jeremiah Brill of North Union looks to his corner for advice while controlling Dalton Overfield of Triad during a match at Fairbanks High School on Wednesday. Brill defeated Overfield by pin fall.(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon) –––– The North Union Wildcat wrestlers took the top spot in a tri-match between Fairbanks and Triad on Wednesday. The evening featured area high school, middle school and youth matches. The Cats topped the Cardinals, 60-18, and followed up with a 64-11 win over the host school Fairbanks. North Union head coach Garret Andrews said it was great to see his young wrestlers battle…
Drew Campbell, left, of Triad drives to the basket while Wyatte Miller, right, of Fairbanks gets his hands to the ball to stop Campbell’s drive. The Panthers played stout defense and fast offense Tuesday night to beat the Cardinals, 85-56.(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)–––– Fairbanks’ boys basketball team went onto Triad’s court on a mission Tuesday. Within the first two minutes of the game the Cardinals found themselves in a deep hole after the Panthers converted steal after steal to take a 16-2 lead. The early lead set the tone of the game for the Panthers as they rolled to…
Jacob Nicol, right, of Fairbanks draws a foul while driving down the paint against West Jefferson on Friday. Nicol tallied 10 points during the Panthers’ 58-48 win. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon) –––– The Panthers of Fairbanks boys basketball team made its first big push to claim the title of the Ohio Heritage Conference North champion with a 58-48 win over West Jefferson Friday. Fairbanks head coach Justin George was happy with the win as it set the team up for conference success.“I think West Jefferson, West Liberty and us are going to all be fighting for the top spot…
Journey Blevins of North Union leaps for a layup while a London defender attempts to interrupt her shot. Blevins tallied 14 points during the Lady Cats’ 64-25 loss. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon) –––– With a young team and a young coach, there games that are just going to be a struggle. For the Lady Cats of North Union, their Central Buckeye Conference crossover contest against the Lady Red Raiders of London fell into that category as NU fell, 64-25, Wednesday. NU coach Bre Nauman summed up the game very simply. “We just didn’t take care of things on our…
Returning lettermen for the Monarch swimming program are from left, front row, Madelyn Murphy, Mikayla Seman, Rachel Poling, Morgan Grawe and Remini Roush; back row, Ethan Turk, Hank Luther, Diana Jimenez and Aron Moledor. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) –––– The Marysville Monarch swim teams opened their duals season with a loss to Worthington Kilbourne on Tuesday. The Lady Monarchs lost, 91-76, while boys fell, 112-38. Although the Monarchs dropped their season-opener, head coach Craig Faircloth was pleased with their efforts. “I’m very pleased to see the level of effort and competitiveness they showed during our first meet of the…
The Lady Cats of North Union picked up their first win under new head coach Bre Nauman when they defeated the Golden Gophers of Ridgemont, 57-52, on Saturday. The Lady Cats got out of the gate quickly with a 20-9 first quarter lead. The Lady Gophers, though, made a solid defensive stand in the second quarter to pull to within 26-25 by halftime. NU rebounded during the second half and took a 37-31 lead into the final stanza. North Union hit several key free throws down the stretch to seal the victory. Journey Blevins was the Lady Cats’ top scorer.…
Caitlin Cotner, left, of Marysville, leaps for a layup on a breakaway as Journey Blevins of North Union attempts to block the shot. The Lady Monarchs were able to hold on to a late lead to beat the Lady Cats, 47-42. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon) –––– In an early season basketball battle of Union County, the Lady Monarchs of Marysville were able to notch a 47-42 win over the Lady Cats by keeping North Union at arms’ length down the stretch. MHS head coach Brooke Young her team began to play its game. “We are a defensively-minded team, so…
The 2018 Lady Cat varsity basketball team is pictured from left, front row, Grace Millington, Ashlee Kohler, Kennedy Ruhl, Madison Amstutz and Kori Marvin; second row, assistant coach Kristi Smith, Jordyn Hoffman, Brycelyn Deickert, Journey Blevins, Sydney Bacon and head coach Bre Nauman. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon) –––– The Lady Cats of North Union are a basketball team that is in the depths of rebuilding. With the loss of last year’s senior leadership, the Lady Cats also have to make the move to the Central Buckeye Conference as a new coach takes over the program. Bre Nauman, who is…
North Union’s boys varsity basketball team is pictured from left, front row, Preston Crabtree, Trevor Moran, Connor Terrill, Joel Krebehenne and Gavin Webb; second row, manager Josh Rayburn, assistant coach Austin Terrill, Daniel Burggraf, Hudson Davis, Zach Vernon, Harley Day, Koldon Wiley and head coach Brian Terrill. Not pictured, Trevyn Feasel and assistant coaches Eric Shields, Ernie Jamison and Mark Campbell. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon) –––– North Union’s boys basketball team will see the core of last year’s squad return to the court again this season. However, despite the experience they are still young, according to head coach Brian…