Way back when I was a kid (during the pre-color and cable/satellite days), there was an iconic television series called “The Twilight Zone.” Series episodes dealt with themes such as fantasy, science fiction, suspense, horror or psychological thriller. I can’t think of a better way to describe our world in the midst of the coronavirus. Take for example, fantasy. Who would have thought a few months ago than a pandemic of this nature would have so greatly impacted our normal way of life? Pure folly, you would have said. How about science fiction? Something this bizarre could only have been…
Author: Tim Miller
Marysville High School linemen go through drills during the team’s recent gridiron camp. The Ohio High School Athletic Association has called off preseason scrimmages for prep teams due to an increase in coronavirus cases. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) High school football throughout the state took another COVID-19 hit on Tuesday when the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) suspended preseason scrimmages between opposing schools. The scrimmages were called off due to the uptick in coronavirus cases throughout the state. The OHSAA’s action has left Marysville High School head coach Brent Johnson feeling more uneasy about the 2020 campaign. “This…
Mark Fenik has worn many different hats during his career in education. At one point or another, he’s been a teacher, football coach and administrator. His most recent position has been that of director of operations for the Jonathan Alder school district. Those duties include supervising transportation, food services and custodial staff. Another title has been bestowed upon him – that of interim athletic director. The Alder AD position came open during the spring when Tom Vargo announced his retirement. Spring sports at Jonathan Alder were canceled due to the coronavirus. Fall sports are currently up in the air as…
I’ve been back from vacation for a couple of weeks and during the time I was off, we lost a Union County high school coaching legend. Becky Thompson LaRue, who was the long-time girls basketball coach at North Union, died after a long battle with cancer. Becky could be considered one of the pioneers for girls athletics at North Union. Up until she arrived in the fall of 1972, sports opportunities for girls were very limited. She started the girls basketball program at North Union and guided the Lady Cats to exceptional success throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s.…
New Fairbanks High School varsity volleyball coach Ryanne Ufferman (left) demonstrates a drill with the help of Lady Panther junior Anna Higbee. Ufferman replaces Ed Marsman, who retired after the 2019 season. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) There is always a learning curve for athletic teams when a new head coach is hired. It is actually a time of transition not only for players, but also for the new person in charge. Imagine how much more difficult it would be for a new coach in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryanne Ufferman has faced that type of challenge this…
Marysville High School assistant football coach Aaron Peitsmeyer helps with a drill during the Monarchs’ summer camp. Peitsmeyer is coaching during the coronavirus pandemic after battling cancer a few years ago. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) The coronavirus pandemic has created much havoc across the globe for the past few months. COVID-19 has taken a huge deadly toll across the world and left thousands upon thousands of others quite ill. Folks who are age 60 and above are especially vulnerable to contract the disease, as are people with deficient immune systems. One local person who hasn’t had much to worry…
Fairbanks linebacker Tanner Ufferman (19) tackles a ball carrier during a 2010 game. Current rules and recommendations have been set in place for a 2020 season in the midst of COVID-19. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) If there is to be a high school football season this fall in the midst of the coronavirus, teams will have to make some changes. The National Federation of High Schools and the Ohio High School Athletic Association have issued procedural revisions for the upcoming 2020 gridiron campaign. Guidelines were released Wednesday afternoon and each school, city and state could implement additional safety measures…
Jonathan Alder senior Jackson Izzard (5) prepares to make a tackle during a 2019 game. The Pioneers are conducting summer camp despite the coronavirus-related uncertainty of the 2020 campaign. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon) Many high school football teams have been using the past couple of weeks for summer camp. Despite the coronavirus pandemic and the uncertainty it holds, prep gridders are going forth in off-season work with the hope of conducting a full 2020 campaign. The Pioneers of Jonathan Alder are among the squads that have been going through their paces as best as they can under COVID-19 restrictions.…
Jacquelyn Witt (far right) competes in a relay race for Marysville High School in this file photo. Witt will continue her track and field and cross-country careers at Northern Kentucky University. She will also study nursing. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) It is apparent that Marysville High School graduate Jacquelyn Witt isn’t afraid of a challenge. Although Witt missed her final season of high school track and field this past spring, that hasn’t deterred her from continuing her running career. The 2020 season was wiped out by COVID-19, but her previous efforts in both track and cross-country drew the attention…
Local baseball players choose teams for a sandlot game. Competition will resume this evening after games were suspended on Friday due to the coronavirus. Additional safety measures will be implemented. (Photo submitted) It may go down in the books as one of the shortest season suspensions ever in youth sports. Sandlot baseball is returning to Marysville after a one-day halt to the action. The sandlot games are being supervised by Brodie Rockenbaugh, who is a coach in the Marysville Junior Baseball-Softball Association (MJBSA). He came up with the idea for sandlot baseball after the MJBSA season was canceled due to…
Carter Rockenbaugh rips a base hit during a recent sandlot game. Local youth sandlot games are played on Monday and Friday evenings. (Photo submitted) Like many other people, Brodie Rockenbaugh lives and breathes baseball. He enjoys the sport so much that he has been a long-time coach in the Marysville Junior Baseball Association. With the current COVID concerns, one can only imagine how difficult the spring and summer have been on him. The youth season was canceled due to the coronavirus. Rockenbaugh still wanted to make some type of baseball available to local youngsters. “I started to think about what…
Marysville High School junior tight end Mason Reed catches a pass during Wednesday’s camp session. The Monarchs concluded their first week of camp today. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) Marysville High School’s football squad wrapped up its first week of off-season camp today. The Monarchs were scheduled to be in camp through Friday, but head coach Brent Johnson decided to give them a long weekend. “We were going to have camp on Friday after a seven-on-seven passing scrimmage at Dublin Scioto on Thursday,” said Johnson. “Scioto’s coaches canceled the scrimmage. “Franklin County is in a higher coronavirus alert than we…
Jonathan Alder senior quarterback JT Keith goes through a passing drill Tuesday morning. Keith is wearing a brace on his right knee, which was injured during last year’s season-ending loss to Columbus Bishop Hartley. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) The 2019 high school football season could be seen as bittersweet for Jonathan Alder quarterback JT Keith. As a junior, Keith put up very impressive numbers as he helped lead the Pioneers to a Division III regional runner-up finish and a 12-1 record. Keith completed 161 passes in 240 attempts for 2,014 yards. He rifled the pigskin for 30 touchdowns and…
Marysville’s Jeremiah McNeio picks up yardage during a practice play on Monday. The Monarchs began their two-week camp that will run through Thursday, July 23. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) The Marysville High School football team is getting a head start on preseason practices for the 2020 season. The Monarchs opened a two-week camp on Monday leading up to two-a-day sessions that are set to begin in early August. MHS will be in camp through Friday of this week and Monday through Thursday next week. The camp is running from 7:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., before the heat of the day sets…
Marysville High School graduate Emily Daniel follows through on a base hit during a 2019 game. Daniel, who played softball at Wright State University during a brief 2020 season, has transferred to the University of Dayton. Wright State announced this past spring that it was eliminating its softball program. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller) Marysville High School graduate Emily Daniel didn’t have to go very far to continue her collegiate softball career. Daniel played an abbreviated freshman season this past spring at Wright State University. The rug was pulled out from under her twice as the 2020 campaign was shut…