Sports

Marysville High School graduate Connor Smith goes over the high jump bar for Ohio Wesleyan University. Smith is competing today and Saturday at the NCAA Division III indoor track and field championships in Birmingham, Ala. (File photo)

Jonathan Alder’s Trey Bentley looks for a teammate as Van Wert’s Xavier Kelly provides the defensive pressure Wednesday during the Division IV regional semifinal game at Bowling Green State University. (Journal Tribune photo by Bob Putman)

Cara Leng of Marysville looks to turn an opponent into a pinning position. Leng is among the MHS girls wrestlers who will compete in this weekend’s state tournament at Ohio State. (Journal-Tribune file photo by Aleksei Pavloff)

Marysville senior Trent Sharp, left, is pictured handfighting with Huggy Williams of Olentangy Liberty during the 144-pound title match at the Division I district tournament. Sharp fell in the match 4-2, but is one of several MHS grapplers who will compete in the state tournament that begins Friday at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kevin Behrens)

Trey Bentley of Jonathan Alder goes to the basket against defensive pressure. The Pioneers will play Van Wert this evening during the Division IV regional semifinals. The game will be played at Bowling Green State University. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)

Members of Marysville’s boys bowling team are from left, Hayden Cotterell, Lucas Hoffman, Grayson Young, Corbin Levings, Kyle Teters, Carson Blevins and Kai Kozlik. (Photo submitted)

Marysville freshman Avery Riley prepares to pin an opponent in this file photo. Riley captured a district championship in her weight class and is one of several MHS girls who will compete in the upcoming state tournament. (Journal-Tribunen photo by Tim Miller)

These Benjamin Logan girls competed in the Southwest District wrestling tournament. They are from left, Sophia Harris, Bella Hughes, Makenley Harker and Livi Achor. (Photo submitted)

Jonathan Alder’s 120-pounder Rayce Watson (right) fights a whizzer maneuver during the Maumee Bay Classic that was held earlier in the 2025-2026 season. Watson won a Division II district championship at Wilmington High School over the weekend. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kevin Behrens)

Brian Waller of Marysville (top) applies a power half on Caden Steinbeck of Worthington Kilbourne. Waller went on to pin Steinbeck in 1:32 during the opening round of the district tournament. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kevin Behrens) Trib

Alek Orders of Fairbanks shoots over the outstretched hands of a Columbus Africentric defender. The Pioneers finished as the Division V district runner-up during the game that was played at Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Saturday evening. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)

Jonathan Alder’s Danny Bentley (11) guards Heath’s JJ Holloway during the Division IV district title game on Friday in Mt. Vernon. The Pioneers captured their third consecutive district championship. (Journal-Tribune photo by Eva Paspallis Case)

Ty Schroeder of Fairbanks (20) takes the ball to the hoop against Fredericktown earlier this week. The sixth-seeded Panthers handed the No. 4 Freddies their only loss of the 2025-2026 season. They will travel to Mount Vernon Nazarene University today for a 7:15 p.m. tip-off against No. 2 Columbus Africentric for a Division V district championship. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)

Jonathan Alder senior Lily Schneider is pictured competing during a meet at the Union County YMCA earlier in the 2025-2026 season. Schneider placed in two events during the recent Division II state meet in Canton. She was the runner-up in the 100-yard breastroke with a time of 1:02.96 and eighth in the 200-yard freestyle with a clocking of 1:57.38. (Journal-Tribune file photo by Aleksei Pavloff)

Kirra Streng (right) of Marysville hooks up with an opponent in this file photo. Streng is one of the MHS girls wrestlers who will compete today and Sunday in the district tournament at Big Walnut High School. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)

Marysville’s Kelsey Strahm (left) applies defensive pressure to a New Albany ball handler. The Lady Monarchs’ season came to an end with a loss in the Division I regional semifinals. The game was played at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus on Wednesday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman)

Alek Orders of Fairbanks goes up for a shot at Fredericktown Wednesday evening. The Panthers handed the Freddies their only loss of the 2025-2026 season during the Division V tournament game. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)

Brian Waller, left, is in his stance in order to defend a shot during a 113-pound match at the Division I sectional tournament. Waller will compete in the Division I district tournament Friday and Saturday at Hilliard Darby. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kevin Behrens)

Danny Bentley (left) of Jonathon Alder draws a foul on a layup during Tuesday's game against Marion-Franklin. Bentley poured in 35 points during JA's tournament victory. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)

Marysville’s boys bowling team has qualified for the Division I state tournament for the second straight year. Members of the team are from left, Hayden Cotterell, Grayson Young, Lucas Hoffman, Kyle Teters, Carson Blevins and Corbin Levings. (Photo submitted)

These local high school basketball players earned Central District first-team honors for the 2025-2026 season. They are from left, Dainon Lindsey, North Union; Evan Wiedmann, Fairbanks; and Danny Bentley, Jonathan Alder. (Journal-Tribune file photos by Bob Putman, Tim Miller and Aleksei Pavloff)

Marysville High School’s state swimmers are from left, Patrick Filbert, Carter Pancallo, Rylan Brown, coach Michael Waun and Brady Cordonnier. (Photo submitted)

Marysville’s Cara Leng, right, is tied up with an opponent during Sunday’s sectional tournament on the MHS mats. Marysville claimed a sectional title. (Journal-Tribune photo by Jack Christian)

Monarch Griffen Beery applies a single-leg takedown against Dublin Coffman’s Xander Maas. Beery captured the sectional semifinals match by a 9-2 score. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kevin Behrens)

Ainsley Rogan of Marysville (15) prepares to release one of her eight three-pointers Saturday morning against Gahanna-Lincoln. Rogan tallied 26 points as the Lady Monarchs beat the Lions for the Division I district championship. The game was played at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)

North Union’s Jaxon Jolliff positions himself between two Bishop Ready players during Saturday’s sectional final at Bishop Ready. (Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman)

Ty Schroeder of Fairbanks goes in for a layup Saturday afternoon against Mt. Gilead. Schroeder scored 14 points during the Panthers’ 78-44 tournament victory. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)