Sports

JA teams perform well during state meets
Sports
In the photo on the left, Jonathan Alder’s Kalyn Greiner pushes toward the finish line during the OHSAA Division II state race. In the photo on the right, Alder’s Lincoln Wilson makes the last stretch of the Division II OHSAA boys race. Greiner took 22nd as an individual and Wilson 41st. (Journal-Tribune photos by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Aleksei Pavloff 
November 6, 2024
Jonathan Alder fans had much to witness during this year’s Ohio High School Athletic Association state cross country meet. Seeing the Scarlet and Black at cross country’s biggest stage has been a regu...
Area gridders named among best in Central Buckeye Conference
Sports
Jonathan Alder’s Grant Horne (12) speeds away from a potential tackler. Horne has been named to the Kenton Trail Division first team in the Central Buckeye Conference. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
By Bob Putman 
November 6, 2024
The Central Buckeye Conference recently announced its all-league football team. North Union had a pair of players earn first-team honors in the Mad River Division. Senior running back/linebacker Tyler...
Gridiron players of week named
Sports
The final players of the game for the 2024 football season are from left, Grant Horne, Jonathan Alder; Braydon Wiedmann, Fairbanks; and JJ Henry, Marysville. (Journal-Tribune file photos)
By Tim Miller 
November 6, 2024
The 2024 high school football season has come to an end for Union County-area schools. Jonathan Alder, Fairbanks and Marysville all dropped games during the first week of the state playoffs. As such, ...
Fairbanks, North Union athletes closely finish during Division III state CC competition
Sports
North Union’s Kennedy Ludwig (left) strides step-for-step with Fairbanks’ Sadie Miller (right) during the second mile of the OHSAA state cross country meet last weekend. The Lady Cat and Panther were the only competitors representing their programs at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Aleksei Pavloff 
November 5, 2024
Two local programs were represented in the Division III girls cross country state race last weekend. Sophomores Sadie Miller and Kennedy Ludwig were the sole competitors respectively for Fairbanks and...
Lady Monarch runners compete against tough field during state cross country meet
Sports
Marysville’s Bailey Gross (left photo-No. 1546) and Maggie Foust (right photo-1545) are pictured competing during the girls Division I state cross country meet. The event was held at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park in Columbus. (Journal-Tribune photos by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Aleksei Pavloff 
November 5, 2024
A pair of Lady Monarchs represented their program during the final cross country meet of the 2024 season. Seniors Bailey Gross and Maggie Foust were a part of the last race of the OHSAA state meet for...
High school golfers earn post-season honors
Sports
Fairbanks’ Cole Eger prepares to drive the ball during the state tournament. Eger was named the player of the year in the Ohio Heritage Conference’s North Division. (Photo submitted)
By Tim Miller 
November 5, 2024
A number of local high school golfers have earned accolades for the 2024 campaign. Cole Eger was named the Ohio Heritage Conference North Division boys golfer of the year. He was joined on the first t...
Fenwick’s front line too much for Lady Panthers; FHS swept during D-V regional semifinal match
Sports
Fairbanks senior Allie Boyd keeps the ball in play against Franklin Bishop Fenwick. The Lady Panthers lost the Division V regional semifinal match in three sets. (Journal-Tribune photos by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Tim Miller 
November 4, 2024
There are instances when a team’s won-loss record can be deceiving, especially at tournament time. That could be said about the volleyball team from Franklin Bishop Fenwick. The Falcons went into Thur...
Hilliard Davidson closes out Monarchs’ grid season during opening round of D-I playoffs
Sports
A Monarch pass goes between Brady Carper (11) and JJ Henry (24) Friday night at Hilliard Davidson. The ball fell for an incompletion during the Monarchs’ 52-7 loss in the opening round of the Division I state playoffs. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
By Tim Miller 
November 2, 2024
A difficult season came to an end for Marysville High School’s football team Friday evening. The No. 12 Monarchs dropped a 52-7 verdict at No. 5 Hilliard Davidson in the opening round of the Division ...
FHS falls to Waterford to end season
Sports
Fairbanks’ Evan Wiedmann (14) makes a defensive stop against a Waterford ball carrier Friday evening. The Panthers fell on the Wildcats’ home field during a Division VI playoff game. (Photo submitted)
By Bob Putman 
November 2, 2024
There was some good news for Fairbanks during its Region 23, Division VI football playoff game on Friday at Waterford. Brandon Wiedmann returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and Ryker Green had a long ...
Late field goal sends Bishop Ready past JA in playoffs
Sports
Jonathan Alder’s Cashton Wheeler (1) gets past the line of scrimmage before being met by Bishop Ready’s Tanner Reeder (21) during the third quarter of action. The Pioneer scored the team’s final touchdown of the game before a comeback by the Silver Knights ended JA’s season. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Aleksei Pavloff 
November 2, 2024
Jonathan Alder’s football season ended on a sour note Friday night. The Pioneers fell short of holding off the Silver Knights of Bishop Ready, who mustered a late field goal to claim an 18-17 victory ...
MHS’ Armstrong named boys soccer co-player of year for Cardinal Division
Sports
Marysville’s Miles Armstrong (10) tries to keep the ball inbounds during the first half of the Division I district finals against Dublin Jerome. The senior Monarch has been named the OCC Cardinal Division co-player of the year. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Aleksei Pavloff 
November 1, 2024
The Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) has awarded boys soccer athletes with all-conference honors following the end of the regular season. Marysville’s boys soccer program improved drastically during the ...
Lady Monarch runners will repeat appearances at state cross country meet
Sports
Lady Monarch runners Bailey Gross, left, and Maggie Foust work out in preparation for the girls Division I state cross country meet that will be held on Saturday. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
By Tim Miller 
November 1, 2024
Marysville High School cross country runners Bailey Gross and Maggie Foust are ready for their repeat performances during the state meet. Competition for Division I girls will begin at 2:45 p.m. Satur...
Miller will represent FHS during final cross country race of 2024 season
Sports
Fairbanks’ Sadie Miller competes during the 2024 Farmbanks Invitational at Fairbanks High School earlier this season. The Lady Panther is the only member of the school’s cross-country program set to compete in Saturday’s OHSAA state meet. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Aleksei Pavloff 
November 1, 2024
Sadie Miller’s second trip to the Ohio High School Athletic Association state cross country meet will be different than her first. Last season, Fairbanks sent its girls team to the state meet with Mil...
JA Pioneers will once again face Bishop Ready to begin post-season
Sports
Jonathan Alder’s Grant Horne (12) tries to find an open gap in the Bellefontaine defense during a road game earlier this season. The Pioneers will to take on the Silver Knights of Bishop Ready at Central Crossing High School Friday night for the first round of the playoffs. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Aleksei Pavloff 
October 31, 2024
Jonathan Alder’s football team has experienced a few moments of déjà vu this season. The team’s first-round playoff matchup is another one of those instances. The ninth-seeded Pioneers just missed the...
FHS will make long trip to Waterford for opening round of D-VI playoffs
Sports
Holtz Maine (10) of Fairbanks closes in on a West Liberty-Salem ball carrier. The Panthers will play at Waterford in the initial game of the Division VI state playoffs. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Tim Miller 
October 31, 2024
It’s going to be a long night on a bus for the Fairbanks High School football team. The Panthers, who are ranked No. 12 in Region 23 of Division VI, will make a more than two-hour trip to take on No. ...
Little Panthers capture championship
Sports
By Tim Miller 
October 31, 2024
The Fairbanks youth junior varsity football team posted and 8-0 record and won the Youth Ohio Heritage Conference championship. It is the first time in six years the Panthers have claimed the title. T...
Cordell climbs closer to top in Pickers race
Sports
By Tim Miller 
October 31, 2024
Reporter Mac Cordell posted a 10-2 record during the final week of the high school football regular season. As such, he has jumped into second place in this year’s Pigskin Pickers race with a 66-28 re...
Local high school grid players of week named
Sports
By Tim Miller 
October 30, 2024
The Journal-Tribune has named its football players of the game for the final week of the 2024 regular season. Marysville improved its record to 3-7 with a 31-25 verdict over Hilliard Darby. Junior run...
Grid squads preparing for 2024 post-season
Sports
By Tim Miller 
October 30, 2024
The 2024 high school football regular season is in the books and it’s playoff time. Three local teams have earned post-season berths for finishing in the top 16 in their respective regions. The highes...
Monarch gridders will travel to Hilliard Davidson for opening round of Division I playoffs
Sports
Monarchs JJ Henry (24), Grady Evans (17), Brock Powers (54) and Griffin Scheiderer (14) are among the defenders on this play. Marysville will play at Hilliard Davidson on Friday in the opening round of the Division I state playoffs. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
By Tim Miller 
October 30, 2024
Marysville High School’s football team will face a familiar opponent on Friday evening. The Monarchs (3-7) finished with the No. 12 seed in the Division I, Region II state playoff list. MHS will play ...
Panther boys soccer squad drops OT heart-breaker to Grandview during  Division V district title competition
Sports
A Grandview player falls to the turf as Fairbanks keeper Nate Russell (right) comes up with a save. Also pictured to the left for FHS is Spencer Beekman. The Panthers dropped a 2-1 overtime verdict to the Bobcats in the Division V district championship match Saturday evening at Westerville North High School. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
By Tim Miller 
October 29, 2024
The 2024 season could not have come to a more heart-breaking end than it did Saturday evening for Fairbanks’ boys soccer squad. The No. 2-seeded Panthers went up against a familiar foe in No. 1 Grandv...
Marysville’s Foust, Gross qualify for spots in state cross country
Sports
Marysville’s Bailey Gross, left, and Maggie Foust have qualified for the Division I girls state cross country meet that will be held Saturday at Fortress Obetz in Columbus. (Photo submitted)
By Tim Miller 
October 29, 2024
A pair of Marysville girls have advanced to the highest level of high school cross country in the state. Seniors Maggie Foust and Bailey Gross placed 10th and 16th respectively on Saturday during the ...
Pioneer teams advance to state CC competition
Sports
By Bob Putman 
October 29, 2024
Jonathan Alder will be well represented at the Ohio High School Athletic Association cross country championships. The girls team finished third overall and the boys squad was fifth during the Division...
Lady Panther spikers withstand tough battle from Northridge to capture district title
Sports
Fairbanks’ Anna Dulle reaches for a kill attempt during Saturday’s Central District final against Johnstown Northridge at Granville High School. The Lady Panthers earned the district title with a three-set victory. (Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman)
By Bob Putman 
October 29, 2024
Fairbanks senior Allie Boyd has experienced both the good and bad of a district final volleyball match. It will go without saying the feeling of good is much better than the bad. The feeling of the fo...
No. 1 JA upset by fourth-seeded Watterson in district final soccer contest
Sports
Jonathan Alder’s Jimmy Martinez (7) tries to get possession while battling a Bishop Watterson defender. The senior Pioneer accounted for one assist in the team’s loss to the Eagles during the Division III district final at Olentangy High School. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Aleksei Pavloff 
October 28, 2024
Jonathan Alder’s boys soccer team fought to the bitter end during the Division III district title game. However, Saturday evening left a sour taste in Pioneer fans following a 3-2 loss to Bishop Watte...
FHS girls edged by Grandview during soccer title contest
Sports
Grace Zahn (14) of Fairbanks battles for possession of the ball Saturday afternoon at Westerville North High School. The Lady Panthers fell 2-1 to Grandview in the Division V district championship match. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
By Tim Miller 
October 28, 2024
A campaign that included the most victories in a single season came to an end for Fairbanks’ girls soccer team Saturday afternoon. The Lady Panthers fell 2-1 to Grandview during the Division V distric...
Lady Cats’ volleyball season comes to end during district finals
Sports
North Union’s Emma McElroy (left) and Audrey Baldwin ready themselves for a serve during Saturday’s Central District volleyball final against Madison Plains at Granville High School. The Lady Cats lost in three sets. (Photo by Bob Putman)
By Bob Putman 
October 28, 2024
Try as hard as it could the North Union volleyball team could not put together momentum-turning runs on Saturday during its Division V Central District final match against Madison Plains. The No. 3 se...
FHS’ Miller qualifies for state cross country
Sports
By Tim Miller 
October 28, 2024
Fairbanks’ Sadie Miller ran a personal record time of 19:59 to qualify for the girls state cross country meet. Miller placed 17th during the regional meet that was held at Pickerington North High Scho...
Difficult season ends with loss for North Union Wildcats
Sports
By Bob Putman 
October 26, 2024
North Union concluded its 2024 football season on Friday, losing 27-6 at Indian Lake. The Wildcats finished the season with an overall mark of 2-8 and 1-4 in the Central Buckeye Conference. The Lakers...
Jonathan Alder Pioneers club winless Tecumseh
Sports
Braxton Overmyer (2) of JA picks up yardage against Tecumseh. The Pioneers rolled to an easy victory over the winless Arrows. (Journal-Tribune photo by Eva Paspallis Case)
By Eva Paspalis Case 
October 26, 2024
One final regular season home game stood between the Jonathan Alder Pioneers and the postseason. The Tecumseh Arrows were in town and searching for their first win of the season. Four quarters later, ...