Sports

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, ...
Late field goal gives Tigers victory over FHS in OHC North title contest
Sports
Fairbanks’ Ryker Green stretches to catch a 40-yard pass against West Liberty-Salem. The Panthers fell, 29-27, during the OHC North Division title game. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Tim Miller 
October 26, 2024
Hollywood could not have scripted a better ending to Friday evening’s Fairbanks football game at West Liberty-Salem. On second thought, fans of Panther Nation would probably disagree with that assessm...
2024 football season comes to end for Triad Cardinals
Sports
By Aleksei Pavloff 
October 26, 2024
Triad’s football season ended on a sour note Friday following a 37-0 loss to Mechanicsburg. “They got out on us fast,” Triad coach Mike Braun said. The Cardinals ended their season with a 1-9 record a...
Monarchs hang on for win over Hilliard Darby
Sports
Marysville’s JJ Henry flies into the end zone against Hilliard Darby. Henry scored twice during the Monarchs’ victory. (Journal-Tribune photo by Chad Williamson)
By Chad Williamson 
October 26, 2024
There’s little doubt that Hilliard Darby has grown into Marysville’s rivalry game on the gridiron. Regardless of records, the contest is always a one-score game and the outcome isn’t determined until ...
Lady Monarchs battle hard during sweep by Davidson
Sports
Annabelle Clair of Marysville (14) attempts to put the ball past a pair of Hilliard Davidson blockers. Davidson’s Hailey Campagna (26), who formerly played at Shekinah Christian in Plain City, is pictured at the left. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
By Tim Miller 
October 25, 2024
The 2024 season came to an end for Marysville’s volleyball team on Wednesday. The Lady Monarchs (the No. 17 seed), though, put up a good fight before falling at No. 9 Hilliard Davidson in a three-set ...
MHS drops match to Jerome
Sports
Marysville’s Sam Krueger (6) battles for the ball against a Dublin Jerome defender during the first half of action. The Celtics defeated the Monarchs 2-0 during the Division I district final at Jonathan Alder High School. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Aleksei Pavloff 
October 25, 2024
Marysville’s boys soccer team ended its season after a 2-0 loss to Dublin Jerome in the Division I district final. “I don’t think we played our best game,” MHS coach Jordan Tipton said. “Everything th...
Fairbanks girls continue on soccer tournament trail with win over TOL
Sports
Lexie Cushman of Fairbanks (2) pursues the ball against Tree of Life. The Lady Panthers won the district semifinal contest. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
By Tim Miller 
October 25, 2024
A pair of goals from Mollie Thrush helped lead Fairbanks’ girls soccer team to a Division V district semifinal victory. Elli Shaffer and Kendra Turner supplied single goals as the No. 1 Lady Panthers ...
FHS boys top Wellington, will play for district title
Sports
Fairbanks’ Noah Thorley (16) delivers a shot during a game against Wellington earlier in the season. Thorley tallied a goal on Wednesday as FHS topped Wellington in a Division V district semifinal match. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Tim Miller 
October 25, 2024
A victory by Fairbanks’ boys soccer squad on Wednesday means FHS will face Grandview twice on Saturday with Division V district titles at stake. The second-seeded Panthers (14-5-0) edged No. 3 Columbu...
NU to finish regular grid campaign
Sports
By Bob Putman 
October 25, 2024
North Union’s final football game of the regular season happens tonight at Indian Lake. The season has not gone the way as hoped as the Wildcats are 2-7 overall and 1-3 in Central Buckeye Conference. ...
Triad will close season at Mechanicsburg
Sports
By Aleksei Pavloff 
October 25, 2024
Triad’s football team will end its 2024 season with a road game tonight at Mechanicsburg. The Cardinals’ (1-8) coach Mike Braun wants his team to finish the season strong against the Indians (6-3). “W...
Pioneer gridders will host winless Tecumseh
Sports
By Aleksei Pavloff 
October 25, 2024
Jonathan Alder’s football team has a chance to end the regular season on a high note this evening. The Pioneers (4-5) are in the midst of a three-game losing skid following a 49-7 loss to Bellefontain...
Publisher picks perfect Pigskin predictions
Sports
By Tim Miller 
October 24, 2024
Publisher Kevin Behrens came through with an unbeaten record last week in the Pigskin Pickers. Behrens picked Illinois to beat Michigan and Georgia to top Texas as he went 9-0 for the week. Behrens st...
JA’s girls soccer season ends
Sports
By Aleksei Pavloff 
October 24, 2024
Jonathan Alder’s girls soccer program concluded its 2024 fall campaign following a recent 4-1 loss to Granville. The No. 5 Lady Pioneers were riding high off an 8-0 win over No. 10 Columbus Centennial...
Jonathan Alder cross country squads claim district crowns
Sports
By Bob Putman 
October 24, 2024
Jonathan Alder swept past all competition and finished  first in both the girls and boys races in Section 2 of the recent Division II Central District cross country championships at Hilliard Darby. Th...
Local football squads have playoff berths locked up heading into regular season finales
Sports
Members of Fairbanks’ defensive unit bring down West Jefferson’s Nick Fitzpatrick (12). Among the Panthers pictured are Noah Rhea (52), Raiden Humble (3), Benny Powell (4) and Tommy Delllinger (21). FHS is ranked No. 8 in this week’s Division VI, Region 23 computer ratings. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
By Bob Putman 
October 24, 2024
A total of two local high school football teams have clinched state playoff berths. There is another that should advance to the post-season, but is not 100% guaranteed. Another is hanging by a thread,...
Jonathan Alder earns OT tourney victory
Sports
Jonathan Alder’s Philip Chin (12) tries to take possession away from a Bishop Hartley player during the first half of action. The sophomore Pioneer accounted for one goal in the team’s win over the Hawks during the Division III District semifinal. (Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
By Aleksei Pavloff 
October 24, 2024
Jonathan Alder’s boys soccer postseason hopes remain intact after a 2-1 overtime win over Bishop Hartley. “It was a gritty win, but I’m happy to be through it,” said Carson Gordon. The No. 1 seeded Pi...
North Union VB team advances with win over Utica
Sports
Kennedy Harrah (10) and Jaylen Tackett (4) of North Union go up for a block against Utica. The Lady Cats won the Division V district semifinal match in three sets. (Photo submitted)
By Bob Putman 
October 24, 2024
Staying focused in the moment when some adversity happens allows teams to be able to get past when things get a little off the rails. For the most part during its Division V Central District semifinal...
Lady Panther spikers sweep Columbus Academy during D-V district semifinal
Sports
Fairbanks’ Madeleine Peffer (right) blasts the ball past Columbus Academy blockers. Also pictured for FHS are Maddi Sines (27) and Allie Boyd. The Lady Panthers captured the Division V district semifinal match with a three-set sweep. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
By Tim Miller 
October 24, 2024
The first set gave every indication Fairbanks’ Division V district semifinal volleyball match against Columbus Academy would keep fans on the edge of their seats for the entire evening. The game went ...