Editor’s note: The Friday Flashback feature is back on the Sports page of the VW independent until the end of August. Each Friday, the VW independent will turn back the hands of time by featuring a sports story dating back 10 years or longer. This installment goes back to October of 2011 and a WBL football game between Van Wert and St. Marys Memorial. Below is the story as it appeared on the Sports page.
DAVE MOSIER/independent sports
ST. MARYS – The Van Wert Cougars got some bragging rights, but that didn’t totally erase the taste in their mouths from a 34-14 loss to the Roughriders on Friday night.
The Cougar defense did something few other teams have been able to do: Hold St. Marys running back BJ Manning under 200 yards of rushing. The Roughrider senior, who averages 240 yards a game and has rushed for more than 300 yards in one game this year, ran for just 142 yards against Van Wert, thanks to good defensive penetration that allowed Cougar tacklers to catch Manning in the backfield a number of times.
However, Manning did rack up three touchdowns on the night on runs of 40, 1 and 2 yards. The big play also did plenty of the damage to the Cougars, as three of St. Marys’ TDs came from 40, 64 and 70 yards out.
Van Wert stayed with the Roughriders for the entire first half as each team traded lone touchdowns in each of the first two quarters. St. Marys was first on the scoreboard with Manning’s 40-yard scramble at 6:13 of the first quarter. Jarett Taylor kicked the extra point and it was 7-0, Roughriders.
The Cougars returned the favor 2½ minutes later when sophomore quarterback Tyler Williams found classmate Terrance Branson in the open for a 19-yard TD with 3:49 left on the clock. Austin Reichert kicked the PAT and the game was all tied up.
The Roughriders again scored first in the second quarter on a 70-yard run by Tre Sherman at the 4:27 mark of the period. Taylor again kicked the PAT and St. Marys led by a touchdown, 14-7.
Van Wert nearly didn’t get another score in before the half, but a 13-yard run by junior Lucas Sullivan with just 36 seconds left on the clock again knotted the score, following Reichert’s point after kick.
Unfortunately, the second half was pretty much all St. Marys, as the Roughriders scored three more times in that half.
The only score of the third quarter was a 1-yard run by Manning at the 8:37 mark. Taylor again kicked the point after to make 21-14.
The fourth quarter saw the Roughriders’ two final touchdowns. The first came on a 64-yard pass from TJ Powell to Taylor, who also kicked the PAT, at the 9:31 mark, while the second and final score came on a 2-yard run by Manning. The kick was the only one of the night for either team that missed the mark.
(more…)POSTED: 07/25/24 at 9:06 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
The latest installment of Random Thoughts centers around football – new non-conference opponents for WBL teams, a new look NWC, a question about defending state champions, the NFL preseason, and an unusual championship game venue.
Different look
When the 2024 high school football team kicks off on August 23, half of the 10 WBL schools will have new Week No. 1 opponents.
Celina will host Columbus South.
Kenton will host Eastwood.
Ottawa-Glandorf will host Liberty-Benton.
St. Marys Memorial will host St. Henry.
Wapakoneta will host Toledo St. John’s.
Another fun fact: seven of the 10 WBL schools will open the season at home.
NWC
As you know, the NWC will have a different look this season, at least during football season. Gone are Ada and Leipsic, with both departing for the Blanchard Valley Conference, a conference that was basically on the endangered list 2-3 years ago.
Lima Central Catholic is joining, or re-joining, the conference for at least four seasons, and Fort Loramie is coming aboard as a football-only member for at least two seasons.
The NWC appears to be stacked this year. There are some outstanding teams and it could be a real fight to the finish. In early August I’ll make preseason predictions for both the NWC and WBL.
Question
Someone posed this question to me and I think it’s an interesting one.
The question is “If Marion Local played Glenville, who would win?”
(more…)POSTED: 07/23/24 at 3:30 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
WREN — Sign-up for the 32nd annual Wrenway Park wiffleball tournament will be held on Thursday, August 1, at the Wren Restaurant. Sign-ups will begin promptly at 5 p.m. Each team must have a representative present with one of 15 available lanyards. The entry fee is $100 per team.
This year’s wiffleball tournament will be held August 16-17.
POSTED: 07/23/24 at 3:29 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
Submitted information
The YWCA of Van Wert County is offering the USA Track & Field “RunJumpThrow” program again this summer to the Van Wert community.
“We really enjoy putting this program on for youth in our area and we’re excited to offer it this year in conjunction with the Van Wert High School cross country team’s ‘Dusk to Dawn’ event,” stated Betsy Hamman, YWCA Director of Youth Development.
Thanks to partial funding by the United Way of Van Wert County, the YWCA is able to offer RunJumpThrow at no cost to local youth in Van Wert County ages 6-12. This year, the program will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, August 15, at the Van Wert High School track. Registration forms can be found on the YWCA website at www.ywcavanwert.org/youth.
In 2014, USA Track & Field and The Hershey Company created RunJumpThrow, a hands-on learning program designed to get kids excited about physical activity by introducing them to basic running, jumping and throwing skills through track and field. RJT is an evidence-based program that addresses the trend of reduced physical activity among youth and can be instrumental in creating a safe, accessible environment that fosters physical literacy.
POSTED: 07/21/24 at 8:57 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Submitted information
CELINA — It’s time for the Mercer Health Lake Festival 5K run.
Registration is available online at www.mercerhealth5kchallenge.com. This chip timed race is part of the Mercer Health 5K Challenge.
The 5K begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 27, at Lake Shore Park at the corner of Ash and Lakeshore Drive in Celina. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. The certified course will be set up along West Bank Road on this out and back course. The deadline for pre-registration is July, 25 at a cost of $15, and $20 on the day of the race. All runners 14 and under will run for free with a completed entry form.
Medals will be awarded to top three male and female runners. Medals will be awarded to first, second and third place in each age group with special awards to be given to the runner coming from the furthest distance and for the youngest and oldest runner. $100 will be awarded to the male and female runners who set a new course record.
There will be water on the course, splits at 1 mile and at 2 miles marks. Refreshments will be served at the finish.
POSTED: 07/21/24 at 8:57 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Editor’s note: The Friday Flashback feature is back on the Sports page of the VW independent until the end of August. Each Friday, the VW independent will turn back the hands of time by featuring a sports story dating back 10 years or longer. This installment goes back to October of 2012 and the football regular season finale between Van Wert and Ottawa-Glandorf. Below is the story as it appeared on the Sports page.
DAVE MOSIER/independent sports
OTTAWA — The Van Wert Cougars earned plenty of respect, if not an upset win over the state-ranked Ottawa-Glandorf Titans in the two teams’ final Western Buckeye League contest of the season.
The Cougars hung with O-G for three quarters, trailing but just two points, 14-12, before the Titans were able to put away in the final stanza for a 34-12 victory.
O-G compiled 361 yards of total offense, with 284 yards coming via the rushing game on 50 carries. The Cougars rushed 32 times for 114 yards of total offense, although Caleb Lloyd exceeded that total with 138 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. Quarterback sacks and rushing losses cut into that total, though. Titan Tristan Parker was the game’s top rusher, with 149 yards and a TD on 25 carries.
With the victory, Ottawa-Glandorf, which was ranked No. 7 in Division IV prior to Friday night’s game, ends the regular season without a loss, going 10-0 overall and 9-0 in the WBL to win the league title. It’s the first year in the school’s history that the football team has gone undefeated. The Cougars end their season at 1-9 overall and 1-8 in league play, but with two solid performances at the end of the season to help build momentum for next year.
O-G scored first in the game when Parker found paydirt from the Van Wert 1-yard line with 8:59 left on the first-quarter clock. Titan quarterback Caleb Siefker, who is also the team’s place-kicker, then split the uprights for a 7-0 lead over the Cougars.
Van Wert scored its own TD seven minutes later when Lloyd went 80 yards for a score at the 1:45 mark of the first stanza. Terrance Branson missed the PAT kick, though, and the Cougars trailed by a point, 7-6.
The Titans returned the favor in the second quarter when Siefker ran the ball in from the Cougar 1 to make it 13-6, O-G, with 3 minutes left in the first half. Siefker again kicked the PAT and the Titans had an 8-point lead, 14-6, heading into the locker room at halftime.
(more…)POSTED: 07/19/24 at 3:44 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
COLDWATER — Van Wert advanced to Monday’s ACME state championship game, but the Cougars came up short in the season finale, losing 3-0 to Minster in eight innings.
To get to the title game, Van Wert defeated highly touted Indian Lake 2-1 in the semifinals before falling to the Wildcats. Both games were played Monday evening at Veterans Field at Coldwater Memorial Park. The Cougars finished the season 16-6 and won 10 of their last 12 games.
Hayden Davis, Sam Houg and Nate Gearhart combined to no-hit Indian Lake (13-2) in the semifinals. Davis did the bulk of it and got the win, going 6 2/3 innings and striking out five and walking five. It was the second straight no-hit win for Van Wert.
The game was scoreless entering the bottom of the fourth inning, but Davis, who reached first on an error, advanced to third on another error, then scored on a wild pitch. An insurance run came in the sixth inning, when Case Stegeman scored on another wild pitch by the Lakers. Indian Lake’s lone run came in the top of the seventh, on a hit batsman with the bases loaded. After that, Gearhart was able induce a ground ball out to end the game.
Van Wert had just two hits in the game – one each by Donovan Winkeljohn and Trevor Halker.
In the state championship game, the Cougars were held to two hits and it was scoreless after seven innings. Starting pitcher James Niemeyer went the distant and struck out 12 batters while allowing four walks. Briston Wise and Finley Dickinson accounted for Van Wert’s only hits.
The Wildcats had three RBI singles in the eighth inning, then held off the Cougars in the bottom half of the inning.
POSTED: 07/16/24 at 3:55 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent editor
This installment of Random Thoughts centers around ACME baseball, the return of a popular game, the MLB draft and several memories.
ACME
Congratulations to Van Wert for an incredible run to the state ACME Baseball finals. Along the way, Cougar pitchers tossed back-to-back no-hitters and Monday night’s championship game was tied 0-0 after seven innings. Minster scored three runs in the top of the eighth and won the state title 3-0. It still doesn’t dimish what the Cougars were able to accomplish this season.
It’s in the game
If you a fan of the NCAA Football video game by EA Sports, this is a happy week for you. After an 11-year hiatus the game is back. It’s launch is this week and judging by reaction online, football video gamers are overjoyed.
MLB draft
This is astounding to me. In all the years of the Major League Baseball draft, a second baseman had never been taken No. 1 overall until this past Sunday, when the Cleveland Guardians selected Travis Bazanna from Oregon St. He was quite the hitter in college and hopefully that success continues at the pro level.
What’s even more astounding to me is the fact until this Sunday, Cleveland never had the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Some of you may remember the former Indians were, to put it gently, bad for a number of years. I realize the MLB draft is different than the NFL draft but it’s still amazing.
Memories
With the 2024 high school football season rapidly approaching, I’ve been thinking about some of the top games I’ve covered. Here they are in no particular order.
2009 Division VI state championship game, Norwalk St. Paul vs. Delphos St. John’s.
After stopping the heavily favored Blue Jays on downs just two yards from the end zone, the Flyers went 98 in yards in 12 plays and scored on a one yard keeper with five seconds left on fourth and one by quarterback Eric Schwieterman, giving St. Paul a stunning 24-21 win. The Flyers outgained the Blue Jays 430-176 on that cold December day in Massillon.
2020 Division IV state championship game, Van Wert vs. Lake Catholic
The Cougars trailed 21-7 just over three minutes into the third quarter but scored twice in the final 2:30 to stun Lake Catholic 31-28. Owen Treece’s 15 yard touchdown pass to Nate Jackson tied the game 28-28, then Damon McCracken’s 25 yard field goal with nine seconds left capped off a seven play, 47-yard drive and gave Van Wert its first ever OHSAA football championship. Treece accounted for 363 of Van Wert’s 366 yards and all four touchdowns.
(more…)POSTED: 07/16/24 at 3:54 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
COLDWATER — Van Wert is one win away from playing for the 2024 ACME state baseball championship.
The Cougars were scheduled to face Indian Lake in the state semifinals Sunday afternoon but the game was rained out and rescheduled for 5 p.m. today at Veterans Field at Coldwater Memorial Park. The Cougars (15-5) have gone 9-1 in the last 10 games. Indian Lake is 13-1 and has won six straight games.
Should Van Wert win today, the Cougars will then face Defiance or Minster in the championship game at 7 p.m. tonight. The Bulldogs were leading the first semifinal game 2-0 when it was halted by rain in the fourth inning on Sunday. That game will resume at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
To get to the semifinals, Van Wert’s Briston Wise pitched a complete game no-hitter and the Cougars defeated host Coldwater 6-1 Saturday night. Wise, who has an ERA of 1.27 this season, struck out eight batters and walked seven.
Van Wert’s first run came in the bottom of the second. After Cam Werts opened the inning with a single, Donovan Winkeljohn reached first on an error, then successive walks by Trever Halker and Griff McCracken scored Werts. In the bottom of the third, Van Wert quickly loaded the bases with walks by Hayden Dowler and Case Stegeman, and a Coldwater error that allowed Wise to get to first. Werts then walked with the bases loaded, scoring Dowler, then with one out, Stegeman scored on a sac fly by Halker, giving the Cougars a 3-0 lead.
Van Wert’s three remaining runs came in the fourth inning. Dowler’s triple plated Nate Gearhart and Hayden Davis, upping the lead to 5-0. A one-out single by Wise allowed Dowler to score.
(more…)POSTED: 07/15/24 at 3:38 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
BLUFFTON — The Van Wert Marlins finished seventh out of eight teams on the boys’ side and eighth on the girls’ side at the Western Ohio Aquatics League (WOAL) Championships, which were held Friday and Saturday at the Bluffton Village Pool. Host Bluffton won both the boys’ and girls’ titles.
Van Wert’s highest placers were Isaiah Stoller, who placed third in the boys 6 & under 25 SC meter freestyle (27.07) and second in the 25 meter backstroke (34.49); Eden Stoller, who finished fourth in the girls 9-10 50 SC meter freestyle (39.32), fourth in the 100 meter freestyle (1:43.83), and fourth in the 50 meter breaststroke, 52.16); Wes Holliday, who placed fourth in the boys 11-12 50 SC meter freestyle (34.05), third in the 50 meter butterfly (42.59) and third 50 meter backstroke (39.93); Sam Houg, who finished third in the boys 15 & over 100 meter individual medley (1:07.01), fourth in the 50 meter butterfly (28.86) and second in the 50 meter breaststroke (33.54); Ruby Dicke, who finished fourth in the girls 13-14 50 SC meter butterfly (36.33); the girls 15 & over 200 meter medley relay team (Brynleigh Moody, Ruby Dicke, Olivia Ashbaugh and Whitney Holliday, third, 2:27.20), and Owen Holliday, who placed second in the boys 9-10 100 SC meter freestyle (1:47.09).
The WOAL is for swimmers aged 5-18 who are members of one of the league’s teams. Teams have been competing against each other since early June. Though many of the swimmers compete year-round with their local YMCA team, some participants also swim for local USA swimming teams and have qualified for other competitions through this program.
POSTED: 07/15/24 at 3:38 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
