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It’s time to look again on the greatest moments from 2022 for central Ohio athletes and groups.
This is also an opportunity for us at ThisWeek Community News to ship a notice of because of our readers as we close to completion of a run of protection that started in 1989.
The final version is slated for Jan. 26.
This yr was marked by large moments in girls and boys basketball, reminiscences in observe and discipline, the continued success that central Ohio has loved in girls and boys lacrosse and a justifiable share of success in soccer.
Here’s a have a look at the sports activities yr in central Ohio by the eyes of the ThisWeek sports activities workers:
1. HOOP DREAMS COME TRUE — Central Ohio shined vibrant in girls and boys basketball, even surpassing soccer relating to a few of its greatest moments.
The Reynoldsburg women and Pickerington Central boys groups each captured Division I state championships.
Reynoldsburg’s Jack Purtell earned the 500th win of his coaching career because the Raiders beat Lancaster 82-35 on Feb. 7 and his crew, together with eventual Division II state semifinalist Hartley and eventual Division III state runner-up Worthington Christian, ended up in Dayton for the state match. On March 12, Reynoldsburg beat Mason 63-56 in overtime as senior Imarianah Russell, who was runner-up for Ms. Basketball, scored 28 factors to shut her prep profession with 2,002 factors.
In boys basketball, Central’s Devin Royal and Africentric’s Dailyn Swain, who went on to signal with Ohio State and Xavier, respectively, Nov. 9, led their groups to state.
The Nubians lost in a Division III state semifinal, however the Tigers captured their second state title with a 55-48 win over defending champion Centerville on March 20 as Royal scored 16 of his 20 factors within the second half.
Central received 59-42 in a regional last March 12 over Gahanna Lincoln, which was led by Mr. Basketball runner-up Sean Jones, who now performs for Marquette.
2. GRIDIRON MEMORIES — Heading into this season, the Gahanna soccer crew hadn’t reached double digits in wins since 1998 and by no means had received a couple of playoff recreation in any season.
The Lions put together their best season in program history and mixed with lengthy playoff runs by Bloom-Carroll and Newark Catholic to supply a few of the prime moments of their sport.
Junior running back Diore Hubbard was a finalist for Mr. Football and helped Gahanna end a program-best 13-2. The Lions received their first OCC-Ohio Division title since 2001 and reached a Division I state semifinal for the primary time since 1982.
Bloom-Carroll misplaced to Canfield 35-14 within the Division III state championship recreation Dec. 2 after dropping in Division IV state semifinals every of the previous two seasons.
Newark Catholic had its season finish with a loss in a Division VII state semifinal after it was state runner-up a yr in the past.
3. A REMARKABLE CAREER ENDS — After main the Pickerington Central soccer crew to a Division I regional semifinal and to its nineteenth playoff look in his 20 seasons as coach, Jay Sharrett announced his retirement Dec. 8.
Sharrett turned this system’s first coach after the Pickerington faculty district break up, which created Central and North starting with the 2003-04 faculty yr, and led this system to a Division II state runner-up end in his fourth season in 2006.
The Tigers have been Division I state runners-up in 2011, won state championships in 2017 and 2019 and have been state runners-up once more in 2020. They additionally reached state semifinals in 2016 and 2018.
Under Sharrett, Central went 211-42 with 17 league championships and eight regional titles.
4. THE RIGHT TRACK — At the state observe and discipline meet June 3 and 4 at Ohio State, a pair of juniors who went on to signal with Kentucky in November led their groups to Division I championships.
Camden Bentley of the Gahanna girls program captured titles within the 100- and 300-meter hurdles and ran on the profitable 800 relay to assist her crew rating 47 factors to win its third state championship as Westerville Central was runner-up (31).
Troy Lane of the Pickerington Central boys squad received the 100 in a state-record 10.25 seconds and was first within the 200 in addition to with the 400 relay as his crew scored 31 factors to edge Olentangy Orange (30) for the title.
Grandview Heights’ Collin Haj Abed received titles within the boys lengthy soar and 110 hurdles in Division III.
5. LAX POWER — In a rematch of the 2021 Division I boys lacrosse state championship recreation received 12-11 by Dublin Jerome, Upper Arlington avenged the loss with a 12-10 victory June 4 as Leo Caine scored 4 targets and Tommy Janowicz added three.
In the Division II state last, David Chintala had nine goals and one assist as DeSales beat Chagrin Falls 20-6.
The New Albany girls team also celebrated a Division I state championship, beating UA 13-12 in additional time after dropping in state finals in 2018, 2019 and 2021. The Eagles rallied from a three-goal deficit with 3:13 to go and Maddy Paz scored the game-winning purpose 50 seconds into additional time.
6. BOBCATS ROAR AGAIN — Central Ohio was represented in women soccer by Olentangy Orange in a Division I state semifinal and by New Albany (Division I), Bexley (Division II) and Grandview (Division III) in boys title video games, with Grandview incomes its second consecutive championship.
The Bobcats defended their title despite entering the postseason at 8-7-1.
Grandview beat Yellow Springs 2-1 in two overtimes in a state semifinal Nov. 9 after which received an early purpose from Danny Claypool to arrange a 3-0 victory over Toledo Ottawa Hills on Nov. 12. Claypool additionally scored three targets in Grandview’s 2021 state title win.
7. NO ONE WAS FINER THAN STEINER — Abby Steiner, a 2017 Dublin Coffman graduate, signed a contract with PUMA in July to change into an expert in ladies’s observe and discipline.
That got here after she had an NCAA out of doors meet to recollect June 11 for Kentucky.
She opened the meet by operating on the runner-up 400 relay, adopted with a third-place end within the 100 in 11.08 after which captured the championship in the 200 in a collegiate-record 21.8.
In her last NCAA occasion, she took the baton because the third leg of the 1,600 relay in fourth and handed all three runners forward of her with a break up of 48.92 because the Wildcats positioned first.
Her efficiency helped Kentucky earn a third-place total end.
8. GYMNAST SALUTE — A four-time state qualifier within the all-around in gymnastics, Raegan Ernst capped her senior season at Jerome with one of central Ohio’s all-time best performances.
With a 37.6, Ernst turned the primary competitor from the Central District to seize the all-around championship since 1978. She additionally was the fourth Dublin gymnast to win an occasion at state as she added the title on uneven bars (9.475) in addition to inserting third on ground train (9.475) and fourth on steadiness beam (9.325).
Ernst now competes in observe on the University of Dayton.
9. RUNNING FOR GLORY — Connor Ackley broke through with a championship in the Division I state boys cross country meet Nov. 5 at Fortress Obetz, operating 15:10.1 to win the title whereas Jerome’s Sam Ricchiuti was second (15:25.6).
A four-time state qualifier, Ackley’s efficiency helped the Wildcats end fifth (197) behind champion Mason (128) as was Lancaster was third (155) and Coffman positioned fourth (177).
It was a robust day total for Davidson contemplating its women crew scored 91 factors to complete as runner-up to Mason (75), with Caitlyn Jones inserting fourth (18:19).
In Division II, the Granville women crew received its second state championship.
10. STICKIN’ IT TO THE CHAMPS — The Thomas Worthington field hockey team captured its seventh state title with a 3-2 additional time win over two-time defending state champion Watterson on Nov. 5.
Thomas tied the sport at 2 on a purpose by Lauren Beier with 11:33 to go within the third interval.
With 4:05 left in additional time, freshman attacker Sophia Borghese scored the game-winner as Thomas completed 19-2 and received its sixth title below coach Terri Simonetti Frost.
11. PIGSKIN SURPRISES — After going 1-5 in 2020 and 3-4 in 2021, the Columbus East soccer crew received a share of the City League-North title and earned its first playoff win.
The Tigers completed 10-2, with their 7-0 begin being their finest since they went 9-0 in 1964. Their solely different postseason appearances have been in 1999 and 2020, the latter coming in a season through which each crew was eligible.
Other groups posting turnaround seasons included Delaware Hayes, Grove City and Thomas Worthington.
The Pacers final had a profitable document in 2018 earlier than going 7-4 this fall as they made the playoffs for the third time, whereas the Dawgs went 6-5 for his or her first profitable season since 2013.
The Cardinals additionally have been 6-5, ending above .500 for the primary time since 1999 and making the postseason for the fourth time.
12. IT’S IN THE HOLE — Led by robust performances from junior Angela Hu and senior Grace Luo, the Columbus Academy girls golf team shot 647 on Oct. 14 and 15 on Ohio State’s Gray Course to capture its first Division II state championship. Hu tied for sixth (157) and Luo tied for eighth (159).
Every week later in Division I women golf, Jerome senior Audrey Ryu shot 143 to finish as runner-up as her team placed second (614). Centerville shot 613 to win the title, snapping New Albany’s four-year hold of the championship as the Eagles were third (621). Olentangy senior Olivia Drankwalter was third (145) individually.
In boys state motion, DeSales junior Vaughn Harber led central Ohio by taking pictures 150 to tie for second within the Division I state match Oct. 21 and 22 on Ohio State’s Scarlet Course. St. Charles was the realm’s prime crew with a fifth-place end (641).
In Division II, Academy had its five-year maintain of the title finish because it positioned second (634) behind behind Kettering Alter (618), with senior Stephen Ma ending third (151).
In Division III at NorthStar, Newark Catholic shot 664 to position second behind Cincinnati Seven Hills (659).
13. UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT — The OHSAA introduced Jan. 13 that it will start sanctioning boys volleyball and girls wrestling as rising sports activities starting with the 2022-23 faculty yr.
The Ohio High School Boys Volleyball Association had been holding state tournaments since 1988 and the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association started a women state match in 2020.
The adoption of the 2 sports activities elevated the OHSAA’s variety of sanctioned sports activities to 14 for each girls and boys.
14. ON TO THE NEXT ADVENTURE — Two of the most important teaching strikes concerned state title-winning coaches.
Tim Saunders was named Jerome baseball coach in October. He retired in 2020 after a 33-year tenure at Coffman that included him profitable the 2001 Division I state title and going 589-393.
Ed Calo retired in April after a 35-year tenure as Westerville South’s boys basketball coach that included profitable the Division I state title in 2016 and going 529-268, but he decided to return in July.
Several different coaches ended lengthy tenures, together with Kevin Weakley, who led the Worthington Christian boys basketball crew to a 383-161 document in 22 seasons with a pair of state runner-up finishes.
Karl Johnson guided the Dublin Scioto soccer crew to a 146-104 mark that included 14 profitable seasons and 12 playoff appearances in 23 years earlier than saying his resignation in December.
Dave Starling, who led New Albany to the Division I state baseball title in 2021 and has 531 profession victories, didn’t have his contract renewed after final spring and was hired in September to become Hilliard Bradley’s coach.
Scott Todd had been Central Crossing’s baseball coach for 19 seasons, Randy Kortokrax had been Hartley’s boys basketball coach for 23 seasons and John Riggs retired after teaching wrestling at Hilliard from 1995-97, Hilliard Darby from 1997-2009 and Bradley from 2009-22.
15. ACHIEVEMENTS ON THE MAT — Eight wrestlers from central Ohio won state championships, together with Coffman’s Seth Shumate, who captured his third Division I title earlier than starting his collegiate profession at Ohio State.
Shumate defeated Teays Valley’s Camden McDanel 7-4 within the 190-pound title bout March 13 at Ohio State after dropping to him for the district title.
Coffman’s Omar Ayoub defeated Pickerington Central’s Brennen Cernus 6-4 for the Division I title at 126.
Winning their second titles have been Westerville North’s Connor Euton (157), Olentangy Liberty’s Dylan Russo (215) and Scioto’s Ty Wilson (132). Coffman’s Ethan Birden (144) was one other state runner-up.
In Division II, London’s Antwaun Burns (157), DeSales’ David McClelland (132) and Watterson’s Mitchell Younger (144) received titles and DeSales’ Max Shulaw (215) was runner-up.
In the women state match Feb. 19 and 20 at Davidson, Marysville’s Cali Leng (120) and Aubrey Reese (155) have been runners-up.
16. NET SUCCESS — With a 6-0, 6-3 win over Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy’s Sophia Thompson on Oct. 22 within the Division II state women tennis singles last at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Bexley freshman Amiya Bowles gave the program its first individual champion since 1982.
Bowles didn’t lose a set all season.
Also in women tennis, the New Albany doubles crew of juniors Richardlyne Francois and Paige Cornelius was the Division I state runner-up.
In the women volleyball state match at Wright State, Watterson misplaced in a Division I semifinal Nov. 11 and Newark Catholic misplaced in a Division IV semifinal Nov. 10.
In the state boys tennis match May 27 and 28, Gahanna junior Brandon Carpico adopted his 2021 Division I state singles title with a state runner-up end.
Also final spring, the DeSales boys volleyball crew reached a Division II state semifinal and Jerome and Liberty reached Division I state quarterfinals.
17. MAKING A BIG SPLASH — The state girls and boys swimming and diving meet Feb. 23-26 at Branin Natatorium in Canton supplied quite a few alternatives for central Ohio athletes to shine, with the New Albany girls capturing their second consecutive team title in Division I.
St. Charles’ Spencer Aurnou-Rhees (200-yard particular person medley, 100 freestyle), New Albany’s Carly Meeting (50 free, 100 backstroke), Olentangy’s Martina Peroni (200 IM, 100 butterfly) and Coffman’s Emily Brown (200 free, 500 free) all received two Division I state titles and DeSales’ Brady McInerney (50 free, 100 free) captured a pair in Division II.
Liberty’s Hudson Williams (50 free) and UA’s Grant Gooding (100 breast) won Division I boys titles, and Jonathan Alder’s Eli Stoll (100 again) captured a boys title in Division II.
Also in Division I women motion, Gahanna’s 200 medley relay and New Albany’s 400 free relay have been champions.
In water polo, the UA girls and boys groups swept the state championships for the second consecutive yr. The women received their fourth title in a row and twentieth total, and the boys received their ninth total.
18. BOWLING OVER THE COMPETITION — Liberty senior Carter Street put all of it collectively March 11 at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl, rolling a 732 three-game collection on the Division I state boys bowling match to seize the championship. He had completed thirty second in 2020 and thirtieth in 2021.
At the Division I state women match March 12 at Wayne Webb’s, Westerville Central junior Payton Hartgrove was runner-up (663) and Gahanna’s Delaney Rosette was third (644), and Jonathan Alder completed second as a crew.
19. DIAMOND DELIVERIES — In its first state look in 10 years, the Grove City baseball team was the Division I runner-up.
The Greyhounds have been considered one of 4 groups from the Central District to succeed in state, with Hartley (Division II), Liberty Union (Division III) and Newark Catholic (Division IV) all reaching semifinals.
Liberty Union pitcher Jacob Miller was chosen within the second spherical of the MLB draft by the Miami Marlins.
Another reminiscence created on the baseball discipline happened April 29 when Gahanna’s Mike Shade earned his 500th coaching victory.
In softball, Jonathan Alder was the Division II state runner-up and Watkins Memorial was a state semifinalist in Division I.
20. NIL VOTED DOWN — A identify, picture and likeness proposal for prep athletes failed by greater than a 2-to-1 margin final May, but it could be only the beginning of how the OHSAA handles the issue in years to come.
The proposed NIL bylaw, which might have allowed highschool athletes to signal endorsement offers whereas sustaining their beginner standing, failed by a 538-254 vote. The proposal got here lower than a yr after NIL was allowed on the faculty stage and would have paralleled the school laws, which handed on the state stage in June 2021.
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