By Eric Frantz

In six years at Indian Lake, head volleyball coach Mandy Tidwell has tallied a 101-36 record. Expect the coach to add several more tallies to the win column this year.

The Lakers, who shared the Central Buckeye Conference title with Urbana last year, return seven letterwinners from a club that went 20-6 and won the school’s second straight Division II sectional championship.

“We have a strong nucleus of returning players from last year,” Tidwell said. “Our three main goals are to be competitive in every match, win a CBC title and win the sectional. If everyone stays healthy, those are very attainable goals.” Read the rest of this entry »

By Eric Frantz

Head volleyball coach Craig Riethman starts his second season at Ansonia with simple goals.

“We hope to finish above .500 this season and compete for one of the top spots in the Cross County Conference,” Riethman said. “We will be scrappy team with very little height.”

The Tigers return six seniors from last year’s club that went 9-13 overall and 7-5 in the CCC. Those returners are Staci Schmidt (libero), Ashley McEldowney (utility), Missy Mestemaker (setter), Alex Mayo (utility), Brittany Mayo (utility) and Morgan Beam (middle hitter). Read the rest of this entry »

By Eric Frantz

Longtime coach Vin Romeo (32 years and counting) continues to produce solid tennis teams at The Miami Valley School and this fall will be no different. Romeo, who passed the 1,100-win plateau during the boys season last spring, welcomes back a singles line-up that rivals any in the area regardless of division.

Senior Julie Kirkland, arguably the area’s top player, is back at first singles after going 18-0 last year en route to first team MVTCA honors. Also back is senior standout Katherine Pardue who went 14-2 at second singles and earned second team MVTCA laurels.

Kirkland and Pardue teamed together in doubles during the postseason and made the state tournament. Read the rest of this entry »

By Eric Frantz

The Milton-Union tennis team may be young, but their coach has more experience than nearly any other in the state. Sharon Paul starts her 31st season in charge of the Bulldog tennis program with a roster long on youth and talent.

“Last year we finished 11-7 with a team that was predominantly freshman and sophomores,” Paul said. “We only anticipate having one senior on varsity this year so we’re still a young team, but we do have a little more experience.

“We’re hoping for another good year.”

History says the Dogs will. Read the rest of this entry »

By Eric Frantz

Jeanne Koch inherits a stellar girls tennis program at Tippecanoe where the Red Devils have visions of another successful season.

Last year Tipp went unscathed through the regular season, going 14-0 in matches. Although according to Koch “most positions are subject to change,” the Red Devils return seven of their top nine players, including senior standout Leah Donoff.

Donoff is one of the state’s top singles players and will be looking to get back to the state tournament after narrowly missing earning a berth last year. Donoff was a state qualifier as a sophomore. Read the rest of this entry »

By Eric Frantz

After making the Division II regional cross country meet in 2005, Indian Lake’s girls cross country team has finished fifth at the district the last two years – one spot away from qualifying for regional competition.

This year look for that trend to end.

The Lakers return all seven runners from last year’s team including the standout trio of senior Aubrey Gardner and sophomores Rachel Watt and Emily Gardner. Read the rest of this entry »

By Eric Frantz

Coldwater experienced one of the finest postseason runs in recent history last year, not only knocking off previously unbeaten and heavily favored Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in the D-IV state championship game, but the Cavs outscored their postseason opponents by a whopping 128 points and survived Kettering Alter 59-52 in a marathon triple-overtime regional semifinal.

The perennial power from the Midwest Athletic Conference – Coldwater won the league with an 8-1 mark in 2007 – will no doubt be good again this year as multiple starters return on each side of the ball.

“Everyone is going to be gunning for us and we’re going to have to bring our ‘A’ game every day,” standout senior running back Tony Harlamert said. “I don’t really feel any added pressure, I just feel like it’s a great opportunity.”

Coldwater’s offense will be potent. The Cavs return every skill player but one from last year’s unit that averaged 43.5 points and scored over 50 five times. There are a few holes along the offensive line, but according to Harlamert and fellow senior running back/linebacker Adam Homan, Coldwater’s OL “could be (our) biggest ever.”

The defensive is just as loaded. Read the rest of this entry »

By Eric Frantz

The Newton boys soccer program celebrates its 30th season this year and has a celebration planned to honor the school’s first team during a non-league game against Lehman Catholic on Oct. 4.

The Indians also hope they can celebrate another Cross County Conference title that day as well.

Despite losing eight seniors from last year’s team that went 9-7 overall and 5-2 in the CCC, Newton again expects to challenge for conference supremacy. In head coach Brent Hodges previous six seasons, the Indians have 68 wins and four CCC titles. Read the rest of this entry »

By Eric Frantz

Note to the rest of the Southwestern Buckeye League: if someone is ever going to unseat Bellbrook from atop the Southwest Division standings, this year may be the best chance to do so.

The Eagles are gunning for their 17th straight SWBL Southwest Division soccer title, but there is definitely some reloading to do.

“This will truly be a rebuilding year for us,” said head coach Charlie Luse, the 2007 Division II Ohio coach of the year. “We are looking to replace our defenders (and more) as we graduated 12 seniors from last year’s squad.” Read the rest of this entry »

By Eric Frantz

Head coach Scott Sander starts his second season at Preble Shawnee with simple goals.
“Our goal is to break into the win column,” Sander said. “It’s been awhile since this program has been able to show some tangible signs of success.”

With the cast that thhe Arrows have back, improvement should be noticeable this season.
Although the coach said the SWBL was young last year and will be just as tough this season, Preble Shawnee does return the majority of its players. Read the rest of this entry »