I’m writing this award-winner sitting outside in Florida, inspired by the 80-degree temperatures, sunshine, and light breezes, trying to remember why Kathy and I are flying back to Ohio tomorrow! More about the southern trip later but first let’s get some items of local interest involving high school sports out of the way.
Congratulations are in order for two Coldwater Lady Cavaliers bowlers as senior Brittany Burden claimed a state individual championship in the D-II tournament by rolling a 640 series, while junior teammate Rachel Moeller placed second with a 621. The Lady Cavs as a team placed second, trailing only Napoleon. The Lady Tigers of Versailles finished fourth as they completed an outstanding season.
In D-I district action the Lady Wave of Greenville failed to qualify for the state meet, placing sixteenth out of twenty-four teams. Addy Arnett’s 490 and Karstyn Davidson’s 472 led the girls who finished strong this year.
Switching to the mats, Greenville’s Kaylin Bradburn used three pins in four victories to claim a D-I girls wrestling sectional title in the 120-pound class, while Lilliana Wilson of Brookville at 110 and Eaton’s Violet White at 235 also moved on to the district tournament with sectional honors.
Greenville advanced several wrestlers to the D-II district meet with Jack Suter claiming a sectional title at 113 pounds along with Anthony Gutierrez at 215. Among other Wave grapplers moving on are MVL champions Bradley Bush, who placed second at 144, and Henry Allread, who finished third at 120. The Wave team claimed second-place honors as another successful season continues.
In D-III, Versailles placed second to perennial powerhouse Graham Local as Trent Huber won the 106-pound class and Ben Kaiser took honors at 285. Other Tigers contributed to the team score and also advanced while kudos are also due Caleb Ryman of Covington who won the 157-pound class. For complete results check with the OHSAA website.
On the hardwood several girls squads advanced to regional semifinals in various divisions. Russia and Mississinawa Valley continue in D-VII, Versailles and Anna will meet in D-V, Brookville moves on in D-IV, and Tippecanoe advances in D-III. Ansonia and Tri-Village fell in D-VI district finals, ending strong seasons for each team.
District semifinals are on the docket this week around the area for the boys who are a week behind the girls schedule. Some great games are forthcoming the next few days. In D-VII Russia, Ft. Loramie, and Botkins are still alive, while in D-VI Tri-Village, National Trail, Troy Christian, and Twin Valley South continue on down the tournament trail. In D-V Versailles, Arcanum, and Anna still suit up with Brookville advancing in D-IV. Tipp, Xenia, Stebbins, and Tecumseh in D-III and Troy and Northmont in D-II have yet to turn in their uniforms. Again, all dates, sites, and times can be found at the OHSAA website.
This is a great definition of what is called Seasonal Affective Disorder, something that just about anyone living in West Central Ohio can relate to at this time of the year. SAD is a “form of depression triggered by changing seasons, usually starting in late fall/early winter and ending in the spring, driven by reduced sunlight affecting circadian rhythms and serotonins. Symptoms include low energy, oversleeping, carbohydrate cravings, and sadness”.
Sound familiar? With that in mind, my wife and I flew down to Fort Myers, FL, last week to spend a few days in the Gulf Coast sunshine visiting friends before heading east along I-75 (Alligator Alley) to spend a few days with our niece Andrea and her family in Boca Raton on the Atlantic side. Southern Florida is in the midst of a severe drought, and wildfires in the Everglades actually closed over fifty miles of the interstate between Naples and Miami earlier in the week. Fortunately things had calmed down before we made our way across the southern end of the state.
It had been a few years since we were in the Metro Miami area, so we were glad to have the chance to reacquaint ourselves with the local sights. And the eighty-degree temperatures and sunshine were definitely the cure for SAD!! Also, I should mention that attending a Pirates-Braves spring training baseball game in North Port and having the opportunity to watch Pittsburgh’s 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes pitch a few innings was a bonus. I know it made me feel better! Here’s hoping blue skies and warmer temperatures are on the way to our “neck of the woods” as the Today Show’s Al Roker would say although the next few days might be a little rough. I really dislike the month of March!!
