News

On Friday night, the Ross Rams won a Division II District Championship with a 4-3 win over Franklin. The Rams advance to a regional semifinal against Kenton Ridge on Thursday (May 30) at 5 p.m. at Mason. 

TRACK AND FIELD 

Boys' champion: Northwest - The Knights claimed their first league title on the boys' side in the school's 40-year history. Northwest bested second-place Mount Healthy, Talawanda was third, and Ross finished fourth. 

Northwest was led by the runner of the year in the SWOC, Jamiel Trimble, and the field athlete of the year, Rasheen Jones. Trimble won the 110 hurdles (14.30), the 300 hurdles (38.90), the high jump (6'2") as well as contribute on a number of relay teams. Jones won the discus throw (146'11") and finished second in the shotput (47'1"). Northwest's DeVohn Jackson won the 100 dash (10.80) and the 200 dash (22.30). 

Girls' champion: Talawanda - The Braves edged out Northwest with a 132-102.5 final point total. Harrison was third and Ross wasn't far behind in fourth. 

The Braves were led by co-runner of the year, Sarah Starrett, who anchored a number of relays and won the 1600 run (5:35.90) and the 3200 run (12:28.20). Mount Healthy's Lashawnda Dobbs was the other runner of the year after taking first in the long jump (16'6.75"), the 100 dash (12.40) and the 200 dash (26.80). Wilmington's Brianna Camp was the field athlete of the year with first-place finishes in the shotput (37'0") and the discus (107'10"). 

BOYS' TENNIS

Wilmington won the SWOC boys' tennis tournament to take first-place in the final standings. Wilmington won 2nd singles, 3rd singles, 1st doubles and 2nd doubles. Talawanda's Alex Danielson won first singles. For Wilmington: Conner Massie won in 2nd singles, Alec Brooks won 3rd singles, Stefan Thornberry/Evan Massie won 1st doubles and Prithvi Sharma/Tommy Lahmann won 2nd doubles.  

Talawanda finished second as a team overall, Northwest was third, Harrison fourth, Ross fifth and Edgewood sixth. 

Talawanda's Alex Danielson was named the conference player of the year, while Wilmington coach Steve Reed earned coach of the year honors. 

BASEBALL 

Harrison (18-8, 11-3) and Ross (17-11, 11-3) currently each share a piece of the SWOC title. Edgewood (16-12, 10-4) finished in third place in the conference race. 

Harrison defeated La Salle in the opening round of the Division I sectional playoffs, 7-3. The Wildcats face Lakota West on Thursday (May 23) at Kings for a sectional title. Ross beat Oak Hills in a Division I sectional, 10-4 and will face Mason on Thursday (May 23) at Harrison for a sectional title. Edgewood also won its opening-round postseason game 10-7 over Vandalia Butler. The Cougars play for a sectional title on Thursday (May 23) against Clayton Northmont at Xenia. 

Talawanda's postseason run came to an end last weekend with a 3-2 loss to St. Xavier in a Division I sectional semifinal game. The Braves finished the season 19-9 with a 10-4 conference record. 

SOFTBALL 

Ross claimed the SWOC softball title outright with a 12-2 conference record. The Rams, 21-5 overall, won both of their sectional postseason games by a combined score of 25-1. Ross will take on Indian Hill tomorrow (May 21) at Kings for a sectional title. Edgewood (22-4, 11-3), finished second in the conference, has a meeting with Clayton Northmont today at Kettering Fairmont for a Division I sectional title. Harrison (19-3, 10-3) takes on Seton today (May 20) for a sectional title against Seton. Wilmington (14-6, 8-3) also remains in the postseason; the Hurricane will take on Western Brown tomorrow (May 21) for a sectional title. 

BASEBALL: Harrison (18-8, 11-3), Ross (17-11, 11-3)

SOFTBALL: Ross (21-5, 12-2)

BOYS' TRACK AND FIELD: Northwest 

GIRLS' TRACK AND FIELD: Talawanda 

BOYS' TENNIS: Wilmington 

It was a successful weekend for the Southwest Ohio Conference at the wrestling state championships. The highest placer of the conference was Harrison senior Truman Gutapfel who took third place at 285 pounds in Division I. Gutapfel pinned Toledo Whitmer's Marquise Moore (3:32) in the third-place match. In the same weight class, Northwest's Ameer Daniels finished fifth in Division I with a 3-2 decision over Lakota East's Jacob Burton. 

In Division II, Ross was as impressive as they've been all season. The Rams finished ninth as a team, led by Joseph Jones at 145 pounds. Jones finished fourth when he lost a 4-3 decision to Max Rohskopf of Millersburg West Holmes. Cordell Byrd finished sixth at 138 pounds; he lost a 5-4 decision. Tyler Bridwell lost 4-1 at 195 pounds and went home with a six-place finish. Frank Heimkreiter won a 4-2 decision and finished fifth at 220. 

Congratulations to all the SWOC wrestlers on a successful season, and to those continuing their career in college, we look forward to seeing you compete at the next level. 

Wilmington senior swimmer Josh Quallen won two more Division II state championships last week; one in the 100 Backstroke and the other in the 100 Butterfly. Quallen has now captured four state swimming titles. The first came when Quallen was a sophomore in the 200 freestyle. The second came the following year as a junior in the same race.

Recently, Quallen signed with the University of Louisville where he'll swim next season.