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Indian Valley outlasts Garaway to climb IVC South standings

Mitch Spinell • Jan 25, 2023
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Isaac Klaserner scored 17 points for Braves; Pirates suffer 2nd loss of the season

GNADENHUTTEN - A Tuesday IVC South boys matchup between Garaway and Indian Valley went in favor of the Braves, 62-58.


Isaac Klaserner scored 17 points to lead Indian Valley (11-5, 6-3 IVC South), who are now one game back of the Pirates in the IVC South Division standings.


Brayden Troyer (13 points), Benaiah Klaserner, and Tyson Pryor (nine points each) contributed to the Braves victory.


Drew Mullet led the Pirates (13-2, 7-2 IVC South) with 15 points. Logan Yoder and Alexander Roden each scored 10 for Garaway.

By Roger Metzger 26 Mar, 2024
In every organization there is a support system that makes life easier for those in charge. The Ohio State men’s basketball team is no different and much of its support comes from their student managers, who devote countless hours and effort to helping reduce the stress players and coaches endure throughout a rigorous, five-month season. Dover native and 2023 Crimson Tornado graduate Ben Hamm is one of those student managers. Hamm, a standout player for Dover High School boys basketball coach Bob Von Kaenel, is in his first year as a student manager. “This is my first year doing this at Ohio State,” said Hamm, a son of Matt and Heather Hamm. “Luckily, Coach Von Kaenel has a lot of connections, so that’s how I got introduced to the job.” “I, along with the other managers, attend every practice setting things up and doing whatever the coaches need from us to keep the practices running smooth,” said Hamm. The student manager also works every game performing various tasks to assist in any way they can. “Specifically, for me, I was in charge of mopping up the court when the players fell or the court got slick on game days,” said Hamm. “As a first-year student manager, I was also able to go on one road trip to Minnesota and Michigan State.” “I was extremely fortunate for this trip because I got to witness the buzzer beater that silenced the crowd at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.” Hamm, who is majoring in Health Sciences, said the position is a permanent gig for as long as he wants to be a student manager. “Overall, this has been a phenomenal experience for me getting to meet new people and stay involved with high-level athletics,” said Hamm. Ohio State is on to the quarterfinals in the National Invitation Tournament. The No. 2 seeded Buckeyes defeated No. 3 Virginia Tech 81-73 in the second round of the NIT last Saturday, extending their season another game. Ohio State will play Georgia in the Elite Eight tonight in Columbus.
By Roger Metzger 18 Mar, 2024
Lauryn Contini is ready to play Division I college soccer. After an outstanding career as a New Philadelphia High School girls’ soccer standout, Contini is poised to play women’s college soccer for the University of Louisville. The 5-foot-5 freshman midfielder and the rest of her University of Louisville teammates will take the pitch this Saturday against rival Kentucky at Lexington as the Cardinals abbreviated spring schedule gets underway. “I’ve had a great time so far and my teammates have made it much easier,” said Contini of her transition from high school to college soccer. “I’m really happy.” The Cardinals fall season is set to begin in the middle of August. Her new head coach is happy to have Contini on board. “Lauryn is going to provide an immediate attacking presence for us,” said Louisville head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes on the UL website. “She is capable of scoring goals with both feet in and around the box. She strikes the ball exceptionally well and is also an excellent final passer who will be able to set up her teammates. She can play as a forward or attacking midfielder with her great offensive instincts.” Contini’s high school coach, A.J. Wahlie, had nothing but positive things to say about his former standout player. “What makes Lauryn so special is her work ethic,” said Wahlie. “We were doing two a days as a team and she was doing three a days. She’s electric. She has it.” Contini, a daughter of Ryan and Lisa Contini of New Philadelphia, is majoring in Sports Administration with a minor in Business. She graduated early from New Philadelphia last December and started college classes at the University of Louisville shortly thereafter. “For me it was the opportunity to play in the spring season and I felt it would be good for my development,” explained Contini, who went to Louisville with 40 credit hours under her belt. “Academics are taken very seriously there.” She trains during the morning hours and attends classes in the afternoon. Contini had an outstanding junior soccer season for the Quakers. Contini scored a state-high 55 goals with eight assists as she and her New Philadelphia teammates advanced to a Division II regional championship match in 2022, losing to Marietta 1-0 and just missing the final four. For her efforts, she was named first-team All-Ohio in 2022. Contini led area players selected to the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association All-Ohio team. She was also named first team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference and Eastern District Player of the Year and was also nominated for All-American status by the United Soccer Coaches Association. Contini, who scored both goals in a 2-0 win over archrival Dover in the regional semifinal, led the Quakers to a 15-4-2 record and a berth in the regional championship before falling. “That was an amazing game,” Contini recalled. “I’ll never forget it.” Contini elected not to play high school soccer her senior season. “I just felt the risk (of getting injured) was not worth the reward,” said Contini. “It was definitely different not playing, but I felt I made the right decision.” Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue were among the other top suitors for Contini, but she eventually decided upon the University of Louisville where she fit right in. “It’s a great place,” said Contini. “I’m very comfortable there.” Contini was also a member of the Cleveland Force Soccer Club. She was selected to the ECNL National Training Camp in 2022 and the ECNL Selection Game in Florida. She was also an ECNL Ohio Valley All-Conference Team honoree in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. Like many Tuscarawas County boys and girls, she began playing soccer at age 3 at the Tuscarawas County YMCA in Dover. Her parents took her to a Columbus Crew professional soccer match when she was 5. Contini met one of the pros and really fell in love with the sport. And she hasn’t looked back.
By Roger Metzger 11 Mar, 2024
March Madness begins today for the Kent State Tuscarawas men’s basketball team. No. 4 seed KSU Tuscarawas will begin tournament play in a United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Basketball Championship Division II small college quarterfinal game at 2 p.m. against No. 5 seed Penn State Greater Allegheny in Petersburg, Va. The Golden Eagles have assured themselves of a third straight tournament appearance. Kent State Tuscarawas’ solid 88-79 win over Miami Hamilton on March 2 not only assured them of a USCAA National Basketball Championship bid, but it also locked them into the No. 4 seed in the tournament -- their highest seed since joining the USCAA. The two teams were supposed to have met during the regular season, but the Lions cancelled the game which was never rescheduled. The Golden Eagles and PSU GA will take to the court at Virginia State University in Petersburg with identical 21-9 records. Kent State Tuscarawas acquitted themselves very well in a regular season ending victory against a team that had won 10 of its last 11 games while the Golden Eagles also put the finishing touches on an unbeaten season at home going 13-0. Kyle Shockley led the Golden Eagles with 28 points and nine assists and brother Kameron added 26 points and hauled down 10 rebounds. Ethan Bower had 12 points and Javier Ward 10 for the winners. Kameron, a senior forward, was recently selected as a First Team USCAA All-American to become the second Golden Eagles hooper to earn that award. Shockley ranked first in the USCAA with defensive rebounds (224), was third in total rebounds (279), fourth in blocked shots (54), sixth in rebounds per game (10.3), 11 th in steals (65), 12 th in assists (109), 19 th in points per game (18.8), 20 th in field goal percentage (54%) and recorded 16 double-doubles on the season. He achieved Honorable Mention All-American status in 2023 and was named USCAA D2 National Player of the Week twice (2021 & 2024). Kyle, a junior, received a Second Team USCAA All-American award to raise the number of Golden Eagles basketball All-American honorees to nine. Kyle earned USCAA D2 National Player of the Week recognition twice in the period of a month this season. Kyle is the Navy and Gold's leading scorer averaging 20.4 points per game which ranks seventh overall in the USCAA. He has scored 592 points on the year, which is second overall, is fourth in field goals making 211 of 403 attempts, ranks 14 th in assists with 108, 13 th in steals (61) and is in the top 25 in field goal percentage converting on 52.4% of his shot attempts. A semifinal round game is in the offing for the victor on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and the opponent could very well be No. 1 ranked and top seeded Cincinnati Clermont -- a team the Golden Eagles split with during the regular season. KSU Tuscarawas also finished with the No. 1 schedule in the power rankings, while UCC ranked No. 2, Hamilton No. 3 and Greater Allegheny No. 4. All four teams are in the same bracket at the championships. Pay-per-view access will also be available for live game streaming via the uscaasportsnetwork.com . Single game access is $8.54 per individual game, or an All-Access pass can be purchased for $40 that will give fans access to all 17 women's tournament games and all 21 men's tournament broadcasts.
By Roger Metzger 04 Mar, 2024
Sophia Knight racked up a Mid-American Conference softball honor recently. The former Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School and current University of Toledo right-handed hurler was tabbed as the Mid-American Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week for her performances in the Velvet Milkman Classic in Murray, Ky. Feb. 24. She shared the weekly conference honor with Ohio's Skipp Miller. It was Knight's first MAC Co-Pitcher of the Week honor and first for the Toledo softball team this season. Knight (5-3) led the Toledo pitching staff at Murray State's Velvet Milkman Classic, allowing just two earned runs and striking out 22 batters for a 0.65 ERA in 21.2 innings pitched. The junior came on in relief to pitch for the last five innings, allowing just one unearned run and striking out the side to end the game in a win over IUPUI. Later that afternoon, she recorded six strikeouts, including the 200th of her career, in 5.2 innings to pick up the win over Western Illinois. Knight, a daughter of Nikki and Jerry Knight and a Nursing major, pitched five scoreless innings in relief and put WIU down in order in the seventh to pick up the win. As a sophomore in 2023, Knight made 14 starts in 25 games played. She was 9-9 with nine complete games and a 3.82 ERA and fanned 76 batters in 121 innings of work. Knight tied her season-high nine strikeouts vs. Bowling Green and made the Dean's List. As a freshman in 2022, Knight appeared as the primary pitcher for the Rockets in 34 games, throwing a team-high 130.1 innings, recorded 105 strikeouts, and was 6-18 with a 6.55 ERA. She collected her first career win vs. Charleston Southern, threw a season-high nine strikeouts vs. Niagara and tossed 10.2 innings at Michigan State, the second-most in Toledo history. Knight lettered all four years in softball and basketball and lettered three years in volleyball at Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School. She was a team captain senior season and named First-Team All-Ohio before signing with Toledo.
By Roger Metzger 26 Feb, 2024
Once is nice, but two times is twice as nice for University of Akron track and field standout Hunter Garretson. Garretson, a redshirt junior pole vaulter from Newcomerstown, earned his second consecutive Mid-American Conference men’s indoor pole vault title going 18 feet, 2 inches at the 2024 Mid-American Conference Indoor Championships hosted by Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich. last Saturday. Garretson went one inch better in 2024 than he did in 2023, claiming the crown for a second consecutive season. It was Garretson’s sixth career collegiate title, combining the indoor and outdoor campaigns he has competed in his career at Akron. Meanwhile, current Kent State University senior and former New Philadelphia vaulter Kristian Kneffler made it a one-two finish for former Tuscarawas County vaulters with a second place and school-record showing of 17-9.75 inches. His performance helped the Golden Flashes win the men’s title with 155 points. Host Eastern Michigan was second with 140 and Akron took third with 128. Kneffler cleared 17-6.5 at the Meyo Invitational hosted by Notre Dame earlier this month to originally break the Kent State track and field indoor record. It was Garretson’s second straight win after his performance in the Al Campbell Invitational held on Feb. 16 at the Stile Athletics Field House on Akron’s campus. Garretson registered a career-best mark of 18-9.5, the No. 2 performance in the NCAA this season. He attempted to set the No. 1 mark at 19-1 but was unsuccessful in his three attempts. For his efforts, he captured MAC Men's Field Athlete of the Week accolades. In 2023, he earned Second-Team All-America honors at the NCAA Championships last March, eclipsing 18-1 to place 12th in the nation.
By Roger Metzger 19 Feb, 2024
Kristin Ronai is the Director of Compliance & Legislative Affairs for the Ohio High School Athletic Association. But many remember her as River View High School graduate Kristin Daugherty whose teams won two girls basketball Division II state titles and was named the OHSBCA’s “Miss Basketball” award winner her junior and senior seasons in the mid-2000s. She is one of only three players to win back-to-back OHSBCA “Miss Basketball” honors and was a four-time All-Ohio selection, including Division II Player of the Year in 2006 & 2007. Daugherty then went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from the University of Dayton. While at UD, she played on the women’s basketball team for the Flyers and was a four-time All-Conference honoree and served as a three-time captain. Daugherty was also named the Atlantic-10 Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete of the Year in 2011 and an inductee into the University of Dayton Athletic Hall of Fame in January 2020. Daugherty, a daughter of Bill and Caroline Daugherty, joined the OHSAA in August 2011 and held a variety of titles before being named the Director of Compliance in January 2019. She is currently responsible for oversight of all student eligibility issues and serves as the liaison for legislative affairs. Other primary responsibilities include responding to concerns/questions of administrators regarding eligibility guidelines and bylaw interpretations, co-chairing the Competitive Balance Committee, providing testimony and explanations for the OHSAA Appeals Panel and legal cases, and collecting EMIS data for divisional alignment purposes. Daugherty’s sister, Kari Pickens, is the head coach of the nationally ranked and defending NCAA Division II national champion Ashland University women’s basketball team. Daugherty resides in Mount Vernon with her husband, Jared, who is the head men’s basketball coach at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The couple has three children, Kyler (8), Kamryn (5), and Kolton (2), who are frequently seen running around MVNU’s Ariel Arena.
By Roger Metzger 12 Feb, 2024
It’s race week for Matt Mills. The 2016 New Philadelphia High School graduate, who has taken over the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevy Silverado full time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, will compete in the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Friday night. The former Midvale Speedway racer is sponsored by J.F. Electric and Utilitra. Mills, a son of Jamie and Shelia Mills, was born in Lynchburg Va. before moving to New Philadelphia where he attended New Philadelphia High School and graduated in 2016. He made two Truck starts in 2023, at Richmond Raceway and The Milwaukee Mile, both for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He recorded a career best finish of fifth at Richmond. Mills replaces Carson Hocevar, who is moving to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024 with Spire Motorsports. In all since 2016, Mills has made 23 Truck starts, with one top five and top 10 finish. He has also made 123 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts and has made one Cup appearance. Practice for the Fresh From Florida 250 is Thursday with qualifying Friday at 3 p.m. The race is set for 7:30 p.m. and be seen on Fox Sports 1.
By Roger Metzger 05 Feb, 2024
Guarded optimism filled the air as WJER Radio hosted a Cleveland Guardians Sponsor Luncheon at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center in Dover on Friday. Leading the charge were Guardians Senior Vice President Public Affairs Bob DiBiasio and radio announcer Jim Rosenhaus, who addressed the audience. The Guardians are coming off a 78-84 season, missing the post season after making it there in 2022. Rosenhaus and DiBiasio extolled the virtues of new manager Stephen Vogt, third baseman Jose Ramirez and the Guardians youthful pitching staff among others. DiBiasio and Rosenhaus also previewed the renovation of Progressive Field which will include more social gathering spaces. The first stage is expected to be completed before the home opener on Monday, April 8 and the second stage before the start of the 2025 campaign. Here are some takeaways. On new manager Stephen Vogt “He just finished playing in 2022 and was a coach last year in Seattle,” said Rosenhaus of the 39-year-old Vogt. “He’s never managed. He’s smart enough to put it out there that he doesn’t know everything and needs to learn a lot but has a front office staff to help him do that.” On Jose Ramirez: “Jose has hit 300 doubles, 200 homers and recorded 200 stolen bases by the age of 30,” noted DiBiasio. “The only others to do it are Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds. He’s a big part of what we do.” On the Gold Glove winners: “Andres Gimenez was voted the best defensive player in the league as he won the Platinum Glove at second base and Stephen Kwan won his second straight Gold Glove in leftfield,” said DiBiasio. “They are stellar in the field.” On the battle for shortstop: “It’s going to be interesting,” said DiBiasio. “It’s going to be Gabriel Arias and Brayan Rocchio and I don’t know if anything else is in the mix. It’s going to be a battle. Arias is the more powerful of the two and Rocchio is the more Omar Vizquelish, sleek and acrobatic.” On the Shane Bieber contract status: “If you look back at our Cy Young Award winners, none of them have made it to the end of their contract without being traded,” said Rosenhaus of Bieber who is the last year of his contract. “C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Corey Kluber twice and now Bieber’s up. I think if we’re struggling and not in the race, they’ll probably try to move him. If we’re in the race and have a chance to reach the postseason, I think they’ll hang on to him, ride it out and figure it out at the end of the season.” On the rise of Bo and Josh Naylor: “Like most kids, his first 100 at-bats he struggled like crazy,” said DiBiasio of Bo, the rookie backstop. “His second 100 at-bats he was a stud. We think we have a chance with a guy who hits 20 plus home runs and can be a terrific defensive catcher. His brother Josh had 97 RBIs at first base last season and he missed an entire month. He’s one of the premier run producers in our game.” On the search for offense from the outfield: “We have to find some offense from centerfield and rightfield,” stressed DiBiasio. “We have some internal candidates like Chase DeLauter, Georga Valera and Jhonkensy Noel. We’ll have to see what happens.” On the home opener coinciding with the solar eclipse: “We are still in talks with NASA and the City of Cleveland as to when to start the game,” said DiBiasio. “It’s going to be a crazy time downtown. Anywhere from 100 to 200,000 people are expected.” On the Progressive Field renovations: “We needed to create a whole new gathering area in the upper deck for groups,” said DiBiasio. “The new generation just doesn’t want to come to a ballgame and have someone sit to the left and right of them. The want to walk and mingle and hang out like they do at the Corner Bar in the lower deck.” Pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Ariz. on Monday, Feb. 12 with their first workout Feb. 14. Position players report Feb. 18 with the first full squad workout Feb. 20. The Guardians and Cincinnati Reds take the field for the first Spring Training game Feb. 24.
By Roger Metzger 29 Jan, 2024
Fairless High School didn’t have a wrestling program until John Groff’s senior year. After he had gone through conditioning, the coach told Groff he was going with underclassmen, so he never got the chance to compete. How ironic, then, that Groff was one of the longest-tenured and most successful coaches in the history of Ohio high school wrestling. Groff spent 36 years as the head wrestling coach at Sandy Valley High School and his years of dedication to the sport will be recognized beginning this week. The Class of 2024 Ohio High School Wrestling Coach Hall of Fame inductee will be honored by Sandy Valley Wednesday prior to the Cardinals Senior Night wrestling match and will once again be recognized Friday, Feb. 9 as he will be given his plaque at halftime of the JV/Varsity boys basketball game. Groff posted a 367-174-3 record at Sandy Valley and coached Malvern from 1973-1976, going 30-5.  He was named the Inter-Valley Conference Coach of the Year seven times and the PAC-7 Coach of the Year four times. Groff was also the Stark County Coaches Association Coach of the Year twice and entered its Hall of Fame in 2013. All told he coached 92 conference champions, 37 Sectional champions, 206 District qualifiers, seven District champions, 42 State qualifiers and nine State placers inhis career. More importantly, he helped shape the lives of so many young people on and off the mat. After graduating from Fairless, Groff went on to compile a 42-3-1 record on the Baldwin-Wallace University wrestling mats. He also helped the Yellow Jackets football team to a combined 17-3 record in his junior and senior seasons. Groff’s overall athletic excellence also landed him in the Baldwin-Wallace Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989.
By Roger Metzger 24 Jan, 2024
Record-setting NCAA All-America point guard Audrey Tingle is back on the West Liberty University sidelines for her second year as a student assistant coach with the Hilltopper women’s basketball program. The Ridgewood High School graduate, who spent five seasons rewriting the West Liberty and NCAA Division II record books from her point guard spot, assists head coach Kyle Cooper and his staff with player development, on-court instruction and film work in addition to helping with on and off-campus recruiting, travel and game operations. The West Lafayette native capped her spectacular career with one of the most impressive seasons, athletically and academically, in recent memory. A first-team All-Mountain East Conference and All-Atlantic Region selection, Tingle also earned an honorable mention spot on the WBCA Coaches' All-America Team after setting an NCAA Division II single-season record with six triple-doubles. Her seven- career triple-doubles is tied for the most in NCAA Division II history. The Hilltopper standout ranked third in the nation with 19 double-doubles and averaged a double-double for the year with 14.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game. Her 212 assists and 7.1 assists per game ranked No. 2 nationally and she ranked 12th in the nation with 314 rebounds despite standing just 5-6. Tingle was the only NCAA woman at any level to post 200-plus assists and 300-plus rebounds during the regular season. Tingle was just as impressive in the classroom. A first-team NCAA Division II Academic All-American, she was featured on the NCAA main website as the 2022 NCAA Division II Academic All-American of the Year for women's basketball. Tingle graduated with a perfect 4.00 GPA in 2022 in Speech Pathology and Audiology, and later completed her MBA – again with a perfect 4.00 GPA – at West Liberty in the first summer session of 2022. She is currently pursuing her master's in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Tingle, a daughter of Jay and Jana Tingle, was a two-time First Team All-Ohio Division III selection as she scored 1,559 career points at Ridgewood. She also was a two-time Eastern District Player of the Year as she averaged 19.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.6 steals and 5.0 assists as a senior.
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