Tag Archive for: Featured

CHAMPION FOOTBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 2) WITH THOMAS CONRAD

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WARREN OH- In the very competitive Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference’s (MVAC) Gray Tier, The Champion Flashes look to take the next step. The Flashes dropped their first two non-conference games of the season to 5-0 Warren JFK and 4-1 Rootstown before winning three straight games, including two conference matchups to exceed their win total from a season ago. 

A breakout game against a very good Ravenna Southeast team, followed by a gritty and gutsy close conference victory against Newton Falls. Joey Fell and Nick Vesey have been the engines that make the offense go, and they went full steam against LaBrae to set Champion up with a 3-2 record at the midway mark of the season. 

The Flashes feature matchups with Brookfield, Crestview and Garfield in the second half of the season, with their Week 6 matchup slated to host The 4-1 G-Men of Garrettsville. Champion Head Coach Tom Conrad got the chance to stop by Running Point and discuss with Anthony and Ty about the season so far and the goals going forward for The Flashes. You will not want to miss this YSN EXCLUSIVE with Coach Conrad!

*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell.

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ZINES DOMINATES AT EOAC TOURNAMENT

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SALEM OH- Salem Hills Golf and Country Club played host Tuesday to the Inaugural EOAC Girls Invitational. It was a great day for girls golf as twenty two participants from four schools converged on Salem Hills looking to take the conference crown. United’s Mati Zines continued to set the bar locally for girls golf as the junior claimed the individual title shooting an 18 hole round of 84. Izzy Travis of Columbiana finished second with 96, and East Palestine’s Addy Bycroft took third carding 98. Columbiana claimed the team title posting a score of 404. The host team United finished second with a 445, while Southern carded a 477 and East Palestine scored a 498.

Individual Scores top 10:
Mati Zines 84 United
Izzy Travis 96 Columbiana
Addy Bycroft 98 East Palestine
Ellie Jackson 100 Columbiana
Kennedy Lewis 103 Southern
Avery Mazei 104 Columbiana
Katrina Patrick 104 Columbioana
Madison Kibler 106 United
Hailey Muntean 108 Columbiana
Emma Murphy United 115 United
*Contributed By YSN’s Chris Sigler.

LIBERTY RESPONDS NICELY WITH MVAC ROAD VICTORY

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BROOKFIELD OH- Tuesday night volleyball action brought the Liberty Leopards against the Brookfield Warriors for the second time this season. Last time around Brookfield won at home in a hard fought five set game. Both teams would fight equally as hard this time around, but home court advantage played to the Leopards favor as Brookfield couldn’t keep up with the hardened Leopards. Liberty would drop the first set of the night before winning the next three to take the night in four sets. Player of the game went to Demi Watson for her outstanding efforts at the net all night long.

In set one of the night Brookfield jumped out first but Liberty would quickly tie the game. The two exchanged the lead multiple times before the Warriors went on one last big run behind the arm of Lauren Shingledecker to win 25-18. After this big run it looked like the Warriors had all the momentum and might take home their first road win since the beginning of the season. But that was not to be as set two was all Liberty. The Leopards scored the first points of the set and took off from there. Brookfield would come back and steal the lead a few times, but the Leopards took the set 25-21 behind the power of Demi Watson.

Liberty would put the pedal down in set three after feeling the momentum shift and yet again Demi Watson put together a great performance at the net. With the excellent defense of the Leopards denying every kill opportunity of the Warriors they would go on to win 26-24 following a late Brookfield comeback. Set four was all Leopards as they held the lead the entire time and even grew their lead up to twelve points and Lexi Muck would close out the night. Muck blocked multiple big shots at the net from Cailey Wellman and this allowed the Leopards to pull away and take the night 25-15.

Brookfield drops to (6-7) overall and (3-5) in MVAC Gray Tier play, moving them into the fifth spot in the Standings. They will have their work cut out for them as they will host the undefeated Crestview Rebels on Thursday. Liberty once again has a winning record as they are now (7-6) overall and (4-5) in MVAC Gray Tier play, moving them into the four spot of the conference. They will take the rest of the week off to recharge before going on the road twice next week against Southeast Ravenna and the Garfield G-Men.

*Contributed By YSN’s Alek Koberna

RIDGE KEEPS HOLD OF TOP SPOT

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MINERAL RIDGE OH- Mineral Ridge kept their undefeated record in the MVAC in tact on Tuesday as they were able to sweep Jackson Milton. ((25-22 25-16 25-17)

With the victory the Lady Rams improve to 12-1 for the season and 9-0 in the conference. Mineral Ridge was led by Olivia Booth with 12 digs, 9 kills and 4 aces, Faith Schneider with 18 digs and 12 kills, and Sammie Aulet with 28 assists and 16 digs.

Jackson Milton was led by Mia Greco with 13 kills and 14 blocks, Emily Fultz with 14 digs and Paige Grope with 12 Assists. Jackson Milton is now 7-6 for  the season and 4-5 in the conference.

Mineral Ridge goes back on the road on Thursday as they continue league play in Waterloo.

MARLINGTON SPOILS WARRIORS PLANS

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BELOIT OH- Coming in to Tuesday night West Branch and Marlington were fighting for first place in the EBC. The Dukes came in to gym and owned it from the beginning. They swept the Warriors to keep a firm hold of the EBC lead (25-12 25-22 25-17)

The Dukes lone senior Natalie Maiorana led the way on their offense with 13 kills. She also was a big presence at the net for the Dukes. Chelsea Evanich contributed 9 kills for Marlington’s offense. Laney Graffice who came in leading the Dukes in kills with 177 on the season, was held in check with 8 kills.

Claire Brunner led the Warriors with 7 kills.  Mikalyn Fitts was able to contribute 4 kills out of the middle.  Olivia Showalter got herself 3 kills.

The Warriors took time before the game to recognize Hannah Rush who grabbed her 1000th career assist last week.

West Branch will try to bounce back on Thursday as they host Alliance in another EBC matchup.

 

RAIDERS ESCAPE THRILLER WITH STRUTHERS

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STRUTHERS OH- South Range responded from their tough loss to Boardman on Monday by coming away with a thrilling 5 set victory over Struthers on Tuesday.  (23-25 19-25 25-18 25-16 15-6)

Maria Primavera led the Raiders with an impressive double double having 20 kills, and 16 digs.  Sarah Kuhns also completed a double double with 19 assists, and 12 digs.  Maddie Dado led the defense with 20 digs.  Madie Mook served up 5 aces on the night.

South Range will return home on Thursday as they host Jefferson. Struthers will continue to press on Wednesday as they host East.

AUER BREAKS ANOTHER RECORD

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COLUMBIANA OH- Crestview got right back to league play where they left off with a fast three set win over Champion. Grace Auer broke the record for career aces last week, and Tuesday night she broke the record for aces in a match with 17. The record was previously held by Amelia Montgomery.

Auer completed a double double on the night with 15 assists to go along with her 17 aces. Auer also placed 7 kills on her stat sheet. Abbey Emch led the offense in kills with 11.  She added 6 blocks to her night as well.

Crestview will look to stay undefeated on Thursday as they travel to Brookfield.  Champion will have another test on Thursday squaring off with Garfield.

BLUE DEVILS SHAKE OFF TOUGH LOSS

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Following two tough matchups with both The Mineral Ridge Rams and The Austintown Fitch Falcons, The Western Reserve Blue Devils went into Tuesday night with hope of ending their six set losing streak. Their opponent? The Waterloo Vikings made the trip from Atwater to Berlin Center in an Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference battle on The Scarlet Tier. 

Needless to say, The Blue Devils showed their frustrations, taking their anger from the last week out on The Vikings. Wasting little time, Western Reserve claimed the straight set victory over Waterloo, sweeping the season series 6-0 in sets against The Vikings. 

The win set up Western Reserve (9-4) for a rematch in The Battle of Blue Devils, as they will travel to McDonald (11-3) on Thursday, September 22nd. Coming off the loss, Waterloo (3-8) will look to turn things around against the conference leading Mineral Ridge Rams (12-1), also on Thursday. 

Set Scores

S1: W.R. 25 – 10 Waterloo

S2: W.R. 25 – 9 Waterloo

S3: W.R. 25 – 8 Waterloo 

Match : W.R. 3 – 0 Waterloo

Stats (Western Reserve)

Madison Leone : 13 Assists. 

Haylee Fellows : 12 Assists.

Alyvia Hughes : 11 Kills, 9 Aces. 

Ally Jones : 7 Digs.

*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell

LAKEVIEW LEAVES THEIR FOOT ON THE GAS

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NILES OH- Lakeview continued their roll through the season on Tuesday night as they went to Niles and swept the Dragons. (25-12 25-12 25-15)

Tara Lytle once again led the Bulldogs in kills with 15.  Mallory Mailach was masterful setting up the offense finishing with 20 assists.  Reagan Price served up 7 aces, and 12 service points. Maddie Bayus led the defense with 10 digs.

Lakeview continues their season on Thursday as they host Girard, for their second matchup with the Indians. Niles hits the road on Thursday to take on Struthers in the Field House.

GARFIELD WINS ON MILESTONE FILLED NIGHT

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GARRETTSVILLE OH-

A conference battle took place in Garrettsville on Tuesday night. The Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference’s (MVAC) Gray Tier had two of its best setters on full display! With Carla Ramirez Ortiz of Campbell grabbing her 1000th career assist in just her junior season. On the other side of the fence, Madeline Shirkey tallied her 1500th career assist at Garfield in her senior campaign. As both milestones highlighted the night, the teams lit up the court with some competitive play!m

Set 1 saw The Lady G-Men maintain at least a three point advantage throughout a majority of the set. Montana McGranahan set the tone against the Red Devils once again, earning 16 Kills in her last outing against Campbell on August 25th, the junior was dialed in against The Devils. However, Campbell rallied late trailing 24-17, with Angeliz Diaz behind the service line The Red Devils trimmed the score to 24-22 before falling to Garfield. 

Campbell carried their momentum into Set 2, with The Red Devils holding a lead early on. Garfield battled back midway through the set, evening the score 11-11 before eventually grabbing the advantage. Looking back at the previous set, it was a score so nice they did it twice, with The Lady G-Men taking the three point set victory to take a 2-0 set lead.

(Courtesy Campbell Athletics)

Learning from the previous set, The Red Devils snatched the lead behind phenomenal play out of the middle from junior Kendall Brunn. Campbell held the lead from the first serve of Set 3, to even leading Monsters, Inc. style 23-19. But the resilience of Garfield shined once again, continuing to battle back, they traded points with The Red Devils but were backed against a wall. Campbell was in front 24-21, before a perfect 5 point run by The Lady G-Men put the cherry on top of a straight set victory to go 8-1 in the conference on the season. 

The Red Devils (6-7) will look to turn their luck around in The MVAC, where they will host LaBrae (8-4) on Thursday, September 22nd. Garfield (9-4) makes a trip to Champion (6-7) also on Thursday. 

Set Scores

S1: Garfield 25 – 22 Campbell

S2: Garfield 25 – 22 Campbell

S3: Garfield 26 – 24 Campbell

Match : Garfield 3 – 0 Campbell

*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell