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The Southwestern Buckeye League is proud to continue the SWBL Athlete of the Week program for the 2024-25 school year. The SWBL AOW is sponsored by Gameday Grille & Patio. This is Year 2 for the AOW campaign. Each Tuesday during the school year, a male and female scholar-athlete will be selected Athletes of the Week and announced on site. Winners will receive an award patch for their varsity jacket, a $25 gift card to Gameday and an SWBL AOW T-Shirt. An athlete may win the award once per season. Nominations will come from athletic directors, coaches and data (stats, results) entered on the SWBL website. Individuals may also submit nominations to swblsid@yahoo.com.

Boys: Dawson Watts, Monroe Baseball

Junior outfielder and pitcher has helped the Hornets move into first place in the SWBL Southwestern Division. Went 4-for-7 with four RBI, two runs and two doubles in wins over West Clermont (9-1) and Ross (2-1) last week. Also tossed two innings of scoreless baseball in the victory over Ross to pick up his first save this season. Batting .392 with 23 RBI (leads team), 20 hits and 17 runs. As a pitcher he has a 3-1 record with a 3.818 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 25.2 innings.

Girls: Kylie Bailey, Waynesville Softball

Senior and University of Akron recruit continues to punish the softball this season. Currently leads the SWBL in batting average (.678), home runs (13), runs (41), hits (40) and on-base percentage (.743). Ranks second in RBI (43). Has four multi-HR games this season, including a career-high three in a 20-16 loss to Beavercreek. Career .563 hitter with 155 runs, 153 hits, 151 RBI, 41 home runs (ranks 14th in OHSAA history), 35 doubles and 10 triples.

Who is headed to the next level? Several SWBL seniors have signed their letters of intent to compete athletically in college. Click here to see which athletes are headed where.

The Southwestern Buckeye League has launched its Facebook Page. Please follow for league news, updates, announcements and more. You can also follow the SWBL on Instagram (@swblsid) and Twitter/X (@swblsports).

Brookville
Senior Coy Hyre is out to defend his Division II state titles in the 100 and 200. The Blue Devils boys team is also looking to build on their sixth place finish as a team at last year’s state track and field meet. In addition to Hyre, key sprinters for the Blue Devils will be seniors Walter Adams and Grace Taylor and juniors Ethan Bench and DJ Moore. Returning distance runners of note include seniors Lucas Tipton; Dylan Ballin, Logan Wright and Hunter Gardner. Expect seniors Xavier Stacy (shot) and Garrett Peters (disc) and Mallory Hoover (HJ) to contribute in the field events. “Both teams are hoping to have a healthy and successful season,” head coach Melissa Ross (fifth year head coach) said. “The boys' team is looking forward to building on its successful postseason from last year.”
 
Carlisle
Head coach Brian Sprandel returns for his 23rd season at CHS. “The boys have some real potential for some of the individuals, as a team we are going to have to be creative in how to fill all events as our numbers are low,” Sprandel said. “This year's girls' team looks like it could be one of the most talented and athletic teams that we have had in several years. We are very excited to see how they perform. I'm very excited to see how this year's freshman and newcomers will fit in with the upper classmen.” Junior thrower Austyn Benton and sophomore Elliot Dobbins (sprints/LJ/HJ) headline the boys roster, while the girls will be led by seniors Dakota Frantz (sprints/jumps) and Baylie Sprandel (sprints). Frantz was the Indians season points leader from last year. A pair of freshman – Greenlee McReynolds (LJ) and Brenna Matthews (HJ) – are poised to make a splash as well.
 
Eaton
Veteran head coach Glen Mabry takes over at Eaton after spending 28 years prior at Twin Valley South (as girls T&F coach). Developing depth and improving on last year’s numbers are the goals. Key returners are juniors Wes Kitchin (800), Jack Richardson (800) and Elijah Rich (HJ); senior Emily Haynes (800); and junior Julianne Deaton (shot and disc). “I have a hard working group of athletes who are willing to listen and improve each day,” Mabry said. “If that continues throughout the season, we should see some great results towards the end of the season.”
 
Madison
Excitement is building at MHS where the roster is expanding. “We are small but mighty,” head coach Jon Armstrong said. “We are in Year 2 of growing our program. We have almost doubled the number of athletes on the team from last year and we look forward to growing that even more.” Key returners for Armstrong and fellow coach Jenny Curp include Jazmyn Tucker (100 hurdles) and Aiden Reece (1600).
 
Ross
The RHS girls are out to defend their league title, while the boys are looking for a young squad to gain experience. “We are very excited for the opportunity to defend our conference championship from last year,” head coach Kyle Ratliff (fourth year at Ross) said. “We return 3-of-4 legs on both our girls 4x200 and 4x400 relays that were painfully close to qualifying for state last season. We have a young team that we are looking forward to seeing big steps from. We have a supremely young (boys) team that has made big strides this winter into the preseason. We’re looking forward to (them) competing and improving our league standing.” In addition to the relays, the girls will be chasing several school distance records (4x800, 800, 1600 and 3200). Sophomore Sarah Johnston recently compete in the indoor state championship for the 800, after breaking the school 3200 record last season. In addition, the Rams broke all three records in the sprint relays last season and are looking to chip off more time again this spring. Key returners for the girls include senior Caroline Chernock (sprints) and Brooke Davis (pole vault); juniors Kaylee Vocke (sprints), Morgan Holmes (distance), Sami Elliott (throws) and Jojo Rider (throws); and sophomore Ellie Fogt (sprints). Key returners for the boys include senior Kenneth Rakes (distance), juniors Nathan Sommers (distance) and Lucas Kunkel (throws) and sophomores Alex Galante (sprints), Parker Jackson (sprints) and AJ Sparks (pole vault). “We are encouraged by the increase in numbers in our program,” Ratliff said. “We are hopeful that our last run in Division I will produce some State qualifiers.”
 
Valley View
Last season the Spartan girls team won its third SWBL title in a row and the 4x200 relay team earned a spot on the podium at the D-II state meet. The boys were SWBL and D-II district runner-up. Junior Addy Abner competed in the Nike Indoor Nationals in New York City in mid-March and finished 11th in the 800. Her 4x400 relay team finished fourth.  Three of the four runners return from the 4x200 state team (Hayden Sorrell, Mary Schade and Grace Rettich). Junior Anthony Valenti (400, LJ) and sophomore Owen Neal (PV) will lead the boys team, which also returns three of four from its 4x400 state qualifying relay. Head coaches Devin and Laura Stoutenborough are back for a seventh season.

The Ohio Prep Sports Media Association recently released its All-Ohio Basketball Teams and the SWBL was well represented. Franklin senior and SWBL Southwestern Division Boys Player of Year Kai Cook was named first team All-Ohio in Division III, while Bellbrook's Austin Webb (sr.), Ross' Ben Voegele (sr.), Edgewood's Keegan Sullivan (jr.) and Monroe's MJ Mapp (sr.) were honorable mention. Valley View sophomore Brody Denny was second team All-Ohio in D-IV, while Eaton's Conner Bach (sr.), Valley View's Ty Fritz (so.), Brookville's Dom King (sr.) and Oakwood's Luke Rubin (sr.) and Owen Hoersting (jr.) were honorable mention. Carlisle senior Blake Lawson, the school's all-time leading scorer, was second team All-Ohio in Division V, while teammate Brendon Rowe (sr.) was honorable mention along with Waynesville's Lucas Rocha (jr.) and Madison's Grady Combs (sr.). Ross senior Lainey Lipps was second team D-III All-Ohio on the girls side, while Bellbrook freshman Libby Bunsold was special mention. Bellbrook's Jordan Frantz (sr.) and Lauren Fabrick (so.) and Ross' Carmen Bosse (jr.) were honorable mention. Eaton's Emilee Hargis (jr.), Carlisle's Brynn Gill (so.) and Oakwood's Evelyn Connor (jr.) and Caroline Roelle (jr.) were honorable mention All-Ohio in D-IV. Waynesville's Katie Berrey (jr.) and Brookville's Jolie Gudorf (fr.) were second team All-Ohio in D-V. Waynesville junior Maggie Stephenson was special mention and teammates Tori See (sr.) and Avery Whitaker (sr.) were honorable mention along with Brookville's Kinley Kummer (fr.) and Valley View's Rivers Lemke (jr.) and Paisley Phillips (fr.).