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Carlisle Names Sam Lee As Next Athletic Director
CARLISLE ATHLETICS PHOTO
Sam Lee always envisioned returning to the place where her educational journey began.
That opportunity has arrived.
Carlisle High School has named the 1987 graduate its new assistant principal and athletic director, replacing John Augustine, who recently accepted the athletic director position at Wayne High School. The appointment fulfills a longtime professional goal for Lee after a career that included teaching, administration and experiences far beyond the classroom.
“My ultimate dream was to come back here and be an administrator at Carlisle,” Lee said. “This position opened up, and I thought, ‘Yeah, this would be perfect.’”
Lee’s path back home was anything but conventional.
After earning a communications degree from Morehead State University, she moved to Los Angeles with ambitions of writing television shows. The high cost of living eventually brought her back to Ohio, where she worked in the banking industry before realizing something was missing.
“I just felt like I didn’t have a purpose,” Lee said.
A conversation with longtime friend and fellow Carlisle graduate Dan Turner changed the course of her career. Turner encouraged Lee to pursue teaching, advice that echoed what her mother had urged years earlier.
“I should have listened to my mother,” Lee said. “She tried to get me to get my teaching license when I was at Morehead.”
Lee began substitute teaching before accepting a long-term classroom assignment that led to a full-time opportunity. She earned an alternative teaching license, completed a master’s degree in educational leadership from Antioch McGregor Midwest and spent nearly 11 years teaching special education before another 11 years as an English teacher at Carlisle.
She left Carlisle two years ago to become an assistant principal at Greenville, gaining administrative experience while never losing sight of her goal of returning home.
Lee also worked closely with Augustine while he directed Carlisle’s athletic department, helping with various responsibilities and developing a passion for athletic administration.
“I helped John a lot while he was here,” Lee said. “I loved every minute of it and learned a lot. I kind of wanted to come back and work with him, but he’s moving on to a great opportunity.”
Now, Lee steps into the role herself, overseeing Carlisle’s athletic programs while also serving as assistant principal.
Her priorities include strengthening the department’s traditions, increasing student participation and celebrating both current and former athletes.
“I want to build on traditions from the past,” Lee said. “I want to build new traditions. I want to make sure we’re recognizing all of our athletes and trying to get more kids involved.”
Lee also hopes to expand Carlisle’s Hall of Fame festivities and keep alumni connected to the school, saying those relationships help strengthen the community and inspire future generations of student-athletes.
“This school and community have always held a special place in my heart,” Lee said. “I really want to continue the excellence, the pride and the tradition. We want to continue building and trying to make Carlisle the best around.”
Edgewood Selects Fugate As Next Varsity Boys Basketball Coach
From Edgewood Athletics
The Edgewood Athletic Department is excited to introduce Xavier Fugate as the next Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach at Edgewood High School.
Coach Fugate is a proud Edgewood Alumni (Class of 2009) and was inducted into our Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in both Football and Basketball in January of 2020. Coach Fugate served in the United States Army for several years prior to returning to Edgewood.
In addition to his skills as a player, Xavier has years of coaching experience, including serving as the Varsity Girls Head Coach for Edgewood High School from 2021-2024. While Coach Fugate has been teaching in the district, he is excited to bring his coaching talents back to Edgewood after serving as Eaton’s Varsity Boys Head Coach for the 2025 season.
Athletic Director Scott Clemmons shared, “The Edgewood Athletic Department is excited to have Coach Fugate back home leading the Edgewood Men’s Basketball program. Coach Fugate brings a wealth of basketball knowledge and a deep understanding of what Edgewood basketball means to this community. Coach Fugate is a Edgewood Hall of Famer that will bring passion, tenacity, and heart to the program. Coach Fugate was part of the success that jump started Edgewood basketball in the late 2000s and will continue to instill that success into the youth, middle school, and the high school basketball program on a daily basis.”
Xavier currently lives in Trenton with his wife Kelssie and their two children, and teaches American History at Edgewood High School. Xavier expressed sincere gratitude when offered this opportunity, “Being able to take over the program in which I was a part of 20 years ago is an honor for me. I can’t wait to develop the next generation of Cougars into great young men who take pride in who we are at Edgewood.”
We are look forward to seeing Coach Fugate in his new role and the positive impact his experience has on our Boys Basketball program.
SWBL Hosts Inaugural Awards & Golf Outing at Pipestone Golf Club
PHOTO BY SWBL PHOTOGRAPHER ELIJAH COOK
The Southwestern Buckeye League successfully hosted its inaugural SWBL Awards & Golf Outing on June 8 at Pipestone Golf Club, bringing together league administrators, coaches, sponsors and supporters for a day of recognition, fellowship and competition.
The event celebrated the accomplishments of student-athletes, coaches and programs from across the league while also providing an opportunity for members of the SWBL community to connect outside of the athletic season.
Participants enjoyed a day on the course at Pipestone Golf Club, with proceeds and support helping further the league’s mission of promoting educational athletics and recognizing excellence both on and off the field.
“We are grateful for the tremendous support shown by our schools, sponsors and participants during our first SWBL Awards & Golf Outing,” SWBL Commissioner Nate Baker said. “The event was a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our student-athletes and strengthen the relationships that make our league special.”
The Southwestern Buckeye League extends its appreciation to Pipestone Golf Club, event sponsors, volunteers and everyone who participated in helping make the inaugural event a success.
Plans are already underway for the 2027 SWBL Awards & Golf Outing as the league looks to continue building on this new tradition.
PHOTO GALLERY BY SWBL PHOTOGRAPHER ELIJAH COOK
About the Southwestern Buckeye League
The Southwestern Buckeye League is one of Ohio’s premier high school athletic conferences, serving student-athletes across southwest Ohio while promoting excellence in academics, athletics and sportsmanship.
Oakwood Girls Win Track & Field State Title
PHOTO BY OAKWOOD ATHLETICS
Congratulations to the Oakwood girls track and field team for bringing home the Division III team state title. Oakwood's team of Katherine Erwin, Riley Meador, Delaney Cahill and Kaya Asinjo took first place in the 4x800 relay. Mila Gelbart took first place in the pole vault.
Valley View's Addyson Abner took home first in the 800-meter race with a 2:11.00. Valley View's team of Ava Thompson, Jordan DeGroat, Hayden Sorrell and Addyson Abner took first place in the 4x400 relay.
Here are state results for SWBL track and field participants:
Boys | 100 meters — Ashton Pelfrey, 12, Carlisle, seventh, 11.30. … 200 meters — Zee Dow, 12, Dayton Christian, eighth, 22.80. … 800 meter — Titus Walton, 11, Valley View, 16th, 1:57.53. … 1600 meter — Cameron Lindsey, 12, Oakwood; Sam Ferriman, 12, Dayton Christian. … 3200 meters — Cameron Lindsey, 12, Oakwood, eighth, 4:18.92. … 300 hurdles — Kurtis Lefeld, 12, Bellbrook, 10th, 40.04. … 4x400 relay — Valley View, sixth, 3:23.07. … 4x800 relay — Valley View, seventh, 8:00.03. … Pole Vault — Joel Appledorn, 10, Eaton, 11th, 13-6.
Girls | 100 meters — Sci-Yesha Anderson, 12, Waynesville, second, 12.27 … 200 meters — Sci-Yesha Anderson, 12, Waynesville, third, 25.28. … 400 meters — Kaya Asinjo, 10, Oakwood, third, 56.62; Mia Allard, 11, Oakwood, fourth, 57.01. … 800 meters — Riley Meador, 12, Oakwood, sixth, 2:15.19; Addyson Abner, 12, Valley View, first, 2:11.00. … 1600 meter — Abra Mills, 12, Talawanda, sixth, 4:56.64. … 3200 meter — Abra Mills, 12, Talawanda, third, 10:37.62; Adrianna Luking, 12, Talawanda, 13th, 11:26.53; Allison High, 11, Bellbrook, 16th, 11:49.81; Delaney Cahill, 12, Oakwood, eighth, 11:13.71; Evelyn Reinoehl, 9, Oakwood, 16th, 11:36.90. … 100 hurdles — Sally Altenburg, 12, Oakwood, eighth, 14.95. … 300 hurdles — Sally Altenburg, 12, Oakwood, fifth, 45.13. … 4x100 relay — Waynesville, ninth, 50.02. … 4x200 relay — Valley View, third, 1:43.88. … 4x400 relay — Bellbrook, ninth, 4:00.89; Oakwood, fifth, 3:57.42; Valley View, first, 3:58.30. … 4x800 relay — Bellbrook, ninth, 9:34.32; Oakwood, first, 9:07.10; Valley View, sixth, 9:36. 29; Day. Christian, 15th, 10:12.67. … Shot Put — Julianne Deaton, 12, Eaton, 11th, 36-1.75; Katie Betzner, 11, Eaton, 17th, 32-7.25. … Discus — Katie Betzner, 11, Eaton, seventh, 122-11; Julianne Deaton, 12, Eaton, 16th, 108-10. … Pole Vault — Mila Gelbart, 10, Oakwood, first, 12-10; Addie Kash, 12, Oakwood, second, 12-10. … Long Jump — Kaya Asinjo, 10, Oakwood, ninth, 17-.75.
SWBL Student-Athletes To Compete At Track & Field State Championships
The qualifiers are set for this week’s Ohio High School Athletic Association Jesse Owens Track and Field State Championships, which begin Thursday afternoon at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. It marks the 119th annual boys and 51st annual girls state tournament, and the first state tournament under the new five division format. Here is a list of Southwestern Buckeye League student-athletes participating in the state championships:
