News

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: Corey Williams Carter, Monroe Bowling

Senior and four-year starter rolled a 300 game in a dual meet win over Little Miami. His 212.7 average ranks second in the SWBL. Last year he led the league in average (204). Big reason the Hornets are 35-1 in their last 36 regular season dual matches.

Girls: Abbie Schmidt, Eaton Wrestling

Sophomore won the 140-pound title at the third annual Eaton Women’s Wrestling Invitational in dominating fashion. Pinned all five of her opponents in 0:30, 0:31, 0:09, 1:29 (semifinal) and 0:43 (final), respectively.

The Ohio Prep Sports Media Association announced its All-Ohio Football Teams this week and the SWBL was well represented. Bellbrook led Southwestern Division schools with five selections, while Waynesville (five) and Valley View (four) paced the Buckeye Division. A total of 27 athletes earned OPSMA All-Ohio honors. Bellbrook has two first team Division III selections in seniors Jude Omiatek (DL) and Riley Ferrin (K). The Eagles also have two second teamers in seniors Gavin Thobe (DB) and Preston Pettit (LB). Senior Taylor Turner (OL) is third team. Ross seniors Blake Holmes (OL) and Emory Severance (QB) are third team and honorable mention, respectively, in D-III, while Franklin junior Andrew Cooke (DB) and senior Dawson Fitzpatrick (P) are honorable mention. In D-IV, Eaton junior Jon Hewitt (K) is a repeat first teamer and senior teammate Brandon Couch (DB) is honorable mention. Valley View juniors Ceasar Berryman (LB) and Anthony Valenti (RB) are second team D-IV and seniors Luca Kerridge (DL) and Nehemiah Simpson (OL) are third team and honorable mention, respectively. Brookville seniors Trent Brooks (OL) and Jordan Meyers are second and third team in D-IV. Waynesville’s Alex Amburgy (QB) and Garrett Lundy (RB) are first team D-V, while Trenton Davis (WR) and Brennan Worley (OL) are second team. Celtan Walton (K) is honorable mention. All five are seniors. Madison senior Kaleb Miller (RB) is second team D-V, and senior teammate Julianye Johnson (DL) is second team. Carlisle senior Blake Lawson (RB) is second team in D-V. Senior teammates Landen Meehan (DL) and Jeremy Hamm (LB) are honorable mention. For complete All-Ohio teams, click the following links: Divisions IV & V | Division II & III

United Soccer Coaches released its high school All-Region teams recently. These teams are selected regardless of state classification. The SWBL had three athletes honored on the Central/Great Lakes All-Region squads, including Bellbrook senior goalie Jordan Frantz, Waynesville junior forward Chloe Dunford and Waynesville junior midfielder Nick Feldhaus.

Bellbrook
The Eagles bump up to Division I this winter, which is their first trek into Ohio’s big school classification. Thanks to 35 wrestlers on the roster, head coach Robert Kosins is looking for an extremely competitive season. “If we can keep everyone healthy we will have a good year,” Kosins said. “I'm excited for this season.” Key returners are seniors Braden Weeks (215), Ivan Bao (138) and Jada Weiss (155) and juniors Devin Caito (144) and Lena Underbakke (125). Bao has the potential to reach 100 wins and Weiss was ranked second in the state last year.
 
Brookville
Girls head coach Brett Luebke starts Year 1 at BHS with a “young and determined team with some great athletes.” The Blue Devils finished sixth at state last year, but will be young this winter with just one senior (Daisy King, 110) and two juniors (Klyee Jones, 130 and Lilliana Wilson, 105). Jones was ranked in the Top 25 in Ohio last season.
 
Carlisle
Optimism is high at CHS. “We have a good mix of upcoming freshman athletes along with a core group of upper classmen,” head coach Christopher Eckhardt (fifth year sat Carlisle) said. “The number of athletes we have this year will make us very competitive from top to bottom.” Key returners include seniors Jeremy Hamm, Ayden Brown, and Taven Norris and juniors Isaiah Brady (state qualifier at 285) and Urban Eckhardt.
 
Eaton
Head boys wrestling coach Nathan Islamovsky returns for his fifth year at EHS. “We look to improve from last season,” Islamovsky said. “We expect to have a full lineup with hard working solid wrestlers in each weight.” Key returners are seniors Elijah Thacker and Vincent Trantanella and junior Presley Stewart. Eaton girls wrestling coach Mark Silvers returns for his fourth season as the girls coach and 47th overall. With three returning state qualifiers, two state alternates and everyone from last year’s regional runner-up team, expectations are through the roof. “The girls set the bar high last year,” Silvers said. “Now they have to put in the work to continue building the program.” Eaton’s headliners include seniors Peyton Bradham, Caroline Klawon and Sarah Abner; junior Keyleigh Gifford; and sophomores Maycee Adams, Marlee Tantanella and Abbie Schmidt.
 
Franklin
The Wildcats are coming off their first SWBL championship and have the horses to repeat. Senior Tucker Campbell (132 pounds) is going for this fourth consecutive SWBL Championship. Campbell is a two-time state qualifier and finished fourth at state last year. He is a defending sectional champion and district runner-up. Senior Junior Creager (144) is a two-time SWBL placer and 2023 state qualifier. Also back for head coach Hunter Bray (third season at FHS) are a trio of outstanding juniors in Dareyan Egner (120), Jack Berry (157) and Braydon Isaacs (215). Egner was the 2024 SWBL shampion, 2024 sectional champion, 2024 district runner-up and a 2024 OHSAA state placer (eighth place). Berry was a 2024 SWBL champion and the 2024 SWBL Tri-Wrestler of the Year. Isaacs was a 2024 SWBL runner-up and a 2024 state qualifier.
 
Monroe
Two-time state qualifier and senior Nathan Moser (over 100 career wins) returns for head coach Wayne Heitfeld.
 
Oakwood
Head coach Dave Baumgardner (third year at OHS) hopes to add to a resume that includes an SWBL title, three state qualifiers and two state placers in his first two seasons. The goal this year is to finish .500 in dual meets and qualify four wrestlers to the district. Key returners include juniors Sam Keyes (150/157) and AJ Spang (132/138).
 
Ross
Head coach Rich Dunn has been a staple at Ross for 34 years. He and the Rams are looking to extend their winning dual meet record to 24 years in a row. Youth will be one hurdle. “Besides the two senior boy wrestlers the team is young,” Dunn said. “There is potential in the room and the coaching staff is expecting great growth. The girls team is small but powerful.” Key returners include seniors Jacob Kaake (120/126), Carter Banks (126/132) and Audrey Garcia (two-time state placer); junior Caleb Middendorf (113) and sophomores Caleb Dunn (132/138) and Caroline Davis (state placer). Said Dunn: The team is focused on improving each week of the season in hopes of peaking at Columbus in March.”
 
Valley View
Head coach Bill Miller begins his 43rd season and 29th at VVHS with a young squad. The Spartans do not have a senior on the roster. “We are excited that our youth numbers are at 87 and our junior high numbers are back in the 20s,” Miller said. “We are a year or two away from being solid again.” Hunter Foss (state alternate), Seth Porter, Draven Geirek and Brody Peter are returning letterman. Said Miller: “We are looking for some experience and hope to see one or two guys in Columbus again.”
 
Waynesville
According to head coach Gary Kesler (eight year), the roster “returns some good talent with a talented freshman class coming up.” Key returners include seniors Levi Collins and Brody Bingle; sophomore Evan Duff; and juniors Ben Federle and Cody Gunn. Collins has over 100 carer wins.