Berkshire promotes Franks to head girls’ soccer coach
Since arriving in Burton in 2021, Stephanie Franks has had a hand in developing the youth for the Berkshire Badgers girls’ soccer program. After three years serving as the middle school girls’ soccer coach, Franks has been selected as the new Badger girls’ soccer coach. “I think it is exciting,” Franks told The Weekly Villager on April 24. “I feel...
Ravens’ baseball jumps on Cowboys early to claim victory
The Ravenna Ravens’ baseball team mounted an early lead and erupted late against Youngstown Chaney, snapping their six-game losing streak to win decisively 9-3 last Friday evening in Youngstown. “That was good for the guys,” said Coach Lee Lovejoy. “There was confidence last night, especially at the plate which is a big part of where we have been struggling and...
Terrier women’s lacrosse wraps season with road loss against Golden Tornadoes
The Hiram Terriers women’s lacrosse team’s revival season concluded last Saturday evening against Presidents’ Athletic Conference foe Geneva as the Golden Tornadoes pulled away late in the fourth period to prevail 12-5 at Veterans Memorial Park in Beaver Creek, PA. “We fought hard in the first half, and it was a fairly close game,” said Coach Maddie Wilson. “We never...
Windham baseball sweeps Lordstown in league doubleheader
The Windham Bombers’ baseball team helped their standing in the Northeastern Athletic Conference Stripes Division by sweeping league rival Lordstown in a doubleheader, winning 15-0 and 17-1 in a pair of five-inning games last Wednesday evening in Warren. “After Wednesday’s games, I feel that the kids have gained more confidence and confidence in the game of baseball or any other...
Red Devils’ baseball rallies late, upsets Panthers in extra-innings
Through six innings, the Crestwood Red Devils’ baseball team had been quiet but came alive in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs and ultimately toppled Akron Manchester 6-4 in 12 innings last Saturday afternoon in Akron. “Saturday was a tale of two games, just wrapped in one; fortunately we were able to pull one out there at the...
Ravenna High School to host Celebration of Life ceremony honoring Joe Leigh
The Ravenna community will assemble to honor the memory of longtime football Coach Joe Leigh in a Celebration of Life Ceremony on May 9 at the Ravenna High School Auditorium on May 9 at 2 p.m. “It is for anyone who was associated with Joe Leigh,” Ravenna Athletic Director Joe Lunardi told The Weekly Villager on April 15. “Whether it...
Badger boys’ volleyball storms back to triumph against Lions
The Berkshire Badgers boys’ volleyball’s three-match losing streak came to an end when they rallied to overcome Geauga County and Northeast Ohio Boys Volleyball League rival Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in a five-set thriller 20-25, 31-29, 12-25, 25-20 and 17-15 last Friday evening at the McGarry Gymnasium in Chardon. “Kudos to NDCL, they were not going to give us anything,” said...
Aurora track & field sweeps John Kudley Invitational titles
The Aurora Greenmen track & field teams defended their home track as the boys recaptured the John Kudley Invitational title by scoring 157.0 points and the girls repeated as champions for the fourth straight year, scoring 140.0 points last Thursday evening at Veterans Stadium. “The guys were ecstatic that they got the title back that they lost last year to...
Garfield G-Men baseball erupts offensively to survive Maplewood
The Garfield G-Men baseball team’s bats came alive early and often, enjoying their best offensive output of the season to fend off Maplewood 8-7 last Saturday afternoon at the 717 Credit Union Field at Eastwood in Niles. “The whole game was back-and-forth, we scored runs, they scored runs,” said Coach Michael Paes. “We don’t score any runs; they don’t score...
Streetsboro baseball fends off Southeast for shutout victory
The Streetsboro Rockets’ baseball team appears to be trending in the right direction after losing their first four games of the season. The Rockets captured their second victory in three games as senior right-hander Graham Jonas fueled them to a 2-0 victory by hurling a complete game shutout against Portage County rival Southeast last Saturday afternoon at American Legion...
Hiram men’s volleyball swept out PAC semifinal by Thiel
The Hiram Terriers men’s volleyball team made their last stand in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference semifinal round and were swept 25-18, 25-11, 25-8 by top seeded Thiel College last Thursday evening at Beeghly Gymnasium’s Maenpa Court in Greenville, PA. “We knew going in that it was going to be a tough challenge,” said Coach Kyle Martini. “When you face a...
Red Devils’ softball squanders late lead against Tigers
The Crestwood Red Devils’ softball team was only one out away from sealing victory against Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division foe Chagrin Falls but the Tigers rallied to score two runs, and the Red Devils lost 8-7 in their second league game of the year last Thursday in Mantua. “It is a growing pain of being a little younger,” said...
Garfield G-Men softball blanked by Vikings
If the Garfield G-Men softball team’s first three Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Tier games are any indication of what future league games are like, they will have their work cut out for them after being shut out by MVAC Grey Tier foe LaBrae 18-0 in five innings last Saturday in Garrettsville. “I think we play too tight when we...
Greenmen girls’ track net Don Faix Invitational title, Rocket boys’ track finish as runners-up
The Aurora Greenmen girls’ track & field team began their season of redemption by winning their first invitational of the season, taking first place at Crestwood’s annual Don Faix Invitational with a score of 127.0 points last Saturday at Jack Lambert Stadium in Mantua. “It was a step in the right direction,” said Coach Greg Cicero. “I think we had...
Crestwood youth wrestler Kayden Miller nabs OAC state title
Crestwood third grader Kayden Miller has enjoyed a breakout season with the Crestwood Youth Wrestling Program, becoming the first wrestler in program history to win a state title at the Ohio Athletic Committee meet by going 5-0 in the Division II 75-pound weight class at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown during the weekend of March 28. It marked the...
Crestwood girls, Garfield boys track net William E. Fisher Invitational titles
For the second consecutive season, the Crestwood Red Devils girls’ track and field team opened their season with a statement by capturing the team championship at Cardinal’s 6th annual William E. Fisher Invitational, scoring 117.0 points last Friday evening in Middlefield. “I think we had 11 girls. For them to come out and compete in multiple events, some that they...
Aaron Gilbert basks in reaching 300 career coaching victories
For the longest time, the Garfield G-Men girls’ basketball program had sought coaching stability and since Aaron Gilbert became head coach in 2007, he has achieved that after 19 years as the G-Men girls’ coach, he has eclipsed 300 victories in his coaching career. “I don’t think anybody looks at those career numbers and thinks ‘I am going to get...
Huskies’ baseball spins shutout against Wildcats in NAC debut
A year after recording only three wins, the Cardinal Huskies’ baseball team is only one win away from already matching their win total as they defeated Northeastern Athletic Conference Chalker 12-0 in a league crossover last Thursday in Middlefield. “We put the ball in play and hoped for things to happen,” said Coach Dan Wolf. “It was nice. We scored...
Garfield G-Men baseball prepared to seize new opportunities
The Garfield G-Men baseball team may be senior-laden this year but will field a senior class where half of the upperclassmen are playing at varsity level for the first time this season. Coach Michael Paes noted that they are ready to meet the moment. “We have a lot of guys that are anxious to try to excel at the varsity...
Hiram men’s volleyball swept by Thiel, extends losing streak to eight matches
The Hiram Terriers men’s volleyball team has been plagued with inconsistent play this season and that continued as they were swept 25-21, 25-16, 25-22 by Presidents’ Athletic Conference rival Thiel College last Saturday afternoon at the Price Gymnasium. “I think they had spurts here and there and that has been the story of our season at times,” said Coach Kyle...
Windham baseball seeks to keep pace amid youth movement
The Windham Bombers’ baseball team had the luxury of blending experience with youth last year and now will rely on a sophomore-heavy core to fuel the team to success for the 2026 season. “I am excited about this year and am excited to see our younger group grow. At the same time we still have some seniors who can help...
Berkshire boys’ volleyball engineers thrilling comeback victory against Rangers
The Berkshire Badgers boys’ volleyball team is already beginning to forge a new identity that demonstrates a gritty attitude, evidenced when they stormed back to defeat Northeast Ohio Volleyball Association rival Eastlake North in a 22-25, 16-25, 25-18, 25-15, 15-13 reverse (?) sweep last Thursday evening at Berkshire High School. “It is what makes the game fun that is for...
Garfield G-Men track & field returns mix of experience and talent
The Garfield G-Men track & field team has ruled the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference for four straight years and has also demonstrated a strong track record in the throwing events but are seeking to add more representation at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division IV state meet. “You are always fighting the weather, but the kids have been working...
Terrier men’s lacrosse falls against Scots in overtime
The Hiram Terriers men’s lacrosse team is getting quite familiar with playing in high-leverage situations this season but fell on the wrong end of the score this time as they lost 8-7 against Alma College in an overtime thriller last Saturday afternoon at Bahlke Field in Michigan. “You don’t get a redo,” said Coach Jason Griffith. “There is no reset...
Garfield G-Men softball seeks to build momentum with returning experience
Last season it took a while for the Garfield G-Men softball team to hit its stride, but things came together at the end of the season and the G-Men will attempt to carry that momentum into this season, returning nine starters in its quest to reach the top of the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Tier. “It is good to...
Crestwood softball rallies but falls short against Cuyahoga Heights
The Crestwood Red Devils’ softball team needed a few innings to find its timing at the plate and finally responded but it was too little too late as they lost their season-opener against Chagrin Valley Conference foe Cuyahoga Heights 6-3 on the road last Saturday afternoon. “I am sure there are a lot of factors involved in it,” said Coach...
Windham softball ready to wipe the slate clean
The Windham Bombers’ softball team has been searching for answers over the last several years to snap a long stretch of losing seasons but will enter the 2026 spring season with a renewed sense of purpose to right the ship. “We have a lot to prove as players and coaches,” said Coach Larry Jones. “As you can see, our record...
Crestwood’s Tye Berquist finishes in sixth place at D-III state meet
According to Crestwood Red Devils’ junior Tye Berquist, he knew that he needed to be much better after winning only one match at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III Independence district tournament last year. Berquist made good on his resolution, taking sixth place with a 2-3 record at the OHSAA Division III state meet last weekend at...
TWO-TIME STATE CHAMPION: Streetsboro’s Jarreau Walker repeats as D-II state champion
After capturing the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II state championship last year, the target was firmly on Streetsboro Rockets’ junior Jarreau Walker’s back. The reigning Division II 106-pound champion once again captured a title, this time winning the 113-pound weight class with a 4-0 record last weekend at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center. “Once you get that...
Berkshire’s Danny Tiller lands eighth place in D-III state tournament
Berkshire Badgers’ senior Danny Tiller ended the program’s three-year drought of not fielding a state placer at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III state tournament, when he compiled a 2-3 record to take eighth place last weekend at The Ohio State University’s Jerome Schottenstein Center. “It means a lot to come down here and see what I can...
