Category: Sports

Several area weightlifters recently competed in the World Raw Federation competition. Dustin Kempf set national records for the Open Abs 165 lbs. Sub Master with the following:  Squat, 540 lbs.; bench 308 lbs.; deadlift, 600 lbs.; for a total of 1,448 lbs. Mike Buckey won first in the 198 lbs. open. His results were: Squat, 606 lbs.; bench 308 lbs.; deadlift, 672 lbs.; for a total of 1,586 lbs. Nick Perorazio

By Carol McIntire, Editor Carrollton and Minerva each qualified a boys 4×100 and a girls 4×800 relay team to the Division II state track meet June 4 and 5 at Pickerington North High School. Carrollton’s 4×100 relay team includes sophomores Brock Smith and Nathan Baker, junior Austin Colletti and senior Talen Timberlake. Minerva’s team includes seniors Demetrius Evans, Chance Martineau, Deston Kropf and Garrison Markins. Timberlake also qualified in the

Several area relay teams and a high jumper punched their tickets to the state track meet during the first day of the Division II regional track meet at Chillicothe May 27. The Minerva and Carrollton girls 4×800 relay teams qualified by placing second the third respectively. The Lions team of Jenna Cassidy, Aubrey Dunham, Cailyn Bright and Hera Hoffee clocked a time of 9:52.19. The Warrior foursome of Josie Burgett,

Malvern senior Paige Peshina won the Division III district title in the 400 and was the runner-up in the 1600 to earn berths at regional competition at Massillon this week. Peshina had times of 1:02.48 in the 400 and 5:38.82 in the 1600. She also anchored the 4×400 relay team which placed third in a time of 4:21.31 to earn a regional berth. Other members of the relay include Lanie

Compete Thursday, Saturday at Chillicothe for state meet slots By Carol McIntire Editor Carrollton and Minerva qualified athletes to this week’s Division II regional track meet at Chillicothe. Carrollton qualified two girls relay teams and three individuals and the boys team qualified two relay teams and one individual during the Division II district meet last week at West Holmes High School. Minerva, which also participated in the district event at

After becoming the first team in Conotton Valley Schools history to be sectional softball champions, the Lady Rockets continue their quest as they face Tuscarawas Central Catholic May 19 at the Carrollton Field of Dreams at 5 p.m. for the district championship. The Lady Rockets played Caldwell in the district tournament at Franklin Park in Strasburg May 10. They scored two in the first inning and never looked back. They posted

The 2021 Lady Rockets softball team wrote their page in school history defeating Toronto 8-2 May 13 to score the school’s first sectional championship. The Lady Rockets battled back from a two run deficit for the win. They had eight hits on the night lead by Emily Siedel with a triple and single. Masyn Baker, Chloe Stuber, Jordyn Braun, Sarah Schaar, Ellie Bower and Delaney Peters each had a hit.

Eastern Buckeye Conference championships wrap up league season Carrollton senior Talen Timberlake and Minerva junior Connor Shingleton each won two titles and Minerva junior Abby Wheeler and Garrison Markins each claimed one during the Eastern Buckeye Conference Track and Field Championships May 14 at Canton South High School. Carrollton senior Jacob Baker won the 100 seated (17.74), 400 seated (1:00.15) and 800 seated (2:04.77). Timberlake returned to the high jump

CHS senior breaks his own 100 seated state record at Fairless Invitational Carrollton senior Jacob Baker broke his own Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) state record in the 100 seated dash at the Fairless Invitational May 7. His time of 16.45 also qualified him to the Paralympic trials this June in Minnesota for a chance to compete for team USA. He currently is the second fastest wheeled high school athlete

Clayton, Barker, Baker earn MVP awards for hosts By Carol McIntire Editor Carrollton claimed the lion’s share of the top awards at the Larry Cogan Warrior Invitational April 30 at Community Field on a windy, cool day. Freshman Arianna (Ari) Clayton won Girls MVP after winning the 100, 400, 200 and was a member of the winning 4×2 relay, Senior Jacob Baker was awarded the Boys MVP after setting records

The Lady Rockets won the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) championship May 1 shutting out the number one seed Weirton Madonna 11-0. Conotton scored four in the first inning with three of those from a triple by Delaney Peters. The Lady Rockets put up 11 hits in the contest to shut out Madonna. Masyn Baker had a big game for the Rockets with two home runs, one of which came

The Malvern Hornets baseball team defeated Tuscarawas Central Catholic 8-1 at home April 19. Top hitters for the Hornets included Ethan Bush with three singles and three runs; Noah Ball, two doubles and two RBI’s; Adam Moser, three singles and Connor Lefevre, two singles. The Hornets scored one run in the first and fifth innings and two runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings. Derk Hutchison was the winning

Offense explodes for seven runs in second inning By Carol McIntire Editor A seven-run second inning propelled the Carrollton softball team to a 10-0, five-inning shutout over Beaver Local in the season opener March 30 at the Carrollton Field of Dreams. Sunny skies and exceptionally warm temperatures greeted the team as they took the field for the first time since the 2019 season. “It felt amazing to be back on

Strong offensive effort, aggressive base running add up to 13-3 win over Tusky Central Catholic By Carol McIntire Editor Opening day for the Carrollton Warriors baseball team looked more like the first day of summer than the last day of March as temperatures surpassed the 70-degree mark and sunglasses and shorts were appropriate attire for the game. The host Warriors gave the crowd plenty to cheer about as they blew

The Carroll County Messenger is featuring its annual Spring Sports Preview in the March 31 issue available on newsstands now. Find out what lettermen are returning, who coaches think are promising newcomers and when and where your favorite teams are playing. The preview features Carrollton, Conotton Valley, Malvern and Minerva teams.

Plans to unify sporting activities at Edison High School are progressing and officials received the latest update on the project. Superintendent Bill Beattie informed school board members during the March 16 session that work was continuing on the new facilities, which will boast a fieldhouse and softball and baseball fields in addition to the football field that is already in existence. Leaders are also excited to utilize the new track

Burress, Carman stand at the state wrestling tournament By Leigh Ann Rutledge CCM Reporter The state wrestling tournament was heartwarming for one wrestler and heartbreaking for the other. Minerva senior Jarrett Burress and Carrollton freshman Josh Carman placed second and fourth, respectively in the 84th Ohio State Wrestling Individual Tournament. Both wrestlers left everything they had on the mat. Burress, a senior at Minerva, came into the tournament as a

By Leigh Ann Rutledge CCM Reporter Twenty-five area wrestlers continue their quest to the state tournament after competing in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OSHAA) individual sectional tournaments held Feb. 27. Carrollton and Malvern wrestling teams each have eight wrestlers advancing to the district tournaments March 5 and 6. Minerva has nine wrestlers advancing. The top four finishers in each bracket advanced to district competition. Due to COVID-19 restrictions,

By Carol McIntire Editor Cailyn Bright saved the best for last. The Carrollton High School senior bowled the best three-game series of her high school career to win the Division II girls state bowling tournament individual title Feb. 26 at Wayne Webb’s Columbus Bowl. Bright rolled games of 239, 256 and 200 for a 695 series, which is third best in state tournament history. Her score was 30 pins better

Conotton Valley leads a contingent of five area bowling teams and three individuals competing in district action this week. The Lady Rockets won the Division II East District Sectional at St. Clair Lanes in St. Clairsville Feb. 11 in a field of nine teams.  Sandy Valley won the girls Division II  East District sectional at Boulevard Lanes at Dover and Carrollton placed second. The Minerva and Carrollton boys teams punched

By Leigh Ann Rutledge CCM Reporter Like any Carrollton-Minerva athletic event, the Feb. 11 wrestling match between the two teams was filled with tension, cheers and a tinge of anticipation. Both teams were undefeated when they met in the Carrollton gym for the last varsity match of regular season with the Eastern Buckeye Conference (EBC) championship on the line. The Warriors took an early lead and led the majority of

Derk Hutchison is the second Malvern Hornet to join the 1,000-point club this season. The senior reached the honor early in a Jan. 23 contest with Steubenville Central Catholic. He joins teammate Johnny Browning, who reached the milestone earlier this season and is the 22nd player in school history to surpass 1,000 points in his high school career. “Congratulations to Derk. It is quite an accomplishment,” noted Malvern Coach Dennis

Carrollton senior guard Abby Laizure set a new mark for the most 3-point shots made in a game Jan. 27 at Steubenville Central Catholic. Laizure sank seven 3-pointers to surpass the previous mark set by Mandy Babe against Canton South and then again against Louisville, both in 1997. Carrie Swinford matched the effort twice in 1995, against Canton South and Akron Springfield. Laizure also tied the mark her sophomore season.

Lady bowlers finish one-two at sectional preview tourney The Carrollton girls bowling team is at it again. The Warriors swept the top two places at the 14th Rootstown Rover Sectional Preview tournament Jan 16. The varsity squad won both the top team and individual honors and the junior varsity team placed second in the eight-team field. “I’m so incredibly proud of this group of lady warrior bowlers!” said Varsity Coach

In hard-fought, foul-filled rivalry contest By Carol McIntire Editor Last week’s rivalry game between the Carrollton and Minerva girls basketball teams was everything a rivalry game should be: a hard-fought, intense, filled with three-point shots, riddled with fouls and a tale of two halves. Minerva owned the first half, winning the opening tip and holding leads of 12-10 and 20-19 after the first two quarters. Carrollton owned the final two