Category: Sports

Malvern basketball coach Denny Tucci was named the recipient of the 2023 Paul Walker Award.The Paul Walker Award is presented annually by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association to an active coaching member of the association who has made significant contributions to high school basketball. The award is named in honor of the late Paul Walker, the longtime coach of Middletown High School. At the time of his retirement,

The men responsible for making sure coaches in the press box could communicate with coaches on the sideline at Carrollton football games have both retired.Tom Haun placed the headsets in the case for the final time after Carrollton’s playoff game against Steubenville Big Red Oct. 28. His partner, John Wenner, retired after the COVID season (2020).The Carrollton residents served as the caretakers of the headsets for over 30 years for

Carrollton junior and senior girls took to the football field last week with members of the high school football team as coaches for a fundraising event.The powderpuff teams, accompanied by male cheerleaders, who received a few tips from the high school cheerleading squad, raised $2,450 for the high school Caring Helping Sharing (CHS) Club. The money will be put to good use, according to CHS Club Advisor Belinda Mach.“The funds

By Carol McIntireEditorTwo Minerva runners earned All-Ohio status at the 94th annual Cross Country State Championships Nov. 5 at Fortress Obetz on the east side of Columbus.The Lions girls team followed up their Division II state championship in 2021 with a fourth place finish in the team standings. Coach Olivia Scott’s Lady Lions were the favorite to repeat as champions in the pre-regionals Coaches State Poll releases Oct. 27. The

Minerva and Carrollton girls cross country teams finished first and third in the Division II regional meet at Pickerington Oct. 29, punching tickets for the state meet this Saturday at Fortress Obetz.The ladies will be joined by the Minerva boys team, which placed sixth in the Division II boys race.Minerva tallied 68 points and Carrollton 166 in the girls race and the Lion boys tallied 197 points. Fairfield Union won

Minerva qualified both its boys and girls teams and Carrollton its girls team for the Division II regional cross country meet Saturday at Pickerington.Carrollton runners Andrew Lane and Ricky Sibila qualified individually for the boys regional in District II while Conotton Valley’s Evan Siedel and Malvern’s Seth Kandel qualified for the District III boys race.It was a tragic day for the Lions as junior Owen Grubb was injured following the

By Carol McIntireEditorA group of five Carrollton High School seniors closed out the most successful three-year run in the history of the school’s golf program at the Division II state golf tournament Oct. 14 on The Ohio State University Scarlet course.The Warriors placed third in the field of 12 teams.It was the third consecutive appearance for the team, which placed third in 2021, and set the bar high for future

The Carrollton boys golf team won its second consecutive Division II East District golf title and qualified for the state tournament Oct. 14 and 15 at The Ohio State University Scarlet Course.The Warriors scored a new team record of 295 on the 18-hole EagleSticks course at Zanesville Oct. 3 to win the title. St. Clairsville finished second, 33 strokes behind the Warriors, with a score of 328.Sandy Valley senior and

By Carol McIntireEditorForty-eight minutes of football between two high-powered offenses came down to the final three minutes of the game at Sebo Stadium in Salem Friday night.The Salem Quakers’ high-powered offense, engineered by quarterback Jackson Johnson, and the Carrollton Warriors’ punishing ground game, led by senior tailback Chase Oehlstrom, were unstoppable for over three quarters of play.Then, in a matter of minutes, both defenses came to life. It was Carrollton’s

Carrollton improved to 10-8 overall and evened its league record at 5-5 with a win over Minerva last week.The Warriors and Lions battled their five sets before the winner was determined. Carrollton won the first set 25-18 only to have the Lions take the second and third sets, 25-16 and 25-23, before the Warriors came back to win the fourth 25-13 and force a fifth set, which they won 15-8.Bayley

Defending Division II state golf champion Connor Ritter won medalist honors at the East District Sectional Golf Tournament and the Carrollton Warriors won the team title Sept. 26 at River Greens Golf Course.Ritter, a senior at Sandy Valley, was one of four individuals not on a qualifying team who advance to district competition at Eagle Sticks Golf Course this week.Minerva senior Case Waller carded a 77 and tied for fourth

By Carol McIntireEditorJared Witherow is etching his name in the Malvern football history book.The sophomore quarterback set a new single game passing record Friday with 350 yards through the air against the Strasburg Tigers Friday at Malvern. The new mark is 13 yards better than the previous record of 337 yards set in 2010 by Shawn Ball.The 6-4, 175-pounder completed 21 of 25 passes, including four touchdowns, in the Hornets

Carrollton defeated runner-up West Branch by 331 strokes to win its four consecutive Eastern Buckeye Conference (EBC) boys golf championship Sept. 19 at Salem Country Club.Carrollton recorded a team score of 308 while West Branch tallied a 339, Marlington 343, Minerva 388, Salem 404 and Alliance 455.The season-ending tournament also marked the third time the Warriors were undefeated in regular season play. The team finished the 2019 season with a

By Carol McIntireEditorIn 1978, Conotton Valley Football Coach Don Hertler was a sophomore at North Canton Hoover High School. His junior varsity coach was Dick Gross.Friday, Gross, who retired from coaching in 2011, was on the sidelines watching his former player lead his Rockets to a 42-18 win over the previously once-beaten Bridgeport Bulldogs.“When Don was a sophomore our quarterback was Todd Blackledge: ever heard that name?” Gross asked leaning

By Carol McIntireEditorCarrollton turned two early Garfield fumbles into touchdowns and cruised to a 49-18 non-conference win in a rare Saturday afternoon game at Akron Sept. 17.A quick touchdown by junior Ryan Kiko after the visiting Warriors pounced on a Rams fumble on the second play of the game and a one yard score by senior Ben Zinda on a third-and-13 play on Garfield’s next possession gave the Warriors a

Conotton Valley senior Evan Rice ran for five touchdowns as the Rockets routed Strasburg 50-22  Friday in an Inter Valley Conference (IVC) matchup.  Rice ran for 306 yards on 25 carries and added two 2-point conversions. The Rockets started fast and kept their foot on the accelerator, scoring 28 points in the first quarter and 16 in the second to hold a 38-8 halftime lead. Strasburg cut the lead to 38-22

Elizabeth Funkhouser led the Carrollton girls to the championship title for large schools at the Dover Invitational Sept. 10. Athletes ran together in the boys and girls divisions and results were then broken down into large and small school division. Carrollton tallied 36 points in the six-team field to win the girls team trophy. Funkhouser, a senior, placed second overall in the girls race (first in the team competition) with

By Carol McIntire, Editor Carrollton Coach Jim Tsilimos’ Warrior football team set the tone for a 63-6 win over the St. Thomas Aquinas Knights on the first possession of the game. “I told them we were going to come out, kick off, get the ball and score and that is exactly what they did,” Tsilimos said following the victory. Carrollton kicker Lawson sent the ball sailing into the end zone

Senior Jaxon Rinkes fired a one-under-par 35 at Great Trail Golf Course Sept. 1 to help the Carrollton Warriors remain undefeated in boys golf action. It was the first of two meetings between the Warriors and Minerva Lions this season with the Warriors posting a 152-179 win.  Colton Moore carded a 37 and Isaac Warner a 38 for the winners. Cayden Rininger and John Birong both added 42s for the

Football, soccer, volleyball, golf and cross country highlights are featured in this week’s issue of The Messenger. Follow the fall athletes from Carrollton, Conotton Valley, Malvern and Minerva schools.

Malvern Football Head Coach Matt Chiurco will lead a young team this year but, he has a lot of experience returning.  Of the 13 lettermen returning, only two are seniors. The team lost several to graduation, including Tristan Phillips, Bryson White, KJ Thomas, Noah Ball (IVC North Player of the Year), Sam Foster, Will Steinberg, Kaden Grinder, Johnny Walker and Trevor Slider.  “We have 11 guys who at least started

First year Minerva Football Coach Tim Speakman is excited about building a football program at the school.He returned to his hometown earlier this year and takes over a program that won one game last season.Nineteen lettermen return to the squad. Returning are sophomore Hunter Dietrich, QB/DL; junior Nathaniel Frankford, WR/DB; junior Jon Davis, WR/DB; sophomore Jayden Yerger, WR/DB; junior Eli Miller, QB/WR/DB; sophomore Joel Gropp, WR/DB; junior Lance Deibel, WR/DB;

Head Coach Don Hertler noted the Conotton Valley football set four goals for the season which include winning a play-off game.  On the way to winning a play-off game, Hertler wants his team to get better each week, play their best games last and earn a home spot for an Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) play-off game. The Rockets return several lettermen along with promising risers and newcomers.  “We have

Win league; win season; make playoffs Fifteen players were lost to graduation from a Carrollton football team that posted an 8-4 regular season record and garnered second place in the Eastern Buckeye Conference (EBC) with a 5-1 mark. The Warriors won their first Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) playoff game over Cambridge before falling to St. Clairsville in the second round.  The graduating class included quarterback Austin Colletti, who

By Carol McIntire Editor The Carrollton varsity football schedule looks a little different for the 2022 season, including a Saturday afternoon contest, three new opponents and all Eastern Buckeye Conference games clumped together at the end of the season. Canton South, St. Clairsville and Coventry are gone from the schedule, replaced by Manchester, Philo and Garaway. “Canton South withdrew from the EBC so we knew we would be looking for

State track meet results Minerva senior Connor Shingleton turned in the top performance of area competitors at the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) state track meet June 3 and 4 at Jesse Owens Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University. Shingleton earned berths in the Division II 800 and 1,600M, placing seventh in the 1,600 and 16th in the 800. According to Minerva team officials, another competitor

Conotton Valley pays tribute to baseball coach Dave DiDonato or “Dino” as he is known throughout the baseball community, has decided to call it a career.  The Conotton Valley board of education accepted the resignation of the longtime high school baseball coach during the May 19 meeting.  When he resigned as the school’s athletic director in October, Dino announced his return to the dugout for one final season. That season ended

Athletes from Carrollton, Minerva, Malvern, Conotton Valley, Sandy Valley and Edison advanced to regional track competitions by placing in the top four at district events May 21. Carrollton, Minerva, Sandy Valley and Edison competed at the Division II district meet at West Holmes High School while Malvern and Conotton Valley traveled to St. Clairsville for the Division III district meet.  Those placing in the top four in each event qualified

By Leigh Ann Rutledge CCM Reporter An error by the River Pilots and a triple by Chloe Stuber was the turning point in the opening round of tournament action May 10 at Conotton Valley High School. The Lady Rockets defeated River 6-3 to advance to in the East District Division IV Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) sectional competition. Stuber’s hit came in the bottom of the fourth when the

The Warrior baseball team kicked off last week with a dominate performance over Alliance that earned the team an 11-1 Eastern Buckeye Conference (EBC) victory.After scoring one run in the first inning and two in the second, the Warriors exploded for eight runs in the third inning. Alliance’s lone run came in the top of the first inning.Warrior pitcher Hayden Jenkins went the distance on the mound, allowing only two

By Carol McIntire Editor Longtime Carrollton track coach Larry Cogan was center stage Friday for the invitational  track meet that carries his name. Cogan, who coached and taught at Carrollton schools for over three decades was clad in his “official event starter” uniform Friday night at Community Field for the seventh annual event.  In his true spirit of always putting athletes first, Cogan’s main concern as the running events began  was to

By Leigh Ann Rutledge CCM Associate Editor The Conotton Valley Lady Rockets are back-to-back OVAC Champions! The Rockets won the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) 1A Championship April 29 at I-470 Complex in Wheeling, WV, by defeating the Beallsville Blue Devils 10-0 in five innings.  Sophomore Masy Baker put the Rockets on the board in the first period. On a full-count, she hit a three-run homer which bounced off the

Cayden Rininger and Jimmy Little combined for a two-hit shutout of United Local to begin a busy weekend of baseball for the Carrollton Warriors. The host Warriors scored three runs in the first inning, four in the second and six in the third behind a strong pitching and hitting effort. Rininger went three innings of the five-inning contest with a strikeout and three walks. Little went the final two innings

The Conotton Valley Rockets hosted Buckeye Trail in an Inter Valley Conference (IVC) and Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) contest April 13 and fell 16-4.  The Warriors took a 6-0 lead in the first inning, scored two in the third and fifth innings and finished with six runs in the top of the sixth inning.  Rocket Pitcher Gaige Galigher went 4 1/3 innings, walking three, striking out two and giving

Warriors, Hornets join nine-team field at annual Sandy Valley event, athletes earn top 10-placings Nate Baker and Logan Beaver both won individual titles for Carrollton at the Lidderdale Invitational, held April 14 at Sandy Valley High School.Baker won the 200M with a time of 23.71 and Beaver won the discus with a throw of 130-feet, 7-inches. Baker also placed second in the 100M (11:56) and Beaver finished sixth in the

In a muddy, rainy game April 5, the Lady Rockets defeated the Malvern Hornets 11-0 at home in a cross-county Inter Valley Conference contest. The Lady Rockets came out strong, taking a 6-0 lead in the first inning, one run in the second and four in the third inning.  “Masy Baker had yet another solid performance on the mound tonight with nine strikeouts and only giving up one hit in

Minerva capitalized on six Carrollton errors  and outhit their hosts 8-6 to defeat the Warriors 11-5 at the Field of Dreams April 6. The Lions plated five runs in the top of the first inning. Carrollton pulled to within two runs in the third inning by scoring three runs. The Lions widened the gap to 6-3 in the fifth. Carrollton pulled back to within one run in the bottom of the

By Carol McIntire Editor Carrollton opened the 2022 track season March 29 on a new eight-lane track at Community Field and a much-improved view of the finish line. When the track was installed in the summer of 2021, the finish line was moved from the south side of the track (visitor bleachers) and relocated to the north side at the west end of the home bleachers.  “The life span of

Feb. 10 win over Minerva marked school’s 1,000 match, secured league championship By Leigh Ann Rutledge CCM Reporter Wrestling Coach Joe McGee announced a milestone the program reached during the March 17 wrap-up banquet, held in Carrollton High School. The wrestling program celebrated its 1,000th match since its inception of the program in 1962. The milestone in itself is an accomplishment, but the match was a lot more. The Warriors

By Leigh Ann Rutledge CCM Reporter Carrollton sophomore Josh Carman (126 lbs.) and Minerva junior Kaiden Haines (215 lbs.) capped off the 2021-2022 wrestling season on the podium at the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Wrestling tournament March 11-13 at the Jerome Schottenstein Center at The Ohio State University.  Carman (42-8), a two-time state qualifier, placed sixth in his weight bracket. He defeated Liam Hatgas of Holy Name

Lead group of Carrollton, Minerva wrestlers to state tournament By Leigh Ann Rutledge CCM Reporter Two area wrestlers earned spots atop the podium at the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division II District Wrestling Tournament March 4 and 5 at Gallia Academy High School in Gallipolis. Carrollton’s Josh Carman and Minerva’s Kaiden Haines won titles and will join seven other area wrestlers in Columbus for the OSHAA State Wrestling