The Kenton Times

On the dotted line
Upper Scioto Valley senior basketball player Kayla Mullins (center), flanked by her father
Times photo/John Blake
Kenny and mother Brenda, signs a letter of
intent to continue her basketball and academic career at Indiana State University on Friday afternoon.

USV's Mullins headed to Indiana State
By JOHN BLAKE
Times sports writer
McGUFFEY - It’s been a bit of roller coaster ride recently for Kayla Mullins.
With several coaches from a number of colleges pulling and tugging at the Upper Scioto Valley senior standout basketball player for her future services, Mullins’ head was spinning.
She can now breathe easy, however, as she has chosen to continue her basketball and academic career at Indiana State University.
Brenda Mullins, Kayla’s mother, as well as her high school basketball coach, couldn’t be happier for her daughter, who is getting the chance to play at the Division I college level.
“This is something that she has dreamed of since she was a little kid and just to have this opportunity, it’s huge,” says the Rams coach.
Having received official offers from schools like Urbana, Tiffin and Rio Grande as well as calls from Bowling Green, Toledo, Missouri State and Evansville, Mullins was certainly on a host of college wish lists.
(Refer to page B1 of the Kenton Times)

FRIDAY MAY 2, 2008

Times photo/Kendrick Jesionowski
The final leg
Upper Scioto Valley's Dailyn Putnam watch-
Times photo/Kendrick Jesionowski
es Rachel Jeffers take off on the anchor leg of the 400 relay during the Ram Invitational on Thursday.
Riverdale runs away from field at Ram Invitational
McGUFFEY - The Riverdale girls and boys ran away with the Upper Scioto Valley Ram Invitational on Thursday afternoon.
The Riverdale girls claimed titles in three individual events and won three of the four relay on the way to scoring 172.5 points. McComb was the team runner-up with 141 points, followed by Cory-Rawson with 78 1/2 points. Hardin Northern was fourth with 66 1/2 points, Ada was fifth with 65 points and USV was sixth with 58 points.
The Riverdale boys finished with 138.5 points to grab top honors in the Upper Scioto Valley Ram Invitational on Thursday.
USV finished fourth with 84 points, Hardin Northern tallied 79.5, good for fifth, and Ada placed seventh with 65.5. Cory-Rawson was second (119.5), Allen East was third (102), McComb was sixth (69) and Vanlue finished eighth (39).
(Refer to page 8 of the Kenton Times)

Hardin Northern stuns Wildcats
DOLA - Hardin Northern got some late scoring to edge Kenton 6-4 in non-conference baseball action Thursday evening.
The Polar Bears improve to 3-13 on the season while the Wildcats drop to 10-8.
Hardin Northern starter Anthony Hall allowed just three hits and three runs while striking out five in six innings. Hall got the win while Kyle Albert entered in the seventh to save it.
"Their pitcher pitched a real good game and really kept us off balance," Kenton coach Brent Fackler said.
Nathan Ruhlen had a multi-hit game for the Polar Bears with a pair of singles. Hall, Dylan Shepherd, Albert, Brock Crist and Cody Schlatter also recorded a single apiece off Kenton starter Mark Fackler, who was tagged with the loss.
Leading hitters for Kenton were Alan Scharf, who homered and Dylon Perkins, who had two singles. Cody Barker, Tyler McKenzie and Tyler Slonecker all singled.
Trailing 3-2, the Polar Bears climbed ahead for good when they scored three in the bottom of the fifth. The teams traded runs in the sixth.
Kenton hosts Defiance and Hardin Northern stays at home to face.
(Refer to page 8 of the Kenton Times)

Times photo/Kendrick Jesionowski

To be an Eagle
Kenton High School's Corey Manns, front, inked a letter of intent to continue his academic and football career at Michigan State
Times photo/Kendrick Jesionowski
University on Thursday. Manns, a two-time all-state player for the Wildcats, is flanked by (from left) his father Rod Manns, Kenton High School football coach Mike Mauk and his mother Brenda Mitchell.
Wildcat standout Manns commits to Eastern Michigan
By KENDRICK JESIONOWSKI
Times sports editor
Kenton High School football fans have had the thrill of watching Corey Manns as he has left opposing players grasping at the air trail behind him on Friday nights for the past three years.
Next fall the Wildcat speedster will be taking his game north about 100 miles to Ypsilanti, Mich.
The Wildcat senior signed a letter of intent on Thursday to continue his academic career at Eastern Michigan University and don the green and white football uniform of the Eagles next year.
Manns, who accumulated more than 2,500 yards receiving in his career, including 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns on 52 receptions as a senior, a season in which he earned first team Division III all-state honors, said it has been a goal since his youth to play Division I college football.
(Refer to page 8 of the Kenton Times)

THURSDAY MAY 1, 2008

Times photo/John Blake
Play at third
Kenton's Cody Barker slides into third base as Ada's Cody Mattson awaits a throw during the Wildcats 13-3 home win on Wednesday.
Wildcats roll past Ada as baseball winning streak reaches six games
By JOHN BLAKE
Times sports writer
For the Kenton baseball team, patience is a virtue.
Often falling into some bad habits at the plate during the first half of the season, the Wildcats' stellar plate discipline during Wednesday night's home contest against Ada's pitching staff helped them cruise to a convincing 13-3 win in six innings.
Kenton continues its hot streak, winning its sixth straight to improve to 10-7 overall on the season.
"What's really helped us I think is our hitters have been more patient," said Kenton head coach Brent Fackler. "Early in the season we were swinging at a lot of first pitches and maybe not always the best pitch. I think now guys are getting into a better count at the plate and getting a good pitch to hit."
Not being overly aggressive with the bat, the Wildcats took what the Ada pitching staff gave them. Having trouble with his command all evening, Bulldog starter Josh Duffy walked seven and allowed as many hits in his four innings of work.
(Refer to page 8 of the Kenton Times)

Headed to Bluffton

Riverdale soccer and track standout Kourtney Lewis (front, center) will be continuing her academic and athletic endeavors at Bluffton next
Times photo/Kendrick Jesionowski
fall. Pictured with Lewis are (in front) her parents Coleen and Jeff Lewis; (back) Riverdale track coaches Amber Warren and Kim Rall and Riverdale athletic director Craig Taylor. Lewis will participate in both sports at Bluffton.
Lewis to take skills to Bluffton
By KENDRICK JESIONOWSKI
Times sports editor
MOUNT BLANCHARD - Riverdale two-sport standout Kourtney Lewis won't be going very far from home after she graduates from Riverdale this spring.
The Falcon senior soccer and track star has decided to continue her academic and athletic career at Bluffton University, where she will participate in both programs.
Lewis, who will be a forward/midfielder in the Pirates soccer program, said she fell in love with the campus as soon as she saw it.
"I liked the campus atmosphere there," she said. "And I like the coaches and the team and I felt like I fit in really well."
Lewis, who scored 28 goals over the past two seasons, has earned all-district honors each of the past two seasons, including first-team as a junior.
(Refer to page 8 of the Kenton Times)

Kenton tennis wins
Kenton won four out of five matches on the way to a victory over River Valley in non-conference tennis action on Thursday.
The Wildcats were able to pull out victories in two of three singles matches and both doubles matches.
In singles play, Kenton's Jordan Martin was a 6-1, 6-1 winner over Philip Claes and Nick Ulmer topped Justin Yover 6-2, 6-2. Aaron Johnson battled in his first varsity singles match, falling behind River Valley's Cody Price 4-1 before rallying to win the first set 7-6 (7-4 in the tiebreaker). However his fortune wasn't as good in the last two sets as Price won those 6-2, 6-0.
In doubles play, Kenton's Graham Watkins/Greg Newland topped Jonathan Zucker and Mitch Augerstein 6-2, 6-2 and Jonathan Byal and Adam Beverly were 6-2, 6-4 victors over Aesi Bushatz and Tyler Letson.
(Refer to page 8 of the Kenton Times)

WEDNESDAY APRIL 30, 2008

Lady Wildcats suffer 1-0 loss to Celina

Celina's Laura Homan tossed a one-hitter as the visiting Bulldogs topped Kenton 1-0 in Western Buckeye League softball action on Tuesday night.
Despite the lack of hits, the Wildcats, who fall to 5-9 overall and 1-5 in WBL play, had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.
After beating out a throw to record an infield single, Breann Purcell advanced to third base and attempted to come home after a throwing error by Homan. The pitcher tried to get a double play at first base when Sara Price popped out, but threw the ball into right field instead.
After a relay from the outfield, Purcell was tagged out at home as she tried to tie the score.
The only other baserunner Kenton had in the game was when Miranda Strous reached via error.
(Refer to page 7 of the Kenton Times)

Celina defeats KHS tennis 3-2
Kenton got wins at No. 1 and No 3. singles, but the third win proved to be elusive as the Wildcats fell to Celina 3-2 in Western Buckeye League tennis action on Tuesday.
The Wildcats Jordan Martin won his top singles match defeating Celina's Kyle Miller 6-4, 6-2, while Graham Watkins was a winner by the same score versus Celina's Bryan Robbins at No. 3 singles.
"Jordy and Graham really played strong matches tonight," Kenton coach Amanda Wells said. "Graham had really good first serves and moved his opponent around a lot and put himself into offensive positions. Jordy started out a little sluggish, but really turned it around mid first set."
In the other singles match, Celina's Adam Turner topped Greg Newland 6-4, 6-1.
Celina also took both doubles matches as Jay McKirnan and Tyler Everman topped Andrew Shepherd and Nick Ulmer 6-3, 6-3 and Ryan Rutschilling and Craig Everman defeated Jon Byal and Adam Beverly 6-1, 6-2.
(Refer to page 7 of the Kenton Times)

Polar Bears finish first in triangular
DOLA - Hardin Northern's boys track and field team narrowly walked away with a first place finish while the girls barely missed out, finishing four points behind the leader in Tuesday's tri-meet in Dola.
The Polar Bear boys scored 68 points to edge Arlington's 66 for the top spot. Arcadia finished with 27. For the girls, Arcadia won that side of the meet with a score of 56. Hardin Northern placed second with 52 and Arlington had 41.
Finishing in first for the HN boys were Tom Wheeler in the pole vault (10-6), Josh Cramer in the 1600 run (5:39), Joe Walter in the 400 run (58.4 seconds) and Ben Shephard in the 800 run (2:23.4). The 4x100 relay team (47.1) and 4x400 relay team (3:52.7) also finished on top.
Getting first place honors for the girls were Sarah Christopher in the pole vault (7-6), Shelby Stump in the high jump (4-10), 400 run (1:05.4) and 200 dash (28.3) and the 4x400 relay team which finished with a time of 4:45.
(Refer to page 7 of the Kenton Times)