Galion grad aids Beavers’ sweep
FLORENCE, Ky. — The Bluffton University baseball team and everyone else involved worked overtime on Sunday and the extra work paid off as the Beavers swept Mount St. Joseph in Florence, Ky., for its first HCAC series victory of the season. Austin Prosser of Galion crossed the dish in the 14th inning of game one for a 5-4 victory and freshman Tanner Hamilton of Centerville launched an eighth inning grand slam, capping a 12-10 victory over the Lions after nearly eight hours of baseball. Bluffton improved to 8-16 overall and 3-8 in the Heartland Conference, while MSJ slipped to 16-9 and 5-7 in the HCAC.
Ashland takes All-Ohio title
ATHENS — The Ashland University’s men and women stood quite tall on Friday and Saturday at the All-Ohio Championships.
The Eagle men won the All-Ohio title with 171 team points, out-distancing Division I Akron’s total of 148.5, while the AU women took second with 142 points, behind only Division I Ohio’s 244.
Colonel Crawford grad Clayton Jury and two other hammer throwers got things got things going by finishing 1-2-3. Junior Jordan Crayon won the event (65.58 meters), followed by junior Bryn Campbell (62.43) and sophomore Jury (61.04).
Mount Union wins six events at Homon open
ALLIANCE — Mount Union’s men’s track and field team, ranked No. 17 in the nation, won six events at the John Homon Open on a cold Sunday at Mount Union Stadium.
The event wins came from freshman Connor Troyer of Sugarcreek in the 110 meter hurdles (15.17); junior Jaquill Scott of East Hanover, N.J., in the javelin (189-11); junior Darrin Reddus of Pepper Pike in the triple jump (41-6); senior Zack Wukotich of Salem in the high jump (6-6.75); senior Tyler Orewiler of Bucyrus (and Colonel Crawford grad) in the pole vault (16-4); and the 4×100 meter relay team of junior Andrew Shrewsbury of Woodville, senior Tyler Gentry of Louisville, sophomore Josh Weber of Wadsworth and freshman Louis Berry of Pittsburgh at 42.11.
Mansfield SWAT wins Ohioway tourney
MARION — The Mansfield Small Wrestling Attack Team won its sixth title over the past seven years at the Ohioway State Tournament, which took place at the Marion Coliseum earlier this month.
Cameron Brooks of Mansfield, Zain Finley of Madison, Aydan Reyes of Galion and Grady Hayden of Clear Fork were the champions that sealed the team’s sixth title.
Reyes defeated Nick Smith of Ares Combat Firebirds 9-1 in the 66-pound weight class.
SWAT is open to youth in grades K through sixth.
OSU mourns loss of Will Smith
The Ohio State athletics family lost one of its best Saturday night when former football team captain and All-American Will Smith was shot and killed in New Orleans following a traffic accident. His wife, Racquel, was with him during the incident and was taken to a nearby hospital, according to a press release from OSU.
Smith, a father of three, was 34.
A four-year letterman from 2000-03, Smith was the leader of a defensive line and a defense that powered Ohio State to the 2002 college football national championship, the school’s first national title in football in 34 years, or since the 1968 team won the championship.
Following the 2003 season, Smith was one of three Buckeyes to be selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, by New Orleans. He would play his entire nine-year NFL career with the Saints and helped the organization win Super Bowl XLIV, a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Feb. 7, 2010.
His NFL career spanned the 2004 through 2012 seasons, during which time he played in 139 games and recorded 457 tackles, 67.5 quarterback sacks and forced 20 fumbles. He led the Saints in sacks four different seasons and was selected to the 2006 Pro Bowl.
Smith was from Utica, N.Y., where he attended Proctor High School.
