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Mississinawa Valley coach Taylor Rawlings discusses strategy during a timeout.  The Hawks won their first tournament game since joining the WOAC. (Dale Barger photo)

KETTERING – The Mississinawa Valley volleyball team defeated Jackson Center in straight sets in the first round of the OHSAA DVII North 2 Sectional. It marks the first post season win for the Blackhawks since the WOAC started in 2021.

Mississinawa Valley’s serving game was on fire and maybe aided a bit by a little sleight of hand magic in the first set scoring 5 times where the ball hit the top of the net and dropped down for a point.  But that doesn’t take away from the hot start and service from seniors Danika Neargarder and Cora Hoggatt as the Blackhawks opened up 10-2 lead.  They then had leads of 14-4, 16-7 and 19-10 before the Tigers clawed back to 20-16.  Mississinawa was able to close out the first game strong winning it 25-17.

Makenna Hoggatt takes aim with her jump serve.
(Dale Barger photo)

In the second set the Hawks had leads of 4-1, 8-4 and 10-5 before Jackson Center found their groove.  The Tigers got hot at the line serving and more aggressive with their offense going on a 7-0 run to go in front 12-10 prompting a timeout by coach Taylor Rawlings. 

“We didn’t really focus a lot on the being down so much as what we needed to do and just playing the game one point at a time,” Rawlings would say in the timeout. 

Jackson Center would score the next point to go up 13-10, then MV finally broke the 8-point run on senior Allyson Waymire’s slam over the middle.  Senior Makenna Hoggatt then got a couple of jump serves to go down to regain the lead 16-13 before JC broke her serve.


Allison Waymire slams home a point to break the 8-0 run by Jackson Center.
(Dale Barger photo)

Back-to-back points at the net from Waymire and junior Gretchen Rodeheffer extended the lead to 18-14 … but the Tigers roared back again to tie it up at 18.

Mississinawa freshman Ella Livingston 3 straight serves led to points before the Tigers broke her for a 21-19 lead.  Set two could have gone either way but the Blackhawks were just a bit stronger at the net ... set-up beautifully by Danika Neargarder, to win it 25-22.

Mississinawa had pretty much taken the wind out of the Tigers and would win the final set fairly easy 25-16 for the straight set win and first tournament victory for seniors Danika Neargarder, Makenna and Cora Hoggatt and Allyson Waymire.

“I’m so proud of this team they had a really good season and to win a tournament game for this team means a lot and I couldn’t be happier for our seniors,” coach Rawlings stated.

In her first season as the coach Rawlings team would go 18-4, 10-1 in the WOAC and now moves to 19-4 with their win over Jackson Center.

“I know their (JC) record coming in was just 7-15 but they play in a very tough conference and they have hall-of-fame coach Kim Metz (who I just love) and has won a state championship so you know you have to play well and focused to get a win,” Rawlings explained.

#5 seed Mississinawa will play #2 seed Covington (18-5) in the district semi-final game.  The Buccs beat Miami Valley and is riding a 7-game win streak, the two will play Monday, October 20th, 7pm at Kettering Fairmont High School.


Cora Hoggatt who was the WOAC Player of the year uses her left hand to score a point. (Dale Barger photo)
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CAMDEN - The Western Ohio Athletic Conference announces the boys soccer all-conference teams and final league standings. 

The Preble Shawnee boys soccer team won their first ever  league championship in school history breaking Dixie’s three consecutive championships.  The Arrows went 7-0-1 in the conference this year.

Here are the Final League Standings

Preble Shawnee            7-0-1
Dixie                               4-2-2
Newton                          4-3-1    
Franklin Monroe            2-4-2
Twin Valley South         0-8-0

Photo provided by Champine Photography

League Champion Preble Shawnee coach Jason Lucy after 10 years of coaching and first league title would be named the WOAC Coach of the Year. 

Preble Shawnee’s  Ethan Fields was be named the WOAC Boys Soccer Conference Player of the Year. 

Ethan has been a standout player for the Arrows since his sophomore year.  He had 29 goals his sophomore season, 13 as a junior and so far has 32 year and is the career leader with 74 so far as Preble Shawnee prepares for post season play.

Fields has also had 10 assists this year and 32 in his career.


Photo provided by Champine Photography

All-Conference Teams

First Team All-Conference

Evan Marker                      Dixie
Noah Gentry                      Dixie
Aiden Hammand           Dixie
David Reed                         Franklin Monroe
Evanston Hemphill     Newton
Brensen Skinner            Newton
Carson Resides              Newton
Ethan Fields                      Preble Shawnee
Colton Schroeder         Preble Shawnee
Luke Cross                         Twin Valley South

Second Team All-Conference

Keagen Wells                   Dixie
Brayden Doty                    Dixie
Evan Addis                          Franklin Monroe
Aidan Yang                          Franklin Monroe
Isaiah Nance                    Newton
Trent Geise                         Preble Shawnee
Country Ford                    Preble Shawnee
Alex Schatzle                    Preble Shawnee
Logan Hershon               Twin Valley South

Special Mention All-Conference

Logan Williams               Dixie
Hannah Wolf                    Franklin Monroe
Chase Wackler               Newton
Donald Clark                    Preble Shawnee
Max Woodgeard            Twin Valley South

Congratulations to champion Preble Shawnee and to all athletes earning all-conference honors.
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ARCANUM - The Western Ohio Athletic Conference announces their all-conference teams and final league standings.  The Arcanum Volleyball team would go undefeated and win their third straight conference championship. 

Here are the Final League Standings

Arcanum                              11-0
Mississinawa Valley   10-1
Ansonia                        8-3
Tri-Village                     8-3
Dixie                              7-4
Newton                         7-4
Twin Valley South        5-6
Franklin Monroe           4-7
Bradford                        3-8
Tri-County North          2-9
National Trail                 1-10
Preble Shawnee            0-11

League Champion Arcanum coach Jacie Holman would be named the WOAC Coach of the Year.  It was her 3rd straight matching the three league championships.

Mississinawa Valley’s Cora Hoggatt would be named the WOAC Volleyball Conference Player of the Year.  Cora has been a standout player for the Blackhawks with a solid all-around game adept with her jump serve (62 aces) leading the WOAC.  Kills on the front line (205) 5th in WOAC and ability to distribute balls all over the court with 573 digs and 2nd in the league passing.

All-Conference Teams

First Team All-Conference

Olivia Schmitmeyer                      Ansonia
Kamryn Beisner                            Arcanum
Grace Fry                                       Arcanum
Caroline Long                                Arcanum
Chloe Hocker                                 Bradford
Kendyl Hypes                                 Dixie
Cora Hoggatt                                 Mississinawa Valley
Makenna Hoggatt                          Mississinawa Valley
Estie Rapp                                       Newton
Sallie Montgomery                         Preble Shawnee
Mylee Bierly                                    Tri-Village
Gabby Kirby                                    Tri-Village
Lainey Mercer                                 Twin Valley South

Second Team All-Conference

Lydia Hahn                                     Ansonia
Cameron Garbig                            Arcanum
Grace Psczulkoski                         Arcanum
Teegan Miller                                  Dixie
Reagan Flora                                  Franklin Monroe
Danika Neargarder                        Mississinawa Valley
Allyson Waymire                            Mississinawa Valley
Haydn Davies                                 National Trail
Mya Denlinger                                Newton
Paityn Davidson                             Tri-County North
Zoe Ayette                                      Tri-Village
Danika Caldwell                              Twin Valley South

Special Mention All-Conference

Lillian Kaiser                                     Ansonia
Avery Leeper                                    Arcanum
Addysen Mills                                   Bradford
Jacie Hartmier                                  Dixie
Brooklyn Miller                                  Franklin Monroe
Gretchen Rodeheffer                       Mississinawa Valley
Eva Swartsell                                    National Trail
Aubrey Stetzel                                  Newton
Macy Price                                         Preble Shawnee
Kiley Adkins                                       Tri-County North
Heidi Bell                                            Tri-Village
Brylii Day                                            Twin Valley South

Congratulations to champion Arcanum Trojans and to all athletes earning all-conference honors.
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The Western Ohio Athletic Conference announces their all-conference teams and final league standings.

Preble Shawnee girls soccer won their 2nd straight conference championship.  It was their 3rd title in the 5th year of the WOAC.

Final League Standings

Preble Shawnee                    8-1-1
Newton                                  8-2-0
Tri-County North                  4-4-2
Twin Valley South                 3-6-1
National Trail                         2-6-2
Dixie                                       2-8-0

League Champion Preble Shawnee highlights league MVP honors with senior Aubrey Unger being named Player of the Year for the third year in a row.  Unger set several records at Shawnee including most goals in a season with 29 and in career currently with 86.

Shawnee coach Donnie Hatton also won back-to-back Coach of the Year honors and his 3rd WOAC honor in the last 5 years.

Here are the All-Conference Teams

First Team All-Conference

Ally Loggins                                          Dixie
Lillian Cordle                                        National Trail
Kinley Marker                                       National Trail
Brilie Hines                                           Newton
Gwen Holbrook                                    Newton
Nora Feck                                             Preble Shawnee
Josie Mondello-Garrett                      Preble Shawnee
Aubrey Unger                                      Preble Shawnee
Reese Myers                                        Tri-County North
Hailey Shannon                                   Tri-County North
Josey Butler                                         Twin Valley South
Grace Childer s                                    Twin Valley South

Second Team All-Conference
Maddison Caldwell                               Dixie
Eva Gentry                                            Dixie
Harper Henderson                               National Trail
Kenady Thompson                               National Trail
Rylee Hess                                            Newton
Mia Szakal                                             Newton
Lyla Ford                                                Preble Shawnee
Alexis Leach                                          Preble Shawnee
Hayden Shannon                                  Tri-County North
Zoey Vaughn                                        Twin Valley South
Ava Weldy                                             Twin Valley South

Special Mention All-Conference
Emma McQueen                                  Dixie
Ollie Mason                                          National Trail
Avery Koffer                                         Newton
Jillian Murphy                                      Preble Shawnee
Mackenzie Woodrey                           Tri-County North
Madison Nelson                                  Twin Valley South

Congratulations to our team champion and to all the individuals earning all-league honors.
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The Tri-Village Volleyball team finished 8-3 in the WOAC this year. (Dale Barger photo)

NEW MADISON – Tri-Village girls volleyball celebrated a senior night win over National Trail in straight sets Thursday night.  It also turned out to be a record setting night for three players as well.

Starting the game off, a presentation was made to senior Heidi Bell, a steady all-around player for the PATS with her 500th career dig.

Then on the third kill in the game by junior Gabby Kirby, play stopped to recognize her 266th kill of the season which set a new single season record breaking the old mark set by Lily Camacho last year.

Patriots Gabby Kirby slams home her 266th kill for the season setting a new single season record. (Dale Barger photo)

Gabby also had 24 kills in a 5-set win over Dixie on October 7th setting a new single game record as well.

“Gabby (coach Alaine Kirby’s daughter) is a great leader on and off the floor and works hard year-round, and it's really paying off,” Coach Kirby would say on her accomplishment.

The Patriots rolled in the first set 25-10, in fact they won all three sets by the same score.

In the second set play stopped again this time to recognize Mylee Bierly as the junior picked up her 1,166th dig to set a new career record surpassing assistant coach Kara (Hollinger) Burns who had the old record at Tri-Village.

“Mylee is hungry and wants to get everything and only being a junior, she is going to add a lot more digs in her career,” Kirby stated.

Mylee Bierly dives to dig up a ball and broke the career record for digs. (Dale Barger photo)

Tri-Village's coach in her first season at the helm after assisting the last few years talked about how much fun it has been this year.

“Being the head coach, it's a lot of work, but I've enjoyed every second. I have a great group of girls, and they make my job so much easier,” Kirby explained.

Helping make it fun for her were three seniors recognized before the game: Heidi Bell, Camryn Osborne and Emma Whaley

“Our seniors have done really well in their roles this year and have been excellent leaders for the program,” Kirby said.

She further commented on her seniors individually.

Senior Heidi Bell registered 500 career digs and has done well at the net too with this kill on senior night. (Dale Barger photo)

“Heidi Bell has just been a great asset to the team, a great role model for the girls. She's hard working, disciplined, and displays a great attitude,” Kirby complimented.

“Cam has been playing well all the way around this year.  This is the first year she's played front row and worked hard enough in the off season to get there and has done well,” Kirby approved.

Sr. Cam Osborne steady improvement from last year earned her front row playing time this season. (Dale Barger photo)

“Probably the most emotional senior for me is Emma Whaley, because over the past two years, she has bought into every single thing that I fed her, and has worked so hard and hands down is our most improved player, so I'm just super proud of her,” Kirby praised.

“She had a phenomenal game today, and the other night against dixie, when we needed her to show up, she showed up big,” Kirby added.

Sr. Emma Whaley put together excellent back-to-back games drawing praise from coach Alaine Kirby. (Dale Barger photo)

The Patriots have played some good teams over the last half of the season against West Liberty Salem, Alter, Minster and Miami East and although they resulted in a loss it should help them in the tournament. 

They currently are 11-10 overall, 8-3 in the league and finished tied for 3rd place with Ansonia in the Western Ohio Athletic Conference.

Despite having defeated Ansonia twice this year the Patriots were the #7 seed and the Tigers the #4 seed in the OHSAA DVI South Sectional.   The two teams will square off a third time this year on Tuesday October 14th, 5:30pm at Arcanum High School.

National Trail fell 5-16 overall and 1-10 in the WOAC.  The Blazers were a #14 seed, and they will play #1 seed Arcanum on Wednesday October 15th, 7:00pm at Arcanum High School.

Tri-Village seniors Emma Whaley, Heidi Bell and Camryn Osborne played their last volleyball game at home. (Dale Barger photo)
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