News

Western Ohio Athletic Conference has a Special Announcement regarding future Ticket prices taking effect with "Winter Sports". 

Due to Ohio House Bill 147 the following changes will take affect starting with winter sports that effects future ticket prices at all WOAC sporting events.

Cash, credit card and online ticket prices are to be the same with no up-charge for online ticket purchases.

Student prices will be lower than adult prices.

Ticket Prices

Adults $7 

Students $5 (K thru 12th grades)

Seniors $5 (62 and over)

Prices are the same for all events including tournaments both junior high and high school.

WOAC Golf and Cross-Country Championships is $5 per person or $10 max per car.

Starting this spring schools will begin charging admission for all Baseball and Softball events.

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The Lady Arrows won the 2024 WOAC Conference Championship and remain undefeated in the league with one game to go.  (Champine Photography Photo)

Game Photos
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.555196133526578&type=3

CAMDEN – The Preble Shawnee girls soccer team defeated National Trail 5-0 to claim the WOAC Conference Championship in 2024.  It is the 2^nd title for the girl’s program in the 4^th year of the league having also won in 2022.

Preble Shawnee coach Donnie Hatton was unsure about how his team would do this year due to graduation last year.

Preble Shawnee coach Donnie Hatton has coached his 2nd team to a WOAC Conference Championship. (All Feature Photos by Dale Barger)

“It is exciting that we won this year. I was unsure what to expect having lost 8 starters last year. We started 7 or 8 freshman every game this season. We thought we would be competitive in every game but didn’t think we would go undefeated thru 9 games in league play. That is a little surprising to us considering the youth and inexperience of our roster,” Hatton stated.

The Lady Arrows are 8-3-3 overall and 7-0-2 in the conference with one game left with Dixie.  Right behind them is Newton at 6-2-2 and Twin Valley South at 5-2-2. 

Ironically both Newton and South have also won a league title making the Arrows earn their title this year.

Senior Gracie Leach moves the ball ahead at midfield in game with National Trail.

“The biggest moments of the year so far for our team was beating Newton and Twin Valley South in back-to-back games. These were the two favorites in my opinion to compete for the league title. After those wins our team played with a lot more confidence knowing we were in the driver’s seat as far as the league goes. We had some minor setbacks with ties to Newton and South in round two of league play which forced us to go 9 games deep into league play to secure the title,” Hatton explained.

The nucleus of the team for Preble Shawnee and coach Hatton has to be centered around junior captain Aubrey Unger.

Junior Captain Aubrey Unger boots a goal & leads the league with 20 on the season.

“She currently leads the league in all 3 offensive categories and is a strong candidate for Player of the Year. She has 20 goals, 14 assist and leads in points with 54 and is definitely the backbone of our team and a fantastic player,” Hatton praised.

Hatton went on to talk about other keys players as well.

Junior Captain Nora Feck sends a left-footed kick forward in game with Trail.

“Next is Junior Captain Nora Feck, she leads the team in minutes played and I don’t believe she has missed a minute of league play. She is our center back that we move back and forward depending on the game situation. She is an excellent one on one defender that contains well and takes great angles to close down offensive players. She also helps the young players around her,” Hatton applauded.

“Freshman Lyla Ford is second on our team in scoring with 13 goals, she is a predator, always pressuring the defense to win balls and find the net. Has a lot to learn but an excellent start to a very bright high school career,” Hatton commended.

Freshman Lyla Ford lines up a kick, she has scored 13 goals this season for Arrows.

Coach Hatton also spoke highly of three other freshmen.

“The next three freshman players go together, Myra Neihoff, Sammy Peffly, Jillian Murphy.
Sammy is our other center back and has played terrific all season. Myra is an outside back who has improved every game and helps keep the opponent’s offense at bay. I’m Really impressed with these 2 freshman defenders. Jillian Murphy is our freshman Keeper. Stepped up when last year’s keeper was unable to play due to shoulder injury.  She was an inexperienced keeper who just seems to make plays at the right time. She’s helped us stay in games and saved a win and a tie with fantastic saves.”

Freshman Jillian Murphy gets a save and kicks the ball back in play.

The Arrows have had a great regular season so far and now can set their sights on post season after securing the league title.

“We’re not ready for this year to be over, we still have work to do and I’m excited about the post season. I think our record and league champion status should give us a solid seed and most likely a home game. I think the change in the divisions makes the tournament more competitive for young, small teams like us. A lot of the teams are evenly matched with a few key plays determining the outcome.  We love to compete, and I believe we will match up very well and give ourselves a chance to advance,” Hatton concluded.

Congratulations to the Preble Shawnee girls Soccer Team 2024 WOAC League Champions

Freshman Sammy Peffly gets in on the action against National Trail.
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Newton Senior Isaac Beidelman scores a goal in first 30 seconds to show Dixie they came ready to play. The Indians tied Dixie 3-3 to keep their WOAC title hopes alive with one game to go. (All Feature photos by Dale Barger)

NEW LEBANON – The Newton Boys Soccer team did what they needed to keep their chances at winning or sharing a WOAC league title alive stunning undefeated Dixie.   Trailing 3-1 at the half the Indians collected two goals in the second half with the game ending in a tie. 

Newton 5-1-1 in the league can claim a share of the title with a loss by Dixie and a win by the Indians at Tri-County North on Tuesday of next week.

Dixie 6-0-1 in the WOAC can still earn an outright title by defeating Preble Shawnee who they host next Tuesday.

Newton didn’t take long to score in their game Tuesday night scoring in the first 30 seconds on a kick to the left corner by senior Isaac Beidelman just clearing the outreached hands Dixie goalie Aiden Hammond.

Newton celebrates one of three goals by Isaac Beidelman as he pulls off the hat trick against Dixie. 

“Our guys were pumped to coming in tonight because they knew that they could maybe get a share of a League title with a win or a tie for the first time since the new league was formed.”  

“So, they played with a lot of energy, and it showed coming out and getting that goal right away knowing they had a lot to play for tonight,” Newton Coach Jeff Armentrout said.

It would be big night for Beidelman who also scored both goals in the second half for the Indians.

Dixie responded to the opening goal by storming to three of their own goals to a take a 3-1 lead at the break.

Greyhound senior Nate Emrick scored two of the three goals with the other one coming from junior Evan Marker.

Dixie senior Nate Emrick hit the back of the nets twice to help give the Hounds a 3-1 halftime lead.

But the second half belonged to Newton who was a quicker and a step faster and more aggressive forcing most of the action with Beidelman scoring  two more goals before the game ended deadlocked in a tie.

The 2^nd half performance pleased Newton coach Armentrout who made some strategic personnel changes that helped his team be more aggressive.

“We moved Evan Hemphill to right wing, it’s not a position he likes to play but he’s pretty good at it.  With Carson Resides our other winger getting the yellow card we had to take him out to clear his head bit and moved him up front and that helped because he is a really good ball handler,” Armentrout stated.

Newton Goalie Sawyer Renner deflects shot with three Dixie guys around him. Renner was able to shutout the Hounds in the 2nd half.

“We have six seniors who have been instrumental to our program over the last three years, and they have always been right there in contention for a league title and for them this was big because we came in here and did what we needed to do to keep us alive with a shot to still earn a share of the title with one game to go.  We just have to go do our part with a win over Tri-County North and then see how Dixie ends up in their game with Preble Shawnee,” Armentrout concluded.

Dixie coach Charlie Miller tries to get his team going in the 2nd half as his team hung on for a 3-3 tie with Newton to at least clinch a share of the WOAC conference title.

National Trail Boys Golf Team wins the OHSAA DIII District Tournament & advances to State. (Dale Barger photo)

DAYTON - The National Trail and Newton boys golf team participated in the OHSAA DIII District Tournament at PipeStone Golf Course, and the Blazers shot a team score of 315 to win the District Championship and advance to the State Tournament.

It was the first District Championship and trip to the state for the Blazers.

Trail senior Nick Brubaker tied for second as an individual carding a 73.

The Indians season ended placing 10^th overall. They graduate just one senior Ridge Gray and have the nucleus of their team returning next year.

Team Results

Individual WOAC golfers competing in the DIII districts did not advance to state and their scores were as follows:

Trey Homan, Tri-Village – 86, Leo Kinnison, Franklin Monroe – 89, Byron Young, Ansonia – 93 and Brayden Bacher, Tri-County North.

Tri-Village senior Golfer Reagan Brewer was the lone girl’s golfer to advance to the OHSAA Girls DII District Golf Tournament at PipeStone golf course.

She finished with an 88, an 11^th place finish and saw her career come to an end … but not before setting numerous school records along the way.

The Arcanum boys golf team competed at the OHSAA DII District Tournament at PipeStone and finished their season in 11^th place. Senior Graham Brubaker ended his outstanding career by just missing the cutoff to advance to the State Tournament carding a 73, the fifth best score at districts.

Team Results:

Congratulations to all the teams and individual golfers getting this far and good luck to National Trail in the State Tournament.

The Blazers will compete on Friday October 11^th at the Northstar Golf Club in Sunbury, Ohio.

For more information follow this link.

https://www.ohsaa.org/Sports-Tournaments/Golf/Golf-2024/2024-State-Tournament-Coverage


National Trail District Boys Golf Champions, advances to state both first in school history. 
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Arcanum QB Bishop Cartwright hits tight end Truman Knaus for two-point conversion & game winning points in 14-13 comeback win over National Trail. (Dale Barger photo)

Game Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.551434547236070&type=3

NEW PARIS – It wasn’t Friday night lights as National Trail hosted Arcanum Saturday morning at 10am due to a delay from high winds by hurricane Helene. A soggy, wet and muddy field with constant drizzle didn’t dampen the play, making the game in the trenches maybe a bit more difficult and in the end big pass plays would be the deciding factor as Arcanum came from behind to win 14-13.

Neither team was able to score in the first quarter in a game that was being played out in the trenches.

Much of the game was in the trenches between Arcanum & National Trail. (Dale Barger photo)

Heading into the 2^nd quarter Arcanum finally moved into scoring position but faced a fourth down and a yard to go.  Senior quarterback Landon Wagner on a keeper followed his o-line across the goal line to give the Trojans the first score and 6-0 lead at 7:32 of the 2^nd quarter.

In just a matter of minutes National Trail would match and take over the lead on the impact play of freshman wide receiver Talan Bousman.

National Trail senior quarterback Cooper Smith on their next possession connected with Bousman over the middle he broke a few tackles and outran everyone chasing him to the endzone for a 55-yard score and with the extra point the Blazers took the lead 7-6.

On the ensuing kick-off junior kicker Jacob Farno popped the kick up over the front line angled toward the right side … but just short of the secondary receivers.  It hung up long enough to allow Bousman to catch it on the run stealing it away from Arcanum.

Trail freshman Talan Bousman hauled in this pass from QB Cooper Smith for a 29-yard score and his 2nd TD reception. (Dale Barger photos)

The very next play Smith hooked up again with Bousman for 29 yards and he broke a tackle at the one-yard line to score again stealing the momentum away from Arcanum to go up 13-6.

After not scoring for 15 minutes, the two teams scored 19 points in a matter of two minutes.

After making three straight impact plays Bousman wasn’t finished, on Arcanum’s first play on the next possession he intercepted a pass at midfield for a 4^th straight impact play.

Arcanum coach Matt Macy knew halftime couldn’t come fast enough to give his team time to regroup … and was thankful they stopped the Blazers from scoring before the end of the half.

Bousman comes up with an interception making his 4th straight impact play in the game. (Dale Barger photo)

“We knew we could have issues with number 10, he’s a heck of player, just a freshman so we’ve got to deal with him for three more years,” Macy stated. 

“He had been playing a lot at quarterback coming in and they hadn’t thrown the ball to him very much, then two straight plays they throw a touchdown pass to him,” Macy said.

“We could have played it better, we were playing man, and we weren't in the best position and that’s on the coaches and we adjusted playing more inside,” Macy commented.

Bousman’s impact was huge especially for a freshman to make 4 straight impact plays and the Trojans would have to keep him in check in the 2^nd half.

The Blazers received to start the 3^rd quarter and moved the ball inside Trojan territory after a big 35-yard catch from senior tight end Gavin Vance that could have gone for TD if not for a saving tackle by junior linebacker Wyatt Schwartz.          


Blazer receiver Gavin Vance with big catch is brought down by Wyatt Schwartz to save a TD score. (Dale Barger photo)        

Arcanum then dug deep and was able to hold Trail that helped shift the momentum a bit giving them some confidence.

“We were a little bit down at halftime. I was worried coming out, and when they moved the ball down the field I told our guys somebody's got to make a play, we have really good leadership and we ended up getting them behind the sticks to get the ball back and that was big,” Macy explained.

Much like the first quarter it was a game played in the trenches neither team scored in the third frame heading into the final period and Arcanum was maybe going to have to take to the air.

“This is the first team that instantly kind of matched up size and strength wise, we're used to moving guys off the line, but everything was a stalemate, so nothing inside was working.  We were able to get on the edges a couple times and it really loosened them up,” I’ve got to be a smarter coach and get #4 (Lucas Miller ) the ball more,”Macy offered up.

Arcanum sophomore Lucas Miller catches the ball and goes 56-yards for a TD in the 4th quarter. (Dale Barger photo)

It turned out be the answer as sophomore QB Bishop Cartwright threw one down the line of scrimmage to the sideline hitting Miller in stride and he broke a tackle then it was a footrace up the sideline, Miller won that sprint with four trail defenders in tow for 56-yard catch and score.

“We motioned our big tight end, Truman Knaus, and they were blitzing so we threw it right where the guy blitzed.  Miller is a special player and after five yards, I knew there was zero chance anybody was going to catch him, because Bousman wasn’t in the game,” smiled Macy.

Arcanum still trailed 13-12 and had a decision to make, to go for the tie with an extra point or go for the lead with a two-point conversion.

On the road Macy opted to go for the lead with Cartwright rolling to the right and tight end Truman Knaus releasing right and to the back of the endzone and he would haul in the catch for the two-points giving Arcanum the lead 14-13 at 7:38 in the 4^th quarter.

National Trail wasn’t able to move the football on their next possession and Arcanum went into  game and clock control keeping the ball on the ground eating clock and winning the battle in the trenches late to salt the game in a comeback win between two 3-1 WOAC teams.

Arcanum sophomore running back MJ Macy goes over the top to grind out a few yards in a tough battle up front. (Dale Barger photo)

National Trail falls to 3-3 overall and 3-2 in the league while Arcanum improves to 4-2 overall and 4-1 in the conference.

It’s been a few years since the Arcanum football team has started 4-2 and 4-1 in the league and the first time since Macy has been at the helm.

“I’m really happy for this team and it helps set us up for next week, referring to their game at home with Tri-Village. That’s the game that can make or break a program and tell us if we're turning the corner. We’d like to sort of give it back to them like they have too us for a couple of years now,” Macy concluded.


Arcanum Offensive Line was able to grind it out late as the Trojans ran out the clock for the win. (Dale Barger photo)

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