Fulton County Ohio Media

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Click on the link above to access photos from the pre-game and halftime activities from the Archbold at Swanton Football game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedika.com website.

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The Archbold Blue Streaks picked up an easy victory at Swanton Friday night as they crashed the Bulldogs’ Homecoming celebration with a 42-0 NWOAL victory. A 21-point second quarter pushed the Blue Streak lead to 31-0 going into halftime and triggered a running clock to begin the third quarter.

The win evens Archbold’s league record at 2-2 and improves their mark on the season to 4-3. They return home next Friday to meet the Wauseon Indians. Swanton remains winless on the year at 0-7 and 0-4 in the NWOAL. They will welcome the Bryan Golden Bears next week on Senior Night.

Click the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Ryder Ryan and the Blue Streaks celebrate an early touchdown

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Prior to the football game against the visiting Archbold Blue Streaks, Swanton High School introduced its 2024 Homecoming Court to the crowd.  The Court is below as follows:

Queen (Miranda Yeager) and King (Melvin Brown)

Senior Attendants:  Jessica Finfera, Lylah Hummel, Charlie Griffin, Isabella Bonifas, Evan Smigelski, Drake Harris, Logan Young, Hunter Entenmann

Junior Attendants:  Anja Caklovic, Alexa Faber, Conner Mitchey, Jack Tansel

Sophomore Attendants:  Madelyn Foster, Dylan Smigelski

Freshmen Attendants:  Julianna Avery, Eli Bolyard

Click on the link above to access photos from the coronation. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Homecoming King Melvin Brown and Homecoming Queen Miranda Yeager pass by the grandstand.

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Swanton High School began its Homecoming Weekend with the traditional parade on Thursday. The parade ended at the Fisher Gymnasium where the names of the Homecoming Queen (Miranda Yeager) and King (Melvin Brown) were revealed. A bonfire and kickball games came after.

Click on the link above to access photos from the parade. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Senior Attendants Evan Smigelski and Jessica Finfera

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The Swanton Soccer Team celebrated Senior Night at halftime of their match against the visiting Liberty Center Tigers on Thursday afternoon.  However, it was two underclassmen that stood out in the first half as they staked the Bulldogs to a3-1 lead on their way to a 5-1 NWOAL win at Krupitzer Field.

It was sophomore Evan Reinhard that powered Swanton offense in the first half with a three-goal hat trick.  He broke a scoreless tie with 26:02 left in the half then, after Liberty Center tied the game, Reinhard put the Bulldogs ahead again, this time to stay, when he found the back of the Tiger net at the 23:29 mark.

The Tiger offense kept the pressure on Swanton’s defense, generating five corner kicks in the first 40 minutes alone, one of which they scored their only goal.  Fortunately, freshman goalie Landon Hendricks had a spectacular game, keeping shot after shot out of the net to maintain the Bulldog’s slim lead.  With 8:52 remaining in the first half, Reinhard put on a ball handling show, out maneuvering the entire Tiger defense to power a shot past the goalie for his third score of the night. 

In the second half, senior Isaiah Bolyard scored on a perfectly aimed corner kick that rose over the goalie and ricocheted off the far goal post to give Swanton a 4-1 lead, essentially salting the game away.  A short time later, Jack Tansel scored the Bulldog’s fifth and final goal.

The win improves Swanton’s record to 1-3 in the league and 2-10-3 on the season.  They next travel to Archbold on Tuesday to take on the Blue Streaks.  Liberty Center drops to 0-4-1 in the NWOAL and 3-7-4 for the year.

Click on the link to access photos from the match. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Evan Reinhard (23) watches his shot fly past Tiger goalie Christian Campos for his second of three goals in the game

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At halftime of the Swanton versus Liberty Center soccer match at Tom Krupitzer Field, the Bulldogs recognized five seniors who would be playing their final home game of their soccer careers.  Retired Swanton teacher Betty Joe Sadowski introduced each senior and announced their bio as they were escorted across the pitch.

At this time, we would like to take a minute to recognize our senior football (soccer) players:

Our first senior is Isaiah Bolyard.  Isaiah is being escorted by Joe and Lori Bolyard.  While at Swanton High School, Isaiah has participated in football, basketball, soccer and baseball.  His future plans are to attend college and earn a Business degree while continuing to work for Design Entertainment.

Our next senior is Vincent Fanelli.  Vincent is being escorted by Melanie Lorenzen.  While at Swanton High School, Vincent has participated in soccer, wrestling and baseball.  His future plans are to attend Owens Community College for Electrical Engineering or go into the electrical field while working on his journeymen’s license.

Our next senior is Jessica Finfera.  Jessica is being escorted by Michelle and Bryan Finfera.  While at Swanton High School, Jessica has participated in soccer, basketball, track and field, student council, National Honor Society, Leadership Class, Interact, Frosh Fest and 6^th-grade camp.  Her future plans are to attend college and play soccer while majoring in Business and Sales.

Next, we have Noah LaVoy.  Noah is being escorted by Bobbie and Greg LaVoy.  While at Swanton High School, Noah has participated in soccer, cross-country and track and field.  His future plans are to attend a college in Florida.

Our next senior is Miranda Yeager.  Miranda is being escorted by Jessica and Kevin Yeager.  While at Swanton High School, Miranda has participated in soccer, softball, golf, basketball, track and field, student council, 6^th-grade camp, Frosh Fest, Youth Leadership Toledo and Interact.  Her future plans are to attend college and further her education in Cosmetology.

Before the halftime ceremony, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-1 lead over the Tigers, then outscored the visitors 2-0 in the second half for a 5-1 Senior Night victory.

Click on the link above to access photos from the celebration. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Senior Miranda Yeager

In 2019, Julia and Rob Benfield purchased the historic building on the corner of Main Street and Zeiter Way (Broadway) in downtown Swanton that once was the home of the Pilliod Opera House and relocated their wine making (Rob) and selling (Julia) business into the first floor.  The structure, built in1896, had seen better days and also served the Swanton community as a hardware store, a photography studio and even a basketball venue.  After much needed renovation, mainly to the infrastructure, Benfield Wines opened for business in August of that year and began producing and selling with a modest selection of four wines.

Today, their adult beverage menu includes 18 wines, 25 bourbons, various seasonal slushies and a few selections from Swanton’s Oncore Brewery.  However, adding to their drink menu was only the beginning of their growth over the past five years.  The Benfields built a large bar that greets customers when you first walk in.  They later installed a kitchen and created a food menu that includes, among other items, flat bread pizza, panini sandwiches and most recently, lasagna.  Julia and Rob contracted with Thomas Construction of Swanton and had their small party room more than doubled in size, with the main feature being two enormous garage doors with windows installed on the south side of the building, adjacent to Zeiter way.

“I’m most excited about this room, the extended venue for bridal showers, baby showers and especially the block parties that we do,” said Julia.  “It’s been great to work with local Swanton businesses, with Seth’s team (Thomas Construction) and the Chamber has been very supportive.”

It did not take long after opening their doors that Benfield Wines began to act as a magnet to bring people to the downtown area.  After the Swanton Village Council passed the ordinance to allow the creation of the DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area), Benfield’s partnered with Hub’s Bar and the Swanton Chamber of Commerce to organize monthly summer block parties and the downtown foot traffic just exploded.

“Ten years ago, when we talked about doing this, that we would be in this beautiful building and able do all the fun things we do for the community and our customers.  It started as a pipe dream and my husband telling his co-workers that he was going to quit and start a winery and they didn’t believe it,” Julia reflected.  “We moved to Swanton to expand our business.  This has definitely been what we planned.  We moved here with a purpose and we definitely appreciate working with other small businesses and the Chamber.”

Benfield Wines, located at 102 North Main Street, cannot be missed if you travel anywhere near Downtown Swanton.  Several years ago, with the help of matching grants from the Village of Swanton, the Benfields had a lot of the brick and mortar repaired or replaced and painted the entire façade a vivid fire engine red.  A few other Main Street businesses followed their lead and gave their building a facelift as well, making the area a welcoming place to visit.

Photo: Julia Benfield cuts the ribbon alongside (L to R): Swanton Mayor Neil Toeppe, First Lady of Swanton Eileen Toeppe, Tara Shaver, Holden Benfield, Rob Benfield, Seth Thomas, Swanton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Delray Busch

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Click on the link above to access photos of the Delta High School Band with PDY Alumni and Swanton Band. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.