Lady Panther point guard Alani Haas has decided to continue her education and basketball career at Owens Community College (OCC) and play for Women’s Basketball Head Coach Stephen Perry and the perennial power Lady Express basketball program.
“I’ve watched their basketball program play and I really liked it. I liked the energy they brought and how excited the coaches got,” said Alani, explaining her reasons for choosing OCC. “We met with the coaches and talked to them on a personal level and I really appreciated them and how committed they seem to be.” Prior to making the commitment, Alani sought input from former Lady Panther and OCC player Brooklyn Green who, in her two years with the Express, went to two Final Fours and brought home one national championship and gave her endorsement to the coaches and the program.
“She’s been a great ball handler for us. She comes in and gives the team confidence,” said Delta Girls Basketball Head Coach, Kelsey Gillen. She has a real ‘go-get-em’ attitude and mentality and is not afraid get in there and battle with everyone else.”
In the classroom, Alani will be majoring in Psychology.
Click on the link above to access photos from the signing. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Alani signs with parents Bryan and Angel Hollingsworth and Owens Coach Stephen Perry
With the help of a large number of volunteer judges, many from the local business, academic and professional community, the Swanton Seven Initiative (SSI) Program held the first round of the Amazing Shake Competition for all of its seventh-grade students this past Wednesday morning. The SSI Program, now in its sixth year, was inspired by the National Amazing Shake Competition that is held every year at the acclaimed Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. It was introduced to the Swanton Middle School (SMS) by then principal Matt Smith and implemented by Mr. Smith, Assistant Principal Leigh Pancoast (current principal) and the rest of the faculty at SMS. It proved to be so successful, the Ohio Middle Level Association (OMLA) selected, for its two most prestigious annual awards, Swanton Middle School (SMS) as the 2020 Team of the Year and SMS Principal Matt Smith as the 2020 Educator of the Year.
The Amazing Shake is a competition that focuses on building soft skills in students, placing strong emphasis on manners, discipline, respect, and professional behavior. To demonstrate these skills, students worked their way through “The Gauntlet.” There were seven stations in “The Gauntlet” and each put students’ abilities to the test. Each student had to show great poise and confidence in personal interactions as well as exhibit effective management skills.
The Gauntlet stations included a “Dining Drive,” which required students to be able to courteously place an order, interact appropriately with a waiter, and use proper dining etiquette. The “Interview Alley” and “Conversation Circle” tested the students’ communication skills as they answered questions in an interview setting and engaged others in conversation. In the “Know the News” and “Faces in the News” stations, students were assessed on their knowledge of important world events and their ability to recognize influential people in the world. “Appointment Alley” judged the students communication skills in three real life situations that he or she may encounter over the phone. Lastly, “Dress to Impress” the students focused on professional attire and presenting themselves in a positive light as well as tying a dress tie around their neck. As each student approached a judge at every station, they were expected to deliver a “winning” handshake.
Scores were totaled and 20 students were chosen to move on to the next round which will take place later this month at the Anderson’s Corporate Headquarters in Maumee. Eventually, one winner will be selected and will be sent to Atlanta to compete in the national competition at the Ron Clark Academy next year. The Ron Clark Academy is a highly-acclaimed, non-profit middle school that has received both national and international recognition for its success in creating a loving, dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence and leadership.
The top 20 students this year are, Dixie Anderson, Ariana Jacomet, Layla Carver, Dylan Haselman, Weston Weber, Colton Aytes, Gavin McFarland, Alex Smith, Lukas Mendenhall, Kylie Kania, Sofia Aguirre, Lily Foster, Makennah Schuchman, Raegan Rominski, Gracelyn Peebles, Kaylie Graham, Skye Rosebrock, Gabe Haselman, Michael Massey, and Lathan Wilson.
Click on the link above to access photos from the competition. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
On Saturday night, the Swanton Rotary held a “Name That Tune” event at the Swanton Sports Center to help raise funds for Swanton Local School’s Backpack Buddies Program. Backpack Buddies is a program found in school districts and communities nationwide that supplies nutritious meals to disadvantage students over weekends when school breakfasts and lunches are not available. The nutrition provided by these meals, allow the students to return to school on Monday mornings well fed and ready to learn.
The event was sponsored by the local PizzAroma on Airport Highway in Swanton and by the Swanton Sports Center. A great job of organizing was accomplished by several volunteers and chaired by Stephanie Fessenden and Pat Pilliod. The funds raised is expected to help more than 40 students in the Swanton Local School District.
Click on the link above to access photos from the event. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com
Blue Streak senior Cade Brenner, playing in the final home game of his high school basketball career, scorched the nets and the Knights of Otsego for 36 points to lead Archbold to a 68-47 win, capturing the DIII Sectional Championship Friday evening in the Thunderdome. The 2024 NWOAL Basketball Player of the Year wasted no time in showing the crowd and the opponent what they were in for as he scored 11 points in the first quarter and 19 for the half with five baskets coming from beyond the arc.
To their credit, the visiting Knights played well and remained relatively close, trailing 51-40 entering the final quarter, but ran out of gas towards the end as both teams emptied their bench in the final minutes. In addition to Brenner’s 36 points, Micah Nofziger scored 13 for the Streaks. Jack Simpson led Otsego with 14 points and Devin Silva added 10.
Archbold (21-2) moves on to play in the District Semi-Finals on Wednesday, March 6th, at Napoleon High School where they will play the Paulding Panthers, a 56-36 winner over the Evergreen Vikings in another Sectional battle. The game is scheduled for approximately 7:30 PM with the start time contingent on the ending of the first game of the night, Liberty Center versus Emmanuel Christian.
Click on 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: Cade Brenner drives in for two of his game-high 36 points.
The visiting Stryker Panthers overcame a five-point halftime deficit and outscored the Pettisville Blackbirds 27-9 in the second half to win the opening round of the OHSAA DIV Boys Basketball Sectional Tournament 42-29 on Wednesday night at Pettisville High School. Tied at 24 all midway through the third quarter, a holding call on the Blackbirds was immediately followed by a technical foul call. Panther senior Michael Donovan made three of the resulting free throws to put Stryker up 27-24 and Pettisville could not recover and did not score again until late in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Panthers took a 28-24 lead after three and never looked back, outscoring the Blackbirds 14-5 in the final frame to advance in the tournament. Daniel Donovan led Stryker with 15 points and Joey Ripke had 10 for Pettisville.
Stryker Panthers: 11-4-13-14 = 42 Daniel Donovan (15), William Donovan (13), Michael Donovan (8), Gavin LaBo (4), Jacob Caldwell (2)
Pettisville Blackbirds: 12-8-4-5 = 29 Joey Ripke (10), Jack Leppelmeier (8), Kaleb Wyse (6), Johnny Fenton (3), Creighton Aeschliman (2)
Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Blackbird Jack Leppelmeier flies toward the basket.
Game One Celebrates New Facility Opening with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Game One, the premier provider of apparel, uniforms, and equipment for schools, clubs, and organizations, is thrilled to announce the official opening of its new 130,000 square foot facility at 11500 Tailwinds Dr, Swanton, OH 43558, located behind the warehouse complex just west of the Ohio Turnpike exchange at the Toledo Express Airport. To commemorate this milestone, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday, February 27 at 4:00 pm.
Game One has quickly become a go-to destination for teams and fans alike, offering a wide range of high-quality products that unify communities through a shared passion for sports. The company prides itself on its commitment to excellence, carrying some of the most renowned brands in the sports industry, including Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, and more.
Whether it’s cross country, football, soccer, tennis, golf, swimming, volleyball, basketball, hockey, wrestling, or gymnastics, Game One has teams covered with top-notch equipment, uniforms, and apparel. The extensive selection includes game day apparel, branded apparel, spirit wear, and much more, ensuring that teams and fans can proudly wear their colors.
Game One has added 52 full-time teammates in the new Swanton facility and is continuing to fill open positions. Please visit https://careers-game-one.icims.com to view current job listings and apply. For more information about Game-One and its product offerings, please visit http://www.game-one.com or contact Jimmy Van Epps, SVP of Operations at Game-One.
About Game One:
Game One is a leading provider of apparel, uniforms, and equipment for schools, clubs, and organizations, dedicated to unifying teams and fans through a shared love for sports. With a commitment to excellence and a vast selection of top-tier brands, Game One is the go-to destination for all sporting needs.
Click on the link to view several photos from the event.
Photo: Swanton Mayor Neil Toeppe and Swanton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Delray Bush hold the the ribbon along with Chamber members and Game One employees as Game One executives cut the ribbon to officially open Game One’s new facility.
Playing in the final regular season home game of his very impressive high school basketball career, Eli Keifer scored 24 points, 12 in the first quarter, to lead the Evergreen Vikings to a 56-39 victory over the Swanton Bulldogs on Friday night in the Big House. The Vikings jumped out to a 22-7 advantage over the Bulldogs in the first quarter and were never seriously threatened for the rest of the game. Riley Dunbar helped the Evergreen cause with 10 points, including two thunderous dunks. Charlie Wood led the Bulldogs with 20 points.
The victory puts the Vikings’ record at 17-5 for the regular season and 4-3 in the NWOAL, good for fourth place. Swanton finishes with an overall record of 7-15 and 2-5 in the league, tied for fifth place. Both teams now begin post season play with 11th Seed Swanton traveling to 4th Seed Liberty Center on Tuesday at 7:00 PM. The 3rd Seed Vikings will be at home on Friday at 7:00 PM to play the winner of the game between the 6th Seed Delta Panthers and the 7th Seed Paulding Panthers.
Click on 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: Eli Keifer nailing one of his four three-pointers on the night
Delta’s Grace Munger sank four out of four free throws down the stretch to help hold off a hard-charging Eastwood team in a 52-44 victory in a DIII Girls Basketball Sectional Semi-Final game at Delta High School on Thursday night. The Lady Panthers had roared out to 26-9 first quarter lead as Munger and Abby Todd did their best Caitlin Clark imitation by draining five three-point shots on five attempts. However, the Lady Eagles of the Northern Buckeye Conference responded in kind, scoring the first 14 points of the second quarter while shutting down the Delta offense, allowing only two points and trailed the home team 28-23 at halftime.
“You have to give them (Eastwood) credit. We knew they were a good team. They didn’t give up and kept fighting,” said Panther coach Kelsey Gillen. “But we hung in the there, and made key baskets when we needed them.”
The second half was a tight battle with Eastwood eventually drawing within two points in the fourth quarter. Still four points behind with time running down, the Eagles were forced to foul. With Munger’s four free throws and two more from Kendall Sprow, the Lady Panthers were able to seal the win. Munger led the Lady Panthers with 15 points. Kayla Buehler scored 20 points for Eastwood.
The win allows Delta to move on to the Sectional Championship game against the Tinora Lady Rams at Tinora High School on Saturday at 7:00 PM. It also delivered a proud moment for the six seniors, Emma Demaline, Grace Munger, Kate Friess, Alaini Haas, Kendall Sprow, Ashley Lamb and Olivia Smith who were able to walk off their home court for the final time in their high school basketball careers with a playoff victory.
Click on 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: Grace Munger at the foul line in the 4th quarter
On Tuesday, in their final home game of the 2023-2024 basketball season, the Swanton Bulldogs fell 50-48 in overtime to the Stryker Panthers when a potential game-tying shot bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded. With the game tied at 47-47, both teams struggled from the field in the extra session with neither making a shot. However, the visiting Panthers hit three free throws to the Bulldogs’ one to come away with the victory. Charlie Wood led Swanton with 14 points while Michael Donovan paced Stryker with 20 points.
With the loss, the Bulldogs drop to 7-14 on the season. Swanton travels to Evergreen on Friday night to take on the Vikings in the “Big House” to finish the league and regular season. Next Tuesday, February 27th, the Bulldogs will be in Liberty Center to open the OHSAA DIII Sectional Tournament.
Stryker Panthers: 10-15-13-9-3 = 50 Michael Donovan (20), Daniel Donovan (11), Jacob Cadwell (7), William Donovan (6), Jacob Myers (3), Gavin LaBo (3)
Swanton Bulldogs: 11-16-7-13-1 = 48 Charlie Wood (14), Brady O’Shea (13), Evan Reinhard (12), Giovanni Ruiz (8), Brennon Mersing (1)
Click on 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: Giovanni Ruiz attacks the basket for two of his eight points.
Prior to the last regular season home game against the Stryker Panthers, Swanton High School recognized and honored the seniors on the boys’ basketball team and the cheerleading squad. The seniors were introduced in the following order as a short bio was read by Betty Jo Sadowski.
Jalen Carrizales: Jalen is being escorted by Josefina and Jesse Carrizales. While at Swanton High School, Jalen has participated in soccer, track, basketball and choir. His future plans are to further his carpentry career and join the union.
Brennon Mersing: Brennen is being escorted by Michael and Courtney Mersing. While at Swanton High School, Brennon has participated in the National Honor Society, show choir, frosh fest, prom court, basketball, football and baseball. His future plans are to pursue a career in excavation.
Jonah Rico: Johnah is being escorted by Sabrina Rico. While at Swanton High School, Jonah has participated in track, football, yearbook, leadership class and basketball. His future plans are to go to barber school and then open his own business.
Kaden Nofziger: Kaden is being escorted by Monica Nofziger. While at Swanton High School, Kaden has participated in basketball, show choir and football. His future plans are undecided.
Kylee Nofziger: Kylee is being escorted by Monica Nofziger. While at Swanton High School, Kylee has participated in 4H, band, cheerleading and softball. Her plans are to attend Grace College to get a degree in nursing.
Desiree Poling: Desiree is being escorted by Amanda Reed and Terry and Jaylynn Poling. While at Swanton High School, Desiree has participated in cheerleading. Her future plans are to attend the University of Toledo and major in biology.
Ms. Sadowski ended the ceremony with a small but inspiring speech.
“Tonight, we are honoring our senior basketball players and cheerleaders. These athletes, in their four year as high school basketball players, have spent over 1000 hours in practices, pregame warm ups, games and off-season conditioning. The cheerleaders have also given many hours to their sport to perfect their jumps, cheer moves and dance routines. Many of these athletes have worked on their sport since the First Grade.
Seniors, turn and take a look at your parents who are standing beside you. Without them, you would not be where you are today. You need to thank your parents every day for their support, encouragement and love throughout your years here at Swanton.
Senior parents, we want to thank you form doing a wonderful job raising these wonderful young men and women. They Are an asset to our school and community. We appreciate all the times you have taken them to practice, camps and games.
John Wooden states, ‘Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Because character is what you truly are while your reputations merely what others think you are. Be true to yourself. As you walk off this floor for the last time tonight, embrace everything you have learned from this sport, it will help you in the future to be successful. On this day, years from now, you will not remember the wins and losses of each season, but the people that took this journey with you and never let you look back.’
On behalf of the Swanton schools, community and fans of the Bulldog Nation, we wish you all the best in the future and thank you for all you have done for Swanton schools. Congratulations and good luck.”
Click on the link above to access photos from the ceremony. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Fulton County Ohio Media 