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Click on the link above to access photos from the Swanton/Delta 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: Swanton JV Bulldogs – Bob Fisher Holiday Classic Champions
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Since the purchase and restoration of the Swanton Sports Center, the current owners have always hosted a family-friendly New Year’s Eve Party every December 31st. Last evening marked the 10th NYE celebration and building was packed from Lane #1 to Lane #20.
Patrons were able to rent lanes from 8:00 PM to midnight, have as many bowlers as they wanted and were allowed to bring in their own food or order from the deep-fry menu or get pizza by the slice. It was a great night which ended with the big countdown as the ball dropped in Times Square, saying goodbye to 2024 and welcoming in 2025.
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.
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Tied at 15-15 with Ottawa Hills entering the second quarter, the Swanton Bulldogs outscored the Green Bears 23-5 then held on in the second half to win the 2024 Bob Fisher Holiday Classic 66-52 on Saturday night at Swanton High School. Swanton reached the championship game by edging the Delta Panthers 61-59 on Friday while Ottawa Hills defeated the Maumee Panthers earlier in the day.
In the semi-final game, the Bulldogs took a 34-23 lead into the third quarter and still led by 10 points entering the fourth. The Panthers fought back, led by sophomore Tyson Bower who scored 13 of his second half 19 points in the final frame to pull Delta within one at 60-59. After Swanton senior Charlie Wood hit one of two foul shots with 4.9 seconds left in the game, a heavily guarded Bower misfired on a long shot at the buzzer, allowing the Bulldogs to escape and move on to the finals. Wood topped Swanton with 24 points, Giovanni Ruiz added 12 and Adam Lemon had 10. Bower led all players with 30 points including four triples and went 8 of 9 from the foul line. Vincent Martinez scored 10 points and Brady Morr had seven for the Panthers.
Delta Panthers: 13-10-18-18 = 59 Tyler Bower (30), Vincent Martinez (10), Brady Morr (7), Alex York (4), Kade Lintermoot (4), Walter Hallet IV (2), John Brasher (2)
Swanton Bulldogs: 17-17-17-10 = 61 Charlie Wood (24), Giovanni Ruiz (12), Adam Lemon (10), Evan Reinhard (8), Brady O’Shea (5), Isaiah Bolyard (2)
In the title match, the Swanton offense broke away from 15 all tie, exploding for 23 points in the second quarter. At one time, the Bulldogs were on top by 21 points before settling for a 38-20 halftime advantage. The Green Bears regrouped in the third quarter and outscored Swanton 20-12 and trailed by 10 points going into the fourth. Ottawa Hills managed to trim the deficit to just six points before Swanton offense came back late to win the game 66-52 and bring home the Championship trophy. “Anytime we can win a tournament with the name ‘Bob Fisher’ on it it’s a feather in our cap. It means a lot to us to win this tournament,” exclaimed Bulldog Head Coach Bruce Smith. “We probably played our best game of the year tonight. It’s a credit to our kids because we had one hour to prepare for them (Ottawa Hills).”
Despite being double-teamed almost the entire game, Charlie Wood, 6’9”, dominated down low in the offensive key with 29 points. “I’m taller than everyone else so I can still get my shots. If I can’t I just kick out to the arc to Brady O’Shea or Evan Reinhard whenever I need to,” said Wood. Evan Reinhard with 16 points and Brady O’Shea with 11, did support Wood with long-range outside shooting for the home-town Bulldogs. Jackson Snyder scored 18 points for Ottawa Hills and Chase Miller had 10.
Ottawa Hills Green Bears: 15-5-20-12 = 52 Jackson Snyder (18), Chase Miller (10), Avi Hanusz (7), Preston Thom (7), Gabe Grim (6), Jay Breed (2), Will Summers (2)
Swanton Bulldogs: 15-23-12-16 = 66 Charlie Wood (29), Evan Reinhard (16), Brady O’Shea (11), Giovanni Ruiz (6), Adam Lemon (4)
The victory places Swanton’s record at 7-2 on the year. This coming Friday the Bulldogs travel to Patrick Henry to begin the NWOAL season. The Patriots, preseason favorites to win the league this year, are currently 7-0.
Click on the links above to access photos from the tournament games. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Swanton Bulldogs – 2024 Bob Fisher Holiday Classic Champions
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In one of the most dominating performances ever witnessed at Swanton’s annual holiday tournament, the Delta Lady Panthers soundly defeated both teams it was matched up against to capture the 2024 Bob Fisher Holiday Classic Championship.
In the first game on Friday afternoon, Delta outscored the host team Swanton Lady Bulldogs 26-9 in the first quarter and finished the contest with a running clock in the 53-20 victory at the eponymous Robert L. Fisher Gymnasium. Senior Kendall Sprow topped all scorers with 21 points for the Lady Panthers and Anna Lohman and Abby Todd added 11 points each. Jessica Finfera and Carli Lagrange each had seven points for Swanton.
Delta Lady Panthers: 26-9-17-4 = 53 Kendall Sprow (21), Anna Lohman (11), Abby Todd (11), Addison Wyse (8), Natalie Friess (2)
Swanton Lady Bulldogs: 9-2-2-7 = 20 Jessica Finfera (7), Carli Lagrange (7), Lauren Bettinger (2), Evelyn Ventimiglia (2)
In the title match, held at the high school’s Kevin J. McQuade Gymnasium early Saturday evening, Delta blew out to a 30-9 halftime and coasted to a 55-35 win over the Lady Knights of Otsego. Freshman Anna Lohman took scoring honors with 20 points while Abby Todd scored 15. Todd, a junior guard, was also a terrorizing force on the defensive end of the court, causing numerous Otsego turnovers, pulling down rebounds and starting Panther fast breaks. “It feels really good,” said Todd about winning the championship. “Last year we weren’t so lucky but this year we came out on top and are now 8-0.”
It was clear early on in the game that the Lady Panthers were functioning well together and this would be a complete team victory. The first 11 points scored by Delta came from every member of the starting five. “We have a lot of girls that come in and work hard. They are eager to learn and are very coachable,” said Panther Head Coach Kelsey Gillen. “We have girls that can score but even when they are not scoring a lot that night, they are doing other things that we need to be successful.”
Delta Lady Panthers: 16-14-16-9 = 55 Anna Lohman (20), Abby Todd (15), Kendall Sprow (7), Addison Wyse (6), Keagyn Gillen (3), McKenzie Kruger (2), Aubree Perdew (2)
Otsego Lady Knights: 9-0-10-16 = 35 Corley Etchie (6), Jocelyn Cornell (6), Gracie Zslgory (6), Claire Lampe (3), Liv Williams (3), Ella Hartman (3), Samantha Lehr (2)
With the win, Delta remains undefeated with a record of 8-0. The Lady Panthers begin NWOAL play next Friday, January 3rd, when they travel to the “Big House” to take on the Evergreen Lady Vikings (6-5).
Click on the links above to access photos from the tournament. Photos are on the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Delta Lady Panthers – 2024 Bob Fisher Holiday Classic Champions
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The visiting Delta Panthers had no answer for the speed of the “run and gun” offense of the Evergreen Vikings and were easily defeated in the Big House 71-46 on Friday night in the second game of a Delta/Evergreen Girls/Boys double header. The Vikings outscored the Panthers in all four quarters of the game, building a double-digit lead by halftime on the way to a 25-point victory.
Evergreen guards Will Ruetz, John Herdman and George Allendorf combined for 55 of the team’s 71 points, including all six of their three-point baskets and all five of their free throws. Tyson Bower scored 20 points for Delta and Alex York added 10.
Evergreen moves to 3-3 on the year and will travel to Fostoria on Friday to play against the Redmen. Delta’s record is now 3-4 and they will be participating in the Bob Fisher Classic in Swanton this Friday and Saturday.
Delta Panthers: 12-10-8-16 = 46 Tyson Bower (20), Alex York (10), Wyatt Gibbons (7), Vincent Martinez (4), Kade Lintermoot (3), Brady Morr (2)
Evergreen Vikings: 21-14-14-22 = 71 Will Ruetz (22), John Herdman (17), George Allendorf (16), Troy Manz (6), Will Johnson (6), Alex Fritsch (2), Austin Gillen (2)
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: Evergreen’s Will Ruetz led all players with 22 points
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In the opening act of the Delta/Evergreen Girls/Boys varsity basketball double header on Friday night, the Lady Panthers defeated the Lady Vikings 35-22 in a low-scoring contest in Evergreen’s Big House. Neither team could score in double figures in any of the first three frames until they were both able to find the range in the fourth quarter. Delta’s shooting was only slightly better than Evergreen’s as they slowly built end-of-the-quarter leads of 4, 8, 11, and finally 13 to pick up the road victory. Lady Panther Anna Lohman led all players with 11 points while Addison Ricker scored 10 points for the Lady Vikings.
The victory keeps Delta’s record perfect on the season at 6-0. They will play next in the Bob Fischer Classic in Swanton on Friday, December 27th. Evergreen drops to 4-5 on the year and will welcome in the Swanton Lady Bulldogs on Monday, December 23rd.
Delta Lady Panthers: 6-8-5-16 = 35 Anna Lohman (11), Kendall Sprow (9), Addison Wyse (8), Abby Todd (5), Natalie Friess (2)
Evergreen Lady Vikings: 2-4-2-14 = 22 Addison Ricker (10), Lanae Manz (6), Kyla Risner (2), Bailey Lumbrezer (2), Avery Emmit (2)
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: Delta senior Kendall Sprow takes a jump shot
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On Friday afternoon at the Swanton Sports Center, the Evergreen Vikings lost to the Bryan Golden Bears 2283-2116. Viking senior Michael Laver led all bowlers with a two-game series of 434 including games of 230 and 204. Aaryan Singh bowled a 381 series for Bryan including a 202 game.
Bryan Golden Bears: Aaryan Singh (202 + 179 = 381), Noah Mills (183 + 171 = 354), Oliver Proxmire (194 + 142 = 333), Noah Green (199), Mycah Smith (169), Skylar Crooks (159), Brayden Bown (143), Baker Games (207 + 175 + 163 = 545) Total = 2283
Evergreen Vikings: Michael Laver (230 + 204 = 434), Layne Vance (148 + 164 = 317), Caden Beier (181), Isaac Hansel (165), Thomas Bake (142), Austin Garcia (142), Cohen Myers (139), Trevor Johnson (132), Baker Games (180 + 157 + 127 = 464) Total = 2116
Click on the link above to access photo 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: Michael Laver of Evergreen bowled games of 230 and 204
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The Wauseon Indians bowling teams visited the Swanton Sports Center to take on the Swanton Bulldogs and came away with wins in both the Boys (2170-1776) and Girls (1837 – 1307) matches.
In the boys’ match, Landon Gleckler rolled a two-game series score of 439 including a match high-game 245 to lead Wauseon. Conner Williams bowled a 407 including a 210 game to pace the Bulldogs. Kymberlee Yocom had a two-game series score of 397 including a match game-high 202 to carry the lady Indians. Emma Leonard’s series score of 265 topped the Lady Bulldogs.
Wauseon Indians: Landon Gleckler (245 + 194 = 439), Evan Stevens (166 + 161 = 327), Isaak Hays (155 + 135 = 290), Parker Baldwin (148 + 185 = 289), Irmuun Shijir (157 + 132 = 289), Baker Games (164 + 157 + 171 = 492) Total = 2170
Swanton Bulldogs: Conner Williams (197 + 210 = 407), Conor Yates (175 + 4179 = 354), Nick Trumbull (114 = 118 = 232), Deven Bumbera (115), Braden Volker (108), Tyler Camp (83), Stephan Hartbarger (67), Baker Games (123 + 125 + 162 = 410) Total = 1776
Wauseon Lady Indians: Kymberlee Yocom (202 + 195 = 397), Annabella Meyers (181 + 143 = 324), Ruth Shelt (118 + 134 = 252), Josie Spires (117 + 134 = 251), Lilly Netcher (110), Ella Hartson (86), Baker Games (152 =+ 139 + 126 = 417) Total = 1837
Swanton Lady Bulldogs: Emma Leonard (179 + 136 = 265), Bailey Juhasz (95 + 127 + 222), Ezra Goodman (87 + 84 = 171), Alex Hollis (97 + 58 = 155), Lily Gasche (67 + 82 = 149), Baker Games (107 + 110 + 128 = 345) Total = 1307
Click on the link above to access photos from the matches. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Last Sunday, at the EJ Ritter Event Hall on Main Street in Swanton, a group of approximately 40 people from various communities in Northwest Ohio got together in an open forum to engage in civil discourse on what to expect from the next Donald J. Trump administration and give opinions about how to deal with it. The Keynote Speaker was David Pepper, an attorney, writer, democracy activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor who served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021. His recent non-fiction Laboratories of Autocracy and Saving Democracy: A User’s Manual dissect the attack on democracy taking place in states like Ohio, and guide everyday citizens on steps they can take to lift democracy. Pepper is a regular guest on national television, podcasts, and radio shows—as well as a speaker around the country—advocating for steps to strengthen democracy at the state and national level.
The organizer of the event, titled “Let’s talk About It”, was Janet Ritter, owner of the Studio 101 Salon & Spa, located next to the event hall. Ms. Ritter explained her motivation behind the event. “The premise of the event was to bring people together that were concerned about the results and what steps needed to be taken. The attendance included activists, lawyers, doctors, and local business owners who wanted to share their thoughts about Trump’s policies and how it will affect their businesses or their lives. The event was promoted to process the loss of the election. I invited David Pepper for his expertise and knowledge to help navigate through the next steps so we can prepare for 2026.”
Prior to Mr. Pepper’s time behind the podium, Ms. Ritter gave a short speech and it is copied below:
“Thank you for taking time out of your day to be here. For those who do not know me, my name is Janet Ritter, and I am the co-founder of the Indivisible group Northwest Ohio Indivisible Coalition. I’ve been quiet over the past four years, but, unfortunately, with Trump’s reelection, I’ve decided to speak up again. It has been five weeks since the election, and I don’t know about you, but like Regan from The Exorcist, my head was spinning while I listened to and read the analysis of why we lost the election. This event aims to help us all process the loss as we face another Trump administration. No one should be afraid after an election, no matter who wins. However, this time, Trump 2.0 is more prepared than ever to carry out his fascist agenda with the implementation of Project 2025.
Like a reality show, Trump is choosing a Cabinet made up of loyalists with little government experience who will support his agenda of retribution. Rather than working to unify the country, Trump is expected to use the presidency to enrich himself further, destroy norms, and demolish the institutions of our government to give him more power than any other president in history. Most importantly, his election victory means he will likely avoid accountability for any of his criminal actions.
The rights of marginalized groups and those who oppose him are in jeopardy. Supreme Court Justices Thomas and Alito will likely retire, allowing Trump to appoint two more extreme conservatives to the bench, which could help the Heritage Foundation advance Project 2025.
Once again, Globally, he will try to pull us out of NATO and the Paris Agreement. Trump will cozy up to dictators around the world because of his desire to be just like them—a tough, strong man with little to no regard for human rights. We’ll have to listen to him do the weave for the next four years as he tries to explain policy with 20 superlatives. He will tell us that he has a policy concept, and we will learn about it in two weeks. We will watch him build a virtual wall isolating us from the rest of the world so we can feel safe and secure because he alone can fix all our problems.
What frustrated me the most was how political pundits immediately blamed the Democrats for failing to connect with middle-class working voters. They argued that the Democrats should focus more on people instead of special interest groups. In the days that followed, all I heard were discussions about the Democrats’ mistakes and the changes needed to bring back their base. They say we lost the support of the working class by concentrating too much on “woke” issues, and there were calls to abandon our Progressive agenda. I don’t know about you, but when did diversity, equality, and inclusion become a far-left agenda that did not resonate with the voters? In the end, it was all about the price of eggs.
For more than eight years, political pundits have used their platforms to express how the GOP has become the Cult of Trump and how Republicans have strayed from their conservative principles, resulting in losses since 2016. In my opinion, the GOP has some reckoning to do themselves. They are no longer the party of the Cheney’s, Romney, Kinzinger, and McCain. Today, they are the party of Trump. They are MAGA.
It’s crucial to note that Trump did not win by a landslide or have a mandate. He won by 2.5 million votes out of more than 150 million cast. When the dust had settled, Latino and Black men who crossed over to Trump and the voters who stayed home cost us the election. Kamala lost the Blue Wall states within the margin of error. However, that doesn’t make Kamala Harris’s loss any less painful.
In my opinion, our flaws were not criminal, our faults were not unethical, and our motives were not immoral. Trump embodied each of these traits. He conveyed the message that voters wanted to hear, and they didn’t care who the messenger was. With the narrowest of margins, he is heading to Washington, where he will continue to undermine our norms, weaken our institutions, and damage our democracy.
Today, we will express our concerns, share how our lives have changed over the past eight years, and consider our next steps. Sitting on the sidelines is not an option, although I’m getting really tired of protesting this crap. The question to ask ourselves at the end of the day is, will democracy prevail?”
Mr. Pepper spoke next and his comments were more of a cautionary tale. He talked about past eras in America’s history where the rights of certain demographic groups were slowly eroded by legislators until no one could remember that those rights ever existed. For new generations born into those eras, it was all they knew. It became the norm and it took several generations, rebellious generations, to realize what had taken place and to reclaim those rights. In the past 8-12 years, however, laws have been passed that have set civil rights and women’s rights back several generations. “Don’t let this become the norm,” warned Mr. Pepper.
The floor was then opened to all who wanted to express their opinion on the current state of our nation and what their biggest concerns are when Donald Trump is inaugurated on January 20th of 2025. Many spoke up and voice not only their concerns, but their fears as well.
Photo: Janet Ritter and David Pepper
Fulton County Ohio Media 