With the high school bowling season winding down, the Evergreen Vikings added another check mark in the win column with a 2178-1993 victory over the Patrick Henry Patriots. Viking junior Michael Laver topped all bowlers with a two-game series score of 372 in the match held at the Swanton Sports Center on Monday afternoon. The Patriots were led by Isaiah Geahlen who rolled a two-game series score of 335.
Evergreen Vikings: Michael Laver (187 + 185 = 372), Xaviar Robinette (172 + 180 = 352), Trevor Johnson (140 + 192 = 332), Layne Vance (162 + 156 = 318), Thomas Baker (136 + 145 = 381), Baker Games (213 + 127 + 183 = 523) Total = 2178
Click on the link above 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: Michael Laver leads all Evergreen bowlers with a 194.25 average
In their final home match of the season, the Swanton Bowling Bulldogs celebrated Senior Night by recognizing Elias Eaton, the team’s only soon to be graduating senior. The Bulldogs went up against the Bryan Golden Bears and dropped a 2445-2160 to the second-place team in the Northwest Ohio High School Bowling League. Dakota Brandeberry rolled a two-game series score of 457 to lead Bryan and Conner Williams shot a two-game series score of 409 for Swanton.
Bryan Golden Bears: Dakota Brandenberry (245 + 212 = 457), Henry Burton (232 + 195 = 427), Trevor Graig (213 + 191 = 422) Justin Murphy (211 + 180 = 399), Oliver Proxmire (163 + 193 = 356), Baker Games (140 + 124 + 138 = 402) Total = 2445
Swanton Bulldogs: Conner Williams (232 + 177 = 409), Scott Lafferty-Reside (174 + 179 = 353), Emma Leonard (181 + 138 = 319), Elias Eaton (133 + 129 = 262), Conor Yates (183), Chase Rafferty-Reside (129), Baker Games (224 + 118 + 163 = 505) Total = 2160
Click on the link above 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: Swanton Coach Stu Graf thanks Senior Elias Eaton for his contribution to the Bulldog bowling program
Prior to the Swanton Bulldogs boys’ varsity basketball game against the Wauseon Indians, Swanton residents and husband and wife, Derek and Cat Kania, were recognized and honored for their long and dedicated military service to America. They were brought out to center court and a brief synopsis of their amazing story was read to the crowd by Swanton High School students Marlee Purdy and Lila Walborn.
Below is the transcript from that special event.
Derek and Cat Kania have over 40 years of combined service in the United States Air Force. They both made the decision to enlist in the Air Force Reserve after the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001. Cat enlisted at the 914th Air Force Reserve Base in Niagara Falls, New York, while Derek enlisted at the 927th Air Force Base Reserve in Selfridge, Michigan, but he lived in Bowling Green, Ohio.
In late 2006, Derek was contacted by his supervisor to let him know he would be attached to another Security Forces Squadron in New York that was being activated. When the time came to be deployed in January of 2007, what he didn’t know, was that he would be teamed up with a group of people that would include his future wife.
Cat and Derek were both called to do over six months of active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed to Kirkuk Regional Airbase, Iraq. They spent their days dodging mortar and rocket attacks, small arms fire, sandstorms and battling the searing 130⁰F heat. In this war-torn country is where their journey together began.
In August of 2007, their deployment came to an end. Derek went back home to Ohio and Cat went home to New York. Less than two weeks after returning from Iraq, Derek and Cat realized they were meant for each other. After a convincing phone call from Derek, Cat quickly packed up her car, moved to Ohio to live with him and she hasn’t left since. Over the years they have both been stationed at different Air Force bases and seized every opportunity to travel to different countries in support of numerous operations.
Derek and Cat eventually moved to New York where they were both members of the 914th Airlift Wing. They spent a few years there and then moved back to Ohio where Derek began his career with the 180th Fighter Wing. After another deployment with the 914th in 2016, Cat decided to transfer to the 180th as well. Throughout their careers they made time to raise their two amazing daughters, Ella and Kylie.
After moving way too many times, they finally decided to set their roots in Swanton in 2013. Here, Cat was able to see her dream of opening a coffee and bake shop come to fruition. She retired from the Air Force with over 20 years of dedicated service in October of 2022 with the rank of Master Sergeant. Derek continues his service as an active member of the 180th Fighter Wing, Security Forces Squadron working alongside Coach/Chief Master Sergeant Russell Bacon. He also serves the Village of Swanton as an elected member of the Swanton Village Council and as the Village’s Mayor Pro Tempore.
Cat and Derek have been to many countries such as Germany, Kuwait, Saudia Arabia, Iraq, Iceland, Ireland, France, Spain, Qatar and several other locations within the United States. The Kanias are proud to call Swanton their home and they thank everyone for all the support this town devotes to its military members past, present and future.
Photo (L to R): Ella Kania, Cat Kania, Marlee Purdy, Lila Walborn, Derek Kania, Kylie Kania
Entering the fourth quarter, the Wauseon Indians trailed the Evergreen Vikings on their home court by eight points, then staged a furious comeback by outscoring the visitors 19-4 to win going away 51-44 in a battle for the top spot in the NWOAL Boys Basketball standings. A Rliey Dunbar putback at the buzzer to end the third quarter gave the Vikings the eight-point lead and what appeared to be all the momentum heading into the final eight minutes. However, the Indians quickly flipped the script, getting scoring from five different players in the quarter, including six each from Riley Riegsecker and Tyson Rodriguez and blitzed past the Vikings to sit alone in first place in the league.
Connor Keefer led Wauseon and all players with 15 points. The victory improves their record to 3-0 in the NWOAL and 9-5 overall. Next on the Indian’s schedule is a trip to Patrick Henry on February 2nd to take on the Patriots. Eli Keifer scored 13 points to pace Evergreen. The Vikings drop to 2-1 in the league and 11-3 on the season. They will next travel to Fairview on January 29th to play the Apaches.
Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in th jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Connor Keefer scored a game-high 15 points in the win
The Delta Panthers Bowling team celebrated Senior Night by edging the Evergreen Vikings by the razor thin margin of four pins, 2049-2045 on Friday at the Swanton Sports Center. The Panthers jumped out to a commanding 122 pin lead after the two match-play games, but the Vikings roared back during the Baker games, falling just short. Delta senior Brody Waugh led all bowlers with a two-game series score of 388. Sophomore Xaviar Robinette rolled a two-game series score of 372 for Evergreen which included a match-high game of 221.
Panther seniors honored on the evening were McKenzie O’Neil, Ethan Cone and Brody Waugh. It was the final home match of the season for Delta who will finish their schedule next week on the road. Following the end of the regular season, the NWOAL Tournament will be held at River City Bowl-a-Way in Napoleon.
Evergreen Vikings: Xaviar Robinette (221 + 151 = 372), Michael Laver (149 + 202 = 351), Makayla McKenzie (144 + 158 = 302), Cohen Myers (134), Thomas Baker (123), Trevor Johnson (103), Layne Vance (102), Baker Games (197 + 162 + 199 = 558) Total = 2045
Click on the link above to access photos from the night. 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 Bowlers Senior Night – McKenzie O’Neil, Ethan Cone, Brody Waugh, Asst. Coach Jerry Donaldson, Head Coach Dave Kina, Asst. Coach Brock Waugh
Holding a tenuous two-point lead with under two seconds remaining in the game, the Archbold Lady Blue Streaks escaped with a 48-46 road victory when Delta’s three-point attempt from the right baseline just missed its mark as the buzzer sounded. The Lady Panthers actually had two shots from beyond the arc in the final seconds but could not find the bottom of the net in a heart-breaking loss. Delta had rallied from an early ten-point deficit and had pulled within one point several times in the fourth quarter but missed several chances to take the lead.
Sophomore Charlee Forward led the Lady Streaks and all the players in the game with 18 points. Senior Kate Friess scored 16 points to lead the Lady Panthers. The Archbold win moves their NWOAL record to 1-2 and 8-9 overall. They will next play at home against the Evergreen Lady Vikings on Thursday, February 1, 2024. Delta drops to 1-3 in the league and 8-8 on the season. Their next game is away on Monday, January 29, 2024 against the North Central Lady Eagles.
Archbold Lady Blue Streaks: 14-9-11-14 = 48 Charlee Forward (18), Alayna Perez (12), Norah Ruffer (9), Miley Gerike (3), Grace Meyer (2)
Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos are in th jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
Photo: Charlee Forward drives in for two of her game-high 18 points
The Swanton Bulldogs defeated the Evergreen Vikings 57-13, Tuesday night in Swanton
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Photo: Brady Haselman goes off glass for two points
The Swanton Bulldogs broke open a tight game in the second and third quarters to defeat the Evergreen Vikings 27-21 in 7th Grade Boys Basketball at Swanton’s Robert L. Fisher Gymnasium on Tuesday night. The Vikings rallied in the fourth quarter but ran out of time.
Evergreen Vikings: 6-2-2-11 = 21
Swanton Bulldogs: 9-7-6-5 = 27
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.
The Liberty Center Boys Bowling team does not compete in the PBA (Professional Bowlers Association). It is against the rules. Their scores this season in the Northwest Ohio High School Bowling Conference, however, say they just might be ready for the big time. Monday, they visited the Swanton Sports Center to take on the Swanton Bulldogs and came away with an easy 2685-1878 victory. The Tigers’ top bowler, senior Tim Blanton, rolled a two-game series score of 486 to lead all bowlers. Swanton junior, Conner Williams, led the Bulldogs with a two-game series score of 384.
Liberty Center Tigers: Tim Blanton (256 + 230 = 486), Jacob Sexton (223 + 246 = 469), Landon Amstuz (212 + 236 = 448), Wesley Wilhelm (211 – 211 – 422), Stone Roth (171 + 185 = 356), Baker Games (200 + 143 + 161 = 504) Total = 2685
Swanton Bulldogs: Conner Williams (189 + 195 = 384), Conor Yates (171 + 141 = 312), Matthew Chovan (132 + 156 = 288), Emma Leonard (127 + 139 = 266), Madison Roytek (117), Elias Eaton (108), Baker Games (157 + 110 + 136 = 403) Total = 1878
Click on the link to access some photos from the match and some from the Liberty Center girls team. Photos are in the jpeg format and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.
The Delta Panthers Boys Bowling team defeated the Patrick Henry Patriots 2065-1899 Monday night at the Swanton Sports Center. Brody Waugh bowled a two-game series of 472, including a 257 in the second game to lead the Panthers to the win. Austin Lammers had a 345 two-game series for the Patriots.
Delta Panthers: Brody Waugh (215 + 257 = 472), Ethan Cone (160 + 211 = 371), Jack Tedrick (169 + 129 = 298), Konrad Hawkins (125 =+ 137 = 262), Cody Stricker (168), Carter Mitchell (126), Baker Games (128 + 112 + 128 = 368) Total = 2065
In the girls’ match, the Patrick Henry Lady Patriots out bowled the Delta Lady Panthers 1802-1603. Kylee Karmol led the Lady Patriots to the victory with a two-game series 328. Chloe Cole led the Lady Panthers and all the other bowlers with a two-game series of 338.
Patrick Henry Lady Patriots: Kylee Karmol (159 + 169 = 328), Lana Breece (144 + 149 = 293), Natalie Cavanaugh (155 + 131 = 286), Leah Geahlen (84 + 116 = 200), Alisia Alvarado (130), Claire Piercefield (127), Baker Games (125 + 170 + 143 = 438 Total = 1802
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