Fulton County Ohio Media

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In thrilling, nail biting, heart pounding and edge of your seat fashion, the Swanton Lady Bulldogs defeated the Patrick Henry Lady Patriots 2-1 to bring home the NWOAL 8^th-Grade Volleyball Championship.  The match was played in front of a packed house at the Wauseon Middle School with a deafening and spirit-filled crowd, colored purple and white on one side and red, white and blue on the other. 

Patrick Henry entered the match as a slight favorite, having defeated Swanton earlier this season and twice the year before, including for the 2022 NWOAL Title.  The Lady Bulldogs, however, were very confident, sporting a 21-1 overall record with that one loss on the road.  That confidence was evident as Swanton pulled away late in the first game for a 25-19 victory.  In game two, the Lady Pats roared out to a 17-7 lead, let the Bulldogs get close, then closed out the 25-17 win to even the best-of-three match at one apiece.

The winner-take-all game three was everything you would want in a championship match, close and hard fought all the way.  After Patrick Henry grabbed a 14-12 lead, Swanton quickly tied the score and neither team held more than a one-point advantage until the Lady Dogs went on top 24-22.  The Patriots scored to close the gap and regain the serve but their next serve went out of bounds, giving Swanton the 25-23 victory and the NWOAL Volleyball Tournament Championship.

“I thought, talent-wise, we were evenly matched, but we play hard and we played smart,” said an elated Madison Albring, Swanton’s head coach and Swanton Middle School (SMS) science teacher.  “This group of girls is tremendously special.  Between school and travel, this is the 9th team that I’ve coached.  I have found it is almost always the case that a team is either very talented OR very kind humans who get along well, but almost never both.  This team overall is very talented, but they also all get along great off the court.  They have a lot of fun together, and they are exceptional leaders not only on the court but in the classrooms and halls of SMS.  During the regular season, as a middle school coach, I ensure that all of my girls get to play every match.  But during the tournament, we play to win. Tonight, as hard as it is for me to sit anyone, three of my girls very graciously supported their team from the bench to make room for our most talented players to remain on the court for longer.”

“This team also comes with a group of wildly supportive and involved parents.  They all did a lot for the team this season, but one parent that I would like to thank for helping us win is Ben Remer, father of star passer, Beyla Remer.  He filmed every single set this season and made those videos available to anyone on the team who wanted them.  At the request of the girls, we had our one and only Sunday practice the day before the championship.  After we secured our spot in the finals with two decisive victories on Saturday, I went home and re-watched and analyzed our film from the last time we played Patrick Henry.  This made it clear to me that in order to win, we needed to utilize the element of surprise.  I have several big hitters who love to send over rockets, but we needed to mix it up.  We worked on utilizing all of our hitters, as well as sneaking in some well-placed tips.”

“And finally, we had to not let them surprise us. Patrick Henry also has some big hitters who do a great job of mixing it up, so we had to be ready for it. In the middle of the match, we changed our defensive strategy. We were struggling to pick up their tips to the middle of the court, so I told my outside hitters to camp out in the middle of the court to pick them up. Those girls rose to the occasion and took away that hole in our defense.  I have never been more proud of a group of girls, or more sad for a season to end.  But I can’t wait to see what they do at Swanton High School.  Go Dogs.”

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 – Front Row (L to R): Josalyn Kahl, Beyla Remer, Brynn Godwin, Julianna Avery Back Row (L to R): Gabryelle Smith, Marah Stinehelfer, Evelyn Ventimiglia, Stella Menna, Cara Ludlow, Lara Carrizales, Kinley Curtis, Lacey Shinaver Coach: Madison Albring

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The visiting Evergreen Vikings spoiled Homecoming Night for the Swanton Bulldogs with a 30-21 victory at David W. Hansbarger field on Friday evening. Swanton held an early lead at 7-3 in the second quarter before Evergreen rallied to go ahead before halftime.

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: Viking senior Riley Dunbar heads up field on a punt return.

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Swanton HS 2023 Homecoming Court

Queen – Peighton Manning

King – Jonah Rico

Freshman – (Landon Bolyard, Madilynn Stevenson)

Sophomores – (Hudson Pancoast, Lauren Bettinger)

Juniors – (Lillyanna Valderas, Evan Smigelski, Isabella Bonifas, David Bartlett)

Seniors – (Luke Arnold, Samantha Nelson, Olivia Gowing, Kaden Nofzinger, Brady Arnold, Sydney Ruiz, Kyleigh Shinaver, Brennon Mersing)

2022 Homecoming Queen – Katie Floyd

2022 Homecoming King – Drew Smigelski

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: Drew Smigelski, Jonah Rico, Peighton Manning, Katie Floyd

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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: Swanton seniors in front of their float

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The Evergreen Vikings used a strong clock-eating running attack to beat the Swanton Bulldogs 32-20 under the lights at Swanton’s Hansbarger Stadium on Tuesday night. All four touchdowns came by way of the ground game and the Vikings converted two-pointers after each. It was the season ending game for both teams.

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: Viking running back Hayes Studenka heads upfield as Bulldog defenders Brady Haselman (32) and Emillio Torres (23) close in for the tackle.

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It is time again for one of the best art exhibits in Northwest Ohio.  The 9^th Annual Swanton Juried Fine Art Exhibit and Sale will be open and FREE to the public on Saturday, October 14^th and 15^th at Valleywood Golf Club’s Banquet Room.  This year the Swanton Chamber of Commerce hosts 38 artists from 17 cities. They will be presenting 103 pieces of Fine Art. Both adult and student art will be on exhibit.  Categories include Acrylics, Drawings, Mixed Media, Photography, Oils and Water Colors.

Of the 103 pieces, 64 will be available for purchase.  The total value of these pieces is $23,500.00. Prices range from $50.00 up to $1,400.00.  The average price is $351.00.  Twenty-seven percent of the art is from Swanton residents, 19% is from Toledo artists. Fulton County artists including Swanton, represents 34% of the art.

The artwork will be judged by three acclaimed jurists. 

Erin Palmer Szavuly:  Erin is an Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Art Department at Lourdes University in Sylvania and has been on the faculty since 1990.  She studied at Bowling Green State University where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts and her Master of Fine Arts degrees.  She currently sits on the community boards of the Toledo Area Cultural Leaders, an art advocacy committee and the Toledo Federation of Art Societies.

Christine Deemer:  Christine is the Art Curator for the Sisters of St. Frances and Lourdes University in Sylvania.  She is a Fine Arts graduate from the University of Colorado and began her MBA studies at Regis University in Denver.  Christine went on to earn her Master of Arts in Museum Studies at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois.  She has traveled extensively and has had the pleasure of visiting over 80 national and international museums.

Suzanne Schmidt:  Suzanne holds a B.A.E Arts Specialist degree from The Ohio State University and a M.A.E. Fine Arts Major from the University of Toledo.  She has 40 years as a public and private Art Teacher.  Suzanne is a member of the Toledo Craftsman Guild and is a professional print maker, sculptor and artist.

The talent and skill displayed in these works of art is amazing can only be fully appreciated in person.  Through the efforts of the Swanton Chamber of Commerce and many others, this exhibit has become a major draw for the best artists in the area and a must-see event for local art aficionados.

Click on the link above to view photographs from the 2022 exhibit

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Jack Tansel scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Bulldogs to a 5-3 victory on Senior Night this past Saturday at home. Also finding the back of the net was Landon Bolyard who scored with one second remaining in the first half to give Swanton a 2-1 lead at halftime. Evan Reinhard and Brendan Upham each had goals for the Bulldogs. Reinhard and Isaiah Bolyard contributed an assist to the winning effort. Prior to the game, a ceremony was held honoring seniors Branson Robledo, Owen Hansen, Dawson Garn, and Jack Carrizales.

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 fultoncopuntymedia.com website.

Photo: Seniors (L to R) with their families – Branson Robledo, Owen Hansen, Dawson Garn, and Jalen Carrizales.

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Click on the link above to access photos. 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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Despite committing four turnovers during a rain-soaked first half, the Archbold Blue Streaks took a 14-7 halftime lead and went on to defeat the Wauseon Indians 35-14, picking up a crucial NWOAL road victory as well as a bundle of playoff computer points. The Indians could not take advantage of any of Archbold’s generosity in suffering their seventh consecutive loss to their Fulton County rivals. The Blue Streaks improve to 4-1 in the NWOAL and remain in contention for a league title. They also move to 7-1 on the year and maintain a good position for the playoffs. Wuaeon fall to 3-2 in the league and 5-3 for the season.

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: Blue Streak running back Jack Hurst powers into the end zone for a second-half score.

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The Swanton High School Homecoming Court for 2023 has been selected. A Queen and King will be chosen from a group of seniors following a parade next Thursday, October 12th, starting at 6:30 PM down Main Street. Following the choosing, the traditional kickball games will be held.

On Friday, October 13th, the official coronation of the Queen and King will take place prior to the home football game against the Evergreen Vikings. The Homecoming Dance will be held on Saturday, October 14th.

Photo – Swanton HS 2023 Homecoming Court (Left to Right): Freshman (Landon Bolyard, Madilynn Stevenson), Sophomores (Hudson Pancoast, Lauren Bettinger), Seniors (Luke Arnold, Samantha Nelson, Jonah Rico, Olivia Gowing, Kaden Nofzinger, Peighton Manning, Brady Arnold-NOT PICTURED, Sydney Ruiz, Kyleigh Shinaver, Brennon Mersing), Juniors (Lillyanna Valderas, Evan Smigelski, Isabella Bonifas, David Bartlett)

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