High School Sports

Women's Basketball Inks SEC Transfer Shakirah Edwards

TROY, Ala. – Troy women’s basketball continues to add to its 2025-26 roster with its second transfer signee from Mississippi State, Shakirah Edwards. “Shakirah is a player we identified as a priority for us since early in her high school career,” head coach Chanda Rigby said. “She is a creative scorer and can make difficult basketball […]

Published

3 months ago

April 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Women's Basketball Inks SEC Transfer Shakirah Edwards

TROY, Ala. – Troy women’s basketball continues to add to its 2025-26 roster with its second transfer signee from Mississippi State, Shakirah Edwards.

“Shakirah is a player we identified as a priority for us since early in her high school career,” head coach Chanda Rigby said. “She is a creative scorer and can make difficult basketball plays look easy. I can’t wait for our Trojan fans to watch her play in Trojan Arena.”

A transfer from Mississippi State, Edwards clocked in with the team’s highest running vertical height at 10′ 5.5″ and a 35.5″ running vertical with a 6′ 0.5″ wingspan and 7’6″ standing reach. She played 11 games with the Bulldogs, debuting with four points on 2-of-3 shooting and a block against Memphis. She fired on all cylinders with eight points, two rebounds and a steal at Chicago State.

Edwards graduated from Rutherford High School as a two-sport athlete in basketball and track and field. She earned a four-star rating by ESPNW HoopGurlz as the No. 49 overall recruit by Collegiate Girls Basketball Report – Dan Olson. With her signing to Mississippi State, she became the first Bay County basketball recruit to sign with a Power Four school since 2010 after leading the Rams to a 93-14 record with four FHSAA Class 4A District 2 Championships and three straight FHSAA Class 4A Elite Eight appearances.

In her senior season, Edwards brought Rutherford to a 26-2 record on 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 3.3 steals and 1.7 blocks – she averaged 17.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists the year before. Edwards’ stats throughout her career earned her the 2021, 2022 and 2024 Bay County Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

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High School Sports

Eighth

College football isn’t just for the fresh-faced 19-year-olds anymore. Just ask Hawaii linebacker Logan Taylor, who’s entering his eighth year of college football, has three kids, somehow still finds time to hit people and appears in The Athletic’s All-Geezer Team, constructed by Stewart Mandel and Sam Khan Jr. Taylor’s journey started way back in 2018. […]

Published

4 hours ago

July 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Taylor’s journey started way back in 2018. Since then, he’s played a season at junior college, bounced back from two brutal season-ending injuries, and been named a two-time team captain at Hawaii.

Oh, and in case that wasn’t enough, he and his wife just welcomed their third child this February. That’s right, while most college seniors are figuring out how to do their own laundry, Taylor’s got a full-on family of five.

He even took part in Hawaii’s senior day last fall, thinking his career was finally wrapping up. But thanks to a legal victory involving Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, Taylor earned an extra year of eligibility for that long-ago JUCO season. “I can’t believe this rule even passed,” he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Honestly, neither can we.

Now, Taylor finds himself on The Athletic’s beloved “All-Geezer Team,” a lighthearted tribute to the oldest dudes still suiting up on Saturdays. And the standout defender fits right in.

Not only is he a veteran leader in the locker room, he’s also the kind of guy who can break down film while changing a diaper. Talk about multitasking.

Last season, even after the injuries and the mileage, Taylor was still making plays. He collected 52 total tackles, finishing second on the team.

So here’s to Taylor, the diaper-changing, tackle-making, eighth-year linebacker who refuses to call it quits. He might be older than some of his coaches’ assistants, but he’s still out there proving that age really is just a number, especially when you’ve got three little ones and a spouse cheering from the sidelines.

High School Sports

Cesafi high school squads banner Emil's Fiesta Cup 2025

One of the Cesafi high school basketball highlights. | Sugbuanong Kodaker photo CEBU, Philippines — Top-notch basketball action returns as the 2025 Emil’s Fresh Chicken Fiesta Cup Basketball Invitational tips off tomorrow, Sunday, July 20, at the Barangay Lipata-Linao Sports Complex in Minglanilla, Cebu. This year, the spotlight shifts to Cesafi’s secondary schools, with top […]

Published

9 hours ago

July 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Cesafi high school squads banner Emil's Fiesta Cup 2025

One of the Cesafi high school basketball highlights. | Sugbuanong Kodaker photo

CEBU, Philippines — Top-notch basketball action returns as the 2025 Emil’s Fresh Chicken Fiesta Cup Basketball Invitational tips off tomorrow, Sunday, July 20, at the Barangay Lipata-Linao Sports Complex in Minglanilla, Cebu.

This year, the spotlight shifts to Cesafi’s secondary schools, with top high school teams set to battle it out in one of the highlights of the barangay’s annual fiesta celebration.

Headlining opening day is a double-header, capped by a marquee match between the multi-titled University of the Visayas (UV) Baby Lancers and the University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters at 8:00 p.m.

UV will be coached by Ronald Bucao, while Reggie Licanda calls the shots for UC. Both sides are expected to unveil some of their newest recruits.

The opening game will feature another exciting matchup as UC-Lapulapu-Mandaue takes on the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation (USP-F) Baby Panthers.

The annual tournament, organized by the Oberes family, features eight participating teams split into two brackets.

Bracket A includes UC, the UV Baby Lancers, the USJ-R Baby Jaguars, and the CIT-U Baby Wildcats. Bracket B consists of UC-Lapulapu/Mandaue, Benedicto College (BC) Baby Cheetahs, Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Baby Dragons, and the USP-F Baby Panthers.

The competition follows a single round-robin format, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals.

Emil Oberes serves as the tournament chairman, with his brother Mikey Oberes as vice-chairman.

This marks the first time that the Emil’s Fresh Chicken Fiesta Cup will feature an inter-school format. In past editions, the competition primarily showcased commercial teams.

The annual event also serves as a tribute to its founder, the late Boss Gerry Oberes, the patriarch of the Oberes family.

Alongside the championship trophy and cash prizes, individual awards will be handed out, including selections for the Mythical Five, Season MVP, and Finals MVP.

The tournament is made possible with support from Barangay Captain Primitiva O. Castanares and the Sangguniang Kabataan led by John Nino T. Lucero. /csl

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High School Sports

UK government backs London bid to host the 2029 athletics world championships

LONDON — The British government has announced its support of London’s bid to host the 2029 athletics world championships. London hosted the biannual premier track-and-field event in 2017 at the London Stadium, which also held the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games. The plan is to stage the 2029 worlds at the […]

Published

11 hours ago

July 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

UK government backs London bid to host the 2029 athletics world championships

LONDON — The British government has announced its support of London’s bid to host the 2029 athletics world championships.

London hosted the biannual premier track-and-field event in 2017 at the London Stadium, which also held the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games. The plan is to stage the 2029 worlds at the same venue.

Saturday’s announcement included the government’s support of a bid for Britain to host the 2029 World Para Athletics Championships.

“Subject to funding from partners being confirmed, the government has agreed to provide significant funding for both bids, reflecting the UK’s ambition to once again bring the world’s greatest athletes to UK shores,” it said in a statement.

The announcement came with London hosting a Diamond League event on Saturday.

This year’s athletics worlds will take place in Tokyo in September. The 2027 edition will be held in Beijing.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he’s “delighted to support the bid.”

FILE -Workers continue setup preparations ahead of the start of... — FILE -Workers continue setup preparations ahead of the start of the World Athletics Championships at the London Stadium, in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, Aug. 1, 2017. Credit: AP/Matt Dunham

“The event would provide a boost for UK businesses and support jobs as well as bring our communities together,” he said in a statement.

High School Sports

Only a few days left to VOTE for all

Last Tuesday, NJ Advance Media released our nominees for the Mendham’s Mount Rushmore for athletics. This project highlights the most influential figures in Mendham’s high school sports history, including the best players and coaches. The clock is ticking—you have until noon on Monday to send in your vote before the poll closes. Fans are allowed […]

Published

11 hours ago

July 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Last Tuesday, NJ Advance Media released our nominees for the Mendham’s Mount Rushmore for athletics.

This project highlights the most influential figures in Mendham’s high school sports history, including the best players and coaches.

The clock is ticking—you have until noon on Monday to send in your vote before the poll closes.

Fans are allowed to select up to four people to be named to the reader-voted Mendham athletic Mount Rushmore. Later on Monday, NJ Advance Media will unveil its own four picks.

You can find Mendham’s Mount Rushmore poll right here.

Corey Annan can be reached at cannan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him or send him a message on Twitter/X @coreyannan360.

The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week.

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College Sports

State wrestlers pick up multiple victories in Fargo

Thousands of wrestlers were at the USA Wrestling Junior and 16U nationals in Fargo this week. (Photo courtesy Sarah Jadach) Plainville’s Jaxsen Bailey won six matches and earned All-American honors at the USA Wrestling Junior and 16 U national championships on Wednesday at the FargoDome in North Dakota. While he was one of several Connecticut […]

Published

12 hours ago

July 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Thousands of wrestlers were at the USA Wrestling Junior and 16U nationals in Fargo this week. (Photo courtesy Sarah Jadach)

Plainville’s Jaxsen Bailey won six matches and earned All-American honors at the USA Wrestling Junior and 16 U national championships on Wednesday at the FargoDome in North Dakota.

While he was one of several Connecticut wrestlers with multiple victories, Bailey was the only state wrestler to earn a medal in the freestyle competitions with a seventh place finish at 126 pounds in the 16U division.

In the Junior Division tournament, Marlborough’s Jackson Heslin (126) went 6-2 but didn’t make it to the medal stand.

Bailey, who will be a sophomore at Westport’s Greens Farms Academy this fall, won four straight bouts in the consolation round including a 2-0 win over Dallas Rosenbarger of Indiana. Bailey beat New Jersey’s Jack Cole in 35 seconds to finish seventh.

East Hartford’s Riley Storozuk (157) went 6-2 in the 16U tournament. He won his first two bouts, lost a match and won four in a row in the consolation round with three technical falls.

Bristol Central’s Alex Lamarre (150) went 4-2 in the 16U tournament along with Newtown’s Antonio Arguello (157) and East Lyme’s Bradley Ament (120). Lamarre won three in a row in the consolation bracket, including an 11-10 win with a takedown with 18 seconds remaining.

Arguello didn’t give up a point in his four victories – all wins by technical fall. In his four victories, he outscored opponents 33-0. Ament had three consecutive wins in the consolation round, including a win on criteria over Wisconsin’s Kolten Bollig. Ament won the 6-6 match because he had more two-point moves than Bollig.

Middletown’s Isaiah McDaniel (150) and Stamford’s Joseph Antonio Pellicci (132) each went 3-2 while Milford’s Eli Shea (100) and South Windsor’s Zack Dixon (113) each went 2-2 in the 16U tournament.

Heslin, who attends Greens Farms Academy, had the most wins of any Connecticut wrestler in the Junior Division freestyle tournament, going 6-2 at 126 pounds.

Heslin lost his opening match of the tournament and then six consecutive matches in the consolation round with five technical falls and a pin. He was finally eliminated by Pennsylvania’s Kevin Muyheart, 8-4 in the round of 16 (consolation bracket).

Southington’s Chase Kastner (120), Somers’ William Accorsi (113) and Gilbert’s Evan Schibi (165) were each 3-2 in the Junior Division tournament. Kastner won his first three bouts of the tournament by technical fall, Accorsi had two technical falls and a pin while Schibi had two wins by technical fall.

Terryville’s Ethan Bochman Rodriguez (138), Stratford’s Maurice Ellis (144), New Fairfield’s Joseph Mahoney (144), Newtown’s Marc Maurath (157) and Newtown’s Jake Maddox (165) were each 2-2 in the tournament.

Two wrestlers from Greens Farms Academy who live in New York state trained with the Connecticut team and represented the Nutmeg State. GFA’s Kingston-Daniels Silva (215), who lives in the Bronx, went 5-2 with four technical falls and a pin.

GFA’s Liam Carlin (165) went 6-2 and finished fourth. Carlin, who is from Burnt Hills, N.Y., used five straight wins to advance to the semifinals. He got a takedown with four seconds left to win his quarterfinal bout by one, 6-5. Carlin beat Pennsylvania’s Arment Waltenbaugh in the consolation semifinals, 6-4 before dropping a 13-2 decision in the consolation final.

U.S. MARINE CORPS JUNIOR NATIONALS
At Fargo, N.D., July 16
16U boys freestyle results
Team results — Pennsylvania 267; Ohio 135, 3. Iowa 121, 4. California 120, 5. Indiana 105, 6. New York 92, 7. New Jersey 82, 8. Minnesota 71, 9. Florida 69, 10. Arizona 62
Other state teams: 31. Connecticut 5
Individual results
88
Final: Leo Murillo (PA) tech fall Johnathan Thompson (IA), 11-0 (1:23)
3rd – Cyrus Millage (IA) dec. Grady Moos (OH), 9-8
5th – Ty Martin (IA) dec. Jaxon Holtz (OH), 14-8
7th – Shay Lundvall (IA) dec. Dominick Sindone (MI), 6-3
94
Final: Miro Parr-Coffin (WA) dec. Carter Smith (OH), 3-2
3rd – Knox Ayala (IA) dec. Stephen Bagocius (NJ), 8-5
5th – Cody Bakhsh (DE) dec. Dakota Harmer (MI), 9-4
7th – Riley Crandall (PA) dec. Damian DuChez (MD), 3-2
100
Final: Kooper Deputy (PA) tech fall Jack Stonebraker (PA), 10-0 (1:10)
3rd – Cohen Reer (OH) dec. Ausome Guillermo (CA), 8-5
5th – Brody Compau (MI) dec. Shiloh Joyce (NJ), 7-6
7th – Lincoln Valdez (CO) pin Shaefer Hoffman (PA), 0:52
106
Final: Thiago Silva (CA) tech fall William Soto (NY), 12-2 (1:14)
3rd – Arav Pandey (PA) dec. Traevon Ducking (IN), 6-2
5th – Diego Robertty (IA) tech fall Michael Bernabe (CA), 12-1 (2:10)
7th – Connor Maddox (IN) tech fall Evan Cies (PA), 12-2 (2:47)
113
Final: Sean Kenny (NJ) tech fall Oliver Pulliam (TX), 11-1 (2:53)
3rd – Chase Karenbauer (PA) dec. Braiden Lotier (PA), 9-1
5th – Cody Clarke (GA) pin Jeremy Carver (IN), 1:45
7th – Brand’n Edstrom (ID) dec. Erik Klichurov (IL), 6-0
120
Final: Tommy Wurster (OH) dec. Mateo Gallegos (PA), 4-2
3rd – Jovanni Tovar (FL) dec. Izayiah Chavez (TX), 6-5
5th – Corey Brown (MD) tech fall Nathan Reynolds (CA), 10-0 (1:51)
7th – Noel Verduzco (IN) dec. Martez Sheard (WI), 8-3
126
Final: Miklo Hernandez (MN) dec. Tommy Marchetti (NJ), 7-0
3rd – Jaxon Lane (TN) dec. Paul Ruiz (CA), 13-12
5th – Jordan Manyette (PA) dec. Parker Wickam (CO), 7-2
7th – Jaxsen Bailey (CT) pin Jack Cole (NJ), 0:35
132
Final: Angel Cejudo Jr. (AZ) dec. Finnegan O’Brien (NY), 5-2
3rd – Gage Bjerga (MN) tech fall Cole Speer (OH), 10-0 (2:51)
5th – Grayson Davis (PA) tech fall Shai Sabag (PA), 11-0 (1:45)
7th – Illia Kyryianenko (FL) For. Thomas Lindsay (OH),
138
Final: Jovani Solis (FL) dec. Landyn Shaffer (NY), 6-1
3rd – Gage Lohr (SD) dec. Riker Ohearon (UT), 6-2
5th – Weston Borgers (OH) dec. Joaquin Chacon (AZ), 6-4
7th – Vincent Rosas (KS) dec. Bruce Li (FL), 6-4
144
Final: Peyton Hornsby (IN) dec. Lincoln Robideau (MN), 8-6
3rd – Greyson Music (PA) dec. Jason Dube (PA), 7-5
5th – Gideon Gonzalez (NJ) pin Calvin Rathjen (IA), 3:25
7th – Maverick Beckwith (NY) dec. Alexander Penzkover (WI), 7-2
150
Final: Colin Rutlin (MO) tech fall Dylan Villers (TN), 10-0 (2:46)
3rd – Marcus Killgore (AZ) dec. Gregory Torosian (CA), 10-8
5th – Tommy Rowlands (OH) dec. Joab J Carrillo (UST), 8-5
7th – Thunder Page (KS) dec. Kaygen Roberts (KY), 5-2
157
Final: Camryn Howard (NY) dec. Asher Bacon (PA), 5-0
3rd – Justus Heeg (IL) tech fall Izaac Gaines (IL), 13-0 (2:16)
5th – Zane Engels (MN) tech fall Nick Schwartz (NJ), 14-4 (3:46)
7th – Parker Casey (IA) tech fall Colten Jones (VA), 15-4 (3:22)
165
Final: Ethan Sonne (IL) dec. Chris Anguiano (CA), 10-8
3rd – Easton Kammerud (WI) tech fall Kingston Sikes (OK), 11-0 (2:48)
5th – Deacon Dressler (IN) dec. William Fullhart (IA), 20-17
7th – Radic Dvorak (IL) dec. Layden Acevedo (PA), 4-0
175
Final: Jayden O’Farrill (PA) dec. Salah Tsarni (MD), 6-5
3rd – Ryder Schulte (AZ) dec. Tomm Heiser (WI), 17-13
5th – Tate Sailer (ND) dec. Kyle Gallo (FL), 8-6
7th – Holden Hoiness (MT) pin James Capasso (NY), 1:54
190
Final: Mario Hutcherson (PA) tech fall Caden Krueger (MI), 10-0 (3:33)
3rd – Peter Mocco (FL) dec. Frankie Pieffer (OH), 2-1
5th – William Etu (VA) tech fall Kannon Freschette (WA), 10-0 (0:48)
7th – Reed Falk (WI) dec. Mason Chamberlain (PA), 17-15
215
Final: Satoshi Davis (NV) dec. Ceasar Salas (IN), 9-4
3rd – Bruno Pallone (MT) tech fall Xander Horak (OH), 12-2 (2:45)
5th – Kade Splinter (WI) tech fall Camden Williams (IN), 11-0 (1:10)
7th – Kendahl Hoare (PA) tech fall Michael Garcia (CO), 11-0 (2:30)
285
Final: Noah Larios (CA) dec. Joe Constable (IA), 7-2
3rd – Kameron Hazelett (IN) pin Rhodes Molenda (OK), 3:59
5th – Lucas Feuerbach (IA) dec. Jaden Wesley Rakestraw (GA), 8-4
7th – Leland Day (CO) dec. Andrew Olson (MN), 7-6

2025 U.S. MARINE CORPS 16U NATIONALS
At Fargo, N.D., July 16, 2025
Team scores — Pennsylvania 221, 2. California 160, 3. Illinois 134, 4. Wisconsin 75, 5. Georgia 72, 6. Ohio 68, 7. Florida 67, 8. Iowa 66, 9. Minnesota 63, 10. Oklahoma 60
Other state teams — 23. Connecticut 12
Individual results
100
Final: Nathan Schuman (PA) tech fall Onofre Gonzales (CO), 13-0 (3:30)
3rd – Symon Woods (IL) tech fall Jackson Thorn (MN), 12-0 (1:01)
5th – Bennett Wachter (OH) tech fall Joey Synan (PA), 13-3 (2:17)
7th – Aidan Ortega (IL) dec. Alex Huddleston (IN), 8-2
106
Final: Turner Ross (OK) dec. Cason Craft (OK), 6-6
3rd – Landon Thoennes (MN) dec. Niko Odiotti (IL), 13-8
5th – Michael Salas-Sanchez (OR) pin Daniel Romero (CO), 4:13
7th – Vincent DeMarco (IL) dec. Kaiden Belinsky (IA), 17-10
113
Final: Rylan Seacrist (OH) dec. Justin Farnsworth (PA), 6-1
3rd – Jarrett Smith (MI) dec. Liam Davis (FL), 6-2
5th – Kaleb Pratt (IL) tech fall Loc Webber (OH), 10-0 (4:01)
7th – Layne Martin (MI) dec. Camden Rugg (WI), 10-6
120
Final: Rocklin Zinkin (CA) tech fall Cameron Sontz (NJ), 11-0 (1:43)
3rd – Brock Rothermel (PA) tech fall Mason Jakob (TN), 12-1 (3:20)
5th – Alex Rozas (LA) tech fall Ayden Dodd (OH), 10-0 (1:06)
7th – Cale Vandermark (IA) dec. Zaiyahn Ornelas (NE), 4-0
126
Final: Antonio Mills (GA) dec. Nicholas Garcia (IL), 10-8
3rd – Paul Kenny (NJ) pin Mikey Ruiz (TX), 1:43
5th – Vincent Anello (NJ) dec. Brady Collins (WI), 8-0
7th – Siraj Sidhu (CA) tech fall Lander Bosh (UT), 16-5 (5:12)
132
Final: Moses Mendoza (CA) dec. Isaiah Cortez (CA), 6-6
3rd – Dale Corbin (PA) tech fall Slater Hicks (CA), 10-0 (4:41)
5th – Manuel Saldate (NV) dec. Justyce Zuniga (WA), 9-6
7th – Timothy Koester (IA) tech fall Vince Jasinski (IL), 14-3 (1:37)
138
Final: Jordyn Raney (KY) dec. Kellen Wolbert (WI), 19-14
3rd – Tyler Dekraker (PA) tech fall Sam Herring (PA), 11-0 (3:42)
5th – Maximus Brady (IA) dec. Elijah Cortez (CA), 9-7
7th – Isaiah Schaefer (IN) For. Valentine Popadiuc (NM)
144
Final: Bo Bassett (PA) pin Clinton Shepherd (IN), 1:23
3rd – Jake Miller (OK) dec. Michael Romero (CA), 7-3
5th – Haakon Peterson (WI) pin Bobby Duffy (NJ), 2:33
7th – Jet Brown (MO) Med. For. Jesse Grajeda (CA)
150
Final: Logan W. Paradice (GA) pin Dallas Russell (GA), 5:07
3rd – Matthew Martino (ID) tech fall Brandon Dean (CO), 10-0 (6:00)
5th – Gus Cardinal (AZ) tech fall Davis Parrow (MN), 12-2 (2:14)
7th – Maksim Mukhamedaliyev (IL) tech fall Conlan Carlson (MN), 14-4 (1:38)
157
Final: David Gleason (MO) dec. Wyatt Medlin (IL), 10-6
3rd – Gabriel Delgado (NV) dec. Zeno Moore (FL), 5-5
5th – Bruno Cassioppi (IL) Med. For. Reagan Milheim (PA),
7th – Declan Koch (WI) tech fall Silas Stits (IN), 11-1 (5:09)
165
Final: Melvin Miller (PA) tech fall Sullivan Ramos (WI), 13-2 (4:54)
3rd – Maximus Dhabolt (IA) tech fall Liam Carlin (CT), 13-2 (3:36)
5th – Arment Waltenbaugh (PA) pin JayDen Williams (MI), 2:18
7th – Lucas Boe (FL) tech fall Isreal Ibarra (AZ), 13-2 (5:36)
175
Final: Nicholas Singer (PA) tech fall Mason Ontiveros (CA), 10-0 (2:06)
3rd – Waylon Cressell (IN) tech fall Eli Leonard (WI), 10-0 (0:29)
5th – Ladd Holman (UT) tech fall Maximus Norman (TN), 10-0 (1:15)
7th – Lincoln Jipp (IA) For. Keenan Sheridan (SD)
190
Final: Lucas Ricketts (KY) dec. Jarrett Wadsen (MN), 5-5
3rd – Michael White (IN) pin Jaxon Penovich (IL), 1:10
5th – Robert Kucharczk (FL) dec. Alex Reyes (NJ), 14-7
7th – John Murphy (MN) dec. Sutton Kenning (MN), 8-7
215
Final: Cade Ziola (NE) tech fall Michael Boyle (OH), 15-4 (5:18)
3rd – Kai Calcutt (IL) tech fall Levi Bussey (CA), 10-0 (0:31)
5th – Aiden Cooley (TX) tech fall Alexander Smith (FL), 12-2 (1:55)
7th – Josh Hoffer (IL) dec. Ronan An (GA), 8-5
285
Final: Dreshaun Ross (IA) dec. Coby Merrill (CA), 3-2
3rd – Michael Mocco (FL) dec. Mark Effendian (PA), 5-2
5th – Dean Bechtold (PA) tech fall Jacob Levy (FL), 11-0 (2:15)
7th – Trayvn Boger (UT) Med. For. Micah Hach (SD)
Outstanding Wrestler: Nicholas Singer (Pennsylvania) 175 pounds
Most Falls: Reese Spiro (Massachusetts), 5 in 9:00.

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of Connecticut Wrestling Online. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the Connecticut Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2025 and the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

High School Sports

Infields Shine At Minster Classic, Fort Recovery Rallies In 11U Nail

Minster’s Corbin Ottman was called out when he was tagged by Ft Recovery’s pitcher Chase Wendel. (Press Pros Feature Photos By Julie McMaken Wright) Tate Kahlig said “gettin’ dirty” is his favorite part of playing third base. He took one last trip through the dirt to score Fort Recovery’s winning run against Minster in a […]

Published

17 hours ago

July 19, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Infields Shine At Minster Classic, Fort Recovery Rallies In 11U Nail

Minster’s Corbin Ottman was called out when he was tagged by Ft Recovery’s pitcher Chase Wendel. (Press Pros Feature Photos By Julie McMaken Wright)

Tate Kahlig said “gettin’ dirty” is his favorite part of playing third base. He took one last trip through the dirt to score Fort Recovery’s winning run against Minster in a defensive showcase.

Minster Bank is the official banking partner of Press Pros Magazine.com.

Minster, Oh – If you watched MLB All-Star events, you probably noticed the premium placed on manufacturing clips for social media. You can’t miss how the internet has affected sports, particularly youth sports.

Watch any 10U travel basketball game and you’ll see shot selection considered obscene just a decade ago. Every kid launching a 25-footer is seeing the Steph Curry highlight in his mind.

Alan Brads is a contributing columnist and writes sports at large for Press Pros Magazine.

In an era where sports are consumed via highlights and TikToks, most kids have forgotten what kinds of plays win games. Most kids, but not all.

Come to the Minster Classic and you’ll find an abundance of players who can field a ground ball, make a quick, prudent decision of where to go with it, and make the throw in time and on target. It’s simple, or at least it should be. But the expectation has faltered across the country. But not at the Minster Classic.

An 11U game between Minster and Fort Recovery was not a game of strikeouts and dingers. It was a simple matter of who could make the most outs with the ball in play. Both infields played exceptionally, well beyond their years. There were fewer errors in their six innings than in many high school games in the spring.

“My favorite part of pitching is knowing the whole team is behind me if I make a mistake.” – Chase Wendel

Fort Recovery rallied in the bottom of the sixth to snag a 6-5 walkoff win from the jaws of defeat. Fort Recovery third baseman, Tate Kahlig, got aboard with an infield single, worked his way around the bases, then slid home for the winning run after a sac fly off the bat of Marcus Staugler.

“I did pretty good compared to other games,” Tate said. That’s a humble description of a 3/3 day with the game-tying RBI and walkoff run.

It took a ball in the air to win it, because Minster’s infield was nearly perfect on ground balls. Shortstop Isaac Bohman vacuumed up everything in his zip code, and spit it out accurately with consistency. He recorded seven putouts with just one error on a tough play trying to gun down the tying run at the plate.

Dorsten Contracting proudly supports Shelby County League sports on Press Pros.

Minster’s Second baseman, Carter Piening, provided air support with a spectacular grab over his shoulder while his twin brother, Camden, converged from right center field. Piening reeled it in and had the awareness to spin straight to first base and fire it in for a double play to end the second inning.

Tate Kahlig connects and also made the final run in a walkoff win over the Wildcats.

After teaming up with Bohman for a few outs at second base, Piening pitched the final four innings and held his own against a group of Indians that can rake.

Fort Recovery’s defense was equally stout. Starting pitcher Chase Wendel permitted two runs in three innings. He nabbed three comebackers, and jogged toward first to complete the outs with apparent ease.

“I was very accurate,” Chase said of what he did best on the mound. True enough, walks weren’t a concern for him, a great quality for a pitcher with a trustworthy defense.

“My favorite part of pitching is knowing the whole team is behind me if I make a mistake.”

Tate Kahlig was one of those reliable defenders behind Chase, but he also led the Indian offense with three hits, two RBIs and two runs.

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But Tate loves playing defense.

“I like gettin’ dirty,” he said when asked the best part about playing third base.

Regarding his favorite thing about baseball, he said what nearly every kid says. “Hangin’ out with my friends. We’ve been playing together since second grade.”

Minster’s Grayson Smith pitched three innings striking one and allowing 3 runs .

How many times have we heard that from the varsity players?

“My favorite part is being with friends and making new ones,” Chase echoed.

For 11-year-olds, it’s just fun to play with your friends. But as the years stretch on, roster consistency becomes chemistry, and chemistry becomes fast, fluid play, or as we call it in the infield, outs.

So it surprises nobody when the MAC and SCAL churn out well-oiled machines on defense year after year.

One player making a highlight reel catch fit to go viral on TikTok is great. But that doesn’t win as many games as every player doing the little things well every time. It takes a thousand bees to make a jar of honey.

It doesn’t have to be perfect all the time, but when mistakes are few and far between, they’re easier to redeem. Chase let fly a wayward pitch in the second inning with a runner on third, but sprinted into place to tag the runner out at the plate, saving a crucial run.

Tate said it best, “We made a few errors, but we fixed them all.”

Fort Recovery and Minster are both still in the running for the 11U championship, which will be played at 2:30 on Sunday. And over the years, they’ll be in the running for many more championships if they keep displaying what they showcased Thursday evening: consistency, hard work, initiative, teamwork, and sacrifice. That’s what makes for good defense … and, for that matter, good honey.