“It’s been a good fall for our middle school sports,” said Dave Mecksroth, the middle school athletic coordinator. “The big thing is our numbers are up. Getting kids out for sports and keeping them interested is the big thing at this level. ”
The Ferguson cross country team began slow, but won its last eight meets. It won the GWOC title with 66 points to 74 points for Springboro and 76 for Troy. Ankeney was seventh with 180.
Ferguson team members scoring in the GWOC meet included Calvin Beal (fifth), Alex Keller (seventh), James McPherson (14th), Zach McCormick (19th) and Morgan Rowland (27th).
Ankeney’s top runners were twins Shayne (fourth place at GWOC) and Conner Gossel (ninth). There is no official state middle school team championship recognized by the Ohio High School Athletic Association. But the state cross country coaches association holds an unofficial state meet in Columbus.
Ferguson won the Division I state title with five runners finishing in the top 12. Beal was the best finisher taking fourth.
The girls middle school programs weren’t quite as strong with Ferguson sixth at GWOC and Ankeney 11th. Ankeney’s top runner finisher was Danielle Beranek (sixth overall). Riley Doyle was ninth for Ferguson.
The eighth grade football team went 6-0-1 in the GWOC South Division to tie Springboro for the title. Most of the team members were part of the seventh grade champion team in 2008.
Head coach Bill Shancey had 45 players in the squad. He was assisted by Mike Russ, Jeremy Klinger and Joe Schmidt. The seventh grade team went 7-0 for the second straight year.
Kristina Willetts was the head coach assisted by Brad Woods, Aaron Carnes, Tim Minnich and Joey Herman. There were 57 players on the seventh grade roster.
Defense does the job
Defender Sam Bryant and goalie Ben Dorn are Beavercreek’s representatives on the Greater Western Ohio Conference boys all-conference team. It is a combination of the all-star teams in all three of the GWOC Divisions (Central, North, South). Bryant was the sweeper on a defense which had nine shut outs. Dorn has a 0.78 goals against average. Fairborn forward Devin Climmons was also on the GWOC all-conference team.
For the girls Beavercreek freshman forward Micaela Powers and midfielder Kylie Briem were on the all-conference squad.
The GWOC breaks teams down into all-division squads.
Bryant and Dorn were first team All-Central for Creek with Andrew Granato and Dustin Wright second team and Matt Lemke honorable mention. Climmons, Lucas Dierker and Dylan Stegall were first team All-South for Fairborn as was Tyler Washington of Xenia. Second teamers were Xenia’s Jared Bond and Seth Greene and Sean Gallagher of Fairborn. Nick Lovejoy of Fairborn and Chad Warhola of Xenia were honorable mention.
On the girls side, Creek’s Steve Popp was coach of the year Powers, Briem and Erin Walsh make All-Central first team. Erin Gill, Sarah Gross and Ally Myers were second team and Lauren Myers honorable mention. All-South first team picks were Rachelle Bowen of Xenia and Emmy Mitchell and Sarah Scinto of Fairborn. Second teamers were Katie Brown and Lindsey Reichert of Xenia and Casey Gayheart and Becca Gibbs of Fairborn.
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