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The No. 1 native sports activities story of the yr has by no means been extra apparent.
Regionally, because it was state large, nationally and internationally, the coronavirus’ influence dominated the sports activities world from early March and on via the remainder of the yr.
However even within the midst of a pandemic, there have been different tales. Listed below are the remainder of the Prime Ten native sports activities tales of the final yr:
The No. 2 story of 2020 is Lima Central Catholic’s women golf group profitable the Division II state championship for a 3rd consecutive yr.
The Thunderbirds grew to become the primary D-II group to win three state championships in a row, led by Mary Kelly Mulcahy with a 73-74-147 and Erin Mulcahy with a 75-74-149. Emma Mayers shot 80-85-165, Bridget Mulcahy shot 82-87-169 and Carlie VanMeter shot 87-88-175.
LCC gained by 53 strokes over runner-up Tuscawaras Valley.
The No. Three story is Elida’s Dakota Mathias reaching a long-held aim of taking part in within the NBA.
Mathias, the boys basketball profession scoring chief at Elida, completed his school profession at Purdue in 2018 with 1,140 factors and 250 3-pointers however went undrafted. After an injury-shortened season in one of many prime leagues in Spain, he averaged 18 factors a sport for the Dallas Mavericks’ G-League group final season.
However it was the Philadelphia 76ers who gave the 6-Four guard the prospect to put on an NBA uniform this season. He scored Eight factors in a sport in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 27 in his first look in an everyday season sport for the 76ers.
The No. Four story is the lack of 4 notable space sports activities figures who died in 2020 – two coaches and two media members.
Leonard Rush was the coach of Lima Senior’s 1996 state champion soccer group. He was the Spartans’ head coach for 17 years and had six groups attain the playoffs.
Rick Vaughn was the defensive coordinator of the Spartans’ state championship group and later was the pinnacle coach at Senior Excessive.
Vince Koza grew up idolizing legendary Cleveland sports activities broadcaster Joe Tait and his distinctive fashion, then spent practically 40 years turning into a Lima media legend together with his personal distinctive fashion – 27 years at WLIO-TV and 12 years on the radio at 93.1 The Fan. Jack Hammill recorded the feats of Lima space bowler for 22 years because the bowling columnist at The Lima Information and was a frequent visitor on Koza’s radio present to speak about bowling.
The No. 5 story is Shawnee’s George Mangas being chosen because the Division II boys basketball Participant of the Yr on the All-Ohio group.
Mangas, a 6-Three junior, averaged 30.2 factors a sport. He shot 69 p.c total on discipline targets and made 75 p.c of his two-point makes an attempt on an unbeaten group.
The No. 6 story is Van Wert’s soccer group profitable the Division IV state championship and bringing dwelling the primary group state championship in class historical past.
The Cougars got here again from being behind by two touchdowns within the second half of the state championship sport to win 31-28 on a discipline aim by Damon McCracken as time ran out.
The No. 7 story is Lima Senior hiring Alphonso “Biggie” Townsend, a former All-Ohio participant for the Spartans, as its soccer coach.
The No. Eight story is Crestview’s Kalen Etzler signing to play basketball at Ohio State. The 6-Eight ahead is ranked the No. Three recruit in Ohio within the 2021 recruiting class in 247sports activities.com’s composite rankings.
The No. 9 story is Xavier Simpson ending his school basketball profession on the College of Michigan No. 2 on the all-time assists leaders listing there. He was the Wolverines’ start line guard for 3 seasons and scored 1,073 factors in his profession.
The No. 10 story is New Bremen profitable the Division VII soccer state championship and turning into the ninth of the Midwest Athletic Convention’s 10 soccer taking part in colleges to win a state title. Additionally, Coldwater gained the Division VI championship to provide the MAC 37 soccer state championships and 139 state championships total.

Elida graduate Dakota Mathias reaching his aim of taking part in within the NBA after being signed and competing with the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 27.

Lima Central Catholic made college and state historical past by profitable the Division II state golf match for the third straight season. The Thunderbirds grew to become the primary Division II women golf group to win three consecutive titles. Pictured right here from left: Assistant Coach Pete Hubbell, Carlie VanMeter, Erin Mulcahy, Emma Mayers, Bridget Mulcahy, Mary Kelly Mulcahy, and Head Coach Daniel Reinicke .
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