Crawford 12: High expectations for No. 5 and 6
Editor's Note: This is the fifth of a series.
We're at the halfway point and this is where things start to get more competitive.
Our featured teams this week are a girls basketball team that surprised everyone last season with a young roster and will have all eyes on them this winter, along with a wrestling programs bursting with talented underclassmen and upperclassmen.
Let's see who made it this week!
6. Colonel Crawford Girls Basketball
2022-2023 Record: 16-7 (8-6 Northern 10, T-3rd); Division III sectional runner-up
Last summer: Honorable Mention in Crawford 15
It was the perfect storm in North Robinson. Zac Bauer took over a young team in his first head coaching stint and immediately made an impact. Losing All-Ohioan Kaylyn Risner to graduation, scoring was a big question mark for the Eagles. But Bauer was able to get the team to buy in and develop a stifling defense to keep scoring low and back it up with a balanced offense. Colonel Crawford held teams to just 28.6 points per game last winter — the best in the Northern 10 — while averaging 37.7 on offense.
Rising junior Mira Holt was the breakout player of the season leading the Eagles with 8.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game after featuring just five times as a freshman scoring one basket. Senior Allison Weithman was right behind her in scoring averaging 8.0 points and leading the team with 34 made 3s — more than double anyone else. Seniors Lynae McKibben (3.7 points), Lexi Rush (3.2 points), Ayla McKibben (2.6 points), Niyah Shipman (2.4 points) and junior Gabby Roston (2.3 points) are all back as well along with sophomore Lexi Dure who appeared in all 23 games.
On paper the N10 girls title appears entirely up for grabs with Buckeye Central having graduated key players, Carey and Mohawk lost a slew of talent and size, Wynford and Bucyrus will be sleepers with young talent and Upper Sandusky returns one of the top players and some depth. Colonel Crawford will undoubtedly be one of the favorites to battle for the program's first league title since joining the N10.
More: Crawford 12: Sky's the limit for No. 7 and 8
But that won't be all the Eagles are chasing. After bowing out against rival Wynford in the sectional championship, Colonel Crawford will be eyeing a return to districts and could even be in the mix to compete for a district title with the likes of Upper Sandusky and Willard now that Margaretta graduated its special class.
More: Crawford 12: No. 9 and 10 eyeing regular season, postseason glory
5. Galion Wrestling
2022-2023 Record: (3rd at Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Championships)
Last summer: Unranked
Brent Tyrrell has always had a top notch program at Galion and the influx of talent over the last couple of years has developed it into one of the best around. The Tigers are coming off a third place finish in the MOAC with a mere 19 points separating Clear Fork (241), Ontario (236) and Galion (222), and Galion's four firsts were best in the conference — Ontario and Highland each had three.
And three of those four champs are back for the Tigers. Rising seniors Alex Griffith (285) and Landon Campbell (215) along with soon-to-be sophomore Gradey Harding (120) will all look to defend their titles. Harding's classmate Ryder Alberty (113) was third as was rising junior Arius Swaim (144), and senior Aydan Reyes (138) was fourth). Also returning is sophomore Sam Evans (132) who placed fifth.
More: Crawford 12: No. 11 and 12 primed to compete for league and postseason titles
Hardey and Griffith are coming off state appearances, and Campbell made it as a sophomore. Hardey placed fifth in his first trip to the Schott, Griffith won his opening match then lost the next two, and Campbell was sixth as a sophomore at 190. Alberty and classmate Davon Trukovich (132) made it to regionals to gain experience there hoping to join their teammates at state this winter.
More: Crawford 12: Honorable Mentions on the verge of breakout seasons
The MOAC is always going to be a battle which just makes these wrestlers better when it comes to the postseason. Tyrrell's Tigers will have their eyes on conference glory, but the most important thing is making sure they stay healthy and get better with each match in order to make a long postseason run. A state title or two could be in the realm of possibility, too.
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Twitter: @Zachary_Holden
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Crawford 12: No. 5 and 6
