Jake’s Christmas Wishlist: Six things I want for Christmas this year in Richland County sports

Dear Sports Santa,

Hey man, it's me again, Jake Furr at the Mansfield News Journal.

I feel like I have been pretty good this year, so I was hoping you could just check out my Christmas wishlist and see what you could do for me. You don't have to get me everything this year, but if you have the sports magic in your bag of treats, I sure would appreciate it.

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Here it goes:

1. A sellout for Shelby at Mansfield Senior girls basketball on Jan. 16

Sports Santa, the Shelby Whippets and Mansfield Senior Tygers have separated themselves quite a bit in the Richland County girls basketball scene. They are both out to great starts and have league championships on their mind, but the one thing on my mind is Jan. 16 when the Whippets travel to Mansfield Senior for a huge Richland County showdown. In the end, it won't mean a single thing other than bragging rights, but still, it will be two great teams going head-to-head and the winner will likely walk to a Richland County Girls Basketball Power Poll championship. Yes, I know it is a Tuesday night, but if you could help out by making sure Pete Henry Gymnasium is packed to the gills, I would appreciate it. The girls deserve it. Eve Schwemley is dynamic for Shelby, and the Tygers have a starting five that would rival the best they have ever had. It should be a great game that everyone needs to see.

2. A sellout for Shelby at Lexington boys basketball on Dec. 30

Sports Santa, this one you may not have to work very hard for. Just five days after Christmas, the game of the year will go down at Lexington with Shelby coming to town for what could be a Division II district championship preview. Again, in the grand scheme of things, this won't mean much, but still, it gets the blood pumping just thinking about it. I mean, seriously, Alex Bruskotter vs Brayden Fogle. Brayden DeVito vs Seven Allen. Issaiah Ramsey vs Joe Caudill. Casey Lantz vs Elijah Hudson. Bryson Baker vs Gavin Husty. What could be better? I believe it will be a sellout anyway, but if you could just sprinkle some of your Christmas magic dust, I would greatly appreciate it.

3. The JC Gorman to go off without a hitch

Sports Santa, it is the premiere wrestling tournament in northcentral Ohio, and it always is a springboard for area grapplers as they gear up for the postseason. Last year, Ontario's Jacob Ohl repeated as a Gorman champ, and he returns this year looking for three in a row. After an injury-riddled postseason last year saw Ohl take eighth in the state in his 120-pound weight class, Sports Santa, it would be great if you could make sure he stays healthy this season because I believe that young man is destined to win a state title for the Warriors for the first time since 1999.

But he isn't the only one who could use the Gorman to spark a postseason run. His little brother, Aidden Ohl, is the No. 1 ranked 106-pound wrestler in Division II. If he can take home a Gorman championship, he could improve on his fifth-place state finish last year and that, Sports Santa, would be terrific.

Madison's Mike Thomas is the No. 6-ranked wrestler at 113 in Division II and he will also be at the Gorman. Help him earn a championship, would ya Sports Santa? While you're at it, Ontario's Julian McGinty (10th at 132 in Division II), Ontario's Mason Turnbaugh (9th at 144 in Division II), Ontario's Landon Campbell (4th at 215 in Division II), Madison's Jaxin Stancombe (6th at 285 in Division II) and Crestview's Caleb Cunningham (5th in 285 in Division III) could all use Gorman championships to pad their already impressive resumes.

But most of all, Sports Santa, if you could make sure Clear Fork's 165-pounder Luke Schlosser could make it back from his injury fully healthy and ready to rock at the Gorman, that would be awesome. He is ranked No. 4 in his weight class in Division II and has a bright future ahead of him as does the entire Colts team so getting him back to 100% would be a great Christmas gift to all high school wrestling fans.

4. A big splash in the pool this winter

No, Sports Santa, I am not talking about the pool in my backyard, it is much too cold for that. But if you could help Richland County swimmers continue their rich tradition in swimming, I would appreciate that very much. Ontario freshman Mirielle Trumpower is already off to an amazing start with two school-record performances already in the early season. With a bright future ahead, she could end up as maybe the best swimmer to ever come through the program, and that is saying something.

For the boys, I would love nothing more for Christmas than to see Lexington make it back to the top of the state podium in the 200 medley relay. After going back-to-back in 2021 and 2022, it would be great to see Ivan Prykhodko, Isaac McFadden, Joe Hathaway and Cooper Watters make it back to the top. The talent is there, and the experience gained last season should do wonders so let's make it happen.

5. A district basketball championship for a Richland County team

It is no secret, Sports Santa, that I am a basketball guy through and through. Just ask the wrestling coaches who despise me for it. For Christmas this year, all I want is a basketball district championship to come home to Richland County. Multiple would be nice. Last year, I ended basketball season without covering a district championship, but this year should be different.

In Division II boys, Lexington, Shelby and Mansfield Senior all look like legit title contenders. With defending champ Sandusky moved up to Division I, the path to a district championship is wide open. And who knows, maybe Ontario or Clear Fork will get hot at the right time and make a run at a sectional championship. I would love nothing more than to go watch one of these teams in Bowling Green.

In Division III boys, Crestview looks like a team poised to make a run at its first district championship since the 1964-65 season. The Cougars will still have to contend with teams like Cardinal Stritch and Margaretta, but the way the Cougars have played to start the year has to have them in the conversation.

In Division IV boys, Lucas and Mansfield Christian both have strong cases as a district title favorite. Lucas is undefeated and rolling over teams with ease of late, and the Flames are riding a solid winning streak after losing the first game of the year. There is still Colonel Crawford to deal with as the returning champion but it seems to be those three teams and then everyone else. If it comes down to one of those three teams, I can't lose.

In Division II girls, Shelby and Mansfield Senior learned a tough fate earlier in the week as they have been placed in a district bracket with Toledo Central Catholic, Millbury Lake and the like. But, with the way both of these teams are playing right now, I wouldn't be surprised to see them challenge for a district championship. The Tygers have an incredible starting five and Shelby's dominating win over Clear Fork on Tuesday could spark something amazing.

In Division III girls, the Clear Fork Colts have to be in the conversation as a title contender. Sure, they lost to both Mansfield Senior and Shelby, but they won't be seeing either team in the postseason. Their biggest threats will be Margaretta, Colonel Crawford, Wynford, Willard and Huron, but none of them will have played the schedule Clear Fork put together which already includes a win over Bellevue.

For me, the dream would be to have all of my Richland County teams win district championships, but I'd settle for one this year. Just give me basketball through March.

6. The best News Journal All-Star Classic ever

Finally, Sports Santa, the final thing on my wishlist is to make the 45th News Journal All-Star Classic the absolute best one ever. The potential lineup looks absolutely amazing, but what I am hoping for is to raise as much money for Catalyst Life Services to help out the kids and their families.

There are some special things in the works for the 45th game including awesome jerseys by Empire Sportswear and a potential alumni game featuring the 2020 group that didn't get to play after the game was canceled due to the COVID pandemic. And, if we can raise enough sponsorship money, we are looking at cheaper ticket prices so we can stuff Lexington's gym full of hoops fans.

The game is slated for March 29 at Lexington so you have some time to work on this. Maybe a late Christmas, or early birthday present would be nice.

Merry Christmas,

Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal Sports Reporter

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Christmas Wishlist: What does News Journal's Jake Furr want this year?