Richland 25: Championship streaks help Nos. 17-19 build winning programs

MANSFIELD — Winning a league championship is always goal No. 1 for any high school athletic program.

For the Richland 25 teams coming in at 17-19, it is an expectation to walk away with a conference title that can pave the way to postseason success.

Let's check out the three teams cracking the Richland 25 list this week.

19. Lexington Boys Swimming and Diving

Six straight district championships and a ninth-place finish in the Division II state championships are just two of many reasons why the Lexington boys swim and dive program is among the Top 25 teams returning for the 2023-24 season in Richland County.

Lex seems locked and loaded to make it seven straight and possibly improve on its state team finish a year ago this winter. They bring back All-Ohio diver Mason Trittschuh who took 14th in the state last year with scores of 215.30 and 295.25. So the dive program is still going strong as it had three divers qualify for state and all three are back with Deven Goodman and Owen Roth back for more.

On the swim side, the relay teams continue to be strong for the Minutemen. The 200-yard medley relay team of Joe Hathaway, Ivan Prykhodko, Trey Nickoli and Isaac McFadden remains intact after finishing ninth in the state last year with a 1:39.22 in the finals meaning the quartet All-Ohio honors. McFadden attends Mansfield Christian and swims at Lex due to MCS not having a swim team. Mansfield Christian is working on bringing swimming back so McFadden may be swimming for the Flames next season.

Cooper Watters qualified for state as a freshman in the 200-yard individual medley finishing with a 1:47.98 prelim time to barely miss out on qualifying for the finals, but with three years left, this kid could be something special.

Oden Bell was on the state-qualifying 200-year freestyle relay team along with Watters, Nickoli and Hathaway. Just a sophomore last season, Bell clocked a 22.82 in his leg of the race and should be a solid piece of the relay team for years to come.

Those five swimmers competed in multiple events at state with many of them earning All-Ohio honors in their individual events as well. With all five back, a strong diving crew returning and other future superstars just waiting for their chance, it will be another banner year for the Minutemen.

18. Shelby Girls Basketball

Last season, the Shelby girls basketball program was supposed to take a step back after winning a district championship and making it to the Elite 8. Yet, the next crop of hoopers for the Whippets decided to keep the winning tradition going by claiming a fifth consecutive Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship and making it to the district tournament yet again before falling in the semifinals.

In 2023-24, the expectations are even higher. The Whippets do lose two seniors from last year in point guard Demi Hipp and a dominant inside presence in Audi Albert. So those two will be very tough to replace, but the Whippets have already been hard at work building chemistry for next season.

They return All-Ohio guard Eve Schwemley who had a stellar sophomore season earning special mention All-Ohio, second team All-Northwest District, first team All-District 6 and first team All-MOAC honors as she averaged 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals a game during the regular season. Schwemley scored 16 points in the Whippets' sectional semifinal game and 25 in the championship game to help the Whippets return to the district tournament. The Whippets ended up falling to Norwalk, the eventual district champions, 50-47 in the semifinals.

Shelby also bring back Alexis Booker who was honorable mention All-MOAC after averaging 4.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals a game during her junior season. She will slide into a major role this season likely filling in for Albert.

And the, the Whippets return some talented young players who have been waiting their turn to make an impact. Trinity Baker was one of the best shooters in Richland County last season knocking down 20 threes and shooting 49% from inside the arch. She averaged 7.9 points a game to go along with 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.1 assists.

Charlie Niese will likely take over the point guard duties and has the pedigree to really make things run smoothly this season. Alyssa Booker is ready to make an impact along with Sophia Long who was impressive in spots last year. Sarah Reiser, Lexi Mohn, Natalie Kennard and Erica Winkle all saw some minutes for Shelby last year and will work to make their roles grow.

There are two players who could have massive years in 2023-24. Serena Ramsey showed her skill and athleticism mainly on junior varsity last year, but she saw action in 20 varsity games and averaged 2.5 points a game. She is due to take a major jump and can be the difference-maker this season. Also, Mallary Gundrum returns from an ACL injury that caused her to miss the entire season last year. Gundrum was one of the best shooters on the team as a sophomore and can really play. She should be back better than ever and the Whippets will need her leadership along with that sweet shot.

Could six straight league titles be coming to Shelby?

17. Madison Girls Soccer

The Madison Rams have things rolling pretty nicely right now. In 2022, the Rams won their third consecutive Ohio Cardinal Conference championship and fifth in the last six years. Even though the Rams with 8-10-1 last year, they still went 6-1 in the OCC falling to only Lexington. Madison plays an insanely tough regular-season schedule against the likes of Olentangy Berlin, Kenston, Sylvania Northview, Granville, Anthony Wayne, Archbishop Alter, Ontario and Celina so that overall record is deceiving. In all of those losses, only one was by four goals or more with four coming by one goal and three by two goals.

The Rams fell in the sectional championship to eventual district champion Lexington 2-1 in a shootout.

Madison will have a tough time replacing Taylor Tucker, who was the OCC Defensive Player of the Year, as well as Mylah Davis and leading scorer Jennaca Tatum.

But they do bring back some talented players. Jada Neal scored six goals and added three assists while Natalee Back added five goals and two assists. Lilly Neal also returns after scoring four goals and handing out four assists and Callie Cyrus brings back four goals and three assists from last year. Brynn Kyley and Rudy Moore had All-OCC caliber seasons as Moore had two goals and an assist with Kiley adding one goal and two assists in their efforts.

Kendyll Kershner will also return for her senior year after scoring three goals and adding six assists

But the biggest storyline for the Rams is the return of Nevaeh Lewis who returns from a year-long absence. As a sophomore, she scored 17 goals and added two assists after a standout freshman year that saw her score 19 goals and hand out two assists as the Rams went on to win the state title that year with Lewis scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory over Granville. The Rams desperately needed a goal-scorer last season and with Lewis back in 2023, Madison might again be a district championship contender.

jfurr@gannett.com

740-244-9934

Twitter: @JakeFurr11

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland 25: Championship streaks help Nos. 17-19 build winning programs