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By John Lefforge
The Oakwood Lumberjacks traveled to West Milton for a meeting with the Milton-Union Bulldogs on Friday. The teams entered the contest with identical 6 – 1 records and the SWBL title on the line.
Photo by Leon Chuck, www.PressboxPhoto.com
Chris Hardy found some open running room, but not for long before being gang-tackled. Oakwood led 6-3 at the half, but fell in a hard fought battle with Milton Union to a score of 6-17.
David Miller kicked off to begin the battle. The squib kick was covered by the Bulldogs on their 25. They drove the ball to the 35, but were forced to punt after a Justin Macaulay tackle. Robby Sherk returned the punt to the Oakwood 42. The Jacks were forced to punt after AJ Lewis was sacked. Damian Rudy’s punt was downed at the Bulldog 20. The Dogs drove down the field and booted a field goal with 2:29 left in the first quarter. Sherk returned the kick off to the Oakwood 21. Chris Hardy ran up the gut for 14 yards and a first down as the first quarter came to a close. The Jacks went to the T. Runs by Sherk and Hardy carried the ball to the 43. Lewis dropped back and hit Ben Scott on the sideline for a touchdown. The kick failed and Oakwood took a 6 – 3 lead with 11:20 left in the first half.
Millers kick off smacked a Bulldog and Nolan Kronbergs recovered at midfield. Oakwood couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity and went three and out. Rudy placed the punt inside the five. Ben Scott intercepted two plays later and the Jacks were in business again. Sherk, behind the blocking of Matt Beck and Matt Money, slashed to the Bulldog 30. A penalty and failed plays forced another punt. Rudy came through again. Grabbing the rolling snap, he laid the ball inside the five again. Tackles by JT Allen, Joe Lefforge and Sherk forced a Bulldog punt. The punt was downed on the Bulldog 31. Passes to Sherk and Scott netted 16 yards, but the drive stalled. The Jacks lined up for a 22 yard field goal attempt. The kick went long enough, but wide right as the half ended.
The Jacks, nursing a 6 – 3 lead, returned the kick to their 35. Hardy ran off tackle to the 50. Once again, Rudy was forced to punt. He hit a high kick to the Bulldog seven. The teams exchanged three and outs twice in this defensive battle. Oakwood then went four and out with the Bulldogs taking over on their 13. A sweep went for 87 yards and a Bulldog score. The Dogs now led 10 – 6 with 2:10 left in the third quarter.
The Jacks couldn’t put the offense together and the Bulldogs scored again. Trailing 17 – 6, the Jacks tried to muster some magic, but were left high and dry.
The Bulldogs won the contest, 17 – 6. The Jacks can win out and still take the league title. Bellbrook and Franklin remain on the schedule and will be tough tests. The two remaining games are to be played at Mack Hummon Stadium, so come and support the Jacks and carry them to the playoffs. GO JACKS!
All of the field hockey teams wrapped up their regular seasons on strong notes last week by beating crosstown rival Kettering teams. The varsity squad finished play by beating Fairmont for the first time in five years; the junior high squad ended their regular season by beating Van Buren and Kettering Middle schools and then sweeping them aside again last week, in tournament play, to win their second league championship in a row. The Varsity Jills finished the season on a four win, one loss tear since returning from their swing through Columbus with four straight shutout wins. The lone loss was due to an unfortunate whistle during a very evenly played game versus Ursuline.
Spectators saw complete field action with strong defenses holding both teams scoreless until late in the second half Ursuline scored the lone point of the match. The score occurred while the Oakwood defense was killing yet another Ursuline attack. A whistle was blown as the ball was being centered by the opponents forward. Everyone stopped except for another Ursuline forward who tapped the ball into the goal. Despite a referee conference the goal stood. Oakwoods effort to get a goal to even up the match however was futile and the game ended in a loss 0-1 Ursuline. Two of the subsequent wins were dominant affairs over Summit (3-0) and Talawanda (5-0) but the last two were exciting 1-0 wins.
The first of these nail-biters was under a blistering “summer” sun against Lancaster. Lancaster played a defensive game collapsing 10 players inside the circle on the multitude of Oakwood attacks. Except for a few breakaways, Lancaster had very few scoring opportunities and seemed to be playing to push the game into overtime where anything can happen. Despite over 15 shots on goal in the first half Oakwood could not score. Despite the heat and fatigue of a second game, the home team did not get too frustrated and continued to attack. This continued until, with less than one minute remaining in the game, Oakwood had a final chance on a penalty corner opportunity. Laura German in bounded the ball to Sarah Maher who unleashed a solid shot from the top of the circle. The crowd erupted as the ball flew through the bodies and sticks for the lone score of the game.
On senior night, Oakwood hosted cross town rival, Fairmont. This game was a game for the ages. Fairmont fields a senior laden roster with exceptional speed and skills and earned the number one seed in the upcoming tournament. The Jills boast a nice balance between youth, veteran leadership and came into the game with lots of momentum. The game see sawed back and forth the length of the field as both teams had multiple fast break opportunities. Time after time the defensive set of Sarah Maher, Lauren Sobel, Meredith “You Rock” Irvin and goalie Ashley Morrison turned back Fairmont attacks. Even though Fairmont out shot Oakwood in the first half the score went into the break knotted 0-0.
The second half was a mirror image of the first except the defenses
on both teams kept the action between the 25 yard lines and allowed minimal shots on goal. The scoreless half forced a sudden death 7 player vs. 7 player, ten minute overtime. With an open field the pace of the game quickened. About 4 minutes in, Ali Taylor sped up field with the ball and fed the ball to Laura German. German continued the charge at the Fairmont goal coming into the circle from center right. Dodging defenders, she powered the ball across the goal with the ball grazing the Kettering goalies pads as it slammed into the back of the goal. The crowd erupted and the players stormed the field. Afterward, the team rang the Victory Bell at the school and the team carries momentum into this weeks first round tournament game versus Mt. Notre Dame.
The Oakwood Junior High Field Hockey team closed out their league schedule with rivalry week when they traveled to Van Buren Middle School and hosted Kettering Middle School. The first game at Van Buren was a close game in the first half. Five minutes into the game Mary Oda carried the ball up the right side of the field on a fast break and centered the ball to Emily Skill for the first score of the game.
Although Van Buren could not mount an offense, Oakwood was having trouble scoring. Shot after shot went awry until with less than four minutes remaining in the half Nicole Maher fed the ball to Skill during their 11th penalty corner for the second score. This provided the half time score of 2-0 Jills.
Coach Miller must have fired up the Jills at half time as the second half became another dominant affair for Oakwood scoring four times in the first seven minutes to put the game away. Unlike the game versus Van Buren, the Jills did not need to wait for halftime to get motivated against Kettering Middle School. Oakwood put on a clinic in the first half with precision passing, superior ball handling and of course scoring. French began the scoring when Oda received a free hit up the middle of the circle, pivoted and passed left to French who instead of shooting directly as the goal (where the goalie was defending) showed great poise by crossing her shot across the goal inside the right post. Peanut Johnson was dominant and scored four goals while French tacked on an additional goal to provide the final score of Oakwood 6 – KMS 1. This completed the second year in a row without a loss for the JH Jills and led them into the tournament. Due to their number one seed, the Jills played Van Buren in the first round. This game held to the season form as Oakwood out played their opponent with French scoring four goals and Johnson one goal for the 5-0 shutout. The Jills allowed only one Van Buren shot at their goal.
This set up the championship game when KMS beat Summit 1-0 in the final minute of their preliminary game. Family, friends and the Oakwood HS Field Hockey team gathered in cold, windy weather to watch this match. The game started slowly with both teams moving the ball back and forth between the 25 yard lines for the first six minutes. This ended when the scoring tandem of Peanut Johnson and Hannah French began to operate. Johnson kicked off the scoring with a breakaway up the middle for an unassisted goal. A few minutes later French scored (assist Shelby Howell) off a penalty corner. Neither team would score again in the half.
The second half was all Oakwood. Emily Skill had a breakaway goal at the 14:34 minute mark, pushing the ball up the middle, drifted left to open up the goal and scored. Johnson again scored with 6:22 left and Anna Johnsen got into the act with a great example of Jill teamwork. Mary Oda dribbled the ball up the right wing, passed to Peanut who moved left and centered it to French who fed it to the left wing and a waiting AJ. The final goal was by French (assist Oda) with less than a minute remaining for a 6 to 0 Championship win.
This unprecedented double sweep of Kettering schools will help fuel this friendly rivalry and hopefully set the tone for years to come.
By H.W. Sizek
On Saturday the Oakwood cross country team traveled to Bellbrook High School to compete in the Southwestern Buckeye League Championship. Under clear skies and cool temperatures the harriers ran through creeks, up and down hills and through the woods to second place team finishes.
Peter Hix continued to demonstrate his speed by finishing as conference champion edging out Bellbrook’s Alex Chappars by three seconds. Senior Jon Taylor finished his conference career with a third place finish. Tory Tomlinson crossed the line in 16th by shaving over three-quarters of a minute off his season’s best time. Gabe Svobodny and Chris Wolcott rounded out the Jack’s scoring finishing 18th and 19th respectively. Joey Neff and Marc Skill were in Oakwood’s top seven finishing 28th and 30th. Other runners finishing for the boys cross country team were Philip Sizek, Noah Berry, Andy Lamb, Keith Mueller, Michael Wuebker, Andy Myers, Ethan
Kissock, Evan Duffley, and Marcelle Bonterre. The Jacks finished second behind Southwestern League team champion Brookville.
 The Jills were led by Julia Sizek, who finished second, two seconds behind Milton-Union’s Angela Klimkowski. Elizabeth Connelly crossed the line next for Oakwood in fifth place. Hilary Beyer (16th), Natalie Denka (18th) and Sarah Deitz (24th) were the other scorers for the Jills. Ericha Griep (25th) and Rachel Conniff (30th) rounded out the top seven for the girls. Other finishers for the Oakwood girls were Hannah McCarthy, Shannon Hallinan, Autumn Bruno, Alex Conniff, Taylor Shade, and Ginny Beth Fulford. The Jills finished second behind Southwestern League team champion Milton-Union.
Next Saturday the Oakwood Cross Country Team travels back to the Miami Valley Career Technical Center for the Dayton District Meet, where the top four teams and the top sixteen runners advance to regional competition.
Photo by Leon Chuck, www.PressboxPhoto.com
Hillary Beyer runs through the shallow cold creek. OHS boys and girls varsity cross country finished second at the SWBL meet held at Bellbrook.
On Oct. 9, Oakwood Soccer Jacks visited the Eaton Eagles. It was a bumpy field, adversely affecting Oakwood’s short passing game. Much of the game was a midfield battle, and possession was divided. Brian Telek took a free kick from 35 yards from Eaton’s goal, finding Addison Wille who headed onto the bar over. Another cross found Wille’s head, but again it went over the bar. Andrew Morris had a shot from the left in the penalty box, saved by the Eaton keeper.
Tristan Schnader volleyed a shot 15 yards in front of goal, but the shot was saved again. The defining moment of the game came with 10 seconds left in the first half when Eaton made a long throw to the far post, 30 yards in the air, for a scramble in the box and a tap in header by an Eaton player two yards out.
The second half was difficult as the Jacks could not penetrate the dense Eaton defense with 11 men in the penalty box. The referees called many fouls with only slight contact, seemingly disrupting Oakwood’s game. Addison Wille suffered an injury which saw him sub off the rest of the game. But play was flat, and although Oakwood outshot Eaton 34-18, they lost 1-0. Scott Harmon had nine saves, and Eaton’s goalkeeper had eight saves. Kyle Kissock had an excellent game on right wing.
On Oct. 11, the Jacks played away at Dayton Christian. This was an exciting back and forth game with a ferocious midfield battle. Dayton Christian had most of the possession, but Oakwood had numerous, dangerous counterattacking breaks. Although Oakwood was outshot in the first half, they had the more dangerous opportunities to score. At 14 minutes, Zach Hood found Morris running into the box, but this was broken up by the DC defense at the eight yard line, forcing Morris’s shot wide on the left. At 15 minutes, Schnader made a 40 yard cross from the right wing to Phil Wille on the left wing. As Wille streamed toward the goal, he crossed to Morris in the center of the box, but Morris shot just wide on the left; another good opportunity. At 19 minutes, Wille drove towards goal, but the ball was stolen from him, possibly a foul which could have been a penalty call but was deemed fair. The DC defense was tall, strong and fast, making it difficult for the Jack’s strikers to get their shots off.
At 35 minutes, Schnader threaded the ball to Morris who then found Wille at six yards charging onto goal. But the DC goal keeper came out and made a sliding block as Wille shot hard, deflected over the line. Almost immediately after, Morris found Wille who found David Shepard and back to Morris who took a volley hitting the cross bar. The score was tied 0-0 as the first half ended, with DC having more shots, but generally from much farther outside the Oakwood penalty box.
The second half began with DC dominating possession and play 80 percent plus. However, Oakwood did have several counter attacks, and at six minutes, Simon Gifford made a 50 yard pass to Andrew Morris who ran onto the ball, and as he was about to shoot, he was tripped in the DC penalty box, drawing the PK, the defining moment in the game. Schnader stepped to the spot and hammered the ball to the lower corner for Oakwood’s winning goal. Thereafter DC came at Oakwood with wave after wave of offensive play, but their shots were from outside the penalty box and taken hastily. Scott Harman made several crucial saves. John Harman was tremendously tough on defense, and Telek was basically a wall for the Jacks. Alex Kooser, Kissock and Gifford also put in strong defensive performances.
The game finished a nail biter, but Oakwood eked out the win, 1-0, although they were outshot 29-12. Scott Harman made 12 saves and the DC keeper made four.
The Oakwood Junior High Soccer Team finished their season by winning second place in the Skyhawk Soccer Invitational Tournament held Sat, Oct 13, at the Fairborn High School Stadium.
Pictured, left to right: Cody Callison, Rachel Griep, Richard Terrell, Eli Colinson, Oliver Wagner, Katherine Anderson, Perry Fulford, Aaron Shiffler, Coach Drew Sears, Karlee Breidenbach, Margaux Mayhew, Katy Cantwell, Kenny Deffet, Herbert Sizek, Weston Davis, Taylor Burke, Jordan Shane.
Last Tuesday night was senior night for the Oakwood girls soccer team, as this year’s six seniors and their parents were honored before the game. This year’s class, made up of Tory Danis, Rachel Huber, Brooke Klopsch, Emily Steiner, Hayley Ward, and Rachel Warwar is impressive, boasting an average grade point average of 3.63, and involved in so many activities that one has to wonder how they do it all. Also recognized was trainer Corey Whipple, who has done an outstanding job for this injury-plagued team.
The first half of the game (versus Eaton) was one of domination by Oakwood, punctuated by an occasional scare by an Eaton breakaway. The game was scoreless until the 26:17 mark, when Molly Breidenbach launched one of her patented long throw-ins. The toss flew all the way across the goal mouth to a well-positioned Emily Steiner, who knocked it in for a 1-0 Oakwood lead. Three minutes later Eaton ventured into the Oakwood end for the first time. A Jill defensive mistake led to an Eaton breakaway, and the Lady Eagles scored to tie it at 1-1, which is how the first half ended.
The second half was all Oakwood. Just over two minutes into the game, a hard-working Brooke Klopsch fought off two defenders as she took the ball down the right hand side and hit a hard crossing pass. Maeve Harper took the pass in full stride and found the back of the net for a 2-1 Jills lead. At the 15:48 mark Breidenbach again showed off her throwing expertise, and Steiner was on the receiving end again, booming it in for a 3-1 lead. Four minutes later Liz Daganhardt got in on the assist act, heading the ball to Emily Steiner who headed it in for the hat trick and a 4-1 Jills lead. Steiner wasn’t done celebrating senior night, however, as a minute later she scored again, this time on an assist from Harper. A four goal night for Emily, and a 5-1 win for Oakwood.
Thursday night Milton Union visited, making up a game which was postponed due to lightning earlier in the season. The Jills jumped on top early and never looked back.
Less than two minutes into the game a Molly Breidenbach free kick found Brooke Klopsch open, and Brooke headed the ball in for a quick 1-0 lead. At the 23:43 mark another Breidenbach kick was headed by Maeve Harper into a pack of players. The ball popped out and Tory Danis was in the right place, scoring from the right side, making it 2-0. Four minutes later Klopsch got free in front of the goal and used her left foot to score again. Halftime score: Oakwood 3, Milton Union 0.
The second half was controlled by Oakwood, the Jills adding one more goal at the 10:45 mark on a Tory Danis shot from the left side, her second goal of the game. Head coach Dawn Gaydosh was able to give varsity experience to four players promoted to the varsity from this year’s successful junior varsity team (11-2-2). Sophomore Christina Davis, and freshmen Erin Johnson, Brianna McConnell, and Alex Randolph all played well. The Oakwood victory enabled the Jills to finish second in the Southwestern Division of the SWBL with a record of 7 wins, 2 losses, and 3 ties. The overall record was 8-5-3.
The Jills are seeded fifth in the sectional tournament, and opened play last night with a home game against Carlisle. A victory there would send Oakwood to Monroe for a 6 p.m. match Thursday night against the undefeated, fourth-seeded Monroe team.
A Senior Night farewell - Head Coach Dawn Gaydosh, 8 Rachel Huber, 9 Rachel Warwar, 11 Emily Steiner, 13 Haley Ward, 22 Tory Danis, 24 Brooke Klopsch, Asst. Coach Kate Grunkemeyer.
Oct. 7 marked the 12th Annual Fall Regatta for the Greater Dayton Rowing Association. Oakwood High School 11th grader Nora Murphy opened the Regatta with her beautiful rendition of our National Anthem. The Regatta this year was renamed the “ Charlie Doyle Memorial Regatta” in memory of beloved member and founder Charlie Doyle who passed away unexpectedly in June at the age of 57. The blue skies and gorgeous venue at Island MetroPark paved the way for the over 223 boat entries to compete at their finest. The approximately 1,000 rowers that took to the water on Sunday represented high schools, universities and adult rowing programs from the Midwest.
Although the summer-like heat and humidity was trying at times for the rowers, their enthusiasm and grace as they glided across the waters was a beautiful site to see. Also, highly commendable was the amount of volunteer hours by the
Greater Dayton Rowing Association members and parents of student rowers dedicated to successfully presenting such a well-run, well respected Regatta.
GDRA’s high school and Adult Master’s Rowers had a wonderful showing and went home with many medals. The GDRA Community High School Team medaled in 10 events. GDRA Adult Masters brought in seven medals. In addition, GDRA’s Junior High Program, Rookie Rowers, wowed the crowd with their amazing lunchtime races. Over 50 Oakwood junior high, high school and adult rowers were involved with this event.
The Greater Dayton Rowing Association, with the overwhelming support of the Five Rivers MetroParks, offers opportunities for individuals ages 12 - adult to learn the sport of Olympic Rowing. For more information, please visit www.daytonrowing.org or call 299-IROW(4769).
The Oakwood Band Parents will be selling Caramel Apples to raise money for a new Sousaphone at the Oakwood/Bellbrook football game on Friday, Oct. 19.
Friesingers Chocolates of Springboro is donating their homemade caramel apples so 100 percent of the money raised will go toward purchasing the sousaphone. Made with large Braeburn apples (slightly tart/sweet) and
dipped in caramel made from scratch, these apples are a fall treat.
The caramel apples will be $3 each and will be available in plain caramel or caramel with peanuts. The apples will be sold starting at 6 p.m. at the Oakwood Band sponsored tailgate dinner on Schantz Ave., and will be sold by the South concession stand during the game.
Try some of these delicious apples and help Oakwood’s band!
Wear white to the game to show your support for the Lumberjacks! The Oakwood Booster Spirit Shop will be selling “white-out” T-shirts and white spirit towels Monday – Thursday, Oct 15 - 18, at the high school under the clock during the lunch hour. The T-shirts sell for $12 and towels for $5. White pom-poms will be sold prior to the game for $1.
A Community Pep Rally will be held outside the stadium on Schantz Ave. Friday evening, Oct. 19, beginning at 6: 45 p.m. Join the band and cheerleaders to energize the crowd and cheer the team on to victory! Come early to get your white pom-poms! Be a flake —-join the BLIZZARD!
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