Lykins qualifies for NAIA nationals

Josh Lykins started his collegiate swimming career with a splash.
Lykins, a 2014 Jay County High School graduate, qualified for the NAIA nationals as part of the 400-meter freestyle relay at Lindsey Wilson College.
He joined Iker Larzabal, Gage Setzer and Jose Prado de Lima to finish in second place Sept. 27 for the host Blue Raiders at the Lindsey Wilson College Fall Frenzy Invitational. He swam the second leg, helping the team to second place with a time of 3 minutes, 19.05 seconds, earning an “A” cut for the national meet in March.
Also in the meet, he swam the lead leg of the 200 freestyle relay with Sam Tate, Prado de Lima and Zachary Patzer, finishing in first place with a time of 1:31.94. He swam the freestyle leg of the 200 medley relay, teaming up with Hayden Pedergraft, Prado de Lima and Travis Durocher for a sixth-place finish.

Hannah Moore
South Adams – 2012
Led the Huntington University women’s cross country team Saturday as it won the Grace Invitational Championship.
Moore took the individual title as she paced a Forester sweep of the top five. She won the 5K race in 19 minutes, 8 seconds, finishing six seconds ahead of teammate Christine Sparks.
The victory marked the third invitational title for HU this year, and the third time in four years that it won the event at Grace.

Kelsey Fiely
Fort Recovery – 2013
Helped the University of Northwestern Ohio volleyball team to a 25-23, 25-13, 25-23 win Friday over Concordia.
Fiely started and came up with six digs for the Racers (14-7). She also had one ace.

Randa Gillespie
Jay County – 2012
Played Wednesday for the Manchester University volleyball team in its 25-14, 25-17, 26-24 loss to host Goshen.
Gillespie saw action in one game and came up with four digs for the Spartans (4-16).

Julie Valentine
Jay County – 2013
Posted the No. 3 time Saturday for the Stephens College women’s cross country team as it finished fifth at the Maryville Invitational.
Valentine posted a time of 31 minutes, 17.8 seconds in the 6K race. She was 27th overall.

Alyssa Bluhm
South Adams – 2014
Played in one set Wednesday in Taylor University’s 25-17, 25-21, 25-16 sweep of Marian.
Bluhm had three attacks but did not register a kill. She has played in 14 sets this season, and has totaled 13 kills, one assist and three digs for the Trojans (17-5).

Dylan Cope
Jay County – 2013
Was honored as the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s cross country runner of the week.
Cope, who competes for Indiana University East, led the Red Wolves to a fourth-place finish Saturday at the nine-team Earlham Invitational. He posted a career-best time of 27 minutes, 6 seconds, in the 8K race to finish 15th overall.

Eme Miller
Jay County – 2012
Turned in the best finishes in the history of Defiance College women’s cross country team Friday at the All-Ohio Collegiate Championships.
Miller, who owns the school’s 5K and 6K records, posted a time of 22 minutes, 57.01 seconds, in the 6K event. She led the Yellow Jackets, finished seventh among NCAA Division II competitors and was 23rd overall in a field of 503 runners.