Ray Cooney
Ray Cooney was elected president of The Graphic Printing Company in December 2023. He became publisher of The Commercial Review on July 1, 2020, while retaining the title of editor he has held since Dec. 1, 2014. He served managing editor from July 2013 through November 2014, assistant managing editor from November 2005 through July 2013 and sports editor from March 2001 through July 2013.
He earned the most awards of any journalist in Division III in the Hoosier State Press Association Better Newspaper Contest for four consecutive years from 2013 through 2016. His first-place honors this year were for in-depth feature, sports feature, general news photo and video.
In his career he has also won HSPA awards for sports commentary, editorial writing, use of graphics, community service, news writing under deadline pressure, sports action photo, sports feature photo, headline writing, editorial page, profile feature and multiple picture group. He had picked up nine Indiana Associated Press Media Editors awards earlier in the year, including first place for business writing, non-deadline sports story and headline writing.
Cooney was honored with the Indiana High School Athletic Association Distinguished Media Service Award in 2012, and also received the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Outstanding Baseball Media Award in 2009.
A native of Avon, Ohio, Cooney graduated from St. Edward High School (Lakewood, Ohio) in 1996 and Cleveland State University in 2000. He was the inaugural editor of The Cleveland Stater at CSU, and also worked for The Morning Journal (Lorain, Ohio) and The Chronicle-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio) before moving to Jay County.
Cooney lives in Portland with his dog, Scooter.
SPORTS
FR eyeing MAC, state
A lot of teams enter the season with big aspirations. The Indians aren’t being shy about theirs.
JAY COUNTY
JC speeds past 'Cats
The Bearcats tried to run. They still couldn’t keep up with Jay County.
SPORTS
FR seeks to keep building
The Fort Recovery High School swimmers have a lot to be excited about.
JAY COUNTY
Patriots pass test
Kegan Comer will have to wait a while to get the results of his Saturday-morning test. As for the exam he took later that evening, he passed with flying colors.
SPORTS
Take a minute to value friends
This time of year can be one of the toughest to write a column.
SPORTS
Hoops, football highlight weekend
This annual feature has gone through many different incarnations.
JAY COUNTY
Pats roll over Indians
GAS CITY — After 16 days away from game action, the Patriots returned Friday with a simple mission.
JAY COUNTY
Fresh faces ready to swim
The Patriots may be short on sectional experience, but coach Barry Weaver is hoping their strong numbers will help make up for it.
JAY COUNTY
Tough in the clutch
WINCHESTER — For the second straight night, the Patriots came through when the game was on the line.
SPORTS
Cardinal achievement
MUNCIE — The Cardinal coaching staff was looking for players to show them they wanted to be a part of the team.
SPORTS
JC grapplers top Rebels
A technical fall by the fourth-ranked, 152-pound wrestler in the state kept the Rebels in contention. Zach Metcalf and Eric Beougher quickly finished them off.
JAY COUNTY
No. 5 Cadets defeat JCHS
A run to close the third quarter got the Patriots back in the game. But they couldn’t sustain the momentum.
SOUTH ADAMS
SA grapplers face strong schedule
It’s hard to imagine the Starfires having a better season.
JAY COUNTY
JC fights off 'Dogs
FORT WAYNE — The Patriots struggled to pass the ball in the second game. But they didn’t allow those issues to ruin their night.
NEWS
A life in music
The story plays out time and time again on “American Idol” and “The Voice”. Singers audition for those TV shows and others like them, or move across the country, seeking their big break.
JAY COUNTY
No comeback for JC
After giving up a comeback in their season opener, the Patriots had a chance to mount one of their own in their first home game. They just couldn’t get the hits they needed to break through.
SPORTS
FRHS low in numbers
With only 13 athletes on both track teams combined, there won’t be much in the way of team success for the Indians this season. So they’ll be focused on individual events.
JAY COUNTY
Seventh on vault
MUNCIE — Katie Snyder was happy after her vault scored flashed. By the end of the day, however, she was heartbroken.
SPORTS
Sights set on state
The last year included a lot of tears for Katie Snyder. There was even fear that she would never compete again. She has already dispelled that theory, and will try to prove she is better than ever on Friday night.
JAY COUNTY
Turnover trouble
A week ago Chris Krieg said his team’s key would be its ability to take care of the basketball.
JAY COUNTY
Patriots dominate Mississinewa
GAS CITY — The Patriots have put the season opener well in their rearview mirror.
SCHOOLS
FR approves school plan
FORT RECOVERY — After voting down a plan to build a new high school last year, school district voters gave resounding approval Tuesday to the new plan to renovate the existing facility.
SPORTS
JC seeking more state berths
During the six years from 2000 through ’05, the Patriots were in a drought.
SPORTS
Fort finishes seventh
TIFFIN, Ohio — It’s hard to believe the first 200 yards of a 3.1-mile race can make much of an impact.
FORT RECOVERY
Celina trips Indians
FORT RECOVERY — The Indians started the evening by honoring their seniors prior to their final game at Fort Site Fieldhouse. But it was Celina that seemed right at home behind the 3-point line.
SPORTS
It's a team effort
BERNE — Ask Evan Liechty about his rally in the final mile of the semi-state race to a third-place finish and he gives a nonchalant response.
SOUTH ADAMS
Jay, SA runners focused on state
Katie Simmons, Hannah Moore and the Starfire boys have an unusual fall-break destination in mind. All of them would like to make a trip to Terre Haute.
SOUTH ADAMS
SA back in sectional final
UNION CITY — Both teams made some big plays. The Starfires just made more of them.
FORT RECOVERY
Chasing state goal
FORT RECOVERY — The Indians didn’t have their best day at the district meet. Oddly, that may turn out to be a good thing.
SPORTS
FR seeks to avenge loss
It’s said that history repeats itself. The Indians hope theory holds true.
JAY COUNTY
Liechty third for SA
FORT WAYNE — No Starfire had ever made it to the state finals.
SPORTS
JCHS moves to 5-0
MUNCIE — Good defense, rebounding and free-throw shooting make it much easier to protect a lead.
JAY COUNTY
Jay crushes Bluffton
In their final competition of the 2010-11 season, the Patriots finished seventh in the sectional tournament. They were 35 points behind fifth-place Bluffton.
SPORTS
SA brings confidence
BERNE — A team loaded with seniors is hoping to lead the Black and Gold to its first sectional title in 15 years.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Bengals go above, beyond
For someone who refers to Super Bowl Sunday as the best holiday of the year, the idea came embarrassingly late.
SPORTS
All-time great Owl
Greg Williams grew up in Portland, living what he describes as a “Hoosiers”-like existence playing basketball in Indiana.
FORT RECOVERY
Headed to finals
ELIDA, Ohio — Wade Gelhaus spent the first half in the background as his senior teammates controlled the game. But when Indians needed him in the third quarter, the Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year rose to the occasion.
SPORTS
Jay blasts Bears
PARKER CITY — Having one player who can score 20 points is enough to make a team dangerous. Three of them on the same squad is nearly impossible to stop.
SPORTS
Jay fourth at regional
MUNCIE — As significant underdogs, the Patriots knew they had two options.
SPORTS
Break time?
Brock McFarland, Kegan Comer, Scott Schwieterman, Tyler Back and Darren Bogenschutz have a chance to make their Senior Night one of the most special in school history.
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