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
Primetime Eme
Through the years, Eme Miller has been in the stands watching family and friends swim in the state finals. Friday will be her day.
JAY COUNTY
Hot at Home(stead)
FORT WAYNE — The Patriots improved in the final three quarters after a slow start. It wasn’t enough for them to overcome the hot-shooting home team.
JAY COUNTY
Heading to state
FORT WAYNE — As the referee raised his arm, Eric Hemmelgarn showed almost no reaction. Eight minutes of wrestling had left him exhausted.
JAY COUNTY
JC tops Delta
The Patriots went from their hottest-shooting half of the year to the worst. They still managed to come away with an eighth straight victory.
SPORTS
Fort back on track
MARIA STEIN, Ohio — Brian Patch felt like his team had spent the last several weeks just going through the motions. On Friday, the Indians got their intensity back.
SPORTS
Brock breaks Wayne
When Kegan Comer left the game with a knee injury, someone needed to fill the void. Brock McFarland was ready.
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
Local athletes excelling
With so much going on in high school sports at this time of year, it’s easy for some things to get missed.
JAY COUNTY
Jay defeats Raiders
Playing at the No. 1 spot for the first time, and in a tournament setting, Evan Mathias felt the pressure. Back on his home course Thursday, the sophomore relaxed and led his team to victory.
JAY COUNTY
No. 5 Norwell tops JC
The Patriots walked away with their third loss in the last four games.
SPORTS
Jay blows away Redskins
Following three straight losses, the Patriots needed a big day to turn their season back in the right direction. They got it on a windy Saturday.
JAY COUNTY
3 in a row
An inning that could have been disastrous ended up turning the tide for the Patriots.
SPORTS
Jay Co. tops FR
FORT RECOVERY — Because of the disparity in team size, the team result was never in doubt. It was the individual races that made the meet interesting.
JAY COUNTY
Bounce back
Tuesday’s loss left the Patriots with something to prove. On Thursday, they did.
SPORTS
Keller leads JC in split
Justen Keller didn’t go home after Saturday’s Winchester Invitational was halted because of rain.
JAY COUNTY
Homers bury Jay County
Through the first two-and-a-half weeks of the season, the Patriots were in every game they played.
SPORTS
Jay Co. bears down
PARKER CITY — Lea Selvey was frustrated by mental mistakes and a lack of plate discipline.
SPORTS
Knockout no-hitter
MINSTER, Ohio — Minster’s top pitcher, Adam Niemeyer, has been unable to throw for several weeks because of an elbow injury.
SPORTS
Offensive victory
It looked as if the Portland Rockets were going to send their fans home early. But each time they built a big lead, they could not hold it.
JAY COUNTY
Back finishes 19th
BLOOMINGTON — Tyler Back wasn’t able to reach the distances he was hoping for. He still shot up the leader board.
NEWS
Sunken oasis in Huntington
HUNTINGTON — On the north side of Park Street, there is a giant hole in the earth.
RAYS OF INSIGHT
Success factor is good 1st step
CR Sports Editor Ray Cooney answers questions about Pete Rose, touchdown passes from rookie quarterbacks and the private vs. public issue in high school sports.
SPORTS
Niece keeping sports in play
Taking a week’s vacation from being sports editor has hardly meant a break from sports.
NEWS
Renovation on track at FRHS
FORT RECOVERY — If everything continues to go as planned, distractions during the school year from a $3.4-million renovation project at Fort Recovery High School will be kept at a minimum.
SPORTS
Fort has rough 1st
FORT RECOVERY — In their first two games, the Indians got record rushing efforts from Mason Evers. In abbreviated action Friday night, it was the Rockets who dominated on the ground.
SPORTS
Ludy to play in Florida
Josh Ludy finished his college career in Waco, Texas. The Philadelphia Phillies drafted him, and then sent him to play in New Jersey. Now he’s headed to Florida.
JAY COUNTY
Tenth at sectional
BLUFFTON — The 10th and 11th holes snagged the Patriots again. And the 12th didn’t help either.
SPORTS
Nightmare ending
There was plenty of magic for the Patriots during the first half of their holiday-themed homecoming.
SPORTS
Jay improves in doubleheader
Both of the Patriots’ matches finished with 5-0 scores. One was a win, the other a loss. They were happy about their performance in both.
JAY COUNTY
Falcons are favorites
Defending champion Northeastern’s move out of the Jay County High School boys tennis sectional left a void at the top. The Golden Falcons have filled that spot.
SPORTS
Down and delayed
For the second time in three weeks, the Patriots will be playing football under the Saturday night lights. And this time, they’ll be starting in a 13-point hole.
JAY COUNTY
Falcons trapped
WINCHESTER — The Golden Falcons pulled to within five in the fourth quarter. But they couldn’t stop J.D. Mangas on the trap.
JAY COUNTY
Jay wins tourney opener
YORKTOWN — The Patriots kept pressure on the goal Monday night, often chipping the ball up the middle of the field beyond the defense. For the first 24 minutes, Carter McClure was always there to cover the ball. But eventually, the Muncie Central goalie couldn’t reach the ball in time.
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