NEW KNOXVILLE — The first two-thirds of the season were rough for the Indians.

Heading into the tournament, they’re on a roll.

Fort Recovery High School’s girls basketball team picked up its fifth win in its last seven games and its first Midwest Athletic Conference win of the season, topping the New Knoxville Rangers 39-29.

A strong start helped the Indians (7-14, 1-8 Midwest Athletic Conference), who opened 2-14 but have topped Franklin Monroe, Indiana Lake, Troy Christian, Celina and New Knoxville since Jan. 21. They built an eight-point advantage that slipped to three at halftime before the Indians gradually opened the lead again in the second half.

Cali Wendel’s 19 points paced Fort Recovery, which will open the sectional tournament against Coldwater at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Lincolnview. Kennedy Muhlenkamp followed with nine points and Karlie Niekamp had seven.



Three in second

OSSIAN — A trio of second-place finishes led the Jay County junior high boys swim team to a runner-up finish with 358 points Thursday at the Norwell Invitational.

The host Knights won with 505 points while Bluffton was third in the eight-team field with 308.

Raif Beiswanger led the Patriots with a pair of top-three efforts, including second place with a time of 1 minute, 9.27 seconds, in the 100-yard individual medley. He was also third in the 100 freestyle in 1:03.67.

Also placing second for Jay County were Cooper Glentzer in the 400 freestyle in 4:42.95 and Rockland Beiswanger in the 100 backstroke in 1:17.63.

Carson Westgerdes posted times of 1:26.48 in the 100 breaststroke for third place and 28.45 in the 50 freestyle for fourth place.

Raif Beiswanger, Rockland Beiswanger, Wesgerdes and Glentzer were also second in both the 200 medley relay and 300 freestyle relay.



JH wrestlers 3-0

The Jay County junior high wrestling team swept the three opponents it hosted Tuesday, defeating Heritage 58-33, Southern Wells 73-15 and Driver 81-12.

Winning by pin in all three matches were Logan Wendel (90 pounds), Jason Landers (132) and Spencer Smitley (220). Also going 3-0 in contested matches with a pair of pins was Leighton Brown (160).

Finishing the evening 2-0 in contested matches were Freddie Lingo (175) and Gabe Ardizzone (125). Picking up single wins were Corbin Lothridge (85), Jackson Bonifas (95), Brenna Ruble (102), Cooper Reynolds (110), Cooper Glassford (110), Max McClain (117), Varen Ridgway (150), Leighton Brown (160), Keegan Wittkamp (195) and Reynaldo Ortega-Leos (275).