Stellar outings already aplenty

It’s still early.

As the calendar rolled over into December, winter sports are in full swing.

(Except gymnastics, of course. The Patriot tumblers begin their season in January.)

Girls basketball has been going for nearly a month. Boys basketball in Indiana is in its second week and across the state line both Fort Recovery hoop squads are well underway.

The wrestlers are two weeks into their season as well, and Jay County hosts the Allen County Athletic Conference dual tournament on Friday and Saturday as the defending champions. The first two rounds are Friday, with rounds three through seven continuing on Saturday.

Then on Saturday night the Jay County girls hoops teams entertains Fort Recovery having lost five of the last seven meetings with the Indians.

As we inch closer to Christmas, here’s a few things that have stood out so far this season across all sports.

Jutte’s jolt

Payton Jutte struggled offensively in his first game under new Fort Recovery boys basketball coach Michael Bashore.

The junior forward was 3-of-12 from the field, 2-for-5 from behind the 3-point line and finished with 10 points on Friday in the Tribe’s win over St. Marys Memorial.

A day later against Bashore’s former team, the Greenville Green Wave, Jutte lit up the scoreboard to the tune of 37 points in leading the Indians to an overtime road victory.

He was 10-of-20, including 5-of-9 from long range, and was a stellar 12-of-14 from the free-throw line in the victory.

Jutte’s jolt could just be the confidence he needs in his abilities to help carry the Indians in Bashore’s first year in Fort Recovery.

Gauntlet girls

The Jay County girls basketball team has gone through a gauntlet early on in its season.

After an four-point loss to Winchester on Nov. 18, the Patriots (4-5) blasted Woodlan before a string of three consecutive losses. But they weren’t necessarily bad losses, either.

Jay County led Class 4A No. 5 Homestead at half but lost by 14 on Nov. 28.

Two days later at home they fell to Class 3A sectional rival New Castle by seven, and got pushed around at home on Saturday against Fort Wayne South, 86-60.

If there was ever a need for a bounce-back win, Jay County got it on Tuesday with a 79-45 win over Muncie Central.

Friday the Patriots hit the road for an ACAC tilt against Adams Central (2-6, 0-1 ACAC). After the tilt against the Jets and Fort Recovery, Jay County meets Blackford, Heritage and South Adams, a big contrast to how the first half of the season started.

Strong swimmers

Jay County’s girls swim team is off to yet another strong start.

The Patriots are undefeated through four dual meets this season. They won the Norwell Invitational on Nov. 11 and were second at the Westfield Invitational a week later.

Senior Alex Bader, who signed to swim at Ball State with sister Sophie and cousin Anne Vormohr, is poised to make it back-to-back state medals in the 100-yard breaststroke. Her younger sister Eliza Bader, a freshman, as well as her classmates Lilly Clemmons and Ashlyn Dow have made an immediate impact for Jay County this season. Those four, as well as others such as Elizabeth McDowell, Erica Hathaway and Vivienne Kunkler, are primed to help the Patriots dethrone South Adams as ACAC champions.

Still a Winner

After becoming the first freshman state medalist in program history last season, Mason Winner is already on track for a stellar sophomore campaign.

He finished seventh in the state last year at 145 pounds, and like most high school kids, put on weight as he matured. This season Winner is wrestling at 160 pounds, and he’s undefeated through his first six matches. 

The accomplished and confident wrestler has his sights set on a return trip to the state finals and standing at the top of the podium.