Smeltzer gets NAIA ‘B’ cut

Katy Smeltzer has another national standard.

Smeltzer, a 2015 Jay County High School graduate, earned a NAIA ‘B’ cut for the University of the Cumberlands women’s swim team Oct. 7 in a 159-86 victory over Lindsey Wilson College.

The junior was second in the 50-yard freestyle with her time of 26.32 seconds to earn the national cut. Smeltzer helped the 400 freestyle relay win with their time of 3 minutes, 44.24 seconds, swimming the lead leg in 58.11 seconds. She helped the 200 medley B relay finish second in 1:58.76. She swam the freestyle leg in 26.67 seconds.

On Saturday, Smeltzer was second in the 200 butterfly (2:31.11) and third in the 100 butterfly (1:05.79), as the Patriots (3-0, 1-0 Mid-South Conference) picked up two wins in a double dual with Bethel University (160-77) and Union University (192-77).

She swam the butterfly leg of the 200 medley relay in 28.76 seconds, helping the quartet finish second, and was the third leg (25.96 seconds) of the runner-up 200 freestyle relay team.

Brette and Ashton Klopp

S.Adams – 2017

Made their collegiate debuts for the University of Findlay women’s swim team as it opened its season Friday and Saturday at Northern Michigan University

Ashton’s best individual performances came Saturday as she earned a trio of top-four finishes. She was second in the 100-yard butterfly in 1 minute, 0.4 seconds. She was third in the 200 individual medley in 2:18.4, and fourth in the 200 butterfly with her time of 2:16.02. On Friday, Ashton was third in the 75 freestyle (41.08).

Brette also had her best individual day Saturday, as she was third in the 100 backstroke (1:02.94), fourth in the 200 backstroke (2:17.12) and two spots behind her twin sister in the 200 IM (2:21.38). She was fourth in the 25 butterfly (13.11) and fifth in the 125 IM (1:21.57) on Friday.

The Oilers lost 155-99 on Friday in the sprint meet before falling 182-112 on Saturday.

Kristen Jutte

Fort Rec. – 2016

Notched a career high in kills for the Capital University volleyball team Tuesday in a 3-1 loss to Marietta.

The sophomore had a dozen kills on 36 attacks to surpass her previous career-high of 11 kills she set Oct. 7. She also had five digs for the Crusaders (9-16, 1-4 Ohio Athletic Conference). 

The former Indian also had six kills and five digs in a 3-0 loss Saturday to Mount Union.

Cassidy Rammel

Fort Rec. – 2015

Led the University of Saint Francis volleyball team as it went 1-4 in its last five contests.

Rammel had a match-high 17 kills on Wednesday in a 3-1 loss to Indiana Wesleyan. She also had eight digs and helped on a block.

She had a match-high 14 kills with nine digs and one block in a 3-1 win Saturday over  Trinity Christian College in the Grand View Tournament. She followed that by sharing the team-high of six kills while also adding three digs, two aces and a block in a 3-0 loss to William Woods University later that day.

On Sunday, the junior had a match-high 13 kills to go with her three digs, assist, ace and block in a 3-0 defeat to Peru State College. She then had a team-best eight kills with six digs as the Cougars (8-19) lost to Grand View 3-0.

Kendra Siefring

Fort Rec. – 2016

Contributed to the Saint Francis volleyball team in all five matches in the past week.

Siefring had seven kills, three blocks and one dig in Wednesday’s loss to Indiana Wesleyan.

She had nine kills, two solo blocks and a pair of digs in the win over Trinity Christian, then followed with two digs, one kill and a block in the loss to William Woods.

The sophomore was second to Rammel with 10 kills against Peru State while adding a team-best two blocks to go with her one dig. Siefring followed with four kills, two blocks and a dig against Grand View.

Ava Kunkler

Jay County – 2016

Had a dozen kills twice in the last five matches for the University of Saint Francis volleyball team.

Kunkler was second on the squad with 12 kills in Wednesday’s loss to Indiana Wesleyan, while also adding one block assist.

She was second on the team with a dozen kills in the victory against Trinity Christian. She also had a block, a dig and an assist, before notching five kills, one dig and a block in the defeat to William Woods.

Kunkler contributed four kills and two digs against Peru State, and totaled three kills in the loss to Grand View.

Abby Barcus

Jay County – 2017

Tied for second in kills for the Wright State University volleyball team Sunday in a 25-14, 29-27, 21-25, 24-26, 15-8 loss to Milwaukee.

The freshman totaled 14 kills, matching teammate Megan Hopkins for second on the team. Katie Klusman’s 16 was tops for the Raiders (9-12, 3-5 Horizon League).

Barcus added four digs and two blocks for WSU.

Her 219 kills on the season are second to Klusman, a senior, who has 268.

Cady Farlow

South Adams – 2015

Earned one victory, added a runner-up effort and contributed to a relay that was second for the Purdue University women’s swim team in its season-opening 194-105 win over Miami (Ohio) on Friday.

The junior won the 200-yard breaststroke with her time of 2 minutes, 16.63 seconds, for a victory of nearly two seconds. She was second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:03.53.

Farlow swam the breaststroke leg of the 200 medley relay. She had a split of 28.6 seconds, helping Hanna House, Emmy Rawson and Courtney Kresl finish second in 1:43.99.

Kylie Osborne

Jay County – 2016

Played for the Anderson University volleyball team Saturday in a 25-22, 25-20, 25-19 homecoming win over Franklin College.

The sophomore had five kills on 18 attacks. She tied for fourth on the team with five digs while also contributing two aces, one assist and a block assist.

On Wednesday, Osborne was one of three Ravens to reach double digits in digs, as she was second on the team with 15. She also had five kills and one ace.

Osborne has tallied five or more kills in 19 of 26 matches for the Ravens (10-16, 1-5 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference).

Wes Wenning

Fort Recovery – 2016

Caught a pass in his second straight game for the Ashland University football team as it shut out Michigan Tech on Saturday, 48-0. 

The sophomore hauled in an 11-yard strike from John Davies on a drive late in the third quarter on third-and-6. It was his only catch of the game for the NCAA Division II No. 13 Eagles (6-1, 5-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), who ended the drive with a field goal.

Eric Hemmelgarn

Jay County – 2014

Was held without any measurable stats on Saturday as the University of Saint Francis football team defeated Siena Heights 36-9.

Hemmelgarn started as nose tackle but did not record any tackles for the NAIA No. 1 Cougars (6-0, 3-0 Mid-States Football Association-Mideast League), who held the Saints to just 36 rushing yards. 

It was the first time this season Hemmelgarn was held without a tackle.

Drew LeFever

South Adams – 2016

Was one of eight players to record a carry for the Taylor University football team in its 56-14 loss Saturday to the Marian Knights.

LeFever was second on the team with seven carries and finished fourth on the squad with 11 yards. His longest was a 5-yard scamper in a drive late in the opening quarter.

The sophomore has 74 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries for the Trojans (2-4).

Emi Minnich

Burris – 2016

Ran for the Moody Bible Institute women’s cross country team Sunday in the University of Wisconsin – Oskosh Kollege Town Sports Invitational.

The sophomore had a time of 26 minutes for the 6K race, as she crossed the finish line in 203. Moody totaled 914 points to finish 31st out of 36 teams.

Washington University of St. Louis won with 94 points.

Travis Sutter

Fort Recovery — 2017

Competed for the Ohio Northern University men’s cross country team on Saturday in the Principia College “Cowbell” Invite.

The freshman had a time of 28 minutes, 59.93 seconds, on the 8K course as he was ninth on the team and 258th overall out of 354 runners.

The Polar Bears totaled 364 points to finish 12th. North Central College scored 47 points to win the 38-team race.