Wendel, Express still No. 1

Kiah Wendel maintains her position as one of the best defenders in the country.

Her Express team also maintained its top spot in the nation.

Wendel led the Owens Community College volleyball team by registering 13 digs as the Express won the National Junior College Athletic Association Region XII tournament championship by knocking off Lorain County in straight sets.

The victory helped the Express (33-6) keep a stronghold on the No. 1 spot in the final NJCAA Tachikara Division III poll of the season.

Wendel also had three assists and an ace in the victory over Lorain County.

The freshman has 472 digs on the season, almost 200 more than her closest teammate, and she ranks 20th in NJCAA Division III. 

Wendel and the Express open District I play on Friday with matches against Anne Arundel Community College and Sandhills Community College. 

Travis Sutter

Fort Recovery — 2017

Ran for the Ohio Northern men’s cross country team on Saturday as it placed third in the Ohio Athletic Conference championships at Sable Creek Golf Course in Hartville, Ohio.

Sutter crossed the finish line of the 8K race with his time of 27 minutes, 11.4 seconds. It earned him 16th place, six spots behind the best finish of his career. He was third on the team for the Polar Bears, with teammate Ian McVey winning the race in 26:04.6.

Otterbein won the team championship with 38 points. ONU totaled 77 points.

Katy Smeltzer

Jay County – 2015

Earned a pair of NAIA national B cuts in just the second meet of the season for the third-ranked University of the Cumberlands women’s swim team in a 195-61 win over Union College on Oct. 13

The senior was third in the 50-yard freestyle in 26.02 seconds, and was fourth in the 100 freestyle (57.68) to earn national cuts in both events.

She also had a split of 25.34 seconds as she anchored the 200 freestyle relay that won in 1 minute, 42.86 seconds.

Kylie Osborne

Jay County – 2016

Ended her junior season with an eight-kill effort for the Anderson University volleyball team as it lost in the opening round of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament on Wednesday.

Osborne’s eight kills were second on the team, and she also added six digs, two blocks and an assist in the 3-0 road loss to Earlham College.

The former Patriot led the Ravens (11-17) with 280 kills on the season, and her 215 digs were second on the squad. She was also second in aces (33) and fifth in blocks (19).

Bailey McIntire

South Adams – 2017

Finished in the top 30 for the Purdue men’s cross country team on Sunday as it was runner-up in the Big Ten Championships at Nebraska.

McIntire had a time of 24 minutes, 25.2 seconds in the 8K race and placed 27th.

He was fourth for the No. 18 Boilermakers, who totaled 88 points for their best finish in more than three decades.

Cady Farlow

South Adams – 2015

Picked up one victory for the Purdue University women’s swim team as it lost to No. 13 Notre Dame 190-110 on Friday.

Farlow’s victory came in the 200-yard breaststroke as she finished with a time of 2 minutes, 16.31 seconds. She beat teammate Jinq En Phee by less than half a second.

The senior was third in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.85) and swam the breaststroke leg of the 200 medley B relay (1:43.48) that was third.

Kirsten Jutte

Fort Recovery – 2016

Totaled 11 kills over the final two matches for the Capital University volleyball team as its season came to a close on Friday.

The Crusaders (0-26) lost 3-0 to Otterbein on Thursday before getting swept by Denison on Friday.

Jutte had six kills, one dig and a block against Otterbein before posting five kills and five blocks in the loss to Denison.

Abby Barcus

Jay County – 2017

Returned from injury to help the Wright State women’s volleyball team sweep Oakland on Wednesday.

The sophomore had six kills on 23 attacks while also contributing three digs in her return to action after missing nearly two months with an ankle injury. 

The Raiders (13-12) have three matches remaining on the season before the Horizon League Tournament, which is set for Nov. 16.

Madi Wurster

South Adams – 2018

Played for the Purdue Fort Wayne volleyball team in a pair of losses recently.

The freshman notched five kills, three total blocks and a pair of digs as the Mastodons (14-12, 5-7 Summit League) lost to Oral Roberts in five sets on Friday.

Two days later, Wurster had three kills and a pair of blocks in a 3-0 defeat against South Dakota.

Sophie Bader

Jay County – 2016

Swam for the Ball State women’s swim team in a 206-94 loss Friday to Bowling Green.

The junior was runner-up in the 200-yard freestyle, while also placing fifth in the 100 butterfly.

Bader joined sister Alex to help the 400 freestyle relay place third.

She handled the butterfly leg of the 200 medley B relay, joining cousin Anne Vormohr to finish fourth.