Tennis defends its title

MUNCIE — The Patriots were pushed to the brink in the opening match Saturday.

They came out on top, and successfully defended their title.

Jay County High School’s boys tennis team went 3-0 to repeat as the champion of the Muncie Central Invitational.

The Patriots (4-3) held off the host Bearcats 3-2 to begin the day, then swept both Elwood and Blackford to bring another trophy back to Portland.

Freshman Abraham Dirksen was the only JCHS singles player to go undefeated on the day, doing so at No. 3 singles.

The No. 1 doubles team of Frankie Crump and Gavin Myers defeated all of their opponents, including a three-set marathon against Tobie Bryn and William Sue of Muncie Central.

Sam Myers and Darius Esparza needed three sets to win their No. 2 doubles match against Muncie Central, then didn’t drop a set the rest of the tournament.

Crosby Heniser (No. 1 singles) and Simon Dirksen (No. 2 singles) both lost their matches against Muncie Central but won their next two.



Winning streak ends

WOODBURN — All good things must come to an end, and such was the case for the Jay County girls soccer team’s winning streak against conference opponents.

The Patriots (3-2, 1-1 Allen County Athletic Conference) lost in a shootout to the host Woodlan Warriors, 2-1, on Saturday, ending their reign over the conference. The shootout took eight rounds for a winner to be decided.

The loss snapped a 17-game winning streak, which included five straight conference titles, against ACAC opponents.

Jay County got on the board in the first half on a goal by Gabi Bilbrey, her fifth of the season, on Eliza Bader’s second assist of the season. Bader sent in a corner kick toward the goal that Bilbrey put into the back of the net.

Woodlan answered with a second-half goal before edging Jay County in a shootout following a scoreless extra period.



FR girls stay perfect

CELINA, Ohio — Fort Recovery’s girls golf team inched closer to history Monday by beating defending conference champion St. Henry 181-202 at Mercer County Elks Golf Club.

The Indians, who are looking for the program’s first Midwest Athletic Conference title, moved to 4-0 in MAC play this season and a tie for first place with Coldwater.

Jalyn Bruns shot 2-over-par 38 to earn match medalist honors and lead the Indians.

Shelby Stammen was second for the Indians with her 45, three strokes ahead of Alli Vaughn. Paige Bihn shot 50 to complete the team total.

Kendra Dues (55) and Trisha Gaerke (59) also competed but did not factor into the overall score.



Tribe boys fall

Derek Lochtefeld earned match medalist honors Monday but the Fort Recovery boys golf team lost to St. Henry, 183-189, at Portland Golf Club.

Carson Rammel shot 46 and Isaac LeFevre had 48 for the Tribe’s second and third scores. Russell Gehle rounded out the total with 52.

In junior varsity action, Fort Recovery lost by one stroke, 223-224. Zander Kunkler turned in 53 for the Indians’ best score. Seth Lochtefeld (55), Carson Siefring (58) and Cole Muhlenkamp (58) also played for FRHS.



Early hole buries Jay

Jay County’s boys soccer team got into an early deficit and wasn’t able to crawl out of it in a 3-0 setback to sectional rival Yorktown on Saturday.

It ended any hopes the Patriots (2-3) had at making it three wins in a row after consecutive wins against fellow sectional opponents New Castle and Delta.

Ian Ruiz registered eight saves in goal for the Patriots, who next host Norwell at 5 p.m. Thursday.