Indians pick off defending MAC champ Minster

MINSTER, Ohio — The Indians remained perfect in the Midwest Athletic Conference to start the season.

When they traveled to face the defending MAC champion, they found just enough to pick it off and make themselves the favorite.

The Fort Recovery High School girls golf team eked out a 210-212 win over the Minster Wildcats on Thursday at Arrowhead Golf Club.

The victory put the Tribe (6-2, 4-0 MAC) atop the conference standings, while Minster holds the second spot with a 3-1 MAC record.

For the second match in a row, Olivia Knapke earned match medalist honors. Her round of 48 beat Minster’s top golfer, Eleanor Sommer, by two strokes and played a key role in the final.

The Wildcats claimed the third-best score as well, but Emma Will, Eva Kahlig and Mallory Evers all shot 54s to make up the team’s final score.

Georgia Wenning’s 58 and Evvie Briner’s 65 didn’t affect the Indians’ final.

Tribe rolls

FORT RECOVERY — The Fort Recovery volleyball team dominated the National Trail Blazers for a 25-4, 25-10, 25-16 victory to remain perfect on Thursday.

Kennedy Muhlenkamp and Brynn Willmann had big games for FRHS (3-0).

Offensively, they each put down nine balls for kills. On the defensive side, they both led the team with two assisted blocks.

The Indians got over 20% of their points from aces. Nevaeh Lennartz led the way with four aces, while Kenna Dues, Kayla Heitkamp and Cameron Muhlenkamp followed with three apiece.

Heitkamp also led the team with 25 assists, while Cameron Muhlenkamp’s 10 digs ended as a team-high.

FRHS dominated play, serving the ball 73 times to National Trail’s 32.

Eagles attack

MUNCIE — The Jay County volleyball team fell to the Delta Eagles 25-17, 28-26, 25-17 on Thursday.

The Patriots’ defense couldn’t keep up with Delta’s hitters. The Eagles combined for 51 kills – Jay County (1-1) only had 19 – with three girls reaching double digits, led by Addie Phillips with 19. 

Hallie Schwieterman’s six kills topped the statline for the Patriots. Maria Hemmelgarn and My Kunkler added five and four kills, respectively.

Schwieterman led JCHS with 12 digs and tied Kunkler and Brenna Schmiesing for a pair of assisted blocks.

Paisley Fugiett had 13 of Jay County’s 15 assists.

The JV team fell to Delta 25-23, 25-23.

Amelia Heath, Lydia Johnson and Emalyn Homan all tied for a team-high three kills. Ella Rigby assisted the Patriot hitters 13 times.

Carley Trinidad also scored three aces.

Indians fall

Despite shooting its best round of the season, Fort Recovery’s boys golf team fell to the Minster Wildcats 152-157 at Portland Golf Club on Thursday.

Minster had the golfers with the two best scores, including Bryce Prenger, who shot even with par at 35 strokes to claim the match medalist honors.

Reece LeFevre earned a team-low 37 for Fort Recovery (5-2, 3-1 MAC). He made par on every hole other than the 13th and 18th holes – both par-3s he took four strokes on.

Keegan Muhlenkamp had only one extra stroke than LeFevre to give him a 38. The senior had a birdie on the 178-yard, par-4 17th hole, four pars and four bogeys.

Colson Post returned to varsity with a 40 – he had a birdie on the 14th and two pars – and Eli Lennartz rounded out the team score with a 42.

Mason Diller’s 44 and Caleb Smith’s 46 didn’t affect the team final.

Dirksen leads

OSSIAN – Jay County’s boys tennis team fell to the Norwell Knights 4-1 on Thursday.

Eli Dirksen claimed the first individual win for the Patriots (0-5) this year. The senior took the No. 1 singles match against Gavin Reynolds 6-3, 6-2.

The other singles players, Tucker Griffin and Gabe Pinkerton, couldn’t repeat Dirksen’s success. Griffin dropped the No. 2 contest 6-1, 6-0 to Braylon Trout, while Pinkerton lost to Landon Drive 6-0, 6-4 in the No. 3 singles match.

Both doubles pairs fell as well.

Eddie Archbold and Ayden Quitanille beat Kayden Carpenter and Alex Miller in the No. 1 doubles match 6-0, 6-0.

Blake Kahlig and Carter Wellman couldn’t overcome Rylan Heyerly and Ethan Williamson in the No. 2 doubles contest for a 6-2, 6-1 loss.

Carsen Westgerdes and Clark Wellman both went 1-1 in junior varsity singles matches, while Kason Sims and Troy Lee both went 0-2.