Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor

Since 2004

Category: Sports

  • Lake Isabella will be “stocked”

    Lake Isabella will be “stocked”

    Loveland, Ohio – Lake Isabella will be one of the locations where Great Parks will stock over 10,000 pounds of fish in five popular fishing spots throughout Hamilton County this year, filling the water for anglers to reel in big catches all season long. Plenty of prime fishing spots are available, as Great Parks has hundreds of acres of lakes and 25 miles of river frontage on four major rivers.

    Fish will include channel catfish in warmer months, and in cooler months, trout will be added to Lake Isabella. Additional species to be added at Lake Isabella will be shovelhead (blue catfish) and hybrid bluegill.

    Lake Isabella is a 28-acre pay lake that offers fishing from the bank, dock or rental boat. There is a campgrpund at Lake Isabella.

    Electric trolling motors are permitted. Personal watercraft, such as canoes and kayaks, are not permitted on the lake. Lake Isabella also has a full-service boathouse and reservable Chart Room, Riverside Lodge, and Shady Elm Shelter for group outings. The park offers picnic areas, a playground, and access to the Little Miami River.

  • New, pre-fabricated Loveland Bike Trail bridge will arrive in three sections

    New, pre-fabricated Loveland Bike Trail bridge will arrive in three sections

    Loveland, Ohio – The bridge replacement on the Little Miami Scenic Trail in Historic Downtown Loveland is on track to be completed in May. The new, pre-fabricated bridge will arrive in three sections.

    To accommodate this, the northern portion of Railroad Avenue from Harrison Avenue will be temporarily closed Monday March 4 through Tuesday March 5. The southern portion of Railroad Avenue will remain open to access area businesses. City Hall is encouraging you to park on the other side of town at the Linda Cox Trailside Parking Lot.
  • [Videos] Experience “Great Music, a Great Sweat, and a Great Workout” at Body Alive Loveland Lagree!

    [Videos] Experience “Great Music, a Great Sweat, and a Great Workout” at Body Alive Loveland Lagree!

    Cassie Mattia in the first class offered by Body Alive Loveland Lagree

    by Cassie Mattia,

    Loveland, Ohio – The latest exercise craze has taken Loveland by storm! On Friday, February 16, David Miller, our Managing Editor, and I, attended the grand opening of Body Alive Loveland Lagree. We witnessed the official ribbon cutting ceremony, and I interviewed owners, Adam Engel and Issac Spence, and trainer, Samantha Johns about the new Loveland workout facility!

    Adam and Issac, who are both 2010 Loveland High School graduates, grew up together in the same neighborhood in Loveland. Adam, now a retired MLB player, received a baseball scholarship to the University of Louisville and played Centerfield for the Chicago White Sox. Issac attended Hillsdale College and studied Marketing. After taking multiple Pilates classes and realizing how great of a workout it was Adam and Issac decided to join forces and open Body Alive Loveland Lagree!

    The inaugural class of Body Alive Loveland Lagree

    The Lagree Method, ”is a high-intensity, low-impact exercise method, that tightens, strengthens, and tones in as little as 30 minutes a session by incorporating bodybuilding principles, such as Time Under Tension, which removes breaks from workouts and grants users the ability to sweat, shake, and persevere through the total duration of every class.”

    The Lagree Method is founded on the five components of physical fitness:

    • Endurance
    • Cardiovascular Fitness
    • Body Composition
    • Flexibility
    • Strength

    Lagree movements incorporate the use of 600 muscles at once, making this method even more time-efficient for those on the go and those looking for quick but lasting results. The Lagree method stays true to the 3 S’s; Shake, Sweat, and Soreness.

    After reading about the Lagree method, I not only wanted to learn more from the experts, but I also wanted to see for myself what the workout was all about by participating in Body Alive Loveland Lagree’s first class of their grand opening. To give the community the full Body Alive experience I interviewed Adam, Issac, and Samantha about their journey to opening Body Alive, the Lagree method, and what sets this method of exercising apart of from others and captured my first Lagree workout all on camera!

    Watch our exclusive Loveland Magazine TV interview and exercise video to learn all about Body Alive Loveland Lagree!

    Body Alive Loveland Lagree is located at 10565 Loveland Madeira Road right beside Starbucks. In celebration of their grand opening, Body Alive Loveland Lagree is offering $7 Lagree 50 minute classes for a limited time. Classes can can be purchased using the Body Alive app or online at https://bodyalivefitness.com/loveland-lagree/.

    Follow Body Alive Loveland Lagree on Instagram and FaceBook.

    _____________

    All of our LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV episodes and my Table of Discussions are made possible by the generous support of the team of realtors at Move 2 Loveland.

    President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine, Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year.

  • Cincinnati Bengals Apply the Franchise Tag to Tee Higgins

    Cincinnati Bengals Apply the Franchise Tag to Tee Higgins

    Photo by Wikimedia Commons

    Though a Long-Term Deal May Still Be a Possibility, Absent a Holdout, The Bengals Should Have Their Clutch Second Wide Receiver Back In 2024

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – As most expected, this weekend the Cincinnati Bengals applied the franchise tag to wide receiver Tee Higgins. I previously discussed what the franchise tag could potentially mean for the team and for Tee going forward, but the fact that the Bengals chose to use the tag so soon in the offseason leads to some interesting speculation about what the future could bring.

    The franchise tag makes it extremely likely that Tee Higgins will be on this team for at least one more year. However, as early as a few days ago there were reports that both sides were working towards a deal that would keep Higgins in the orange and black for multiple years. But the fact that the team opted immediately resort to the franchise tag so soon after those negotiations even began leads to legitimate concerns that both sides are still miles apart.

     

     

    The absolute worst-case scenario is that the two sides of can’t get a deal done and Tee refuses to report and play under the guaranteed one-year contract he has been given. On the other end the optimistic outlook is that the exercise of the franchise tag allows both sides to continue to negotiate and come to some sort of agreement on a contract that benefits all parties.

    The fact that the franchise tag came so early in the offseason is a legitimate cause to be concerned about how badly the negotiations may be going. And yet, it is hard to see a player as committed as Tee Higgins choosing to abandon the entire 2024 season by sitting out simply because he didn’t get the contract he wanted.

    At the same time, Bengals fans shouldn’t trick themselves into believing that Higgins will fetch some sort of massive haul on the trade market. The tag and trade scenarios simply don’t make sense given the Bengals’ history of avoiding that very situation, and that most teams likely wouldn’t be willing to part with significant picks or players that would make such a trade worthwhile for the Bengals.

     

     

    The Bengals have a surplus of cap space, and they need a proven second option behind Ja’Marr Chase. This gives them more flexibility to keep Tee on the squad for one more year to run it back and give the Bengals the best chance to make it back to the Super Bowl.

    The primary focus now should be ensuring that if the Bengals can’t give Tee Higgins the multi year contract that he wants, that they get him ready for at least one more year with the Bengals to make a run at a championship.

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

     

  • 2024 Pigabilities Training Kick off

    2024 Pigabilities Training Kick off

    Saturday, March 9 at Noon

    Join the Pigabilities training kick off at the Cincinnati Zoo! This is a free event! Once you complete your training, you are welcome to stay and enjoy the Zoo for the rest of the afternoon. PigAbilities is a one-mile event for people of all ages and abilities, part of the Flying Pig Marathon Weekend. Registration for this event is required. Admission is free for PigAbilities athletes. Each athlete will also receive free admission for one (1) caregiver and one (1) complimentary parking pass. Additional caregivers must purchase an admission plus parking pass for $10. Register today!

    Complimentary parking is available at 3427 Vine Street.

    Questions? Please email pigabilities@flyingpigmarathon.com.

    Pigabilities Meetup

    Every Sunday Beginning on February 25

    Join Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services and Queen City Running Club to get ready for PigAbilities! PigAbilities Meetups will cover distances ranging from 0.25 miles to 1 mile, along accessible routes. Water will be provided. Take a look at the Pigabilities Meetup Calendar! Contact Ann Myres at 513-703-2138 or ann.myres@hamiltondds.org with any questions.

    _________________

    Information provided by the Butler County Department of Developmental Disabilities from their Community Connections Newsletter.

  • Newest, silliest fun race around: The Leprechaun Chase!

    Newest, silliest fun race around: The Leprechaun Chase!

    Promoted Post

    Loveland, Ohio – Just when you thought they were done, the makers of the Amazing Charity Race announce the newest, silliest fun race around: The Leprechaun Chase!

    Saturday, March 16th, starting at 8:30 AM, teams of 2 will use a map of Loveland to the Leprechauns and pots of gold around the city. Four teams will start every 3 minutes. Once you find a Leprechaun, they will give you a piece of gold that will help you solve the final Irish riddle. You must collect all gold pieces and go as fast as you can to the finish line, where the Leprechauns will be waiting for you to solve the riddle.

    Once solved, you can bask in a feeling of accomplishment and enjoy an Irish breakfast from Ramsey’s Trailside Cafe and post-race laughs. The distance is around a 5K and will be completed all on foot. Runners and walkers are welcome, and it will be a timed event.

    Proceeds from the race benefit the Loveland Legacy Foundation.

    $100 per team of 2. – Kids aged 8-13 need to team up with an adult. 14 and over can run with anyone 14 and over.

    Sign up by February 29th to guarantee your shirt size!

    ENTER TO SOLVE THE FINAL IRISH RIDDLE

  • Reds’ Matt McLain To Miss 5-7 Days Due to Oblique Injury

    Reds’ Matt McLain To Miss 5-7 Days Due to Oblique Injury

    Matt McLain taking a selfie with two fans before going into the Duke Energy Center for Redsfest in December. (Loveland Magazine File Photo © 2024)

    An Early Injury Is Another Reminder of Why The Reds’ Depth Is Critical

    by Chris Ball,

    On Tuesday we learned that their second baseman Matt McLain would miss 5-7 days with an oblique injury, the same ailment that saw him miss time last season. The good news is that McLain’s MRI did not show any significant damage and he isn’t expected to miss opening day.

    Still, another preseason injury is a reminder that this Reds team has done plenty to address its depth moving forward. That includes in the infield where Jonathan India’s return means that if someone like McLain goes down, there will be a quality player ready to shift into that spot and ensure the team doesn’t miss a beat in the interim. 

    There are legitimate questions in 2024 about which Reds players get the majority of the playing time and which ones are asked to accept a smaller or a platoon role, or even spend time back in the minor leagues, at least to start the season. Having so many talented guys is not a bad problem to have at the end of the day. However, that is for the most part best expressed if the team is fully healthy. 

    If there are any number of injuries, whether serious or just of the nagging variety, that depth may end up saving the season. That is the ultimate luxury of having players who may be playing out of position at times, but who can slip back into their more comfortable roles, should injuries call for it. 

    That sort of security should make Reds fans feel much better about the upcoming season, even when key guys like McLain get a little banged up.

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • [Video] Ribbon cutting at Body Alive Loveland Lagree Grand Opening

    [Video] Ribbon cutting at Body Alive Loveland Lagree Grand Opening

    David Miller is the Managing Editor of Loveland Magazine

    by David Miller,

    Loveland, Ohio – On Friday, February 16, Loveland Magazine attended the grand opening for Body Alive Loveland Lagree, located on Loveland Madeira Road, right next to Starbucks. Owners Adam Engel and Isaac Spence, both 2010 Loveland High School grads, showed us exactly what Body Alive Loveland Lagree has in store for the fitness community. The President of Loveland Magazine Cassie Mattia got the opportunity to take the first workout of the day with trainer Samantha Johns, where she experienced what exactly the Lagree Method is. We are so pleased to welcome Body Alive Loveland Lagree to the Loveland community.

    Stay tuned for the full-length interview with Adam, Isaac, and Samantha along with Cassie in action taking the first Lagree workout!
    Loveland Magazine President and Publisher Cassie working out in the first Body Alive Loveland Lagree class on February 16.
  • 5 Things To Watch In 2024: Cincinnati Reds Edition

    5 Things To Watch In 2024: Cincinnati Reds Edition

    Elly De La Cruz, Brandon Williamson, and Matt McClain on the Rookies Roundtable at Redsfest in December.

    Photo by David Miller/Loveland Magazine © 2024

    The training wheels are off!

    by Chris Ball

    Loveland, Ohio – Before the 2023 season there were many who believed the Reds might lose 90-100 games after going 62-100 in 2022. Most gave them virtually no chance to even have a relevant season and were simply counting down the days until the Bengals’ season rolled back around. 

    And the beginning of the ’23 season did very little to change those perspectives. There were rumors that the gates were opening and that the Reds were turning their young players loose on the major leagues. And why shouldn’t they? It was a lost season anyways. 

    Matt McClain

    Matt McClain was the first, to be eventually followed by the likes of Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Andrew Abbott and Noelvi Marte. The league likely expected these rookies to take their time adjusting the the big leagues, but they shattered expectations by, in many cases, playing well above their age and experience levels. And no one epitomized this more than Elly De La Cruz. 

    In the eyes of Reds fans Elly was a superstar from the moment he stepped onto the diamond wearing that red helmet. And he soon proved to the world exactly why he was held in such high regard. From the iconic cycle, to stealing home, to the walk off home runs, the man was a human highlight reel for half a season. 

    Elly De La Cruz with a young fan at Redsfest in December.

    And suddenly, the city of Cincinnati went from spending the summer dreaming about the upcoming football season to packing Great American Ballpark and hanging on the edge of their seats all the way through the fall, praying for one of the most improbable postseason berths in recent memory. 

    It may not have come to pass, but there can be no doubt that 2023 gave Reds fans something they haven’t had in quite a while: legitimate hope that the team can contend. But there’s something different in the air this time around. The young core of this team has shown that the Reds’ ability to push for the playoffs, and maybe even more, won’t just be limited to one or two desperate seasons, but rather, could span years of sustained success that could likely make Reds baseball the main event during those hot Cincinnati summers. 

    What are the keys to making that a reality? In 2024 the training wheels are off, the expectations are high, and the fans aren’t just praying for relevance, they are expecting growth, maturation, and most of all, wins. 

    Christopher Ball is a longtime Loveland resident and an attorney. He graduated from Loveland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team before going on to become a coach’s assistant at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. He has been following and rooting for the Reds and Bengals since the early 1990s and has been through the many ups and downs that fandom has wrought over the years.

  • OHSAA Board of Directors Approves Expansion Proposal

    OHSAA Board of Directors Approves Expansion Proposal

    Soccer, girls volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball adding divisions starting in 2024-25

    A Press Release from the Ohio High School Athletic Association

    After months of discussion and meetings around Ohio to gather feedback, the Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposal Thursday morning to utilize a new formula to determine how many divisions will be offered for postseason tournaments. The change affects OHSAA General Sports Regulation 17 and will result in girls and boys soccer now having five divisions, while girls volleyball, girls and boys basketball, softball and baseball will all have seven divisions. In those sports, Division I and Division II will only include 64 schools.

    The new divisions will go into effect with the fall of 2024. The board will continue to discuss additional sports, noting several recent meetings regarding track and field. There are no changes to the number of football divisions, which is already at seven. In addition, any changes to the current deployment of the Competitive Balance process would need to be voted upon by OHSAA member schools during the annual referendum voting process.

    Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director, praised the board’s decision as a step toward to level the playing field of OHSAA tournaments.

    “It’s the right thing to do for the student-athletes who have been competing at this disadvantage,” said Ute. “For too long, the largest schools in our divisions have been so much larger than the smaller schools in the same division, which has resulted in many schools accepting that they realistically have little chance at making a run in the tournament. In some of our sports, there have been more than 200 schools competing for a state title in that division, which is significantly more than what most other states do, and what we do in many of our own sports.

    “We know that there is a lot of work to do in the coming months to prepare for additional divisions this fall,” Ute said. “We have already started working on the details to accomplish this, but one thing we know for sure is that having two or three more state champions in these sports doesn’t water them down or diminish winning a state title. And we anticipate that this new format will be revenue neutral, since every school makes the tournament already.”

    Each year, the Board of Directors would still have final authority in determining how many divisions to be used that school year, but the proposal calls for the following scale to be used to guide the board’s decision on the number of divisions for girls volleyball, football, soccer, basketball, softball and baseball, however note that the sports of lacrosse, field hockey, ice hockey and boys volleyball would not change from their current division numbers:

       199 or fewer teams: 1 Division

       200 to 299 teams: 2 Divisions

       300 to 399 teams: 3 Divisions

       400 to 499 teams: 4 Divisions

       500 to 599 teams: 5 Divisions

       600 to 699 teams: 6 Divisions

       700 and more teams: 7 Divisions

    For girls volleyball, soccer, basketball, softball and baseball, the largest 64 schools would be placed into Division I. The next largest 64 schools would be placed into Division II. The remaining schools would be divided as evenly as possible into the remaining divisions. The OHSAA already does something similar to this in football, in which the largest 10 percent of schools are placed into Division I and the remaining schools are divided evenly in Divisions II through VII.

    The proposal does not call for a change to the formula that the OHSAA uses for individual sports to determine the number of student-athletes required for team designation, which includes five in bowling, five in cross country (who score for their team at the district tournament), four in golf, three in girls gymnastics, seven in swimming and diving, four in tennis, nine in track and field and seven in wrestling.

    The proposal calls for the following number of divisions to be used for individual sports:

       200 or fewer teams: 1 Division

       201 to 450 teams: 2 Divisions

       451 to 700 teams: 3 Divisions

       701 and more teams: 4 Divisions

    OHSAA member schools vote to determine any changes to the bylaws or constitution via the referendum process each spring. Member schools also vote for representatives for their District Athletic Boards, who are then selected to serve on the State Board of Directors on a three-year term. The Board of Directors are then charged with reviewing and approving the General Sports Regulations on behalf of the OHSAA membership. The OHSAA General Sports Regulations do not go to the member schools for voting and are posted at: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/Sports/GeneralSportsRegulations.pdf

    The OHSAA will announce structural and dates changes for future state tournaments at a later date.