Loveland Announces New District Director of Student Athletics
A Loveland resident
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland City School District has announced the selection of Rich Bryant as the new District Director of Student Athletics. Bryant will join the district this summer, pending board approval.
“At a professional and personal level, I could not be more excited to join the Loveland City School District. This is an incredible opportunity and I cannot wait to use the platform of the position to positively impact student-athletes, their families, and the entire Loveland School Community.” Bryant said.
Bryant has served as Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Lakota East High School since 2009 and has previously worked as a building assistant principal in both Ross Local and Northwest Local School Districts. He earned both his bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in education administration from the University of Cincinnati.
“As a Loveland resident and parent, Rich understands our Loveland athletics programs have a great tradition and bring tremendous value to the school experience for our students. We’re excited to have a great, experienced AD join the Loveland team,” Superintendent Mike Broadwater said.
Bryant will be taking over as District Director of Student Athletics from Brian Conatser, who is moving to Loveland High School Assistant Principal after serving as AD for the last 4 years.
Loveland, Ohio – Current Loveland High School District Director of Student Athletics Brian Conatser will move into the role of LHS Assistant Principal beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Conatser will take over as Assistant Principal as Eric Fry moves to a similar position at Oak Hills High School.
“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to serve Loveland City School District in a new capacity. We have an incredible student body, staff, and community, and I am very fortunate to have experienced this as a Loveland classroom teacher, coach, Athletic Director, and now as an Assistant Principal. I look forward to the new challenge and am thrilled to continue to be a part of an amazing district,” Conatser said.
Conatser has served as the District Director of Student Athletics for four years. He was Loveland’s Assistant Director of Student Athletics for two years and spent 15 years as a science teacher and coach at Loveland and Sycamore High Schools.
A search will now begin for the next Athletic Director.
In the meantime, it has also just been announced that Clay George, the current Assistant Athletic Director will be leaving to become the head athletic director at Ansonia JH/HS.
Loveland, Ohio – The 2021 Fall National College Signing Day, a day that so many Senior student-athletes look forward to, finally took place Wednesday at Loveland High School’s Gymnasium!
The yearly ceremony aims to not only celebrate the hard work and dedication that Loveland’s top student-athletes have put in the last 4 years but also brings together the student-athlete’s family members, coaches, teachers, staff, and peers to witness the big “signing” moment.
Director of Student Athletics, Brian Conatser, introduced the student-athletes, as they sat down at the college signing table surrounded by their biggest supporters and loved ones. We of course couldn’t be prouder of these student-athletes and wish them the best of luck in their future collegiate athletic endeavors!
The following LHS Senior student-athletes signed to play athletics collegiately in 2022:
• Sarah Madix – University of Cincinnati, Cross Country, and Track and Field
• Ryan Chevalier – Virginia Tech, Cross Country and Track and Field
• Jesse Gibbins – Central Michigan University, Cross Country and Track and Field
• Emmy Sager – University of Cincinnati, Cross Country, and Track and Field
• Leiah Goedde – Ashland University, Soccer
• Jackson Lux – University of the Pacific, Baseball
Check out the exclusive video shot by David Miller on Loveland Magazine TV of the LHS Fall National College Signing Day Ceremony!
Congratulations to these OUTSTANDING Tiger student-athletes for getting the opportunity to fine-tune their crafts at the collegiate level! It has been a joy watching each and every one of you thrive as students and excel as athletes. We will be cheering all of you on as you take the next step in your athletic and education journey! LONG LIVE THE LOVELAND TIGERS! GOOD LUCK SENIORS!
For more Loveland sports updates stay tuned to the Sports 411 With ME, Cassie Mattia!
Loveland, Ohio – Being a competitive cheer coach is hard work. Being an occupational therapist for special needs children is tough. Fighting cancer takes toughness.Doing all three at the same time?Seemingly impossible, yet at Loveland High School, it’s exactly what Varsity Cheerleading Coach Emily Christman has been doing for the past year.
Loveland High School Varisty Cheer Coach Emily Christman(Photo Provided)
Emily is a Xavier University grad where she cheered for the Muskies basketball team while working on her Master’s degree for Occupational Therapy.She made her way to Loveland in 2015 filling in for a cheerleading coach on maternity leave, parlaying into full time coaching status by 2017.Everything was moving along as planned until October of 2019 when Christman’s life would be forever changed.
A trip to the doctor and multiple scans and tests would reveal that Emily Christman had cancer in the breast and lymph nodes.“The entire month of October was just a whirlwind…and by November I was starting chemo.”Christman would require treatments every three weeks, receiving six of them in total.
“I feel very fortunate because I didn’t really have some of the heavy hitting side effects that some people can get.” As if the pandemic wasn’t enough to deal with, fast-forward to March of 2020 when Emily would need a double mastectomy.The next few months would see more radiation treatments through the month of May, and even now Emily still has to go in for a treatment once every three weeks, which will last until January.
This story is re-published with the permission of the Loveland High School Athletic Department where it was first published.
Never allowing herself to get down about it all she is quick to point out that even these current treatments are not nearly as taxing as they might seem.“Again, all things considered, it really was probably the best of the worst situation.”
While one might think a cancer diagnosis would slow someone down, it seemed to have the opposite effect on Emily as she was just recently married in August, so for those of you keeping track, that would be two full time jobs, fighting off cancer, and planning/getting married all happening simultaneously.
Her diagnosis hasn’t slowed down the ability to get the best out of Loveland Tigers competitive cheer squad either: 2018 saw the team place 3rd in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC), and 2019 had them climb up to 2nd place.“There’s only one spot left to climb and we definitely have the girls to do it…it’s just an awesome group that we have.”
Emily could not have had a better attitude when I spoke with her about everything she’s been through and she is truly a success story and someone Loveland Athletic Director Brian Conatser is happy to have.As for the secret behind making the oftentimes chaotic schedule work and the long car rides between jobs?Emily kept it simple, “that’s what podcasts and E-books are for.”
Loveland, Ohio – As student-athletes across Ohio are gearing up to start practicing and competing, the Loveland Tigers Football Coach, Andy Cruse, is more than excited to get his team ready for the 2020-2021 season!
Over the past several months, all contact sports in the state of Ohio were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing student-athletes to take it upon themselves to prepare for their up and coming sports seasons. Ohio coaches of course tried to impact their student-athletes as much as possible virtually, but for many high school athletes having coaches physically there motivating them through tough practices is what the athletes are saying they both want and need!
Recently OHSAA released guidelines for all Ohio High School sports programs in regards to what the protocol will be once practices and competitions begin. With that being said I decided to check in with LHS’s Head Football Coach Andy Cruse to see just how these guidelines will affect the football program, the student-athletes, the coaches, and the loyal Tiger spectators. Here is the Loveland Tiger Football 411 featuring Coach Andy Cruse!
CassieHave you started in-person practices yet with the team and coaches and if so are there any restrictions?
Coach CruseWe began workouts with restrictions on June 1st. We have done football-related activities for a while now, but just recently started having limited contact during on-field training. We officially begin our season on August 1st.
CassieHave you had fewer players come out for the team because of COVID-19 and the Pay-to-Play implementation?
Coach CruseSurprisingly, no. We have had the best attendance since I’ve been the Head Coach at Loveland. I truly believe that quarantine made our athletes appreciate football and being together more. Many of them had to be very creative in their workouts without a weight room, so being able to train in our beautiful weight room has been great for all of them.
CassieHave you named team captains and if so who are they?
Coach CruseWe have not. This is something we will do early on in August. We have many players that have really emerged as leaders since last December.
CassieHow are you and your staff handling the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions? Has it been tough or have you successfully managed the situation?
Coach CruseOur staff has handled it very well. Head Coaches did a walk thru on everything with Brian Conatser, our AD before we started workouts and then my staff and I did a walk-thru of how the workouts would go before we started back up on June 1st.My staff and I, like the rest of the athletic department, are taking every precaution necessary and are following the guidelines that the state has put out. Initially, it was very different than what we were used to. We have told our players from the beginning of quarantine that we must adjust and adapt moving forward and that is exactly what we have done.
CassieDo you have any returning Seniors or stand-out players from last year? What are your expectations for this year in regards to wins and losses?
Coach CruseWe return 9 out of 11 starters on offense and many defensive players return with varsity experience. This team is quietly gaining more and more confidence. It has been a joy to be around them since June 1st as it is very clear they enjoy working hard and being around each other. My expectations are to be competitive in every game we play and to respond to adversity that is thrown our way this season. Senior standouts include QB Calvin Cloud, OL Zach DeWitt, WR Tyler Lake, WR Aaron Morton, DE Gabe Ogdan, and TE/LB Austin Lodor. There are a number of other players we expect big things from this season too. As a whole, we are seeing a lot of competition for playing time, which is what we want.
CassieThe ECC recently added 3 more schools to the conference making the conference that much more competitive! This year who are you excited to compete against and who do you think will be challenging to compete against?
Coach CruseThe ECC is a terrific conference and will continue to be even more challenging. In our conference for football, every week is an absolute battle. There are no easy games on our schedule but we embrace that challenge and are excited about it!
CassieAre you able to hold any fundraisers for the athletes or events to help with the pay-to-play fees?
Coach CruseUnfortunately we missed out on a couple of things we had planned due to COVID-19. We will be selling discount cards until July 30th around the community. Be on the lookout for our players and please help support Loveland Athletics!
CassieIn your own words, talk about your experience with the quarantine, COVID-19, and trying to be the best coach you can be during this time.
Coach CruseQuarantine was a unique time for all people for a lot of reasons. For me personally, I really enjoyed the time with my family, especially being with my daughter every single day! She is 8 months old now, so seeing how much she has changed in a few months and being with her every step of the way has been a blast. It was time I would’ve never gotten had COVID-19 not happened.
Overall, I looked at quarantine as an opportunity to get better every day. Just like we stressed with our players, I tried to have a routine every day to make sure I was productive. I am not a huge reader, but during quarantine, I quickly became one. I read about a book every 1-2 weeks and really enjoyed it. There were also a number of virtual football clinics that my staff and I attended as well.
Aside from that, we had a team meeting every week, at least one position meeting a week with players and a number of staff meetings. I grew to really look forward to these interactions with our players and coaches. When it all started, we decided as a staff that we wanted to make sure we were in constant communication with our players. We felt that checking in with them to see how things were going at home, how school was going, and then how workouts were going was going to be very important. We also took it as an opportunity to get closer as a team by getting to know each other better.
Check out the Loveland Tigers football schedule for this up and coming season!
2020-2021 Loveland Tigers Football Schedule
8/28 Sycamore 9/4 at Princeton 9/11 Turpin 9/18 West Clermont 9/25 at Milford 10/2 Little Miami 10/9 at Walnut Hills 10/16 at Kings 10/23 Anderson 10/30 at Winton Woods
For more of your latest local sports news stay tuned to the Sports 411 With Me, Cassie Mattia! Oh and by the way…GO TIGERS!
Loveland, Ohio – Its been a tough road for athletes all across Ohio in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Competitions have been canceled, sports seasons have been postponed, and in-person practicing has been banned. Although this new normal has been hard on many high school athletes and coaches, many were glad to hear that the Ohio Governor and Health Department’s Responsible Restart Ohio implemented a “three-phase process” that would ease both athletes and coaches back into practicing and competing.
LHS’s Athletic Director, Brian Conatser, couldn’t be happier to get the Tiger Athletes and Coaches back into LHS’s athletic facilities, but in the safest way possible!
“We are in Phase 3 of our skills practice which will last until July 6th,” Conatser explained, “Once we get more guidance from the Ohio Governor and OHSAA, we will move forward with those restrictions and guidelines.”
On June 1st, LHS opened its Athletic Facilities in accordance with the OHSAA skills training guidelines.
“Our coaches are extremely committed to working with the Athletic Department to implement COVID-19 procedures and guidelines. As an Athletic Department, we walked through the process as a team, fine-tuning our plan prior to our athletes returning to campus,” Conatser said, “The plan is extremely thorough and detailed, as the safety of our student-athletes and coaches are our primary concern.”
Conatser provided the guidelines given to him by OHSAA that both coaches and student-athletes are following as they begin to return to athletics.
Every student-athlete and coach MUST complete the 2020-21 Final Forms COVID-19 waiver prior to the 1st training session.
Every student-athlete and coach MUST complete the LHS COVID-19 Self-Evaluation Google Form every day prior to each skills training session.
Social distancing includes a 6-foot separation. Entrances and Exits are outlined and over-communicated to avoid congregation and lingering of student-athletes.
Facial coverings must be worn when in the building (gyms, fitness center, athletic training room). Facial coverings may be removed during the training session.
Sanitation products and stations are located at the entry and exit of our inside facilities. We also ask EVERY student to bring: Water bottle, Sanitation wipes, Hand sanitizer, and Facial covering.
All equipment, balls, etc. must be wiped down at the beginning and end of each training session.
Three phases: Phase 1: May 26th – June 8th / Phase 2: June 9th – June 22nd / Phase 3: June 23rd – July 6th
Conatser gave credit to Loveland’s student-athletes, coaches, and parents for playing such an important role in the three-phase process.
“From parents dropping off their kids in designated spots to everyone following the COVID-19 guidelines. The coaches deserve an overwhelming amount of credit,” Conatser said, “These outstanding professionals make sure their programs have all of the information well ahead of time via communication from ZOOM, Google Hangout, email, Twitter, etc. We are looking forward to a safe and productive summer of skill training.”
For more Loveland Tiger sports updates stay tuned to the Sports 411 With Me, Cassie Mattia!
Loveland, Ohio – The time has finally come to begin the reopening of high school athletic facilities! Loveland High School announced last Thursday on their school website that they would begin a three-phase process following and according to the guidelines given by the OHSAA for the reopening of their athletic facilities, which began on June 1st.
After the initial announcement, Loveland’s Athletic Department reassured the community that they have been in communication with all teams about the expectations and guidelines so that all of the student-athletes and coaches are both protected and safe.
Loveland High School Athletic Director Brian Conaster
LHS’s Athletic Director, Brian Conatser, explained more in-depth as to what the three-phrase reopening process entails and what his Athletic Department is going to do to ensure the safety of Loveland’s student-athletes and coaches.
“This is a three-phase process that follows the Ohio Governor and Health Department’s Responsible Restart Ohio. Our coaches are extremely committed to working with the Athletic Department to implement the COVID-19 procedures and guidelines,” Conatser explained, “As an Athletic Department, we walked through the process as a team, fine-tuning our plan prior to our athletes returning to campus. The plan is extremely thorough and detailed, as the safety of our student-athletes and coaches are our primary concern. Here are a few guidelines that our coaches and student-athletes are taking as we begin our return to high school athletics;
Every student-athlete and coach MUST complete the 2020-21 Final Forms COVID-19 waiver prior to the 1st training session.
Every student-athlete and coach MUST complete the LHS COVID-19 Self-Evaluation Google Form every dayprior to each skills training session.
Social distancing includes a 6-foot separation. Entrances and Exits are outlined and over-communicated to avoid congregation and lingering of student-athletes.
Facial coverings must be worn when in the building (gyms, fitness center, athletic training room). Facial coverings may be removed during the training session.
Sanitation products and stations are located at the entry and exit of our inside facilities. We also ask EVERY student to bring: Water bottle, Sanitation wipes, Hand sanitizer, and Facial covering.
All equipment, balls, etc. must be wiped down at the beginning and end of each training session.
Three phases: Phase 1: May 26th – June 8th / Phase 2:June 9th – June 22nd / Phase 3: June 23rd – July 6th”
Conatser told us that June 1st was a great day to be a Tiger because all of LHS’s student-athletes, coaches, and parents played such an important role in the reopening process.
“From parents dropping off their kids in designated spots to everyone following the COVID-19 guidelines, day one was a success,” Conatser said, “The coaches deserve an overwhelming amount of credit! These outstanding professionals made sure their programs had ALL of the information well ahead of time via communication for ZOOM, Google Hangout, Email, Twitter, etc. We are looking forward to a safe and productive summer of skill training. Welcome back TigerNation! Go Tigers!”
Here at Loveland Magazine, we are so happy to see the Tigers able to train and eventually compete again! We wish all the athletes and coaches the best of luck! Train Hard and Run Like a Tiger! Stay tuned for the latest Loveland Sports 411 with me, Cassie Mattia!
Loveland, Ohio – On Wednesday, November 13th, several Tigers were recognized for both their minds and their athletic abilities at the 2019 Annual Fall Sports Awards at Loveland High School! LHS Athletic Director, Brian Conatser invited friends, families, and Fall Tiger student-athletes to celebrate their 2019 sports seasons.
Loveland High School Athletic Director, Brian Conaster
Conatser began the heartfelt evening with a tradition of this ceremony at LHS…the senior athletes are announced and led into the gym by their head coach. Conatser invited LHS’s Site Manager and Facilities Coordinator, Jake Elfers to announce the 2019 Fall senior athletes and their coaches.
Next Conatser took the opportunity to thank everyone who made the athletes and coaches seasons so special! “Thank you, Seniors, for your leadership and laying the groundwork within our programs,” Conatser said, “This evening I would like to introduce the administration and members from the athletic department that have joined me in this celebration. Principal, Peggy Johnson, Assistant Director of Student Athletics, Eric Fry, Site Manager & Facilities Coordinator, Jake Elfers. And Finally…our Administrative Assistant in the Athletic Department, Kristy Brulport. A special thanks to all the individuals who support and assist the athletic department and our student-athletes on a daily basis. Parents, Student-Athletes please give your parents a round of applause for their support, feeding you, driving you to and from practices, and always being a part of your games and competition,” Conatser added, “LAB Team Liaisons please stand and be recognized. We appreciate your time commitment and efforts…as you are the link between our Boosters and our Athletic Programs. Thank you for all you do. Coaches, thank you for the tremendous amount of time you spend with our student-athletes. We appreciate you mentoring our young men and women and teaching them the life skills necessary to be successful both now and in their future. Thank you! We are “Extremely Proud” of our teams and programs this Fall season. You have all been Very enjoyable to Watch and Cheer on,” Conatser said.
The Tigers’ 2019 Fall Sports Season marked one of the most successful Fall sports seasons in school history with 5 ECC Champions, 4 ECC Coaches of the Year and 2 ECC Athletes of the Year. With all of these accolades, this puts the Loveland Tigers in the number one spot in running for the All-Sports Trophy. Conatser was sure to give praise to both the coaches and athletes for their designated seasons as he shared the “Coaches Highlights of the Fall Season” told through the coaches’ own words during the ceremony.
Next on the Fall Sports Awards agenda was the recognition of all of the Fall sports athletes who received top ECC honors. You can read about which Tigers received ECC accolades in the Loveland Sports 411 With Cassie MattiaHERE.
Next in the ceremony, each student-athlete who participated in a Fall varsity sport for all 4 years were honored. Conatser announced the following Tigers to receive this particular honor.
Men’s Cross Country
Sam Dippold, Alex Ditchen, Kyle Griffin and Brady Jeffcott
Women’s Cross Country
Sofia Dillhoff, Lexi Duff, Alexi Funk, Sarah Hallock, and Kirstin Thomas
Women’s Golf
Allison Rountree
Women’s Soccer
Maria Bashardoust and Claire Massey
Women’s Tennis
Anna Svitkovich
Following the announcement of the athletes who played all 4 years varsity in their designated sport, was the presentation of the 2019 Fall “Sportsperson of the Season,” and shortly after the presentation of the “Edward Jones Community Student-Athlete Award.” Loveland Magazine plans on featuring these two very special awards and its winners in a separate article coming soon!
At the conclusion of the 2019 Fall Sports Awards ceremony, Conatser recognized individual student-athletes that received awards “beyond” the Eastern Cincinnati Conference. Below are the student-athletes who were recognized for these very prestigious awards.
Women’s Tennis
All-City (GCTCA) Greater Cincinnati Tennis Coaches Association Award
Anna Svitkovich – 1st Team Singles
Tess Broermann and Hannah Wenger – Honorable Mention for Doubles
The Women’s Volleyball Team were ranked 6th in the city
Men’s Golf
District Academic Honors
Matt Rychlik and Luke Sence
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country
Both teams participated in OHSAA Regionals
Women’s Cross Country placed 6th at the State Meet
Jessie Gibbins was named All-Ohio Runner
Women’s Volleyball
All-District Recognition
Jillian Hayes – 2nd Team All-district
Men’s Soccer
All-Southwest City
Cole Harter and Connor Patton
1st Team All-State
Cole Harter
All-Southwest City Coach of the Year
Mike Dunlap
Women’s Soccer
All-Southwest Ohio and All-City
Kaitlyn Andrews, Lauren Donovan, and Clair Massey
2nd-Team All-State
Kaitlyn Andrews
Women’s Golf
Adopt-A-Team winner
Below are the Fall sports teams that received accolades within the ECC and in post-season play.
Women’s Soccer
OHSAA District Champions and OHSAA Regional Runner-ups (Elite 8)
Men’s Golf
2019 ECC Champs
Women’s Volleyball
2019 ECC Champs
2019 Coach of the Year – Brian Baugh
Women’s Cross Country
2019 ECC Champs
OHSAA District Runner-ups
Placed 6th at the State Meet
2019 Coach of the Year – Steve Nester
Men’s Soccer
2019 ECC Champs
2019 Coach of the Year – Mike Dunlap
2019 ECC Player of the Year – Cole Harter
Women’s Tennis
ECC Champs
2019 ECC Coach of the Year – Dara Hudson
2019 ECC Player of the Year – Anna Svitkovich
Loveland Magazine would like to take the opportunity to congratulate all of the Tiger coaches, student-athletes and their families for all the rightly deserved awards they received for the 2019 Fall sports season. I can say as former high school and collegiate student-athlete that your efforts have not gone unnoticed! The hard work, dedication, and motivation that all of you have put in during the season and off-season have paid off and for that, we are very proud to cheer loud and proud throughout the community of Loveland…..GO TIGERS!!!!
The parade will begin at 6:30 PM at the Moose Lodge Hall on East Loveland Avenue
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – The anticipation has begun for Loveland High School’s Homecoming activities and Loveland Magazine has the 411 on what to expect this year!
The 2019 Tiger Homecoming events will begin Thursday, September 26th with one of Loveland’s most coveted traditions, the Loveland Athletic Booster’s Homecoming Parade. The parade will begin promptly at 6:30 PM at the Moose Lodge Hall on East Loveland Avenue. The parade will then proceed to West Loveland Avenue, to Rich Road, and then end the night at #1 Tiger Way at Loveland High School.
RP Diamond will be selling Tiger Spirit Wear at Loveland Magazine during the Parade. Loveland Magazine is located right on the parade route in the heart of the West Loveland Historic District at 514 West Loveland Avenue and is one of the most favorite spots to view the parade because of ample parking in the District.
Immediately after the parade, the Loveland students will take part in the annual Powder Puff Football game at Tiger Stadium.
If you have any questions about the Parade contact Tori Morrison, the LAB Parade Coordinator (Email).
Grand Marshall is Tony Ricci
Tony Ricci (Photo from linkedin)
Every year Loveland High School selects a Grand Marshall to lead the annual Homecoming parade. As always, the individuals selected to be the Grand Marshall has been someone who truly takes an interest in the success of the Loveland High School students and is a positive force in the Loveland community. This year Tony Ricci was selected to lead the 2019 parade. For the last 25 years, Ricci has owned and operated Tony’s of Cincinnati, an American Seafood and Steakhouse located at 12110 Montgomery Road. Ricci’s incredible hospitality and back to his roots cuisine has allowed him to become a Cincinnati Food Icon. Although Tony’s of Cincinnati has been a huge part of Ricci’s life over the past several years, he has always found the time to take an interest in Loveland High School and its students.
Brian Conatser, Loveland High School’s Athletic Director, couldn’t express enough how generous Ricci and his family have been to Loveland over the past several years.
Brian Conatser, Loveland High School’s Athletic Director, couldn’t express enough how generous Ricci and his family have been to Loveland over the past several years. “The Ricci’s have donated more than one could ever imagine! They have provided things such as senior dinners for each sport season for every senior athlete that plays a sport, a team dinner for any varsity team that wins a Team ECC championship, meals for any team that makes a deep dive in playoffs, pregame meals, donations for kids that need financial support for athletic gear or pay-to-play fees, donations to the Loveland Athletic Boosters every year at all major fundraisers, employment opportunities for students, sponsorship for Showchoir, Robotics, and Athletics, and support for Loveland co-curricular and extra-curricular sports and activities,” Conatser said. “Our student experience has been enhanced by the touch of the Ricci Family. Thank you very much, Tony Ricci, for your ongoing commitment to our programs and the Loveland Community,” Conatser added.
Conatser was not the only person to express his gratitude for Tony Ricci and his family’s support. President of the School Board, Art Jarvis, owner of Jarvis Global Investments located near Loveland’s Downtown Historic District, also had a lot to say about Ricci and his family. When Loveland Magazine asked Jarvis what he thought about Ricci being the Grand Marshall he said, “I think it’s an excellent choice! He has done so much for the community in the last 8 or 9 years. He’s been there every step of the way with Loveland students and athletes! He’s been amazing with supplying our athletes with meals. All seniors get a dinner no matter what sport and if a sports team wins the ECC they get another dinner from Tony! I can’t even tell you how much Tony has spent on food for Loveland’s students. He’s also a huge donor for the Loveland High School Show Choir. Anything that we have gone to him for about the students in Loveland he has donated, no questions asked!”
Jarvis also noted that Ricci spends a lot of his time in the community and added that “Tony is a dear friend of mine and is always willing to listen – no matter the topic. Tony’s steaks are the best steaks I’ve ever had! This guy knows how to make a steak and I love eating at his restaurant. Tony is just a great guy with a great family.”
I think he (Tony Ricci) makes Loveland what it is today.” – Jeff Williams
Jeff Williams, President of the Loveland Athletic Boosters was also eager to praise Tony Ricci. He said, “I just think that as a community we’re lucky and blessed to have someone like him. It’s not only the money he gives, but he gives a great deal of his time. I think he makes Loveland what it is today.”
The Homecoming festivities will continue on Friday, September 27th with a Homecoming Pep Rally at 1:30 PM at Loveland High School and the Homecoming Football Game at the Tigers Stadium at 7 PM where they will face the Milford Eagles.
Homecoming festivities will continue on Friday, September 27th with a Homecoming Pep Rally at 1:30 PM at Loveland High School and the Homecoming Football Game at the Tigers Stadium at 7 PM where they will face the Milford Eagles. At halftime, the Homecoming Queen and King will be announced and the Marching Band and Color Guard will perform throughout the evening.
The homecoming game will have lots of spirited Loveland High School Students as well as friends and family members so be sure to stop by and support TIGER NATION! Who knows if you stop by you may just catch some Rozzi Fireworks and Grand Marshall Toni Ricci’s helicopter arrival to deliver the game ball!
On Saturday, September 28th Loveland High School will host the 2019 Homecoming Dance beginning at 8 PM and ending at 11 PM.
Loveland Magazine wishes all those involved in the Homecoming festivities the best of luck! We can’t wait to see what’s in store for this year! If you would like to stay up to date on the latest about Loveland High School’s 2019 Homecoming events you can of course visit Lovelandmagazine.com or you may visit lovelandtigers.org,lovelandschools.org or https://twitter.com/LovTigers_AD.
Coach Julie Plitt after the Tigers won the District Volleyball Championship in 2016
by Matt Huether,
Loveland, Ohio – This past Fall Loveland High School Athletics lost two of its distinguished Varsity Head Coaches. Coaches Julie Plitt and Fred Cranford both resigned after their respective Fall sports season due to family reasons. Both have been an integral part of Loveland Athletics since their arrival.
Coach Plitt led Loveland to a 22-2 record and their second straight ECC Conference Championship this season. Coach Plitt also reached a coaching milestone this season winning her 400th career game as Head Coach. This came in her 21st coaching season against Lakota East with a score of 24-26, 25-23, 25-15, 25-13. Coach Plitt’s coaching career includes 10 years with Reading, 7 years with Wyoming and 4 years with Loveland. In Coach Plitt’s four years with Loveland, she had much success with a 78-20 record.
Coach Cranford led the Loveland Tigers Varsity Football team for 6 seasons. During his first season as Head Coach, Loveland won the OHSAA Division II State Title as well as the ECC Conference Championship. This was Loveland’s first Division 2 State Title in the school’s history. During Coach Cranford’s 6 seasons at the helm for Loveland, he held a 33-32 record.
When asked what their impacts were on their respective Programs Loveland Athletic Director Brian Conatser said both were great leaders and were well-respected coaches making big impacts on their team’s success and the Loveland Athletic Department.
Principal Peggy Johnson said that Cranford stepped down because of the age of his children and because his wife travels for business. He told Johnson, “My kids are of the age, I need to be there for them.” Cranford has three school-age children.
Two of Plitt’s children will be attending Ball State next year. Marie Plitt will play volleyball and Drew is already playing football there. Johnson said that for Plitt to continue coaching volleyball at the high school level she would miss her daughter’s college career. “It’s very exciting to have children playing college sports, and I understand her choice.”
Brice, Julie, Marie, Steve, and Drew Plitt on the occasion of Marie’s Volleyball Senior Night on October 11, 2018.
Johnson said a timeline for hiring will be established; the positions will be posted and a committee will be put together to evaluate candidates comprised of parents, Athletic Boosters members, Constater, and other coaches outside of the respective sport. Conaster will make a final recommendation to the Board of Education.
Conaster described both Plitt and Cranford as outstanding leaders of young men and women. “On the court, on the field, they had high expectations of the student-athletes and held them accountable, and obviously with a lot of success.” Conaster mentioned Cranford coaching a State Championship football team and said that no-one can have a conversation about southwest Ohio volleyball without including Loveland and Julie Plitt in the conversation. “We owe both a lot of gratitude for setting the culture in making Loveland High School Better.”
Cranford will continue teaching physical education at Loveland High School. Plitt teaches health and physical education at Wyoming City Schools.
On behalf of Loveland Magazine, we would like to thank both coaches for their efforts and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.
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