Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Tigers were not short of achievements this spring sports season, bringing in multiple awards for the school.
Coach Andrea Setser was named the Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) Coach of the Year on her first year of coaching for the lacrosse team. Coach Herb Laughman was named ECC Coach of the Year for women’s track, while Coach Jim Vanatsky was named ECC Coach of the Year for men’s track.
6 women on the Loveland Women’s Track team made ECC First Team All-Conference, and 8 more women were Second Team All-Conference. 11 men on the Loveland Men’s Track team made ECC First Team All-Conference, and 9 more men were Second Team All-Conference.
First Team All-Conference winners for the men’s team include Brady Steiner (10), J.P. Tew (11), Ajay Stutz (12), Ryan Chevalier (11), Trey Powell (11), Aaron Morton (12), Max Flanders (12), Dylan Schwinn (10), Aaron Schuetter (11), Jesse Jenkins (12), and Ryan Hetzel (12). First Team All-Conference winners for the women’s team include Madison Conatser (10), Emmy Sager (11), Sarah Madix (11), Jessie Gibbins (11), Nicole Dierling (11), and Mikayla Loomis (11).
On the baseball team, Jake Zicka (12) received the All-Conference Second Team award, and teammate Connor Wessel (11) received the ECC All-Conference Honorable Mention award.
Men’s Lacrosse had 8 award winners. Zach Mulligan (11), Scott Phelan (12), Ethan Lund (11), Jackson Noe (11), and Will Westermeyer (11) received the All-Conference First Team awards. Honorable mentions included Breckin Sharkey (12), Weston Manske (12), and Roman Wilburn (11).
On the softball team, Jerrah Harcourt (12) received the All Conference Second Team award along with Mya Jordan (11). Kaylee Needham (10) received the honorable mention.
Women’s Lacrosse had many great achievements including Carly Wilhoite (12) being named the ECC Player of the Year. As mentioned, Coach Andrea Setser was named ECC Coach of the Year on her first year of coaching for the lacrosse team. ECC All Conference First Team winners included Hanna Wenger (12), Josey Storm (12), and Maggie Nance (12). Abbie Miller (12), Allie Despotakis (10), and Katie Beasley (11) were all named All-Conference Second Team. Skylar Mosconi (12) won the honorable mention.
Loveland Men’s Volleyball also received a few awards with Tyler Miller-Bross (12) winning the All-Conference First Team award and Eric Keldsen (12), Stone Thole (12), and Mason Mueller (12) winning honorable mentions.
Overall, in ending the school year, Loveland was second place behind Turpin in the All Sports Trophy by 1.3 points. Loveland scored a 74 in the fall, 61.5 in the winter, and a 54.5 in the spring for a total of 190. Way to go Tigers!
Carly Wilhoite (above) scored 4 times but the Tigers could not prevail against the Shamrocks in Final-4
by Grace Nunn
Photos by Alex Eicher
Mason, Ohio – Wednesday, June 2nd, the Women’s Tigers Lacrosse team drove to Mason for the semi-finals in the state tournament. They faced the Dublin Coffman “Rocks” who beat Upper Arlington in a surprising upset 11-9 to make the Final-4.
The game began and finished, very close. It was 1-1, then 2-1 Tigers, then 4-2 Rocks. The sidelines were on edge with both teams fighting for the win. In the final seconds of the first half, Carly Wilhoite (senior) scored another goal bringing the Tigers only one point behind the Rocks.
Unfortunately, after a hard-fought game in rainy and cold weather, the Tigers fell, losing only by 2. The final score was 9-7.
Dublin Coffman went on to the State Championship game Saturday, June 5th, playing New Albany. The Rocks then beat New Albany with a buzzer goal 13-12, making them the D1 state champs.
Wilhoite scored 4 times, Hanna Wenger added 2 scores, and Josey Storm one. Senior Maggie Nance had 4 saves.
Loveland, Ohio – Team CUREage 2.0 for the victory! Although Loveland High School (LHS) students, Carly Wilhoite, Bella Dillhoff, and Morgan Wheeler did not win the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) annual “Students Of The Year” campaign, which raises funds and awareness for blood cancer research, their group appropriately named “Team CUREage 2.0” still managed to raise $94,908!
“One of the most important things I learned throughout this is to not be afraid of No and actually become used to it,” said Bella Dillhoff, “You have to get through a bunch of No’s just to get one Yes. We’d like to thank everyone who supported our campaign by going to various events and donating to our page. But most of all thank you to our moms who kept pushing us not to stop,” Dillhoff added.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CNfp8I1jXyw/
Within the Cincinnati area the “Students of the Year” campaign, which was comprised of 12 teams, managed to raise $624,841 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In addition to the thousands of dollars, Team CUREage 2.0 was able to raise, LHS’s Ellie Carr was selected to be a part of the LLS 5k Club. Team CUREage 2.0 was also able to complete the LLS 50-state challenge by getting a minimum of $25 donated to the cause by each of the 50 states. Bella Dillhoff was also recognized by being selected to receive the LLS Community Involvement Award because she was able to get the ENTIRE community of Loveland involved in the Students of the Year campaign.
Team CUREage 2.0 team member, Carly Wilhoite had a lot to say about how gracious everyone in the community was in regards to their donations to the cause.
“Thank you to all of my teammates for all your hard work on getting donations, thank you to all of the local restaurants that graciously teamed up with us to plan Fund-the-Nights, and thank you to those who sponsored our t-shirt sales,” Willhoite said, “The biggest thank you goes to our moms for being so supportive and helping us through the whole process.”
Morgan Wheeler, another Team CUREage 2.0 team member said that the Bourbon Raffle and “Brewery Nights” were the two events that enabled them to raise the most donations. Some of the other successful donation outlets were Split The Pot, the Gift Basket Raffles, T-Shirt Sales, and the Team CUREage 2.0 Dodgeball Tournament.
Wheeler briefly reminisced on the night of the finale of the Students of the Year campaign and how truly nervous she was about the results.
“The night of the finale, I was definitely nervous but almost like a calm nervous. At that point, I didn’t really care about winning the competition, I was simply just proud of us for raising an insane amount of money,” Wheeler said, “I am a naturally competitive person, and winning usually is the goal for me, but our campaign almost realigned my priorities. Winning didn’t matter, as long as we could save a life. Thank you to our community, this was not just an LLS Students of the Year campaign, it was an LLS Community of the Year campaign!”
When asked about the finale of the Students of the Year campaign Carly Wilhoite shared that a special memory she will hold close to her heart from that night is “the dance party” everyone participated in!
Congratulations to Team CUREage 2.0! We are so proud of all of you for everything you have done for the community and those fighting Leukemia and Lymphoma. Keep on being the amazing citizens you are. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for all of you. Check out another article on the unstoppable Team CUREage 2.0 below!
Loveland, Ohio – On Monday, February 22 the Loveland High School Women’s lacrosse team showed up at Tiger Stadium ready to begin their season. The tryouts were from Monday the 22nd until Wednesday the 23rd. They included a 3.5-mile running test, something different from the usual 100-meter sprinting test called the “Manchesters” that the Women were used to. Also unique to the season were 3 new coaches, Head Coach Andrea Setser, former Loveland graduate Morgan Naber, and Hannah Young. With all these developments and a team that didn’t get to have a 2020 season, I asked the new head coach, her thoughts on the 2021 season and the future of the team.
How do you feel about the teams this year? Coach Setser mentioned her excitement about being a first-year head coach and enjoying the time getting to know all of the team. She told me that, “the focus has really been on getting the basics right through repetition, developing good habits and routines, and always being willing to learn and get better.” Coach Setser and the team are very excited to be back on the field, especially considering last year’s canceled season. She believes that the JV and Varsity teams have a great opportunity to have amazing seasons, mentioning that, “We have set some really ambitious, yet attainable goals.”
Speaking of COVID, I asked Coach Setser how the season has been going with restrictions at the games and at practice. “Spectators are currently limited to immediate family members of athletes,” she told me–and it seems to play true for most sports in Ohio. She also told me that COVID has fortunately not impacted the season too much, aside from spectator restrictions. Of course, being outside makes things a lot easier. “The weirdest part is not being able to high-five our teammates after a good play, social distancing on the sidelines, and not shaking hands with our opponents,” said Setser. However, she told me these are all easy adjustments to make if it means the team gets to have a season.
With last year’s season being canceled the current seniors didn’t get to play their junior year, leaving them with one final season. Coach Setser told me about 4 seniors that onlookers should be keeping an eye on, those being Carly Wilhoite (Varsity Midfielder), Josie Storm (Varsity Midfielder), Maggie Nance (Varsity Goalie), and Hanna Wenger (Varsity Midfielder). She told me, “All have been a part of the Loveland lacrosse program for a long time. After losing their junior season all four are itching to get back on the field and will have a tremendous impact on the field.”
Not only are the Loveland Tigers ready to play lacrosse, but so are other teams. Setser told me that their best competition in the ECC will be the King’s Knights, as it is “always a competitive game for us.” She also told me that the entire league is still tough, any team can win if they want it the most.
Obviously, the women will be on the field playing, but what can those watching the game expect? I asked Coach Setser this and she told me that you could expect to see “a fast-paced game with a focus on both team offense and team defense.” With the games being 50 minutes there is a lot of time to score goals and she told me, “hopefully you will see lots of goals and assists,” and also, “You can expect our team to be playing hard for all 50 minutes and leaving it all on the field!”
The women traveled to Columbus to play Upper Arlington on the 27th, after being up there to play Thomas Worthington last Saturday, March 20. They outscored Worthington 17-5.
Upcoming games include Sycamore on March 30th, Mariemont on April 1st, and Lakota West on April 3rd. The Sycamore and Mariemont games are both going to be at Tiger Stadium.
Coach Setser, Coach Naber, and Coach Young are excited and ready for what’s to come. Both JV and Varsity look very promising and they are ready to go. Hopefully, spectator restrictions lift soon so you can see the magic for yourselves and support the Tigers.
Thank you to Coach Andrea for answering all of my questions!
Bella, Carly, and Morgan at one of their planning meetings earlier in the year.
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – Could our Loveland Tigers be any more impressive?! Loveland High School students, Carly Wilhoite (Junior), Bella Dillhoff (Junior), and Morgan Wheeler (Senior) announced this month that they will be competing in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) “Students Of The Year” campaign!
The “Students of the Year” campaign is a seven-week fundraising, leadership, and development program for high school students that focuses on developing young leaders in the community while they raise funds for LLS. This particular campaign began on February 17th and will end on April 9th.
During the seven-week program, Wilhoite, Dillhoff, and Wheeler will take on organizing events, as well as collecting items from restaurants and stores that will be auctioned off during “The Grand Finale” at the end of the campaign.
“We were not allowed to collect any money before the campaign starts, but we can get commitments,” Wilhoite said, “As of right now, we have been running around the whole city collecting commitments for donations, auction items, t-shirt sponsors, andFund The Nights.”
The team of Tigers recently finalized their t-shirt design and they are now available for pre-order below.
The candidates and some of their team members help raffle off a Valentine’s Day basket to teachers – with help from Mrs. Johnson, their principal (Second from Right in photo).
The campaign has nearly twenty student team members and a group of adult helpers, which includes Katie Rose, Jen Ramage, and Molly Reboltz from The LLS.
Carly Wilhoite shared that she and her two campaign teammates in some way during their lives have had to deal with cancer, which is why this is so important to all of them.
“Morgan’s grandmother passed away due to lung cancer in the spring of 2016, and my grandfather passed away due to esophageal cancer when I was young,” Wilhoite said, “Bella and I have a friend and lacrosse teammate who was diagnosed with Leukemia a few years back and she thankfully won her fight. Supporting The LLS is my way of showing my support and love for those that have fought and are currently fighting the vicious battle against blood cancer, but the most important reason for our efforts in this campaign is Katie Rose and her family,” Wilhoite added, “Mrs. Rose is a teacher at the middle school and has been a mentor and friend to us throughout this whole thing. She lost her aunt to Leukemia in the summer of 2019. We love and appreciate Mrs. Rose for everything she has done for us, and there is simply nothing we wouldn’t be willing to do for her.”
Mrs. Rose, who has volunteered for The LLS for many years helping both the Pennies for Patients/Hero Squad and the Student of the Year campaigns, said she definitely has a personal stake in this type of work because she lost her 53-year-old aunt to AML a couple of years ago.
“I am always awed by how engaged my students become when asked to serve the greater good,” Rose said, “The Student of the Year campaign is the equivalent of a Master’s level class in philanthropy whereby students learn valuable skills that translate into their educational and career paths while doing such meaningful and important work. I am so proud of this team and the teams on whose shoulders they stand. We hope the Loveland community will support them in their journey!”
Morgan Wheeler shared what her experience was like her sophomore year participating in her first campaign.
“I had such a great opportunity first hand to see what an impact that the LLS has had not only on the patients it supports but the candidates it develops into amazing leaders in their community,” Wheeler said, “I hope that by accepting the nomination as a Student of the Year candidate that I can honor those who have lost their battle to cancer, like my grandmother, and help those who are currently fighting.”
Wheeler said that the biggest part of the campaign is “The Grand Finale,” which is set to be held on April 9th.
“It is truly an exciting and memorable moment that I remember very well from participating on the team last year,” Wheeler explained, “Candidates are recognized for all of their hard work and there is a commemoration for those who are fighting their battle or have lost their battle to cancer. At the Grand Finale, there is also a silent auction that offers teams one last way to raise funds that will go towards their teams total.”
“Our team is in the works of collecting auction items so that we can put baskets together to be sold at the auction,” Wheeler said, “At the end of the night, the winning team is announced and the title, ‘Students of the Year,’ is handed to the candidates of that team.”
If you or your business would like to contact Team CUREage 2.0 to help with their campaign email the team at lovelandllsteamcureage@gmail.com.
TheLLS is uniquely able to report on the many advances and accomplishments that have occurred since their founding in 1949. From cutting-edge research and precision medicine innovations to legislative victories that improve access to therapies for cancer patients, LLS plays a leading- and often pioneering- role in the fight against blood cancers. Since 2000, approximately 40 percent of all U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved cancer drugs were for blood cancer, and some are now used to treat other forms of cancer and non-malignant diseases. A “win” for blood cancers, therefore, is a win for the cancer community overall.
Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine and lives in Historic Downtown
Loveland, Ohio – It’s that time of year again to honor the L.H.S student-athlete Seniors as we send them on their way to play collegiate sports at the conclusion of this school year!
L.H.S’s National College Signing Day was held on November 12th at 2:30 PM, in the legendary Tiger gymnasium. Although the Loveland Athletic Department tried to make the ceremony as normal as they could for the student-athletes they did send out COVID-19 safety precautions so that everyone attending would feel as comfortable as possible. Below are some of the safety precautions L.H.S took for the National Signing Day ceremony:
1. Athletes, please e-mail Ms. Brulport the number of family members attending. We need to know this for seating and contact tracing.
2. Your family and student-athlete will be assigned seating in our Main Gym Bleachers. Please look for the placard with your child’s name on it. You will be socially distanced from other families.
3. No congregating is allowed prior to, during, OR after the ceremony. All families must leave immediately following the ceremony.
4. Face coverings ARE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES.
5. No group photos of the student-athletes together is permitted. Only pictures of the student-athlete, with their family, will be taken.
6. There will be NO student body allowed. This is for immediate family ONLY, plus 1 coach.
The L.H.S National Signing Day ceremony turned out to be quite the event as the Tiger student-athletes’ coaches, parents and family members celebrated the Seniors’ achievements and wished them the best of luck in their future college endeavors! The following Senior student-athletes signed to participate in athletics and get a college education in 2021!
Photos and Graphics provided by the Loveland Athletic Department.
Sarah Lolli signed to compete in Water Polo at Indiana University.
Connor Ruble signed to play Tennis at Wittenberg University.
Lauren Donovan signed to play soccer at the University of Minnesota.
Carly Wilhoite signed to play lacrosse at the University of Tampa.
Hanna Wenger signed to play lacrosse at the University of Central Michigan.
Josey Storm signed to play lacrosse at Notre Dame College.
Sherron Peacock signed to compete in Bowling at Tiffin University.
Brock Perkins signed to play baseball at Bluffton University.
Spencer Rodriguez signed to play baseball at Clark State Community.
Jenna Batsch signed to play basketball at Kent State University.
We would like to take the time to congratulate 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 of the Sports 411 with me, Cassie Mattia stay tuned!
