LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: LHS Athletic Department

  • LHS Women’s Cross Country Team Grabs 1st Place at Season Opener!

    LHS Women’s Cross Country Team Grabs 1st Place at Season Opener!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio- LHS Tiger Athletics kicked the Fall sports season off with a bang as the Women’s Cross Country Team collected their first 2021 victory on Saturday at the Ohio High School Athletics Association (OHSAA) Cross Country Season Opener!

    Both Loveland’s Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Teams competed Saturday against 43 (scored) teams from all across Ohio at Fortress Obetz in Columbus, Ohio, which is also where the OHSAA’s 2021 State Cross Country Meet will be run this year.

    Both Tiger teams are being looked at with high expectations this year as they have a squad full of veteran runners returning including 2020 Eastern Cincinnati Conference Runner of the Year Senior Ryan Chevalier and 1st Team All-ECC Jesse Gibbins and Emmy Sager.

    Loveland did not disappoint their supporters at the first meet of the 2021 season as the Women finished in 1st place out of 43 very talented teams and the Men finished in 3rd place. The Women finished with a score of 90 (11-12-18-20-29-108-130), a team time of 1:38:48, a runner average of 19:46, and a mile average of 6:22. The Men finished with a score of 185 (5-13-38-50-79-116-132), a team time of 1:26:04, a runner average of 17:13, and a mile average of 5:33.

    For LHS’s Women’s Cross Country Team, Junior Madison Conatser finished 11th with a time of 19:27.8, Senior Jesse Gibbins finished 12th with a time of 19:33.7, Senior Sarah Madix finished 18th with a time of 19:40.5, Senior Emmy Sager finished 20th with a time of 19:51.5, Junior Ally Colegate finished 29th with a time of 20:13.6, Senior Maaike Snider finished 108th with a time of 22:00.2, and Sophmore Lauren Gard finished 130th with a time of 22:24.8.

    The Men’s Cross Country Team also had some impressive finishes with Senior Ryan Chevalier finishing in 5th with a time of 16:13.6, Junior Brady Steiner finishing in 13th with a time of 16:44.9, Senior Sam Neiger finishing in 38th with a time of 17:26.1, Freshman Nick Huff finishing in 50th with a time of 17:38.1, Junior Grant Hanson finishing in 79th with a time of 18:00.4, Senior Andrew Waple finishing 116th with a time of 18:21.8, and Junior Alex Saletta finishing in 132nd with a time of 18:32.7.

    For the full meet results click here.

    Congratulations to LHS’s Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Team’s on their 1st and 3rd place finishes in their first meet of the 2021 season! We are looking forward to seeing all the Tiger success this year! Thank you to LHS Cross Country parent Paul Madix for providing us with both the stats and photos from the opening meet!

    The Tigers will compete again on Friday, August 27th at Christ Church for the Moeller Prime Time Invitational at 8:45 P.M.

    Tentative 2021 LHS Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Schedule

    8/24 Sat, OHSAA Season Opener, 10:00 a.m. at Fortress Obetz

    8/27 Fri, Moeller Prime Time Invitational, 8:45 p.m. at Christ Church

    9/4 Sat, Loveland Invitational 8:45 a.m. at Home of the Brave

    9/11 Sat, Mason Invitational 9:00 a.m. at Corwin Nixon Park

    9/18 Sat, Asics Woodbridge XC Classic TBD at Irvine, California

    (Top 7 Times from the OHSAA Season Opener & possible wildcard. Pending approval from OHSAA & Loveland Schools)

    9/25 Sat, Loveland Sunset Invite 6:00 p.m. at Loveland High School

    10/2 Sat, Saturday Nights Lights TBA at Centerville HS

    10/16 Sat, ECC Championships TBD at Home of the Brave

    10/21 Thur, Southwest Ohio Championships 5:45 p.m. at Site TBD

    (Based on the ECC Championship results, all remaining non-Top 7 will compete)

    10/23 Sat, District Championships TBD at Voice of America

    (Top Seven will compete)

    10/30 Sat, Regional Championships ** TBD at Troy, Ohio

    11/6 Sat, Ohio State Championships ** TBD at Fortress Obetz

    ** Team or Individuals must qualify for the Regional & State Championships

    *** Start Times will vary due to our participation in multiple races.

    For more LHS sports updates stay tuned to the Sports 411 With ME, Cassie Mattia!

  • LHS Tigers Ogdan, Dewitt, Vallee, and Zicka all Sign to Play Collegiate Athletics!

    LHS Tigers Ogdan, Dewitt, Vallee, and Zicka all Sign to Play Collegiate Athletics!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – It’s that time of year again to honor the Loveland High School student-athlete Seniors as we send them on their way to play collegiate sports at the conclusion of this school year!

    Although the 2020-2021 season for athletics was a bit more difficult due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, these particular LHS Seniors focused in and made sure to still dedicate all their time and energy into doing what it takes to get the opportunity to play their sport at the collegiate level. Despite all of the 2020 obstacles, the following Tigers are moving forward to play college athletics:

    1. Ogdan is committing to the University of Indianapolis to play Football. He currently is maintaining a 4.28 GPA.
    2. Ogdan has been awarded 1st Team All-ECC, 1st Team All-City, 1st Team Tri-State, and 2nd Team Division 2 Southwest District.
    3. Ogdan is both a captain and a 4-year Varsity starter.
    4. Ogdan is also a part of the Track and Field Team as well as a member of the National Honor Society and The Anthony Munoz Foundation.
    1. Dewitt has committed to playing Football at the University of Findlay. He is currently maintaining a 3.7 GPA.
    2. Dewitt is a 4-year LHS football player and a 2-year Varsity starter.
    3. Dewitt is a member of the Leadership Council.
    4. Dewitt is a part of The Student Athletic Leadership Team and Link Crew.
    5. Dewitt also played LHS Baseball his Freshman year and ran LHS JV Track.
    1. Vallee committed to playing Golf at the University of Findlay and is currently maintaining a 3.6 GPA.
    2. Vallee is a 4-year Varsity athlete. Valee acquired 1st Team All-Conference in 2018, 2019, and 2020. In 2020, Valee was awarded the ECC Player of the Year.
    3. Vallee enjoys playing Recreational Basketball as well.
    1. Zicka committed to playing Baseball at Xavier University. He is currently maintaining a 3.95 GPA.
    2. Zicka earned Perfect Game Underclass All-American and was selected to be on the All-Tournament Team.
    3. Zicka participates in Golf and is also a member of the National Honor Society, and the Student Athletic Leadership Team.

    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!

  • L.H.S’s Coach Parker Gives Sneak Preview of 2020-2021 Season!

    L.H.S’s Coach Parker Gives Sneak Preview of 2020-2021 Season!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine and lives in Historic Downtown Loveland
    Can’t imagine a Countdown without the Kid, Our Capt @tessbroermann
    AKA T-Wip! Tess has been my Coach on the floor for 3 yrs & now as a Sr she is the undisputed engine & leader of our program! Proud of you is an understatement! Let’s run it back one last time kid #OurWay     – Coach Parker

    Loveland, Ohio – It’s that time of year again that gives many, including myself, an endless amount of joy! You maybe asking yourself, “Well what is so significant about this time of year?” IT’S BASKETBALL SEASON BABY! Of course the single phrase has to be said in a Dick Vitale voice!

    Basketball teams all across Ohio are preparing for what should be a very interesting season in light of COVID-19. The L.H.S Women’s Basketball team has not been letting the pandemic slow them down as they have been safely practicing hard in preparation for the first game that will be held on November 24th at the Tiger’s home gym against Lakota East at 7:30 P.M.

    Coach Darnell Parker and Assistant Coach Keith (Breezy) Braswell celebrating the ECC Championship in 2020
    Coach Parker from #Darnell Parker on Twitter

    L.H.S’s Women’s Basketball team is coming off of a historical 2019-2020 season, grabbing their first league title, sectional title, and an outstanding overall record of 22-4. Although they have lost some unbelievable female athletes such as the Tiger’s top performer, Jillian Hayes who will begin her career as Cincinnati Bearcat this year, Head Coach Darnell Parker says that he has two incredible leaders returning in Seniors Jenna Batsch and Tess Broermann that are sure to give the team that fire they need to succeed this year!

    So without further ado, here is the 2020-2021 Loveland High School Women’s Basketball Season Preview!

    The following graphics and photos provided by team photographer, Gayle Rothmeeler.

    Tiger Nation let me introduce you to Our @ViviClayton
    AKA ViVi! Vivi is a team-first guard willing to do whatever her team needs! Greatness is already in your DNA kid, go ahead and put it on display for all to witness! Orange and Black looks good on you Viv!#OurWay     – Coach Parker

    Cassie – What have you and the Tigers been doing in preparation for this season?

    Coach Parker – Preparation for this season started over the summer with our team lifting and conditioning sessions, as well as our super popular 6 A.M, Breakfast Club workouts. This is a great time for our kids as we start forming bonds and shaping the identity of this year’s team!

    She had her coming out party against the number 1 team in the state last year and Our Miss @EarlyJosie is hungry for more! Ultra competitive guard with a knack for slicing through defenses! Remember the name folks, get your ready! #OurWay – Coach Parker

    Cassie – What effect has COVID-19 had on your preparation?

    Coach Parker – Keeping our Student-Athletes safe is our top priority.  Each player, coach, and member of our program is diligent in following the guidelines set by our District and the OHSAA. Our kids have done a great job adjusting and it hasn’t affected our preparation too much.

    No better place to start than with the Captain @JennaBatsch
    aka STRETCH! Don’t let the smoothness fool you, the Kent St commit is an absolute BEAST on the court! It’s her time to shine bright! #OurWay     – Coach Parker

    Cassie – Who are some of the players that are returning? Any starters? Who do you expect to be a captain or “leader” for the other ladies to look up to this year.

    Coach Parker – SR-Jenna Batsch(Kent State Commit, Second leading scorer last year 11ppg)-Captain, SR-Tess Broermann(4-year starter 6.3ppg last season)-Captain, SO-Olivia Raby(Lead the team in FG% 52% 3.5ppg), SO-Josie Early(3ppg, Strong tournament run last season), Jr-Nia Kemper(PG Transfer from Wyoming 14ppg, Excellent shooter and defender), Jr-Vivian Clayton(G Transfer from Sycamore 8ppg, Great Defender and strong guard attacking the basket).

    Next up it’s Our Miss @ellanagel_AKA Shirley(another inside joke)! A summer spent grinding and getting better, and the Jr is ready to Soar! You have the green light to be great kid! All gas no brakes!! #OurWay – Coach Parker

    Cassie – Any big games you and the team are looking forward to?

    Coach Parker – We always enjoy the matchups with Walnut Hills and West Clermont. They have been the Gold standards in the league for a lot of years. This year we add three new teams in Little Miami, Lebanon, and Winton Woods. Starting new rivalries with these schools will be fun!

    LIV!!!!! Big sis may be gone but the Raby legacy continues! Our @Olivia_Raby_
    established herself as a big-time rim protector last season and this Summer added to her offensive game! Don’t take my word for it though, just enjoy the show #OurWay     – Coach Parker

    Cassie – What will be some of your primary focuses or things you would like to improve on from last season this year?

    Coach Parker – This season we will really focus on sharing the basketball and attacking opposing defenses from a lot of angles. We have 6-7 girls that could get double digits points on any given night and as a coach that is very exciting!  Defensively our pressure is going to be suffocating and we are going to be able to pressure teams for 32 minutes or more if necessary!

    I call her Laverne(inside joke) but Our @Yeager_Rachel15 is coming off of a solid Summer and ready to make her mark! You won’t find many who work as hard as Yeags, and that hard work is starting to pay dividends! Watch out Tiger Nation she’s ready to explode! #OurWay – Coach Parker

    Cassie – Will the coaching staff be the same as last year or do you have any newcomers?

    Coach Parker – We return our entire coaching staff from last year.  Really helps with continuity.

    Salute to the next in a long line of great #24s Our Miss Twitterless Gabby Saletta! The freshman is Lightning Quick on both sides of the ball and a ton of toughness after spending the fall on the pitch! Keep working Gabs! You got Next! #OurWay – Coach Parker

    Cassie – Do you have any Freshmen or Sophomores that you are expecting big things from this season?

    Coach Parker – Josie Early and Olivia Raby received significant minutes and experience as a freshman last year. They are going to be a big piece of the puzzle this season!

    Tiger Nation allow me to introduce a NewComer to the program Our Miss @NiaKemper4
    AKA FLEEK! Don’t Blink because if you do the ultra-quick sharp shooting PG will be gone! Don’t let the smile fool you she’s looking to take Someone’s lunch money on that Court #OurWay     – Coach Parker

    Cassie – What are some of your personal coaching goals this year? Team goals?

    Coach Parker – Personally my goals have shifted based on my health situation. Every day that I am able to spend with my team is a blessing!  When I am physically able I want to be with the team. I draw energy from them. The team really wants to defend out ECC crown and get back and when a District title. The community has really rallied behind myself and this team, I really feel we are destined for great things!

    We play in the present but the future looks bright especially for Our @HannahPawlikow1! This is one tough Freshman who doesn’t mind mixing it up in the paint! Excited to watch her develop in the next 4 years!! #OurWay – Coach Parker

    Cassie – Will you be competing against any schools that you haven’t competed against in the past or haven’t competed against in quite some time? If so what teams?

    Coach Parker – As Mentioned above we will start playing the new teams in our conference. We also open up with Lakota East who we haven’t played in recent times.

    Big shoes to fill after she took over her pals # but Our @SophiaKapsz
    (just call me KAPS) is up for the challenge! Infectious energy and an animal on the boards, she ready to wreak havoc this year. I hope she even breaks out the dance moves #OurWay     – Coach Parker

    Cassie – Any new mottos this year other than your infamous #Ourway?! 

    Coach Parker – Haha, OurWay will always be the motto that we follow.  With my diagnosis, the Girls have reached a Mantra of OURWAY, OURFIGHT. They are in this battle with me. That’s what Family does!!#OurWay

    Another one of our Fab Frosh making the Countdown! Our Miss @bebout_sara
    is well on her way to being a force in the paint for our Tigers! The future is bright for you kid! Keep working and getting better every day!     #OurWay – Coach Parker

    For more of the Sports 411 with me, Cassie Mattia, stay tuned!

    https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=T9887DUMPQ2W8
  • Loveland Magazine Presents “National College Signing Day” at L.H.S!

    Loveland Magazine Presents “National College Signing Day” at L.H.S!

    by Cassie Mattia

    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!

  • Tiger Seniors Jenna Batsch and Lauren Donovan Announced as part of 2021 Collegiate Recruiting Classes!

    Tiger Seniors Jenna Batsch and Lauren Donovan Announced as part of 2021 Collegiate Recruiting Classes!

    The above photo is Jenna Batsch in action in the District Semi-Final for the Loveland Tigers last season (Loveland Magazine file photo)

    Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine and lives in Historic Downton.

    Loveland, Ohio – As the end of the school year nears, L.H.S’s Senior student-athletes are making plans for the future! It was announced last week that two Tigers, Jenna Batsch and Lauren Donovan committed to playing collegiate athletics at two very prestigious schools.

    Lauren Donovan

    University of Minnesota’s Head Women’s Soccer Coach, Stefanie Golan, announced last Wednesday, that L.H.S’s Lauren Donovan would become a part of the Women’s Soccer 2021 Recruiting Class. Joining Donovan will be five other talented women, two forwards, two midfielders, one defender, and one goalkeeper.

    Donovan has had quite the impressive Tiger journey earning All-City and First Team All-Southwest honors in 2019 for Soccer as well as two varsity letters in Basketball and Track and Field (in addition to Soccer). This year Donovan was apart of the 16-4 L.H.S Women’s Soccer Team that not only secured a District Championship but also Regional Runner-Up honors.

    Head Coach Golan is excited to see Donovan’s contribution to what Golan thinks will be a stellar 2021 recruiting class!

    In addition to playing soccer, Donovan will be majoring in Communications at the University of Minnesota.

    To see the full article on Lauren Donovan click the following link: https://gophersports.com/news/2020/11/11/gopher-soccer-announces-2021-recruiting-class.aspx.
    Lauren Donovan

    Jenna Batsch

    The University of Kent State’s Women’s Basketball Coach, Todd Starkey, also announced on Wednesday that Loveland Tiger basketball stand-out, Jenna Batsch, along with three others, would be joining the 2021 Recruiting Class.

    Head Coach Starkey said that he believes Batsch will be a much needed addition to an already talented group of student-athletes! Starkey then went on to predict a possible Mid-American Conference Championship throughout the course of the 2021 Recruiting Class’s four seasons.

    Six-foot guard, Batsch was a part of last year’s Loveland Women’s Basketball Team that made history earning their first-ever ECC Championship, a Sectional Title, and a 22-4 record. Batsch collected First Team All-ECC, Honorable Mention All-District, and was ranked in the ECC’s top 10 in both steals and blocked shots, averaging 10.9 points, 2.5 steals, and 0.8 blocked shots per game.

    To read the full article on Jenna Batsch click the following link: https://kentstatesports.com/news/2020/11/11/womens-basketball-starkey-adds-four-to-begin-early-signing-period.aspx.

    To stay up-to-date on the latest Loveland Tiger sports news tune into the Sports 411 with me, Cassie Mattia!

  • OHSAA Announces Suspension of all Contact-Sport Scrimmages

    OHSAA Announces Suspension of all Contact-Sport Scrimmages

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – With Ohio High School 2020-2021 sports seasons set to start on August 1st, coaches, parents, fans, and student-athletes are wondering when school vs. school competition will be allowed to resume. That particular question was answered on Tuesday when the OHSAA sent out a newsletter confirming that for the time being all contact-sport school vs. school scrimmages will be suspended.

    The OHSAA’s Interim Executive Director, Bob Goldring, stated in the newsletter that the goal is to work with the Governor’s Office to make sure everything that they are implementing for the 2020-2021 sports seasons will be “in concert.”

    OHSAA’s Interim Executive Director, Bob Goldring

    “We are on track for the low/non-contact sports of golf, girls tennis and volleyball to begin practices on August 1, with school vs. school scrimmages and contests to follow per their normal OHSAA permissible dates and regulations,” Goldring said, “We are on track for the contact sports of football, soccer, field hockey and cross country to begin practices on August 1. We are waiting for more guidance from the Governor’s Office and Department of Health on when school vs. school competition can begin and are hopeful of that permission being granted for our normal contest dates later in August. To that end, school vs. school scrimmages are SUSPENDED. We do not anticipate that suspension changing soon and there remains the possibility that no scrimmages will be permitted in the contact sports of football, soccer, and field hockey. We will certainly keep you updated if that changes.”

    Goldring said that the OHSAA plans on continuing to have conversations about both field hockey and cross country being put into the low/non-contact category.

    After speaking with the Governor’s Office, Goldring explained that one thing was very clear, the end goal is to make sure Ohio’s student-athletes get the opportunity to “learn the lifelong lessons and receive the social, emotional, and physical benefits that the privilege of participating in education-based interscholastic athletics programs provide.”

    “We all have to be accountable for following all mandates and requirements. By not following the mandates and requirements, we are putting our student-athletes at risk of not only contracting and/or spreading COVID-19 but also at risk of losing the season for themselves, their families, their teammates, their schools and their communities. Mandates and requirements put into place must be followed in order for the Governor’s Office to continue to allow us to participate,” Goldring said.

    According to Goldring, the OHSAA has been working hard to finalize contest day mandates and requirements that he says will be strictly enforced.

    “Our administrators, coaches, and student-athletes will be held accountable for non-compliance. So as to not cause alarm, these mandates and requirements will be to elevate many of the recommendations that were provided in the OHSAA Return to Play Recommendations document to the level of mandates and requirements and should not require wholesale modifications to your game-day protocol,” Goldring added.

    If you missed the OHSAA Return to Play Recommendations click on the following article link we released last week: https://lovelandmagazine.com/ohsaa-releases-updated-covid-19-return-to-play-recommendations/.

    As rules and regulations change within the sports world due to COVID-19, here at Loveland Magazine we will continue to bring you the latest updates so that you and your family know what to expect if your child or someone you know is participating in Ohio High School athletics this year! Stay tuned to the Sports 411 With Me, Cassie Mattia!

  • OHSAA Releases Updated COVID-19 Return to Play Recommendations

    OHSAA Releases Updated COVID-19 Return to Play Recommendations

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Over the last several months’ life as we know it has been changing and evolving, including the lives of the Loveland High School Student-Athletes. Coaches, Parents, and Spectators have been waiting patiently to see if and when the Fall 2020-2021 sports seasons will begin and what the stipulations will be due to the rampant COVID-19 Pandemic.

    On Wednesday, July 22nd, Bob Goldring, the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s (OHSAA) Interim Executive Director, issued updated guidelines and “COVID-19 Return to Play Recommendations.”

    In the new guidelines, Goldring and the OHSAA team emphasized that participation in school activities is voluntary. Goldring and the OHSAA team stated that every individual will need to evaluate the risk versus the benefits of athletics participation.

    “Those immunocompromised students and staff, or those who live with family members with elevated health concerns, should evaluate associated risks of participation and may choose not to participate,” OHSAA said.

    The OHSAA Executive Director’s Office, the Office’s Official Board of Directors, the Ohio Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine, and the National Federation of State High School Associations, joined forces to help write an updated “COVID-19 Return to Play” document. The document includes recommendations on how member schools can consider approaching the many components of “opening up” sports with the objective of commencing the fall sports seasons on August 1.

    “The recommendations within this document for the resumption of the varsity, non-varsity and 7th-8th grade interscholastic athletic seasons and participation opportunities have been made with the health, safety, and well-being of all student-athletes in mind,” the OHSAA document said.

    Below are some of the topics the OHSAA document covers:

    Game Day Face Masks/Coverings

    Sidelines and Benches

    Game Day Venue Restrictions and Spectators

    COVID-19 Pre-Participation Screening

    Failed Screening or Positive COVID-19 Test Action Plan

    Positive Test – Action Plan

    If You Had Close Contact With an Infected Person

    Contest-Day Screening Procedures

    Game Day Event Staff

    Concessions

    Athletic Training Room and Locker Rooms

    Travel Considerations The following items are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED

    The following is the complete document from OHSAA stating the “COVID-19 Return to Play Recommendations” that was issued on Wednesday, July 22nd.

    For more of the latest updates on the OHSAA and Loveland High School Sports stay tuned to the Sports 411 With Me, Cassie Mattia!

  • LHS’s Andy Cruse Gives Preview of up and Coming Football Season!

    LHS’s Andy Cruse Gives Preview of up and Coming Football Season!

    by Cassie Mattia

    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!

    Cassie   Have you started in-person practices yet with the team and coaches and if so are there any restrictions?
    Coach Cruse   We 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.
    Cassie Have you had fewer players come out for the team because of COVID-19 and the Pay-to-Play implementation?
    Coach Cruse   Surprisingly, 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.
    Cassie Have you named team captains and if so who are they?
    Coach Cruse  We 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.
    Cassie How are you and your staff handling the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions? Has it been tough or have you successfully managed the situation?
    Coach Cruse Our 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.
    Cassie Do 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 Cruse We 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.
    Cassie The 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 Cruse The 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!
    Cassie Are you able to hold any fundraisers for the athletes or events to help with the pay-to-play fees?
    Coach Cruse Unfortunately 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!
    Cassie In 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 Cruse Quarantine 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!
  • Come Out to Support the LHS Athletes at the Annual Athletic Boosters Golf Scramble!

    Come Out to Support the LHS Athletes at the Annual Athletic Boosters Golf Scramble!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – The LHS Athletics community has come together in light of the “Pay-To-Play” announcement to support the Tiger student-athletes that now have to pay $310 per sport. The Loveland Athletic Boosters, a non-profit organization composed of adult volunteers, have been and continue to be one of the biggest advocates for the LHS student-athletes as they are consistently coming up with ways to generate income for the LHS Athletic Department. Money is raised typically by running concessions, fundraising, and Booster Membership fees.

    Recently, the Loveland Athletic Boosters created a Facebook group that is focused on raising money for the pay-to-play fees for LHS student-athletes. Click the article link below to learn about the Loveland Athletic Boosters Facebook group and how you can “Adopt-A-Tiger!”

    Local Facebook Group Fundraises for “Pay-to-Play” LHS Student-Athletes!

    Now that July is here, the Boosters are now preparing for one of their biggest fundraisers of the year, the 21st Annual Athletic Boosters Golf Scramble, which is set to be held on July 27th at O’Bannon Creek Golf Club. There are several different packages that you can grab to support the Tiger athletes that are listed below!

    The Golf Scramble registration, buffet lunch, and practice time on the golf range will start at 11 AM and end at 1 PM. At 1 PM the shotgun will sound kicking off the scramble officially. At 6:45 PM dinner and awards will be held.

    The Annual Golf Scramble will feature course challenges such as the longest drive and the closest to the pin, a Par 3 challenge, a Par 5 challenge, a putting contest on the practice green, a Mulligans sale, and a Hole-In-One Challenge sponsored by Performance Lexus.

    The deadline for registration is Friday, July 17th. To register now click the REGISTRANT INFORMATION tab below!

    2020 Athletic Boosters Annual Golf Scramble

    When
    Monday, July 27th
    Lunch starts at 11:00 AM and the shotgun start will occur at 1 PM
    Dinner and awards will follow immediately after the golf scramble
    Where
      
    O’Bannon Creek Golf Club, 6842 Oakland Rd, Loveland, OH 45140
    Ticket options
    Foursome                       $600.00
    Individual Golfer             $175.00
    Tee or Green Sponsor     $150.00
    Coach                            $100.00 or
    Dinner only                    $45.00
    To learn more about the Loveland Athletic Boosters and the Annual Golf Scramble you can visit their Facebook Page or website at http://lovelandathleticboosters.com/.
  • Local Facebook Group Fundraises for “Pay-to-Play” LHS Student-Athletes!

    Local Facebook Group Fundraises for “Pay-to-Play” LHS Student-Athletes!

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – Loveland has always been known as a community that gives back, and ALWAYS takes care of the youth. Over the past few months many have been fighting for the Loveland School levy because, without the appropriate funds, Tiger student-athletes have to “pay-to-play.”

    Recently two Loveland School levies failed, leaving both Tiger student-athletes and their parents at a stand-still. Now those Tigers wanting to participate in a sport will have to pay $310. This did not sit well with Loveland Tiger advocate, Tori Morrison, so with the approval of the Loveland Athletic Booster Board she created a Facebook group that would help those athletes that could not afford to pay the sports fees.

    “With the recent failure of two school levies, we knew that Pay to Play fees would be increasing this year,” Morrison explained, “In anticipation of that, the Athletic Boosters decided that we needed some way to help the athletes to continue to play. We feel that no tiger should be left out. Fees were previously $105 for all sports except football and lacrosse which were $155. Now all sports will be paying $310 per sport.”
    Morrison attended Loveland Schools from 2nd through 6th grade before she moved with her family to New Richmond where she eventually met her husband and moved back to Loveland when her oldest child entered into 3rd grade.

    “We have had three children graduate from Loveland schools – Ashlei (03), Chelsei (10), and Ben (20). My kids have been involved in soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, football, lacrosse, yearbook, drama, and choir,” Morrison said, “Over the years I have been a team mom for various sports and most recently organized and planned the Homecoming Parade for the last six years. When my son graduated I decided I was ready to become involved in a different way and decided to run for the Loveland Athletic Booster Board.”

    Morrison says that the newly created Facebook Group “Loveland Athletic Boosters” is focusing on raising money for the student-athletes that may not be able to afford the pay-to-play fees.

    “We want to share information and we encourage everyone to spread the word,” Morrison said, “The more people that join the group the more Tigers we can help! We want everyone to get a chance to play regardless of their financial situation. It’s going to be really tough for some families to pay the now $310 pay to play fee. Some athletes won’t be able to play at all and others will be forced to pick one sport where they used to be able to play two or three.” Many, many families have more than one child that will want to participate in a sport.

    Thus far Morrison told us that the entire Loveland Athletic Boosters (LAB) Board is behind the fundraising efforts including, President Jeff Williams, Vice President Rich Myklebust, Treasurer Stephanie Bashardoust, and Secretary Stacey Lund. Soon LAB will be offering Business Memberships which would be a first for the Board.

    I asked Morrison if the new Facebook Group would be holding any fundraising events and she said they are ALWAYS searching for new ideas and ways to raise money. The LAB’s do in fact have some awesome events planned that they hope will bring in a lot of funds for Tiger Student-Athletes.

    Learn more about the annual Golf Outing on July 27 at O’Bannon Creek  Golf Club.

    “Our annual Golf Outing is July 27 at O’Bannon Creek  Golf Club.

    The Membership drive kicks off on July 1 and fall student-athletes will be selling discount cards that will be good at local restaurants and businesses,” Morrison said, “We will also be having like we do every year in January our Tiger Ball. One hundred percent of the money from these events will go towards helping our student-athletes with fees, gear, and anything else they need.” 

    Here at Loveland Magazine we encourage everyone to join the Loveland Athletic Boosters Facebook Group and support the Tiger student-athletes!

    The group added Venmo so that it makes it easier to donate.

    You may also comment on the FB page to adopt a Tiger. To learn more about how you can get involved with helping Loveland’s Student-Athletes compete in sports visit the Loveland Athletic Booster Facebook Page or check their website at www.lovelandathleticboosters.com.