Fastpitch Head Coach Mike Rapp explaining the ground rules to the ump before the start of the Senior Night Game in 2017
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – As the COVID-19 outbreak continues students and teachers will now not be returning back to school until May 4th. So what does that mean for LHS’s athletes?
Here at Loveland Magazine, we have made it our mission to talk to both LHS’s coaches and athletes to see just what they are doing to stay in shape in order to prepare for their potential seasons! This week we chatted with LHS’s Head Women’s Softball Coach, Michael Rapp, and LHS’s Strength Coach, Derek Berry, to see just what their athletes are up to.
Coach Rapp said that although it’s been tough for all of the LHS athletic programs, Strength Coach Derek Barry has really come through with some excellent workouts for the athletes.
Photo of Derek Berry from IGNITION ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE GROUP, LLC
“Our strength coach, Derek Berry, has created some training programs for our athletes,” Rapp said, “He just rolled out an App for the athletes to use on their phones from home!”
Coach Rapp added that although the new workout App that Berry rolled out has been primarily what the Women’s Softball Team has been using to stay in shape, Rapp has also been giving his Lady Tigers a few softball related workouts of his own.
“I told my softball players they could do 100 reps a day (3,000) for April including swings, and band work or our ab routines to stay in shape. Some are throwing with family members and some are doing the program that our Coach Berry sent out. I even promised them that I would do 100 reps a day plus walk the local park,” Rapp added.
Derek Berry, who is the Director of Sports Performance, is head of the LHS weight room. Berry stated that during these times he has been forced to get a little creative, but has received a lot of great feedback on the new workout app he has launched with LHS’s Athletic Director, Brian Conaster.
LHS Fastpitch Softball Coach, Mike Rapp recieved the prestigious 2019 Southwest District; Sportsmanship, Ethic & Integrity Coaches Award.
“We have partnered with a company called Teambuildr that provides an online Athlete Management System. Once the athletes register with their teams, they have full access to any workouts I put on there,” Berry explained, “Some features of the app include videos for all the exercises, a leaderboard for kids to compete with each other, and options to either check off the exercise as completed or how many reps you did. Coaches can then have a master account which shows them the progress of their team. On the app, I have only been releasing bodyweight workouts for the time being, but outside of that, I have been sending coaches two other options for athletes that may have a more advanced setup, which is a dumbbell workout, and a home gym workout,” Berry added.
Strength Coach Berry is apart of a contracted sports performance company called Ignition APG. Ignition APG was ultimately responsible for the partnership with Teambuildr. Ignition APG also offers a similar app to Teambuildr to the public for a small monthly fee.
Berry has also been releasing informative videos on social media that display creative ways to exercise.
“On @lovelandstrength I have been releasing informative videos on how to get creative with limited exercise options, and we’ve been having the kids post time-lapses of their workouts,” Berry explained, “I have also begun a wall sit competition for the month of April. Whoever can hold a wall sit for the longest time receives a prize!”
Thank you to the coaches and athletes that have been sharing their at-home workouts with Loveland Magazine and all of our readers! Stay tuned for the next “What are LHS’s Athletes Doing to Stay in Shape?” segment!
Loveland, Ohio – It was a packed gym Saturday afternoon at Princeton High School filled with many spirited fans rooting on Loveland’s Women’s Basketball Team as they pushed to win their first District Championship. Although the Lady Tigers didn’t pull off the win, the game itself was still both competitive and exciting!
The Lady Tigers took on Mount Notre Dame, who were not only ranked number 1 in Ohio’s Division 1 High School Women’s basketball poll they were also ranked #3 in the nation by MaxPreps, as well as being both undefeated and the reigning Ohio Champs!
Loveland began the 1st quarter focused on shutting down MND’s top scorers and creating opportunities for Jillian Hayes inside the paint. The Tigers managed to achieve their first-quarter goals ending the quarter with a 19-17 lead, a field goal percentage of 40 percent, and they kept MND’s top scorers to single digits.
In the 2nd quarter, the Tigers kicked up their defense allowing MND to score only 7 points. Although MND beat Loveland 7-6 in the 2nd quarter, the Lady Tigers capitalized on their free throws, going 6 for 6. Senior Jillian Hayes led the Tigers at the half in points with 8 followed by Freshman Josie Early who tallied up 6 points. Junior Tess Broermann contributed heavily adding on 4 points, 4 assists, and 1 steal. Senior Kate Garry was the top rebounder at the half with 3 and collected 2 assists.
After the half, both Loveland and MND turned up the heat! The 3rd quarter seemed to be all about the fast break as most of Loveland’s baskets were either scored on a fast break or a v-cut pass to the basket. With 5:33 left on the clock in the 3rd quarter, the Lady Tigers led by 7 points. MND mirrored Loveland’s effort going 42 percent from the 3 point line and 82 percent from the free-throw line. MND outscored Loveland in the 3rd quarter 18-13, but the score did not reflect Loveland’s tenacity as they not only hustled for every loose ball they also capitalized on the defensive end.
Going into the 4th quarter the Loveland Tigers had everything to gain and nothing to lose. Loveland pushed until the very last second of the game but unfortunately did not collect the District title. MND outscored the Tigers 19-10 in the 4th quarter making the final score of the game 61-48.
Loveland fans at the game and at home all agreed that although the Tigers did not win it was still an exciting game and such an honor to see such a great group of women compete. The top performer for Loveland was Jillian Hayes who put up 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Following close behind Hayes was Josie Early who collected 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block. The ECC champs ended their season with an impressive 22-4 record.
Emotions ran high as Loveland lined up to receive their District runner-up medals after the game ended. ECC Coach of the Year Coach Darnell Parker and Loveland’s Athletic Director Brian Conaster handed out the school history-changing medals with a smile and a huge hug to each Lady Tiger. After medals were handed out many of the Lady Tigers ran up to their friends and families to express to them how much they appreciated their support throughout the season. It’s safe to say that the season this particular Loveland High School Women’s Basketball Team had will go down as the best season ever in LHS Women’s Basketball history.
Loveland Magazine would like to congratulate the LHS Women’s Basketball Team and the LHS Athletic Department for having such an incredible year! We could not be more proud of everything everyone on the team and staff accomplished. We are truly touched to have had the opportunity to cover such a great basketball program! We wish the women moving on to the play at the college level the best of luck and of course those that still have a couple more years to play for Coach Parker we can’t wait to see what next year brings. GO TIGERS! #OURWAY!
To be a part of our Tiger Family during this outstanding accomplishment by our amazing student-athletes has been an absolute highlight of my time here in Loveland! While we all know how the final game turned out – I wonder how many of you have heard the story behind the making of that winning headline? It’s a story about goals that were set… by the Lady Tigers… while at Camp Kern… BEFORE the season began.
I’m sure that you can guess their top goal was to win that state title that has eluded them the two previous seasons. That is not the part that has me eager to sit down with the champions and Coach Kelly and learn more.
As a team, the athletes identified what their individual game stats would need to be if they were going to win.
What really caught my attention were the eight goals the team set to achieve leading up to the state victory finale. Eight goals that strategically led to the state title win. As a team, the athletes identified what their individual game stats would need to be if they were going to win. Each team member understood what they needed to do for the team to maintain the consistency of elite performance that would advance the mission of the team.
And they did it.
In a big, awesome, Tiger kinda way.
In fact – those student-athletes achieved EVERY goal they set for the season.
In fact – those student-athletes achieved EVERY goal they set for the season.
I call that amazing… and, an inspiration – I hope to us all.
As we collectively close the book on the year 2017, many of us will look to the New Year with new goals in mind.
As the educational leader of this district – I can assure you that our Tiger Family is keeping our eyes on the target for our own story of success. We are staying focused on the “big three” goals we set for this 2017-18 academic year: Growth, Innovation, and Care.
Just like our State Champion student-athletes – from our building secretaries, to our teachers, from our bus drivers, to our food service professionals, from our administrators to our custodial staff, and with our Board of Education leading the way – we are all focused on the success of the students who we are privileged to serve.
Students who have learned what it takes to be the best of the best.
Please join our Board of Education in recognizing the outstanding achievement of our Lady Tigers 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the Board of Education Business Meeting (Loveland Intermediate School Media Center). The Loveland Athletic Department will induct the entire 2017 Lady Tigers Soccer Team into our Loveland High School Athletic Hall of Fame during halftime of our Tiger basketball games vs. Kings Friday, Dec. 15. And, our Loveland Athletic Boosters are generously going to purchase State Championship rings for our student-athletes and coaches. When the rings come in, we will organize a public ring ceremony event, where all are welcome.
Dr. Amy Crouse is Interim Superintendent of the Loveland City School District
Let us all resolve to be the best that we can be in the New Year. It is the Tiger way.
In service to our Tigers
Champions Tour through Loveland for Loveland Women Division I State Soccer Champs
by Cassie Mattia
LHS Fastpitch Softball Coach, Mike Rapp recieved the prestigious 2019 Southwest District; Sportsmanship, Ethic & Integrity Coaches Award.
![[Photo Album] Tigers fall in close game vs. Mount Notre Dame](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/tigers-district-runners-up.jpg)
Champions Tour through Loveland for Loveland Women Division I State Soccer Champs
