Central Ohio High School Sports Awards: ThisWeek announces Winter Coaches of the Year
Postseason success was the name of the game for ThisWeek’s Winter Coaches of the Year.
An overall Coach of the Year will be announced during the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards, presented by Encova Insurance and in partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine and Raising Cane’s. The event will be held June 15 at the Ohio Theatre.
To read bios of athlete honorees, go to dispatch.com/sports/central-ohio-high-school-sports-awards.
Shawn Andrews, Marysville
Girls wrestling
In the sport’s three seasons of holding a state tournament, Andrews has developed the Monarchs into one of Ohio’s top programs.
He helped lead Marysville to a second-place finish (96) in this season’s state individual tournament behind Harrison (111). Junior Cali Leng placed second at 120 pounds to cap a 32-1 season, and junior Aubrey Reese placed second at 155 to finish 25-3.
Andrews also helped the Monarchs finish second in the inaugural state duals, as they lost to Olentangy Orange 42-32 in the final.
Marysville captured the state title in 2021 under Andrews, who also played a role in helping the sport become sanctioned by the OHSAA beginning next season.
“He’s definitely been a critical part of us establishing a girls program here,” athletics director Joey Day said. “He really kicked that off from the ground up about four years ago and really recruited and pushed for us to get girls involved while also maintaining the boys side of things. It’s definitely been a lot of hard work and a huge commitment and investment on his end to make it happen.”
Andrews completed his 15th season as boys wrestling coach.
Past honorees
2021: Josh Lamb and Kevin Rieman, Delaware Hayes; 2020: Brian Nicola and Vanessa Oswalt, Olentangy Orange
Richie Beard, Dublin Jerome
Boys basketball
Coming off an 11-13 record in 2019-20 and a 9-14 mark in 2020-21, Beard led a bounce-back season for the Celtics.
Jerome reached a Division I district final for the first time since 2015-16, losing to Westerville South 71-64 in double overtime to finish 21-5 overall.
The Celtics went 10-0 in the OCC-Cardinal Division to capture their first league title since 2008 and finish league play unbeaten for the first time.
Beard, who completed his fifth season, was named district and league Coach of the Year.
“Coach Beard gave it all this year and showed everybody what he can really do,” said junior Ryan Nutter, who was named league Player of the Year and second-team all-district after leading a balanced attack by averaging 11.6 points. “He didn’t hold back, and he really gave us everything he has. You could tell that we really loved each other and he loved us. ... He’s a big fundamental guy, and he’s always making sure I’m getting better and getting shots up.
“He’s always hard on me, but it’s in a good way.”
Past honorees
2021: Kevin Martin, Westerville Central; 2020: Martin; 2019: Greg Nossaman, Olentangy Liberty; 2018: Humphrey Simmons, Beechcroft
Jen Hedrick, Olentangy Berlin
Gymnastics
Hedrick has led the Bears to three consecutive team state meets, including their best effort this season.
Berlin had its highest finish and score at state, tying Rocky River Magnificat for sixth (142.6) of 12 teams behind champion Brecksville-Broadview Heights (147.5).
“One of the things about Jen is she has involved so many girls in the program and also maintained a high level with her top gymnastics,” athletics director John Betz said. “One of the hardest things is being able to manage a larger group when you can only have 10 participating at the highest level. She has upward of 30 girls, and she has done a great job with them.”
The Bears scored a program-high 146.025 to win district with the highest score since DeSales had a 146.275 in 2002. It was their second consecutive district championship.
Berlin also won its third consecutive league title, finishing first in the OCC-Cardinal with a 12-0 record and 28 points.
“The girls have invested a lot of time into the sport, and Jen gets the most from them and has built a great program,” Betz said. “She has developed them not only as gymnasts but as young ladies as well.”
Past honorees
2021: Kristen Willms, Dublin Coffman, Jerome and Scioto; 2020: Hedrick; 2019: Wilms; 2018: Misty Lloyd-Matthews, Olentangy
Collin Palmer, DeSales
Boys wrestling
In his third full season, Palmer led the Stallions to a fifth-place finish in the Division II state tournament – a run highlighted by the program’s first individual state champion in 17 years and first CCL team title since 2009.
Junior David McClelland won the 132-pound title, and sophomore Max Shulaw finished second at 215. DeSales’ seven state qualifiers were a program record.
A four-time state champion in high school, Palmer went 147-4 at Lakewood St. Edward and won the 112-pound state title as a freshman in 2006 before finishing first at 125 as a sophomore, 135 as a junior and 140 as a senior. He signed with Ohio State but injuries cut his career short.
Palmer also runs the CP Wrestling Club, an organization that includes several of the area’s top competitors.
“Coach Palmer has been my coach for 10-plus years. No one has ever believed in me more than him,” McClelland said. “He is very goofy off the mat, but when it is time to get to work he flips the switch. He is very invested in getting us as a team to the top level. He is truly family, and I wouldn’t be near where I am now without him.”
Past honorees
2021: Chance Van Gundy, Dublin Coffman; 2020: Josh Lamb and Kevin Rieman, Delaware Hayes; 2019: Van Gundy; 2018: Mark Marinelli, Olentangy Liberty
Rodney Palmer, Olentangy Orange
Boys bowling
Palmer led the Pioneers to their second consecutive Division I state tournament, and they placed higher and had a better score than in 2021.
The Pioneers finished 12th (3,254) of 16 teams in the qualifying round behind first-place Macedonia Nordonia (3,739), a season after placing 15th (2,979) in their first state appearance since 2015.
“Rodney has done a great job with the bowling program overall and helped to build the program to where it has continued success,” athletics director Brett Diehl said. “Not only did the team go to back-to-back-state tournaments, but they were runners-up at district this year.”
The Pioneers were second (4,229) behind Marion Harding (4,266) at district and sixth (4,003) behind champion Harding (4,360) at sectional.
In the COHSBC-A, Orange was third (11-2) behind co-champions Big Walnut and Westerville Central (12-1).
“Rodney builds strong relationships with the kids and puts them in position to be successful,” Diehl said. “He is good at making bowlers better no matter their skill levels.”
Past honorees
2021: John Thompson, Hilliard Bradley; 2020: Miranda Singer, Gahanna Lincoln; 2019: Julie Wells, Westerville Central; 2018: Wells
Tim Pennington, Olentangy Berlin
Hockey
Pennington led the Bears to their best season and their first Blue Jackets Cup title.
Berlin rallied to defeat Olentangy Liberty 4-3 in overtime to win the Blue Jackets Cup. However, the third-seeded Bears were upset by fourth-seeded St. Charles 6-2 in a district quarterfinal to finish 27-5-1 overall.
It was the Bears’ most wins in a season, topping a 21-10 finish in their second season in 2019-20.
“Tim has an uncanny knack of getting the best out of our kids,” Betz said. “He knows there’s a fine line in hockey between discipline and free flowing, and he manages that as well as anyone.”
Pennington knew he had a strong group returning so he petitioned to have the Bears moved from the mid-tier CHC-White to the top-tier CHC-Red, where Berlin finished third (25, 12-3-1) behind Liberty (30, 15-1) and Upper Arlington (26, 13-3).
“When I started the program, I went after one coach and that was Tim,” Betz said. “I knew he was the one to take us to high levels. He had a great group of kids, and they jelled together. It’s fun to sit down and talk not only about hockey but life and making the kids as well-rounded as we can.”
Past honorees
2021: Hamish Baird, Upper Arlington; 2020: Brett Howden, UA; 2019: Pat Murphy, Dublin Jerome; 2018: Murphy
Jack Purtell, Reynoldsburg
Girls basketball
Of the starting five for the Raiders during their 63-56 overtime win over Mason in the Division I state championship game, three began their prep careers at other schools.
One of those move-ins, senior Mya Perry, credited the program’s welcoming attitude as being among the reasons for its success.
“(Purtell) putting in so much confidence when it comes to me and my team, he really developed me by letting me step out of my box and what I’m good at,” Perry said. “I don’t know where I would be at without ‘Coach P.’ I thank him for everything and just letting me be the best player I can be.”
The Raiders also made state tournament appearances under Purtell in 2010, ’12 and ’16, losing in semifinals each season.
Reynoldsburg went 26-2 this winter and has gone 388-115 in 20 seasons under Purtell, who earned his 500th career win Feb. 7 with an 82-35 victory over Lancaster.
The Raiders closed the season on a 17-game winning streak that included a 56-47 win over Dublin Coffman in a regional final, avenging a loss to the Shamrocks in a 2021 regional semifinal. They won the OCC-Buckeye title at 10-0 and didn’t lose to a team from Ohio.
Past honorees
2021: Adam Banks, Dublin Coffman; 2020: Mark Chapman, Canal Winchester; 2019: Will McKinney, Africentric; 2018: Johnathan Hedgepeth, Pickerington Central
Jeff Riegler, Gahanna Lincoln
Girls swimming and diving
Named the Coach of the Year in both the Central District and the state, Riegler also earned the honor in his sport from ThisWeek.
Riegler, who has doubled as the boys and girls coach at Gahanna since the 2014-15 season, guided the girls to fifth place in the Division I state meet after they were 14th a season ago.
Included in that state finish was the champion 200-yard medley relay of seniors Kendall Hitler and Sami Kiss, junior Marie Belli and freshman Aubrey Briseno. They won in 1 minute, 43.47 seconds for the program’s first state title since Maycey Vieta won in diving in 2017.
The Lions also saw Belli place in two events, Kiss reach the podium in one event and both the 200 free relay and 400 free relay finish among the top eight after having three podium finishes in 2021.
They had nine athletes at state overall.
“Coach Riegler is very deserving of this award,” athletics director Kathryn Harris said. “It speaks to what he does day in and day out that people don’t see, to support and prepare our student-athletes. He always does what’s best for them to be successful. We’re very proud of him and our swim and diving program.”
Past honorees
2021: Dave Wharton, New Albany; 2020: Steven VonSchriltz, Dublin Coffman; 2019: Brian Botzman, Columbus School for Girls; 2018: VonSchriltz
J.J. Spangler, Dublin Jerome
Boys swimming and diving
In his two year tenure, Spangler kept Jerome performing at a high level.
This winter, he guided the Celtics to a third-place finish (181.5) in the Division I state meet behind champion Beavercreek (211.5). Jerome’s previous best finish was seventh in 2019.
He also guided Jerome to a district title, although he recently announced that he was stepping down as boys and girls coach.
“He set the standard last year with how practice was going to work and how we were going to do things,” said senior Carson Smith, who helped lead Jerome at state this season by placing third in the 500 free (4:31.48) and fifth in the 200 free (1:39.88). “With his leadership, everyone on the team knew what we wanted to get done this year and we’re all very happy with it. Obviously, we would have liked to do a little bit better at state. He also handled that very well and he made sure we realized what we did this year was incredible for our program.”
Spangler also guided the girls team to a fourth-place finish (160) at state this year behind champion New Albany (247) for its best finish since 2009, when it placed 10th.
Past honorees
2021: Mike de Bear, Upper Arlington; 2020: de Bear; 2019: Craig Yakscoe, Columbus Academy; 2018: Patrick Johnston, Dublin Jerome
Michael Walter, Jonathan Alder
Girls bowling
Since the OHSAA began sanctioning bowling in 2007, Jonathan Alder has been one of central Ohio’s most regular attendees at state.
The Pioneers made it to the Division II state tournament each year from 2015-19, placing seventh in 2017, and then moved up to Division I and finished 11th in 2021.
This year, Jonathan Alder rolled a 3,656 at sectional to win ahead of two-time defending state champion Gahanna Lincoln (3,612) before rolling a 3,821 at district to finish as runner-up to the Lions (3,916).
The Pioneers then were eighth during the qualifying round at state to advance to the championship round for the second time. Despite being the lowest seed, Jonathan Alder made it to the title match, where it lost 3-2 to Hamilton.
The Pioneers also won the CBC-Kenton Trail Division at 16-0.
“Mike dedicated a lot of time and the girls really dedicated a lot of time,” said Rusty Walter, who is the Pioneers’ boys coach and Michael’s brother. “Mike is a cool character. He’s really calm and really works well with the girls. He did really well with the girls and coaches them up.”
Past honorees
2021: Matt Hamilton, Worthington Christian; 2020: Yvonne Quiero, Gahanna Lincoln; 2019: Scott Morrison, Big Walnut; 2018: Kelly Ferguson, Gahanna
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: ThisWeek reveals Winter Coaches of the Year for 2021-22
