• Next Level

    By By Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
    DeSales running back Warren Ball was among the central Ohio high school football players who signed Feb. 1 to play at Ohio State under first-year coach Urban Meyer.

    College Commitments

    ThisWeekSPORTS.com has compiled a list of central Ohio athletes who have either verbally committed or signed a letter of intent to continue their careers at the college level.

  • Gymnastics

    By Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
    Orange junior Kelli Taylor stretches with her teammates before a meet Jan. 28 at Central Ohio Gymnastics and Cheer. Taylor, who has Down syndrome, is in her first season with the Pioneers gymnastics team.

    Taylor welcome addition to Orange

    Sharon Taylor had reservations about her daughter, Kelli, joining the Olentangy Orange High School gymnastics team.

  • Basketball

    By Eric George/ThisWeek
    Referee Vera Johnson makes sure Pickerington High School Central fans Harold Sullivan (left) and Tre Nelson keep their comments positive during a game break Jan. 27 at Gahanna.

    Officials meticulous about jobs they love

    Ashley Packer and Keith Johnson became basketball officials to give back to the game they’ve loved almost their entire lives.

  • Whetstone Roundup

    By Paul Vernon/ThisWeek
    Whetstone's Mac Conkling (back) tries to gain control of Delaware's Wyatt Davis in a match at 120 pounds earlier this season. Conkling has returned to competition after a car accident in which he was injured.

    Wrestler rebounds from accident

    Mac Conkling of the Whetstone High School wrestling team couldn’t be happier that his hopes of winning a City League championship and advancing to the Division I district tournament for the first time are alive and well.

  • Commentary

    By Jeffrey Phelps/Associated Press
    New York Giants' Chase Blackburn runs back a fumble recovery during the second half of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 15, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. The Giants won 37-20.

    Marysville grad answers the call

    As Chase Blackburn has proven over the past few months, waiting really can pay off when it comes to keeping an ambition alive.

The Sports Doc

Athletes & Injury Rehabilitation: Issues with Pain Pills and Heroin Usage

Athletes and injuries are nothing new, but did you know that the ways in which athletes recover from injuries today — and the potential problems that often follow after being prescribed pain pills — is very new, and quite alarming.

Community Sports Spotlight

A submitted list highlighting the accomplishments of central Ohio's community and youth sports teams.

BUY PHOTOS

 

SPECIAL SECTIONS

For the year-round coverage of central Ohio high school football and soccer visit one of these special sections at ThisWeekSPORTS.com:

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HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER

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Top Stories

  • Wrestling

    Central District releases sectional seeds, sites

    The Central District released the results of the team seed online voting, as well as the draw meeting that was held Jan. 29.

    MORE
  • Pickerington Central

    Attorney says football star denies rape allegations

    A day after his client was charged with rape, an attorney for Roger Lewis Jr. said the Pickerington High School Central senior is innocent and will fight the allegations.

    MORE
  • Watterson Roundup

    Girls swim to sixth consecutive CCL title

    The Watterson High School girls swimming and diving team felt some pressure to keep its streak of CCL championships alive before competing in the league meet on Jan. 28 at St. Charles.

    MORE
  • Swimming & Diving

    Jerome boys team captures OCC title

    The Dublin Jerome High School boys swimming and diving team is hoping the momentum it gained by winning the OCC-Cardinal Division championship carries over to the Division I sectional meet.

    MORE
  • Swimming & Diving

    Gahanna girls win league title

    At the conclusion of the OCC-Ohio Division meet Jan. 28 at Thomas Worthington, members of the Gahanna Lincoln High School girls swimming and diving team huddled together on the side of the pool as meet officials added up the team points to determine the champion.

    MORE
  • Swimming & Diving

    New Albany sweeps OCC titles

    The New Albany High School swimming and diving teams will be leaving their comfort zone for the Division I sectional meet Feb. 11 at Thomas Worthington.

    MORE
  • Swimming & Diving

    Liberty girls capture OCC-Cardinal title

    Olentangy Liberty High School girls swimming and diving coach Laurie Karr made her team train so hard during the three weeks leading up to the OCC-Cardinal Division meet that she wondered if her athletes would have the energy to challenge for the title.

    MORE
  • Swimming & Diving

    North boys again earn league title

    Some high school swimming and diving teams treat their league meet as preparation for the postseason, at least in part.

    MORE
  • Girls Basketball

    Johnson-Johnson tandem dependable for Tigers

    Starting with their last names and extending directly to the basketball court, the similarities between Phylicia and Taylor Johnson of the Pickerington High School Central girls basketball team are almost impossible to overlook.

    MORE
  • Hockey

    Liberty aiming to defend Blue Jackets Cup title

    With hopes of winning a third consecutive regular-season league championship all but dashed, the Olentangy Liberty High School hockey team will look for some late-season magic with an eye on defending its Blue Jackets Cup title.

    MORE
  • Wrestling

    Olentangy, Liberty primed for duel

    A year ago, the Olentangy High School wrestling team beat Olentangy Liberty 42-23 in a key OCC-Cardinal Division match en route to winning its first league title since 2008.

    MORE
  • Wrestling

    New Albany’s Ferguson making most of season

    New Albany High School wrestler Mac Ferguson is making the most of his senior season.

    MORE

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