It wasn’t Alex Swick’s first solo flight but it might have been his most memorable one.

Are you ready for another year of debating competitive balance?

SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP — It began two pitches into the bottom of the first inning.

COLUMBUS — The reasons might have changed but the numbers were remarkably similar when an Ohio High School Athletic Association competitive balance proposal was voted down for a third consecutive year.

BATH TOWNSHIP — Some might call it improbable, but for Wapakoneta it’s just business as usual.

LIMA — When Jim Offenbaker was named Lima Senior High School’s athletic director in July 1999, his experience as an administrator was limited.

On Thursday, the results of the competitive balance proposal being voted on from May 1-15 by high schools across Ohio will be announced by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

LIMA — It was a day for second chances at the Western Buckeye League boys tennis tournament Saturday.

LIMA — At least three of the running backs selected in this year’s NFL draft were described at some point by their teams or in the media as “Eddie George-type” running backs.

Arrowhead Park

My advice for Ohio State football fans is to buy warm clothes. And blankets, too.

The props were familiar for a college football signing – the baseball cap with the school’s name on it, a T-shirt in school colors, the desk and the pen.

They set their goals early. And not just in sports.

ADA — If his workouts for NFL teams went as well as his first football tryout, Zac Dysert can relax about what will happen for him in this week’s NFL draft.

CINCINNATI — Three and a half hours before Ohio State’s spring game kicked off at Paul Brown Stadium, the players were up the street at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame testing their arms against the radar gun there.

COLUMBUS – Ohio State coach Urban Meyer says the Buckeyes will be fed some of the foods Cincinnati is famous for – Skyline chili, Graeter’s ice cream and Montgomery Inn ribs – after their spring football game Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium.

FORT JENNINGS — John VonSossan, the boys basketball coach at Fort Jennings High School since the 1986-87 season, is retiring.

COLUMBUS — They might be the two most memorable words Urban Meyer spoke during his first year as Ohio State’s football coach.

BLUFFTON — When Carlin Carpenter retired as Bluffton University’s football coach 10 years ago, he described himself this way: “I take my job very seriously, but not myself.”

COLUMBUS — There were skeptics out there last year who wondered if a power back like Carlos Hyde could succeed in Urban Meyer’s spread offense.

COLUMBUS — They dreamed the dream and it became real. And for the Titan at the center of that magic moment, real life was even better than dreaming.

COLUMBUS — He had a vision.

COLUMBUS — The trophy was in the arms of 6-foot, 8-inch Demonte Flannigan when Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph walked out of the Value City Arena in their blue blazers and khaki pants an hour and a half after beating Leipsic 87-63 in the Division IV boys basketball state championship game on Saturday.

COLUMBUS — Even before talking about the starting lineup populated by NCAA Division I players, it is obvious Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph is no ordinary Division IV high school boys basketball team.

COLUMBUS — Leipsic’s Zach Kuhlman hardly missed a shot when he scored 24 points in the Vikings’ 61-58 win over Lancaster Fairfield Christian in a Division IV boys basketball state semifinal game on Friday.

 COLUMBUS – Ottawa-Glandorf coach Tyson McGlaughlin challenged the Titans all week in practice leading up to their 61-60 overtime win over Ironton in a semifinal of the Division III boys basketball state tournament on Thursday.

COLUMBUS – The road to the Division III boys basketball state championship game ran right through the lane at one end of the court at the Value City Arena for Ottawa-Glandorf on Thursday.

COLUMBUS – It’s a story that has been replayed year after year in the Midwest Athletic Conference.

LEIPSIC — Eighty-eight years ago players like Bob Hutton, Bill Wagner and Oscar Robinson energized the town of Leipsic by leading the boys basketball team to the 1925 state tournament.

OTTAWA — Even the best teams can use a wake-up call at times.

BOWLING GREEN — Ottawa-Glandorf’s season was dedicated to a second chance.

BOWLING GREEN — Bodies were bouncing off each other in what might have been the most physical boys basketball game Bath has played this season.

BOWLING GREEN — Everything changed. But everything stayed the same.

BOWLING GREEN — It was all about openings when Ottawa-Glandorf beat Lima Central Catholic 60-52 in a Division III boys basketball regional semifinal at Bowling Green State University on Wednesday night.

DELPHOS — Tradition is one of the first things that comes to mind when the subject is Delphos St. John’s basketball.

LIMA — There was much chatter on Twitter and in other corners of the Internet about Lima Central Catholic delivering a message when it got a rematch with Spencerville in the Division III boys basketball district championship game on Saturday night at Lima Senior.

ELIDA — Before their fingerprints were all over the district championship trophy, Delphos St. John’s footprints were all over the lanes on the basketball court at the Elida Fieldhouse.

LIMA – It’s a game for the ages that they keep playing every year.

LIMA – The outcome was inevitable. That became apparent six minutes into Lima Central Catholic’s 66-33 win over Carey in a Divison III boys basketball district semifinal at Lima Senior.

OTTOVILLE — The 25-0 record says it’s been a perfect season so far for Ottoville’s girls basketball team. But even perfect seasons can include dealing with adversity.

LIMA — Sometimes experience pays. And other times it pays off like a slot machine, with bells and sirens going off in every direction.

COLUMBUS — Ohio State’s spring football practice is starting a week earlier than it has in the recent past, which is probably a good thing since OSU fans can’t wait to see what happens next.

PAULDING – It’s a habit Bath can’t wait to break and one it probably can’t afford not to break.

FINDLAY — Many basketball teams go into the postseason looking for a little tournament magic, but few find it.

1 GREG SIMPSON

Who’s the best?