COLUMBUS — A significant step in restarting high school sports in Ohio was taken Thursday, as Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced training is permitted to resume May 26.
Husted said all sports, including contact sports such as football and basketball, will be allowed to conduct training sessions at their schools. Until now during the coronavirus pandemic, the Ohio Department of Health had prohibited use of school buildings until June 30.
That will change with Thursday’s announcement.
“Use of these facilities is up to the local school district and subject to their rules of operation as well,” Husted said. “For all of the student-athletes out there, I know you are anxious for more certainty about your future. We will get back to you on those issues as soon as we can, working in conjunction with the athletic association. For now, there’s a reason for optimism, so let the training begin.”
Husted, who cited a joint effort between the state government and Ohio High School Athletic Association, stressed that no scrimmages or competitions are permitted for contact sports. Head to this story on LimaScores.com to download an outline of full mandatory and recommended practices for athletic training.
“So long as safety protocols are followed, this includes but are not limited to weight training, agility, skills and other types of conditioning you would use to prepare for those sports,” Husted said.
Husted also announced that bowling alleys, batting cages and miniature golf are allowed to open Tuesday with virus precautions, along with gyms, fitness centers and recreation centers.
Colleges
Wrestling
Ohio Northern trio named All-America
ADA — Senior Seth Transue, junior Cash Thompson and freshman Chase Sumner, an Ada graduate, have been named All-America in Wrestling for 2020 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
Transue was a first team honoree, while Thompson and Sumner received third team honors.
Normally, the top eight finishers in each event earn All-America honors by the NCAA.
As this year’s NCAA III Wrestling Championships were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NWCA is giving its own All-America honors to all athletes that qualified for the championships in March.
The top eight seeds in each of the 10 weight classes were given first team honors, wrestlers who received votes in the seeding process were honored as second team selections and the remaining wrestlers were accorded third team kudos.
Transue won the 133-pound weight class at the NCAA III Central Regional Wrestling Championships this winter and was seeded seventh at the NCAA III Championships.
He was named the Central Regional Championships Most Valuable Wrestler.
He was 43-2 on the season and ended his career tied for 16th all-time in ONU history with a 96-41 career record.
Thompson was 29-7 on the season at 197 pounds and qualified for the NCAA Championships with a second place finish at the Central Regional Championships.
Sumner was a late addition to the NCAA Championships after finishing fourth at the 149-pound weight class at the Central Regional Championships.
He received a bid just a few days prior to the championships after a Central Regional qualifier from his 149-pound weight class became injured and could not compete.
Sumner ended his rookie campaign with a 37-6 record. His 37 wins are the second-most by a freshman in ONU history.
Bluffton athletes receive HCAC honor
CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference has announced the spring honorees for Tom Bohlsen Academic All-HCAC. Academic all-conference selections have at least a cumulative 3.5 GPA and are varsity athletes.
The cumulative GPA is the student-athletes GPA at the end of the semester preceding the end of the winter season. The student-athlete must have completed the equivalent of a full academic year and must be a full-time enrolled student at the institution to be eligible for the Academic All-Conference award.
The award is named after Tom Bohlsen, who served as the HCAC’s first commissioner from 1998 to 2008.
The following Bluffton University baseball players were recognized following the 2019-20 season: Adam Duncan, Parker Reynolds, Jacob Latkofsky, Garrett O’Reilly, Lenny Winiarski, Nathan Campolo, Spencer Garrison and Wayne Frey.
Outdoor track and field athletes recognized were Dakota Frost, Justin Kauffman, Alexis Cash, Arie Cox, Waynesfield-Goshen graduate Bailie Barrington, Remi Bower, Stephanie Fox and Pandora-Gilboa grad Kayla Ferguson.
Softball athletes honored were Megan Hill, Courtney Jasinski, Caylin Morstadt, Brianna Baker, Crestview grad Sydney Bowen, Taylor Steinke, Tabatha Koetter, St. Marys grad Taylor Shimp.
Men’s golfer Julian LaVallee was recognized.
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