Athletes named 'Athlete of The Month' after stellar winter performances

Winter sports are at their peak, and many athletes are rising to the challenge and competing at the top of their game. From athletes of the month to first place wrestling finishes, the ‘dogs are pushing past mid-season fatigue and stacking wins. 

Girls Basketball

On Jan. 8, the girls basketball team faced an inner-conference matchup against Riverside. They dominated with a 67-28 win. Leading for the team was Michaela Firks, who had a double-double with 20 points, 20 rebounds, and four assists. Kate Copp also added 14 points and six boards. Other scorers included Addi Case with 11, Layla Fulton with 11, Stella Blackburn with seven, and Sophie Layman with four.

This win improved their record to 8-4 overall and 5-2 in the Three Rivers Conference.

Less than a week later, the girls faced Franklin Monroe and took an overwhelming 69-16 win. The team currently has the school record for consecutive games scoring over 60 points, and this game only added to it!

Firks delivered for the ‘dogs once again, scoring 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and eight steals. Fulton had an impressive game, scoring 15 points, seven rebounds, 7 assists, and 10 steals, which earned her a double-double. Copp added 14 points and two rebounds, Case with eight points, Layman with four, Blackburn with 4, Campbell Berner with two, and Aubree Bates with two.

On Jan. 16, the girls took an important conference victory over Troy Christian, 51-36. They opened the first quarter with a 9-5 lead and widened the gap by halftime, leading 23-9.

Firks had yet another dominating game, scoring 17 points, 10 rebounds, and six steals. Layman also added 14 points and 12 rebounds, which gave her a double-double, and she also added five blocks. Other contributors were Fulton with seven points, five rebounds, and three assists, Case with six points, Copp with four, Berner with two, and Blackburn with one. Their record after this win stood at 11-4 (7-2).

However, this winning streak was put to an end in a close conference match against Miami East. The girls lost 51-43. This took their TRC record to 7-3. 

They were led by no other than Firks, who scored 15 points, 12 rebounds, and two assists, which is a strong double-double. Case added 12 points and two rebounds, and Copp scored six points. 

With her stellar performances, Firks was named “January Buffalo Wild Wings Athlete of the Month.” She is currently third in the conference in scoring, second in assists, second in rebound, and fourth in blocks.

Boys Basketball

The boys basketball team took a loss against conference opponent Northridge on Jan. 10. The team lost 86-26 on their home court. By halftime, the score sat at 49-11, and the ‘dogs struggled to find rhythm. Levi Brumbaugh led the team as he scored seven points, added five rebounds, and four assists. Carson Fulton also added seven points. This loss took their record to 3-7 and conference record to 1-6. 

Following their game with Northridge, they played a non-conference game against Brookville, where they fell short again, 48-18. Hunter Fraley finished the night with six points, 11 rebounds, and three steals.

In a much closer game against Riverside, the boys still fell short, 57-45. However, in the third quarter, Milton-Union scored 24 points, which is the highest single quarter total of the season. Brumbaugh led as he scored 20 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, and five steals. Fulton also added a solid 16 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Finally, Fraley helped with nine points and seven boards. 

Wrestling

The wrestling team was able to snag a fourth place (out of 18) finish at the Brookville Invitational. Seth Lowry and Eli Deeter were champions for the ‘dogs. Dalton Guthzeit took second place, Carter Hamann and Sam Milnickel took third, and Jacob Lightner took sixth. Other matches were won by Malachi Brown, Tyler Bosley, Isaac Sowers, Chase Hamann, and Jesse Williamson. 

In the girls tournament held at Northmont, Amelia Moeller placed sixth, and Brooklyn Berkshire had a pin!

In the National Trail Tri-Meet, the team went 1-1, where they fell to Greenville 35-23 before they bounced back with a 46-12 victory over National Trail.

Wrestlers who went 2-0 on the night were Lowry, Chase Hamann, and Moeller. Match winners included Berkshire, Lightner, Lowry, Moeller, Sowers, Guthzeit, Williamson, Izaiah Farmer, Cotton Gambrel, Luke Copp, and brothers Chase and Carter Hammann.

In other wrestling news, Deeter was named “January Buffalo Wild Wings Athlete of the Month.” During the month of January, he has had first place finishes at Brookville and Troy Invitationals and has a 17-3 overall record with 11 total pins.