design: Emma Thompson
The hockey team ended its final game against Olentangy Berlin on Feb. 7, bringing its season to an end, with a regular season record of 16-7-2. The team was bumped up to the CHC Red division with the top teams in Central Ohio while winning the Orange Division of the Pioneer Classic in early January.
Two players made an appearance on the CHC’s Red Division final stat leaders. Seniors Austin Knupp and Clayton Headlee were both ranked No. 1 in two separate divisions. Knupp led in goals scored, and Headlee led in assists. The team went through to its second game in the postseason tournament with a bye and played St. Xavier on Feb. 20 and won 7-1.
“The team went to work in the off season and decided we needed to make things happen. I think that we have been able to prove that we deserve the top spot in the district,” Knupp said.
The girls wrestling team had a quad meet on Jan. 21 against Delaware Hayes where it ended with an overall score of 60-18. On Feb. 14, the team were district champions, winning the OHSWCA wrestling tournament by a 100-point margin in a field of 30 schools. To end of the season, sophomore Ayla Castin (121) placed 5th in the state, senior Casey Homorody (160) placed 6th in the state and senior Sara Borton (111) placed 5th in the state. Martin was two time state champion. The whole team paced third.
“I wanted a state title so I knew I would need to push my team and help them learn the skills in order to give us all a fighting chance. This team has helped me learn how to be a good leader and showed me that I am a part of something so incredible that most people will never experience,” senior Taryn Martin said.
The swim team’s regular season is over, and Orange had multiple swimmers qualify for districts at Bowling Green on Feb. 20 including Graham Weidenhamer, Brady Farren, Noah Crowe, and Tuckor Lambert on the boys side and Alex Knodel, Brooke Farren, Kayla Fisher, Emma Logan, Ava Row, Elise Robinson, Eloise Schirtzinger and Joanna Ross on the girls. The 200 yard relay team, freshman, Augusta Ness and junior, Alexander Knodel advanced to the State Championship.
The boys wrestling team had the sectional tournament on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Upper Arlington.
Boys Basketball
On Friday, Feb. 12, the “Pios” as Coach Calo calls them, were at home against conference leading Hilliard Bradley. Earlier this season the boys fell at Bradley by 16 points. Aidan King and Andre Irvin Jr. led the Pioneers with 15 points, Jason Foster added another 14 and Mikey McColum had 11. On Saturday, Feb. 13, the boys went to Hilliard Davidson and lost 73-67. Irvin Jr. had 26 and Foster had 23. The boys finished their regular season at Liberty on the Feb. 19. The team received a bye in the first round of the tournament and played the winner of the Logan vs. Big Walnut game on Feb. 26.
Girls Basketball
On Feb. 1, the girls traveled to Hilliard Davidson for a league matchup. Both teams put up a great fight, and Kayla Delmore made a lay up at the buzzer to secure a win for Orange, 50-49.
On Feb. 2, the girls had a game against Thomas Worthington. The game was very close, as both teams capitalized on offensive zone opportunities. Orange would secure a two point win, the final being 51- 49. In the tournament, the team played No. 1 seed Newark on Feb. 18 and lost.
Boys Bowling
On Feb. 10 the boys faced Westerville North. The Pioneers came out on top against the Warriors 2220 – 1657. Nick Kicas had games of 185 and 209 for a series of 394. Jake Burre led the team again, with a match of 213 and 195 for a match and team high series of 408. Seth Jacobs had games of 174 and 150 for a series of 324. This victory left the boys undefeated in the OCC Buckeye Division. The team played in its sectional tournament on Feb. 19, placed 13th and advanced to districts. At districts, the team placed third and advanced to states.
Girls Bowling
The girls faced Marysville on Feb. 9 in a close fought match . They came out on top against the Monarchs 1725 – 1676. Leading the team, Eve Wicks had games of 198 and 194 for a series of 392. Brisson had games of 122 and 116 for a series of 238. On Feb 10 the girls faced Westerville North. The girls clenched the win against the Warriors 1265 – 1133. Wicks led the team for games of 198 and 147 for a series of 345. Lauryn Deck had games of 159 and 129 for a series of 288. The team played in its sectional tournament on Feb. 17 and placed 17th.
Gymnastics
The team had back-to-back meets to wrap up the regular season on Wednesday, Feb. 10 and Thursday, Feb. 11 against Thomas Worthington and Berlin respectively. The team placed second at Thomas and third at Berlin. The team competed in the district tournament on Feb. 27.
