No genders. No separation. Just simple competition. And the best at their crafts. Support your school. Support your sport. Support your region. Support your program. Support your alma mater. Support your favorite. Support your opinion. Vote now for the second annual Bucknuts/JJHuddle Ohio HS Winter Sports Athlete & Team of the Year Awards. And vote as many times as you like. It’s a competition. The winner will receive an award and voting will conclude at noon on April 29.
The burning questions are: Can Franklin’s Luke Kennard repeat? Who will win their first team award? Here are the nominees…
2015 Nominees
*Luke Kennard, Franklin Boys Basketball (Vote Now)
Senior and Duke recruit capped his high school career with a 41-point, nine-rebound performance in a 77-76 OT loss to Dunbar in the D-I regional finals. Also had 31 points and nine rebounds in a 87-54 regional semi win over Bellefontaine. Besides that? Was also named a two-time Ohio AP Mr. Basketball winner. Finishes his career as the No. 2 all-time leading scorer in OHSAA history (2,977 points). Averaged 38.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.2 steals this season. Named MVP of famous Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach and is a MCDonald’s All-American (will play in Chicago April 1).
*Beau Justice, Peebles Boys Basketball (Vote Now)
Senior averaged 33.6 points per game this season en route to becoming the school’s and the Southern Hills Athletic Conference’s all-time leading scorer (2,373). That tally also ranks him 16th in Ohio HS history. West Liberty (WV) commit scored a school-record 51 points earlier this season in a win over Leesburg Fairfield. Also set a school record for points in a season with 839. In an 83-53 D-IV district semifinal win over Waterford, Justice was 15-for-15 from the field, 7-for-7 from the FT line and 3-for-3 from 3-point range. He finished with 40 points. Followed that by making 27 FTs and scoring 39 points in a district final win over Eastern. Is also his school’s all-time leader in FTs made (473) and steals (284) and had 468 career rebounds and 309 career assists. A two-time SHAC Player of the Year (as a senior and junior), Justice averaged 30 ppg as a junior and 24 ppg as a sophomore.
*Alecia Farina, Brecksville-Broadview Heights Gymnastics (Vote Now)
Junior scored 38.775 all-around points and tied the balance beam state record en route to finishing first at the state championships with the highest all-around state tournament tally since 1990. Earlier in the season, Farina recorded the first perfect 10 in OHSAA history on the vault. She then scored two more perfect 10s before the season was over. Was also state champ on the beam, vault and floor and state runner-up on the bars.
*Kollin Moore, Norwayne Wrestling (Vote Now)
Senior and Ohio State recruit finished undefeated (51-0) and became his school’s first state champion with a win in the D-III 182 state title. Had three pins and a tech fall (in final) at state tourney. Finished ranked No. 6 nationally.
*Kevin Vough, Elyria Wrestling (Vote Now)
Sophomore had a dominating season. Finished 43-0 and won D-I state title at 285 with a :38 pin in the state final. Finished ranked No. 5 Nationally. Why is that important? Other than obvious reasons, of the nation’s Top 20 wrestlers, all are seniors or juniors except for Vough. Also won the school’s first Ironman title.
*Cam Kelly, Bellbrook Wrestling (Vote Now)
Senior and Ohio University recruit finished undefeated (40-0), became a four-time finalist and became his school’s first two-time champion when he captured the D-II 132 title. Finished ranked No. 8 nationally.
*Carlton Bragg, Villa Angela-St. Joseph Boys Basketball (Vote Now)
Senior and Kansas recruit led the Vikings to the D-III state title a year after scoring his 1,000th point in a state final loss. Also named a McDonald’s All-American and will play in Chicago on April 1. One of the best players ever from one of Ohio’s best programs ever.
*Kaayla McIntyre, Toledo Notre Dame Basketball
(Vote Now)
Had two double-doubles in the state tournament with 23 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two assists in a 61-48 state semi win over Solon and 13 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in a 44-38 state final loss to Lakota West. Huge reason the Eagles won four straight TRAC and regional titles and advanced to four straight state tournaments. Averaged 18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds this season. Finished career with 1,397 points and 1,073 rebounds.
*Claire Schuermann, Alter Swimming & Diving (Vote Now)
Junior defended her D-II state diving title. Also claimed back-to-back Southwest Ohio Coaches Classic titles and set a new female record with a score of 497.20.
*Danika Hickey, Bryan Bowling (Vote Now)
Freshman won the D-II state bowling title in record fashion win she bowled the state tourney’s top three-game series score ever (678). Hickey had games of 179, 235 and 264. That was also a school record. First team All-NWOAL.
The winner receives a framed commemorative award.
2015 Nominees
*Elyria Wrestling (Vote Now)
The Pioneers recorded the program’s best season ever. And it’s one of note. At the Northeast Ohio Conference Tournament, Elyria won its first 25 matches and had pins in 10 of its first 11. The Pioneers had 12 semifinalists. Elyria eventually qualified a school-record eight wrestlers to the state tourney and had four district champs. The Pioneers finished D-I state runner-up with a school record 97 points for their highest finish at state since winning the title in 1973. Elyria had two individual champs, both of which return along with four other placers.
*Brecksville-Broadview Heights Gymnastics (Vote Now)
The Bees won all four events en route to their 12th consecutive state title (and 15th overall).
*Alter Girls Basketball (Vote Now)
The Knights became the first team in state history to finish 30-0 with a 57-42 win over Toledo Rogers in the D-II state final. The 15-point margin of victory was Alter’s closest in the postseason. The Knights beat seven teams that were ranked in the Division I Top 10 during the season, including D-I state champion Lakota West. The Knights finished ranked No. 12 in the nation according to USA Today. They were also the OGBR JJHuddle and AP state poll champs.
*Tri-Village Boys Basketball (Vote Now)
The Patriots won the program’s first state championship and became the first boys school in state history to finish 30-0 with a 48-46 win over Harvest Prep in the D-IV state final. The Patriots are 82-3 the last three years with three straight district and two straight regional titles. T-V was the National Guard JJHuddle and AP state poll champs.
*Defiance Boys Basketball (Vote Now)
The Bulldogs completed a rare trifecta when they won the program’s first basketball state title to go with previous state baseball and football crowns. Defiance beat Cleveland Central Catholic 49-45 in OT in the D-II final. It was the Bulldogs first appearance at state since 1940. Defiance also had an impressive 46-45 win over Dayton Dunbar in the state semis. The Bulldogs finish 27-2.
*Coldwater Boys & Girls Bowling (Vote Now)
The Cavaliers boys and girls program’s did something for the second time this season that no other school has ever done once – they both won D-II state titles. The championships also give each program three, which is also the most by any programs in state history. The Cavs swept both titles in 2012 as well.
*Fort Loramie Girls Basketball (Vote Now)
Despite losing eight seniors, including the school’s all-time leading scorer, from last year’s state semifinalist team, the Redskins reloaded, regrouped and returned to Columbus where they won the program’s second state title in three years with a 55-48 win over Waterford in the D-IV final. Loramie beat No. 1 ranked Berlin Hiland 45-36 in the state semis. Combined Waterford and Hiland shot 6-for-46 from 3 against Loramie. The Redskins also won their fifth regional title in six years. Loramie also wont he D-IV volleyball state title. Loramie finishes 26-4.
*Versailles Girls Basketball (Vote Now)
After losing nine seniors from last year’s D-III state runner-up squad, the Tigers rallied to return to the state tournament and win the program’s second state title with a 49-46 win over Ottawa-Glandorf in the state final. Versailles beat No. 1 and previously undefeated Chippewa 54-43 in the state semis. Versailles finishes 26-4.
*Lakota West Girls Basketball (Vote Now)
The Firebirds won the program’s first state title in their third trip to the state tournament with a 44-38 victory over Toledo Notre Dame in the D-I final. Lakota West advanced to the championship with a 53-50 win over Newark in the state semis. Finished regular season ranked No. 1 in the final OGBR JJH state poll. Ranked 9th in final AP state poll. The Firebirds finish 28-2.
*Wayne Boys Basketball (Vote Now)
The Warriors won the school’s first boys basketball state championship with a 65-57 win over No. 1 ranked Westerville South in the D-I state final. Wayne, which opened the season No. 1 and stayed there a good part of it, beat St. Edward 57-51 in the state semifinals. That victory avenged a loss to the Eagles in the D-I state football final. During the course of the season, Wayne beat then national No. 1 Findlay Prep (NV) and had other impressive victories over regional finalist Springfield (three times), Centerville (twice), Cleveland Central Catholic and Gahanna Lincoln. Wayne finishes 26-4.
The winning school receives a framed commemorative award and additional awards for team members.