Story and photos by Jim Freeman

Railroaders combine an effective passing attack, four takeaways and determined fourth-down execution to earn their second consecutive victory

BRADFORD — Winning football may once again be taking root in Bradford.

After enduring a winless season a year ago, the Railroaders earned their second consecutive victory Friday night, defeating a determined Mississinawa Valley 34–12 with a performance that combined sustained offensive drives, an increasingly effective passing game and four forced turnovers.

The victory moved Bradford to 2–1 and gave the Railroaders a winning record for the first time since 2023.

For Bradford coach Bill Trevino, the significance of the turnaround extends well beyond his own satisfaction.

“It means more to those kids than it does to me,” Trevino said. “I’m from here. I love this town. This orange and black means a lot to me. I played here.”

Bradford established the tone by taking the opening possession and methodically driving down the field. The Railroaders found early success through the air, converting key downs with timely completions before finishing the drive on the ground for a 6–0 lead.

Mississinawa Valley responded with an extended possession of its own. The Blackhawks moved primarily on the ground and eventually punched the ball across the goal line, tying the game at 6–6.

Both teams controlled the ball so effectively that each had only one possession during the opening quarter.

The photographs from the night told the same story as the action on the field: nothing came easily for either team. Nearly every yard was contested, runners were met by multiple defenders and receivers had to fight through contact for additional yardage. Regardless of the final margin, both teams made the other work for everything it gained.

Bradford regained the lead with another long drive, this time leaning more heavily on its running game. The Railroaders strung together three consecutive runs of approximately 10 yards before a holding penalty threatened to derail the possession.

They recovered by converting third-and-11 on a quarterback keeper and later faced fourth-and-five. After initially appearing ready to attempt a field goal, Bradford called timeout, kept its offense on the field and converted with a pass.

The conversion set up first-and-goal from the 5-yard line, and Hurley Spurgeon finished the drive with a touchdown run. The conversion attempt failed, leaving Bradford ahead 12–6.

The final minutes of the first half brought a rapid succession of turnovers.

Mississinawa Valley fumbled on the first play of its ensuing possession, but the Blackhawks defense answered by intercepting Bradford on the following play. The Railroaders’ defense then created another opportunity by stripping the Blackhawks quarterback and recovering the fumble deep in Mississinawa Valley territory.

Bradford overcame a false start near the goal line and scored on a quarterback keeper as time expired. DeShawn Keels entered at quarterback for the conversion and ran straight up the middle, sending the Railroaders into halftime with a 20–6 advantage.

Mississinawa Valley received the second-half kickoff needing a productive drive to restore its momentum. After opening with two unsuccessful passes, the Blackhawks converted third-and-10 through the air. They later converted another fourth down on a quarterback keeper, but the drive ended with another fumble recovered by Bradford.

The Railroaders moved inside the Mississinawa Valley 10 but were stopped on fourth down.

That defensive stand gave the Blackhawks renewed life. Facing fourth-and-one deep in their own territory, junior fullback Colton Hiestand broke through the Bradford defense and raced all the way to the end zone for the game’s most explosive play.

The touchdown cut Bradford’s lead to 20–12 and brought the Blackhawks back within one possession. The Railroaders intercepted the two-point attempt, and offsetting unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties were assessed following a confrontation at the end of the play.

With the game again within one possession, Bradford showed the resilience Trevino has been working to instill in the program.

“We’re never going to quit,” Trevino said. “I don’t care how big the obstacles are or who we’re playing.”

The Railroaders began moving the ball again, although penalties continued to create obstacles. On one broken pass play, the Bradford quarterback scrambled to buy time before completing a pass to a receiver who broke several tackles and reached the end zone. A holding penalty wiped away the touchdown, and Bradford carried its 20–12 advantage into the fourth quarter.

The passing game continued to answer whenever the Railroaders needed it most.

Bradford converted fourth-and-four through the air early in the final period. Later, after being dropped for a significant loss and facing fourth-and-long, the Railroaders completed another pass for just enough yardage to earn first-and-goal.

Spurgeon finished the possession with a 1-yard touchdown run, and the extra point extended Bradford’s lead to 27–12.

“Fourth down was gigantic tonight,” Trevino said. “That’s the pressure situation. That’s on the quarterback and the guys running good routes and just grinding stuff out. We rep this stuff nonstop.”

Bradford’s passing attack proved to be one of the most encouraging parts of the victory. The Railroaders did more than simply complete passes. Their receivers repeatedly fought through contact, broke tackles and gained additional yardage after the catch.

That success allowed Bradford to remain balanced and prevented Mississinawa Valley from concentrating solely on stopping the run. When the Railroaders faced their greatest pressure, they trusted their passing game and consistently delivered.

The performance was especially impressive considering Bradford was unable to conduct a full-contact practice during a week affected by heat restrictions.

“I didn’t know how the kids would respond, but they were hungry,” Trevino said. “They knew what was at stake tonight, and they buckled down.”

Bradford’s defense helped finish the job. Senior quarterback and safety Raiden Wombold intercepted a pass with 4:47 remaining, giving the Railroaders their fourth takeaway of the night.

Bradford then returned to the ground, running the ball and draining the clock. On third-and-two with just over two minutes remaining, Wombold broke free for the final touchdown. The extra point produced the 34–12 final margin.

Trevino credited Bradford’s defensive success to effort, pursuit and a determination to get multiple orange helmets to the football.

“We preach trying to turn the ball over, never giving up and gang tackling,” Trevino said. “When somebody’s still up, we’re going to get that ball out of there.”

Mississinawa Valley played better than the final score might suggest. The Blackhawks matched Bradford’s opening touchdown with a long, physical drive, created a turnover of their own, made a fourth-down stand near their goal line and pulled within eight on Hiestand’s explosive touchdown run.

Ultimately, however, the Blackhawks could not overcome four turnovers that ended promising possessions and repeatedly gave Bradford additional opportunities.

The Railroaders still have areas to address. Penalties erased several productive plays, including a touchdown, and Trevino made it clear that one victory—or even two—does not mean Bradford has arrived.

“We haven’t earned anything,” Trevino said. “We haven’t even scratched the surface on how good we can be. We’ve got a lot of things to clean up.”

Nevertheless, something is clearly changing in Bradford. The Railroaders are sustaining drives, responding to adversity and discovering offensive weapons they can trust in crucial situations.

More importantly, they are beginning to expect success.

“Winning’s addictive, but unfortunately, so is losing,” Trevino said. “We’ve been on that side for too long.”

For Trevino, rebuilding the program begins with restoring the relationships and pride that once surrounded Bradford football.

“We’re doing it for the town, we’re doing it for each other,” he said. “But most importantly, we’re doing it for the locker room—the brotherhood. It’s hard to play hard for somebody if you don’t love each other.”

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Senior Leadership Has Tri-Village Aiming High in WOAC

NEW MADISON — With five seniors, three accomplished returning starters and a promising group of newcomers, the Tri-Village volleyball team believes it has the pieces to contend near the top of the Western Ohio Athletic Conference.

The Lady Patriots finished 11-12 during Alaine Kirby’s first season as head coach, including an 8-3 conference record that placed them in a tie for third in the WOAC.

Kirby enters her second season with greater experience throughout the lineup and a senior class that will be responsible for setting the tone.

“Our senior class will provide strong leadership for our team this season,” Kirby said. “We will rely on our seniors to lead by example, both on and off the court, and help create a positive and supportive team environment.”

Senior captains Gabby Kirby and Zoe Ayette will be at the center of that leadership.

Kirby returns for her third season as a starting middle hitter after earning first-team All-WOAC and first-team District 9 recognition last year. She recorded 303 kills, the second-highest total in the conference, and led the WOAC in blocks.

She also holds Tri-Village’s single-match record with 24 kills. Her ability to affect the match as both an attacker and blocker makes her one of the conference’s most accomplished returning players.

Ayette is a second-year starter who gives the Lady Patriots versatility as a setter and outside hitter. She received second-team All-WOAC honors and District 9 honorable mention recognition last season.

Ayette is also approaching 1,000 career assists, providing a significant individual milestone to follow during the season. Her ability to set or attack gives Tri-Village additional flexibility in constructing its lineup.

Senior libero Mylee Bierly returns for her fourth year as a starter. A first-team All-WOAC and second-team District 9 selection last season, Bierly already owns the school record for career digs.

Her experience, court coverage and defensive leadership will be important for a team that wants to become more consistent.

Senior Bailey Frech returns for her second varsity season and will provide experience at the net. Claire Royer, another senior, returns after missing last season because of an injury. Royer’s comeback gives the Lady Patriots another experienced and versatile front-row player who can contribute in the middle or on the right side.

Several younger players will be asked to fill important roles around that senior group.

Junior Hannah Whaley can contribute as both an outside hitter and setter. Sophomore Ava Camacho adds versatility as an outside and middle hitter, while freshman Jillian Bierly will provide energy and depth as a defensive specialist.

The varsity roster also includes freshmen Gwenyth Moore, Libby Brewer and Payton Brubaker, giving the Lady Patriots several young players who can gain experience while learning from the senior class.

Kirby believes team chemistry is one of Tri-Village’s greatest strengths.

“We have great team dynamics, and our players genuinely enjoy being around one another and work well together,” Kirby said. “We also have a strong group of seniors who bring experience and leadership to the court.”

Consistency will be the Lady Patriots’ primary area of development. Several players are stepping into new varsity roles, and Kirby wants the team to become more dependable in every phase of the game as those players gain confidence.

Tri-Village provided an early indication of its potential during the Greenville Federal Volleyball Invitational.

The Lady Patriots defeated Newton and Greenville to reach the championship match against defending WOAC champion Arcanum. Tri-Village won a tightly contested opening set, 27-25, before Arcanum responded to win the next two and claim the tournament title.

Although fatigue became a factor late in the championship match, Tri-Village’s performance showed that it could compete with one of the conference’s established powers.

After finishing tied for third last season, Kirby expects the Lady Patriots to place themselves in the championship discussion.

“Our goal is to compete at a high level in every conference match and put ourselves in position to contend for the top of the WOAC,” Kirby said.

The program’s goals extend beyond wins and losses. Kirby wants her players to develop accountability, confidence, perseverance, teamwork and respect while becoming stronger volleyball players.

Most importantly, she wants the Lady Patriots to work hard, support one another and enjoy what they accomplish together.

With three decorated returning starters, Royer back on the court and five seniors providing leadership, Tri-Village has a strong foundation. If the Lady Patriots develop the consistency Kirby is seeking, they could become one of the most difficult teams in the WOAC to beat.

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Story and photos by Jim Freeman

PITSBURG — After enduring a 5-17 season a year ago, the Franklin Monroe volleyball team believes experience, defense and strength at the net can produce a much different result this fall.

The Lady Jets return nearly their entire roster for second-year head coach Ashley Day. Only two seniors departed from last season, leaving Franklin Monroe with a veteran group that already understands the challenges of varsity volleyball.

Day believes that experience could make the Lady Jets a contender in the Western Ohio Athletic Conference.

“I expect we could be a top contender in the WOAC this season,” Day said. “We have all of the girls returning except for two seniors last year.”

Franklin Monroe’s 10-player roster includes four seniors, three juniors and three sophomores.

Seniors Jaylin Swiger, Reagan Flora, Emma Muhlenkamp and Brooklyn Miller will be expected to provide the team’s leadership.

Flora anchors what Day expects to be one of the Lady Jets’ greatest strengths—their defense. A third-year starter at libero, Flora provides experience and consistency in the back row. She can also place pressure on opponents from the service line.

Muhlenkamp and Miller provide additional defensive and setting options, while Swiger gives Franklin Monroe experience in the middle of its front row.

Day believes the Lady Jets’ blocking could be just as important as their back-row defense.

“We have a strong and tall front line this season,” Day said.

Junior Lillian Heck adds another presence in the middle, while junior Savannah Miller can contribute as a defensive specialist or outside hitter. Junior Hailee Osborne is stepping into what Day described as a crucial defensive role in the back row.

Franklin Monroe also expects significant contributions from a talented sophomore class.

Brinley Flora is filling one of the outside-hitting positions left open by graduation. Her aggressive approach and ability to place attacks have already made her a valuable part of the offense.

Avery Riffle will contribute as an outside and right-side hitter, while Quincy Cox gives the Lady Jets another option as an outside hitter and defensive specialist.

Franklin Monroe plans to operate a 5-1 offense, using one setter to direct the attack throughout the rotation. Day wants the Lady Jets to play at a fast tempo, defend aggressively at the net and rely upon their experienced back row.

Communication and hitting consistency are the primary areas the team must continue developing. If the Lady Jets improve in those areas, their combination of defense and blocking could make them difficult to play against.

Franklin Monroe has already shown signs of progress.

The Lady Jets lost to Ansonia in straight sets during the Greenville Federal Volleyball Invitational but responded when the teams met again in their WOAC opener. With only one practice between the two matches, Franklin Monroe made the necessary adjustments and defeated the Lady Tigers in four sets.

Different players contributed during the conference victory. Reagan Flora helped stabilize the defense and apply pressure from the service line. Brinley Flora, Heck and Riffle gave the Lady Jets attacking options, while Swiger delivered important kills late in the match.

The victory moved Franklin Monroe to 2-2 overall and gave the Lady Jets a 1-0 start in conference play. More importantly, it provided early evidence that this experienced group may be ready to take a significant step forward.

Day would like to see Franklin Monroe finish in the top half of the WOAC, but her primary goal is more fundamental.

“My top goal is for the girls to go out there and have fun playing the game,” Day said.

That enjoyment may come more easily if the Lady Jets continue building upon their early improvement. With most of last season’s roster returning, four seniors setting the tone and a taller front line supporting an experienced defense, Franklin Monroe has reason to believe this season can be considerably different from the last.

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Story and photos by Jim Freeman

ANSONIA — After graduating five seniors from last year’s team, Ansonia volleyball coach Katie Walters understands that her young Lady Tigers will experience some growing pains this season.

That does not mean they are backing away from the competition.

Walters describes this year’s team as quick, scrappy, aggressive and competitive. Its greatest strength may be what she calls its “commitment to the process.”

“We have grown so much this summer,” Walters said.

Ansonia returns three junior starters in Charlotte Barga, Autumn Best and Shyann McKenna. Seniors Dani Gibbs and Elly Locke are also important returning players. Gibbs provides versatility as an all-around player, while Locke anchors the defense from the libero position.

Walters expects Barga, Best, McKenna, Gibbs and Locke to form the team’s leadership group.

Barga, the team’s speaking captain, is one of Ansonia’s strongest and most versatile players. Listed as a defensive specialist and outside hitter, the junior has the intelligence and composure to work through difficult stretches and become a significant threat when she finds her rhythm.

McKenna can contribute as both a setter and defensive specialist. Gibbs plays defensively and on the right side, while Locke’s experience at libero should be particularly important for a team working to improve its serve receive.

An early injury to Best has complicated Ansonia’s development. The junior middle and outside hitter was injured during the Greenville Federal Volleyball Invitational, forcing Walters to adjust her rotations and experiment with different combinations.

Best has continued contributing from the bench by encouraging her teammates and helping maintain the team’s energy.

The Tigers’ varsity newcomers and players taking on expanded roles include juniors Elise Hahn, Alyssa Idle, Brianna Waymire and Annie Wendel; sophomore Tara Seger; and freshmen Addison Smith, Josi Weiss and Layla Ryan.

Walters hopes to provide those players with valuable varsity opportunities as the season progresses. With only two seniors on the 13-player roster, the experience gained this year could benefit Ansonia well beyond the current season.

Communication and grit are the two areas Walters most wants the Tigers to develop. Improving their serving and serve receive will also be important as they work toward becoming a more consistent team.

Ansonia displayed both its potential and its youth during the Greenville Federal Invitational. The Tigers defeated Franklin Monroe in straight sets and played competitive three-set matches against Mississinawa Valley and Newton.

Franklin Monroe reversed the invitational result in the teams’ first full conference match, winning in four sets at Ansonia. The Tigers nevertheless showed their fight by recovering from a difficult opening set and winning the second, 25-20. They also remained tied midway through the fourth before the Lady Jets pulled ahead.

Those competitive moments provide something for a young team to build upon.

Ansonia’s immediate goal is to compete with every team in the WOAC. Its larger goals are to improve throughout the season, represent the program with pride and prepare itself to make a postseason run.

For Walters and the Tigers, reaching those goals will depend upon embracing the process, continuing to compete and becoming a more connected team with each opportunity on the court.

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Story and photos by Jim Freeman

ARCANUM — Arcanum may return only one established starter from last season’s undefeated WOAC championship team, but the Lady Trojans have no intention of lowering their expectations.

Head coach Jacie Holman’s team finished 20-6 last season, went 11-0 in conference play and captured the WOAC championship. Arcanum entered this season with a different-looking lineup, but also with the desire to build upon that success.

“Our team’s strength this year is our desire to want to win and be the best team we can be every time we step onto the court,” Holman said. “We had such a successful season last year, and these girls want even more this year.”

Senior libero Cameron Garbig provides the foundation for the retooled lineup. A three-year starter, Garbig received Special Mention All-WOAC honors in 2024 and was named to the second team in 2025.

Holman considers Garbig vital to Arcanum’s offense and defense because of her communication, court awareness and ability to place her serve in difficult locations.

The Trojans also return seniors Ella Flatter, Emily Fox and Jordyn Garbig.

Flatter has played on the right side for three years and provides a steady presence capable of making important plays. Fox and Jordyn Garbig give Arcanum two experienced defensive specialists who read opposing hitters well and are willing to pursue difficult balls.

Sophomore setter Halle Bennett returns to direct the offense. Her familiarity with Arcanum’s hitters and effectiveness from the service line should make her an important part of the team’s success.

Junior middle hitter Gabrielle “Gabby” Nottingham gives the Trojans a threat at the net. Nottingham can locate open areas in an opposing defense, while also contributing as a blocker and back-row defender when needed.

Several players are stepping into larger varsity roles.

Junior setter Mollei Gilbert brings a strong understanding of her hitters and the ability to place her serve throughout the court. Junior Kennedy Freeman provides a different challenge as a left-handed right-side hitter, while junior outside hitter Addie Macy combines a strong swing with good court awareness.

Junior Gabrielle Wooten is moving from the middle to the right side, where her height and ability to read hitters should make her a significant blocking presence.

Sophomores Harlow Etherington and Harper Smith will also contribute at the net. Etherington brings a solid swing and an ability to adjust to the defense, while Smith made significant progress during the offseason and defends the net well from the middle. Sophomore Katrina Baker adds depth as a defensive specialist.

Despite returning numerous varsity contributors, Holman said consistency will be Arcanum’s greatest developmental challenge. Some rotations may contain only one or two players who saw substantial action last season.

“When we get in a groove, it is hard to stop us,” Holman said. “But we just need to learn to play consistently versus playing our best and then playing mediocre.”

The Trojans demonstrated their resilience while capturing their fourth consecutive Greenville Federal Volleyball Invitational championship. After losing a close opening set to Tri-Village in the championship match, Arcanum responded by winning the next two sets to secure the title.

Holman wants the Trojans to play intelligently and aggressively, eliminate their own mistakes and force opponents to earn points. Rather than looking too far ahead, Arcanum divides each set into smaller races—first to five points, then first to 10—allowing the players to concentrate on the immediate moment.

The Trojans understand that winning last season’s championship placed a target on the program. Their response is to embrace it.

Holman believes the WOAC race could be competitive from night to night. Arcanum’s goals include another conference championship and a deep postseason run, but the Trojans know neither can be achieved in one evening.

Their focus remains one match, one set and one point at a time.

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