Not a bad weekend at all...

Going to be quick with this one. Lots going on, and I want to recognize everyone, but I'll spare you the fluff and get right down to details.

Sam the Man.
Congrats to Rider senior captain wrestler Sam Reusser on winning a district title over the weekend. It's the 5th straight year that the Orrville wrestling program has sent at least 1 representative to Columbus.

Sam is the first heavyweight to qualify since Brent Steiner did it in 2000. Highest heavyweight finisher in school history was Loren Burkey who finished 3rd in 1993.

Here's a bracket for the Division 3 heavyweight division. Scroll all the way to the bottom for the 285 lb. class.

Good luck Sam!!

Mad-nificent.
Congrats also to Orrville sophomore swimmer Madison Monheim.  I guess being the first female state swimming qualifier from Orrville wasn't good enough, she had to become the first All-Ohio female swimmer also.

She finished 13th in the Division 2, 200 yd Freestyle swim to nab All-Ohio honors (top 16 automatically named All-Ohio.

Congrats Madi.

Girls Hoops.
Two easy wins over Chippewa and St. Thomas Aquinas has the Lady Riders right where they expected to be, in the district semis with a showdown with Smithville awaiting them on Thursday night.  I think the Riders have what it takes to knock off the Smithies, and to win the entire district....but you know how it goes...you have to prove it on the court.

I'm not the only one who thinks that a trip to regionals, and even state, is possible.  From Tom Jenkins of the Ohio Girls Basketball Report.

Orrville has had a very solid year and looks to be the team to beat in the Cuyahoga Falls regional because of their strength of schedule and the advantage Coach Mark Alberts gives them on the sideline.

Coach Alberts has his Red Riders galloping all the way to Columbus this year with the Plybon Sisters (Hillary and Hannah) leading the way. Top tier sophomore prospect Hannah Plybon leads the Riders in scoring with 17+ per game with senior sister Hillary, like Reggie Jackson, is the straw that churns the drink.

The Red Riders are deep and battle tested, having played the likes of West Holmes (twice), Canton Central Catholic and Fort Loramie at Classic in the Country VIII.  The future is bright for the Red Riders…  a trip to Columbus this year would be the cherry on top for these Red Riders.

Of course, no getting ahead of ourselves.  Still two wins needed to be called district champs.  Regionals and state are pretty far off in the minds of Coach Alberts and his players, I'm sure.  Nice to see them getting respect on a statewide level though.

Go Lady Riders.  Beat the Smithies.

Quick Hannah Plybon points update: I have her at 458 points through 22 games, good for a 20.8 points per game average.  If she didn't score another point this season, her total points would be 4th best all-time and her per game average would be first all-time.

She currently sits 10th all-time in career points.  Just a sophomore remember.

Boys Hoops.
As I'm preparing this post, I'm following the webcast of the Orrville-Chippewa game.  Riders won 60-35.  Full box score is here (thanks to Andrew at OhioBasketball.net for this awesome service he providees)

Riders advance to face Tuslaw this Friday at 7:30pm at Wooster High School.  I think the Riders have enough to get past the Mustangs, but then more than likely it will be Hillsdale awaiting the Riders.  That's when things will start to get interesting/tougher.

PS - Sure was nice to beat Wooster wasn't it?  It's been a while since they've won a game on our home court/field.

Quick Zach Wasson points update: Zach has 377 points on the year, and 1,444 for his career.  Still 3rd all-time.  An outside shot at 1,500 if they make a run to the district title game or farther.

College Riders.
Quick update on the two Rider alums playing postseason college basketball.  Unfortunately, both Jake Bolyard and Brandon Short had their seasons come to an end sooner than they had hoped.

Jake and the University of Northwestern Ohio Racers dropped the first round game of their conference tournament to Cornerstone University by a 91-72 score.  Jake dropped in 32 points to lead his team and averaged 22.1 points per game on the season.  For his efforts, he was named to the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference All-Newcomer First Team, and All-Conference Third Team.

Brandon and the MVNU Cougars dropped a tough 98-89 game to Geneva, but it wasn't due to Brandon's effort.  He put up a monster game in his final game as a Cougar, filling the stat sheet again to the tune of 27 points, 14 rebounds, 8 steals and 4 assists.

For the season, he led his team in scoring, assists and rebounds and was second in steals.  He was also recently named to the America Mideast Conference's First Team.  Truly a season and a career to remember.

Congrats to Brandon and Jake on great seasons!