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Nine Lakota East student athletes were honored during a signing day event at Lakota East High School May 16, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber of WestChesterBuzz.com.

Lakota East High School honored nine student athletes Wednesday during its spring signing day event. Among those recognized include Jacob Landers (Baldwin Wallace College, wrestling), Ivan Thomas (Kentucky Christian University, football), Tyler Overberg (College of Mount St. Joseph, golf), Morgan Weinheimer (University of Mississippi, volleyball), Jeff Mundy Jr. (Kentucky Christian University, football), Tanner Lyons (Centre College, track and field), Aleth Pashi (Otterbein University, basketball), Jacqui Tackett (Mount St. Joseph, lacrosse) and Molly Blomer (Nova Southeastern University, basketball).

“It was awesome. I was excited to see all my friends sign,” said Weinheimer, who was also considering Wright State University and Xavier University, among others. “It’s exciting because I want to see them do big things.”

The 5’4″ Weinheimer, who played the libero position for the Thunderhawks, was a first team All-GMC selection in 2011. She also led the GMC with 5.34 digs per game.

Her senior volleyball classmates, Hannah Berling (Tusculum College), Hannah Sigala (Morehead State University), Lauren Beitel (Otterbein) and Emily Bostian (Otterbein) were all honored at a signing day event Feb. 1. In addition to the seniors, junior teammates Ali Lake (Ohio University) and Ashley Evans (Purdue University) have verbally committed to programs.

Joining Weinheimer at Wednesday’s signing were basketball players Aleth Pashi and Molly Blomer. In February, their teammates Alyssa Grevenkamp (University of Findlay) and Whitney Wyckoff (Yale University) were also recognized.

Also on Wednesday, two senior football players, offensive lineman Ivan Thomas and defensive back Jeff Mundy Jr., signed on to play at the same college – Kentucky Christian University.

“They (KCU) are going to receive two good players, two good people and hopefully they will leave the program better than they left it,” Lakota East head football coach Rick Haynes said.

“It is always great to see guys forward their careers and move on to the next level. I think, both of them, as long as they put in the time and effort are going to have success.”

Other Lakota East senior student athletes, who were recognized for continuing their athletic careers in college in February, include Zach Mueck (Xavier, tennis) Michael Conrad (University of Cincinnati, baseball), Alex Corna (Ohio, baseball), Michaela Buczek (Mount St. Joseph, lacrosse), Ainsely Ellison (Hillsdale College, softball), Sofey Fugate (Heidelberg University, tennis), Jessika Hall (Michigan State University, swimming), Tori Meyer (Albright College, lacrosse), Mark Minch (Ohio Dominican University, basketball), Tony O’Connor (Northern Kentucky University, cross country/track) and Joe Postlewait (Walsh University, lacrosse)

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Tags: Tags: Ainsely Ellison, Aleth Pashi, Alex Corna, Alyssa Grevenkamp, cincyhoops, cincysports, Corri Muha, Emily Bostian, girls' basketball, Hannah Berling, Hannah Sigala, Ivan Thomas, Jacob Landers, Jeff Mundy Jr., Jessika Hall, Lakota East, Lakota East baseball, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East Sports, Lakota East tennis, Lakota East volleyball, Lauren Beitel, Mark Minch, Michael Conrad, Michael Conrad Lakota East, Michaela Buczek, Molly Blomer, Morgan Weinheimer, National Signing Day, ohio basketball recruiting, Ohio High School sports recruiting, Ohio preps recruiting, Ohio sports recruiting, recruiting, Signing Day Lakota East, Sofey Fugate, Tony O'Connor, Tori Meyer, Tyler Overberg, Whitney Wyckoff, Zach Mueck

The athletic departments at Lakota East and Lakota West high schools recently named their athletes of the week. Seniors Alyssa Grevenkamp and Aleth Pashi received the honor at Lakota East, while senior Nick Bloch and freshman Lauren Martin were honored at Lakota West.

Grevenkamp recently finished her fourth straight year as a starter on the Lakota East girls’ basketball team. This past season, Grevenkamp averaged 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. She also made 41.1 percent of her field goals, 70.6 percent of her foul shots and 35.3 percent of her 3-point attempts. Grevenkamp will continue her basketball career at The University of Findlay.

Like Grevenkamp, Pashi recently finished her high school basketball career as a four-year varsity letterwinner. This past season, Pashi led Lakota East and was fifth in the Greater Miami Conference in assists with 55 and assists per game with 2.8 per game. She also led Lakota East in assists her sophomore season. She also logged 418 minutes on the floor, fourth highest on her team in 2011-2012.

Bloch recently won the sectional championship in the 138-pound division at Centerville High School. The victory was Bloch’s second consecutive sectional title. According to WestFirebirds.com, he took just 25 seconds to pin his opponent in the championship match. The win raised Bloch’s career win total to 95, which ranks 12th on the Firebird’s all-time win list.

Martin was Lakota West’s only placer in the 17-team Cincinnati City Championship meet last Saturday at Cincinnati Country Day. In that competition, Martin finished 11th in the floor exercise. Earlier last week, Martin finished 3rd on the beam and 8th on floor at the Cincinnati Country Day Invitational. The district meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Lakota East High School.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Aleth Pashi, Alyssa Grevenkamp, athletes of the week, Lakota athletes of the week, Lakota East, Lakota East athletics, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West athletics, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West gymnastics, Lakota West sports, Lakota West wrestling, Lauren Martin, Nick Bloch

After reaching the elite eight at the state tournament last season, Lakota East’s eight-member senior class had high expectations for the 2011-2012 season. However, due to injuries and an early postseason exit, those expectations were not fulfilled.

This past Saturday, Lakota East was upset by Hamilton by the score of 51-39. In the regular season, the Thunderhawks defeated Hamilton twice by a combined 41 points. In the postseason loss, a short-handed Lakota East team was outscored 32-15 in the second half.

Due to injuries, the Thunderhawks have been short handed all season. Senior Whitney Wyckoff (Yale University signee), who led Lakota East in scoring in each of the last three seasons was lost for the year with a knee injury just four games in. In addition to Wyckoff, senior forward Tazzie Shaw (Marshall University signee) missed most of the year after suffering a concussion in the team’s second game of the season.

Overall, the Thunderhawks finished the 2011-2012 season with a 13-8 record and a 9-5 mark within the Greater Miami Conference.

Despite the solid record, the squad’s greatest accomplishment may have come over the last three winters when the basketball program produced a total of 45 wins. In the prior 12 seasons, Lakota East won only 54 games.

Four players of this year’s eight-member senior class remember when their team was pleased to finish 5-17 in 2009 during their freshman year.

“Before we came here and entering the ninth grade, it seemed like they (the players) were ok with losing,” senior Aleth Pashi said at the start of the season. “There are four of us now on varsity since our freshman year and it is not acceptable anymore. Anything less than success is unacceptable.”

Pashi and her fellow seniors Molly Blomer (Nova Southeastern University commit), Alyssa Grevenkamp (University of Findlay signee) and Wyckoff all started as freshman that season, one year after Lakota East finished 1-20.

“It was kind of like, ‘we know we aren’t going to win so why try?’ Now, it is like, ‘we better win and if we don’t than it is a disaster,’” said Wyckoff at the start of the year.

During Senior Day, earlier this month, the group of seniors who helped change the program were recognized for their contributions and sacrifices.

“It’s been an amazing run the past several years with our seniors,” Lakota East head coach Nikki Drew said. “They have set an example of what hard work and togetherness can accomplish. I am just lucky to have been along for the ride.”

In addition to the four-year letter winners (Blomer, Pashi, Wyckoff, Grevenkamp), Shaw, Bernice Satterwhite, Aaliyah Thomas and Melanie Browne had their high school careers end Saturday.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Aaliyah Thomas, Aleth Pashi, Alyssa Grevenkamp, Bernice Satterwhite, Lakota East, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East Sports, Melanie Browne, Molly Blomer, Nikki Drew, Nikki Drew Lakota East, Nikki Drew Xavier, Tazzie Shaw, Whitney Wyckoff

In a series once dominated by Lakota West, the Thunderhawks cruised to a 61-54 victory against their school district rival at Lakota East High School Wednesday.

The win gives Lakota East – No. 2 in the Cincinnati Enquirer Division I coaches’ poll – their third straight against the Firebirds. The win also marks the 100th victory for Lakota East head coach Nikki Drew.

Prior to the three-game winning streak, Lakota West – No. 4 in the Enquirer poll – had taken down the Thunderhawks in 18 straight contests.

This time, Lakota East earned the win despite playing without two key seniors, Whitney Wyckoff (Yale commit) and Tazzie Shaw (Marshall commit), who will both continue their basketball careers at the collegiate level.

“I told my players and staff that true character shows when you are put through obstacles and we talked about responding the right way, controlling what we can and the girls did that,” Drew said.

Wyckoff, who has led Lakota East in scoring for the past three seasons, was ruled out for the season by Drew after the senior suffered a knee injury in the 50-21 win against Oak Hills Saturday.

In place of the 5-foot-10 Wyckoff, freshman Cydney Franklin made her first varsity start. The 5-foot-4 Franklin finished with a career high 10 points. She also had four rebounds and two assists. (more…)

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Aleth Pashi, Bernice Satterwhite, Cydney Franklin, Lakota East, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Molly Blomer Alyssa Grevenkamp, Nikki Drew, Nikki Drew Lakota East, Shabazz Reeves, Summer Reeves, Tazzie Shaw, Tazzie Shaw Marshall, Whitney Wyckoff, Whitney Wyckoff Lakota East

Lakota East opened its Greater Miami Conference schedule by defeating Fairfield by the score of 74-33. Senior Molly Blomer led Lakota East with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

Fairfield senior Raeshaun Gaffney (University of Virginia commit) led her team with 21 points.

As a team, the Thunderhawks made 53.6 percent of their field goals. Fairfield made only 23.1 percent of its shots.

Lakota East senior Aleth Pashi added 10 points and eight assists, while committing one turnover. Fellow seniors Whitney Wyckoff (15 points, 4 steals, 3 blocks) and Bernice Satterwhite (12 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals) also performed well in the win.

Lakota East will be back in action next Saturday when it will host Oak Hills at 2 p.m.

Box score – Lakota East 74, Fairfield 33

Lakota East (3-0) – B. Satterwhite 5 1 12, Grevenkamp 3 0 6, K. Satterwhite 0 1 1, Pashi 3 3 10, Franklin 2 4 8, Wyckoff 7 1 15, Blomer 10 2 22. Totals: 30 12 74.
Fairfield (1-2) – Stewart 2 0 4, Spaulding 1 0 2, Reed 1 0 2, Gaffney 6 9 21, Ford 1 0 2, Rhodes 1 0 2. Totals: 12 9 33.

Halftime: Lakota East 37-13. 3-Pointers: L 2 (B. Satterwhite 1, Pashi 1).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Aleth Pashi, Bernice Satterwhite, Lakota East, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East Sports, Molly Blomer, Raeshaun Gaffney, Whitney Wyckoff, Whitney Wyckoff Lakota East

Led by a strong junior class, the Thunderhawks ended up making their longest postseason run in school history by reaching the elite eight at the state tournament last season.

“The fact that we did get to the elite eight game, they know what it feels like and they know what it took to get there. It gives them that hunger to want to get back there,” Lakota East head coach Nikki Drew said. “Our goal was to get to the final four. To come one game short of that, everybody is still very disappointed.”

In the past, members of the Lakota East girls’ basketball program wouldn’t have been so easily disappointed. Four players of this year’s eight-member senior class remember when their team was pleased to finish 5-17 in 2009 during their freshman year.

“Before we came here and entering the ninth grade, it seemed like they (the players) were ok with losing,” senior Aleth Pashi said. “There are four of us now on varsity since our freshman year and it is not acceptable anymore. Anything less than success is unacceptable.”

Pashi and her fellow seniors Molly Blomer, Alyssa Grevenkamp and Whitney Wyckoff all started as freshman that season, one year after Lakota East finished 1-20.

“It was kind of like, ‘we know we aren’t going to win so why try?’ Now, it is like, ‘we better win and if we don’t than it is a disaster,’” Wyckoff said.

The Thunderhawks were able to avoid disaster the majority of the time last season, finishing with a 19-6 overall record and 10-4 mark within the Greater Miami Conference. (more…)

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Aaliyah Thomas, Aleth Pashi, Alyssa Grevenkamp, Bernice Satterwhite, Lakota East, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East Sports, Melanie Browne, Molly Blomer, Nikki Drew, Nikki Drew Lakota East, Nikki Drew Xavier, Tazzie Shaw, Whitney Wyckoff

UPDATE: Lakota East wins district final against Fairborn in OT

There are a few similarities between last year’s Lakota East girls’ basketball team and the 2010-2011 version. For instance, both teams set school records for wins, featured many of the same players and have made postseason runs that included an appearance in the district finals.

However, this Saturday, March 5, this year’s team hopes to differentiate itself from last year’s group, which lost its district final matchup to Xenia, when Lakota East faces Fairborn (21-2 overall, 9-1 in the Greater Western Ohio Conference) in the district final at Harrison High School at 1 p.m.

“Biggest difference this year is experience and our girls expected to get here,” Lakota East head coach Nikki Drew said. “The team is more prepared mentally for a game like this then they were a year ago.”

Four of the team’s five starters last season, Alyssa Grevenkamp, Aleth Pashi, Whitney Wyckoff and Molly Blomer, are now juniors this season. The team’s other starter, junior Tazzie Shaw, transferred this year from Lakota West, where she averaged 8.8 points per game as a sophomore for a team that also finished as a district runner up.

Furthermore, sophomore Imani Outlaw who has started games this season and last year is more experienced.

In addition to the experience, overall, the team played better this season and now has a 17-5 overall record and a 10-4 mark in the GMC. Last season, the Thunderhawks finished with a 13-11 overall record and a 6-8 record in conference play.

Because of the improved record, Lakota East earned the No. 2 seed in the regional tournament and has cruised to wins against Turpin (71-33) and Seton (52-35) this postseason. Now, the Thunderhawks will face a Skyhawks team that is very similar to them.

“They (Fairborn Skyhawks) are very balanced and similar to us,” Drew said. “I think we are very much alike offensively. They love to run and gun and so do we. It could turn into a track meet and our goal is to dictate the tempo.”

Trying to control the tempo for Fairborn will be junior point guard Brooklyn Pumroy, who is averaging 11.9 points, 4.1 steals, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists this season.

>>>VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF PUMROY AS A SOPHOMORE<<<

“They have a very good point guard statistically and intangibly, who can put the team on their back and take over the game if need be,” Drew said. “We have to do a great job as a team defensively not letting her do that.”

Pumroy also has a pair of forwards who can score inside in senior Jaymee Veney (10.4 points, 8.7 rebounds per game) and sophomore Alexis Gassion (8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds per game).

The winner of the Lakota East/Fairborn game will advance to regional semifinals and play the winner of the Reynoldsburg/Cols. Brookhaven game this Tuesday, March 8, at 8 p.m. at Otterbein College. The Reynoldsburg/Cols. Brookhaven game will take place Saturday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at Olentangy Liberty High School.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Aleth Pashi, Alexis Gassion, Alyssa Grevenkamp, basketball, Brooklyn Pumroy, district finals, Fairborn, girls' basketball, Jaymee Veney, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Molly Blomer, Nikki Drew, postseason, regional tournament, state tournament, Tazzie Shaw, Whitney Wyckoff

Lakota East led Bellbrook, by the score of 44-40, at the end of the third quarter, but couldn’t hang on and lost the game by the score of 54-51 on Wednesday, Feb. 9.

Many of the Lakota East players were in foul trouble throughout the game, two players junior Aleth Pashi and junior Whitney Wyckoff, fouled out with five fouls, while sophomore Imani Outlaw, junior Alyssa Grevenkamp, junior Tazzie Shaw and junior Molly Blomer each committed four fouls in the game.

All of those fouls allowed Bellbrook to have 43 shots from the free-throw line, making 26 of those attempts (60.5 percent).

Meanwhile, Lakota East struggled from the free-throw line, making only eight of its 25 attempts (32 percent). Wyckoff (1-of-5) and Shaw (1-of-9) struggled from the line.

Bellbrook’s Leisha Crawford led all scorers with 16 points. She also fouled out and pulled down nine rebounds.

Lakota East’s Grevenkamp (12 points), Wyckoff (10 points) and Shaw (13 points) each scored in double figures in the loss.

With the loss, Lakota East falls to 15-4 overall and remains at 10-3 within the Greater Miami Conference.

The Thunderhawks will wrap up the regular season this Saturday at Princeton at 2 p.m.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Aleth Pashi, Alyss Grevenkamp, basketball, Bellbrook, girls' basketball, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Molly Blomer, Tazzie Shaw, Whitney Wyckoff

Lakota East won its fourth straight game when it defeated Middletown in convincing fashion, by the score of 84-18, last night, Feb. 2. The win improves the Thunderhawks’ overall record to 14-3 and 9-3 within the Greater Miami Conference.

The 9-3 conference record keeps Lakota East even with Sycamore (14-4 overall, 9-3 in GMC) and Colerain (12-5 overall, 9-3 overall) in a tight race for second place in the GMC standings. The Thunderhawks’ remaining conference games include a home game against Colerain this Saturday, Feb. 5, at 2 p.m. and a road game at Princeton (18-0 overall, 12-0 in the GMC) Feb. 12 at 2 p.m.

In the win against Middletown, last night, the Thunderhawks jumped out to 22-1 lead after the first quarter. By halftime, Lakota East was already in front 46-5.

Junior Molly Blomer led Lakota East with 18 points and eight rebounds in the win. Juniors Whitney Wyckoff (13 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, two blocks), Aleth Pashi (12 points, two steals) and Bernice Satterwhite (12 points, six rebounds, two steals) also scored in double figures for Lakota East.

Senior Megan Costa also added 10 points off the bench for the Thunderhawks. The 10 points ties a career high for Lakota East’s lone senior.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Aleth Pashi, basketball, Bernice Satterwhite, girls' basketball, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Megan Costa, Middletown, Molly Blomer, Whitney Wyckoff

For the second straight game, the Lakota East girls’ basketball program scored more than 70 points in a convincing win against a Greater Miami Conference opponent. On Monday, Dec. 20, the Thunderhawks hammered Hamilton by the score of 72-28 and then on Wednesday, Dec. 22, they took care of Middletown with a 77-13 win.

In the win against Middletown, senior forward Molly Blomer led Lakota East with a season-high 19 points. Blomer made eight of her 11 field goal attempts, had seven rebounds and three steals in only 17 minutes of playing time.

Juniors Alyssa Grevenkamp (10 points), Whitney Wyckoff (14 points) and Tazzie Shaw (13 points) each scored in double figures for Lakota East. All three also scored in double figures in Monday’s win against Hamilton.

Lakota East junior point guard Aleth Pashi added five points and five assists.

With the two wins, Lakota East improved its record to 5-2 overall and 3-2 within the GMC. Middletown and Hamilton both are 0-5 in the GMC.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Aleth Pashi, Alyssa Grevenkamp, basketball, girls' basketball, Hamilton, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Middletown, Tazzie Shaw, Whitney Wyckoff