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Lakota West freshman Malik Grove was recently named the Greater Miami Conference Bowler of the Year. Grove is the fifth Lakota district student athlete this school year to be honored as their sport’s GMC player of the year. Grove, unlike the others, did it well before his senior year.

Grove made history in December of 2010 when he became the first bowler in the history of the Lakota school district to bowl a perfect game (300 score). Grove also finished fourth in the sectional tournament, which helped his team qualify for the district tournament. On the year, Grove averaged a score of 218.8 per game, which is another school district record.

In the future, Grove could leave his mark in other sports at Lakota West. He also made appearances on the junior varsity basketball court and could be involved in the battle to be the next starting varsity football quarterback in the fall.

Other Lakota West athletes, who were named GMC players of the year, include senior Korey Ward (boys’ golf) and Ty Davis (wrestling).

Two students from Lakota East were also named GMC players of the year in their respected sports. Senior Carolyn Pitman won the honor for girls’ tennis in the spring and senior Akash Umakantha won the honor for chess in the winter. Umakantha is also on track to be Lakota East’s valedictorian.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Akash Umakantha, basketball, bowling, Carolyn Pitman, chess, football, golf, Korey Ward, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Malik Grove, tennis, Ty Davis, wrestling

Lakota East High School held its Signing Day event this morning, Feb. 4, 2011. During the event, 10 student athletes were honored for earning the right to compete athletically on the collegiate level.

Among those who were honored were Evan Peul and Troy Ward. The two East seniors were on opposing soccer teams at the age of six, but became teammates at the age of 11. Peul and Ward will continue to play on the same team at Northern Kentucky University.

>>>PHOTOS OF LAKOTA EAST SIGNING DAY<<<

John Brady, who is second in his senior class with a 4.59 GPA, will play football at Columbia University.

“Columbia is getting a very smart and dedicated football player, who has the passion to be the very best in whatever he participates in,” Lakota East head football coach Rick Haynes.

Brady (photo above) is leaning towards studying engineering at Columbia and will play linebacker at the school.

A pair of Brady’s football teammates J.D. Whetsel and Stephen Sensel will also compete in college, but in different sports. Whetsel will attend Cornell for baseball, while Sensel will compete in track at the University of Cincinnati. (more…)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports, Spring sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Abbey Cramer, Carolyn Pitman, college signing, Evan Peul, Garrett Namian, Hannah Doerbaum, John Brady, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, National Signing Day, Sara Pearson, signing, Stephen Sensel, Troy Ward

Due to the ice storm that hit the area Monday night and Tuesday morning, the Lakota East Athletic Department has decided to postpone tonight’s boys’ basketball game and tomorrow morning’s Signing Day event.

The basketball game, which was a rematch of a 69-65 overtime win for Lakota East, will be played this Saturday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m.

The athletic department also decided to reschedule its Signing Day event, which was scheduled to take place Feb. 2 at 7:45 a.m. at Lakota East High School. The event will now take place on Friday, Feb. 4 at 7:45 a.m. at the high school.

Among the Thunderhawks in the class of 2011, who will sign a letter of intent or have already signed, include Stephen Sensel (track – University of Cincinnati), Evan Peul (soccer – Northern Kentucky University), John Brady (football – Columbia University), Garrett Namian (lacrosse – Manhattanville College), Hannah Doerbaum (soccer – Baldwin-Wallace College), Carolyn Pitman (photo – tennis – United States Military Academy at West Point), Troy Ward (soccer – Northern Kentucky University), Sara Pearson (softball – University of Memphis), J.D. Whetsel (baseball – Cornell University) and Abbey Cramer (swimming – University of Cincinnati).

Lakota East has also canceled all its sporting events tonight.

As of right now, Lakota West is still on for tonight’s boys’ basketball game against Princeton at 7:30 p.m. at Lakota West High School.

The athletics protocol for Laktoa Local Schools is that when school is canceled or dismissed early for snow, decisions on practices and/or games will be made by building administration based upon projected road and weather conditions.

Lakota Local Schools canceled classes today due to icy road conditions.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports, Spring sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Abbey Cramer, basketball, canceled, Carolyn Pitman, Evan Peul, Garrett Namian, Hannah Doerbaum, John Brady, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota Local Schools, National Signing Day, Sara Pearson, Stephen Sensel, Troy Ward

UPDATE – Lakota East reschedules Signing Day

National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 2, marks the first day football and soccer players can sign national letters of intent. Many schools, like Lakota East, will also include student athletes from other sports as well in a special signing event this week.

The Lakota East signing event will take place Wednesday at 7:45 a.m. at the high school.

Among the Thunderhawks in the class of 2011, who will sign a letter of intent or have already signed, include Stephen Sensel (track – University of Cincinnati), Evan Peul (soccer – Northern Kentucky University), John Brady (football – Columbia University), Garrett Namian (lacrosse – Manhattanville College), Hannah Doerbaum (soccer – Baldwin-Wallace College), Carolyn Pitman (tennis – United States Military Academy at West Point), Troy Ward (soccer – Northern Kentucky University), Sara Pearson (softball – University of Memphis), J.D. Whetsel (baseball – Cornell University) and Abbey Cramer (swimming – University of Cincinnati).

Pearson, Whetsel and Cramer officially signed in November.

>>>LAKOTA WEST SIGNING DAY PREVIEW<<<

Troy Ward and Evan Peul, who both helped guide Lakota East to a 12-3-5 overall record and an appearance in the district final this season, will be playing together at the next level at NKU. This past December, NKU won the Division II National Championship.

Meanwhile, Greater Miami Conference Tennis Player of the Year Carolyn Pitman chose the United State Military Academy at West Point (Army) over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Naval Academy.

Softball pitcher Sara Pearson also had some options, but decided to sign with the University of Memphis. Pearson (photo) struck out 222 batters in 139.1 innings and had a 15-4 record with a 0.60 earned run average last season.

More to come on WestChesterBuzz.com about the student athletes at Lakota East and Lakota West on signing day, Feb. 2 and Feb. 4

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports, Spring sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Abbey Cramer, Carolyn Pitman, college signing, Evan Peul, Garrett Namian, Hannah Doerbaum, John Brady, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, National Signing Day, Sara Pearson, signing, Stephen Sensel, Troy Ward

The fall sports season officially ended for the Lakota school district high school athletic programs this Saturday, Nov. 6, after the state cross country meet took place and after Lakota West was eliminated in the regional final of the state volleyball playoffs.

A few quick highlights of the fall season include Greater Miami Conference (GMC) titles in boys’ golf (Lakota East), girls’ tennis (Lakota East) and girls’ volleyball (Lakota West).

Here is a brief recap of how each school performed in each sport this fall season:

FOOTBALL – Lakota West and Lakota East each finished with a 3-7 overall record and a 2-5 mark within the GMC. West won the Lakota Cup by beating East this season and featured quarterback Jordan Darling, who as a sophomore, led the GMC in passing this season. East showed promise under first-year coach Rick Haynes, who appears to have the program headed in the right direction.

VOLLEYBALL – Lakota West and Lakota East each excelled this fall and eventually squared off in the regional semifinal of the state volleyball tournament. West won that match and finished with a 22-5 overall record and was 9-0 in the GMC. The perfect conference record led the Firebirds to their second straight GMC title. West will graduate two seniors (five total) this year, who will play in the Big Ten next fall, in Liz McMahon (University of Illinois) and Lexi Dannemiller (University of Michigan). Lakota East will only graduate two seniors from its first-ever district championship team. The Thunderhawks finished the year with an 18-7 overall record and a 7-2 mark in the GMC.

BOYS’ SOCCER – Lakota West and Lakota East finished in the top half of the GMC standings. Lakota West finished the year with a 9-6-2 overall record and a 6-2-1 mark within the GMC. Lakota East advanced far in the postseason in 2010, despite never being entirely healthy. The Thunderhawks’ season ended with a 1-0 loss to Moeller in the district final. On the year, Lakota East had a 12-3-5 overall record and a 5-1-3 record within the GMC. (more…)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Alex Azeez, Amanda Shelby, boys soccer, boys' golf, Brooke Broda, Carolyn Pitman, cross country, fall sports, football, girls' golf, girls' soccer, GMC, golf, Greater Miami Conference, J.J. Webber, Jordan Darling, Jordan Day, Kelly Burrows, Korey Ward, Lakota East, Lakota West, Lexi Dannemiller, Liz McMahon, Rick Haynes, Soccer, sports, Taylor Holden, tennis, volleyball

Lakota West freshman Brooke Broda and Lakota East duo senior Carolyn Pitman and sophomore Taylor Holden (photo) lost in the second round of the state tournament in Columbus, Oct. 22.

Broda began the tournament by defeating her first-round opponent Richfield Revere senior Natalie Robson 6-0, 6-0. Broda then lost to the defending state singles champion Upper Arlington senior Niki Flower 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, in the second round of the tournament.

Pitman and Holden, who finished as the runner-up in last year’s state doubles competition, defeated their first-round opponent junior Michelle Djohan and senior Kelsey Wanhainen of Westlake, 6-2, 6-2. Then in the second round, the Lakota East pair lost to sophomores Lauren Bellinger and Sarah Stein of Dublin Jerome by the score of 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.

The semifinals and finals will take place today, Oct. 23, at Hilliard Davidson High School.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Brooke Broda, Carolyn Pitman, girls' tennis, Lakota East, Lakota West, OHSAA girls' tennis state tournament, state tournament, Taylor Holden, tennis

When the 2010 Ohio High School Athletic Association girls’ state tennis tournament begins today, Oct. 22, players from Lakota West and Lakota East will have a fighting chance to win state championships.

Obviously, Lakota East senior Carolyn Pitman and sophomore Taylor Holden, have a strong shot at the title. Last year, the duo finished as the state runner up when they lost to Meghan Buell and Maddie Kobelt of New Albany in the doubles final.

This year, Pitman (photo) and Holden won’t have to worry about a team from New Albany as Kobelt graduated last spring and Buell will be competing in the state tournament’s singles bracket.

The Lakota East pair, who played this regular season as the school’s No. 1 and No. 2 singles, may have to worry about the Ursuline duo of senior Komal Safdar and freshman Mehvish Safdar.

The Safdar sisters defeated Pitman and Holden in the district final this past weekend. However, the Lakota East team will have to advance all the way back to the state final in order to face the Safdars since they are on opposite ends of the bracket.

Then there is Lakota West freshman Brooke Broda, who won the sectional tournament, the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Coaches Association tournament and the Greater Miami Conference tournament this fall.

Broda did, however, lose in the district final to Mt. Notre Dame sophomore Sandy Niehaus by the score of 6-3, 6-4. Earlier in the year, Broda actually defeated Neihaus 6-3, 6-3.

The Lakota West freshman will face Richfeld Revere senior Natalie Robson in her first match. If she wins that match, she may have to face 2009 state champion Niki Flower of Upper Arlington in the second round. Neihaus is on the lower part of the bracket could only face Broda in the state final.

The 2010 OHSAA girls state tennis tournament will be played today, Oct. 22, at the Stickney Tennis Center at Ohio State University. The semifinals and final matches will take place Saturday, Oct. 23, at Hilliard Davidson High School.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Brooke Broda, Carolyn Pitman, girls' tennis, Komel Safdar, Lakota East, Lakota West, Meghan Buell, Mehvish Safdar, Niki Flower, OHSAA girls' tennis state tournament, state tournament, Taylor Holden, tennis

Lakota East has already won Greater Miami Conference titles in boys’ golf and girls’ tennis, however this weekend it hopes to add a state championship when senior Carolyn Pitman and sophomore Taylor Holden compete in the 2010 OHSAA Girls’ Division I State Tennis Tournament in Columbus, Oct. 22 and 23.

Pitman and Holden (photos) spent the 2010 regular season as singles, Pitman at No. 1 and Holden at No. 2. Last year, the duo advanced to the state doubles final where they lost to Meghan Buell and Maddie Kobelt of New Albany.

This year, Pitman and Holden are coming off a second-place finish in the district tournament after losing to Komal Safdar and Mehvish Safdar of Ursuline.

While the tennis playoffs are wrapping up, the playoffs in other fall sports are just beginning.

The boys’ soccer team will host Western Brown on the high school’s football field, Monday, Oct. 18.

The girls’ soccer team will visit Fairfield and the volleyball squad will play Seton at Withrow in their first playoff matches. The soccer match will be Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. and the volleyball will take place Thursday, Oct. 21, at 6 p.m.

Here is a look at the weekly sports schedule:

Monday, Oct. 18

Boys’ soccer – vs. Western Brown at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 19

Girls’ soccer – at Fairfield at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 21

Boys’ soccer – winner of Kings/Oak Hills (if East wins Monday, Oct. 18)
Volleyball – vs. Seton at Withrow at 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 22

Tennis – at State – doubles Pitman/Holden – at Ohio State University Stickney Tennis Center – at 9 a.m.
Football – at Middletown at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 23

Tennis – at State – doubles Pitman/Holden – (if they advance past Friday, Oct. 22) at Hilliard Davidson High School– at 9 a.m.
Cross Country – at District – at VOA – at 10 a.m.
Girls’ soccer – vs. winner of Kings/McAuley (if East wins Tuesday, Oct. 19)
Volleyball – winner of Sycamore/TBA – at Withrow (if East wins Thursday, Oct. 21)

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Carolyn Pitman, girls' tennis, Lakota East, Ohio state tennis tournament, Soccer, Taylor Holden, tennis, tennis district tournament, volleyball

Lakota West freshman Brooke Broda and Lakota East doubles pair senior Carolyn Pitman/sophomore Taylor Holden (photo) finished in second place in the girls’ tennis district tournament at the A.T.P. Tennis Center in Mason, Oct. 14 and 16. Broda finished second after losing in the singles final against Mt. Notre Dame sophomore Sandy Niehaus. Pitman/Holden lost in the doubles final to senior Komal Safdar and freshman Mehvish Safdar of Ursuline.

Broda lost the final match by the score of 6-3, 6-4 after cruising through her first three matches of the tournament. In that final she lost to Neihaus, a player she defeated 6-3, 6-3 in late August.

Pitman and Holden spent the 2010 regular season as singles, Pitman at No. 1 and Holden at No. 2. However, the duo decided to pair up in hopes of capturing a state title.

Last year, the pair finished as the runner-up in the state after losing the final to Meghan Buell and Maddie Kobelt of New Albany.

In this year’s district tournament, Pitman/Holden ran into a competitor who was the 2009 state singles runner-up in Komal Safdar. Safdar and her sister, Mehvish, cruised through the competition until they meet Pitman/Holden in the final. The Ursuline pair won that match 7-6, 6-4.

Due to their second-place finish, Broda and Pitman/Holden have qualified for the state tournament to be held Oct. 22-23 in the Columbus area.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Brooke Broda, Carolyn Pitman, girls' tennis, Komal Safdar, Lakota East, Lakota West, Mehvish Safdar, Mt. Notre Dame, Sandy Niehaus, Taylor Holden, tennis, tennis district tournament, Ursuline

Lakota West freshman Brooke Broda and Lakota East doubles pair senior Carolyn Pitman/sophomore Taylor Holden won both of their matches in the girls’ tennis district tournament at the A.T.P Tennis Center in Mason, Oct. 14. By winning two matches, Broda and the doubles pair have advanced to the semifinals of the district tournament and earned spots into the state tournament to be held Oct. 22-23 in the Columbus area.

The top four singles players and top four doubles pairs in the district tournament automatically qualify for spots in the state tournament.

In singles action, Broda cruised to the semifinals winning her first match against Mt. Notre Dame sophomore Sydney Landers 6-2, 6-0, and her second match against Springboro freshman Aundrea Busse 6-0, 6-0.

Broda’s teammate sophomore Nicole Soutar (photo) won her first match 6-4, 6-2 against Fairmont senior Kaitlin Pickrel. Soutar then had to face Mt. Notre Dame sophomore Sandy Neihaus, who defeated Soutar 6-1, 6-2. The loss eliminated Soutar from competing in the state tournament.

Broda will face Northmont senior Marianne Bonanno in a semifinal match to be played Saturday, Oct. 16. The winner of that match will then play the winner of other semifinal, which includes Neihaus and Kings freshman Amina Ismail.

In doubles play, Pitman and Holden advanced to the state tournament by defeating Madeline Tucker and Heather Smith of Mother of Mercy (6-0, 6-0) and Caitlin Riddle and Valerie Mangold of Springboro (6-0, 6-1).

Pitman/Holden, who advanced to the doubles final in last year’s state tournament, will face the doubles pair of Annie Sabo and Maggie Egan of Ursuline in the semifinal. If the East duo can advance to the final, they will like play the Safdar sisters (Komal and Mehvish) of Ursuline.

The last day of the district tournament, which will include the semifinal and final matches, will begin at 9 a.m. this Saturday.

Posted in: Fall sports, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Brooke Broda, Carolyn Pitman, girls' tennis, Lakota East, Lakota West, Nicole Soutar, Taylor Holden, tennis, tennis district tournament