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Lakota West safety Dawson Fletcher officially signed to play football at Indiana University Feb. 1, 2012 on National Signing Day. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

Unlike Lakota East, Lakota West High School hosts numerous signing ceremonies throughout the academic calendar. So far, there have been 32 seniors at Lakota West who have signed on to continue their athletic careers in college.

At Lakota East, there have been a total of 26 seniors recognized at two different signing day events in 2012.

Here is a list of all the Lakota West students who will be playing sports in college:

• Ali Zieverink – Shawnee State (basketball)
• Adrianna McNeal – Southwestern (basketball)
• Rachel Mills – Alderson Broddus Illinois College ((basketball)
• Summer Reeves – Morgan State University (basketball)
• Shabazz Reeves – Morgan State University (basketball)
• Jordan Darland – Olivet Nazarene (football)
• Blake Bell – California (PA.) (football)
• Dawson Fletcher – Indiana University (football)
• Cole Stalker – University of Findlay (football)
• Beau Odom – Georgetown College (football)
• Kayaune Ross – Fort Scott Community College (football)
• Bubba Williams – Lindsey Wilson (football)
• Evan Hodel – Wheeling Jesuit (lacrosse)
• Zach Crabtree – Wheeling Jesuit (lacrosse)
• Ali Green – Ashland (golf)
• Kim Love – Purdue University (soccer)
• Kelly Mack – Wright State (soccer)
• Lauren Pratt – Ohio Dominican (soccer)
• Malik Zuberi – Shawnee State (baseball)
• Zak Farmer – Walsh University (baseball)
• Davis Schafer – Bellarmine University (baseball)
• Mike Seaman – Trine University (baseball)
• Nick Billman – Mount St. Joseph (baseball)
• Jake Wagner – Miami-Hamilton (baseball)
• Amanda Lahti -  Ohio Northern (softball)
• Brooke Rowley – Lake Forest College (swimming)
• Brady Holmer – NKU (cross country)
• Amanda Shelby – Mount St. Joseph (cross country)
• Nathan Haynes – Navy (cross country)
• Mel Stewart – NKU (volleyball)
• Corri Muha – Georgetown College (volleyball)
• Nick Bloch – Lake Erie College (wrestling)

WestFirebirds.com, the school’s official athletic website, posts photos and details after signing ceremonies take place.

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

Tags: Tags: Adrianna McNeal, Ali Green, Ali Zieverink, Amanda Lahti, Amanda Shelby, Beau Odom, Blake Bell, Brady Holmer, Brooke Rowley, Bubba Williams, Cincinnati football recruiting, Cole Stalker, Corri Muha, Davis Schafer, Dawson Fletcher, Evan Hodel, Jake Wagner, Jordan Darland, Kayaune Ross, Kelly Mack, Kim Love, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, Lauren Pratt, Malik Zuberi, Mel Stewart, Mike Seaman, Nathan Haynes, Nick Billman, Nick Bloch, ohio basketball recruiting, Ohio football recruiting, Ohio High School sports recruiting, Ohio preps recruiting, Ohio sports recruiting, Rachel Mills, recruiting, Shabazz Reeves, Summer Reeves, Zach Crabtree, Zak Farmer

Lakota West won its third straight game after defeating Oak Hills by the score of 52-39 Wednesday. The Firebirds (9-6 overall, 5-5 in the Greater Miami Conference) are one victory away from equaling their win total from last season.

Seniors Ali Zieverink and Summer Reeves led Lakota West in the win. Zieverink scored 13 points and pulled down 5 rebounds, while Reeves scored a game high 17 points.

Meanwhile, junior Lindsey Eckstein led Oak Hills with a season high 15 points. Fellow junior Mackenzie Laumann scored 10 points, which was also a personal season high.

The Firebirds will be tested this Saturday when they visit Sycamore (15-1 overall, 9-1 in the GMC), which is in first place in the GMC, at 2 p.m. Oak Hills will also be in action Saturday at 2 p.m. when it hosts Lakota East (10-5 overall, 7-3 in the GMC).

Lakota West 52, Oak Hills 39

Lakota West (9-6, 5-5 in the GMC) – Huxhold 0 1 1, Cannatelli 1 0 2, Mills 2 0 4, Tomasic 0 1 1, Niehaus 3 1 9, Zieverink 6 0 13, Carter 1 2 4, Su. Reeves 5 5 17, McNeal 0 1 1. Totals 18 11 52.

Oak Hills (2-13, 1-9 in the GMC) – Laumann 2 6 10, Kilgore 2 1 5, Eckstein 6 3 15, MacArthur 0 1 1, Rogers 1 0 2, Kingrey 1 0 2, Murray 0 2 2, Braun 1 0 2. Totals 13 13 39

Halftime: 19-19. 3-pointers: LW 5 (Niehaus 2, Zieverink, Su. Reeves 2).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Zieverink, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Lindsey Eckstein, Mackenzie Laumann, Summer Reeves

Lakota West won its second straight conference game when it defeated Fairfield by the score of 71-40 Saturday. The Firebirds’ 71-point total was a season high.

As a team, Lakota West made 52 percent of its field goals. Four Firebirds, senior Ali Zieverink (13 points, 7 rebounds), Lauren Cannatelli (10 points, 4 steals), Summer Reeves (10 points, 3 assists) and Adrianna McNeal (15 points, 4 steals) scored in double figures.

Meanwhile, junior Kaitlyn Mueller led Fairfield with a career high 13 points.

Lakota West will be back in action at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when it visits Oak Hills (2-11 overall, 1-7 in the Greater Miami Conference). Fairfield will be in action at the same time Wednesday when it visits Lakota East (9-5 overall, 6-3 in the GMC).

Lakota West 71, Fairfield 40

Fairfield (4-10, 1-8 in the GMC) – Butler 2 0 5, Stewart 1 0 2, Jones 1 2 4, Ford 2 0 6, Mueller 5 0 13, Spaulding 1 0 3, Williams 1 0 2, James 1 0 2, Ricks 1 0 2, Rhodes 0 1 1. Totals 15 3 40.

Lakota West (8-6, 4-5 in the GMC) – Zieverink 5 3 13, Huxhold 0 2 2, Cannatelli 4 0 10, Mills 1 0 2, Tomasic 2 0 4, Sh. Reeves 1 0 2, Carter 2 1 5, Niehaus 3 0 8, Su. Reeves 4 2 10, McNeal 6 3 15. Totals 28 11 71.

Halftime: Lakota West 32-14. 3-pointers: F 7 (Butler, Ford 2, Mueller 3, Spaudling). LW 4 (Cannatelli 2, Niehaus 2).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Adrianna McNeal, Ali Zieverink, Kaitlyn Mueller, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Lauren Cannatelli, Summer Reeves

The Lakota West boys’ basketball program, ranked No. 10 in The Enquirer Division I coaches’ poll, lost by the score of 52-39 against Moore (Louisville, Ky.) in the fifth-place game of the Republic Bank Holiday Classic in Lexington Dec. 30.

The loss gave the Firebirds a 2-2 record at the holiday tournament. At the event, Lakota West defeated Simon Kenton (55-40) and Pulaski County (79-70) but lost to Louisville programs Trinity (60-47) and Moore.

Overall, Lakota West is now 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the Greater Miami Conference. The Firebirds will play three times this week beginning at Hamilton at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Lakota West will then host Mason (7-1 overall, 2-1 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m. Friday and will play at Elder (1-5 overall, 0-2 in the Greater Catholic League) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Lakota West girls’ squad split games when it hosted the Holiday Hoops Fest Dec. 28-29. During the event, Lakota West defeated Toledo Central Catholic by the score of 64-54 and lost to St. Ursula by the score of 51-50.

In the win against Toledo Central Catholic, Lakota West senior Summer Reeves led her team with 16 points. She also had 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Her senior teammate Adrianna McNeal scored 10 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.

The Firebirds (6-4 overall, 2-3 in the GMC) – No. 7 in the Enquirer coaches’ poll – are scheduled to play two games this week beginning with a road contest against Princeton (8-0 overall, 5-0 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Lakota West will then host Colerain (6-4 overall, 2-3 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Adrianna McNeal, Lakota West, Lakota West athletics, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West High School, Lakota West sports, Summer Reeves

Thanks to a good fourth quarter, the Lakota West Firebirds were able snap a two-game losing streak and defeat previously unbeaten Hamilton by the score of 41-29 Saturday.

Lakota West led 22-20 at the start of the fourth quarter and outscored the Big Blue 19-9 in the final frame.

Entering the contest, the Firebirds had lost to two of Greater Miami Conference’s top teams in Sycamore and Lakota East. Prior to those losses, Lakota West had started the year 4-0.

Sophomore center Elisabeth Carter produced career highs in minutes with 20, rebounds with 4 and in points with 9. Senior teammates Shabazz and Summer Reeves each scored 7 points, while freshman Lauren Cannatelli had 8 points and 4 rebounds.

Defensively, Lakota West had 15 steals and helped to force the Big Blue into committing 31 turnovers.

Hamilton junior guard Jillian Spurlock led all scorers with 10 points. Senior teammate Desiree Ash had a season low 5 points, but also finished with a season high 12 rebounds.

Lakota West (5-2 overall, 2-2 in the Greater Miami Conference) will host Mason (4-1 overall, 4-1 in the GMC) at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Meanwhile, Hamilton (5-1 overall, 3-1 in the GMC) will play at Talawanda at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

Box score – Lakota West 41, Hamilton 29

Lakota West (5-2, 2-2 GMC) – Zieverink 1 0 2, Sh. Reeves 2 3 7, Huxhold 0 4 4, Cannatelli 2 3 8, Mills 1 0 2, Carter 3 3 9, Su. Reeves 3 1 7, McNeal 0 2 2. Totals: 12 15 41.
Hamilton (5-1, 3-1 GMC) – Kivell 1 3 5, Spurlock 3 4 10, Kage 2 0 4, Ash 2 1 5, Goins 0 2 2, Keend 1 1 3. Totals: 9 11 29.

Halftime: Lakota West 18-15. 3-pointers: LW 2 (Cannatelli, Su. Reeves); H none.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Desiree Ash, Elisabeth Carter, Hamilton basketball, Jillian Spurlock, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Lauren Cannatelli, Shabazz Reeves, Summer Reeves

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

The athletic departments at Lakota East and Lakota West high schools recently named their first athletes of the week of the winter sports season. Seniors Whitney Wyckoff and Dwight Hu received the honor at Lakota East, while senior Summer Reeves and junior Drew Gay were honored at Lakota West.

Wyckoff has helped the Lakota East girls’ basketball team get off to a 3-0 start this winter. The four-year starter is averaging 13.3 points, 4 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2 blocks per game this season. She has scored more than 10 points in each of her games this season. Wyckoff will continue her basketball career at Yale University next season.

Hu is a senior, first board player on the Lakota East chess team. According to the school’s official athletic website, eastthunderhawks.com, “Dwight has a winning record against the best player from every other GMC team. Dwight models good sportsmanship and excellent chess to our younger players.”

Reeves has been a big reason that the Lakota West girls’ basketball program is off to 4-0 start this winter. Reeves is averaging 9 points per game, but recorded a game-high 17 points in the Firebirds’ 53-52 win against Withrow Dec. 2. She also combined with her twin sister, Shabazz, for 20 points in Wednesday’s 38-31 win against Ursuline.

Gay has been a big reason why the Lakota West boys’ bowling team is currently 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Greater Miami Conference. According to the GMC website, Gay is currently third in the conference with a 220.4 average. Last season, Gay was named to the All-GMC First Team.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: athletes of the week, Drew Gay, Dwight Hu, Greater Miami Conference, Lakota athletes of the week, Lakota East, Lakota East athletics, Lakota East basketball, Lakota East chess, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West athletics, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West bowling, Lakota West sports, Summer Reeves, Whitney Wyckoff, Whitney Wyckoff Lakota East

Senior twins Shabazz and Summer Reeves combined to score 20 points to help Lakota West defeat Ursuline by the score of 38-31 Tuesday.

The win improves the Firebirds 2011-2012 record to 4-0, while the loss drops Ursuline’s record to 2-2.

After four games last season, Lakota West was 1-3. The 4-0 mark is the program’s best start since the 2008-2009 season. That year, Lakota West advanced to the final four of the state tournament.

Meanwhile, the Lions other loss this season was to the Firebirds’ next opponent Sycamore (51-33).

Lakota West will host Sycamore (3-1 overall, 1-1 in the Greater Miami Conference) at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Firebirds will then follow that up with a game at Lakota East (3-0, 1-0 in the GMC) next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Box score – Lakota West 38, Ursuline 31

Lakota West (4-0) - Zieberink 2 2 7, Sh. Reeves 3 2 12, Niehaus 1 0 2, Su. Reeves 1 6 8, Holder 1 0 3, McNeal 2 2 6. Totals: 12 10 38.
Ursuline (2-2) - Goodwin 3 3 9, Schirmer 2 0 6, S. Reilly 3 2 10, K. Reilly 1 0 2, Myers 1 0 2, Baltes 1 0 2. Totals: 13 5 31.

Halftime: Lakota West 21-13. 3-Pointers: L 4 (Zieberink 1, Sh. Reeves 2, Holder 1); U 4 (Schirmer 2, S. Reilly 2).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Morgan State basketball, Shabazz Reeves, Summer Reeves

Leading by a point in the remaining seconds of the game, Lakota West senior forward Ali Zieverink forced a Withrow turnover and dove on the basketball to secure a 53-52 win Thursday.

The win gives the Firebirds their second straight victory this winter as the team tries to rebound from their 10-11 record last season.

In the latest win, Lakota West took the lead for good on a Summer Reeves free throw with 27 seconds left.

As a team, five different Firebirds connected on three-point field goals. Reeves and her twin sister Shabazz made a combined five three pointers and totaled 27 points. The senior duo has already signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at Morgan State University.

Lakota West (2-0) will have its home and Greater Miami Conference opener against Oak Hills (0-2) at 2 p.m. this Saturday. Last season, Lakota West defeated Oak Hills on the road by the score of 44-32.

Box score – Lakota West 53, Withrow 52

Lakota West - Zieverink 1 3 5, Sh. Reeves 2 4 10, Huxhold 2 1 7, Tomasic 1 1 4, Niehaus 1 3 6, Su. Reeves 5 4 17, McNeal 1 2 4. Totals: 13 18 53.
Withrow (1-1) - Lee 5 0 10, Cohen 3 2 10, Williams 4 1 9, Beckley 1 0 2, Starkey 2 0 6, Paige 3 2 9, Roberts 1 2 4, Huey 1 0 2. Totals: 20 7 52.

Halftime: Tied 25-25. 3-pointers: L 9 (Sh. Reeves 2, Huxhold 2, Niehaus, Tomasic, Su. Reeves 3); W 5 (Cohen 2, Starkey 2, Paige).

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Ali Zieverink, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Shabazz Reeves, Summer Reeves, Withrow basketball

In 2008, Ali Zieverink was an eighth grader when she watched her sister, Emma, and her Lakota West teammates play in the state championship game.

Ali, who is now a senior, looked up that team, which featured six seniors who went on to play college basketball. She attended camps and was inspired to make an impact on the high school team herself.

“Being a part of it from the stands made me want to be a part of it on the floor even more,” Zieverink said. “I think with the team we have this year, if we keep working really hard, we can get back there.”

After 10 consecutive winning seasons and two appearances in the state tournament’s final four, Lakota West finished 10-11 overall, 6-8 in the Greater Miami Conference and was ousted in the first round of the postseason last winter.

“We have enough girls that remember the pride of the Lakota West basketball program and that want it to be back in that elite category,” Lakota West head coach Andy Fishman said.

“We don’t get the final four two years in a row because we had girls who were not committed to coming in and diving on the floor everyday. That was something that was definitely missing.”

Fishman is quick to point out that this year’s team is willing fight for each possession, dive for loose balls and play tight defense.

“Every team should be fighters, every year,” Fishman said. “This is the best mentality that we have had in a couple of years. There is more competition in the gym and I think that every player knows that she is an important person, but no more important than anyone else.”

The top returning scorer from last season is senior Summer Reeves, who along with her twin sister Shabazz, signed National Letters of Intent to play basketball at Morgan State University. Last season, Summer averaged 9.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, while Shabazz averaged 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, Lakota West will have to start the season without a pair of starters from last season’s team in seniors Bari Schwartz and Adrianna McNeal. Schwartz, who led Lakota West in assists last season, will miss the entire season after suffering an ACL tear during the soccer season. McNeal, on the other hand, is week-to-week with a micro fracture of her tibia.

The Firebirds also lose 2010-2011 starters Ronni Grandison (University of Massachusetts) and Mea Williams (Wilmington College) due to graduation. Claire Koslowski, who was considered by Fishman as the team’s best leader in practice, also graduated and is now playing rugby at the University of Notre Dame.

According to Fishman, this team is well balanced and has a lot of depth. He and his coaching staff are still determining which girls play together well enough to compete for GMC and district championships.

Lakota West will tip off its season when it will hosts Mount Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28.

Posted in: Sports, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: Adrianna McNeal, Ali Zieverink, Andy Fishman, Andy Fishman Lakota West, Bari Schwartz, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Shabazz Reeves, Summer Reeves