By MICHAEL SHANNON

Record Herald Writer

Courtesy of the Weekly Record Herald; Printed on 1-20-12

Some new things are on the horizon for the Tipp City Schools. The board of education this month approved a $204,000 new building project to the Tippecanoe High School baseball and softball fields, after they were damaged in a windstorm last fall.

The damage was done to the facilities over Labor Day weekend. High winds tore up fences, tossed bleachers, and caused damage to the dugouts and the baseball field’s backstop. The home dugout for the baseball field was completely leveled by the storm.

The damaging winds brought to light the need for stronger, sturdier dugouts, according to school officials.

The board had discussed building a two story press and concession stand combination before, but it never came to fruition until now. The board made the decision to build them all at once.

There was apprehension about the project stemming from the overall cost to build the new facilities. It is quite an investment, but, the board concluded, a necessary one.

“It just made sense,” School Facilities Director Gary Pfister said.

The school received eight bids on the project. The final contract was awarded by unanimous board vote to Brumbaugh Construction. Brumbaugh will build four new dugouts and a two story press box/concession stand combination on the softball field. Repairing damage done to the backstop is also on the to-do list. There was a proposal to add new bleacher seating to accommodate 200 spectators; however, the school did not accept that part of the proposal, due to budget constraints.

Pfister stressed that no funds for this building project are coming from the general operating budget. The school financed the $204,000 project through a tax-exempt municipal lease proprosal with Fifth Third Bank. Since Good Samaritan and Upper Valley Medical Center already donate $75,000 annually for the sports complex, that money will all go towards paying off the project.

“We want to make it clear to the community where the funds are coming from,” Pifster said.

The project deadline is March 16. The deadline is prior to the first home games of the season.

“We are working very hard to meet that deadline,” Pfister said.

As long as the snow and blizzards hold off, and the weather remains conducive to building, they will meet that deadline, he said. The weather has been a big factor to this point, and will continue to be through the winter months still to come.

Due to the recent agreeable weather (before last week’s snowfall), Brumbaugh has been able to complete all of the demolition for all four dugouts. The foundation has been laid for the new softball dugout and press box/ concession stand, and digging is under way for the other one.

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Camp instructors include former 12 year major league baseball player Jeff Reboulet along with former professional players and area college coaches. The cost of the camp is $95.00. (Group and team discounts are available.) The indoor camp will be held at REB Sports Academy 907 Forrer Blvd. Dayton. For additional information or to register log on to www.rebsportsacademy.com or call 937-848-3837.

January 21st, at half time of the varsity game vs Greenon the “1967 District Champion” team will be recognized. This team went 21-3, which was the most wins by a Red Devil team until 2006.

The wrestling program will recognize former Coach Chuck Wray and recent Hall of Fame inductee during the event. All alumni are encouraged to contact Assistant Coach Jordan Krebs with your wrestling resume by January 24th.

Ohio has eight Division I-A football programs. The one with the best record in 2011 may wear red, but they’re not in Columbus, and their initials are not OSU. The UC Bearcats  lead the Big East conference standings, play their bigger home games at the NFL’s Paul Brown Stadium, and boast a rush defense ranked second in the nation. They also proudly rank tenth in graduation rates.

As Cincy faced West Virginia on Saturday, Mother Nature got in the fall football spirit, offering up 60 degrees and sunshine in November. The scenes around the stadium were just as bright.

Visitors donning West Virginia’s Old Gold and Blue tailgated alongside Bearcat fans, sharing beer, brats, and a common appreciation for x’s and o’s.

The Pride of West Virginia, WVU’s award-winning marching band, battled pep rally tunes with Cincinnati’s TUCBIDG (The UC Band Is Damn Good).

Zach Collaros, the UC quarterback who exited the game with a broken ankle early, returned on crutches in the second half to rally his team from the sidelines.

One of the country’s most unusual mascots, the eerily authentic-looking Mountaineer, roamed in buckskin, firing his musket when West Virginia scored.

On the field, the two relatively evenly matched teams gained exactly the same number of yards and ended with WVU blocking Cincinnati’s last-second field goal attempt. Final score: West Virginia 24, UC 21.

For the 48,000+ fans in attendance, the day offered everything one could ask for in a college contest.  With all the negativity surrounding some of the country’s top programs, it was refreshing to go out and watch an old-fashioned football game without much thought of scandals.

If you’d like the same experience, find the UC Bearcats back in action against UConn at Nippert Stadium on December 3. West Virginia next takes on archrival Pitt in the Backyard Brawl, slated for November 25 in Morgantown. Other games on tap nearby: Eastern Michigan plays at Kent State on November 19, and Miami travels to OU on November 22.

Find more of my shots from the game on Facebook.

Story and photos by Andrea Nay.

When Abby Dowd enrolled at Pitt last January, she came in thinking the majority of her time would be spent in the classroom.

Little did the Tipp City, Ohio native know that in a matter of weeks she would be practicing with the women’s basketball team and the newest member of the Panthers.

Dowd played collegiately at the University at Buffalo where she starred as a freshman, finishing fourth in scoring and starting 25 of 30 games during the 2009-10 season. Even though she enjoyed success at the Mid-American Conference program, the feisty guard wanted something more – so she left upstate New York and headed closer to home not knowing if basketball was a even a part of her future.

Once on the Oakland campus, Dowd emailed the Panthers coaching staff hoping to become a practice player for the team. Per NCAA rules, females are not permitted to be a practice player on a women’s team, but they can be added to a roster as an official member on the roster.

“I was thinking about going to Pitt regardless of if I played basketball or not,” Dowd said. “When I transferred here it was so nice because it was a school I had always wanted to attend.”

Dowd showed up at her first practice and Pitt head coach Agnus Berenato admits she did not pay a lot of attention to the ‘new girl’. It didn’t take long, however, before Berenato and her staff knew they had a hidden treasure.

“After day two we were like, ‘wow,’ she needs to be on the team. Abby could stroke the three, she could set a screen if we went to the top, she went down, she went back door, and if we went under she shot the three. She was just very smart,” said Berenato of her initial impression of Dowd. “The very first practice the kids finished stretching and we always circle up (in a group) at the end and here is Abby going, “Alright girls, let’s go girls.”

The 2010 MAC All-Freshman team selection is what Berenato calls “the ultimate student athlete.”

“Abby is a high honors student, she’s been on the honor roll every year so we are really excited that Abby decided to play and be a part of the team because really that’s not why she transferred to Pitt.”

Last spring at the Petersen Events Center, Dowd was often the player who crossed the line first in practice – not to mention the loudest cheerleader on the bench during the rigorous conference schedule. The dedication and athleticism did not go unnoticed as Dowd was awarded a scholarship shortly before the school year ended.

While only a 21-year old redshirt sophomore and with only a year of experience under her belt, Dowd has the moniker of being the oldest player on a team billed as the nation’s youngest.

“In some ways I’m the same as a freshman, but in other ways I think I can offer some insight from being older,” Dowd said.

Dowd has taken a leadership position on the young team, something Berenato saw was present that very first January day of practice.

“I’m definitely one of the vocal leaders on the team,” Dowd said.

Averaging 6.5 points per game to go along with an impressive 47.8 percent shooting percentage from three-point range at Buffalo, Dowd’s shooting prowess will make her a valuable asset as the women’s three-point line gets pushed further out this season.

“I’m a shooter and that’s what I’m going to try to bring to this team,” she said.

Dowd’s  scholastic athletic ability was not limited to basketball. A second-team all-state selection in volleyball her senior year in high school, Dowd thinks her background in that sport will aid her on the hardcourt.

“There’s so much jumping and lateral movements in both sports so I think that definitely helps my game,” Dowd said.

While Dowd probably won’t be trying out for Pitt volleyball team anytime soon, she is looking forward to helping her young teammates – six true freshmen – in their first season in a Panthers uniform.

“Even though I wasn’t here for my freshman and sophomore years, I still have experience,” Dowd said. “Even though I don’t know what it’s like to travel to Connecticut or Notre Dame to play, I’ve still done it before.”

Playing basketball at Pitt is just an unexpected and incredible bonus for Dowd. It’s a windfall that she will be sure to take full advantage of – after all, it started with an email to the coaching staff just asking for an opportunity.

“I feel like I’m so lucky to go to school here and get to play basketball as well,” Dowd said. “I am living the dream here.”

Provided by the University of Pittsburgh

Proceeds from the Memorial 5K Heart Walk/Run on November 12, 2011, will go to the Vincent J. Kohen Memorial Scholarship Fund which named its first award recipients this summer.

Join us for the inaugural Fazoli’s VJK Memorial 5K Heart Walk/Run on November 12, 2011. This run is being held in memory of Vince Kohen who was highly instrumental in the development of youth/club soccer in the Dayton area. Proceeds from the event will go to the Vincent J. Kohen Memorial Scholarship Fund which will, in turn, be awarded to local soccer players graduating from high school and moving on to continue their academics and soccer career at the college level.

Vince Kohen was a pioneer in the early days of soccer in the Dayton area, and his vision and leadership helped this region become one of the most successful youth soccer areas in the country. Vince Kohen will long be remembered for his passion for helping kids, through the game of soccer, and for building the foundation for Dayton area club soccer.  His legacy continues with his players who have moved into the coaching ranks and now pass these same traits on to the youth players of this generation. Vince Kohen passed away September 17^th, 2010.

The Vincent J. Kohen Memorial Scholarship Fund was set up to honor Mr. Kohen and recognize graduating seniors who show qualities similar to those exhibited by Mr. Kohen: leadership; hard work; and the determination to achieve their best both on and off the soccer field.

Brian Kohen, Vince’s son, was on hand to award the first scholarships to Lauren Mershad and Mack Crawford this past June.  Lauren is a 2011 graduate of Alter High School, 4 year Ohio Galaxies FC player, varsity soccer player at Alter, and is attending Penn State University. Mack is a 2011 graduate of Centerville High School, 4 year Ohio Galaxies FC player and is attending Bowling Green State University. Both Lauren and Mack have played soccer since they were 5 years old.  They have excelled in both the classroom and the soccer field.  Their leadership, commitment and recognition of the value of the game of soccer in their lives, illustrates the qualities Vince Kohen aspired to instill in young soccer players.

The location of the Memoral 5K Heart Walk/Run  is the Five Points Elementary School at 650 Lytle-Five Points Road.  The course will include the Five Points Elementary School grounds, Lytle-Five Points Road and the Glenridge neighborhood.  The walk/run kicks off at 9 am.  The cost is $22 which includes a race shirt.  To register on-line, go to:

http://theracepace.com/races/2011/9/5/2-november-12-2011-fazolis-vjk-memorial-5k.html

Press contact or set up an interview: Craig Harmer; 937-776-8100; Craig@gardensalive.com

Ohio Galaxies Futbol Club, P.O. Box72, Alpha. Ohio 45301-0072

The $75,000 check was for Upper Valley Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospitals’ annual sponsorship of Tipp City Schools’ athletic programs. As part of the sponsorship, Tipp City Schools receive athletic training and sports medicine services as well as funds to support our athletic programs. In recognition, the school’s athletic field bears the name “Good Samaritan North/UVMC Athletic Complex”.

Tipp City Schools is happy to be partners with Upper Valley Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital; it enhances not only Tipp City Schools’ sports programs, but the well-being of the school and community.

About Tipp City Schools

The Tipp City Exempted Village School District consists of five schools with an enrollment of 2700: one high school (9-12), one middle school (6-8), an intermediate school (4-5), and two elementary schools (K-3).Tipp City Exempted Village Schools district includes the City of Tipp City and most of Monroe Township.

Bruns (Tipp City, OH/Tippecanoe) was WSU’s top finisher in all three races ran during the month.  His top performance came at the Friendship Invitational in Cedarville on September 17 as he won the 8K race with a time of 25:45.

Bruns finished eighth in each of the other two races, completing the 5K Flyer Challenge with a time of 15:58 and the 5K Queen City Invitational with a time of 15:40.

The cross country teams are back in action on Friday, September 30, at the All-Ohio Championships in Cedarville.

*Article and photo courtesy of WSU Athletic Media Relations