A Preview of the Top 5 Athens County Fall Sports Stories

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Story lines to watch for

KEVIN WISEMAN
Sports Editor

It may still be July, but it's not too early to take a peek at what could be around the corner in a couple months. OK, for students and teachers on summer vacation, it's probably way to early to be looking toward fall. But I'm going to do it anyway. Here's a list of five intriguing headlines that will play out during the fall sports season.

5. Federal Hocking and Trimble try to reclaim the TVC-Hocking crown in football

Federal Hocking and Trimble were making the top of the Tri-Valley Conference Hocking their personal battle ground until last season when Waterford spoiled the party. Both the Lancers and Tomcats made trips to Waterford last season, and both got back on the bus licking their wounds. The Wildcats were able to get over the hump and prevent Federal Hocking from repeating as champions and prevent Trimble from stealing the crown back.

But the road will be tough for the Wildcats in 2008. They will play at Trimble and at Federal Hocking this season. Will Waterford be able to repeat, or will the TVC-Hocking crown go back to Stewart or Glouster?

4. Emily Skidmore goes for another state tournament

There are few certainties in life. But it's about time to add Emily Skidmore qualifying for a state tournament to the list, along with death and taxes.

The Alexander standout will be gunning for quite an impressive feat this fall - qualify for the state cross country meet for a fourth season in a row. Given the fact that all of her seasons in cross country and track and field have ended with her competing against the best athletes in the state, you have to like her chances if she can stay healthy. Graduation from high school could be the only thing to keep Skidmore out of a state tournament that involves running long distances.

3. Nelsonville-York gunning for another TVC-Ohio title
On the field, the Buckeyes won their fifth straight TVC-Ohio title in football last season. But technically, they didn't. An unfortunate incident involving an ineligible player forced the Buckeyes to forfeit a league game against Wellston, and Belpre was able to claim the title outright instead of sharing it.

Given those circumstances, Nelsonville-York could be even more fired up than usual once league play begins. With Meigs and Vinton County losing key seniors, the real question could be who's going to stop the Buckeyes in the TVC? A game at Belpre on Sept. 26th, could just decide the league champion.

Even the Buckeyes' late season non-league game is intriguing. Ironton will play at Nelsonville-York on Oct. 17 in what will be a battle between two programs that can boast of winning a state title.

2. Athens finally joins the TVC

After two years, Athens will finally be playing in the TVC. The Bulldogs voted out of the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League two summers ago, and have been on a farewell tour of SEOAL cities ever since.

We'll finally get a chance to see Athens compete in the TVC, and it will be interesting to see where the Bulldogs land in the fall sports standings. The pressure will be on the football team to produce wins after back-to-back last-place finishes. Gallia Academy is the only SEOAL school still left on the football schedule, so at the very least Athens should be competitive week in and week out. The beatings the Bulldogs received weekly from the likes of Logan, Zanesville, Chillicothe and Jackson should be a thing of the past.

The volleyball team had a strong showing in the SEOAL last year and in tournament play the previous two seasons. Even more wins and a possible second-place finish behind Alexander could be on the table for that program.

1. Alexander volleyball goes for state championship

A recent thread on an Internet forum asked who the strongest teams in the TVC would be in volleyball. Considering no player on Alexander's roster has lost a TVC match with the Spartans, let's just say the rest of the league might as well play Duffy's 'Begging you for mercy' song before taking on Alexander this season.

The Spartans advanced all the way to the state championship match in Division III last year, and were only two games away from winning it all. It was their second straight trip to the state tournament and fifth straight appearance in the regional tournament.

Alexander will return almost its entire team, as it lost only two seniors from last year. The Spartans should breeze through the TVC-Ohio with all the fire power and experience they have. Could there be a more perfect way for seniors like Whitney Smith, Lauren Raines and Betsy Irwin to finish off their careers than by advancing to the Nutter Center in Dayton for a third year in a row and coming away with the allusive state title?

Of course it won't be easy. Adena will likely provide a challenge in the regional tournament, and any team to make it to the Final Four won't be a push over. But the possibility is definitely out there.