TVC State History 2006-2014

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93Bulldog
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TVC State History 2006-2014

Post by 93Bulldog »

TVC History

Did you know for two-and-a-half decades after Nelsonville-York won a football state championship in 1981, the TVC did not have much to brag about in terms of success at the state level? But that all changed in 2006 when the Alexander volleyball team made a run to the state tournament before losing to eventual state champion Anna in the semi-finals. The Alexander Spartans girls basketball team then made the state tournament that winter and fell to Delphos St. John in the D3 semi-finals. Since the 2006/2007 season the league has enjoyed incredible success at both the state and regional level, which is still going strong today after the Vinton County and Waterford girls basketball teams punched their ticket to the 2021 state tournament last week.

After the girls hoops team made it to Columbus in ‘07, the Alexander volleyball team took it one step further in the fall by finishing as state runner-up when they lost to Lima Central Catholic in the DIII state championship game. The heartbreaking loss served as a great learning experience, however, as Alexander stormed though the competition in 2008 and won the TVC’s first state championship in 26 years by dominating Gilmour Academy in 3 sets in the finals. Before the 2010 season the TVC-Hocking invited Wahama into the league and the White Falcons didn’t disappoint by going (13-0) on the gridiron before losing to Wheeling Central Catholic in the Class A West Virginia state championship game. In the fall of 2011 a Howie Caldwell led Eastern volleyball team qualified for the state tournament and went an impressive (27-0) before losing in 4 sets to Tuscarawas Central Catholic in the DIV semi-finals. One year later in 2012 the Wahama football team capped off a (30-0) regular season run with the school’s first ever state championship by defeating Madonna 43-42 in one of the state’s most thrilling title games ever. Trailing 42-41 in overtime, legendary coach Ed Cromley opted to go for the two point conversion and got it when 3-year starter Trenton Gibbs faked a handoff and waltzed into the end zone for the Class A title. Just a few months later the Eastern Lady Eagles made their first basketball state tournament appearance, but lost in the 2013 DIV semi-finals to Berlin Hiland.

In the fall of 2013 the Trimble Tomcats shocked a lot of football fans up north by defeating Western Reserve in the state semi-finals, which earned them a trip the DVII state championship game where they’d fall to Marion Local at Paul Brown Stadium in Massillon. That same school year, Jenna Burdette and the Eastern Eagles made their return trip to the girls basketball state tournament, only this time they’d capture the hardware by beating Rosecrans 49-38 in the 2014 DIV state championship. There is no doubt this time frame between 2012-2014 was just an incredible time to be a fan of high school sports and fans of teams in the TVC. In the fall of 2014, after two straight regional final losses in football, the Athens Bulldogs finally broke through and defeated state power ASVSM in the state semi-finals to earn a trip to the DIII state championship game at the Horseshoe in Columbus, The Bulldogs, which scored the most points in Ohio high school football history, eventually suffered a heart wrenching 56-52 loss to Toledo Central Catholic. Trimble also played in a state semi-final that same season losing to Norwalk St. Paul at Mt. Vernon High School.

Just months after the Bulldogs state championship loss, the Waterford Wildcats began their miraculous run in girls basketball when they lost to Fort Loramie in the 2015 DIV state championship. The Lady Cats were just getting started though and made it back to the finals the following year and defeated St. Wendelin 29-27 to win the 2016 DIV girls basketball state championship. It would be the third overall state championship for the TVC-Hocking in just 5 years. Waterford returned to Columbus in 2017 and lost in the finals to Berlin Hiland – and again in 2018 where they’d lose to Minster in the semi-finals. The loss in 2018 ended a six-year streak of having a TVC-Hocking team at the state tournament girls basketball. Also during the remarkable stretch, the Waterford volleyball team made the state tournament in 2015, but lost in the semi-finals.

During Waterford’s 4 straight trips to the girls basketball state finals, the Wahama baseball team won two more state championships for the TVC by winning back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016. 36 years after winning a state championship in football, the Nelsonville-York football team made its way back to the state-semifinals before losing to Kirtland in 2017. One year later the Trimble Tomcats made their 2nd appearance in a state championship where they’d lose to McComb in the 2018 DVII title game at Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. In 2020 the Alexander soccer team lost in the DII state semi-finals to Tipp City.

This week at UD Arena in Dayton, the Vinton County Lady Vikings and Waterford Lady Wildcats will have their opportunity to add their names to the growing list of state champions or state runner up’s when the 2021 girls basketball state tournament get underway on Thursday.

All told, the TVC has won SIX state championships and finished runner-up SEVEN times in the last 14 years.

Master list:

2007: Alexander girls basketball – state semi-finalist

2007: Alexander volleyball – state runner-up

2008: Alexander volleyball – state champion

2010: Wahama football – state runner-up

2011: Eastern volleyball – state semi-finalist

2012: Wahama football – state champion

2013: Eastern girls basketball – state semi-finalist

2013: Trimble football – state runner-up

2014: Eastern girls basketball – state champion

2014: Athens football – state runner-up

2014: Trimble football – state semi-finalist

2015: Wahama baseball – state champion

2015: Waterford volleyball – state semi-finalist

2015: Waterford girls basketball – state runner-up

2016: Wahama baseball – state champion

2016: Waterford girls basketball – state champion

2017: Waterford girls basketball – state runner-up

2017: Nelsonville-York football – state semi-finalist

2018: Trimble football – state runner up

2018: Waterford girls basketball – state semi-finalist

2020: Alexander soccer – state semi-finalist

2021: Waterford girls basketball –

2021: Vinton County gils basketball


Kmit
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Re: TVC State History 2006-2014

Post by Kmit »

It has been a good run. Let's hope it continues.

Not high school related but the 2014 Athens team was lead by Joe Burrow who was the Heisman recipient. Not many conferences get to claim a Heisman winner.

I believe in 2000 both the Eastern and Belpre boys played in the basketball semi finals. Belpre may have made it to the Championship game. I don't recall.


Kmit
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Re: TVC State History 2006-2014

Post by Kmit »

Also, nice article. Thanks for putting it together.


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93Bulldog
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Re: TVC State History 2006-2014

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Belpre did play in the finals.

There were some moments between 81 and 2006, the article just kind of highlights the run from 2006 until now.


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Re: TVC State History 2006-2014

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Interesting facts TVC basketball.

When the Vinton County Lady Vikings and Waterford Lady Wildcats head to UD Arena in Dayton for the state tournament later this week, it will NOT be the first time the TVC has sent TWO league teams to the same state tournament. In fact, this years tournament will mark the 20th anniversary of the last time the TVC has had two teams representing the league on the big stage.

In 2001 TVC-Hocking champion Eastern, led by player of the year Matt Simpson and coach of the year Howie Caldwell, won the DIV regional before falling to Tipp City Bethel 65-42 in Columbus.

TVC-Ohio champion Belpre, led by player of the year Pat Klein and coach of the year Joe Garrett, won a DIII regional before losing to Miami East 61-57 in the state semi-finals.


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Re: TVC State History 2006-2014

Post by 93Bulldog »

Interesting facts girls basketball

Did you know after Waterford and Vinton County girls basketball teams won regional titles last week that the TVC has sent THREE different teams to the state tournament since 2013? Did you know this years tournament in Dayton will be the SEVENTH time in the last NINE years the TVC has been represented? The Jenna Burdette led Eastern Lady Eagles started a remarkable run of SIX straight appearances in 2013 when they lost to Berlin Hiland in the DIV state semi-finals. The Following year Eastern made it back Columbus, only this time capturing the schools first ever state championship by defeating Rosecrans 49-38 in the final. The next year it was Waterford's turn as they lost in the state championship game to Fort Loramie, but returned in 2016 and defeated Fostoria St. Wendelin 29-27 for the 2nd state championship in 3 years for the TVC. The Lady Wildcats made it back to the DIV state finals for a remarkable third time in a row in 2017, but lost to Berlin Hiland in the championship. In 2018 Waterford clawed its way into the state tournament for the FOURTH time in a row, but lost to Minster in the semi-finals. After just a two year hiatus (one being Covid and no tournament played) - the TVC is back under the bright lights as both Waterford and Vinton County advanced to the 2021 state state tournament and will look to keep their seasons alive in the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday at UD Arena in Dayton.

2013: Eastern - state semi-finalist. Berlin Hiland 54-51 L
2014: Eastern - state champions. Rosecrans 49-38 W
2015: Waterford - state runner-up. Fort Loramie 55-48 L
2016: Waterford - state champions. St. Wendelin 29-27 W
2017: Waterford - state runner up. Berlin Hiland 61-41 L
2018: Waterford - state semi-finalist. Minster 46-31 L
2021: Waterford/Vinton County


GRFan
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Re: TVC State History 2006-2014

Post by GRFan »

Wellston was state runner-up in baseball in 1985. Congratulations to Vinton County and Waterford on their great run. Good Luck!
They shined a bright light on the TVC


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Re: TVC State History 2006-2014

Post by NYBuckeye96 »

There were also multiple individual champions in various sports. NY has had several state champions in wrestling, for example.



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