Home Care In Tontogany, OH

TONTOGANY, Ohio — A donated wetlands area will benefit the Otsego Local Schools classrooms and community — but Lake Erie will get the biggest benefit.

The entire student body helped dedicate the Fox-Shank Living Lab on Monday afternoon. The 16-acre property includes eight acres of wetlands.

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Students led tours and talked about the wetlands benefit and what they have seen grow and live in the area over the last year, as they’ve readied the land.

Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, helped cut the ribbon for the property about 25 miles south of Toledo.

“Wetland programs are really important for water quality. But this one — across from the school and having the kids engaged [is unique],” Ms. Mertz said. “Solving the algae bloom problem is the long game and the only way we’re going to win the long game is if we get young people involved.”

“It’s super impressive that the school took the initiative to get things going,” she said. “You have to have dedicated teachers to make this thing happen.”

Teachers and students, especially in seventh-grade science classes, have been working on the property for a year. With help, they cleared a trail, installed informational signage, and planted fruit trees. They’ve started documenting critters, such as birds, snakes, frogs, and insects.

Eric Saas, H2Ohio project manager for the ODNR, said 150 H2Ohio wetlands are on private land and another 150 on public property.

“No single project by itself is going to solve the problem, but when you add all this together, we’re going to be moving the needle,” Mr. Saas said.

Otsego Superintendent Kevin O’Shea said that the school district will be partnering with Bowling Green State University to share data and research.

This property will be owned by the school system and was acquired through an H2Ohio Initiative grant at no cost to taxpayers, Mr. O’Shea said.

Stephen Zenner Lake Erie Advocates unhappy with U.S. EPA

In December, Jackie Shank, Elaine Dunn, Mary Lou Wiles, and Jessica McDevitt sold a 16-acre parcel of land east of the campus to the Black Swamp Conservancy.

The land sellers are Fox family heirs who have been property owners, business owners, and residents of the Otsego community for generations, Mr. O’Shea said.

“We’re so excited for what’s going to happen,” Ms. Wiles said. “This is our backyard.”

This will be a place where students can explore, learn about, play in, and take care of ecosystems, Mr. O’Shea said. It will also be a space for demonstrating sustainable farming practices.

The property has restored wetlands, a boulder amphitheater, walking trails, a demonstration agriculture field, an array of wildlife, and access to the stream for students to safely take water samples.

Ms. Mertz broke the basics down for the students of why the wetlands are important to Lake Erie, which provides drinking water to millions of people.

“Who has been to Lake Erie and seen the water when it is curling up around your feet, and it looks kind of green?” she said. “Sometimes it can turn toxic when there is too much of a certain type of algae in it. And we’ve been worried about that for a long time. It hurts the water you drink. It makes it less fun to go boating and fishing, and sometimes you can’t even swim.”

Natural wetlands can help control the algae, Ms. Mertz said.

“When the water flows through it, on its way to Lake Erie, it will help to clean that water. One of the important things it does is take phosphorus out of the water,” she said.

Hannah Euler is an Otsego eighth grader who helped turn the property into the educational space.

“It allows us to be hands-on in our learning,” she said, adding that the area can also be used by art students.

During non-school hours, the property will be open as a public park.

“The trail that we’ll walk today will be maintained and will be open to the public on a daily basis for anyone who wants to come out and take a walk through it,” Tontogany Mayor Matt Shanahan said.

First Published October 2, 2023, 1:13pm

TONTOGANY – Otsego Local Schools have inducted three more alumni into its Hall of Fame.

On Feb. 10, Jim Carter, Cole Gorski and Lisa Ann Hatfield joined the list of honorees for having earned distinction beyond graduation.

The Otsego Hall of Fame was established in 2021 and is designed to recognize individuals who have brought honor to themselves by making significant impacts or contributions to the school, students or community.

Carter is a 1957 Grand Rapids High School alumnus. He was a Buckeye Boys State delegate in 1956 and was active in athletics.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1958-61, and was named an outstanding soldier for the Fourth Army. He earned degrees in electrical engineering at the University of Toledo and University of Michigan, and worked for Toledo Edison for 32 years.

Carter served as Wood County commissioner for 20 years, was a Grand Rapids councilman from 1969-75, and served a mayor in the village from 1975-80 and 1984-93.

He was chairman of the Toledo Metropolitan Council of Governments in 1999, on the Owens Community College Foundation Board of Directors in 2003 and has been a member of Grand Rapids American Legion Post 232.

He has volunteered with the Grand Rapids Apple Butter Fest, the Grand Rapids Historical Society and the Grand Rapids Township Fire Department.

Carter was honored as a Spirit of Wood County award winner in 1993 and was Wood County Fair Grand Marshall in 2016. He has been inducted into the American Legion Boys State Hall of Fame.

He has been married to his childhood sweetheart Sharon for more than 64 years. They have two daughters, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Gorski is a 2014 Otsego High School graduate, was valedictorian of his class and a member of National Honor Society.

He was outdoor and indoor pole vault state champion, state finalist in the 200 meter and 100 meter dash, a conference record holder in the pole vault, 100 meter, 200 meter and 4×200 relay, and was named the NBC Athlete of the Year.

In football, Gorski was a first team conference and district wide receiver, and was named OHSFCA Academic All Ohio.

He graduated in 2019 with summa cum laude honors from Ohio State University with a bachelor of science in Business Administration.

Gorski was a three-time Big Ten champion in pole vault, a three-time NCAA All-American in pole vault, an Ohio State pole vault record holder for both indoor and outdoor, and a Big Ten Medal of Honor finalist for attaining the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work.

Gorski is currently working as a frontend developer.

Hatfield is a 1981 Otsego High School alumna, who went on the earn an associate degree in nursing technology at Owens Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Ohio University.

She works as a behavioral health registered nurse at Humana Inc.

Hatfield served as an Otsego Local Schools Board of Education member for 12 years. She has been the Otsego Food Pantry director since 2016 and chairperson of the Grand Rapids Apple Butter Festival Committee since 1984.

She has been Haskins and Grand Rapids Parent Teacher Association volunteer, den leader and assistant cub master of Pack 325, and elder at Grand Rapids First Presbyterian Church and head chef for its Thanksgiving Day dinner.

Hatfield has been a Kids Outdoor Science Camp charge nurse at Camp Palmer, and a Wood County 4-H Camp substitute nurse.

She and her husband Jeff have been married for 40 years and have two sons and a daughter-in-law. All are Otsego alumni.

Past Otsego Hall of Fame honorees have included:

2012-13: Dan Cocke, Holly Frantz, Deb Kendall, Gordon Wenig

2013-14: Randy Donald, Ann Laskey, Lawrence Sprague

2014-15: John Brown, Madge Brown, Fred Moor, Bernard Scott, Jean Scott

2015-16: Howard Bluhm, Tim Downey, Carter Genson, Charlene Genson, Barb Vollmar,

2016-17: Edward C. Byers Jr., Mary Frazier

2017-18: Stephen Kendall, Ann Titus

2018-19: Janine Baughman, Lt.-Col. Joseph L. Heyman, Joe Long

2019-20: Tom Sorosiak, Nancy Wright

2021-22: Pablo Castro, Richard Conrad, Kelly Heile

TONTOGANY — Here are updates from Friday’s high school football game between Otsego and Liberty Center. This story will be updated after each quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Liberty Center led 6-0 with 8:35 left and drove from its own 18 to the Otsego 8. Kicker Ian Rosebrook then booted a 25-yard field goal with 2:14 left in the game.

Tigers QB Zane Zeiter and running back Matthew Orr each broke of 22-yard runs on the drive.

Liberty Center remained undefeated at 3-0 and Otsego (2-1) lost for the first time.

THIRD QUARTER

The defensive stalemate continued into the scoreless third quarter where neither team could mount much offense. Each team punted once.

SECOND QUARTER

In a scoreless second quarter, the Knights forced two LC turnovers. But the Tigers defense limited Otsego to 29 total yards of offense in the first half.

On the third play of the second quarter, Otsego defensive back Owen Atkinson came up with an interception.

Otsego's Blake Steele then recovered an LC fumble at the Tigers' 30. But the Liberty Center defense, which was extremely stingy throughout the first half, forced a quick turnover on downs.

The half came to an end when Liberty Center threw an incomplete pass in the end zone. The Tigers opted to forgo a 39-yard field goal attempt after Otsego had called a timeout.

FIRST QUARTER

Liberty Center opened the game with a nine-play, 74 yard drive to take the early lead. Quarterback Zane Zeieter hooked up with wide receiver Noah Hammontree on a 21-yard TD pass strike. The point after attempt was blocked by Jayden Pinkney but the Tigers took a 6-0 lead with 8:13 left in the first quarter.

Hammontree and Zeiter had connected on another 21-yard pass play early in the drive.

LC then force a three and out on Otsego's initial possession. But the Knights returned the favor and got the ball right back. Liberty Center lineman Bodde Simon came up with consecutive sacks to force another Otsego punt.

PREGAME

Unbeaten teams from the Northern Buckeye Conference and Northwest Ohio Athletic League meet in the final non-league game of the regular season on Friday night.

The host Knights (2-0) are the defending NBC champions and the Tigers (2-0) are the preseason pick to win the NWOAL.

Otsego has wins over Wynford (18-12) and Van Buren (48-7). The Knights, who went 11-1 last season, have been led by junior quarterback Devin Farley, senior running back Blake Steele, and junior wide receiver Jack Simpson.

Liberty Center has victories over Tinora (31-0) and Napoleon (35-21). The Tigers, who went 11-3 last season, have been led by senior quarterback Zane Zeiter and senior running back Matthew Orr.

Otsego defeated Liberty Center 40-21 on the road in Week 3 last season.

First Published September 2, 2022, 1:36pm

The South Range football team placed three players on the All Ohio Division V First Team, including junior quarterback Billy Skripac.

2021 Division V All-Ohio Football Teams

Offensive Players of the Year: Gabe Tingle, West Lafayette Ridgewood; Levi Gullion, Piketon

Defensive Players of the Year: Spencer Mesaros, Ravenna Southeast; Carson Bey, Versailles

Coaches of the Year: Mike Lento, Kansas Lakota; Dave Maddox, Camden Preble Shawnee

First Team Offense

QB: Levi Gullion, Piketon, 6-3, 195, sr.; Drew Roe, Portsmouth, 5-7, 151, sr.; Gabe Tingle, West Lafayette Ridgewood, 5-11, 180, sr.; Harley Hopkins, Zanesville West Muskingum, 6-1, 205, sr.; Joseph Dzierwa, Tontogany Otsego, 6-6, 180, sr.; Billy Skripac, South Range, 6-2, 195, jr.

RB: Owen Davis, North Union, 6-2, 205, jr.; Mason Oliver, Bloomdale Elmwood, 5-11, 180, jr.; Trent Leiter, Tontogany Otsego, 5-11, 205, sr.; Anthony Demma, Garrettsville Garfield, 6-0, 195, sr.; Dylan Dominguez, South Range, 5-11, 195, sr.r; Levi Ellis, Elyria Catholic, 5-11, 190, jr.; Rayshon Kennedy, Cleveland Heights Lutheran East, 6-4, 240, sr.; Hunter Crockett, Camden Preble Shawnee, 6-2, 220, sr.

WR/TE: Jacob Denny, Liberty Union, 6-5, 205, sr.; Mason Tucci, Magnolia Sandy Valley, 5-10, 160, sr.; Caleb Kuhlman, Ottawa-Glandorf, 6-0, 190, sr.; Gage Sullivan, Kirtland, 6-4, 200, sr.; Alec Rodenberger, Bellefontaine Benjamin Logan, 5-11, 170, sr.; Leo Hennegan, Cincinnati Purcell Marian, 6-1, 165, sr.

OL: Joe Johnson, Harvest Prep, 6-9, 295, sr.; Rylan Cecil, Ironton, 6-2, 250, sr.; Tyler Leopold, Ottawa-Glandorf, 6-5, 310, sr.; Riley LaPorte, Garrettsville Garfield, 6-3, 270, sr.; Michael Lally, South Range, 6-1, 285, sr.; George Prusock, Kirtland, 6-0, 235, jr.; Hayden Gerhart, Elyria Catholic, 6-3, 270, sr.; Taran Tyo, Versailles, 6-4, 300, sr.

K: Braxton Sammons, Wheelersburg, 6-0, 175, sr.; Evan O’Connell, Columbus Ready, 5-8, 156, sr.

First Team Defense

DL: Gyvnn Mendenhall, Columbus Academy, 6-3, 235, sr.; Nate Cochran, Ironton, 6-3, 300, sr.; Jarett Wallick, Sugarcreek Garaway, 6-2, 215, jr.; Spencer Mesaros, Ravenna Southeast, 6-1, 250, sr.; Logan Cormell, South Range, 5-10, 190, sr.; Lucas Stoddard, Burton Berkshire, 6-4, 205, sr.; Kylyn Macklin, Cincinnati Purcell Marian, 6-2, 230, sr.; Elias Rudolph, Cincinnati Taft, 6-5, 215, soph.

LB: Angelo Washington, Ironton, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Colt Sechrest, Bellaire, 6-4, 225, sr.; Devin Coon, Tontogany Otsego, 5-8, 160, sr.; Mason Rus, Kirtland, 6-0, 180, sr.; Tony Grasso, Elyria Catholic, 6-0, 215, jr.; Carson Bey, Versailles, 5-10, 175, sr.; Max Tepe, Cincinnati Mariemont, 5-11, 170, sr.

DB: Brady Roden, Sugarcreek Garaway, 6-1, 165, jr.; Merced Diaz, Genoa, 5-10, 170, sr.; Will Sayle, Kirtland, 5-11, 170, soph.; Tommy Gogolin, Kirtland, 5-9, 165, jr.; Ke-yandre Larry, Cincinnati Taft, 6-1, 200, sr.; Luke Jackson, Lewistown Indian Lake, 5- 11, 170, sr.

P: Landon Jordan, Ottawa-Glandorf, 6-1, 185, sr.

Second Team Offense

QB: Lake Boos, Pemberville Eastwood, 6-1, 182 sr.; Grant Hitchcock, Jefferson, 5-11, 170, jr.; Brady Cook, Elyria Catholic, 6-0, 160, jr.; Caleb Wurster, Lewistown Indian Lake, 6-0, 155, sr.

RB: Ethan Miller, Sugarcreek Garaway, 5-9, 165, jr.; Zack Rice, Conneaut, 5-11, 175, jr.; Talon Borders, Carlisle, 5-10, 165, sr.; Jah’Mal Hutsell, Cincinnati Roger Bacon, 5-6, 170, sr.

WR/TE: Jacob Cusick, Richmond Edison, 6-1, 175, sr.; Chase Helberg, Tontogany Otsego, 5-11, 190, sr.; Jaron Filliater, Bucyrus Wynford, 6-4, 185, sr.; Jack Kenneally, Elyria Catholic, 6-7, 215, sr.; Pierce Boyd, Kirtland, 6-2, 230, sr.: Kyle Guyer, Cincinnati Roger Bacon, 6-2, 170, sr.

OL: Wyatt Moyer, Magnolia Sandy Valley, 5-10, 225, sr.; Brayden Adams, Sugarcreek Garaway, 6-2, 225, sr.; Josiah Cox, Akron Manchester, 6-1, 220, sr.; Jacob Brooks, South Range, 6-0, 220, sr.; Jonathan Withrow, Kirtland, 6-0, 215, sr.; Carter Bibler, Cincinnati Summit Country Day, 6-4, 220, sr.; Cain Gonzalez, Springfield Shawnee, 6-1, 290, sr.; Mysta Moore, Cincinnati Taft, 6-5, 325, jr.

K: Dylan Rolfert, Cincinnati Roger Bacon, 5-11, 205, sr.

Second Team Defense

DL: Kadin Bradford, West Lafayette Ridgewood, 6-4, 227, sr.; Connor Moore, Millbury Lake, 6-6, 260, sr.; Travis Merrill, Elyria Catholic, 6-3, 240, jr.; Tyhir Gray, Cleveland Heights Lutheran East, 6-3, 200, jr.; Caden Connor, Reading, 5-10, 200, jr.; Alex Couch, Carlisle, 6-2, 275, sr.; Kenny Wise, Tipp City Bethel, 5-10, 175, sr.

LB: Gavin Miller, North Union, 5-9, 175, sr.; CJ Smith, Marion Pleasant, 5-10, 185, sr.; Xavier Lamneck, West Lafayette Ridgewood, 5-10, 170, sr.; Trey Hoover, Rayland Buckeye Local, 6-0, 215, jr.; Tyler Remish, South Range, 6-0, 200, jr.; Jason Herd, Conneaut, 5-11, 170, sr.; Tavion Thomas, Elyria Catholic, 5-9, 195, jr.; Ronald Cutts, Cincinnati Taft, 6-0, 210, jr.

DB: Ray Ray Pettigrew, Bellaire, 5-10, 160, jr.; Brady Nicely, Tontogany Otsego, 5-11, 155, jr.; Jack Budinger, Elyria Catholic, 6-1, 185, sr.; Grady Hutchinson, Camden Preble Shawnee, 5-10, 170, jr.; Beamer Walker, Cincinnati Roger Bacon, 5-9, 160, jr., Josh Clark, Wheelersburg, 6-1, 175, sr.

P: Jonathan Weaver, Amanda-Clearcreek, 6-2, 170, sr.

Third Team Offense

QB: Ben Nichols, Chillicothe Zane Trace, 6-0, 170, sr.; Christian Moyer, Doylestown Chippewa, 6-0, 190, sr.; Peyton Lemon, Apple Creek Waynedale, 5-10, 190, sr.; Joel Steinkoenig, Reading, 6-5, 220, sr.

RB: Brian Fitzsimmons, Columbus Ready, 5-10, 190, jr.; Jaylen Jennings, Harvest Prep, 5-11, 195, sr.; Jaquez Keyes, Ironton, 6-1, 210, jr.; Trystan Gries, Williamsburg, 6-0, 182, jr.

WR/TE: Max Autry, Cincinnati Madeira, 5-9, 175, jr.; Tayvon Miller, Amanda-Clearcreek, 6-1, 165, sr.; Parker Logan, Columbus Academy, 6-3, 210, sr.; Ty Perkins, Ironton, 6-3, 185, jr., Johnny Burton, Piketon, 5-11, 175, sr.; Camren Loar, Piketon, 5-9, 159, sr.

OL: Hunter McComas, Piketon, 6-2, 225, sr.; Timmy O’Grady, Bellaire, 6-1, 230, sr.; Zac Hoskins, Brooklyn, 6-5, 280, sr.; Tommy Rauscher, Elyria Catholic, 6-2, 260, sr.; Michael Maloon, Brookville, 5-10, 235, sr.; Marvin Sutton, Columbus Ready, 6-2, 260, sr.; Logan Bomer, Bloomdale Elmwood, 6-2, 260, sr.; Logan Evans, Lewistown Indian Lake, 5-11, 250, sr.

K: Kanyon McCort, Magnolia Sandy Valley, 6-0, 180, jr.

Third Team Defense

DL: Ashton Duncan, Ironton, 6-2, 245, sr.; Dakahri Paul, Warrensville Heights, 6-0, 180, sr.; Bailey Ryan, South Range, 6-1, 277, jr.; Nick Burns, Chesapeake, 6-2, 280, sr.; Braiden Dunham, Piketon, 6-4, 215, sr.; Lucas Prichard, Lima Bath, 6-4, 255, sr.; Conner Cravaack, Cincinnati Madeira, 6-5, 225, jr.

LB: Chandler Burrell, Harvest Prep, 6-0, 195, sr.; Carson Williams, Wheelersburg, 6-1, 195, sr.; James Thurman, Portsmouth, 5-9, 190, sr.; Justin Hershberger, Apple Creek Waynedale, 5-10, 190, sr.; Nate Glanc, Fairview Park Fairview, 5-10, 200, jr.; Phil LaVerde, Kirtland, 5-10, 175, jr.: Zack Stevens, Enon Greenon, 6-4, 190, jr.; Hunter Pendleton, Minford, 6-4, 230, jr.

DB: Jack Kuehn, Burton Berkshire, 5-11, 176, sr.; Scottie Bruns, Carlisle, 6-0, 160, sr.; David Hawk, Springfield Shawnee, 5-9, 165, sr.; J Matz, Kansas Lakota, 6-0, 180, sr.; Ethan McHugh, Rayland Buckeye Local, 6-1, 210, sr.; Brody Swigonski, Garrettsville Garfield, 5-11, 170, sr.

P: Jake Heatherington, Bellaire, 6-2, 170, jr.

Honorable Mention

QB: Evan Daniels, Mantua Crestwood, 6-2, 180, sr.; Anthony Cusick, Columbiana Crestview, 5-11, 170, sr.; Jack Osborne, Versailles, 5-11, 160, sr.; Nathan Hunter, Amanda-Clearcreek, 6-0, 185, sr.; Coulter Cleland, Pomeroy Meigs, 6-2, 200, sr.; Jordan Schulz, Albany Alexander, 6-1, 170, soph.; Devin Parker, Minford, 6-2, 205, sr.; Isaac Molihan, Wellston, 5-10, 175, jr.; Logan Yoder, Sugarcreek Garaway, 5-10, 160, jr.; Brayden Doran, Camden Preble Shawnee, 5-8, 160, jr.

RB: Jaidyn Sapp, Ravenna Southeast, 6-2, 195, sr.; Louie Blasiole, Mantua Crestwood, 5-10, 200, sr.; Cooper Briggs, Akron Manchester, 6-0, 190, sr.; Elijah Slagle, Lewistown Indian Lake, 5-9, 190, sr.; Carter James, Columbus Academy, 5-11, 195, sr.; Caleb Schneider, Johnstown, 6-1, 180, jr.; Ethan Young, North Union, 6-0, 190, sr.; Ryan Sissel, Portsmouth West, 6-1, 208, jr.; Ben Petro, Magnolia Sandy Valley, 5-10, 180, sr.; Kigenn Millender, West Lafayette Ridgewood, 5-9, 170, sr.; Korbyn Haley, Coshocton, 6-0, 190, sr.; Nathan Bertolino, Cadiz Harrison Central, 5-11, 195, sr.

WR/TE: Donny Birkett, Rootstown, 6-0, 175, sr.; Chris Cunningham, Liberty, 5-7, 170, jr.; Ayden Leon, South Range, 6-2, 210, jr.; Shane Lindstrom, South Range, 5-6, 155, jr.; Josiah Raber, Apple Creek Waynedale, 5-10, 180, sr.; Zion Crowe, Springfield Shawnee, 6-4, 185, jr.; Noah McEldowney, Versailles, 5-11, 160, sr.; Trenton Zimmerman, Minford, 6-4, 180, sr.; Reade Pendleton, Portsmouth 5-8, 157, jr.; Dariyonne Bryant, Portsmouth, 6-2, 165, sr.; Tatem Toth, New Lexington, 6-2, 175, jr.; Nalin Robinson, Zane Trace, 6-4, 240, jr.; Landen Wilson, Ironton, 5-10, 160, jr.; Dalton Patterson, West Lafayette Ridgewood, 6-1, 170, sr.; JD Young, Sugarcreek Garaway, 6-1, 185, sr.;

OL: Austin Roman, Garrettsville Garfield, 6-3, 315, sr.; Andrew Kelchner, Ravenna Southeast, 6-4, 240, sr.; Nate Buckeye, Ravenna Southeast, 6-1, 200, sr.; Drue Duncan, North Union, 6-2, 240, jr.; Kollin Ramsay, Zane Trace, 6-0, 300, sr.; Andrew Dodson, Pomeroy Meigs, 6-4, 245, sr.; Alex Baer, McDermott Northwest, 6-0, 230, jr.; Gabe Myers, Portsmouth West, 5-10, 247, sr.; Caleb Miller, Wheelersburg, 6-2, 240, jr.; Devin Montalbine, Findlay Liberty-Benton, 6-1, 205, jr.; Kinzer Dussell, Kansas Lakota, 6-1, 195, sr.; Clay Battin, Tontogany Otsego, 6-1, 190, sr.; Justin Murphy, West Lafayette Ridgewood, 6-4, 240, sr.; Hunter Russell, Richmond Edison, 6-1, 225, sr.; Peyton Hores, Martins Ferry, 6-0, 245, sr.; Brandon Crown, Coshocton, 5-9, 315, sr.; Wade Pauley, McConnelsville Morgan, 6-3, 220, jr.

K: Colin Lysiak, Garrettsville Garfield, 6-0, 165, sr.; Johnny Raguz, Kirtland, 5-10, 190, jr.; Chase McEldowney, Versailles, 5-11 170, sr.; Matt Sheridan, Ironton, 5-9, 160, sr.; Aiden Hemmert, Genoa, 6-4, 170, sr.;

DL: Aydan Hamrick, Massillon Tuslaw, 5-10, 200, sr.; Tony Karp, Rootstown, 6-1, 255, soph.; Vinnie Sanderfer, Ravenna Southeast, 5-10, 170, sr.; Austin Wise, Atwater Waterloo, 6-1, 215, jr.; Dalton Wilson, North Union, 6-2, 227, jr.; Hayden Brannigan, Zane Trace, 5-11, 200, jr.; Aaron Penn, McDermott Northwest, 6-3, 225, sr.; Brenden Truett, Portsmouth, 5-6, 196, jr.; Josh Boggs, Wheelersburg, 6-4, 200, sr.; Caden Hartman, Tontogany Otsego, 6-2, 190, sr.; Cael Hohen, Ottawa-Glandorf, 6-3, 240, sr.; Ashton Price, Findlay Liberty-Benton, 6-0, 250, jr.; Luke Farmer, Bellaire, 5-10, 185, sr.; Justin Driscoll, Rayland Buckeye Local, 6-0, 260, sr.; Jarrell Hill, McConnelsville Morgan, 5-10, 210, sr.

LB: Keegan Sell, Garrettsville Garfield, 6-0, 175, soph.; Isaac Di Tirro, Rootstown, 6-0, 210, sr.; Ethan Strahan, Mantua Crestwood, 5-11, 175, sr.; Jadon Johnston, Akron Manchester, 6-1, 220, sr.; Roclen Bettura, Columbiana Crestview, 5-9, 171, jr.; Connor Jones, South Range, 6-0, 200, sr.; Kaden Moore, Springfield Shawnee, 6-1, 210, sr.; Jack Mumper, Cincinnati Purcell Marian, 5-10, 180, sr.; Tyson Guiette, Madison-Plains, 6-0, 185, sr.; Braden Shreyer, Liberty Union, 6-1, 200, sr.; Edjay Sumo, Harvest Prep, 6-2, 190, sr.; Brock Wygle, Utica, 5-9, 150, sr.; Cade Young, Amanda-Clearcreek, 6-3, 205, sr.; Maddox McCallister, South Point, 5-9, 170, sr.; Zane Brownfield, Piketon, 5-8, 170, soph.; Ashton Klaiber, Portsmouth West, 6-1, 210, sr.; Jack Zeitzheim, Oak Harbor, 5-9, 175, sr.; Gunner Endicott, Bloomdale Elmwood, 5-10, 168, sr.; Brian Crabtree, Bucyrus Wynford, 6-0, 215, sr.; Toby Collert, Findlay Liberty-Benton, 6-1, 180, sr.; Sam Page, Sugarcreek Garaway, 6-1, 195, sr.; Isaac Shook, Coshocton, 6-3, 205, sr.; Jared Drobney, Magnolia Sandy Valley, 5-10, 200, sr.; Chase McClurg, Richmond Edison, 5-9, 155, soph.

DB: Riley Soles, Akron Manchester, 6-0, 195, sr.; Weston Arthur, West Salem Northwestern, 5-11, 175, sr.; Brady Marshall, Orrville, 5-10, 140, soph.; Troy Bossaler, North Union, 5-11, 160, jr.; J’Sun Gardner, Columbus Ready, 5-11, 148, sr.; EJ Jenkins, Columbus Academy, 5-9, 155, jr.; Aaron Masters, Ironton, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Michael Conkle, Bidwell River Valley, 5-8, 174, Jr.; Alex Stroup, West Lafayette Ridgewood, 6-0, 175, sr.; Cam McAfee, Cadiz Harrison Central, 5-9, 165, fr.

P: Brandan Nicholas, Rootstown, 5-10, 175, sr.; Ian Woodyard, Elyria Catholic, 5-9, 190, sr.; Jared Smith, Sabina East Clinton, 6-1, 160, sr.

TOLEDO — A historic event for Italian and European American football will take place Saturday, as the University of Toledo’s Glass Bowl Stadium hosted the XLII Italian Bowl.

It marked the first time in Italian Football League history that Italy’s national championship will be played outside of Europe.

During the weekly celebration leading up to Italy’s ‘big game,’ four Wood County mayors got into the action.

Mayors from several cities across the region competed in a football skills competition at Central Catholic High School’s Gallagher Stadium on Sunday, June 25 with the winner awarded the inaugural Mayors’ Cup during halftime of the big game.

City of Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz invited Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan mayors to participate.

Two former college football players, Matt Shanahan, who is the mayor of Tontogany, and Tim Pedro, who is the mayor of Waterville, committed to the event.

They were joined by mayors from Findlay, Oregon, Defiance, Northwood (Edward Schimmel), Port Clinton, Risingsun (Rick Whetsel), Clay Center, Millbury (Michael D. Timmons), Rossford (Neal A. MacKinnon III), Lima, and Luna Pier.

Kapszukiewicz tweeted that he was “challenging his inner Chuck Ealey (former UT quarterback) during the competition, even taking first in the passing competition, but Oregon Mayor Mike Seferian was the overall winner.

The “Spaghetti Bowl”, the first American football game played in Italy, took place on January 1, 1945 in Florence, and featured the United States Fifth Army and Twelfth Air Force.

Nearly eight decades later, a group of American businesspeople and football fans are bringing the best Italian teams to the birthplace of the game for a first of its kind championship event.

In the game Saturday, Guelfi Firenze and the Parma Panthers were to face off, serving as the climax of a 14-day celebration of Italian culture, sport, and international camaraderie.

For the teams, the XLII Italian Bowl offered total immersion in the unique atmosphere only the United States can create around championship football.

Participants, mostly Italian locals, were welcomed to the U.S. with a dinner at the Glass Bowl stadium, travel to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in nearby Canton and play in the state-of-the-art 26,000 seat facility on gameday.

“Taking the IFL final to Toledo in the United States, where the game originated, has the hallmarks of an epic adventure for Italian American football,” said FIDAF Deputy Vice President Fabio Tortosa.

“We are grateful to have this extraordinary opportunity for growth as it will positively impact the entire federation as well as the two teams in the final.”

The Parma Panthers and Guelfi Firenze both finished the IFL regular season with 7-1 records. While Guelfi leads the teams’ all-time matchup 9 wins to 3, the Panthers delivered Firenze their sole loss during the 2023 season.

The Panthers, who boasted the No. 1 defense this season, are tied for the most IFL championship wins all-time at five and lifted the Gionni Colombo trophy as recently as 2021.

Local product Tommaso Mondardi led their offense in 2023 with 15 touchdown passes and just one interception. John Grisham, who was to be in attendance Saturday, famously featured the Parma Panthers in his novel,

Playing for Pizza, Guelfi Firenze are looking to repeat as champions after their 2022 Italian Bowl victory over the Seamen of Milan.

The dynamic quarterback product out of Dartmouth, Jared Gerbino, leads Guelfi Firenze, rushing for 13 touchdowns and adding nine more through the air during their 2023 campaign.

The XLII Italian Bowl offered fans so much more than the game itself. Celebrations kicked off with the “Passport to the Taste of Italy”, a week-long showcase of Italian cuisine at nearly 40 different restaurants in the Toledo region.

NFL players and alumni hosted a youth football camp on June 30 and local businesses had a chance to network with Italian companies at The Italian Bowl Business Forum, which was to promote the Toledo/Italy trade and investment pipeline

“The IFL final, and all that comes with it, will facilitate more exchanges and greater understanding between different cultures, further cooperation, and more positive interactions for thousands of people,” said Kapsukiewicz.

Fans can visit local and Italian artisans and vendors at a special edition of the Toledo Night Market that will start at 4 p.m. in the Flatlands next to the Glass Bowl on game day.

After the new IFL champions are crowned, the crowd will head to the Toledo riverfront to watch the city’s July 4 fireworks presentation.

Instagram and Facebook’s parent company Meta is adding some new parental supervision tools and privacy features to its platforms as social media companies face increasing scrutiny over their effects on teen mental health.

But many of the features require minors — and their parents — to opt in, raising questions about how effective the measures are. Instagram, for instance, will now send a notice to teens after they have blocked someone, encouraging them to let their parents “supervise” their account. The idea is to grab kids’ attention when they might be more open to parental guidance.

If a teen opts in, the system will let parents set time limits, see who their kid follows or is followed by, and allows them to track how much time the minor spends on Instagram. It does not let parents see message content.

Instagram launched parental supervision tools last year to help families navigate the platform and find resources and guidance. A sticking point in the process is that kids need to sign up if they want parents to supervise their accounts. It’s not clear how many teen users have opted in and Meta has not disclosed any numbers.

Such supervision allows parents to see how many friends their child has in common with accounts the child follows or is followed by. So if the child is followed by someone none of their friends follow, it could raise a red flag that the teen does not know the person in real life.

This, Meta says, “will help parents understand how well their teen knows these accounts, and help prompt offline conversations about those connections.”

Meta is also adding parental supervision tools already available on Instagram and on virtual reality product to Messenger. The opt-in feature lets parents see how much time their child spends on the messaging service and information such as their contact lists and privacy settings — but not who they are chatting with, for instance.

Such features can be useful for families in which parents are already involved in their child’s online life and activities. Experts say that’s not the reality for many people.

Last month, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned that there is not enough evidence to show that social media is safe for children and teens and called on tech companies to take “immediate action to protect kids now.”

Murthy told The Associated Press that while he recognizes social media companies have taken some steps to make their platforms safer, those actions are not enough. For instance, while kids under 13 are technically banned from social media, many younger children access Instagram, TikTok and other apps by lying about their age, either with or without their parents’ permission.

Murthy also said it’s unfair to expect parents to manage what their children do with rapidly evolving technology that “fundamentally changes how their kids think about themselves, how they build friendships, how they experience the world — and technology, by the way, that prior generations never had to manage,”

“We’re putting all of that on the shoulders of parents, which is just simply not fair,” Murthy said.

Also beginning Tuesday, Meta will encourage — but not force — children to take a break from Facebook, just as it already does on Instagram. After 20 minutes, teenage users will get a notice to take time away from the app. If they want to keep scrolling, they can just close the notification. TikTok also recently introduced a 60-minute time limit for users under 18, but they can bypass it by entering a passcode, set either by the teens themselves, or if the child is under 13, by their parent.

“What we are focused on is kind of a suite of tools to support parents and teens on how they how can they can best engage in safe and appropriate experiences online,” said Diana Williams, who oversees product changes for youth and families at Meta. “We’re also trying to build tools that teens can use themselves to learn how to manage and recognize how they’re spending their time. So things like ‘take a break’ and ‘quiet mode’ in the evenings.”