By Tom Nader
Publisher and Editor
In the history of Ohio sports, Portage County has been the home of some of the state’s best of the best.
To celebrate those that have reached the pinnacle of competition, here is a complete list of every state champion — team or individual — from Portage County.
TEAMS
1995 wrestling (coached by Dick Bliss)
2008 football (coached by Bob Mihalik)
INDIVIDUALS
Todd Jindra, 1973 wrestling
Randy Jenkins, 1978 wrestling
Randy Jenkins, 1979 wrestling
Jon Stratton, 1984 wrestling
Phil Quinn, 1987 wrestling
Josh Schroder, 1995 wrestling
Tim Courtad, 1995 wrestling
James Sjostrom, 2000 cross country
James Sjostrom, 2000 1,600 meters
James Sjostrom, 2000 3,200 meters
Jericka Duncan, 2001 300 hurdles
2001 4×100 relay: Shea Simmons, Corie Moore, Casey Fischer, Jericka Duncan
Ty Mitch, 2008 wrestling
Ty Mitch, 2009 wrestling
Ty Mitch, 2020 wrestling
Dylan Fishback, 2022 wrestling
Tyler Lillard, 2022 wrestling
Hannah Salgado, 2024 gymnastics
TEAMS
1975-76 wrestling
Coached by Hall of Famer Frank DiNapoli, the 1975-76 Red Devils wrestling squad included state qualifiers Charles Stickel (112 pounds), Dave Blake (126), Terry Tipton (138), Jack Lynch (185) and Jeff Sanicky (heavyweight).
2003 softball
LeRoy Moore coached Crestwood’s 2003 softball team that finished with an overall record of 32-2, storming through the Portage County League with an undefeated 16-0 record. The team defeated state powers Hoban and Walsh Jesuit in back-to-back one-run games for the title. Team leaders included catcher Amy Iammarino, shortstop Michelle Penney, pitcher Stephanie Moore, second baseman Brittany Vanderink and centerfielder Brittany Mayle.
2006 girls track and field
Coached by Bernice Usher won a Division II state championship. State qualifers included Bridget Franek, Cassie Schenck, Megan Miller, Nicole Cozzone and Liz Sitko.
INDIVIDUALS
Frank Lorence, 1960-61 wrestling
David Rodhe, 1971-72 wrestling
David Rodhe, 1972-73 wrestling
Jeff Sanicky, 1974-75 wrestling
Jeff Sanicky, 1975-76 wrestling
Dave Blake, 1975-76 wrestling
Jack Lynch, 1975-76 wrestling
Doug Wright, 1988-89 wrestling
Brian Singleton, 1992-93 wrestling
Brian Singleton, 1993-94 wrestling
Cody Ryba, 2010-11 wrestling
Jim Sobwick, 1970 high jump
Terri Byland, 1978 discus
Kristi Echelberry, 1990 shot put
Kristi Echelberry, 1990 discus
Kristi Echelberry, 1991 shot put
Kristi Echelberry, 1991 discus
Ed Collins, 2004 discus
Bridget Franek, 2005 1,600 meters
Bridget Franek, 2006 cross country
Bridget Franek, 2006 800 meters
Bridget Franek, 2006 1,600 meters
Bridget Franek, 2006, 3,200 meters
2006 4×800 relay (Bridget Franek, Cassie Schenck, Nicole Cozzone, Megan Miller)
Cassie Schenck, 2007 1,600 meters
Cassie Schenck, 2007 3,200 meters
Matt Nichols, 2007, 3,200 meters
Beth Groselle, 2002 100 backstroke
Beth Groselle, 2002 100 breastroke
TEAM
1994 boys cross country
Bill Huntington coached all four teams to the state’s No. 1 spot. The 1994 boys team included Dave Mars, Neil Murdock, Steve Hanson, Eric Fuller, Matt Hutchinson, Mike Stingley and Kurt Schenkenberger.
1997 boys cross country
The 1997 boys team included Chris Hudik, Nate Hutchinson, Mike Hall, Josh Ryan, Charlie Walker, Ryan McCarty and Nate Stansberry. Coached by Huntington.
1997 girls cross country
The 1997 girls team included Emily Mars, Kathy Shell, Heather Patch, Michele Moyers, Danielle Cramer, Shanna Craig and Danielle Kuntzman. Coached by Huntington.
1998 girls cross country
The 1998 girls team included Emily ars, Kathy Shell, Heather Patch, Shanna Craig, Dawn Hollis, Dee Cramer and Sheena Lemmons. Coached by Huntington.
INDIVIDUALS
Bandele Adeniyi-Bada, 1995 wrestling
Emily Mars, 1999 cross country
Emily Mars, 2000 3,200 meters
TEAMS
None
INDIVIDUALS
John Oliver, 1998 110 hurdles
John Oliver, 1999 110 hurdles
Paul Vincent, 2000 3,200 meters
Edith Svonavec, 2014 shot put
Edith Svonavec, 2015 shot put
Lauren Jones, 2015 discus
Lauren Jones, 2016 discus
Lauren Jones, 2017 discus
Keegan Sell, 2023 wrestling
Hunter Andel, 2023 wrestling
Conner Hunt, 2023 seated 100 meters
Conner Hunt, 2023 seated 400 meters
Conner Hunt, 2023 seated 800 meters
Conner Hunt, 2024 seated 100 meters
Conner Hunt, 2024 seated 400 meters
Conner Hunt, 2024 seated 800 meters
Keegan Sell, 2024 wrestling
TEAM
Boys cross country, 1980
Bosy cross country, 1981
Girls field hockey, 1981
Ice hockey, 1982
INDIVIDUALS
Jeff Bentley, 1980 wrestling
Wes Murphy, 1986 wrestling
Todd Hayden, 1990 wrestling
Jeff Hickin, 1994 wrestling
Randy McMullen, 2015 seated shot put
TEAM
1971 boys golf (Jack Heldreth)
1972 boys golf (Heldreth)
1973 boys golf (Heldreth)
1979 football (Norm Lingle)
1996 football (Scott Pollock)
2002 football (Pollock)
INDIVIDUALS
John Tompkins, 1970 wrestling
John Tompkins, 1972 wrestling
George Tompkins, 1978 wrestling
Kris Higgins, 1990 discus
Chad Higgins, 1992 discus
Jerry Stratos, 1997 wrestling
Michael Wagner, 2002 long jump
Connor Kerr, 2019 110 hurdles
Tyler Shellenbarger, 2023 wrestling
TEAM
1966 boys golf
Yank Heisler led the 1966 boys golf team, leading to a college career at Harvard University. He was the captain of his college team and went on to a successful business career. Coached by Howard Joliff.
1993 wrestling
The Ravens’ wrestling team was led by Steve Daugherty and was coached by Steve Reedy.
INDIVIDUALS
Yank Heisler, 1965 boys golf
Yank Heisler, 1966 boys golf
Steve Reedy, 1977 wrestling
Steve Daugherty, 1993 wrestling
Jim Holmes, 1995 wrestling
Vince Zmith, 1999 wrestling
J.R. Shrewsberry, 2000 wrestling
Matt Reedy, 2007 wrestling
TEAMS
None
INDIVIDUALS
Roger Dietz, 1957 120-yard hurdles
Roger Dietz, 1957 180-yard hurdles
Ron Nipuelio, 1990 400 meters
Josh Morgan, 1996 3,200 meters
Garret Linton, 2012 wrestling
Jake Moore, 2013 wrestling
Travis Linton, 2013 wrestling
David Paliscak, 2013 shot put
David Paliscak, 2013 discus
Travis Linton, 2014 wrestling
Ryan Boyle, 2019 wrestling
TEAMS
1973 wrestling (coach Bill Steinriede)
1983 girls cross country (Ray Sheets)
1984 girls cross country (Sheets)
1984 girls track and field (Dick Young)
1985 girls cross country (Sheets)
1985 girls track and field (Cindy Fesemyer)
1991 wrestling (Ralph Graham)
INDIVIDUALS
Dick Reed, 1982 wrestling
Jamie Bailey, 1982 wrestling
Jeff Doughty, 1982 pole vault
Joanna Dias, 1983 cross country
Doug Baker, 1983 wrestling
Tonja Stewart, 1984 800 meters
Julie Dias, 1984 cross country
Julie Dias, 1985 cross country
1985 4×800 relay (Julie Dias, Amy Neely, Sue Conway, Joanna Dias)
1986 4×800 relay (Julie Dias, Amy Neely, Sue Conway, Joanna Dias)
Mike Coontz, 1987 wrestling
Mike Coontz, 1988 wrestling
Marty Coontz, 1990 wrestling
Marty Coontz, 1991 wrestling
Andy Dorn, 1991 wrestling
Michelle Wells, 1992 high jump
Neal Bailey, 1994 wrestling
Neal Bailey, 1995 wrestling
Nikki Murphy, 2008 shot put
Jenna Fesemyer, 2013 seated 100 meters
Jenna Fesemyer, 2013 seated 400 meters
Jenna Fesemyer, 2013 seated 800 meters
Jenna Fesemyer, 2013 seated shot put
Jenna Fesemyer, 2014 seated 100 meters
Jenna Fesemyer, 2014 seated 400 meters
Jenna Fesemyer, 2014 seated 800 meters
Jenna Fesemyer, 2014 seated shot put
Jenna Fesemyer, 2015 seated 100 meters
Jenna Fesemyer, 2015 seated 400 meters
Jenna Fesemyer, 2015 seated 800 meters
Jenna Fesemyer, 2015 seated shot put
TEAM
1997 wrestling (Will O’Donnell)
INDIVIDUALS
John Purcell, 1985 wrestling
Jim Boardwine, 1992 wrestling
Joe Boardwine, 1992 wrestling
Joe Boardwine, 1993 wrestling
Butch Inghram, 1997 wrestling
Steve Blunk, 2004 wrestling
Dakari Carter, 2014 100 meters
Dakari Carter, 2015 100 meters
Dakari Carter, 2016 100 meters
Milena Sobie, 2023 seated 100 meters
Milena Sobie, 2023 seated 800 meters
Milena Sobie, 2024 seated 100 meters
Milena Sobie, 2024 seated 800 meters
TEAM
None
INDIVIDUALS
Chad Everson, 1990 3,200 meters
Shannon Beach, 1992 long jump
Shannon Beach 1993 100 hurdles
Josh Allen, 1995 wrestling
JJ Diven, 2013 wrestling
Will Bolanz, 2016 wrestling
TEAM
None
INDIVIDUALS
Ralph Mickens, 1984 400 meters
The 1939 and 1940 Windham six-man football teams were Ohio state champions, chosen by American Boy Magazine, the national arbiter. Since six-man was played by more Portage County schools than Eleven man from 1939 through 1953, their achievement should be recognized even
though the sport is gone.