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.

AURORA

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

CRESTWOOD

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

FIELD

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

GARFIELD

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

KENT ROOSEVELT

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

MOGADORE

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

RAVENNA

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

ROOTSTOWN

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

SOUTHEAST

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

STREETSBORO

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

WATERLOO

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

WINDHAM

TEAM

None

INDIVIDUALS

Ralph Mickens, 1984 400 meters