MANSFIELD — The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference raided Richland County.
Several area seniors gave their commitments to GLIAC football programs in the wake of national signing day (Feb. 5).
The GLIAC is widely regarded as one of the premier NCAA Division II football conferences in the nation. Four GLIAC teams qualified for the Division II playoffs last fall, including national semifinalist Grand Valley State University. GVSU has won four Division II national championships since 2002.
Locally, Ashland University and Ohio Dominican have emerged as South Division heavyweights. The Eagles, under Madison high school graduate Lee Owens, were undefeated in 2012 and advanced to the playoffs for the third time since 2007. ODU was unbeaten last fall and qualified for Division II’s 24-team postseason.
That GLIAC coaches have made regular visits to the area speaks volumes of the level of high school football played at local high schools.
“I can’t speak for the other leagues in the area, but the Ohio Cardinal Conference is one of the toughest and most balanced high school football conferences in the state,” Madison coach Sean Conway said. “There are great players on every team.
“We may not produce a lot of Division I blue-chip prospects, but there are a lot of talented players from our conference playing in Division II. Those kids are all being recruited by the same schools and it’s just a matter of finding a good fit.”
Two of Conway’s graduating seniors, Kalvin Gordon and Glenn Phillips, are headed to Walsh University in North Canton. Gordon was an OCC first-team selection.
“They will both fit in well there,” Conway said. “We feel like they both made good decisions.”
The Madison duo will be joined at Walsh by Lexington’s Nick Leasure and Shelby’s Dylan Bailey.
Malone University also struck gold in Richland County. The Pioneers signed Ontario All-Ohio receiver Cameron Mack and Mansfield Senior’s Malon Samuel and Tarance Brooks.
Mansfield Senior’s Traevon Dickeson signed with Ashland, while Shelby’s Tristan Kehres is headed to Ohio Dominican.
The area also proved to be a hotbed for soccer as six locals signed to play collegiately. Mansfield Christian’s Lexi Dilley and Jessica Harper are headed to Mount Vernon Nazarene University, while Josh Cochran signed with Gordon (Mass.) College and Matt Millard signed with Huntington (Ind.) University.
Lexington’s Hannah Schaefer will play for Adrian (Mich.) University, while Megan Weiss is headed to Indiana Wesleyan.
Two other Lex athletes, Elise Betscher and Brody Basilone, recently signed letters of intent. Betscher will play tennis at Marian (Ind.) University, while Basilone will play baseball at Sinclair Community College in Dayton.
Crestview will send Nick Hout and Nick Wheeler to Tiffin University for track and field. Aaron King will head to Heidleberg to play football.
Clear Fork’s baseball program, which won a Division III state title in 2010, continues to churn out college players. Ridge Winand will be a preferred walk-on at Ohio State, while Austin and Chase Baker are headed to Grace (Ind.) College. Hunter Evans will play at Tiffin University.
Clear Fork’s Taylor Kline will play softball for Ohio Dominican and Jillian Stuff will play volleyball for Union (Ky.) College.
Follow Curt Conrad on Twitter @curtjconrad.
