MANSFIELD, Ohio — The good news is Shelby coach Natalie Lantz and Ontario’s Sarah Krichbaum both welcomed back a wealth of talent this winter.
The bad news is they weren’t alone.
If the first two weeks of the season are any indication, the chase for the final Northern Ohio League championship is going to be akin to one of those professional wrestling battle royals.
The six NOL teams participating in Saturday’s Richland Source NOL-OCC Challenge at Shelby High School had a combined record of 13-3 heading into this week’s action. Shelby, Ontario, Norwalk and Bellevue were all unbeaten, while Tiffin Columbian was 2-2.
“Everyone is good,” Lantz said during media day Monday at BW3 in Ontario. “There’s not an easy win in our league.”
Three of the four teams to reach the Division II district tournament at Willard last February were NOL members. Shelby beat Ontario on a last-second shot in the district semifinals before falling to three-time defending district champ Bellevue in overtime in the championship game.
“These are teams we will battle with all season,” Krichbaum said Monday. “Then we’ll see them again in the sectional and district.”
Ontario earned its spot in last year’s district with a win over No. 2 seed Norwalk in the sectional championship game. The Truckers lost only two seniors to graduation and return one of the premier players in the league in Jiselle Thomas. The 5-foot-8 senior recently committed to Division I High Point University.
“We’ve got a lot of girls back, but so does everyone else,” Norwalk coach Brock Manlet said. “Every night is going to be a battle.”
Bellevue has won at least a share of the past six NOL titles. The Lady Redmen boast one of the state’s most highly-regarded freshmen in Casey Santoro, the daughter of head coach Kory Santoro and younger sister of former Bellevue great Carly Santoro, who is a sophomore starter at Bowling Green.
Playing against quality OCC opponents Saturday will prepare the NOL schools for the league battles that await in January and February.
“We really like the format. It will be exciting for our girls,” said Lantz, whose veteran Whippets match up with Mount Vernon and University of Akron recruit Taylor Gregory at 7 p.m. Saturday. “We know we are going to have to be at our best.”
Sponsorship: Events such as the The Richland Source NOL-OCC Challenge do not happen without tremendous partners. The NOL-OCC Challenge is presented by Mechanics Bank Be the Change scholarship program in partnership with The Holden Agency and Marco Photo Service. Supporting sponsors include Olive Garden, North Central State College, Rinehart Walters Danner Insurance, Prospering Life Events, Best Buy, TextLoyal, The Vault Wine Bar, The Ohio State University at Mansfield, and Lantz Star Graphics.
