Dave Purpura

1 week ago | dispatch.com | Andy Resnik |Frank DiRenna |Dave Purpura

Olentangy Liberty's Jake Struck and Fairfield Union's Christian Thompson were named Athletes of the Year. Liberty's football coach John Sansbury and Centennial's girls basketball coach Ernest Bell won Coach of the Year awards. Upper Arlington's hockey team and Fairfield Union's girls basketball team were named Teams of the Year. Central Ohio's top high school athletes, coaches and teams – the best of the best for 2024-25 – were honored June 18 at Upper Arlington High School.

1 month ago | dispatch.com | Dave Purpura |Frank DiRenna

Sixty-three central Ohio high school football programs participated in college showcases across 56 sites May 4-8. The sites typically featured agility and speed drills. Hilliard Darby coach Brad Burchfield says it's "an incredible opportunity" for players to receive exposure. For the third year in a row, the first full week of May doubles as college football showcase week in central Ohio.

Mar 22, 2025 | dispatch.com | Dave Purpura

DAYTON – At one point in the second quarter of Saturday night’s Division I state final, Olentangy Orange boys basketball coach Anthony Calo looked at one of the University of Dayton Arena scoreboards that displays in-game stats. Even in the heat of the moment, Calo’s jaw almost dropped at what he saw. “I just kept looking at the field-goal percentage and ours was like 1% but (Reynoldsburg’s) was 0,” Calo said, unable to contain a chuckle.

Mar 20, 2025 | the-review.com | Dave Purpura |Frank DiRenna

Four central Ohio high school boys basketball teams play for state championships Friday and Saturday at University of Dayton Arena, two of them against each other as Reynoldsburg (26-1) and Olentangy Orange (25-2) face off in Division I. That is the last of seven games this weekend, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Westerville North (24-2) will be the first area team to take the court when it faces Massillon Perry (14-13) in the Division II final at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Mar 19, 2025 | dispatch.com | Dave Purpura

Former Ohio State basketball players Aaron Craft and Jacy Sheldon will be honored Saturday as part of the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Circle of Champions. Craft, a graduate of Findlay Liberty-Benton who led the Buckeyes men’s team to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances from 2011-14, holds program records for assists (694) and steals (337) and finished with 1,314 career points.