SIDELINES

Toledo Christian’s McWhinnie reaches 200-victory milestone

1/23/2014

McWhinnie

THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON
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For more than a decade, the boys basketball program at Toledo Christian has been a model of consistency under Dave McWhinnie.

Last week, that winning tradition enabled McWhinnie to reach a milestone when he earned his 200th career win.

McWhinnie achieved the feat when his Eagles knocked off Swanton 45-35, pushing his career record to 200-91.

McWhinnie, in his 13th season, said he received more than 100 messages of congratulations.

“I didn’t think too much about it until I heard from former players and other coaches,” McWhinnie said. “I had one player thank me for the role I played in his life and the difference I made. That type of stuff makes you tear up. Those guys help put it in perspective.”

Toledo Christian has won 11 straight sectional titles under McWhinnie, whose teams have won five Toledo Area Athletic Conference titles.

“I would say I’m incredibly proud of what the young men have become,” he said. “They are good citizens and are doing phenomenal things.”

McWhinnie has been named TAAC coach of the year five times and was selected as The Blade’s coach of the year in 2007. His 2009 team reached the regional final.

McWhinnie, a 1992 Toledo Christian graduate, led the Eagles to a TAAC title when he was a senior. After graduating from Taylor University, he returned as an assistant in 1997 and became the head coach in 2001.

The Eagles went 8-14, then 9-14 in the first two seasons. They have since reeled off 10 straight winning seasons.

“I always felt Toledo Christian should always be a good basketball school,” he said. “I love coaching, and basketball is a huge part of my life.”

The Eagles are 6-6 this season, 4-2 in the TAAC. McWhinnie’s team was in the midst of a rare losing streak that had reached five games before last Tuesday’s win.

“We hope to keep the consistency and tradition going,” he said.

 

Wrestling

Otsego’s Hendrix gets 100th win

Otsego senior wrestler Jordan Hendrix and teammates had a memorable weekend.

Hendrix gained his 100th career win Saturday by winning the 160-pound division at the Van Buren Invitational, where he was named the most valuable wrestler. The Knights edged Riverdale 176-145½ for the team title.

Otsego had two other individual champs: Buddy Limes (132) and Trent Soto (138).

Hendrix (26-9) won the Northwood Invitational earlier this season. He has a career record of 103-29.

He went 32-7 at 160 last year and was a sectional champ. Soto went 34-8 at 132 to qualify for state. Limes was a state alternate at 126 with a 31-8 mark.

 

Hockey

NHC races heat up

St. John's Jesuit leads the Northwest Hockey Conference Red Division with two league games to play.

The Titans (4-1-1) lead St. Francis de Sales (4-2-0) by just one point. The teams meet for the second time Feb. 14 at Tam-O-Shanter. St. John’s defeated St. Francis 7-2 on Dec. 14.

St. John’s knocked off Bowling Green 3-2 on Jan. 10 but then suffered its first league loss to Northview 3-2 in overtime the next night.

The Wildcats (2-3-0) are in third place in the Red. Northview trailed St. John’s by two goals after two periods. But the Wildcats tied it with two third-period goals and won 4-3 in overtime. The Titans beat Northview 7-3 on Dec. 13.

St. John’s continues to trail top ranked Cleveland St. Ignatius in the state coaches poll despite the fact that the Titans defeated Ignatius 4-0 on Dec. 20.

St. Francis is ranked ninth and Northview is 10th.

In the National Conference of the NHC White Division, Southview (8-0-0) is first, followed by Perrysburg (7-1-0) and Bedford (5-0-0).

In the American Conference, Maumee (7-1-0) is tied with Whitmer (7-3-0). Maumee defeated Whitmer 8-5 on Dec. 13. The teams meet again Friday.

 

Swimming

League titles decided

Perrysburg won the girls title at the Northern Lakes League swimming and diving meet on Jan. 11 at Napoleon, while the host Wildcats won on the boys side.

The Yellow Jackets posted 291 points, while Napoleon (248) was second, followed by Bowling Green (177).

The Napoleon boys tallied 382 points, Southview was second with 244, and Perrysburg was third with 175.

Perrysburg freshman Sabrina Smith took first in the 200-yard individual medley (2 minutes, 20.53 seconds) and 100 breaststroke (1:04.03). She also was part of the first-place 200 free relay team (1:47.52).

Bowling Green junior Emmy Sehmann also placed first in two events, winning the 100 free (53.65) and 200 free (1:55.56). The Bobcats also won the 400 freestyle relay (3:59.27) and the 200 medley relay (2:00.36).

Northview freshman Kaitlyn Derienger won the 1-meter diving competition (359.45).

In the boys meet, Napoleon senior Ben Kuhlman won the 50 free (22.53) and the 100 free (49.86). The Wildcats also won all three relays. Napoleon freshman Hunter Rex won the 1-meter diving competition (288.15).

Perrysburg senior Alex Kloster took the 200 free (1:53.90) and 500 free (5:05.78).

Bowling Green junior Trae Gulgin won the 100 backstroke (0:58.06) and the 200 IM (2:08.44).

At the Three Rivers Athletic Conference meet on Saturday, host Fremont Ross captured the girls team title.

The Little Giants tallied 513 points to outdistance Notre Dame and St. Ursula, which tied for second with 493 points.

Fremont Ross sophomore Meghan Moses won the 50-yard freestyle (24.62) and 100 freestyle (54.10).

Ross junior Haley Fisher also won two events as she took first in the 500 free (5:22.83) and 200 individual medley (2:12.84).

The Little Giants also won the 200 free (1:40.23) and 400 free (3:39.34) relays. They also won the title in the 100 butterfly as Morgan Waggoner won in 59.70.

St. Ursula junior Zhada Fields won the 200 free (1:56.23) and 100 backstroke (58.73). Fields also anchored the Arrows’ victorious 200 medley relay team (1:55.70).

St. Francis de Sales won the boys team title. The Knights swept all of the individual events and won two of the three relay events.

St. John’s senior Mitchell Layman won the 1-meter diving (449.05).

 

Hall of fame

Maumee to induct Walton

Maumee will induct Angie Walton, a 1990 graduate, into its athletic hall of fame on Feb. 1.

Walton, who earned four letters in softball from 1987-90, will be honored at a ceremony at Brandywine Country Club.

Walton was selected All-Northern Lakes League first team as a freshman, junior, and senior. She also was all-district first team as a senior when she was team captain.

She led the Panthers to NLL and sectional titles in 1987 and 1988. Maumee was regional runner-up her freshman season.

Walton also earned three letters in basketball. The Panthers won NLL championships in her sophomore and junior years. Walton was All-NLL second team as a senior.

Walton continued her softball career at Ashland University and had a career batting average over .300.

Contact Mark Monroe at: mmonroe@theblade.com, 419-724-6354 or on Twitter @MonroeBlade.