Sidelines: Titans' Riffle signs for track at Michigan

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Cody Riffle of St. John's Jesuit has signed a national letter of intent to throw shot put and discus at the University of Michigan.

Last season Riffle finished second at the Division I state meet in the discus with a throw of 191 feet, 1 inch. While the throw was a school record, it fell one inch shy of the winning toss by Boardman's Corey Linsley.

Riffle, a senior, also took third in the shot put at last year's state meet with a toss of 62- .

Riffle said colleges began contacting him last summer.

“June 1 of last year was the first day coaches could call me, and I had 13 coaches call that day,” he said. “One of them was coach [David] Kaiser of Michigan, and I thought it was cool to hear from them right away.”

Riffle said his final choices also included Tennessee, Iowa, North Carolina and Penn State.

“I liked them all,” Riffle said. “I was looking for a place where I felt comfortable, and right away I had a good feeling when I went to Michigan. It felt as if it was where I belonged.”

Riffle said having signed will help him prepare for the coming track season.

“I haven't been able to focus on the season completely because of recruiting,” Riffle said. “Now that recruiting is done, I'll have more time for practice and training.

“Making this decision lifted a big weight off my shoulders. Now I'm not worried about my future.”

Elmwood's Katie Reiser signed a national letter of intent to run at Kent State.

Last spring Reiser finished second at the Division III state meet in both the 100 and 200 meters.

She finished fifth in the 100 and sixth in the 200 as a sophomore.

Reiser already holds Elmwood school records in the 100 (12.11) and 200 (24.94).

Bowling Green coach Brian Tucker and Liberty-Benton coach Jack Quisno were inducted into Ohio's Cross Country and Track Coaches Hall of Fame Jan. 29.

Tucker began coaching the Bobcat harriers in 1969.

During his 41 seasons the highlights include his girls teams winning Division I state titles in 2003, 2004 and 2005 while placing second in 2006 and nine in 2002.

The BG boys team advanced to the state meet in 1980.

Tucker also served as an assistant track coach to Hub Reed for 30 years and was the team's head coach the last 10 seasons before stepping down after last season.

Quisno has served as Liberty-Benton's boys track coach for 24 seasons and has spent 19 years as the boys cross country coach.

During that time, the track teams won Division III boys state championships in 1995, 2000 and 2005, as well as eight regional crowns and 17 Blanchard Valley Conference titles. In cross country the Eagles finished as state runners-up in 1999.

The Northern Lakes League will hold its league meet Saturday at Sunrise Gymnastics Academy on Holland-Sylvania Road.

Perrysburg is the defending champ in the event, which will begin at 3 p.m.

Perrysburg senior hockey player Matt White has shattered the Ohio record for points recorded in a season.

White has broken both the single-season goal scoring and single-season total points records.

White has scored 75 goals, already 12 more than the previous record. Sean Francis, of Brooklyn, held the record with 63 goals in the 1990-91 season. The next highest on the list was Terry Dentkos of Brooklyn, who had 58 in 1988-89.

White also broke Francis' state mark for points in a season. White currently has 130 points (75 G, 55 A). Francis's record of 114 was set in 1990-91.

White has scored 14 game-winning goals.

Perrysburg's Ben Lopez has tied the record for assists in a season. He has 61 assists. The record was set in 1988-89 by Bill Bauchens of Brooklyn.

Lopez, a left winger, has 114 points (53 G, 61 A), including five game-winning goals. White, a center, has 13 game-winning goals.

Perrysburg (22-8-0) is 10-1-0 in the Northwest Hockey Conference White Division and has clinched at least a share of the title with Bedford. If the Yellow Jackets beat Anthony Wayne in the league season finale Saturday, they will clinch the title outright.

Area leagues will hold their championship meets Saturday. In all cases, the meets begin at 10 a.m., with finals held later in the day.

The City League tournament will be hosted by Rogers. Clay is the defending champ and enters as the favorite to repeat, with Central Catholic expected to mount the most serious challenge.

Perrysburg will host the Northern Lakes League tournament. Maumee is the defending champ, but a wide-open race should feature Anthony Wayne and Springfield battling for the crown.

Elmwood is the favorite to repeat as champs of the Suburban Lakes League, with that tournament held at Lake.

Probably the most wide-open race for the league championship will be conducted at the Northwest Ohio Athletic League meet at Swanton.

Wauseon went unbeaten in league duals, but defending champ Liberty Center, Montpelier, Evergreen and Archbold all are capable of challenging for the top spot.

And McComb will host the Ohio Wrestling League tournament. The Panthers won last year's crown, while Arcadia will look to reclaim the title it won in the first two years of the league's existence.