Milford High School Athletics 2015-16 Year In Review

Milford Schools

July 27, 2016

The Milford High School Department of Athletics enjoyed another year of success during the 2015-16 academic year highlighted by three Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championships, a final finish of fourth in the league’s all-sport standings and a regional runner-up finish by the Milford baseball team. A more detailed look at the highlights of the 2015-16 academic year achieved by Milford High School coaches and student-athletes:

  • Teams combined for a final record of 212-125-9 (.626) and 95-44-3 (.680) in Eastern Cincinnati Conference play.
  • School finished fourth in the ECC All Sports Trophy standings.
  • The baseball team won its first district championship since 2003 and advanced all the way to the OHSAA Regional Finals. The team also finished third in the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association’s final state poll.
  • The baseball and softball teams entered postseason play, seeded No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the Cincinnati-area sectionals.
  • Baseball won a share of its fifth straight conference championship and 17th overall.
  • Boys golf captured its second consecutive ECC Championship.
  • Softball won its third straight Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship. In the process, the Eagles became the first team in league history to finish undefeated in conference play in a single season.
  • Girls water polo finished fifth at the Ohio Water Polo State Championship, while the boys team finished ninth.
  • The girls basketball team enjoyed arguably the best season for the program in nearly 20 years as the Eagles finished with 18 wins, the most since 1996-97. They were also one of only four teams in the city to improve its win total by at least 10 victories from last season.
  • Girls basketball participated in the Game of Hope against Turpin benefiting The Cure Starts Now for the second straight year.
  • With a 14-9 final record, the boys basketball team now has 10 consecutive seasons with a winning record and at least 12 victories.
  • Senior multi-sport student-athlete Loewen Cavill was named a 2015 Wendy’s High School Heisman State Finalist.
  • Freshman Tyler Babinec made Milford history by capturing the school’s first-ever district championship in boys swimming when he won the 50 freestyle crown. Babinec also qualified for the Ohio State Championships in the 100 breaststroke where he finished 13th.
  • Senior Clare Cartheuser broke her own school record in the discus throw en route to an eighth place finish at the OHSAA State Girls Track and Field Championships. She also placed second at regionals and was the district champion in the event.
  • For the first time ever, Milford hosted the WLWT-TV Blitz 5 Tailgate prior to the Eagles’ home football game against Anderson on Sept. 25.
  • 10 student-athletes were All-Ohio selections: Sam Dobrowolski (baseball), Skyler Fontaine (girls water polo), Kane Gormley (boys water polo), Brad Hall (baseball), Alison McClure (girls water polo), Katey Pena (girls water polo), Wes Reid (baseball), Kelsey Seitz (softball), Valerie Thompson (softball) and Max Woodson (boys water polo).
  • Girls golf senior Abby Swensen earned second team All-Southwest District distinction.
  • Girls basketball seniors Taylor Foster and Hannah Woody were All-Southwest District honorable mention selections.
  • Football senior Clay Knecht earned All-Southwest District honorable mention honors.
  • Seniors Manny Fernandez (110 meter hurdles) and senior Clare Cartheuser (discus), freshman Andrea Armstrong (100 meter dash) and the 4x100 meter relay squad of juniors Lauryn Knarr and Lindsey Lawson, sophomore Emma Netzel and Armstrong all represented Milford at the Track & Field Regional Championships.
  • Both the boys and girls bowling squads qualified for the Southwest District Championships. The boys team also placed a program-best second in OHSAA Sectionals.
  • The Boys golf team finished second at the OHSAA Sectionals to earn a berth in the OHSAA District Championships.
  • Senior Abby Swensen qualified for the Girls Golf District Championships.
  • Senior Nolan Nye and sophomore Joel Adams qualified for the Diving District Championships.
  • Freshman Kobey Bronaugh and junior Jimmy Murphy both represented Milford at the OHSAA Division I District Wrestling Championship.
  • A total of 16 student-athletes represented Milford at the Boys and Girls Swimming District Championships.
  • Sophomore Amanda Reinhart earned a berth on the Girls Tennis District Championship.
  • Sophomore Joel Adams won the ECC Boys Diving Championship.
  • Freshman Tyler Babinec won the ECC Championships in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.
  • Senior Clare Cartheuser won the ECC Championship in the discus.
  • Senior A.J. Erdaty won the ECC Boys Cross Country Championship race.
  • The MHS Cheer squad took first place at the ECC Championships, while the Dance team placed second.
  • The following senior student-athletes earned MHS Athletic Department and OHSAA Awards:
    • Brad Hall (Basketball, Baseball) and Kelly Noll (Basketball, Softball)—MHS Outstanding Senior Athletes
    • Piper Hilliard (Cheerleading, Cross Country, Track & Field) and Alex Shiplett (Football, Basketball)—OHSAA Archie Griffin Sportsmanship
    • Ben Greenwell (Football, Basketball, Baseball, Track & Field) and Rachel Berger (Cross Country, Golf, Track & Field)—OHSAA Scholar Athlete
    • Keenan Farrell (Basketball)—Courageous Student Award
  • Seniors Ben Greenwell (Football, Boys Basketball, Track & Field) and Loewen Cavill (Girls Soccer, Cross Country, Track & Field) were featured as McDonald’s Student-Athletes of the Week by WLWT Blitz 5 on Jan. 29.
  • Multi-sport standout Loewen Cavill was named the Student-Athlete of the Month for November by television station WKRC-TV (Local 12).
  • Baseball coach Tom Kilgore earned his 300th career victory at Milford as the Eagles scored seven runs in the top of the seventh against Walnut Hills on April 15 for an 8-5 win.
  • Four ECC Athletes of the Year: Joel Adams (Diving), Nathan Arnold (Boys Golf), A.J. Erdaty (Boys Cross Country) and Brad Hall (Baseball).
  • Four ECC Coaches of the Year: Christy Gregory (Softball), Tom Kilgore (Baseball), Phil Sheldon (Boys Golf) and Harry Smith (Academic Team).
  • 42 First Team All-ECC honorees: Academic Team (1)—Jake DeBra; Baseball (6)—Sam Dobrowolski, Brad Hall, Matt Kirk, Nathan Kroger, Wes Reid, Kyle Ruehlman; Boys Basketball (2)—Jack Engelman, Brad Hall; Girls Basketball (2)—Taylor Foster, Hannah Woody; Boys Bowling (3)—Josh Cooper, Noah Dolezal, Nathan McGeorge; Girls Bowling (3)—Jessica Haines, Alyna Hook, Sarah Schmidtgesling; Boys Cross Country (2)— Harris Craycraft, A.J. Erdaty; Diving (1)—Joel Adams; Football (1)—Clay Knecht; Boys Golf (3)—Nathan Arnold, Justin Horn, Aaron Wade; Girls Golf (2)—Casey Broxterman, Abby Swenson; Boys Soccer (2)—Pierce Turner, Mitchell Wenzler; Girls Soccer (2)—Kenzi Gooley, Amanda Zanola; Boys Swimming (2)—Tyler Babinec (two-time); Softball (5)—Kelly Noll, Katelyn Reynolds, Katelyn Rheude, Kelsey Seitz, Valerie Thompson; Girls Tennis (1)—Amanda Reinhart; Girls Track & Field (1)—Clare Cartheuser; Wrestling (1)—Jimmy Murphy; Volleyball (2)—Courtney Gulick, Lisa Sullivan.
  • 36 Second Team All-ECC honorees: Academic Team (1)—Connor Rigney; Baseball (1)—Kyle Music; Boys Basketball (1)—Keenan Farrell; Girls Basketball (1)—Kelly Noll; Boys Bowling (1)—Josh Brooksbank; Girls Bowling (2)—MacKenzie Mason, Lauren Shelton; Boys Cross Country (3)—Graham Craycraft, Casey Norman, Carlos Perez; Football (9)—Alex Herbst, Riley Holbrook, Andrew Johnson, Eric Richey, Dawson Slone, Hayden Sluder, Tyler Smith, Gage Spillman, Chase Witte; Boys Golf (2)—Jon Snider, Tristan Woster; Girls Golf (2)—Rachel Berger, Kara Buck; Boys Soccer (3)—Cole Dunham, Blake Holtman, Matt Zwilling; Girls Soccer (3)—Alex Evanchyk, Bryn Rolfsen, Kelsi Spillman; Softball (1)—Hannah White; Boys Track & Field (1)—Ben Greenwell/Dominic Dalessandro/Jordan Latham/Dustin Reynolds {800 meter relay}; Wrestling (4)—Kobey Bronaugh, Shaun Burgdorf, Noah Dixie, Daniel Wilson; Volleyball (1)—Camille Eckleman.
  • 21 All-ECC Honorable Mentions: Baseball (1)—Keith Carter; Boys Basketball (1)—Mitchell Wenzler; Girls Basketball (1)—Tori Gilman; Boys Bowling (1)—Jeremiah Mitchell; Girls Bowling (1)—Jessica Norman; Boys Cross Country (1)—Joseph Kruse; Girls Cross Country (1)—Jelena Vogt; Football (1)—Brendan Dugan; Boys Golf (1)—Cameron Loux; Girls Golf (1)—Bre Severns; Boys Soccer (1)—Robbie Lynch; Girls Soccer (1)—Tori Gilman; Softball (1)—Kelly Carraro; Boys Swimming (1)—Jarod Higgins; Girls Swimming (1)—Alison McClure; Boys Tennis (1)—Holden Owens; Girls Tennis (1)—Lauren Hilliard; Boys Track & Field (1)—Manny Fernandez; Girls Track & Field (1)—Andrea Armstrong; Wrestling (1)—Tre Spillman; Volleyball (1)—Bethany Eippert.
  • Cincinnati Enquirer Co-Area Players of the Year: Wes Reid (Baseball), Valerie Thompson (Softball)
  • Cincinnati Enquirer All-Stars: Nathan Arnold (Boys Golf), Tyler Babinec (Boys Swimming), Clare Cartheuser (Girls Track & Field), Dax Creager (Boys Lacrosse), Jake Davis (Boys Lacrosse), Sam Dobrowolski (Baseball), Noah Dolezal (Boys Bowling), Skyler Fontaine (Girls Water Polo), Kane Gormley (Boys Water Polo), Jessica Haines (Girls Bowling), Brad Hall (Baseball & Boys Basketball), Jack Hannah (Boys Lacrosse), Alison McClure (Girls Water Polo), Katey Pena (Girls Water Polo), Wes Reid (Baseball), Amanda Reinhart (Girls Tennis), Kyle Ruehlman (Baseball), Kelsey Seitz (Softball), Abby Swensen (Girls Golf), Valerie Thompson (Softball) and Max Woodson (Boys Water Polo).
  • Cincinnati Enquirer/Milford Miami Advertiser  Honorable Mentions: Joel Adams (Diving), Kobey Bronaugh (Wrestling), Kiki Carle (Gymnastics), Keith Carter (Baseball), Camille Eckelman (Girls Volleyball), A.J. Erdaty (Boys Cross Country), Taylor Foster (Girls Basketball), Kenzi Gooley (Girls Soccer), Courtney Gulick (Girls Volleyball), Alyna Hook (Girls Bowling), Caroline Kerber (Girls Lacrosse), Clay Knecht (Football), Holden Owens (Boys Tennis), Katelyn Reynolds (Softball), Trenton Sneed (Boys Lacrosse), Lisa Sullivan (Girls Volleyball), Jelena Vogt (Girls Cross Country), Mitchell Wenzler (Boys Soccer), Tristin Woster (Boys Golf) and Amanda Zanola (Girls Soccer).
  • 30 seniors committed to play collegiate athletics:
    • Kemper Ackermann: Lacrosse, DePauw University
    • Megan Barlage: Soccer, Westminster College
    • Clare Cartheuser: Track & Field, Miami (Ohio) University
    • Loewen Cavill: Soccer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • Parker Clemons: Football, University of Charleston (West Virginia)
    • Graham Craycraft: Cross Country/Track & Field, Bellarmine University
    • Cameron Edmonson: Lacrosse, Wilmington College
    • Bethany Eippert: Volleyball, Otterbein University
    • Alex Evanchyk: Soccer, Cincinnati State Technical College
    • Malia Ferry: Soccer/Track & Field, Defiance College
    • Lance Fleischman: Baseball, Wilmington College
    • Alexis Foster: Softball, Thomas More College
    • Taylor Foster: Basketball, University of Indianapolis
    • Josh Fowler: Lacrosse, Asbury University
    • Kenzi Gooley: Soccer, Ball State University
    • Hannah Gratsch: Lacrosse, Wilmington College
    • Ben Hunter: Baseball, Northwest Nazarene University
    • Clay Knecht: Football, Ohio Northern University
    • Emma Luciano: Soccer, Marietta College
    • Alison McClure: Swimming, Penn State University
    • Brianna McCulley: Lacrosse, Transylvania University
    • Kelly Noll: Basketball, Wilmington College
    • Kyle Ruehlman: Baseball, Sinclair Community College
    • Molly Shea: Lacrosse, Mount St. Joseph University
    • Samantha Short: Lacrosse, Methodist Univeristy
    • Trenton Sneed: Lacrosse, Transylvania University
    • Kelsi Spillman: Soccer, Wright State University
    • Abby Swensen: Golf, Ohio Dominican Univeristy
    • Hannah Watz: Soccer, Taylor University
    • Hannah Woody: Basketball, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
  • Five teams finished in the top-10 of the Cincinnati Enquirer weekly coaches polls: Baseball (1st), Girls Bowling (10th), Boys Golf (7th), Boys Lacrosse (5th) and Softball (3rd).
  • Seniors Brad Hall and Kyle Ruehlman represented Milford at the East-West All-Star Baseball Game.
  • Seniors Taylor Foster, Kelly Noll and Taylor Foster represented Milford at the East-West All-Star Basketball Game.
  • Senior Clay Knecht started at center in the East-West All-Star Football Game.
  • Football junior Dawson Slone was named the WCPO Channel 9/TriStateFootball Player of the Week for his play during the Sept. 25 win over Anderson.
  • The baseball team turned a triple play in the team’s April 23 win over Moeller.
  • The baseball duo of Kyle Music and Tyler Smith combined on a six-inning no-hitter in an 11-0 win over New Richmond on April 11.