yourdailylocal
WARREN, Pa. – With the year coming to an end, it’s time for our annual look back at the stories that mattered the most to our readers. Today’s offering will examine the sports stories that kept you on the edge of your seat.
A cursory examination of the most-read sports stories makes one thing abundantly clear, our readers loved them some Eisenhower football in 2022. And what wasn’t to love? A hard-nosed, stifling defense, check. Explosive offense, check. A school-record 10-0 regular season, check. Record-breaking running back, check. All-stars all over the field, check.
Of course, the Knights weren’t the only story in 2022. Youth football took the county on a ride as well as the Warren Dawgs won the Olean Youth Football League championship. The Warren County Sports Hall of Fame returned after a decade-long hiatus and welcomed a new class of inductees. A pair of big-time basketball showdowns caught your attention as well.
Let’s get to it, here are the Top 10 Most Read Sports Stories of 2022:
10. Knights Lead Wire-to-Wire in Huge Region 2 Victory Over Cambridge Springs
RUSSELL, Pa. – Behind a career-high 20 points from sophomore Kris Bunk, Eisenhower led wire-to-wire in a big 68-62 Region 2 win over Cambridge Springs.
The Knights led by as many as 11, but Cambridge Springs kept it close throughout, thanks to the strong play of Nathan Held, who led three Blue Devils in double figures with 18 points.
“We played really well,” said Eisenhower coach Ryan Mangini.
9. Warren Dawgs Win League Championship
COUDERSPORT, Pa. – In a battle of top defenses, the Warren Dawgs held fast to come away with a 12-6 win at Coudersport to claim the Olean Area Youth Football League Championship on Saturday.
With 1:17 to play and the Dawgs clinging to a 12-6 lead, the Falcons’ quarterback dropped back to pass. Chase Raub came free and laid a hit that forced an errant throw. Nate Harris’ diving interception gave the ball back to the Dawgs and Connor Smith kneeled on it twice to secure the league championship.
8. Lady Dragons Drop Thriller to Florida Powerhouse Seffner Christian in Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational
WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. – Warren went toe-to-toe with one of Florida’s top teams in the opening round of the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational, dropping a 62-58 thriller to host school Seffner Christian at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus.
The game was tight throughout, as the Crusaders, the No. 4 ranked Class 3A team in Florida High School Athletic Association Rankings, led 24-22 at halftime and 43-39 after three quarters.
“They’re a very good team,” said Warren coach Lisa LaVan. “We came out ready to play, they just executed a few things better than we did.”
7. Champions Crowned, Fun Had at Industrial Softball Tournament
WARREN, Pa. – Another successful Terry F. Ristau Industrial Memorial Softball Tournament is in the books.
The tournament, which began on Friday and concluded on Sunday, featured plenty of exciting action, all for a great cause.
All proceeds from the event go to the United Fund of Warren County.
6. Bauer Sets Rushing Record as Knights Win Region 2 Title
LAWRENCE PARK, Pa. – Benji Bauer broke the school single-season rushing record and Eisenhower clinched the Region 2 title outright with a 48-6 win at Iroquois.
Bauer ran for 145 yards on 10 carries to give him 1,621 yards for the season. That broke the school’s previous record of 1,586 set by Steve Witte in 1991. This is the second rushing record Bauer has set this season. He scored five rushing touchdowns in the Knights’ win over Seneca.
5. Perfect 10: Eisenhower Pust Finishing Touches on Undefeated Season
GIRARD, Pa. – A pair of fourth-quarter interceptions helped Eisenhower secure a perfect regular season with a 13-7 win at Girard on Friday.
Caleb Penley wrestled Gabe Messmer’s pass away from Zach Lowe on the possession after Eisenhower took the lead. Then, with Girard driving and a minute left to play, Tucker Lindell stepped in front of Gunner Bax for what would prove to be the game-winner.
“They came out, they fought a really hard game,” Lindell said. “We were ready for them, made some adjustments, made some plays, and got the win.”
4. Sheffield Boys Hoops was Part of Historic Night 54 Years Ago
Feb. 23, 1968, very well might have been an unprecedented night in the annals of District 9 basketball.
Fifty-four years ago tonight, three D9 teams scored 120 or more points in their respective games.
Elk County Christian (now Elk County Catholic) coached by John Unice, scored a 120-65 victory over Bradford Central Christian, Johnsonburg defeated DuBois Central Christian (now DuBois Central Catholic), 122-94, and Sheffield took down Tidioute (when it was still a public school) 133-63.
3. Cardiac Kids: Bauer’s Touchdown Run, Jensen’s Interception Punch Eisenhower’s Ticket to D10 Title Game
WARREN, Pa. – Cambridge Springs led for nearly all of Saturday’s District 10 Class 1A semifinal against Eisenhower, but the Knights came up with an answer when it mattered the most.
Trailing 20-19, Benji Bauer’s 58-yard touchdown run with 2:59 to play gave Eisenhower (11-0) a 25-20 lead.
And with Cambridge Springs (8-4) driving at the Eisenhower 41 on the ensuing possession, Garrett Jensen intercepted Blue Devils’ quarterback Morgan Applebee with just over a minute remaining, and the Knights were able to run out the clock, setting up a date with Reynolds for the D10 title.
2. Big Winners as Raceway 7 Holds Opening Night
CONNEAUT, Ohio – Despite the date being Friday the 13th and a nearly full moon, Raceway 7 ran its first night of racing with five features filled with battles throughout the field for most positions.
At the end of the night, it was Garrett Calvert, Joel Watson, Dennis Lunger, Rob Kristyak, and Brian McGarvie earning trips to Victory Lane.
The first feature race of the 2022 season was for the Lakeview Ford Economods with pole-sitter Garrett Calvert leading the distance, but not without constant company at the front of the line.
1. Warren County Sports Hall of Fame Celebrates Induction of New Members
WARREN, Pa. – Ten new members of the Warren County Sports Hall of Fame were officially enshrined during a ceremony Saturday night at the Conewango Club, as well as The Cornerstone Lounge.
James Curren (basketball), Hallie Bunk-Dubia (golf, basketball, softball), Kelly Fredericks (football), Aaron Lanzel (cross country, coaching), Ben Maljovec (football), Ed “Wink” Rickerson (baseball), Fran Troyan (coaching) and Jeff Zaffino (bowling) were all recognized, as well as deceased inductees Kelly Allen (football) and Andy Randas (coaching) and The Cornerstone Lounge (organization).
“I think we can all agree it was so cool to hear all these stories,” said Warren County Sports HOF Director Nate Sandberg. “You guys hit the nail on the head. Warren County’s roots run deep. We had almost 450 voters from 28 different states. That’s really, really cool.”
