A seven-time Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association writer of the year, Blackledge spent the final 34 years of a four-decade career as the chief prep beat writer for the Columbus Dispatch. A Delaware, Ohio native, Blackledge graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1982 with degrees in journalism and communications. He served as sports editor of the Wilmington News-Journal for three-plus years. He also worked at the Lake County Telegraph and the Delaware Gazette. In addition to the prep beat, Blackledge has covered the Browns, Indians, Reds, Bengals, Columbus Crew and various Ohio State sports.
Olentangy Liberty, Olentangy, Dublin Jerome, Pickerington Central and Upper Arlington captured Division I district titles on Championship Saturday at the newly reopened Ohio Expo Center’s Taft Coliseum. Columbus, OH – Cognizant that team photos were about to be taken after Olentangy Liberty’s 50-43 win over Newark in a Division I girls district championship game Saturday,
Top-seeded in the upcoming Central District tournament, Olentangy Orange – regional runner-up in 2023 and 2024 – is determined to get over the hump and seems to have the athleticism,, experience and cohesiveness to do so. Lewis Center, OH – It’s no wonder that Division I coaches at the Central District boys basketball seeding meeting
Despite some significant offseason changes, Olentangy (19-3) is back in the catbird seat again and could be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming Division I district tournament. Lewis Center, OH – In the course of a few months after capturing just its second Central District championship last February, Olentangy’s girls basketball program
Anchored by 6-6 and 6-4 bookends Henry Larger and Kayden Schaffer, Ready dominated the offensive boards in an impressive win over Division III power Hamilton Township. The Silver Knights ran their record to 18-2. Columbus, OH – Tony Bisutti chuckled when asked if this Bishop Ready boys basketball team compares to the one that went
Freshman Danny Bentley scored a career-high 20 points off the bench and Noah Hess added 18 as state-ranked Jonathan Alder positioned itself to win a fifth consecutive Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division title. London, OH – Ask anyone who participated, coached in or watched the captivating showdown between age-old rivals Jonathan Alder and London