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.
Embroiled in close games, Reynoldsburg and Olentangy Liberty each pulled away down the stretch to set up a compelling Division I regional championship showdown Saturday at the Taft Coliseum. Columbus, OH – Reynoldsburg came into a Division I regional semifinal matchup with Dublin Coffman Thursday night averaging 75.2 points per game – making them easily
Upper Arlington’s Hayden Henry celebrates after hitting a three-point shot at the buzzer to put the Golden Bears up 25-16 over Newark at the half. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Lorrie Gardner) Upper Arlington, Olentangy Liberty, Dublin Coffman and Reynoldsburg took home Division I district championship trophies in a wild day of boys action at
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