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.
Top-seeded Olentangy Orange, second-seeded Delaware, fourth-seeded Newark and fifth-seeded Bradley notched Division I boys district championships Saturday at Ohio Dominican. Columbus, OH – Hilliard Bradley is especially adept on set inbounds following timeouts, but neither coach Brett Norris nor his son, Cade, could take a whole lot of credit for drawing up the winning basket
Leading by just two points at halftime, Pickerington Central turned up its defensive pressure to break down Watterson and reach the state final four for the 15th time. The Tigers will be shooting for a record-equaling eighth championship. Westerville, OH – In reality, the groundwork for Pickerington Central’s 15th big-school regional girls basketball championship Friday
Cade Norris scored 19 points to pace Hilliard Bradley’s rout of Olentangy Liberty, but it was the play of freshman point guard Ben Mirgon – when Norris was sidelined with foul trouble – that spurred the finishing kick. Grove City, OH – When Hilliard Bradley All-Ohio guard Cade Norris picked up his third foul on
Watterson rode its tenacious defense and disciplined approach to a 47-44 win over AP poll champion Olentangy. Meanwhile, Pickerington Central used a 19-0 run to rout Olentangy Liberty in the other regional semifinal. Westerville, OH – Over a span of roughly 72 hours, the Bishop Watterson girls basketball team – seeded eighth in the Central
Sophie Ziel scored 32 points, including 6 of 6 free throws in overtime, as Watterson upset fourth-ranked Marysville in one of four district title games at Ohio Dominican. Other winners were Olentangy, Olentangy Liberty and Pickerington Central. Columbus, OH – In hopes of simulating what it would be like to face Marysville’s relentless defense –