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.
In a field jammed with Top 5 teams from the state's final Division I poll, Pickerington Central and Gahanna Lincoln -- including Javan Simmons (24) -- emerged from Wednesday semifinals to set up a monster Saturday showdown for a trip to the final four in Dayton (PressPros Feature Photo by John Hulkenberg).
