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.
Five years without a championship seems like an eternity for tradition-rich Hilliard Bradley, but the Jaguars turned in a superlative defensive performance to slay the two-time defending Central champs and 2025 state champs. Hilliard, OH – That big old number 66 stuck out like a sore thumb on the otherwise glittering resume of the Hilliard
– Watterson put itself in position to capture a CCL title and a high Division III tournament seed with a win and season sweep of rival DeSales. Carter Bellisari led the way with 17 points. Columbus, OH – Except for maybe longer shorts, shorter socks and more colorful shoes, a snapshot of Bishop Watterson’s boys
Kypton Norris, Ben Mirgon and Jayden Reed-Davis combined to score 37 points, but it was the Jaguars’ stifling defense that stole the show, holding the Golden Bears to their lowest point total of the season. Hilliard, OH – With a sly grin, Hilliard Bradley veteran coach Brett Norris half-apologized for “kind of a boring
It didn’t come easy, but Olentangy ran its record to 12-1 with a wild win over intra-district rival Olentangy Berlin before a fully-engaged sellout crowd. Lewis Center, OH – The final few seconds of an Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division boys basketball showdown between Olentangy and Olentangy Berlin Friday was so chaotic one had to
Buoyed by back-to-back forced turnovers, Upper Arlington scored the first five points of overtime and knocked off Dublin Coffman in an OCC boys rivalry game. Coffman rallied from an 11-point deficit to win the girls game. Upper Arlington, OH – Anyone who has been part of or followed the Dublin Coffman-Upper Arlington boys basketball rivalry