The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center (MOESC) hosted a dynamic Fall Academic Challenge Tournament on November 21-22, 2024. Students and coaches from numerous districts across Crawford, Morrow, and Richland Counties participated, showcasing their knowledge and teamwork. The event followed the virtual fall league and brought the excitement of in-person competition back to the forefront. Despite snowy weather, the tournament ran smoothly, and the results celebrated outstanding academic performances across the board, including strong showings from Colonel Crawford and Northmor teams.
Day 1: Fierce Competition and Big Wins
The first day of the tournament set the tone with varsity and junior varsity teams competing across two brackets each.
Varsity Excels in Challenging Brackets
Varsity teams from Ashland, Madison, Loudonville, Mansfield Christian, Hillsdale, Crestview, Mt. Vernon, and others faced off in thrilling matchups. Colonel Crawford participated in this day’s fall league but was not in the tournament finals.
Bracket A’s top team, Ashland A, went head-to-head with Bracket B leader Madison B. Ashland A captured the championship in a decisive 43-22 victory. The winning team featured Logan Frazer, Jaden Backensto, Scarlett Wilhelm, Micah Mauriocourt, and Erica Cao. Madison B’s team included Cameron Porter, Bradlee Kotterman, Sam Myers, Bryce Tudor, and Ian Parker.
Junior Varsity Teams Deliver Thrills
Junior varsity teams included Crestview, Mt. Vernon, Mapleton, and Mansfield, among others. After intense competition, Mt. Vernon and Crestview B advanced to the final. Mt. Vernon emerged victorious with a 35-20 win. Coached by Rob Fetters, the Mt. Vernon team included Liam Fernandes, Jonathan Green, Aidan Jones, Nathan Hofferberth, and Evan Guillory. Crestview B’s team comprised Allison Morr, Alex Cutlip, Anna Rall, Keegan Cornell, and Brandon Bergosh.
Day 2: Colonel Crawford and Northmor Take the Spotlight
The second day of the tournament featured strong representation from Colonel Crawford and Northmor, alongside other schools, including Tiffin, Highland, Ontario, and Plymouth-Shiloh.
Varsity Championship Highlights
Varsity Bracket A saw Tiffin A emerge as the top team, while Northmor dominated Bracket B. In a final showdown, Tiffin A triumphed over Northmor with a 42-22 scoreline to claim the championship. Tiffin A’s winning team included Christian Keefe, Kenton Fell, Ethan Schmidt, Deacon Albright, and Parker Stroub. Northmor’s talented team comprised Dane Creswell, Austin Radel, Parker Brown, Kyran Hile, and Kate Lehman, highlighting the school’s academic prowess.
JV Championship Showdown
Northmor also shone in the junior varsity competition, with two teams competing across Brackets A and B. Other JV teams included those from Highland, Ontario, and Colonel Crawford.
Highland A and Highland B squared off in an all-Highland final. Highland A edged out Highland B with a narrow 29-26 win, securing bragging rights. Highland A’s team included Zane Granger, Handrick Karya, Bailey Moreland, Drennyn Mooty, Josh Van Horne, and Alexa Van Horne. Highland B featured Mehraneh Matin, Malin Fichtner, Kieran Taylor, Mason Johnson, Hayden Brooks, and Eneas Peren Chux.
Virtual Fall League Results
The Academic Challenge Fall League, conducted virtually in October and November, saw impressive performances from Colonel Crawford and Northmor, among other schools.
Varsity Standouts
Varsity teams were divided into two divisions. In Division A, Ashland took the top spot, while Lexington claimed victory in Division B.
Ashland’s team included Logan Frazer, Jaden Backensto, Jacob Slade, Micah Mauriocourt, Scarlett Wilhelm, Hayden Hitchcock, and Jordyn Backensto. Lexington’s team featured Captain Alex T., Ben W., Ari C., Addie S., and Natalie L.
JV Excellence
The junior varsity league included single-bracket competition with teams from Madison, Ashland, Highland, Northmor, and Colonel Crawford. Madison A took first place, while Ashland B finished second. Madison A’s team included Chris Lucas, Piper Donahue, Kaylee Stone, Hannah Fultz, and Ian Parker.
Supporting Regional Academic Success
The Fall Academic Challenge Tournament and League celebrated the spirit of competition and learning, highlighting the skills and dedication of students from diverse schools like Colonel Crawford, Northmor, and more. MOESC continues to play a pivotal role in supporting over 20,000 students across 13 districts with specialized services, fostering academic and personal growth.
