WTOL 11 Sports Film Room: Otsego first-year head football coach Josh Lindke. At age 29, he’s taken over a program that went 20-0 over the last two seasons. Lindke and the Knights are off to a 2-0 sta

 It’s episode two of the WTOL 11 Sports podcast and this week Jordan Strack sits down with Otsego first-year head football coach Josh Lindke. At age 29, he’s taken over a program that went 20-0 over the last two seasons. Lindke and the Knights are off to a 2-0 start this year, but they’ve got a huge test against Liberty Center this week.

Band of the Week: Fostoria Marching Band

 

This week, we head to Fostoria.

The 104th Fostoria High School Marching Band features 51 students, including color guard.

“It’s always the football players or the cheerleaders who get all the light, but now it’s us and that’s kind of cool," sousaphone player Alexia Coleman said.

In December, the band is heading to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis to tour the city, march in the parade and perform with other bands at halftime with a special guest artist yet to be announced. When Fostoria went in 2014, that artist was Big and Rich.

“We’ve put in a lot of work, so I really think we do deserve it," baritone player Chrystianna Branch said. "I think we earned it.”

WTOL 11 is proud to present Fostoria High School as our second Band of the Week

August 26, 2022: Charlie's Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Big Board Friday

 August 26, 2022: Charlie's Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Big Board Friday

Perrysburg vs. Findlay
Benedictine vs. Central Catholic
Dublin Jerome vs. Whitmer
Anthony Wayne vs. St. John's
Northview vs. Clay
Waite vs. Southview
Columbian vs. Springfield
BREAK ONE
Bowling Green vs. Eastwood
Port Clinton vs. Rossford
Edison vs. Elmwood
Oak Harbor vs. Genoa
Northview vs. Lake
BREAK TWO
Swanton vs. Ottawa Hills
Columbus Grove vs. Liberty-Benton
Blissfield vs. Whiteford

http://hollyomlor.com/Podcasts/BBF_8_28_22.mp4

WTOL 11 Sports Film Room: Jordan Strack sits down with Central Catholic head football coach Greg Dempsey. The veteran coach talks about his 23 years with the Irish and the future of his program.

 In our first WTOL 11 Sports Film Room podcast, Jordan Strack sits down with Central Catholic head football coach Greg Dempsey. The veteran coach talks about his 23 years with the Irish and the future of his program.

 

April 29, 2022: WTOL 11 Sports

 Northview grad Luke Fortner selected by Jaguars in NFL Draft

Fortner, an offensive lineman, was selected with the 65th overall pick by Jacksonville.

LAS VEGAS — Northview High School grad Luke Fortner was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Fortner, an offensive lineman at the University of Kentucky, was picked with the first pick of the third round.

The former Wildcat was first-team All-SEC last season for UK and was given a 82.8 pass blocking grade last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Fortner also started 35 consecutive games on the offensive line for Kentucky.

Athlete of the Week: Addie Arnold of Bryan High School

 

Athlete of the Week: Addie Arnold of Bryan High School

In the past two weeks, Arnold has thrown multiple no-hitters and had multiple game-winning hits, etching her name in Bryan High School history books.

BRYAN, Ohio — Bryan High School’s Addie Arnold is one of the best athletes in school history. She’s already had a decorated high school career, but the last couple weeks, she’s taken that to another level.

Arnold has already accomplished a ton in her time at Bryan High School. She’s a three-sport athlete. She is a major part of the basketball, soccer, and softball programs. 

She’s also getting it done in the classroom. She’s been in the top 10 percent of her class all four years of high school.

“Beyond her just being a great softball player, she’s a great kid and has a great attitude. A great leader for our girls," said Samantha Fowls. "She steps up in those big moments when we need her. Obviously they’ve seen that in the past week. So, super exciting and she just brings the energy that we need.”

Maybe the most impressive part of the last week was the thrilling 13-inning win over Hilltop. Arnold pitched 12 innings in the game and struck out 28 hitters. She also drove in the winning run with a walk-off base hit in the 13th.

"Being there for my team in those big moments. We needed something big to happen and I just stepped up to the plate and kind of did it," said Arnold. "And on the mound I’m just kind of thinking that I have good support behind me and so whatever I do I’ve got good defense behind me. Moving pitches, throwing different stuff, just kind of working. But if it’s not, if they hit something I know I have good defense behind me so it gives me a lot more confidence.”

On top of that, she also threw a no-hitter in a game with 17 strikeouts in a game against Defiance. She threw a five-inning no-hitter against Delta with 13 strikeouts. Oh, and she also hit a walk-off grand slam to beat Edgerton. 

All of this coming within the last two weeks. So, which is better? The no-hitters and strikeouts, or the walk-off grand slam?

“It was just a really big hit in the moment. It was my first grand slam ever. It felt really good. The strikeouts come more often I would say, so I think hit was more special this time," said Arnold.

She was the NWOAL player of the year last year and she was first team all-Ohio. With the numbers she’s putting up this year, she’s on pace to receive those awards again. 

April 15, 2022: WTOL 11 Sports

Hitting for a Cause' at Total Sports in Rossford

ROSSFORD, Ohio — Young baseball players from the area took part in "Hitting for a Cause" at Total Sports in Rossford on Friday, all in an effort to help a local man working to pay off his medical bills.

Each kid hit eight pitches and pledged money for each foot the ball traveled. They were doing it to raise money for Lupe Hinojosa. 

Over the last two years, Hinojosa has been battling stage three colon cancer as well as COVID-19. All the money raised will go to help cover his medical bills, a gesture Hinojosa was very grateful for.

"It means a lot to me. I couldn't do it without them," said Hinojosa. "I appreciate all the boys at girls at Total Sports for doing this for me. I didn't think anybody would do this for me and it was a blessing."

Garry Isbell, director of baseball at Total Sports, says this kind of event is what sports are all about.

"It always brings joy to me. It always brings a sense of graciousness as to why I do what I do," said Isbell. 

Isbell says they have been holding events like this for 15 years.