2021 Fall Sports Preview A special publication of All content © 2021 Sidney Daily News. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. 2 Tuesday, August 31, 2021 2021 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW Sidney Daily News INDEX FORT LORAMIE: 5 HOUston/FAIRlaWN: 8 RIVERSIDE: 11 Cover photos by Sidney Daily News employees Bryant Billing and Luke Sidney: 2-3 LEHMAN CatHOLIC: 6 BotKINS: 9 MinsteR: 12 Gronneberg. ANNA: 4 RUssia: 7 JacKson CENTER: 10 NEW BREMEN: 13 SIDNEY FOOTBALL: OFFENSE Bryant Billing | Sidney Daily News The 2021 Sidney football squad will try to keep up its improvement from last season’s campaign, in which the squad finished 5-4 following a 3-7 record in 2019. The Yellow Jackets managed to post an improved record despite their schedule frequently being disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The squad’s offensive improvement was a key to the better record. The team averaged 291 yards and 23.4 points per game after averaging 252 yards and 17.8 points in 2019. Yellow Jackets hope to keep improving Sidney has 5 returning starters on offense With five returning starters weight training and condition- in addition to rushing for 488 and an offseason that was close ing, summer practice days and yards and seven TDs on 127 and hopes to build off shortened 2020 to normal, the Yellow Jack- 7-on-7’s before beginning pre- carries. ets are hoping for continued season practice on Aug. 1. The Donavin Johnson takes over By Bryant Billing the first time in decades, yet improvement this season. squad scrimmaged Toledo St. at quarterback this season. He’s [email protected] the squad faced Stebbins and No scrimmages were allowed Francis on Aug. 6 and Dayton been a junior varsity and back- West Carrollton twice in nine by the Ohio High School Ath- Chaminade-Julienne on Aug. up QB in the program since his SIDNEY — The COVID-19 games. letic Association last season as 12. freshman year and has played pandemic made for an unusual Those factors combined the organization tried to figure That more normal practice on varsity as a defensive back fall sports season last year, but with injuries, illness and a new out how (and if) fall sports regimen was welcomed by since his sophomore season. Sidney’s football squad dealt offensive scheme, offensive would work amidst the pan- Sidney coach Adam Doenges, “He’s kind of like Ced, and with more abnormality than coordinator and quarterback demic. Offseason training last since the Yellow Jackets will maybe even a little more physi- most teams. would have made it difficult for summer was different as well, have a new quarterback for the cal at the run game,” Doenges, Several games were canceled most squads to have success. as teams tried to limit contact second consecutive year. who is entering his 11th sea- days before their scheduled But Sidney fought through between players. Cedric Johnson led Sidney son, said of Donavin Johnson. start times. Replacement oppo- and finished 5-4, making it Offseason and preseason at QB last year in his lone year His throwing ability will be a nents were hastily added. Nor- the fourth time in six seasons activities returned to normal as a starter and amassed 1,499 big piece of the offensive puzzle mal opponents like Troy and the squad has won at least five this year. The Yellow Jack- passing yards and 10 touch- Bellefontaine weren’t played for games. ets had a busy summer with downs with five interceptions See IMPROVING | 11 SIDNEY FOOTBALL: DEFENSE Seniors to play big role on Yellow Jackets’ ‘D’ Sidney returns 4 The group also helped Junior Hayden Cotrell switched up a couple of lead defensive improve- (6-foot-1, 297 pounds) years ago,” Doenges said. defensive starters, ment. Sidney gave up will start at nose guard “We realized we have to 19.1 points and 291 yards for the Yellow Jackets. stop the inside run game, including top tackler per game last year after Senior Zane Cline (6-4, and the 3-4 has been bet- allowing an average of 202) and junior Thomas ter for us, and I think we By Bryant Billing 21.9 points and 309.4 Sibert (6-6, 271) are also feel really good about [email protected] yards per game in 2019. expected to start on the being able to stop the The team also forced 22 defensive line. inside run game and push SIDNEY — Sidney’s turnovers in nine games “Hayden is a wrestler everything to the outside. defense showed marked after having forced 12 in and does a really nice “… We feel really good improvement last season 10 games in 2019. job for us as far as his about the physicality of and is hoping to do the The Yellow Jackets physicality,” Doenges our scrimmages so far. It same this year. But to do have an even larger group said. “We’ll rotate a lot was some of our best as so, the squad will have to this year with 23 seniors, of guys at the nose spot, far as being physical on replace five of its top six several of which are but we’re looking for the line and overall tack- tacklers — and deal with expected to be key defen- some good things from ling from all 11 guys.” its top returning tackler sive players. Hayden.” Senior middle line- not rejoining the squad “It’s a really good group Seniors Evan Kennedy, backer Devin Taborn until later this season. that had a lot of success Jaden Swiger, Carson returns after leading the Sidney had a large in seventh and eighth Roesser and Jayden squad with 57.5 tackles group of seniors that grade and moving up, Bishop are expected to last year. Unfortunately helped the squad improve not just in football, but in see time on the defensive for the Yellow Jackets, from a 3-7 campaign in other sports,” Doenges line, in addition to Bren- Taborn suffered a knee 2019 to a 5-4 campaign said. “It’s nice to see the nan Barnes. injury during AAU bas- Bryant Billing | Sidney Daily News in 2020 that included two progression, maturity Sidney will continue its ketball in the summer and Sidney’s Conley New, top, works to bring down West Carrollton’s losses to Stebbins by a and growth as those guys 3-4 defensive scheme. Dujuan Howard during the first half of a Division II playoff game “It’s something we See Seniors | 16 on Oct. 9, 2020 at Sidney Memorial Stadium. New is one of four combined three points. move up.” returning defensive starters for the Yellow Jackets. OH-70249136 Sidney Daily News 2021 FALL SPORTS PREVIEW Tuesday, August 31, 2021 3 SIDNEY FALL SPORTS Lee Woolery | AIM Media Midwest Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News Sidney midfielder Jadah McMillen battles for the ball with a Troy player during a Miami Valley League Sidney forward Graham Van Tilburgh keeps ahead of a Beavercreek player during a Division I sectional crossover game on Oct. 12, 2020 at Troy Memorial Stadium. McMillen is the lone returning senior final on Oct. 22, 2020 at Frank Zink Field in Beavercreek. The Yellow Jackets have seven returning letterwinner and will look to lead a young squad that lost eight players off last season’s team to letterwinners and are looking to compete for the MVL Valley Division title and to make a deep graduation. tournament run. Yellow Jackets aim for more divisional titles Sidney boys, girls soccer and boys cross “Avery is bringing her senior leadership and pas- country look to repeat as MVL Valley champs sion,” Verhoff said. “She is coming back stronger. By Bryant Billing midfielder Ashton Macy Madelyn is coming back [email protected] and freshman defender with more court aware- Gilbert Pelealu. ness and drive to better SIDNEY — Sidney’s “Gilbert is a quality the ball for each of her boys soccer program has club player that (assistant hitters.” been on the upswing coach) George (Miu) and Senior defensive special- the last couple of years. myself have coached for a ist Sydni Boshears also The Yellow Jackets have few years, so Gilbert also returns. She ranked sec- captured Miami Valley brings experience and ond on the team with 165 League Valley Division IQ,” Fridley said. “Ashton digs a year ago. titles the last two seasons is a former club player. “Sydni is bringing the and have won one tourna- Ashton also brings us IQ, senior leadership and ment game each year. but he also has size. desire to fly all over the With seven returning “Our supporting play- floor to pick up any ball letterwinners this year, ers will also play a big sent her way,” Verhoff the squad is looking to role this season. They are said. repeat as Valley Division getting better with each Key newcomers include champs, challenge for training session. The sup- sophomore outside hitters the overall MVL title and porting players are led Aliyah Taborn and Kyla make a deeper postseason by seniors Nathan Gailey Rush, junior defensive run. and Kaehlo Bonnette, specialist Kennah Her- “I think if we play our junior Cruz Hernandez, rick, junior middle blocker game, then we should be sophomore Brady Hagan Shelbie Miller and senior competitive with all our and freshman Carter defensive specialist Sophia opponents,” fifth-year Wooddell.” Brunner, who is a foreign- coach Jamie Fridley said. exchange student from “If the young players can Girls soccer Germany.