The Daily Chief-Union

Daily Chief-Union/Lonnie McMillan
Celebrate good times
A group of students from Riverdale form a tunnel for players and coaches to run through after the Falcons earned their first trip to the state basketball tournament after defeating Fredericktown on Saturday, 53-47. Pictured above is Riverdale senior Allysha Wells (center) making her way through the melee.

Falcons flocking to state
Community welcomes team home after cinching berth in state hoops tourney
By LONNIE McMILLAN
Sports editor
MOUNT BLANCHARD - Fresh off a 53-47 victory against previously unbeaten Fredericktown, the Riverdale girls basketball team was welcomed back to the school Saturday by a caravan of fire trucks, ambulances and fans.
The regional final championship in front of a record crowd at Lexington High School puts the Falcons in Friday's Division III state championship game at Ohio State University's Value City Arena.
Fans cheered as the line of vehicles reached the Riverdale High School parking lot, and a short reception was held inside to honor the Falcons' accomplishments thus far.
Riverdale High School principal Terry Huffman spoke after the team was welcomed into the gymnasium.
“All the girls are to be commended,” he said. “This has been great. It's the highlight of my year.”


Page 1 of today's Daily Chief Union

Reinhard, Gillmor battle for open seat in Senate
By AARON KORTE
Editor
With Sen. Larry Mumper retiring, the 26th District State Senate seat is vacant.
Current 82nd District State Rep. Steve Reinhard of Bucyrus and former State Sen. Karen Gillmor of Tiffin are vying for the chance to replace Mumper. The winner of the Republican primary on Tuesday will face Democrat Thomas Kruse of Marysville.


Page 1 of today's Daily Chief Union

Truck, semi accident turns fatal for Upper resident
An Upper Sandusky man died as a result of injuries from a Thursday accident that occurred at about 6:29 p.m. at the Ohio 199 north junction near the northbound entrance ramp to U.S. 23, Upper Sandusky.
Carl E. Harr, 85, reportedly failed to slow for stopped traffic, striking the back of a semitrailer driven by Crystal M. Avila, Crestline.
Avila, 50, was not injured.
The 2003 International Eagle semitrailer was pulling a 2001 cornhusker grain hopper bottom trailer and was stopped in traffic on Ohio 199, preparing to turn left onto U.S. 23 when the southbound 1991 Chevrolet S-10 Harr was driving struck the back of the semi.

Daily Chief-Union/Lonnie McMillan
Feeling like no other
Riverdale senior Kristi Kotterman (22) is joined by junior Kayla Brown (11) as she holds up the regional title trophy after downing Fredericktown in a Division III regional final game Saturday afternoon. It was the first girls basketball regional title in school history.

Falcons flying south for state tournament
By LONNIE McMILLAN
Sports editor
LEXINGTON - It has been Riverdale's key all season. The Falcons make things happen with their defense, and they did it again Saturday in the Division III regional championship game against Fredericktown before a record standing-room only crowd at Lexington High School.
Trailing by nine at halftime, the Falcons gained momentum with their defense, leading them to a 53-47 regional championship victory against previously undefeated Fredericktown and a spot in the Division III state semifinal.

Daily Chief-Union/Brandon Drake
Showing his strength
Mohawk's Brock Kirian drops Clarksville Clinton-Massie's Corby Running in their 189-pound consolation semifinal match at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III state wrestling tournament Saturday morning. Kirian defeated Running for the second time in the tournament with a 9-2 decision.

Kirian closes out career with 4th-place finish at state tournament
By BRANDON DRAKE
Staff writer
COLUMBUS - Mohawk's Brock Kirian finished a stellar high school wrestling career with a fourth-place finish at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III state wrestling tournament at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.
It was not the finish Kirian originally was seeking on his fourth and final trip to the state's marquee wrestling event, as his eyes were focused on winning a state title after placing fourth in 2006 and sixth in 2007.

(Refer to page 6 of today's Daily-Chief Union)

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