The 30th annual USA Junior Olympic Boys Volleyball Championships are set to begin Wednesday at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. And, once again, Tool City is heading in as a real contender.
The Tool City 18 Club team, which consists of Maplewood’s Nicholas Bancroft and Jackson Ferringer, Meadville’s Adam Barba, Saegertown’s Kyle Beatty, Conneaut Valley’s Jeff Conley, McDowell’s Brenton Mineo, and Cochranton’s Ethan Oertly and Adam Roche is figured to be among the top contenders in the 53-team field, according to Tool City director Denny Patton.
Last year, many of the same players helped Tool City finish in the top 10 in the 17 Club division. Ferringer, a Meadville Tribune Dream Team selection this season, did not play last season, however, due to a knee injury. Patton said his return in addition to another strong presence at middle hitter in Conley should be a benefit.
“Ferringer’s return definitely strengthens us,” Patton said. “Then with Jeff Conley. We have another legitimate middle hitter. (Tool City 18 Club) is definitely our strongest team.”
Patton said the team has prepared for the national tournament by scrimmaging against a team of Tool City alumns, which includes reigning AVCA All-Americans Matt Werle (Juniata College) and Jordan Varee (St. Francis University), in addition to St. Francis University graduate Travis Fox and current RedFlash member Ben Wetsell.
“I don’t think they’re going to see anyone tougher than what they’ve been playing against in practice,” said Patton.
The team is coached by Saegertown head coach Justin Johnson and begins play today.
On Thursday, the Tool City 16 Orange and White teams begin. Tool City 16 Orange is coached by Jim Brown and features Maplewood’s Christian Brown, Cambridge Springs’ Michael Hobson, John Turner and Geoff VanWinkle, McDowell’s Chris Mineo, Cochranton’s Josh Oertly and Ty Sheehan and Meadville’s Chad Smith. The Tool City 16 White team, coached by Brian Shoop, includes McDowell’s Ben Boncella, Meadville’s Cole Graham, Alex Minnis, Travis Jensen and Caleb Stein, Saegertown’s Justin Griffin and Conner Shorts, and Conneaut Valley’s Nolan Varee.
Saturday marks the beginning of the Tool City 14 Club team’s quest for gold under Patton. The 14s finished a surprising sixth out of 29 teams last year. Patton is hoping for similar results this year with a team that consists of Maplewood’s Logan Battin and Justin Dahl, Cochranton’s Nickolas Dickson and Logan Herzberger, Meadville’s Matt Izbinski and Tyler Minnis, and Saegertown’s Shane Rigby and Dustin Pavlik.
“We’ve got some size and some decent athletes,” Patton said. “They haven’t looked real great in scrimmages, but neither did last year’s team. But they ended up having a super tournament. Hopefully, lightening strikes twice.”
The Tool City 17 Orange and White Club teams will begin play on Saturday.
Tool City 17 Orange is coached by Meadville head coach Doug Nelson and includes Saegertown’s Patrick Amy, Casey Handel and Dylan Johnston, Meadville’s Tyler Banks, Daniel Nelson and Taylor Willey, McDowell’s David Rion and Cochranton’s Jacob Schultz. Tool City 17 White is coached by McDowell’s Dean Platz and includes Saegertown’s Jason Amy and Clay Dawson, McDowell’s Daniel Clark, Jake Keefer and Matthew Twinem, and Meadville’s Joshua Dolnosich, Tom Hillwig and Ian Phillips.
All age groups will play four days.
Lisa Byers can be reached at 724-6370, ext. 277 or by e-mail at lbyers@meadvilletribune.com.
Local Sports
JO squads ready to make big splash
- Local Sports
-
-
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Indians notch win despite shooting, rebounding woes
CONNEAUTVILLE — Many believe strange things happen when there’s a full moon in the sky. Perhaps they happen even a few days later.
Conneaut Valley shot under 24 percent from the field and was out-rebounded 32-20 on Thursday night. But the Indians found a way as they wrapped up at least a share of the Region 3 girls basketball title with a 36-23 win over Cochranton. -
WRESTLING: Close decisions push Bears past Blue Devils
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS — Non-region wrestling foes Union City and Cambridge Springs seemed to want to savor nearly every second of their respective regular season finales.
Going head-to-head Thursday night, eight of the 12 contested bouts went the distance; seven of them were won by decision; and five of those seven were decided by two points or less. -
Maplewood could be getting a Little Gridders program
It’s still in the early stages, but Maplewood football could be welcoming a new team into its community come August.
-
Lady Scots roar back vs. Knights
Edinboro had trailed just once at halftime heading into Wednesday night’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference women’s basketball showdown with Gannon.
-
Lancers roll through MASH wrestlers
It was the Meadville seniors’ party, but they were the only ones that really got to enjoy it, as the Bulldogs’ two 12th-graders were MASH’s only winners on the mat during a 56-15 loss to a talented General McLane squad on Wednesday at the House of Thrills.
-
Farell beats Meadville
The Meadville boys basketball team hits the road on Friday, traveling to Grove City.
-
Panthers earn huge win
ne of the perks of playing boys basketball in Region 4 is that what you do during the first month and a half of the season can, if you’re lucky, be forgotten. It’s those games within the region that matter the most.
-
MASH swimming falls to Lakers
The Meadville swim team faced one of its last big challenges of the season against Mercyhurst Prep at the Meadville Recreation Complex on Monday and, early on, both the boys and the girls were up to the challenge. After the diving break, however, the Lakers put the meet away.
-
Meadville downs rival Prep
Facing its private-school rival from up north, the Meadville Bulldogs hockey team put together one of its best performances of the season, sending Cathedral Prep back to Erie with a 4-1 defeat on Monday at the DeArment Ice Arena.
-
D-10 CLASS AA DUALS: Bison win title, snap Reynolds’ streak of seven straight
EDINBORO — As if it was destiny, wrestling powerhouses Fort LeBoeuf and Reynolds met in the District 10 Class AA Team Dual final on Saturday at Edinboro University’s McComb Fieldhouse.
After Fort LeBoeuf earned a paper-thin 28-27 win over Reynolds on Jan. 21 that came down to the tiebreaker, the Bison once again came out on top. The Bison made up for last year’s loss to the Raiders in the final by earning a 31-28 victory on Saturday. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Indians notch win despite shooting, rebounding woes
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
