Volleyball season preview
By: Darian Dick
NORTHRIDGE- The volleyball program is looking good for the 2018 fall season. With returning Coach, Rex Carr, the Vikings plan on working hard this summer. They have open gyms, conditioning, camps, and tournaments to look forward to.
Upcoming sophomore, Hadley Stermer (‘21), says, “I am looking forward to volleyball and to improve as a team. Even though we’ll be giving up a lot of our summer to practice, I think it will be worth it because it is going to help us a lot.”
One new thing that Carr plans on trying out this summer is “The Friendship Cup 2018,” which is a three-day overnight tournament/camp. It’s held down in Mason, Ohio where the players will also get to spend one evening at Kings Island.
Claire Wasem (‘20) states, “The thing I am looking most forward to this summer, is the Friendship Cup! I think it’ll be a good team bonding experience and help us get better. And, I’m excited for Kings Island!”
Three seniors are not able to return to the 2018 season, and the upcoming freshman had a rather small team, needing current seventh graders to play up in order to have a team. But, there are a few new players interested in playing which should even out the losses.
A returning varsity player, Sydney Koker (‘21), says “After winning our first LCL game in years last year, and the improvement the program has seen in a single year, I am hoping we can come out strong again this year!”
Tryouts for the season are being held August 1-3 in the high school gym.
- Darian Dick (‘20) is a senior spotlight editor for The Viking Vault.
By: Darian Dick
NORTHRIDGE- The volleyball program is looking good for the 2018 fall season. With returning Coach, Rex Carr, the Vikings plan on working hard this summer. They have open gyms, conditioning, camps, and tournaments to look forward to.
Upcoming sophomore, Hadley Stermer (‘21), says, “I am looking forward to volleyball and to improve as a team. Even though we’ll be giving up a lot of our summer to practice, I think it will be worth it because it is going to help us a lot.”
One new thing that Carr plans on trying out this summer is “The Friendship Cup 2018,” which is a three-day overnight tournament/camp. It’s held down in Mason, Ohio where the players will also get to spend one evening at Kings Island.
Claire Wasem (‘20) states, “The thing I am looking most forward to this summer, is the Friendship Cup! I think it’ll be a good team bonding experience and help us get better. And, I’m excited for Kings Island!”
Three seniors are not able to return to the 2018 season, and the upcoming freshman had a rather small team, needing current seventh graders to play up in order to have a team. But, there are a few new players interested in playing which should even out the losses.
A returning varsity player, Sydney Koker (‘21), says “After winning our first LCL game in years last year, and the improvement the program has seen in a single year, I am hoping we can come out strong again this year!”
Tryouts for the season are being held August 1-3 in the high school gym.
- Darian Dick (‘20) is a senior spotlight editor for The Viking Vault.
Freshman runner has a natural talent
By: Ali Zigo
NORTHRIDGE - Varsity Cross Country/Track runner, Olyvia Ashbrook-Hall (‘21) has a natural talent when it comes to running. Olyvia has run Cross Country since eighth grade and Track since seventh.
Olyvia not only excels at running track in the springtime but she also boldly participates in two sports during the fall: both Cross Country and Volleyball. This past year, Olyvia was more committed to volleyball, going to all of the practices during the week instead of to Cross Country. Nevertheless, she still excelled while running races with her team.
Former XC Coach Kim Garee says, “Olyvia has more natural talent than anyone I’ve ever seen run … She goes to volleyball practice all week and doesn’t run, and then when she goes out in a race and she beats almost everyone out there. It’s insane!”
Although Olyvia did not go to very many practices during the actual season for Cross Country, in the offseason, Olyvia tries hard to keep up with her running and says that she even has an elliptical that she works out on daily.
During Track season, Olyvia runs the 1600, 800, 4x800, and the 100-meter hurdles. “The hurdles would have to be my favorite, but I'm best at the 800,” she explains. Olyvia’s fastest time for the 800 is 2:30. Though she explains that the 800 is not hard for her, she also says it’s very difficult to set her personal record.
This year the Northridge High School track team won the “62” trophy. Every year Johnstown, Utica, and Northridge schools gets together and have a meet called the 62 meet because all three schools are all on route 62. Olyvia states, “If you have ten wins overall, you get to take home the rock. This year we won.”
Olyvia may do well when it comes to running, but just like any other athlete, she still gets nervous. Olyvia says, “I get really anxious and start shaking and get really scared … I also hate when the guy is standing in front of us all with the gun.” She explains that her mom even has to help talk her down before she races to calm her nerves. During the race though, Olyvia says she tries to stay as relaxed as possible and keep her pace up.
Olyvia says that she loves running and even wants to continue to run in college. “In the future, I’d like to also encourage my kids to run and to always do their best,” Olyvia tells me.
- Ali Zigo is the Junior Print Editor of The Viking Vault. [email protected]
By: Ali Zigo
NORTHRIDGE - Varsity Cross Country/Track runner, Olyvia Ashbrook-Hall (‘21) has a natural talent when it comes to running. Olyvia has run Cross Country since eighth grade and Track since seventh.
Olyvia not only excels at running track in the springtime but she also boldly participates in two sports during the fall: both Cross Country and Volleyball. This past year, Olyvia was more committed to volleyball, going to all of the practices during the week instead of to Cross Country. Nevertheless, she still excelled while running races with her team.
Former XC Coach Kim Garee says, “Olyvia has more natural talent than anyone I’ve ever seen run … She goes to volleyball practice all week and doesn’t run, and then when she goes out in a race and she beats almost everyone out there. It’s insane!”
Although Olyvia did not go to very many practices during the actual season for Cross Country, in the offseason, Olyvia tries hard to keep up with her running and says that she even has an elliptical that she works out on daily.
During Track season, Olyvia runs the 1600, 800, 4x800, and the 100-meter hurdles. “The hurdles would have to be my favorite, but I'm best at the 800,” she explains. Olyvia’s fastest time for the 800 is 2:30. Though she explains that the 800 is not hard for her, she also says it’s very difficult to set her personal record.
This year the Northridge High School track team won the “62” trophy. Every year Johnstown, Utica, and Northridge schools gets together and have a meet called the 62 meet because all three schools are all on route 62. Olyvia states, “If you have ten wins overall, you get to take home the rock. This year we won.”
Olyvia may do well when it comes to running, but just like any other athlete, she still gets nervous. Olyvia says, “I get really anxious and start shaking and get really scared … I also hate when the guy is standing in front of us all with the gun.” She explains that her mom even has to help talk her down before she races to calm her nerves. During the race though, Olyvia says she tries to stay as relaxed as possible and keep her pace up.
Olyvia says that she loves running and even wants to continue to run in college. “In the future, I’d like to also encourage my kids to run and to always do their best,” Olyvia tells me.
- Ali Zigo is the Junior Print Editor of The Viking Vault. [email protected]
Baseball team looks to make run in tournament
By: Alex Hook
NORTHRIDGE- The Ohio High School baseball tournaments start this Monday, and the Vikings baseball team is on track to make a run deep into the Division III tournament this year.
As of May 4, the baseball team had a 17-6 record, and are 7-6 in the Licking County League. The Viking’s baseball team finished second in the LCL Cardinal division this year, just behind Heath (8-4).
The team also acquired a first round bye in the tournament and will play the winner of Liberty Union and Worthington Christian on Thursday.
Assistant Coach Chad Elliott feels that the team has all the right combinations to make a deep run in the tournament. “I feel that, as of lately, we’ve been playing great baseball, and that is always nice to take into the tournament.” Also, Elliott added, “Our pitching has been our strongest point, and that will win games.”
When Jackson Wilson (‘19) was asked how he felt about the team’s chances he said, “Our pitching has been phenomenal this year, and we have been playing well as of recently.”
Wilson also explained, “Coming off a win from Licking Valley is a spark that our team needed.” “It really feels good to be playing great baseball and outplay a very good baseball team in the LCL.”
The baseball team just recently beat Licking Valley(10-3) who are in a race for first in the LCL Buckeye division last Wednesday. This also spoiled the Panthers’ senior night, allowing Lakewood to be at top of the division Buckeye division in the LCL.
Elliot also stated, “The end goal is to win a state championship and put Northridge baseball on the map.” The state championship takes place at Huntington Park, in downtown Columbus.
The baseball team want to go as deep as they can in the tournament and are on track to do so, according to recent play of the Vikings.
- Alex Hook (‘20) is a Assistant Web Editor for The Viking Vault
By: Alex Hook
NORTHRIDGE- The Ohio High School baseball tournaments start this Monday, and the Vikings baseball team is on track to make a run deep into the Division III tournament this year.
As of May 4, the baseball team had a 17-6 record, and are 7-6 in the Licking County League. The Viking’s baseball team finished second in the LCL Cardinal division this year, just behind Heath (8-4).
The team also acquired a first round bye in the tournament and will play the winner of Liberty Union and Worthington Christian on Thursday.
Assistant Coach Chad Elliott feels that the team has all the right combinations to make a deep run in the tournament. “I feel that, as of lately, we’ve been playing great baseball, and that is always nice to take into the tournament.” Also, Elliott added, “Our pitching has been our strongest point, and that will win games.”
When Jackson Wilson (‘19) was asked how he felt about the team’s chances he said, “Our pitching has been phenomenal this year, and we have been playing well as of recently.”
Wilson also explained, “Coming off a win from Licking Valley is a spark that our team needed.” “It really feels good to be playing great baseball and outplay a very good baseball team in the LCL.”
The baseball team just recently beat Licking Valley(10-3) who are in a race for first in the LCL Buckeye division last Wednesday. This also spoiled the Panthers’ senior night, allowing Lakewood to be at top of the division Buckeye division in the LCL.
Elliot also stated, “The end goal is to win a state championship and put Northridge baseball on the map.” The state championship takes place at Huntington Park, in downtown Columbus.
The baseball team want to go as deep as they can in the tournament and are on track to do so, according to recent play of the Vikings.
- Alex Hook (‘20) is a Assistant Web Editor for The Viking Vault
JV Softball enjoys better-than-expected season
By: Anna Kohler
Northridge softball players were very unsure and less than confident moving into this year’s season, but as the season comes to an end, the positive outcome has surprised most players.
Coming into the season, there was a shortage of girls wanting to tryout. A lot of girls were specifically asked to try out, so there ended up being just enough to make a team. Not all the players who made the team had a lot of experience with softball, so the team wasn’t expected to do very well.
Ali Zigo (20’) states, “I wasn’t really planning on playing, but they needed more people in order to have a team so I just did it.”
There was also no coach at first, so the team had to split practices with Varsity, and Coach Siedlak coached both teams. Practices with Siedlak helped the team, but it was still difficult to learn what they needed to with the complicated schedules between both teams. A few weeks after the season started, the varsity assistant coach was asked to be the JV coach and she agreed.
Coach Adkins started coaching, and the team worked really hard at practice and improved a lot. Hadley Stermer (21’) claims, “I am very glad she’s our coach because I learned a lot of important things that helped me out during games this year.”
The team did practice and improve a lot during practices before games, but a lot of players still had doubt in how they would play in competition. Darian Dick (20’) says, “I went into the season expecting to lose most games.”
After a few games, though, the team realized that they did have a chance against other teams and started to get more confident.
Rachael Webb (21’) states, “After the first two games I saw how good we actually could do, and it made me feel better about the season.”
Though some games were lost, more was gained, by far.
- Anna Kohler (20’) [email protected]
By: Anna Kohler
Northridge softball players were very unsure and less than confident moving into this year’s season, but as the season comes to an end, the positive outcome has surprised most players.
Coming into the season, there was a shortage of girls wanting to tryout. A lot of girls were specifically asked to try out, so there ended up being just enough to make a team. Not all the players who made the team had a lot of experience with softball, so the team wasn’t expected to do very well.
Ali Zigo (20’) states, “I wasn’t really planning on playing, but they needed more people in order to have a team so I just did it.”
There was also no coach at first, so the team had to split practices with Varsity, and Coach Siedlak coached both teams. Practices with Siedlak helped the team, but it was still difficult to learn what they needed to with the complicated schedules between both teams. A few weeks after the season started, the varsity assistant coach was asked to be the JV coach and she agreed.
Coach Adkins started coaching, and the team worked really hard at practice and improved a lot. Hadley Stermer (21’) claims, “I am very glad she’s our coach because I learned a lot of important things that helped me out during games this year.”
The team did practice and improve a lot during practices before games, but a lot of players still had doubt in how they would play in competition. Darian Dick (20’) says, “I went into the season expecting to lose most games.”
After a few games, though, the team realized that they did have a chance against other teams and started to get more confident.
Rachael Webb (21’) states, “After the first two games I saw how good we actually could do, and it made me feel better about the season.”
Though some games were lost, more was gained, by far.
- Anna Kohler (20’) [email protected]