Metzger NLL Gymnast of Year, Findlay third

TOLEDO – Findlay's Renee Metzger was the NLL Gymnast of the Year in leading the Trojans to a third place finish on Friday in the Northern Lakes League gymnastics championships held at Exceleration Gymnastics Center in Toledo.Metzger placed well in all four events in scoring 33.900 all-around points and beating out Toledo Whitmer's Morgan Loomis (33.200), Findlay teammate Josey Weihrauch and Springfield's Alexa Bellman (33.000) and Napoleon's Bella Bingham (32.825) for the all-around title.Metzger (8.450) was second to Weihrauch (8.550) as Findlay finished 1-2 on the uneven bars. Metzger was third on the balance beam (8.600), seventh in floor exercises (8.700) and ninth in vault (8.150).In addition to placing first on bars, Weihrauch was fifth on vault (8.300) and 11th on beam (7.650).Lily Huff placed 14th on vault (7.900), 18th on floor (7.900), 24th on beam (6.300), 25th on beam (6.600) and 17th all-around (28.700).Gabrielle Doering was fifth on bars (8.200), 10th on vault (8.050) and 33rd in the all-around scoring (16.250). Emily Cole was 11th on vault (8.000), 12th on beam (7.600) and 27th all-around (22.00).Perrysburg piled up 135.925 points in winning a tenth straight NLL gymnastics title. Anthony Wayne was second (130.425), followed by Findlay (127.15), Springfield (124.175), Sylvania Northview (123.00), Napoleon (118.025), Toledo Whitmer (33.200) and Oregon Clay (32.475). HOCKEY ST. FRANCIS 9FINDLAY 5SYLVANIA – Toledo St. Francis, ranked among the top prep programs in the state, played like a high-caliber team on Friday when the Knights powered their way to a 9-5 win over Findlay in a Northern Hockey Conference game at Tam-O-Shanter Area.Despite being down a man, St. Francis scored three short-handed goals during a second-period stretch that gave the Knights a 7-4 lead.In completing the win, St. Francis claimed the outright 2024-25 NHC Red Division title as well. The Knights entered the week trailing Sylvania Northview in the standings. But Northview (12-0-0, 21 points) had completed its Red Division schedule while St. Francis had three games left. The Knights pulled within a point of Northview with a 10-0 win over Bowling Green on Thursday, then improved to 11-0-0 in the league – with a league-best 22 points – with Friday's win over Findlay.Against St. Francis, Draven Wilson and Turner Merrill scored two goals each and Sam Swisher had the other along with two assists.Colin Somerville also had two assists, with Brady Deleruyelle, Kaden Weasel and Simon Tanner getting one each.Brett Flanagan (12 saves) and Jude Brasfield (15) were in goal for the Trojans, who host Bowling Green today in a 7 p.m. match at The Cube. Findlay, 12-19-1 overall, is 6-5-0 in the Red Division, but could tie Bowling Green (7-4-0, 14 points) for third place in the standings with a win over the Bobcats. (14-sub head)FHS athletes signFINDLAY – Findlay High students Jacob Ragland and Addison Kokensparger have signed NCAA letters on intent or celebratory signing forms where they will continue their athletic careers.Ragland signed a letter of intent to play football for the University of Findlay. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound receiver was first-team all-Northern Lakes League, first-team all-Northwest District and second-team all-Ohio in Division after catching 70 passes for 1,133 yards and 11 touchdowns last fall. He was a three-year letter winner in football and track, where he was a member of record-setting 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relays teams.Kokensparger, who will attend Division III Capitol University, was a four-year letter winner in both tennis and lacrosse. SCHEDULE Saturday's Events PREP HOCKEYBowling Green at Findlay, 7 p.m. BOYS BASKETBALLFindlay at ElidaNorth Baltimore at AdaArcadia at CareyElmwood at Miller CityLeipsic at Pandora-Gilboa (PCL)McComb at Lima Temple ChristianColumbus Grove at Van BurenHardin Northern at VanlueUpper Sandusky at O-G Winter ClassicMohawk at Cory-RawsonLiberty Center at Bluffton (NWC) GIRLS BASKETBALLDefiance at FindlayBucyrus at Carey (N10)Van Buren at Miller CityNorth Baltimore at AdaCory-Rawson at ArcadiaKalida at Leipsic (PCL)Ottoville at Liberty-BentonBluffton at Lima BathFostoria at Toledo Christian PREP SWIMMINGOHSAA Sectional Meets PREP WRESTLINGFindlay at Springfield Tournament