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Total Apex Sports
The Marion Star
Pleasant's volleyball legacy lays with the next generation
You know a program has reached a new plateau when finishing as a regional runner-up is considered a disappointment. In 2023, just making it to the regionals was a celebration as it was just the second time in Pleasant history that its volleyball squad advanced that far. In 2024, the Spartans made their first trip to a volleyball state tournament and brought home a Division VI state runner-up trophy. Last year, with an all-underclassman roster, Pleasant moved up to Division V but still advanced to the Final Four, losing a heartbreaking reverse sweep 3-2 to New Lexington in the semifinals. With seven uber-experienced seniors and three equally experienced juniors in the rotation, the expectations were high, and they put those expectations upon themselves. Unfortunately, the tournament layout placed them in arguably the toughest region in Division V. On the other side of the regional bracket at Ontario was top-ranked Coldwater and No. 3 Huron. After handing Centerburg in three sets , Coldwater did the same to Huron to set up the regional final Nov. 7. Coldwater was not only the No. 1 team in Division V, but it was the team that beat Pleasant for the state championship in 2024.
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The Marion Star
Week 13 Marion-area football standings, OHSAA playoff schedule
Here are the Marion-area high school football standings after 12 weeks, plus playoff matchups for Week 13: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference SCHOOL ALL MOAC xz-Shelby 11-0 7-0 z-Ontario 10-1 6-1 z-Clear Fork 9-2 5-2 Galion 5-5 3-4 Marion Harding 5-5 3-4 z-Highland 4-7 3-4 Pleasant 2-8 1-6 River Valley 0-10 0-7 x-league champz-playoffs Week 12, Nov. 6, regional quarterfinals Division IV Region 14: No. 2 Shelby 42, No. 7 Firelands 3 Division IV Region 14: No. 4 Clear Fork 38, No. 5 Otsego 0 Division III Region 20: No. 2 Ontario 22, No. 7 Tiffin Columbian 19 Week 13, Nov. 13, regional semifinals Division IV Region 14: No. 3 Perkins (11-0) at No. 2 Shelby (11-0) Division IV Region 14: No. 4 Clear Fork (9-2) at No. 1 Ottawa-Glandorf (11-0) Division III Region 10: No. 6 St. Marys Memorial (9-3) at No. 2 Ontario (10-1) Northwest Central Conference SCHOOL ALL NWCC xz-North Baltimore 9-2 7-1 xz-Elgin 8-3 7-1 z-Waynefield-Goshen 7-4 6-2 Perry 5-5 5-3 z-Upper Scioto Valley 5-6 4-4 z-Ridgemont 3-8 3-5 Hardin Northern 3-7 2-6 Cory-Rawson 2-8 2-6 Ridgedale 0-10 0-8 x-league champz-playoffs Week 12, Nov. 6, regional quarterfinals Division VII Region 26: No. 5 Mohawk 54, No. 4
Pike County News Watchman
Western Local Schools educator receives two prestigious honors in 2026
LATHAM, OHIO — Western Local Schools is proud to celebrate Jennifer Buckler, K–6 STEAM and Career Development educator, for receiving two distinguished honors recognizing her dedication to innovative education, rural student opportunities, and community-connected learning. Buckler was named 2026 Educator of the Year by Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C), recognizing her commitment to connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences and career pathways for students in rural Appalachian Ohio. As part of the 2026 Community Career Connected Learning Summit: Investing in Our Talent Ecosystem, Buckler also served as a panelist, sharing her experiences and advocating for stronger partnerships between schools, local businesses, industries, and community organizations. During the discussion, Buckler emphasized the importance of introducing rural learners to career possibilities at an early age, particularly in communities where geographic isolation, economic barriers, and limited access to industry experiences can restrict students’ exposure to future opportunities. “You don’t know what you don’t know,” Buckler often says. “Our students cannot dream about careers they have never heard of or imagine futures they have never been exposed to. When we bring our community into our classrooms and take learning beyond the school walls, we open doors that many of our students never knew existed.”