Natasha Howard has one of her best years in WNBA

Volume 1 Issue 9

After being pounced by the Chicago Sky in the first round, Natasha Howard and the New York Liberty’s 2022 season has come to an end. Howard made her ninth WNBA season one of her best as she was named to the WNBA All-Star team for the second time in her career. Howard was one of the leading forces propelling the Liberty to the WNBA playoffs this season. She had ten double-doubles on the season and led the team in rebounding. This season is only second to her 2019 campaign where she was also named an All-Star as well as Defensive Player of the Year.

The Toledo Waite product has now completed her second season with the Liberty after being traded from the Seattle Storm where she was a part of two championship teams. Prior to that she helped the Minnesota Lynx to a title in 2017 after originally being drafted by the Indiana Fever in 2014.

This season has cemented Natasha Howard as the greatest female basketball player in Northwest Ohio history. It is hard to judge how far some female players would have made it before a bonafide professional league came into play, but no athlete in NWO history has ever played as long in the WNBA as Howard. In fact, Howard is the only NWO athlete to play more than one season in the WNBA.

Leading Updates

• Terion Stewart (Sandusky) to sit out season for Bowling Green State football.

• Bryant Koback (Holland/Springfield) cut by Vikings.

• Matt Wisler (Bryan) reactivated by the Tampa Bay Rays.

• Tycen Anderson (Toledo/Toledo St. John’s) placed on IR by the Bengals.

Notable Game Updates

• On August 28th Connor Curliss (Findlay) pitched four innings and struck out four while giving up no hits for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.

• On August 29th Art Warren (Napoleon) pitched one inning for the Cincinnati Reds where he had two strikeouts and gave up no hits.

• On August 30th Jase Bowen (Northwood/Toledo Central Catholic) had a home run and reached base twice for the Single-A+ Greensboro Grasshoppers.

• On September 2nd Gunnar Oakes (Swanton) had three catches for 32 yards for Eastern Michigan.

• On September 3rd Tyler Perkins (Norwalk/Norwalk St. Paul) punted three times for 140 yards for Iowa State.

Interesting Reads

• Meet Jared Anderson, the heavyweight with insane knockout power who sparred Tyson Fury and wants a world title in fewer fights than Anthony Joshua managed

• Toledo-area volleyball players make national watch lists

• Edison to retire Soviak's jersey

• Is Jared Anderson a Future Heavyweight Champ?

• Dowling brothers are healthy anchors for ranked Concordia's O-line

• Going out on top: Northview baseball coach Szparka stepping down

• Jared Anderson's rise as an African-American heavyweight significant for boxing

High School Football Power Rankings

Based on computer points.

1. Fremont Ross (3-0) - Division 2 - 8.0167

2. Anthony Wayne (3-0) - Division 2 - 7.4833

3. Van Wert (3-0) - Division 4 - 7.3333

4. Oregon Clay (3-0) - Division 2 - 7.0333

5. Coldwater (3-0) - Division 5 - 6.8667

6. Perkins (3-0) - Division 4 - 6.7500

7. Maria Stein Marion Local (3-0) - Division 6 - 6.4667

8. Sylvania Southview (3-0) - Division 2 - 6.4333

9. Ottawa Hills (3-0) - Division 6 - 6.3500

10. Elmwood (3-0) - Division 5 - 6.1667

Top Cross Country Times of the Week

Boys

1. 15:32.16 - Xander Fackler - Bryan - Columbus Grove Invite

2. 15:43.00 - Rylan Winkler - Toledo St. Francis - Columbus Grove Invite

3. 15:43.80 - Jaxen Durfey - Def. Tinora - Columbus Grove Invite

4. 15:45.37 - Landon Armstrong - Bluffton - Columbus Grove Invite

5. 15:51.53 - Erik Nygaard - Bluffton - Columbus Grove Invite

6. 15:54.39 - Ethan Cope - Toledo St. Francis - Columbus Grove Invite

7. 15:59.90 - Connor Long - Anthony Wayne - BGSU Mel Brodt Invite

8. 16:06.60 - Lucien Flores - Springfield - BGSU Mel Brodt Invite

9. 16:06.64 - Joe Parker - Upper Scioto Valley - Columbus Grove Invite

10. 16:07.65 - Jameson Heck - Toledo St. Francis - Columbus Grove Invite

Girls

1. 18:51.10 - Ava Beeks - Perrysburg - BGSU Mel Brodt Invite

2. 18:59.28 - Kate Thormeier - Bryan - Columbus Grove Invite

3. 18:59.59 - Madi Gaerke - Findlay Liberty-Benton - Columbus Grove Invite

4. 19:01.11 - Alexa Fortman - Ottawa-Glandorf - Columbus Grove Invite

5. 19:15.72 - Taylor Roth - Minster - Columbus Grove Invite

6. 19:20.10 - Cecilia Chase - Colonel Crawford - Bucyrus Elks Invite

7. 19:23.16 - Grace Rhoades - Wauseon - Columbus Grove Invite

8. 19:24.90 - Sinai Douglas - Toledo Start - BGSU Mel Brodt Invite

9. 19:26.30 - Kaylie Dameron - Celina - BGSU Mel Brodt Invite

10. 19:30.12 - Gracie Miller - Liberty Center - Patrick Henry X&A Invite

Just For Fun

Looking at the first State Championship for each current conference

(by NWO schools only)

• Blanchard Valley Conference (1926-) - 1983 McComb Football

• Buckeye Border Conference (1967-) - 1991 Pettisville Boys Track & Field

• Firelands Conference (1960-) - 1984 Monroeville Boys Basketball

• Green Meadows Conference (1962-) - 1975 Def. Ayersville Boys Cross Country

• Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference (1990-) - 1992 Ridgedale Baseball

• Midwest Athletic Conference (1972-) - 1975 Marion Local Boys Basketball

• Northern Buckeye Conference (2011-) - 2018 Genoa Dual Team Wrestling

• Northern Lakes League (1956-) - 1979 Perrysburg Volleyball

• Northern 10 Conference (2014-) - 2021 Carey Football

• Northwest Central Conference (2001-) - 2006 Waynesfield-Goshen Boys Track & Field

• Northwest Conference (1947-) - 1978 Ada Girls Basketball

• Northwest Ohio Athletic League (1926-) - 1975 Bryan Baseball

• Putnam County League (1922-) - 1950 Miller City Boys Basketball

• Sandusky Bay Conference (1948-) - 1953 Clyde Boys Track & Field

• Three Rivers Athletic Conference (2011-) - 2012 Toledo Central Catholic Football

• Toledo Area Athletic Conference (1988-) - 1992 Ottawa Hills Field Hockey

• Toledo City League (1926-) - 1929 Toledo Central Catholic Boys Golf

• Western Buckeye League (1936-) - 1972 Ottawa-Glandorf Boys Track & Field