Utica High School

The Utica Redskins (2-5, 0-2) struggled to start the season, but they are turning things around and have won back-to-back non-conference games with the second half of the season upon us.

The Mount Vernon Yellow Jackets (4-2, 2-1) battled all game long with Utica (0-4, 0-1), and while the Redskins hung tight much of the way, Zane Barber and Isaiah Columber combined for 33 points to help secure the 56-43 win on Dec. 19.

The Utica boys’ basketball team (0-3, 0-2) went up early but fell apart after the first quarter in a 48-28 loss to Heath (2-1, 2-0) on Dec. 14.

The Centerburg boys' basketball team (1-1, 1-0) bounced back from an opening night loss with a victory over Utica (0-2, 0-1) in non-conference action.

The Division IV and Division V All-Ohio football teams were announced on Dec. 5 and a number athletes in the Mount Vernon News coverage area were included, including eight players from West Holmes.

No. 11 Utica (7-4, 3-2) traveled to No. 6 Columbus Academy (10-1, 4-1) in the first round of the Region 19 state football tournament, and the Redskins trailed early and could never recover in a 34-18 loss despite Hayden Piper running for two touchdowns and passing for one.

No. 11 Utica Redskins (7-3, 3-2) at No. 6 Columbus Academy Vikings (9-1, 4-1)

Utica (7-3, 3-2) finished the regular season with back-to-back shutout wins, with the Redskins crushing Licking County- Cardinal Conference rival Lakewood (2-8, 0-5) 35-0 in the final game of the regular season led by a three touchdown effort by Justin Giffin.

Despite winning the first set, the No. 17 Utica Redskins (10-13, 5-10) took a 3-1 loss to No. 7 Bishop Ready (14-9, 8-5) in the opening round of the Division III Sectional/District tournament.

Utica (10-12, 5-10) took on the Northridge Vikings (8-14, 4-11) on Oct. 10 and Emilee Ellis led the Redskins to a 3-1 win with a 14 assist performance.

Utica (6-3, 2-2) forced five turnovers in a shutout win over Johnstown Northridge (2-7, 1-3) on Friday night in a 20-0 victory.

Utica held a 17-8 lead after a half of play, but the Redskins weren’t able to hold off Johnstown-Monroe, who came back with a 22-7 second half advantage to take a 30-24 win.

Utica's Junior High Golf team recently participated in an exciting match against Johnstown and Newark Catholic, creating memorable moments on the golf course.

Utica (9-9, 4-7) went 2-1 last week with the Redskins getting swept by Johnstown-Monroe (13-3, 9-2), and then responding a 3-1 win over Lakewood (4-13, 1-10, and a sweep win over Granville Christian Academy (0-13, 0-10).

Mount Vernon News local football scoreboard Sept. 15

Utica volleyball coach Lisa Ritzer is looking for her team to build on last year, a season in which the Redskins struggled in terms of wins and losses but scored high points in development.

Licking County Wrestling Competition Night is a Wednesday night can’t-miss event for grappling fans and competitors.

After a couple of seasons in which Mount Gilead finished near the bottom of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference (KMAC) baseball standings, Coach Mark Kennon is firing up his team with a strong belief system, hoping that helps them turn the corner and be more competitive in the wins-losses columns this year.

The Mount Gilead (MG) Indians are coming off a rough season on the softball diamond in which they failed to win a KMAC matchup and went 6-12 overall, and while the team could have some bumps in the road due to lack of team experience, MG softball coach Morgan Dettra hopes that her team can be competitive and improve as the season progresses.

Our Athletes of the Week are Grace Sipes (Fredericktown basketball) and Trenton Collins (Utica basketball).