Volleyball player getting ready to dig a ball
Ashland's Karli Shepherd is shown here digging a ball as Winthrop takes on South Carolina in non-conference volleyball action at Winthrop Coliseum on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Credit: Photo by Jeff Sochko, courtesy of Winthrop University athletics

 ASHLAND — The Ashland County area has had plenty of big performances this fall from its high school graduates and the Ashland Source has put together details from some of the best.

Area high school athletic directors submitted names of current athletes in action to the Source.

Anyone with information on other former Ashland County-area athletes contributing to their teams this fall – and in the upcoming winter sports season – can send them to doughaidet19@gmail.com.

ASHLAND

* Former Arrows standout Karli Shepherd has been a key piece to an impressive turnaround for the NCAA Division I Winthrop University volleyball team. The junior, who was a three-time team MVP at AHS, has eight matches this season with double-digit kills while ranking third overall on the squad in kills (180) and points (205.5), tied for fifth in aces (13) and sixth in digs (91).

The Eagles (12-12, 11-2 Big South) began the season with 10 straight losses but have won 12 of 14 since and have locked up the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Big South Tournament.

McKinley Mendenhall of Ashland University smacks a corner kick during a game earlier this season.

*A critical piece to the No. 2-ranked Ashland University women’s soccer team (16-0-3, 11-0-3 Great Midwest Athletic Conference), McKinley Mendenhall has continued to build on her big season. The junior netted goals in three consecutive games in October – all shutout wins – and she now has five goals and five assists for the year. She leads the team in shots on goal (23) and is third in points (15).

Ashland is competing this week in the GMAC Tournament and will be headed to the NCAA Tournament next week. The Eagles were ranked No. 1 in the nation for six weeks this season and, as of Tuesday, were one of just seven teams in the nation without a loss.

* The Ohio State men’s golf team closed out its fall season of action on Halloween with a sixth-place finish at the Cal Poly Invitational, and AHS graduate Tyler Sabo was in action. The redshirt freshman carded a 6-over-par 222 for the three rounds, matching his season-best with five birdies during his final-round 71 to tie for 57th place overall.

* For the Eastern Michigan women’s golf team, former Arrow Anna Watson closed out the fall schedule with another solid outing at the White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational. The senior easily led her team by tying for 30th with a three-round 233, an outing that included a final-round 75. It was her third straight top-30 finish this fall.

* Also in Division I at Ohio University, Kadin Schmitz has seen action in nine of 10 games so far for the Bobcat football team (7-3, 4-2 Mid-American Conference). The first tackle of the freshman’s OU career went for a sack in a 27-10 win over Long Island.

* In Division II cross country, former Ashlander Daniel Arimi was critical last weekend in the Flyers placing second at the NCAA Midwest Regional meet. His 23rd-place finish in the 10k (31:26) was fourth on the team and earned him All-Midwest Region laurels as Lewis qualified to the NCAA Division II Championships next week.

In October, the Flyers won the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the 16th time, with Arimi the team’s No. 2 runner in the 8k, placing sixth overall in 25:11.

* Kristian Gehrisch has collected at least three tackles in four of his last five games as a defensive tackle for the Ashland University football team (7-3, 7-1 GMAC). The junior’s 30 tackles this season are seventh on the team, while his 2.5 sacks are sixth.

* The Ashland University women’s golf team closed its fall non-championship schedule on Halloween by finishing fifth in the 12-team Music City Invitational, and Klaira Paramore helped lead the AU charge. The sophomore and former Arrow tied for 16th overall with a two-round 156 (78-78) that included three birdies.

* Also competing in the Division II GMAC is former Arrow receiver Jon Metzger, who scored on a 40-yard touchdown reception Oct. 14 for the Hillsdale Chargers in a win over Kentucky Wesleyan. The freshman also eclipsed 100 yards receiving for the season with the catch for Hillsdale (5-5, 5-3), which has won four games in a row.

* On the gridiron at Division III Ohio Northern, Josh Bever’s fine season has continued, as he ranks No. 1 on the team in both sacks (six) and tackles for loss (10) while totaling the second-most total tackles (59) for the Polar Bears (3-6, 3-5 Ohio Athletic Conference).

* Also at Ohio Northern, Aidan Chandler was in on the action for the men’s golf team this fall, with his best effort coming at the Bluffton Fall Classic. The sophomore fired a two-day, career-low 158 behind his first-round, career-low 76, leading to a 27th-place individual finish.

* In more action on the Division III links, Kamden Mowry is in his freshman season at John Carroll. The Blue Streaks placed third in the OAC Fall Preview, with help from Mowry’s two-day 156 that placed him in a tie for 30th and included an eagle and a 1-over-par 73.

The next day, he helped JCU win the 13-team John DiCillo Memorial Invitation with a 2-over 74 to tie for fifth individually.

Crestview

* Kenedi Goon continues to put together a huge season for the Division II Tiffin University volleyball team. A month ago she was named the GMAC South Division Offensive Athlete of the Week, and earlier this week, she was named the league’s top offensive player for the week yet again.

The former Cougar and outside hitter led the Dragons (16-12, 10-7 GMAC) to a 3-0 week with 36 kills and 16 blocks in those matches. She continues to pace Tiffin in kills (273) and sets (107) as the team rolls toward the end of the regular season on a five-match win streak.

Hillsdale

* Just like teammate and Ashland High School graduate Jon Metzger, former Falcon Ty Williams scored his first touchdown of the season in October, a 9-yard, go-ahead score in a 35-33 win over Thomas More on Oct. 21. The junior H-Back has 13 catches for 87 yards this season.

Loudonville

* Sydney Polen has been a key contributor to the Ashland University women’s soccer team while playing all 19 games as a freshman. The former Redbird is nearly matching teammate and Ashland High School graduate McKinley Mendenhall in both goals (five) and assists (four) for the NCAA Tournament-bound Eagles.

* The Division III Geneva College volleyball team closed out its season Saturday with an 11-12 record overall, with former Redbird Katie Seboe having a fine freshman campaign. The middle hitter finished tops on the team in total blocks (47) and was fourth in both points (151) and kills (103).

* Owen Hinkle has been in action as a junior this season for the Division III Mount Union men’s golf team. His two-round 157 (78-79) placed him 36th in the 11-team OAC Fall Preview in October.

Mapleton

* Bryar Ramey continues to perform well for the Division III Ohio Wesleyan football team (5-4, 4-3 North Coast Athletic Conference). The junior linebacker is third on the team with 68 tackles (3.5 for loss), led by a season-high 12 last Saturday against Wittenberg.

* A teammate of Ashland High School graduate Aidan Chandler for the Ohio Northern men’s golf team, former Mountie Evan Dennison had a solid fall season. The sophomore tied for the team-high in rounds played (10), with his top performance coming in the Capital Fall Classic.

Dennison was 15th individually in the event, carding a career-best total for two rounds (158), which included a Day 1 score of 76.

Doug Haidet is a 20-year resident of Ashland. He wrote sports in some capacity for the Ashland Times-Gazette from 2006 to 2018. He lives with his wife, Christy, and son, Murphy.