At the 2022 USATF Indoor Championships on February 27 at the Podium in Spokane, former Bluffton High School athlete Trevor Bassitt won the indoor 400 with a time of 45.76. The win earned him the US title and a spot on Team USA for the World Championships in Belgrade, March 18-20.
The Bluffton University women's basketball team battled to the end, but #6 seed Anderson University won the rubber match 68-63 in the HCAC semi-final in Lexington, KY, on February 25.
Anderson advanced to the Heartland Conference finals where they were defeated by #2-ranked tournament host Transylvania on February 26. Bluffton saw its exceptional season come to a close with a 19-7 mark.
2022 Co-Putnam County League boys basketball champs Pandora-Gilboa and Ottoville squared off in the Van Wert Sectional Final match-up on Friday, February 25 in familiar style. For three quarters, the teams went back-and-forth, never leading by more than six points with stellar defense on both sides. The Rockets led 26-24 at the end of the third quarter and were ahead 28-24 early in the fourth. Ottoville responded, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to regain the lead, and closed game with a 20-3 run and avenging their regular season loss to the Rockets. P-G bowed out of the tournament, losing 44-31.
The Bluffton High School wrestling team finished a solid fifth at the 14-team Div. III sectional tournament hosted by Van Buren on February 26.
Six Pirates recorded top four finishes to qualify for the district meet next weekend.
Pirate senior Kaden Basil captured the 175 lbs. bracket title with a 3-0 record and two pins. In the title bout, he won a 9-0 decision over Liberty-Benton's Gavin Gillig to improve his record to a sparkling 34-5 this season.
On Thursday, February 24, Bluffton High School junior Riley Verb advanced in two events at the 2022 Ohio State High School Division II Swimming and Diving Championships at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, OH.
Verb advances to the B finals races on Friday February 25.
He swam the 200 yard IM (individual medley) in 2:00.26 and the 100 yard breaststroke in 1:00.57.
Times for all preliminary swimmers in these events are below.
