Steve Junga
The Toledo Blade
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Past articles by Steve:
Central Catholic blanks Whitmer to remain unbeaten
When a football game is played close to the vest, the margin for error can be slim. Such was the case in Friday’s Three Rivers Athletic Conference showdown between visiting Central Catholic and the Whitmer Panthers at a packed Memorial Stadium. One ill-advised special-teams decision, and one coverage breakdown at the worst possible moment, enabled the Fighting Irish to take a 14-0 lead to… → Read More
At Central Catholic, a stadium helped foster a feeling of home
Central Catholic went more than seven decades without playing home football games on campus until 2004, when the Fighting Irish hosted Scott in what was an incomplete version of their lavish current home at Gallagher Stadium. That crown jewel alongside the school on Cherry Street became a full-time home midway through the 2007 season, and nothing has been the same since. These days, folks begin… → Read More
At Whitmer, high school football is passed down through generations
Whitmer High School opened its doors in the fall of 1924, and in the nearly 100 years since, its football team has come to represent the Washington Local Schools community in a way few programs across state of Ohio do. With a history of success that dates back to the 1950s, the Panthers have become one of northwest Ohio’s most prominent football teams, bolstered by a base of support that rivals… → Read More
Top-ranked Genoa cruises over Otsego, 34-14
GENOA — Genoa passed its first test after rising to the No. 1 ranking in the Division V state poll. The Comets grabbed an early 20-0 lead and rolled on to a 34-14 victory Friday against visiting Otsego in a Northern Buckeye Conference matchup. Senior quarterback Jacob Plantz led the Comets (5-0, 2-0) with touchdown runs of 44 and 14 yards, and scoring passes of 55 and 6 yards to Drew Bench.… → Read More
Historic Toledo football programs enjoying renaissance in 2018
Judging by the standards set around a century ago, it is difficult now to grasp how great the football programs once were at Toledo’s oldest high schools — Scott and Waite. Scott, which opened in 1913, won five mythical state championships from 1916-23 and was regarded as national champion in 1916, 1922, and 1923, as proclaimed by the National Sports News Service in the days before state polls… → Read More
Detroit Catholic Central humbles Whitmer
Two games into his third season as Whitmer’s quarterback, junior Riley Keller already has had plenty of big moments with the Panthers. There is little doubt he will have several more. But Friday’s 35-7 loss to visiting Detroit Catholic Central at Memorial Stadium will be one game he will prefer to forget. Keller had three first-half turnovers in a span of four minutes — two that resulted in… → Read More
Bowsher's Burmeister speaks loudest on the track
Recent Bowsher High School graduate Megan Burmeister may appear quiet, especially when discussing her achievements. But this demeanor belies the desire and determination that exist inside the future University of Toledo distance runner. “She’s always been kind of shy and doesn’t want to always put herself out there,” mother Donna Burmeister said of Megan. “She doesn’t want to be the center of… → Read More
January argument leads to June arrest for St. Francis basketball coach
Multiple heated verbal exchanges that took place earlier this year between St. Francis de Sales varsity boys basketball coach Travis Lewis and Bowsher High School athletic director Terry Reeves ultimately indirectly led to the arrest of Lewis during a traffic stop this week. St. Francis de Sales head coach Travis Lewis gives instructions during a game last season. Lewis, 34, of Toledo, was… → Read More
Anthony Wayne wins state baseball semifinal
COLUMBUS — Anthony Wayne’s Brock Nartker survived the wildest start of his senior season Friday and, in the process, pitched the Generals to a 1-0 victory over Mason in the Division I state baseball semifinals at Huntington Park. Nartker (10-2) walked seven Comets batters, hit another, and added two throwing errors on pickoff attempts. But he surrendered just two hits before exiting with two… → Read More
Fate bites Gibsonburg softball again
FINDLAY — For the second straight year in a Division IV regional softball final at the Marathon Diamonds in Findlay, the Gibsonburg Golden Bears and senior pitcher Aubrey Fleming left feeling cursed. In the latest episode of “Heartbreak on the Field” for Gibsonburg and its fans, Tinora (17-6) rallied for a 4-3 win over the Bears (21-6) on Saturday, earning a trip to Friday’s state semifinal… → Read More
High school pole vaulters join courageous club
For a split second in time, you are gripping one end of a 15-foot fiberglass pole, which is now curled at that end in the shape of a fish hook. In that moment, you are suspended in mid-air, body inverted, eyes peering skyward at your feet, and about to be launched further upward over a bar hung 15 feet from the ground. If you were anyone else, you might ask yourself, “What exactly is going on,… → Read More
Toledo ready for Rogers state championship parade
Rogers players pose with the Division II state championship trophy after the March 17 title game win. The Rams will be honored in Toledo with a downtown parade Saturday. The Blade/Katie Rausch Enlarge | Buy This Image The City of Toledo, in coordination with Toledo Public Schools, will honor the state championship Rogers girls basketball team with a downtown parade Saturday. The parade will… → Read More
Central Catholic star Bowen's dream stays alive; will play football, baseball at Michigan State
Central Catholic's Jase Bowen tags out Clay's Jack Winckowski during baseball game at Mercy Field in Toledo. THE BLADE/LORI KING Enlarge | Buy This Image When it came right down to it, Central Catholic junior two-sport star Jase Bowen wanted to keep his dream alive and his future options open. The Fighting Irish football receiver and baseball shortstop — who last year committed to Notre Dame for… → Read More
Students, adults speak up to support former Ottawa Hills football coach
In what could only be described as an impassioned testimonial on behalf of a teacher and recently resigned head football coach Thursday night at an Ottawa Hills school board meeting, adults and students took their turns unanimously singing the praises of Greg Neuendorf. Neuendorf, who has guided the Green Bears football team on a steady climb since his first season in 2014, decided he was no… → Read More
Eastwood is heavy favorite to repeat in the NBC
Eastwood’s softball team returns virtually their entire lineup from a highly successful 2017 season, which saw the 10th-ranked Eagles fall one win shy of reaching a Division III state semifinal. Only two of coach Joe Wyant’s 10 returning players are seniors, so the prospects appear bright for 2018 and beyond. That was the evidence in place that made Eastwood a near unanimous pick to win its… → Read More
Talent, relentless work keys to Cooke's success
Some people say “stars are not born, they’re made.” Rogers High School junior basketball standout Zia Cooke, parents Stratman III and Michelle Cooke, and Rams coach Lamar Smith subscribe to that belief. There is little doubt Zia — now a superb 5-foot-9 point guard coveted by some 55 Division I college basketball programs — was born with a healthy portion of athletic potential. But what she’s… → Read More
Rogers' championship a rarity for Toledo-area schools
There have been 43 Ohio High School Athletic Association girls state basketball tournaments, and 160 teams have been crowned champions in their respective classes (1976-87) or divisions (1988 on). With the Rogers Rams winning the Division II championship Saturday night, beating third-ranked Gates Mills Gilmour Academy 51-37 in the title game at Value City Arena in Columbus, Toledo now owns three… → Read More
3 keys to a Rogers girls basketball state title
If the sixth-ranked Rams (26-3) are to win Toledo’s first girls basketball state championship since 1981 at 5:15 p.m. today in Columbus, there are three major factors in their matchup against third-ranked Gates Mills Gilmour Academy (25-3), who won the D-III state championship last year. ■ HEALTH: Rogers’ talented 5-foot-11 freshman guard Madison Royal-Davis, who is averaging 22.6 points through… → Read More
Rogers girls basketball advances to state championship
Rogers' Zia Cooke shoots over New Philadelphia's Rachel Anderson for 2 points during Friday's state semifinal matchup at Value City Arena in Columbus. The Blade/Katie Rausch Enlarge | Buy This Image COLUMBUS — When it mattered most, Rogers had what it took. The Rams started strong, overcame some mid-game adversity, then had the composure to hold on late in a 62-57 victory Friday against New… → Read More
Archbold, Stritch to meet again on tournament trail
Archbold fell behind by a point midway in the fourth quarter, but the polished veteran Blue Streaks used their composure and perfect free-throw shooting down the stretch to take a 53-45 victory Thursday against Eastwood in a Division III boys basketball district semifinal at Central Catholic’s Sullivan Center. All-Northwest District senior guard Bryce Williams led the 11th-ranked Streaks (20-3)… → Read More