For the third time in nine years, the NDCL Lions clinched the OHSAA Division II volleyball state championship, defeating the Gilmour Academy Lancers in a thrilling five-set match at Wright State University on Nov. 12...
State Volleyball Champs
For the third time in nine years, the NDCL Lions clinched the OHSAA Division II volleyball state championship, defeating the Gilmour Academy Lancers in a thrilling five-set match at Wright State University on Nov. 12.
After winning the first set 25-19, the Lions dropped the next two, 19-25 and 14-25. Coaching strategy, a wildly enthusiastic fan section and the team’s sheer will to win changed the momentum for a 25-14 fourth-set win, setting up the winner-take-all fifth set.
The Lions never lost the lead in set five, but the Lancers didn’t make it easy, swinging back to narrow the score multiple times. With a final kill by senior Caroline Jurevicius, the Lions snagged the state title by winning the set 15-12.
Tom Ray coaches the state-champion Lions with assistance from Andy Nicholson, Jessica Nicholson, Dan Bezik and Danette Cullinane.
Lions and Cougars Unite
When the NDCL Lions and the Cougars of Lake Catholic both won state volleyball championships on Nov. 12, NDCL Principal Joseph A. Waler and Lake Catholic Principal Tom McKrill knew that they couldn’t let this once-in-a-lifetime moment pass without doing something special to unite both schools.
So, the two proud principals hatched a plan for the schools to treat each other to doughnuts on Nov. 18. Mr. Waler, Admissions Director Michael Suso, Athletic Director Nick Carillon and five members of the Lion volleyball team traveled to Lake Catholic at the start of the school day to pass out 44 dozen doughnuts — appropriately decorated with green and blue sprinkles to represent the colors of both schools.
That afternoon, Mr. McKrill, Lake Catholic Athletic Director Erik Schroeder, two counselors and several members of the Cougar volleyball team returned the favor by visiting NDCL to share 66 dozen doughnuts with NDCL students and staff at lunchtime.
“This was a really special opportunity for our two schools to celebrate our shared athletic accomplishment,” Mr. Waler said. “Mr. McKrill and I are already planning for more shared fun as we look forward to the upcoming basketball season.”
Students Explore Glass Blowing
Students in art teacher Nick White’s Art Exploration class fired up their creativity with a visit last week to The Glass Asylum, northeastern Ohio’s premier glass-blowing studio.
With the help of The Glass Asylum’s resident artisans, students fashioned molten glass into a variety of objects, including ornaments, bowls, and more. The experience capped off the class’s study of the work of famous glass artist Dale Chihuly.
