D1 Northwest District Preview

Findlay
16-9 (Northern Lakes League)

Lost in District Semifinals 35-32 to Toledo St. John’s

Who is Back: Will Cordonnier (Sr) - All District, Sam Ernst (Sr), Brady Lentz (Jr), Ryan Montgomery (Jr)

Who is Gone: Jake Bishop- All District

Burning Question: Can the Trojans start life in the Northern Lakes League positively?

Outlook: The Trojans return plenty of pieces as they begin life in the NLL. Montgomery is a high level football prospect and will need to be monitored if he will play this upcoming season.

Lima Senior
17-8 (Toledo City League)

Lost in District Finals 80-42 to Perrysburg

Who is Back: Jekel Cotton (Jr), Jagger Hutchins (Jr), Amari Addy (So), Shawn Foster (Fr), Noah Simpson (Fr)

Who is Gone: Anthony Mosley- All District, Brandon Moore, Shalom Stout

Burning Question: Will Lima forget about the disappointing District loss and bounce back?

Outlook: Spartans are well coached and bring back plenty of offensive options in Cotton and Hutchins. If Addy can stay healthy and Foster brings what he has been hyped, there is no reason this team doesn’t win a District title.

Sandusky
24-2 (Sandusky Bay Conference-Bay)

Lost in Regional Semifinals 71-55 to Lutheran West

Who is Back: Kobe Brown (Jr), Jason Henlon (Jr), AaZoriyon Bonner (Jr)

Who is Gone: Daylen Green (1st Team All District), De’Mar Moore (2nd Team All District)

Burning Question: How will the Flashes handle now in Division I?

Outlook: If Sandusky was in Division II, they’d be a favorite in NW Ohio. Returning Brown and Henlon gives them a true chance to again win 20+ games and make some noise in Division I

Toledo St. John's
20-9 (Catholic HS League-Michigan)

Lost in State Semifinals 49-36 to Archbishop Hoban

Who is Back: Jaylen Murphy (Sr), Jayden Jones (Jr), Nate Miles (So)- transfer from Emmanuel Christian, Kaeden Carruthers (So)- transfer from Emmanuel Christian, Race Kowalcyzk (So)

Who is Gone: CJ Hornbeak (All-District), Mitchell Michalak, Marquez Frazier

Burning Question: Can the Titans return to Dayton with the loss of Hornbeak?

Outlook: Titans are joining a new league and will have a young core to build around. There is some talent in NW Ohio meaning the Titans could struggle to return to Dayton.

Whitmer
16-9 (Northern Lakes League)

Lost in District Finals 55-50 to Toledo St. John

Who is Back: Antoine West (Jr)- All District, Makhi Leach (Jr)- transfer from Toledo Central Catholic, Tamarrion Davis (Sr), Elijah McLeod (Sr)- transfer from Wauseon, Tylin Patterson (Jr)- transfer from Emmanuel Christian

Who is Gone: Pharell House, Deric Jaynes, Corvell Morgan, Ja’Vaughn Jones

Burning Question: Is there a better combo in NW Ohio than West/Leach?

Outlook: The Panthers will join the Northern Lakes League starting in 2023-24 and added several pieces through the transfer portal. Whitmer is the favorite to come out of NW Ohio and makes a strong case to make the State tournament in Dayton.