Vote: Choose central Ohio's Boys Team of the Year for 2024-25

We're moving closer to a new school year, but we're not quite done with the last one.

Voting for the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center high school Athlete of the Week continues through the summer. This week, Dispatch.com readers get to decide your choice for central Ohio boys Team of the Year.

The Upper Arlington hockey team earned the honor during the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards on June 18, but who would you choose? Vote in our poll below.

Voting is open until 4 p.m. Aug. 1. Please do not email your votes; they will not count.

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center high school Athlete of the Week voting occurs each week and recognizes athletes across all sports.

If you can't see the ballot when you scroll to the bottom of this story, try refreshing the link or clearing the cache in your browser. You do not have to be a subscriber to vote.

The Dispatch staff reserves the right to remove athletes from the ballot where voting irregularities have occurred.

Have any questions? Email sports editor Brian White at [email protected].

Here are the candidates:

New Albany soccer: After 110 scoreless minutes in the Division II state title game, the Eagles (20-1) needed penalty kicks to capture their first championship. Goalie Wyatt Butler, who made 11 saves in regulation and overtime, stopped the first Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit penalty kick. The Eagles converted all five attempts, with midfielder Adam Hoy netting the winner for a 1-0 victory (5-3 on penalty kicks).

Olentangy baseball: The Braves (24-7) won their first state championship, defeating Springboro 2-1 in the Division I final. Starting pitcher Cameron Birch went five innings, and Cooper Tracy earned a six-out save. Tracy also closed out a 3-1 semifinal win over West Chester Lakota West after six strong innings from Rocco Bucci. In a 4-2 regional final win over Grove City, Tracy hit the go-ahead two-run double in the top of the seventh and retired the Greyhounds in order in the bottom of the inning.

Olentangy Liberty football: The Patriots (14-2) captured their first state championship, defeating Cincinnati Moeller 28-14 in the Division I final. Andrew Leonard threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, all of which went to Christian Moulton (8 catches, 161 yards). Jake Struck accounted for 173 all-purpose yards (99 rushing, 74 receiving) and a scoring run. Liberty’s defense held Mr. Football Matt Ponatoski to 112 yards passing.

Olentangy Orange basketball: The Pioneers (26-2) won their first state championship, defeating Reynoldsburg 56-41 in the Division I final – the first all-Columbus-area title game. Orange’s best player, Mr. Basketball finalist Devin Brown, contributed six points, six rebounds and six assists. Ellis Appiah had a career-high 20 points and four rebounds, Treyton Schroeder scored 12 points on four 3-pointers and Levi Davis added 10 points.

Upper Arlington hockey: The Golden Bears (29-6-2) dominated two northeast Ohio teams at state, defeating Mentor 7-2 in a semifinal and Cleveland St. Ignatius 5-2 in the final for their first championship. Goalie Mason Herndon made 15 saves in the semifinal and 34 in the final. Against St. Ignatius, UA scored four goals in the third period. Against Mentor, the Bears scored the final seven goals after falling behind 2-0 in the first 1:41.

Watterson football: The Eagles (16-0) completed an unbeaten season by rallying past Toledo Central Catholic 19-14 in the Division III state championship game. Quarterback Drew Bellisari scored the winning touchdown on a 9-yard run with 1:29 remaining. He also threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Theado and Zack Weber rushed for 134 yards on 28 carries, including a 28-yard touchdown.

Watterson lacrosse: The Eagles (14-6) captured their first state title, defeating Wooster 9-7 in the Division II final. Watterson, which previously made state in 2017 and 2021 but lost in semifinals both years, got over the hump behind four goals from Drew Dunlap, a goal and three assists from Luke Ishmael and five saves from freshman goalie Kolt Rundio.

Watterson wrestling: The Eagles won their first state championship, taking the title in Division II. Watterson qualified four wrestlers for the state finals, and Mitchell Younger (144 pounds) and Michael Boyle (215) won titles. Watterson has grown into one of the state’s strongest Division II programs since returning in 2018 after a two-year hiatus from the sport because of a lack of interest at the school.

Westerville North basketball: The Warriors won their first state championship in 31 years, routing Massillon Perry 78-46 in the Division II final. North (25-2) ended the season on a 24-game winning streak. Micah Young led the way with 24 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, and North’s defense dominated by forcing 27 turnovers, 24 of which were steals. Tai Perkins added 19 points, four assists and four steals for the Warriors.

VOTE: Who is central Ohio's Boys Team of the Year?

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: VOTE: Choose central Ohio's Boys Team of the Year for 2024-25