Tip of the cap: Redskins back on the big stage

This year it was Ft. Loramie rejoicing on the floor and in the stands at Northmont 

Sometimes being a high school sports fan means celebrating my team's accomplishments. Other times it means accepting a tough loss and recognizing just how special the competition was on the other side of the court. Saturday was one of those days for me and my Russia Raiders.

There's no getting around the disappointment of watching a historical Russia volleyball season come to an end in the regional championship. I hoped to be writing a story this week about their return to the Final Four. Now I'm left wondering what might have been. Regardless, there's another team in Shelby County that deserves a lot of respect. The Ft. Loramie Redskins battled their way back to the OHSAA Division VII State Volleyball Tournament. Make no mistake, the 'Skins earned every bit of it.

Another memorable regional final

Redskins versus Raiders shenanigans 

Saturday's matchup at the Northmont High School Thunderdome was everything it's supposed to be in a regional title game. Two great teams that split during the regular season, a packed gymnasium with students dressed like crazy rivals, and five sets of volleyball that had spectators on the edge of their green seats. Ft. Loramie ultimately prevailed 24-26, 25-21, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13, in a marathon that could have gone either direction.

It was especially meaningful for the Redskins, who endured 12 months of waiting after losing to Russia in the same regional final a year ago. In 2025, the Raiders captured their first regional championship in program history, ending Ft. Loramie's season in five sets. This time, the Redskins found a way to flip the script and finish the job.

Trailing 20-18 in the fourth set, Ft. Loramie turned up the defense, allowing Russia just one more point and forcing a deciding fifth set. Then, after falling behind 10-6 in the final frame, the Redskins responded once again. With the match tied at 13-13, Ft. Loramie scored the last two points, as sophomore Olivia Brandewie delivered the match-ending block and sent the Redskins crowd into a frenzy. Simply put, that's resilience and that's a team that refused to let this opportunity slip away.

Regular season paying dividends

If you tuned into any of our Fish Report volleyball broadcasts this year, we often touted the strength of Russia's tough regular season schedule. Well, this year Ft. Loramie's schedule was arguably even more brutal. The Redskins were an impressive 18-4 before tournament, but that record doesn't tell the whole story. 

Take a closer look at their 22 regular season games. Ten were versus regional tournament qualifiers in Divisions V, VI, and VII. Let me rephrase that. Nearly half of their regular season matches were against teams playing in the Sweet Sixteen and five of those matches were against teams playing in the Final Four! OHSAA purists can say what they want about seven divisions. Nobody gets to state with a mediocre schedule. Russia understands that. All those tough matchups are required deposits if you want to invest in elite volleyball at your school. Ft. Loramie's investment is now paying dividends when it matters the most in November.

Tradition of excellence

12 years ago Kelly Turner and the 
Redskins won their first state title

For anyone who follows volleyball in this part of Ohio, Ft. Loramie's postseason success is certainly nothing new. The Redskins are making another trip to the state tournament, adding to a program history that includes state championships in 2014 and 2024, along with a state runner-up finish in 2019.

Both of those championships are, at this moment, worth revisiting. One of the eight seniors on the 2014 squad was the former Kelly Turner, now current head coach Kelly Hoying. Her coach that season was the legendary John Rodgers, who I witnessed in attendance this past Saturday cheering on his protégé and her team. The 2024 championship run was most notably highlighted by Ft. Loramie sweeping Tiffin Calvert in three sets in the title game. This weekend the Senecas are state-ranked #1 and have rattled off 56 consecutive wins since that loss to the Redskins two years ago, including the 2025 D-VII state championship.

The only thing that matters in 2026 though, is the Redskins are back with an opportunity to make even more history. While coaches change, players graduate, and every season presents new challenges, the expectations surrounding Ft. Loramie volleyball have been the same for decades. There's a tradition of excellence and this year's team is doing their part.

Road to another gold trophy

Now comes the biggest challenge of all. Ft. Loramie opens state tournament play this Thursday at 2:00 at Wright State's Nutter Center against Newark Catholic (20-5), last year's Division VI state champions. The other Division VII semifinal features undefeated Tiffin Calvert Catholic (27-0) against Westerville Northside Christian (25-2) at noon. If you care to look ahead, there's also a little more recent history in a potential Ft. Loramie-Tiffin Calvert finale as well.

Tiffin Calvert defeated Ft. Loramie in two sets 25-13, 25-21, back on August 22nd at the Coldwater Spikeoff. The Redskins would likely love nothing more than another chance to face the Senecas. Just like 2024, there would be another gold trophy on the line. The finale is scheduled for Friday at 6:00 at the Nutter Center.

That's a pretty impressive state tournament, even for the most casual volleyball fan. Ft. Loramie definitely has their work cut out for them, and wouldn't that make winning it all even better.

Rivalries help make programs great

The next generation of Russia and
Ft. Loramie is always fun to watch

All said, I still selfishly wish Saturday had ended differently and I was watching Russia this weekend. The Raiders put together a remarkable 23-4 season, established school records for wins and consecutive victories, and reached their second straight regional championship match. There are five seniors who ended their volleyball careers, and a tremendous amount of pride comes from what that group accomplished. But as a Fish Report sports broadcaster and writer, I also know enough about high school athletics to appreciate what Ft. Loramie has done.

Both programs pushed one another to higher levels. Last year, Russia celebrated its first regional championship at the expense of the Redskins. This year, Ft. Loramie enjoyed their opportunity to celebrate at the expense of the Raiders. That's sports. That's competition. That's what has always made Russia versus Ft. Loramie so special.

I can be disappointed without being anything less than respectful and appreciative of the opponent. Saturday's match was a reminder of just how fortunate we are to have this level of volleyball right here in our backyard. I genuinely tip my cap to Coach Hoying, her staff, the players, and the Loramie Army. Congratulations on all your success!

Now, bring that gold trophy back to Shelby County.

The best in the Southwest and maybe the best in all of Ohio

Russia Taking Care of Unfinished Business

After coming up short a year ago, this past Saturday the Russia boys cross country team won their first regional championship since 2009

Bixler and Bennett. Two of
the best in southwest Ohio.

A year ago last October, I wrote about the possibility of Russia rewriting history. The Raiders were coming off a district championship and appeared to have a legitimate shot at winning their first regional title in 16 years. Unfortunately, things didn't quite go as I thought. Russia finished a distant second to Cedarville at the regional meet and were actually just three points away from third. In hindsight, maybe that experience created some motivation.

Fast forward one year and the Raiders got another chance with their history assignment. This past Saturday, Russia captured the Division IV southwest regional championship in Troy, putting an end to a 17-year drought. They didn't just sneak away with it either.

Head Coach Zach Bell's Raiders posted 57 points, comfortably ahead of state qualifiers Legacy Christian (86), Botkins (89), Cedarville (139), and Lehman Catholic (153). Leading the way was Paxson Bixler, who continued his super sophomore campaign by blazing a school-record 15:32.9. His runner-up individual finish was just 4.9 seconds behind Ansonia senior Bennett Lehman, the 2025 defending state champion. Lehman is also college bound next fall for D-I Youngstown State University. The rest of Bixler's teammates included senior Samuel Phlipot finishing 7th in 16:06, junior Evan Smith 12th in 16:28, senior Owen Sargent 16th in 16:41, and rounding out the top five scorers was senior Keagan Baldridge 27th in 16:58. Freshman Francis Phlipot was 33rd in 17:10 and senior Eli Schmitmeyer 46th in 17:27. 

Something left to accomplish

Back in August when the season began, I wrote that Russia was on course for a big 2026. They returned their entire state roster from 2025 after a 5th-place finish at last year's state meet. That marked the third-highest finish in program history behind 4th-place in 2008 and 3rd-place in 2007. Last year Samuel Phlipot also earned First Team All-Ohio honors, while Paxson Bixler earned All-Ohio recognition. As respectable as all that was, most of Russia's squad will now tell you their 2025 performance felt like unfinished business. Cue up the most important race of the season this weekend where legends are made.

The state-ranked #2 Raiders will perform on Ohio's biggest stage at Fortress Obetz this Saturday in the last race of the day, a 4:10 start time. Their stiffest competitor according to the coaches poll is #1 Mount Gilead. The Indians won the southeast regional in Pickerington last Saturday, placing all five scorers in the top 11 finishers. They are led by junior Henry Bartlett who won the race in 16:04. 

The chart on the right compares last Saturday's regional times from Russia at Troy versus Mount Gilead at Pickerington. It's important to note that course conditions are perhaps the biggest influence on those results. While I didn't get any reports from Pickerington, I attended the race in Troy and it's my opinion that course was fast. Meaning the ground was firm after seven earlier races. There was even dust flying in a few spots behind the ATV leading the race. The runners in Troy had one tough climb up the Great Miami River levee bank at the 2-mile mark, but were otherwise running back-and-forth laps in front of the spectators. Here are links if you'd like to compare Troy's course to Pickerington's course (page 3). It's also worth noting the Pickerington D-IV boys race was the eighth race of the day as well.

As they say in cross country, "all it takes is all you got". And that's what will likely determine the winners on Saturday. There will be 24 teams plus 48 individual qualifiers in the small school boys race. For everything you need to know, check out the OHSAA website here. Enjoy the show race fans.

Russia will be running for a small town celebration on back-to-back Saturdays

Moving Through Life in Russia

For years, a golf cart has been just one way of getting around town

Sophie Francis, CT

This may not be a question we've ever asked ourselves, but perhaps we should. Are some of the things that make life easier as we grow older inadvertently making it harder to stay healthy? I was inspired last week after listening to a presentation by Russia alumni Sophie Francis, a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student. Sophie came to my workplace at Superior Aluminum to speak about general wellness. During her talk, she explained that one of several factors to a healthy mind and body is physical movement. While that statement is certainly obvious to most, Sophie spurred me to reflect on myself and my community. 

This past spring my wife and I were working the scoreboard and sound system for a baseball game at Russia Community Park. Between innings the home plate umpire came over to ask us a question. He smiled and smugly inquired if buying a house in Russia included getting a golf cart for free. I smiled back as we looked at the long line of personal golf carts watching the action outside the left field fence. I then quipped back, "How else do you expect us Russia fans to get to the baseball game?" I also wasn't about to mention my Honda scooter parked just 50 feet away for my three block ride back home!

Even when the distance might be short enough to walk, I can reason that our motorized toys make getting around town a lot more fun. Likewise, it's hard to argue against the convenience of today's technology, such as ordering groceries from our phone and having them delivered right to our door. As we age, comfort and safety naturally becomes much more important. However, I wonder if folks like me sometimes focus too much on eliminating the physical challenges of everyday life and overlook the value those challenges might provide?

Exercise without realizing it

Bolotana’s hilly streets encourage residents to walk as part of their daily routines

Earlier this week I read an interesting story about Bolotana, a small village on the Italian island of Sardinia with a strong Catholic tradition. It's a little larger than Ft. Loramie and a little smaller than Versailles. Bolotana has attracted attention for its unusually high number of residents living to 100 and beyond. Researchers are investigating what might explain the village's remarkable longevity. One particular observation caught my attention. Residents regularly walk the village's steep streets to visit shops, cafés, workplaces, and friends. Their environment and daily routines encourage them to move. Walking isn't something they schedule into their day like an exercise class. It's simply part of living there.

There were a couple other observations as well. The village also has a largely plant-based traditional diet and residents enjoy strong social connections among family, friends, and neighbors. Researchers have not established that any one of these habits causes people to live longer. Yet, the combination offers some interesting food for thought.

I do believe people in Russia and the surrounding area generally have strong social connections. Our diets surely may be different, but again, what struck me hardest was the idea that Bolotana people can remain physically active without necessarily thinking of themselves as exercising. They walk because they have somewhere to go. They climb hills because that's where the road takes them. They visit friends because relationships matter. Physical movement is woven into their daily lives rather than becoming another task on some to-do list.

I try to imagine what that physical movement equivalent looks like here in my village. Do we walk or drive for leisurely trips and errands? Do we safely navigate stairs at home or avoid our second floor and basement? Do we hand clean our vehicles in the garage and driveway or pay for the automatic car wash? Simply said, when we have a choice between sitting and moving, which do we tend to choose? These decisions alone are not likely to determine how long we live. However, our daily habits repeated over many years, can shape how well we move through life.

Aging well starts today

Russia's Ed Borchers finished a 5K at age 87

I don't believe there's a magic formula for living to 100. As a Human Resources Manager in charge of health benefits at my company, I'm fully aware that genetics, medical care, nutrition, social relationships, environment, and plenty of factors beyond our control all influence how long we live. I also don't believe that everyone needs to take the same approach to aging. Yet, I do believe it's worth asking ourselves another question: What can I do today to give myself the best chance of remaining active and independent tomorrow? Maybe this weekend I'll use the rake for 30 minutes before bagging my fallen leaves with the mower. Maybe I'll attend at least one high school sporting event on Saturday versus scrolling for those same results on social media. Maybe I'll go for a short bicycle ride and enjoy the Autumn weather instead of watching football on television the entire day. These answers will be different for everyone.

The important thing I learned from Sophie's presentation is NOT to assume getting older means giving up movement and the activities we enjoy. Sometimes, the ordinary physical demands of everyday life are helping us maintain the very abilities we want to preserve. I think about those residents in Bolotana walking up and down their steep streets. They aren't necessarily climbing those hills because they believe doing so will help them live to 100. They're climbing them because that's how they get where they want to go.

There's a lesson in that for all of us. We don't have to live on a hillside in Italy. We simply need to recognize that our bodies benefit from being used, in ways that are safe and appropriate for us. As we get older, making life easier certainly has its place. At the same time, we should also think about making it possible to keep doing the things that matter. After all, the goal isn't just to live longer. It's to live well for as long as we can.

A healthy mind and body allows us to enjoy things that matter - like family

Golf, Life, and the Wisdom We Pick Up Along the Way

We were proud of our nephew after wrapping up his high school golf career

A couple Mondays ago on Columbus Day to be exact, my wife and I journeyed up to Firestone Country Club in Akron to watch our nephew, a senior at Alter High School in Kettering, play golf at the OHSAA state tournament. His team finished state runner-up after a previous four-year streak of consecutive state championships. Despite their remarkable accomplishment that afternoon, the boys were initially disappointed given the program's historical success. Getting to follow my nephew around the course brought back all the feels of watching my son compete in golf at Russia High School not so long ago. It also reminded me that the sport of golf has a funny way of teaching us some of life’s most important lessons.

The beautiful and scary hole #17

Lesson #1: You can hit a bad shot and think you’ve ruined the whole round. However, the next shot is always an opportunity to get back on track. My nephew scored a fantastic 5-over 77, in spite of one triple bogey on hole #16. The following hole #17 was an intimidating par-3 island green that could have been disastrous with the wrong mindset. Instead, he focused on the present and parred the hole! Life is a lot like that. Things won’t always go the way you planned and you’re going to make mistakes along the way. Don’t let one bad shot ruin the rest of your round and don’t let one bad day define your life. 

Lesson #2: Golf also teaches you about character. There are no officials following high school golfers around the course, and sometimes competitors can't see where your ball landed or whether you gave yourself a little better lie than you deserved. I preached this repeatedly to my son when he first started playing at a young age and throughout his high school career. Those are the moments when your integrity matters most. Life is the same way. Who you are when nobody is watching says a lot more about you than what people see on the outside. Always do the right thing, even when it’s not the easiest thing.

Lesson #3: In golf you can’t control everything. You certainly try to make the best decisions possible. I've witnessed instances where both my nephew and son have taken brilliant shots, only to have the ball take an unexpected bad bounce and make them second-guess their choices. Life will throw you some unexpected challenges too. You can’t always control your circumstances, but you can control your attitude and how you treat the people around you. Focus on those things and trust that God has a plan for you, even when you can’t see the whole picture.

Lesson #4: Perhaps the biggest lesson golf teaches is to enjoy the game. It’s so easy to get caught up in the score, that you forget to appreciate your surroundings and the opportunity to be there with others. My nephew got the day off school to play a PGA course with kids that love the game as much as him! Find that same positivity in life. Don’t get so focused on where you’re going that you forget to appreciate where you are. Make time for family, build friendships, and never take your blessings for granted.

Life isn’t about shooting a perfect round. It’s about the kind of person you become along the way. Remember to keep your head up after the bad shots, stay humble after the good ones, and enjoy walking with the people God puts alongside you. Even if it doesn't go according to plan!

High school golf eventually ends, but the lessons learned last a lifetime

The Best Parts of Minster Oktoberfest Haven't Changed

Sure the beer is good, but that's not what makes Minster Oktoberfest the best

There are a lot of great things about living in this part of Ohio. We have hard-working people. We have strong communities. We have traditions that have been passed down for generations. We have homemade cooking, musical talent, and perhaps most importantly, people who still make time for each other. For me, there may be no better example of all of that coming together than the Minster Oktoberfest.

Every year, thousands of people descend on Minster for a weekend of German food, music, beer, dancing, a parade, and plenty of other fun. The festival itself estimates that more than 80,000 people come to town over the weekend. But those numbers really don't explain what makes Oktoberfest special. As I reflect on the 2026 edition of Oktoberfest this past weekend, my favorite parts really haven't changed from year to year, but I appreciate them more than ever.

The Music

Just another song from Klaberheads

Four separate stages at Oktoberfest produce everything from energetic polkas to late-night party anthems. There is something about live music in a crowded little Ohio town on a beautiful fall weekend that just feels right. Believe me, Minster does a masterful job of coordinating it all.

This year my favorites acts were the same as recent years. The bands Karma's Pawn on Friday and Klaberheads on Sunday. If you've seen either group perform elsewhere like I have, they're always great. If you've seen them perform at Minster Oktoberfest, they're simply unforgettable and one of the reasons I love coming back. Karma’s Pawn kicking off the festival on Friday night is the perfect introduction to the fun that lies ahead all weekend. And Klaberheads closing on Sunday afternoon is Minster's official soundtrack to the end of Oktoberfest. You know the weekend is over and you're not quite ready to say goodbye.

Then There's the Food

It required standing in line, but was worth it

Let's be honest. You don't go to Oktoberfest to count calories. You go to eat, and Minster delivers. There are so many choices that it's almost impossible to have just one favorite. Brats. German potato salad. Tenderloins. Sauerkraut balls. Mini doughnuts. Cream puffs. Personally, my top pick is the Reuben. There's something wonderfully pure about getting my Reuben, finding a picnic table, listening to music, and enjoying the taste of corned beef with a Märzen-style lager.

On top of that, the food isn't just about satisfying my taste buds. Most Oktoberfest food stands are operated by local organizations, with proceeds helping those groups support the community. So when you buy that Reuben or whatever your Oktoberfest favorite happens to be, you are actually helping your neighbors. That's pretty hard to beat.

But the Best Part is the People

For me though, the very best part of Oktoberfest isn't the music. It isn't the food. It's catching up with friends. You can walk into Oktoberfest with absolutely no plans and somehow spend the entire day running into people you know. You see an old college roommate. You bump into someone from work. You chat with a former high school classmate. Someone introduces you to somebody you've never met. Several times this past weekend I mentioned heading back home to Russia, but kept talking for hours. That's what I love about this area. That's what I love about Oktoberfest.

We're all busy. Everybody has jobs, families, responsibilities, ball games, appointments, and a million other things going on. However, once a year at Oktoberfest, we can all agree that it's okay to put some of that on hold for a little while. We get together. We eat. We listen to some music. We laugh. We catch up.

That's Minster Oktoberfest. And that's a pretty darn good thing about living in this part of Ohio.

A perfect day for a small town parade and my favorite marching band

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Big goals are rarely accomplished by one person alone. That's why I'm grateful for Shelby County students and their positive energy. (Pictures by Ali Rittenhouse)

The country song “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen was once a top stream on my playlist back in 2025. One line of the tune goes, “They say teamwork makes the dream work”. Now, if you know the song or listen to the rest of the lyrics, you’ll understand that line is actually about a relationship where teamwork clearly did not make the dream work. But for me, I recently borrowed the phrase for a different message: In school, in your career, and in life, the people you surround yourself with can make a huge difference in what you’re able to accomplish.

Chasing my own dream

Last Thursday I spoke at the Shelby County Fairgrounds in Sidney to two large groups of area students about Career Exploration. Before my official introduction to the kids, I was hidden behind a wall outside of the arena (granted, it was a livestock arena). Executive Director Carrie O’Leary from Workforce Partnership of Shelby County was the emcee and hyped my intro in rock star fashion. Mitch Rowlett from Dayton Mobile DJ next blasted “I Had Some Help” over the loudspeakers. On cue, I entered the arena and bounced around high-fiving any of the students that wanted to play along. It was a walkout that likely would have made Post Malone and Morgan Wallen jealous. And had my wife been in attendance, she would have been thoroughly embarrassed. Nevertheless, it got the students excited and that was my big goal!

After my lap was complete and I eventually caught my breath, it was time to speak. I stated my name was Craig, my nickname was Fish, and my occupation was a human resources manager. However, I further explained that my dream was to be a country music star called Fish that could pump up the crowd before a big show. Because of Carrie, Mitch, and all the students that indulged me, together their teamwork just made my dream work. I sincerely thanked them.

The show was just getting started and next I engaged the students further. One bold volunteer agreed to join me in front of the crowd with a friend. We played a simple game with three red solo cups. Underneath one cup was $20, another cup just $10, and another cup only $2. My volunteer didn’t know which cups held which cash amounts. I asked her to pick a cup and encouraged the rowdy crowd to shout their advice. That resulted in chaos and confusion. She fretted over her decision and hesitantly picked the middle cup. Before revealing the cash underneath, I gave her some information and stated that I knew the middle cup contained just $10. She was also given one final opportunity to change her decision with some advice from only her friend this time. In the end, together they decided to switch to a different cup and luckily picked the one with $20! Both girls were extra happy when I revealed the $20 was two ten dollar bills that they were able to split evenly.

The best decisions are sometimes made with a little help from the people who know you best.

What was the point of the cup game? I explained those cups represented our choices in school, our careers, and our lives. We’re out there every day trying to decide which cup to pick. Often times we get confusing advice from people we don't know, like on social media and in the news. The lesson of the game wasn’t that someone else will always know which cup to pick for us. It was that the people we surround ourselves with can help us make better decisions when we’re not sure which direction to go. Choose your friends and other influences carefully, because their advice can have a real impact on the choices you make and the opportunities you see. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own, and you certainly won’t make every decision perfectly. But if you surround yourself with people who genuinely want to see you succeed, you’ll have a much better team beside you as you chase whatever your own “dream” happens to be!

-Craig

Finding Purpose at Work

Let me begin with the disclaimer that the following point of view doesn’t necessarily reflect the view of my employer, but what better place for me to share some personal thoughts than a personal blog post!

Our group purpose was defining our purpose! 

I'll reference another "Coffee with Champions" discussion group that I attended back in April. The subject was “Finding Purpose at Work”. What stood out most to me was how differently the attendees defined their purpose. The most memorable comments came from a woman named Mallory who said her purpose at work and in life was the same: to get to Heaven. That meant helping herself, her husband, and her children get there. For Mallory, the connection between her work purpose and life purpose is found in the values of the construction company that she and her husband built. Because they established those values themselves, she knew they aligned with what she believes. She also made an interesting point: she may or may not be able to fulfill that same purpose working for another company, because she doesn’t know whether another company’s values would align with hers.

Mallory’s comments that day reminded me of the company I work for and one of our five values: “We Believe Our Work Serves a Higher Purpose.” At first, I thought that value was exactly what Mallory had described as her purpose. However, as I drove home from the meeting, I thought about how our company value guides me in my work as a Human Resources Manager and how I personally define purpose. I concluded that purpose, for me, means the work I do matters beyond the individual task. My work creates value for a higher purpose - to be an advocate for our employees. In that sense, it’s my purpose to help my coworkers live their best lives.

The two different views of Mallory and mine aren’t necessarily contradictory. In fact, I think they demonstrate why purpose is so personal. Purpose at work is shaped by our individual beliefs and by the values we choose to align ourselves with. What gives one person meaning may be different from what gives another person meaning. For both Mallory and me, purpose starts with our personal beliefs and extends into the choices we make at work. We believe the people and companies we surround ourselves with should support the things that matter most to us. That’s also why company values are important. Values are more than words on a website. They tell us what a company believes is important. When we interpret and live out our values with our purpose in mind, we create an environment of growth and success for all.

-Craig

Four Thousand Weeks

"Four Thousand Weeks:

Time Management for 

Mortals" is a popular book 

by Oliver Burkeman

4,000 weeks. That’s about the average life span. 4,000 weeks will put you at almost 77 years old. If it’s accurate I only have 1,150 weeks left! That doesn’t sound like very much time “to get everything done.” Or so I thought... 

I regularly meet with a group in Sidney each Wednesday for a discussion called "Coffee with Champions". Our topic is different every meeting and several months ago, one particular meeting, the topic was 4,000 weeks. We discussed just how valuable and limited our time truly is. We talked about choices, priorities, and relationships. Our work lives occupy a lot of those 4,000 weeks, so I chose to focus on my personal life here are some takeaways I found useful for me.

• A full schedule doesn’t equal a full life
• Choose activities that light you up, not ones that simply fill your calendar
• You don’t need more hours, you need more awareness
• Focusing on fewer things makes each one more impactful
• When you slow down, you notice what actually deserves your attention
• Your best moments happen when you’re fully in them, not rushing past them
• Productivity isn’t about doing more, it’s about being fully engaged in what you’re doing

How do I make that work for me? Recently, I traveled to Indianapolis with my wife for a concert. After reviewing those takeaways above, here are my BLUNDERS and BRIGHT SPOTS with how I handled one of my 4,000 weeks.

BLUNDER: Doing house chores in the morning before we departed. The chores could have waited. I now realize I was distracted with believing I was being productive. In reality, I was instead disengaged from the purpose of the day.

BLUNDER & BRIGHT SPOT: I considered scheduling additional activities for the afternoon. Fortunately I didn’t and we decided to simply walk the city. By focusing on fewer things, it made the concert much more impactful.

BRIGHT SPOT: We visited friends. My wife discovered friends were on the other side of downtown. Instead of making excuses about a mile-long walk, one of our best moments was seeing them for 45 minutes.

What did I learn? When we quit trying to cram more tasks into our day, we discover a better way to live! 

-Craig

One of our 4,000 weeks and it was a good one!

Russia boys on course for big season

The Raiders return their entire state roster from 2025

It's not about how you start, it's how you finish. That cliché may be true, but for the 2026 Russia varsity boys cross country team, they will likely have success at both. Shelby County fans will find out soon enough. The season opening Shelby County Preview takes place this Tuesday, August 25th, at Russia Community Park. All seven SCAL schools, as well as Sidney and Lehman, will compete in both high school boys and girls and junior high. As has been the trend in recent years, the preview races have been shortened to just two miles for high school and one mile for junior high. Below is the schedule of events.

5:00 Junior High Girls

5:30 Junior High Boys

6:00 High School Girls

6:30 High School Boys

7:00 Youth Fun Run (Half Mile)

*Awards for the fastest runner in each high school and junior high grade level. Trophies for team champions and runner-up.

The preview course will cover all of Russia Community Park

The Division IV Raiders and head coach Zach Bell return their top seven runners from 2025. After winning the Shelby County Preview to start the season, the team later won both the SCAL and district championship for the first time in 11 years. They were also regional runner-up for the first time in 13 years. The boys capped 2025 with a 5th-place finish at the state meet, marking the third highest finish in 12 appearances throughout program history.

Paxson Bixler (left) and Samuel Phlipot are ones to watch this fall

Leading the way last season and most certainly this year is senior Samuel Phlipot. He was the 2025 SCAL Runner of the Year and a First Team All-Ohio honoree for his 8th-place individual finish at state. Last September, Samuel set a Russia school record when he blazed a 15:54 at Piqua to pass former record holder Luke Pohlman's 15:58 from 2010. On Samuel's heels this season will be sophomore Paxson Bixler who made quite a splash as a freshman. Paxson was a Second Team All-Ohio honoree at the state meet. His personal record time of 16:22 at last years regional meet ranks 6th all-time on the Russia record board. Paxson pushed Samuel the entirety of last season, making the duo one of the better 1-2 punches in Ohio.

The rest of Russia's roster includes guys that would lead other programs in the area. Senior classmates Owen Sargent, Eli Schmitmeyer, and Keagan Baldridge were all regulars in Russia's top seven last year. And junior Evan Smith was the Raider's #3 runner most of the season. Then there's junior Abe Hoehne and sophomore Lucas Borchers that battled for the final spot of the varsity roster much of last year.

Russia isn't the only SCAL boys team expected to do big things this season. For starters, Botkins will challenge the Raiders at the Preview and throughout the season. On the girls side, Ft. Loramie has won the last nine league titles and will positively dominate at the Preview on Tuesday. Enjoy the races cross country fans. 

The last time Russia hosted the SCAL Preview was 2020. Spectators were supposed to wear masks, but not everyone did.

Fish Report to air Russia Volleyball again

Russia's new mantra in 2026 is #BuiltForMore

Postgame with Jocelyn Wysocki

The 2026 Russia Volleyball regular season opens this week and Fish Report is once again along for the ride. We'll be airing all home varsity matches from press row with our experienced broadcast team. It starts when the Lady Raiders host their backyard rivals from Versailles for a rare Friday night showdown on August 21st. Matches begin with the JV-B at 4:30, followed by the JV around 5:30, and the Varsity finale for the nightcap. Fish Report will be live with play-by-play announcer Brandon Koverman and color commentator Craig Fiessinger for pre-game around 6:30. Listeners can check for live updates on the varsity start time inside the blue box located in the top-right corner of this website. Tune in for all the exciting game action and stick around for our postgame wrap up and interview.

Russia is coming off arguably their most successful season in program history. Their final 2025 record was 21-7, including 10-2 in the Shelby County Athletic League. That league mark tied with Anna and Ft. Loramie for the county championship. In the postseason tournament, the Raiders won their 12th district title and followed that with their first-ever regional title. Russia bowed out in the state semifinals at Vandalia Butler falling to Monroeville 26-24, 25-23, 25-20. Graduating from that team were three seniors in Claudia Hoehne, Izzy Chapman, and Kourtney Phlipot, who ended her career with 1,041 digs.

Raider fans will be very familiar with the 2026 team and it begins with head coach Aaron Watkins, now in his 11th season with a career record of 178-91. Assistant coaches include David Strunk is his eighth season and newcomer Lonnie Cain. Coach Cain might be a beginner at Russia, but he's also an OHSVCA Hall of Famer, long-time head coach at Covington, and won two state championships as an assistant coach at Lehman in 2010 and 2005. Russia's staff will get added help from JV coaches Allie Hafer in her fifth season and Morgan Albers in her first.

Coaches David Strunk, Morgan Albers, Aaron Watkins, Allie Hafer, and Lonnie Cain

Heading to state in 2025

Along with the veteran coaches, there will be experience on the court as well. It starts with senior hitters Hazel Francis and Celeste Borchers, both First Team All-SCAL honorees last year. Hazel was the team MVP and Russia's top scorer with 365 kills last season. In a game against Ft. Loramie, she also tallied 10 blocks for a new school record. Hazel's first cousin, Celeste, has been just as effective. She racked up 288 kills in her junior campaign to bring her career total to 533. She also led Russia's team in that 2025 state semifinal match with a team high 11 kills. Three more classmates complete Russia's roster of seniors in returnees Violet Armstrong, Lily Francis, and Ava Gibson. Violet and Lily are versatile enough to play a couple of important roles for Coach Watkins this year. Ava's top priority will be setter, where she's recorded 1,057 assists coming into her final season.

The junior class includes Therese Gibson, Macy Smith, Alysha Phlipot, Jocelyn Wysocki, and All-SCAL Honorable Mention honoree Aryana Cordonnier. In Russia's preseason scrimmages Aryana has switched from her position last year as an outside hitter to the libero position this year. From Fish Report's point of view it looks like Ary has adjusted well. We also like the move for Russia's team considering some of the younger talent the Raiders have coming up.

Fans got a glimpse of that talent last year when freshman outside hitter Ruby Francis made her debut. Ruby split playing time with the JV team then, but could anchor the right side of the net this season as a sophomore. A couple tall classmates in Desiree Borchers and Gianna Poling are on the roster also. Finally, there's one freshman to keep your eye on and that's Jewel Cordonnier, the younger sister of Aryana. Time will tell what impact Jewel might have, but sources tell Fish Report she's off to a good start!

Russia fans will be excited on Friday for the start of another season

26th Russia Alumni this weekend

Russia's Class of 2013 is back to defend last year's alumni championship

The 2026 Russia Alumni Softball Tournament will take place this weekend August 14-16 at Russia Community Park. It's the 26th edition of the annual event. It's also the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Russia Park Board, which uses proceeds for improvements and maintenance to the park. This year's Park Board president is Trevor Monnin, who replaced 2025 president Mitch Bergman. Other current park board members include Mitchel Hoying, Zach Sherman, Colin Puthoff, Chett Borchers, Jordan Gariety, and newest member Sam Cook. 

In addition to the softball action, this year the Park Board has added a new highlight. On Saturday night at 8:00 there will be a contest called Russia's Fastest Man. The fastest alumni to run around the bases will be awarded the Fastest Man Chain. This spectacle will replace the former "world famous" Dino races that is being retired after a successful number of years.

Below is the entire schedule of pool play games, tournament bracket, and rules.

God Story with Anne Wilson

Contemporary Christian and country music singer Anne Wilson entertained everyone at The Fraze Pavilion in Kettering this past weekend

I first saw Anne Wilson (pronounced Ann) two years ago at the 2024 Country Concert Saloon Stage and stuck around just long enough for a couple songs. The tune I was most familiar with at that time was "My Jesus", which was a hit single that Wilson released in 2021. The song has quite a story behind it too. Wilson, a Lexington, Kentucky native who is now 24, had an older brother that died in a car accident when she was just 15 and he was 23. The younger Wilson says her brother was her best friend and following the tragedy she leaned on her faith in Jesus. After he passed, she felt called by God to pursue a career in music and encourage others to follow Jesus as well.

On the big screen and big stage in 2025

In 2025 Wilson returned to Country Concert again, only now as Friday's opening act on the larger main stage. This time I stuck around for Wilson's entire set and was impressed with her ability to both entertain a rowdy group of country music fans and communicate her spiritual message. I was also much more familiar with her setlist, including songs like "Sunday Sermon", "God & Country", "Rebel", "Rain in the Rearview", and "Songs About Whiskey".

This past Friday I saw Wilson perform for the third time. Only this environment was a much different scene. The Fraze Pavilion in Kettering hosted Wilson as their headliner following an opening act by Leanna Crawford. If you've never been to The Fraze, it's a much different musical experience than Country Concert. The main difference being the overall amphitheater vibe. Country Concert is a three-day festival with tens of thousands of people. The Fraze is a three-hour evening outing with a maximum of 4,300 attendees. To put it nicely, Fraze fans are probably a little more polished. On Friday they were also predominately mothers with their young daughters that were giddy to see Anne Wilson. I felt extremely outnumbered, but had my wife by my side for confidence on a date night.

Anne Wilson says you can't
take the church out of me

Before I rave about Wilson, I have to compliment Leanna Crawford for her poise getting the evening started. Crawford charged out on stage for an upbeat opening song only to quickly discover her microphone didn't work. The music stopped, things got quiet, and it was a little awkward. Crawford handled it like a true professional though, joking with the front row fans and signing autographs. Five minutes later she was back in business with a new mic. 

Fortunately, Wilson didn't have any audio problems. She hit the stage around 9:00 singing "God Story" as the entire crowd stood and cheered. My wife and I were in the seventh row and center stage. It felt like we were in the heart of the Anne Wilson fan club, as most folks around us seemed to know every word of every song. Wilson played those familiar hits I heard at Country Concert and I enjoyed some newer music I'd become familiar with like "Devil Is Too", "Hold Your Horses", and "Jesus On The Radio". 

My favorite things about Wilson are her clever songwriting and that distinctive vibrato voice. While she's most certainly a faith-based singer, it doesn't take a deeply religious person to appreciate her tremendous talent and the fun she has on stage. I also want to say, her positivity is an inspiration that I greatly admire in this day and age. Finally, the fact that I've had Wilson's playlist on repeat ever since I left the concert tells me all I really need to know. She's one that I want to see again! 

Anne Wilson made us smile. And isn't that why you go to a concert!

Downtown Dayton's biggest weekend

The band Gaelic Storm became world famous in 1997 when they appeared in the movie Titanic. They have been a Dayton Celtic Fest regular for the past 25 years.

Dayton's 25th annual Celtic Festival happened this past weekend and was perhaps their most successful one in a quarter century. The free event takes place each year at RiverScape MetroPark on the banks of the Miami River for three days, Friday-Sunday. It's presented by United Irish of Dayton and is a July version of a St. Patrick's Day party for downtown Dayton. I've been attending over the past six years and every festival keeps me coming back for more. My DNA origins are 12% Celtic, so I can legitimately say these are my people.

City officials estimate the Celtic Fest crowd at 90,000 attendees over the weekend

Almost too pretty to drink

Starting on the corner of Monument Avenue and Patterson Boulevard, 40 food and merchandise vendors stretched for two full blocks. My favorite meal this year was the Dublin Pub Rueben and world famous cheese fries. There was even a free shuttle bus for festival-goers wanting a transport to the actual Dublin Pub restaurant over on 5th Street for an authentic experience. 

That sandwich and fries had plenty of beverage options too, including a Celtic Fest Red Ale brewed by Breckenridge Brewery that became my go-to most of the weekend. The coolest beer of the weekend though had nothing to do with temperature, rather artwork. There was a dedicated Guinness beer tent that had several "Stoutie" machines. After you purchased a Guinness beer with a nitro foam head, you could walk over to the machine and have a free design printed in the foam. There was standard Guinness logos, as well as custom printed images if you downloaded their QR code. The whole process took about 20-30 seconds. It was a neat gimmick that was fun for about one or two beers.

The Elders will soon play 11 shows in Ireland from October 16-26

Shannon O'Shea was a 

contestant on America's 

Got Talent back in 2016

The best thing about Celtic Fest is of course the music. Three stages hosted a variety of local and national performers in both Irish song and dance. Included were headliners Gaelic Storm, The Elders, Socks in the Frying Pan, The Drowsy Lads, Davy Holt, and Bastard Bearded Irishmen. Gaelic Storm is wildly popular and have been regulars at Celtic Fest since the early years. After starting as just a pub band from Santa Monica, California in the 1990's, today they travel the country singing stories from more than a dozen of the albums they've released. Lead vocalist Patrick Murphy is the only remaining original member of the band, but still a treat to watch after all these years at age 55. He's a true Irishman and perhaps even a little rowdy. After playing an earlier 8:00pm show on Friday, Murphy and Gaelic Storm closed the festival on both Saturday and Sunday.

My personal favorite though was a six-person band based out of Kansas City, Missouri. The Elders travel the globe and last played Dayton's Celtic Fest more than 10 years ago. They were thrilled to return to the Gem City. How do I know? When I was standing in line for that Rueben sandwich with my wife, the person directly behind us was The Elders fiddler, Shannon O'Shea. She chatted like we were old friends. O'Shea talked about her family back home, including her mother that encouraged her daughter to start playing fiddle at a young age. With an Irish name like O'Shea, she explained she couldn't quit! It was a neat moment before The Elders took the stage to close after Gaelic Storm.

They were no Irish sing-alongs at Pins across from Day Air Ballpark, but it was a full house like most other bars in the area

In addition to the massive Celtic Fest crowd, the Dayton Dragon were home all weekend at Day Air Ballpark just around the block. That brought another 7,000 folks each night. Local eateries and watering holes like Pins Mechanical, The Foundry, Brixx Ice Company, Mikey's Late Night Slice, and others enjoyed the huge influx of customers. It was great to see downtown Dayton bustling with business on the biggest weekend of the year. If you'd like to attend in 2027, the dates are July 30-August 1.

Irish shenanigans a few seconds before the collapse!