Bodey shines in career rooted at Margaretta

CASTALIA — Gage Bodey never envisioned it any other way. The son of two Margaretta graduates who has lived there his whole life, Bodey's childhood dreams of buzzer beaters and touchdowns came in one color: Polar Bears green. And in a standout high school athletic career that isn't done yet, Bodey has turned a lot of his hopes into reality. "I always like to make the memories while I can and just enjoy everything I've got right now," Bodey said. "I would not trade the way anything has happened for anything. It's been great. I love that I get to experience my lasts with the people that I get to experience them with." Bodey has already left his name all over the record books. He's Margaretta's all-time leading football receiver. He started track last spring and earned All-Ohio honors. Last Saturday, Bodey became the first Polar Bears boys basketball player to win two district championships. He's averaging 7.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game as a senior. Next up is a regional semifinal on Wednesday night at BGSU's Stroh Center against Worthington Christian. "Just want to enjoy it, do what I've been doing all year and keep it going for pretty much two more weeks," Bodey said. Bodey's bloodlines are strong, and green, with a bit of Bellevue red mixed in. His father, Jim, was a three-sport athlete at Margaretta. Jim won an SBC football championship and played basketball and baseball, and now coaches middle-school football for the Polar Bears. He went to high school with his bride-to-be, Tracey, who was a runner and a basketball player at Margaretta. Jim's roots trace to Bellevue and the Bruckner family. Milt Bruckner, Jim's uncle, was one of the all-time great athletes to come out of Bellevue. He won a state championship in the half-mile and earned All-Ohio honors in football and basketball. "I was a wide receiver and moved to quarterback my senior year," Jim said. "Basketball-wise, Gage is better. He's more rounded. His defensive skills and rebounding, I think I lacked the defense. I played with (current superintendent) Ed Kurt. He would vouch that defensively I might not have been there. We would laugh about that." Bodey spent his childhood being coached by his father in multiple sports while also practicing his buzzer-beater countdown in the driveway. They went to every Polar Bears football game and pretty much every basketball game. "I'd sit out in the driveway and count down 3, 2, 1 and throw it up," Bodey said. "We put a lot of work in the yard, I'll tell you that," Jim said. "You don't know how many footballs I threw off the pool deck from when he was very little." Bodey's high school career has been full and busy. By his senior year on the gridiron he was a receiver, and a defensive back, and a return man, and the kicker. He'll go on to play wide receiver at NCAA Division II Ohio Dominican. "It was a dream of his. That was one big thing he wanted bad," Jim said. "And we are thrilled, just because it's gonna be awesome to go watch him again. It's probably gonna be rough, it's like starting all over again. Gotta put your time in again. But it's awesome, plus it's fairly close to home." Bodey joined the track team last spring to run with his friends and wound up on two podium relays while also qualifying for the state meet individually in the 200 meters. And on the basketball floor, Bodey found his role. He grew up as a scorer, but on a strong 2022 team the sophomore had to fit in as a defender. "It took a couple weeks to get used to," Bodey said. "But it was really awesome getting to play under some great athletes like Jake (Leibacher) and Ben (Palomo). Their leadership has allowed me to know what I have to do to be a leader for these guys." Bodey has embraced his lock-down duties the last couple years. These days, the 6-foot-2 senior guards the other team's best player, big or little. He opened the district final on 6-7 Walter Plantz of Genoa, and he'll get 6-6 Samuel Johnson of Worthington Christian on Wednesday. "I love stepping up to the challenge," Bodey said. "... In summer league, I guarded a lot of big guys, and the first time I was asked to do it, I was a little skeptical. 'You want me to guard a 6-8 guy?' But it worked out, and the physical aspect is what worked in my favor. Ever since then, it's been, who cares? I'll guard whoever." Bodey's offensive skillset has expanded the past couple years. He's added a smooth pull-up jumper to his game, drops in high-arcing 3s and is a game-changing passer. He dished out six assists in the district final, including on four consecutive baskets at one point. "He's a physical kid, a tough kid, a young man who will do whatever you need to have success," Margaretta coach Steve Keller said. "... He's gotten a lot better, shot it well this year, able to take people off the dribble." Bodey is part of a small senior class for the Polar Bears, along with reserve Micah Groot. It's given him an opportunity to lead an uber-talented young group. "Gage is a phenomenal young man, and he's been our leader, which I think is most important," Keller said. "Our group of young guys needed a leader, and they got that with Gage this year." The Bodey name will continue to have a long-lasting legacy in Castalia, with everything Gage has done and is still to do making for a memorable career. "It's awesome," Jim said of watching his son play at his alma mater. "I enjoy it. It's just kind of neat."