Midwest Live tips off busy hoops schedule at CPSC

PERKINS TWP. — The 2024-25 high school sports season is almost over. The baseball state championships take place this weekend. High school basketball wrapped up about three months ago, but summer action gets going Friday. Cedar Point Sports Center is the site of the Midwest Live girls event that begins at 8 a.m. "The scholastic events give us the opportunity to host a different type of event here at the Cedar Point Sports Center," CPSC General Manager Justin Kijowski said. "Bringing in teams from high schools all across the state, and surrounding states, for that matter, to be seen by collegiate coaches is a tremendous opportunity." Ten courts will be in use just about all day Friday and Saturday. Local teams playing are Bellevue, Margaretta and Norwalk. "Getting in front of college coaches and playing the top teams in the state is always beneficial to your team," Lady Red coach Kory Santoro said. "You get to see how you stack up against the top teams in the state and what you have to work on the rest of the summer." Bellevue is the reigning Division IV state champion. The Lady Red have to replace graduates Hailey Rees, Brooke Brown and Audrey Turner, but can use this time to mix in younger players. "When you have college-level players on your team, it's good for college coaches to see you playing maybe in a bigger role for your high school team as compared to the role you play with your AAU team which is made up of some of the best players in the state on one team," Santoro said. "This is a great event in a great location for us." Bellevue faces Olentangy at 11 a.m. and Fairmont at 1 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, the Lady Red take on Wheeling Central at 9 a.m. and Newark at noon. Norwalk, who lost in a Division III district title game last season, battles Solon at 3 p.m. and Genoa at 6 p.m. Friday. The Truckers will take on Berea-Midpark at 3 p.m. and Elyria Catholic at 5 p.m. Saturday. "Midwest Live is all about seeing the best competition the area has to offer," Norwalk coach Kyle Brubaker said. "With the schedule we play, we need to challenge ourselves in the summer. The college exposure our kids receive and it being a local venue are a great bonus." Margaretta, a Division VI regional semifinalist this past winter, will tangle with Westerville Central at 4 p.m. and Canton Central Catholic at 6 p.m. Friday. The Polar Bears will return to face Wayne at 4 p.m. and Copley at 6 p.m. Saturday. "With a limited number of days to coach in the summer, coaches love the opportunity to see their athletes in competitive games against schools they normally wouldn't see on their schedule," Kijowski said. "It's an opportunity to gauge where your team is at, what they need to improve, and install certain systems prior to your season. "In the case of Midwest Live, these are recruiting opportunities. College coaches are given an opportunity to see the top talent all in one gym here at the Cedar Point Sports Center, making the travel less of a deterrent on the recruiting trail. Also, for schools in Ohio, you're able to compete against schools from surrounding states, offering an opportunity to compete against quality competition you normally would not see." Boys B4TB coming next week High school boys basketball teams will get the chance to see what they have when Battle 4 The Bay takes place next Monday and Tuesday at CPSC. The March Madness-style bracket competition is in its fifth year. "It's been a staple summer event for teams looking for great school ball competition and a competitive environment," event organizer and Margaretta assistant boys coach Jake Meisler said. "We really market the event as a 'best of the best' as teams play four pool play games and then are placed into a March Madness style, single-elimination bracket. It's fun, it's competitive and allows varsity and junior varsity teams to be a part of something big and exciting." There are 38 high schools registered to participate in B4TB. Local teams expected to compete include Edison, Bellevue, Clyde, Margaretta, Sandusky and Vermilion. "Although we host over 50 tournaments a year, we are always excited to partner with these tremendous operators," Kijowski said. "The events fill our venue both during the week and on the weekends in the summer months, which can be a challenge for an indoor venue like ours. It allows us to continue to create economic impact and extend our season into the summer." Boys Midwest Live is June 27-29 The boys version of Midwest Live will take place June 27-29 at CPSC. Margaretta is the only local team scheduled to compete at Midwest Live this year. "Our kids and staff are excited to be back at Midwest Live for a third year," Meisler said. "From a scholastic athletics standpoint, it is by far the most iconic and beneficial event to players. TJ Peatross, Doug Graham and their staff do a tremendous job organizationally to make sure it is truly first-class. I don't know if there's anywhere else in the country you can find so many college coaches under one roof in June." There are over 130 high school teams on the list of participants, including heavyweights Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Canton McKinley, Centerville, Cincinnati Moeller, St. Ignatius, Delphos St. John's, St. Edward, Lima Senior, Olentangy Orange, Pickerington North, Reynoldsburg, Toledo Whitmer, Toledo Central Catholic, Toledo St. John's and Toledo St. Francis. "Our June basketball schedule rivals any in the country," Kijowski said. "With Midwest Live showcasing top talent on both the boys and girls side, we bring in collegiate coaches from all over the country. The Midwest Live events will bring the top talent from Ohio and surrounding states and will be attended by approximately 200 college coaches." Margaretta was a regional semifinalist last year and returns starters Julian Washington, Judah Keller, Kale Bailey and Tyson Bailey. "As a small-town school with the event in our backyard, we really embrace the opportunity and are thankful to be there," Meisler said. "It's another notch in the belt of Castalia and the incredible lengths the community has come to with regard to athletics."