On Wednesday, February 26, a Community Coffee Klatsch will be held in the newly decorated banquet/party room at Campito Lindo, 142 N. Main Street, Bluffton. The doors will open at 10:00 a.m. for coffee, with the actual program starting at 10:30.
The speaker for this open gathering will be Christopher Gibbs, a Sidney area farmer who is president of the Shelby County, OH, Democrats. Those attending will be able to purchase lunch, relax and spend time with old and new friends, and share concerns about rapidly changing conditions we are facing.
CANTON – Bluffton High School junior Jackson Bowlus finished sixth at the 100-yard backstroke consolation finals in the state Div. II meet at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium Friday, February 21.
Bowlus ended up 14th overall in the 100 backstroke at state with a time of 53.57 Friday night. He improved his time by .21 in the B Finals over his preliminary heat showing on Thursday.
Those who finished nine through 16 in the preliminary heats qualified for the state B or consolation Finals. One through eight advanced to the A Finals.
Bowlus took 15th amidst a field of 32 boys in the 100 backstroke preliminary heats Thursday evening. He swam a 53.78 to advance to the B or consolation Finals.
Hamilton Ross senior Cooper Burt captured first in the 100 back A Finals with a time of 48.28. Burt also finished first in the prelims in 48.94.
ROSSFORD - The Bluffton High School boys bowling team finished 13th in the 16-team Div. II district tournament at Rossford Interstate Lanes on February 20.
Only the top three teams advance to the state tournament.
Coldwater won the district crown with 4,416 total pins. St. Henry came in second (4,022), followed closely by Van Wert (4,011).
Bluffton finished with 3,476 total pins, which left them 535 pins and nine spots away from state qualification.
BLUFFTON – The hot-shooting Bluffton High School boys basketball team convincingly defeated visiting Wayne Trace 66-43 in Div. V sectional final action Friday, February 21.
The Pirates outscored the Raiders 39-15 from beyond the arc by draining 13 three-point goals.
After a slow start, Bluffton out-pointed WT 52-21 over the middle quarters to blow the game wide open.
Pirate senior guard Marek Donaldson led all scorers with 22 points on eight baskets and six trifectas. Senior Blake Sommers netted 20 markers on seven baskets, including three treys, and three free throws.
The Pirates improved to 16-7 with their fourth consecutive victory. Bluffton plays a rematch vs. top seed Lima Central Catholic in the district semifinals at Elida Fieldhouse Wednesday, Feb. 26 at approximately 7:30 p.m.
UPDATED with photos by Charles Wright on Feb. 22. CORRECTION Bowlus placed 21st in 50 freestyle.
By Cort Reynolds
CANTON – Bluffton High School junior Jackson Bowlus qualified to the state B finals in one event with a solid preliminary heat performance in the Ohio Div. II swimming meet at Canton’s C.T. Branin Natatorium Thursday evening, February 20.
