By Logan Andrew, Editor-in-chief | FreeWire Magazine
At Thursday night’s Bucyrus City School Board meeting, athletic growth, community support, and strategic planning were front and center. Held at the Lincoln Administrative Center, the meeting touched on student accomplishments, new agreements, upcoming graduations, and the district’s steady push for progress.
ATHLETICS UPDATE: Growing Numbers, Changing Divisions
Athletic Director Matt Makeever delivered a detailed breakdown of current and projected athletic participation. Nearly every sport is expected to see gains through the 2025–2026 school year. Football, for instance, is projected to grow from 24 players next year to 41 the following year. Track, already the district’s largest athletic program, is projected to draw 54 high school athletes by 2025–2026.
Other notable projections include:
- Boys Basketball rising from 17 to 30
- Baseball growing from 15 to 23
- Volleyball increasing from 16 to 23
- Bowling, Cheer, and Wrestling all showing gains
The school is also seeing early success in youth sports retention. Makeever and coach Chad Redmon were recognized for having worked with a group of wrestlers since they were five years old, helping to lay the groundwork for long-term athletic development.
New Conference Layout and Division Changes
Big changes are coming to Bucyrus’s athletic competition structure:
- The Northern 10 (N10) will restructure into East and West divisions starting 2026–2027. Bucyrus will join Willard, Wynford, Colonel Crawford, Seneca East, Buckeye Central, and Lucas in the East.
- Bucyrus football is preliminarily moving from OHSAA Division 6 to Division 7, a change based on enrollment data.
- Track and Cross Country will both expand divisions in the coming years, with Track moving from 3 to 5 and XC from 3 to 4.
Bowling, Books, and Community Support
The board also gave a well-earned shoutout to Ms. Kaple, the district librarian and head bowling coach. Known for her dedication on and off the lanes, Kaple brings in professionals to work with students and has helped build a supportive, fun atmosphere around the sport.
That support is made possible in large part by Shawn Ridgeway and Suburban Lanes, who offer free bowling to students during the season and just $3/game in the offseason. The program isn’t just affordable—it’s built on relationships, encouragement, and consistency. According to the board, it’s a model example of school-community partnership.
Athletes Making Headlines
Several Bucyrus students were recognized for All-Ohio and state-level honors:
- Karter Boggs – All-Ohio
- Demaris Munn-Page – Honorable Mention
- Brody Higginbotham – State Qualifier
- Boys Cross Country and Bowling teams both qualified for Regionals
- Additional recognition for Track is pending as the season continues
Drug Testing Down Drastically
A standout statistic from the meeting: positive drug tests dropped from 8.29% this school year to just 2.75% projected for next year, below the countywide average of 2.3%. Follow-up tests also fell dramatically from 53% to 14%.
Officials credited increased awareness, counseling, and preventive support for the decline.
Graduation Approvals
The board approved the preliminary Class of 2025 graduation list, pending final confirmation. The list remains subject to change through the end of the academic year.
Planning & Service Agreements
The board approved several administrative items:
- A 3-year agreement with Avita Health for athletic trainer services (July 2025–June 2028)
- Updates to Reading Improvement Plans
- A revised policy for the “Stony’s Kind Kids” fund, making financial support more flexible for student needs
- Approval for student officers to attend BGSU’s High School Officer Camp in July
Community Contributions
The district received generous community donations, including:
- $3,000 from Bucyrus Elks Lodge #156 for the Athletic Department
- $1,762.50 from Bucyrus Moose Lodge #669 for Academic Boosters
- $500 from the Heid family to the Academic Boosters Scholarship Fund
Communication Strategy: Analytics Over Salary?
As part of ongoing discussions about communication and community outreach, the board is considering a $5,000/year contract with a social media analytics firm.
Superintendent Bob Britton highlighted the value of this option by pointing out the cost-effectiveness—comparing it to hiring a full-time communications director, which he said could cost up to $130,000/year.
(FreeWire aside: We’d love to know where those $130K comms gigs are hiding—asking for a friend.)
Support Those Who Support Our Kids
Programs like Bucyrus Bowling don’t happen in a vacuum. They thrive thanks to people like Ms. Kaple and community partners like Shawn Ridgeway and Suburban Lanes. Their commitment to local youth—on the lanes and in the classroom—deserves both recognition and support.
Next time you’re looking for something fun (and affordable), swing by Suburban Lanes—where the vibe is friendly, the pizza is hot, and the bowling is on point.
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