The Midwest Athletic Conference is generally considered the best small school conference in Ohio, and with good reason, all they do is win. Schools in the league include Minster, Mation Local, New Knoxville, Fort Recovery, New Bremen, Coldwater, Delphos St. Johns, Versailles, Parkway and St. Henry.
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif;"><strong>5 Players to Watch</strong></span>
Gabrielle Stober, 5-11 2023, Parkway
Kaylee Freund, New Bremen
[player_tooltip player_id="215424" first="Ella" last="Mescher"], 6-0 2022, Minster
[player_tooltip player_id="312675" first="Samantha" last="Hoelscher"], 5-8 2022, Marion Local
[player_tooltip player_id="214492" first="Riley" last="Rismiller"], 6-3 2023, Coldwater
<span style="font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">3 Teams to Watch</span></strong></span>
Coldwater looks to be improved and they have two key components that will be key factors. D1 recruit Rismiller is one of the most complete posts in Ohio in her class, as she has nice range, good hands and can compete at the rim. Annelise Harlamert is another player who displays excellent talent, solid leader and is a player who expects to be effective in a variety of ways this season.
Minster will have a new look to them, and I did see them in the preseason. Gone is Ivy Wolf, who is now at Miami Ohio, while Janae Hoying also graduated last season. Mescher will be the focal point, but they have some other players with some experience. The key is developing them through the season to gain the confidence of having new floor leaders running the show.
Marion Local is a team who I feel will contend for a MAC title this season. They are led by [player_tooltip player_id="312675" first="Samantha" last="Hoelscher"], <em>(feature photo above) </em>a 2022 guard who is one of the most underrated players in Ohio. She had a great summer and played well in the Northwest Ohio Shootout back in October. Beth Streib will have a very competitive group and challenge for a nice tourney run.
<span style="font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">3 MAC tidbits</span></strong></span>
Rismiller has gathered several D1 offers after another good summer. She may be the only D1 kid in the conference this year, but she isn’t the only scholarship-level kid. Mescher is headed to Findlay to play at the next level. A couple more players will also likely advance to the next level.
Minster and Marion Local have dominated the conference in girls basketball, as Minster has 16 MAC titles and Marion Local has ten.
Overall in all sports, the MAC has won 143 state championships including 74 in girls sports. In girls basketball, Minster has four state titles, Coldwater, Delphos St. John’s, Fort Recovery and Versailles each has two and Marion Local with one.
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif;"><strong>2 Games to Watch</strong></span>
Marion Local at Fort Loramie- Feb. 8
St. Mary’s at New Knoxville- Dec 4
<span style="font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Other conference players to watch</span></strong></span>
Players who were honored by the conference last year who are expected to see their production increase this season. Ellie Gabel, 5-7 2022 New Knoxville; Whitney Rammel, 6-2 2022 Fort Recovery; Avery Henschen, 5-10 2022 New Knoxville; Allison Hughes, 6-0 2023 Parkway; Mya Ontrop, 5-10 2023, St. Henry.
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