Richland 200: Nos. 131-140 to put talent on display early in 2024-25

MANSFIELD — You won't have to wait long to see the athletes ranked Nos. 131-140 of this year's Richland 200.

All of them play a fall sport and if you don't catch them then, they will be in action during the winter as well.

Let's meet them.

131. Landon Sowards, Ontario

Sowards had a successful junior year earning honorable mention All-Northwest District and second team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference in football as a starting offensive lineman. He helped the Warriors pile up a historic 5,138 yards of total offense and will have a huge task this year of being the position leader as one of the only returning linemen. He was also a district qualifier on the MOAC championship wrestling team as he helped two teams at Ontario win league championships. It's a big year ahead for the senior.

132. Jaden Jones, Mansfield Senior

The Mansfield Senior football offensive line has been mean and nasty over the last couple of years and it is because of veteran guys like Jones. An honorable mention All-Northwest District and second team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference player last year, Jones helped the Tygers pile up 3,792 yards of total offense with his work in the trenches. The Tygers lose nearly their entire offensive line heading into the 2024 season, but with Jones back and his veteran leadership, they shouldn't miss a beat.

133. Xadrian Ream, Shelby

Speaking of teams that lose a majority of offensive linemen, the Whippets are in a similar position, but they do return one of their best. Ream earned honorable mention All-Northwest District and second team All-MOAC honors a year ago as he paved the way for the Whippets to pile up 6,318 yards of total offense. The Whippets have a couple of question marks heading into the 2024 season and the O-Line is one of them, but with Ream back, the leadership will be there to keep things rolling.

134. Buck Arnold, Lucas

There is a lot to love about Buck Arnold. An honorable mention All-Northwest District football player for the Cubs last year, he recorded 55 tackles, four sacks and 10 tackles for loss on the defensive line and paved the way for the Cubs to run for 3,390 yards on offense. But most of all, he is a fun-loving kid who works extremely hard and makes the game fun for his teammates. That is the mark of a leader and the Cubs should keep things rolling this year behind him.

135. DJ Corbin, Mansfield Senior

Corbin was just a sophomore in 2023-24, but boy oh boy did he have a great year. An honorable mention All-OCC football player for the Tygers, Corbin had 72 tackles, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown. While he may not have earned any postseason honors in basketball, he proved he is the future of Tyger hoops with his stellar play late in the season. With two years left, Corbin is a superstar just waiting to happen and everyone will see it this year.

136. Weston Neal, Mansfield Christian

Neal was the leading scorer for the Mansfield Christian boys soccer team with 12 goals and one assists as he led the Flames to a 9-8-1 record. He earned first team All-District and first team All-Mid-Buckeye Conference for his efforts and will be back looking to add more goals and more wins to a program that has high standards.

137. Justin Crall, Mansfield Senior

Crall had an outstanding junior soccer season that saw him post the most goals and assists of any Tygers during a historic season. He scored 18 goals and handed out 14 assists earning him first team All-District and second team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference honors as the Tygers made it to the district semifinals. He will be back for his senior year ready to help bring stability to the boys soccer program and leave a lasting impression on future players.

138. Randy Jamieson, Madison

The Rams had a great year on the pitch going 12-4-2 and finishing third in the Ohio Cardinal Conference standings thanks to great all-around players like Jamieson. He earned second team All-district and second team All-OCC honors as the Rams' facilitator with seven goals and 10 assists. Just a junior in 2024, Jamieson has the Rams looking for even more this year and next and the level of talent they have coming back should put them in a deep conversation for OCC championship favorites.

139. Hannah Griffin, Lexington

Griffin has had some of the worst luck of any athlete in Richland County with injuries. She finished 111th in the Division II state cross country meet last year with a time of 20:49.4 to cap off a season of ups and downs. But now that she is fully healthy and hopefully has a fall where everything clicks, she is going to be a surprise runner for everyone to keep an eye on. She could end up being one of Lady Lex's top runners this season.

140. Charlie Niese, Shelby

Niese is one of those perfect teammates that the Whippets seem to churn out every single season. In soccer, she was honorable mention All-District and honorable mention All-MOAC after scoring four goals and handing out two assists and handling some defensive duties. In basketball, she was honorable mention All-MOAC after averaging five points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.7 steals. Whatever either of her teams ask her to do, she is going to do it without question and that makes her one heck of a teammate.

jfurr@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland 200: Nos. 131-140 to put talent on display early in 2024-25