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DICK’S Sporting Goods appreciates the extraordinary achievements showcased in Greater Miami Conference boys basketball. Widely regarded as one of Ohio’s toughest leagues, the GMC featured both the state’s No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams this season. In a showdown for the ages, the Lakota West Firebirds narrowly outlasted conference rival Princeton by a score of 58–53 in front of a Cintas Center neutral-site crowd of 7,250 fans.

At the conclusion of each conference season, the league’s head coaches gather to review the year and compare notes. During this meeting, they nominate and select the All-Conference team, as well as the “Player of the Year” and “Coach of the Year.” After a dominant campaign that included leading his Firebirds to an undefeated GMC championship, Lakota West’s Josh Tyson was chosen as the 2025–26 GMC Player of the Year. In a league filled with some of Ohio’s finest coaches, Kelven Moss of Lakota West was selected by his peers as the GMC Coach of the Year.

Josh Tyson  Lakota West Firebirds  GMC "Player of the Year"

(Photo compliments of Lakota West Athletic Department)

Josh Tyson continues to elevate his game, and his on-floor leadership remains a critical component of the Firebirds’ success story. The 6-3 junior has been an impact player for Lakota West since stepping onto the court as a freshman. A three-year varsity letter winner, he has already appeared in 71 games since first donning a Firebird varsity jersey.
This past season, Tyson averaged 16.7 points per game (third in the GMC), handed out 3.8 assists per game (third in the GMC), and posted an exceptional 63.5% field-goal percentage. He was selected Second Team All-Ohio as a sophomore after helping lead the Firebirds to the OHSAA Tournament Final Four.

Head Coach Kelven Moss   Lakota West Firebirds  GMC "Coach of the Year"

(Photo compliments of Lakota West Athletic Department)

After skillfully navigating his Firebirds to an undefeated 16–0 GMC season and a 21–1 overall record, Lakota West Head Coach Kelven Moss was selected by his coaching colleagues as the conference Coach of the Year. In just three seasons at the helm, Coach Moss has compiled a remarkable 39–9 league record in one of Ohio’s toughest basketball neighborhoods.

One of the greatest honors a coach can receive is the endorsement of his peers for a job well done. This recognition reflects not only seasonal success but also acknowledges long-term program-building excellence. In this regard, Coach Kelven Moss excels on every front.
Congratulations to Coach Kelven Moss—your dedication and commitment to young people are genuinely appreciated.

In addition to the plethora of swimmers and divers that the Mason Comets qualified to the state championships, the remaining Greater Miami Conference swimming and diving programs represented the conference and their schools in outstanding fashion against the best that the state of Ohio has to offer. 

Complete championship results: OHSAA Swimming and Diving Final Results 2026

Notable GMC achievements:

Braden Fuller - Lakota East      6th in 50 Yd Free, 4th in100 yd Butterfly

Eleanor Hardy - Sycamore       7th in 100 yd Butterfly

Michael Metz - Fairfield           7th in 100 yd Freestyle, 4th in 100 yd Backstroke

Chloe Fox - Sycamore               7th in 500 yd Freestyle 

Sycamore                                 7th in 400 yd Freestyle Relay   

Eleanor Hardy, Jordyn Langford, Sophia Swejkar and Chloe Fox 

Greater Miami Conference State Team Scores:

Boys - Mason 3rd, Lakota East 9th, Fairfield 19th and Sycamore 20th.

Girls - Mason 2nd, Sycamore 8th and Lakota East 27th.

GMC “Swimmer of the Year” and four-time first-team All-GMC honoree Isabella Teply has now added another distinction to her résumé: a two-time defending OHSAA state champion in the 200-yard freestyle. In the 200 Free finals, Teply scorched the water with a blazing 1:47.78, reaffirming her place among Ohio’s elite.

On the boys’ side of the deck, Liam Clark showcased his remarkable versatility, delivering an impressive 1:49.04 in the Individual Medley—one of the most demanding events in the sport.

(Photo compliments of Mason SID, Dan Hilen)

Press Release by Mason SID, Dan Hilen

Mason Girls Swimming & Diving Defends State Runner-Up Title

Teply Repeats as State Champion

The Mason Girls Swimming & Diving team once again established itself among Ohio’s elite programs, earning Division I State Runner-Up honors for the third consecutive year at the OHSAA State Championships this past weekend in Canton, Ohio.

Senior standout Bella Teply delivered a remarkable performance, successfully defending her State Championship in the 200 Freestyle while also finishing 2nd in the 100 Freestyle. Teply’s leadership and consistency have been instrumental in Mason’s sustained success at the state level.

The Comets’ depth was on full display with multiple podium finishes across individual and relay events:

State Podium & Finalist Finishes:

200 Freestyle – Bella Teply (1st), Veronika Khudiakova (5th)
200 Individual Medley – Dana Fairbanks (3rd)
500 Freestyle – Dana Fairbanks (2nd), Veronika Khudiakova (5th)
100 Freestyle – Bella Teply (2nd)
200 Medley Relay – Dana Fairbanks, Anna Erickson, Claire Liu, Lucy Rhoten (5th)
200 Freestyle Relay – Anna Erickson, Sarah Li, Veronika Khudiakova, Bella Teply (2nd)
400 Freestyle Relay – Veronika Khudiakova, Dana Fairbanks, Lucy Rhoten, Bella Teply (2nd)

The team’s consistency, depth, and championship mindset were evident throughout the meet, as the Comets battled the state’s top programs event after event.

Securing runner-up honors for the third straight season underscores the strength of Mason’s girls program and its culture of excellence.

Congratulations to all state qualifiers on another extraordinary season representing Mason with pride!

(Photo compliments of Mason SID, Dan Hilen)

Mason Boys Swimming & Diving Earns Historic Third-Place Finish at State!

Clark Captures State Title! Sullivan Boys/Girls Coach of the Year!

The Mason Boys Swimming & Diving team delivered a historic performance at the OHSAA State Championships this past weekend in Canton, earning a third-place overall team finish — the highest in program history.

Leading the way was junior standout Liam Clark, who captured the Division I State Championship in the 200 Individual Medley, showcasing his versatility and dominance against Ohio’s best. Clark also contributed across multiple events, placing 7th in the 100 Breaststroke and helping power two relay teams to podium finishes.

The Comets displayed impressive depth and determination throughout the meet, highlighted by multiple podium appearances:

State Podium & Finalist Finishes:

200 IM – Liam Clark (1st), Austin Zhong (4th)
50 Freestyle – Aidan Jansen (4th)
100 Freestyle – Aidan Jansen (6th)
100 Breaststroke – Liam Clark (7th)
200 Medley Relay – Robbie Wall, Ethan Tu, Liam Clark, Noah Kirk (5th)
200 Freestyle Relay – Yassin Ghobril, Mulenga Cole, Aidan Jansen, Noah Kirk (4th)
400 Freestyle Relay – Aidan Jansen, Yassin Ghobril, Ethan Tu, Mulenga Cole (5th)
Diving – Juju Nkhuhmane (4th)
The third-place finish reflects the team’s relentless work ethic, senior leadership, and commitment to excellence. Competing in one of the deepest fields in the state, the Comets proved they belong among Ohio’s elite programs.

This milestone performance sets a new standard for Mason Boys Swimming & Diving and marks a defining moment in program history.

The Greater Miami Conference qualified an impressive number of swimmers and divers to the OHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships held in Canton, Ohio - February 24 through February 28th.

OHSAA Swimming and Diving Informational link: OHSAA Swimming and Diving Specifics

In the diving category: Oliver Erck (Sycamore), Christian Poh (Mason), Juju Nkhumane (Mason), Isabella Giraldo (Mason) and Corinne Hartman (Mason).

Complete List of Boys and Girls DI Divers competing: Comprehensvie List of Competing Divers

Complete of OHSAA State Swimming Qualifiers: OHSAA State Swim Qualifiers

Mason contingent: Boys - Liam Clark, Mulenga Cole, Yassin Ghobril, Aidan Jansen, Noah Kirk, Samyak Ramchandre, Ethan Tu, Max Vazquez, Robbie Wall, Jake Xu, Austin Zhong, Nick Moore, William Privett, Ethan Peyton, Dylan Fairbanks, Caleb Tan, Christian Poh, and Juju Nkhumane.

Mason contingent Girls: Nora Todd, Anna Erickson, Dana Fairbanks, Lucy Rhoten, Bella Teply, Veronika Kudiakova, Sarah Li, Alyssa Soehnlen, Elaine Peng, Adrianna DeVito, Claire Liu, Isabella Giraldo, and Corinne Hartmann.

GMC-at-large swimming qualfiers: Ella Witkowski (East), Michael Metz (Fairfield), Chloe Fox (Sycamore), Vivian Nu (Sycamore), Janna Spetz (West), Jett Sloan (Oak Hills), Natalie Fada (East), James Hossler (Hamilton), Braden Fuller (East), Peyton Lee (West), Nicholas Minch (West), Bailey Bacer (East), Carter Ott (East) and John Knapschaefer (Sycamore).

Many of the above listed athletes are competing in multiple events.

Best of luck!