City League Sports

Africentric and University of Cincinnati legendary track and field athlete Antione Drakeford tells us how he went from never running track until his senior year in high school, to earning a Division I scholarship and breaking records. Sean Williams leads the conversation. Photo credit: The University of Cincinnati

The Whetstone Boys Soccer team join the show. They discuss their historic year, including winning their first district title in school history. Class of 2026 All-District players Jules Higgins and Reid Fischer as well as All Ohio Coach of the year for Division II Noah Creagh join the studio with host Sean Williams.

Bowlers Makayla Davis, Eastmoor Academy class of 2028, and Sydney McMullen, CAHS/Whetstone class of 2026 - both nominated as Central Ohio's regular-season girls bowler of the year join the show with Isabella Davidson, South class of 2026. South Head Coach George Yates II also makes a special appearance representing his team - the 2026 COHSBC Conference Champions and The Columbus City League Champions for 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

The 2026 "Triple Crown" City League Champ (100, 200, 400 meters) Nehemiah Mills joins the show with track teammate and All-State hooper Reuben Russell-Holmes, along with head coach Christine Douglas, who lead the team to its first City League Title is school history in 2025 as well as a City League runner up in 2026.

For our 100th episode, we bring in our first soccer Alum. Chantel Spencer, formerly Chantel (Tellie) Grooms, tells us her journey from being the only female soccer player on her high school team at Brookhaven and earning All-City Honors, to being highly recruited and playing in college. Fort Hayes videography teacher Sean Williams leads the conversation.

A fantastic show with The Beechcroft Girls Track Team. Celeste Hutchinson (Division I Commit/Akron) Brittany Douglas (Back-To-Back Indoor 60M Hurdle Championships) And Sha’mya Dukes (District 100 Champ/First Team All-City In Basketball) talk about the legacy they are creating. Fort Hayes videography teacher Sean Williams leads the conversation.

Brookhaven Legends Coach Reggie Lee and Britt Hunter sit down for a conversation with Sean Williams. They talk everything basketball, including their legendary Brookhaven accomplishments, as well as the lessons learned in college and beyond. Photo Credits: Kyle Robertson/The Columbus Dispatch & Adam Cairns/ThisWeek

3 All-City hoopers, Daeshawn Fiore, East class of 2026, Emmanuel Towns, Linden-McKinley class of 2026, and Myles Jarrett, Mifflin class of 2027 join the show. They talk about everything from their high school careers, to AAU, to their opinions on the current state of the NBA. Fort Hayes videography teacher Sean Williams leads the conversation.

Jene Davis talks about his legendary run between 1975 and 1978 as the Linden-McKinley boys basketball coach winning 2 City League Titles, 4 Sectional, 4 District, 3 Regional, and 2 State AAA Championships, going 82-18 during that time. He also tells us his stories assisting the legendary coach Bob Knight at Indiana University, as well as the 1979 Pan American Team, and The 1984 Olympic Team. Fort Hayes videography teacher Sean Williams leads the conversation. Photo Credit: The Columbus Dispatch.

South Boys Basketball Head Coach Ramon Spears talks about his love for basketball at South, including the ups and downs over the years. Current All-City Players Neko Tuff, class of 2027, and Gavin Griffin, class of 2026 join the show. Todd Clayborn leads the conversation.

Marion-Franklin Alum John Williamson shares his story, including his dominant days playing basketball in The Big East Conference at The University of Cincinnati, being named Team MVP and Team Captain. Fort Hayes videography teacher Sean Williams leads the conversation. Photo Credit: The University of Cincinnati.

The Columbus International High School Girls Basketball Team went from being a team who barely won any games a few years ago, to being one of the best teams in The City League two years in a row. Leila Carter, class of 2026, Marley Benson, class of 2028, and Coach LeAnthony Jones helped turn their program around and make history.

Second Team All Big Ten selection Alexa Hart joins the show. She tells us her stories as a member of The Ohio State University Womens Basketball Team. She also talks about her time at Africentric. It was a great show with the 2014 Associated Press Division III Co-Player of the Year. Photo Credit: The Ohio State University.

The Whetstone Girls Soccer Team reflects on all the City League Championships they won over the years. Natalie Lundine, class of 2027, Maggie Oliphint, class of 2027 and Coach Bailey Waitkus join the show.

The Linden-McKinley Cheerleading team joins the show. Co-captains Cherlro Harris, class of 2026, and Marlesha Copeland, Fort Hayes class of 2027, talk about the love they have for their peers and their school. Head Coach Jenice Crutcher also expresses her love for the Linden community. CCS Manager of School Communications Rachel Cory fills in as a guest host for Dr. Clarno.

Class of 2026 athletes Darion Matlock, Ta'john Royster, and Daequan Lindsey talk about their time playing football for Mike Bell and the elite East High Tigers.

Keith Dimmy and Justin Valentine played in different eras, but they share a special bond. Both played football at The University of Minnesota, and both played football at Eastmoor. They share some of their stories with us. Photo Credit: The University of Minnesota.

Football legend Marvin Bohanan remembers his days coaching all the great players during his time at Independence and Eastmoor. His former players Savon Edwards, and Sam Gresham surprise him during the interview.

West High School track and field legend Jimmy Glasco talks about not letting his small size stop him from becoming a champion. He also talks about all the great athletes he's been able to coach over the years. Unknown Photo Credit.

The back-to-back defending Girls Track And Field Champs, Whetstone joins the show. Catherine Pierce, Metro Early College class of 2025, and Katinka Moritz, CAHS class of 2025, talk about the reason for their success, and their determination to continue their success as seniors, as well as passing the torch to their younger teammates after they graduate. Head Coach Matthew Agee also joins the conversation.

Camron Turner tells us about her legendary Eastmoor Academy Girls Track and Field Team that won back-to-back City, District, Regional, and State Championships in 2004 and 2005. She went on to break records in college at The University of Cincinnati. Photo Credit: The University of Cincinnati.

Walnut Ridge and Kent State Alum VonCameron Davis tells us about his historic high school career where he won First Team All-Ohio honors, was the 2020 All-Ohio Mr. Basketball, a 4x first-team All-City selection, and The Gatorade Player of the Year after finishing his career with 2,201 points. He also talks about finishing his Kent State career as the all-time program leader in games played with 142 total appearances.Photo Credit: Kent State University

Former Ohio State Women's Basketball Player and 4-Star High School Recruit Raven Ferguson shares her story on her love, and sometimes pain, for the game of basketball and how she overcame hearing "no" so that she could prove all of her doubters wrong.Photo Credit: The Ohio State University

Our very first cheerleading episode features South High School Team Captains Nevaeh Feggins (Fort Hayes) and Makya McMutary. The seniors tell us the discipline and hard work most people don't know about that goes into their sport. Head Coach Taelor Shepherd talks about the impact she wants to leave on her kids, the same way her coach left an impact on her life. Show Producer Storytellin Jordan fills in as a guest host for Dr. Clarno.

First Team All City Athletes John Glover, South Class of 2025, Noah Knostman, Whetstone Class of 2025, and Joshua Smith, Africentric Class of 2026, speak to Dr. Clarno about their success on the basketball court.

Back-to-back-to-back (3 Peat) City League Champions Marion-Franklin Wrestling joins the show. Taliq Black, Class of 2025, Aaris Billingsley, Class of 2025, and Coach Floyd Cisco talk about continuing the winning tradition.

City League legend Tomeka Brown joins the show. She shouts out some of her former coaches and teammates, and she talks about her playing days at Medina Middle School, Marion-Franklin High School, The Ohio State University and The WNBA. She also shares some of her favorite stories while playing the game of basketball. Photo Credit: The Ohio State University.

The Centennial Stars Boys Basketball Team talk about their historic season, finishing with the best record in school history with a record of 17-5. They discuss their early struggles, the hard work they put in, and the fruit they produced throughout their journey. Keon Bonner, Kal-el Faison, and Shawn Williams Jr. join the show.

Girls basketball stars Kennedy Houston, Centennial class of 2027, and Kaliyah Barron, East Class Of 2025, tell us why they love the game of basketball so much and how long they have been playing. They tell us about some of their future goals, and they shout out some of the people in their lives that they appreciate.

One of the greatest players in City League history, Lamont "Big Game" Barnes joins the show. He talks about all his favorite moments during his time at Briggs and Eastmoor, and he shouts out some of his teammates who helped him become the player he was. Photo Credit: The Columbus Dispatch

The Walnut Ridge Football team tells us how hard work and discipline contributed to a 10-1 season, and a City League South Championship. Marquis Lucas, class of 2026, Dom Carter, class of 2025 and first year Head Coach Rob Wheelwright join the show.

The Linden-McKinley Football Team tells us how they turned a team around that went 0-10 last season, to winning the City League North this year with a 7-4 record. They talk about all the work they need to continue to do to change the culture of their school.

Independence alum Shawn Harper tells us how he went from being voted most likely to fail, to making his way to college and The NFL. Today Shawn is a leader in the business world, and he travels as a motivational speaker. Photo Credit: The Indianapolis Colts. www.shawnharperwins.com linktr.ee/shawnharperspeaker IG: @shawnharperspeaker FB Page: @shawnharperspeaks Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnharper75/

The Africentric Volleyball team joins the show. Head Coach My’Tia Turner, Sameyah Thomas, class of 2025, and Saniya Word, class of 2026, talk about the success they have had as a program, as well as the journey they took to becoming a high level volleyball team.

Dionte’ Johnson, the son of Buckeye standout Pepper Johnson, joins the show. He tells us what it was like being a captain fullback at Ohio State, who helped his team win 3 Big Ten championships as well as a national championship appearance in 2008. He also tells us the lessons he learned from Jim Tressel, and all of his highlights as a multi-sport athlete at Eastmoor Academy.   Photo Credit: The Columbus Dispatch.

The Northland Football team joins the show. Team Leaders Tyreek Lewis, and Malakai Hammond, both from the class of 2025, and Coach Ryan Sayers talk about turning the program around and overcoming adversity. Last year The Vikings had a record breaking year, going 9-1 while winning back-to-back conference championships.

Anthony Gwinn shares with us his favorite City League memories playing with and against some of the best athletes in City League history while at Brookhaven. He also shares some of his favorite moments playing in The Big Ten with some of his high school teammates at Ohio State. Photo Credit: The Columbus Dispatch.

West High Alum Bill Peterman tells us how he went from being a kid who didn't run track until he was in the 10th grade, to becoming the first City League athlete to ever win the triple crown (100, 200, 400-meter dashes) his senior year. He also shares with us what it was like playing college football and running track at The Ohio State University. Photo Credit: The Columbus Dispatch.

The Mifflin Softball Team shares with us the great season they had as one of the better teams in the City League this year. They started their season off 6-0 and got a key win against Centennial, a team they have not beaten in a very long time. They also competed well against the City Champs Whetstone, losing only 5-2 (Mifflin lead 2-0 in the 4th inning.) It's a fun conversation with Coach Mike Marshall, and class of 2024 graduates Paris Fowler, and Eve Greenwood (Fort Hayes).

The 2024 City League Baseball Champs Centennial joins the show. William Putnam and Owen Wolfenberger, both from the class of 2024, tell us what it was like coming in as freshmen and having struggles as a team throughout the years, to becoming the elite team they became as seniors. Coach Patrick Nance tells us about his time playing and coaching in the City League and what it's like to achieve success as a team.

The South Girls Track And Field Team join the show. Elise Robinson, class of 2025, talks about her role as the leader of the team and how that has challenged her to make herself and her team better. A'Ziya Smith, class of 2026, tells us just how much she appreciates her head coach Charlette, and her leader Elise, and how they have helped her improve. Coach Charlette Keuchler tells us just how much she loves seeing her athletes grow.

East High Tiger alum Asa Burke tells us how he went from having below a 2.0 gpa and being ineligible to play sports, to being the class valedictorian at his high school graduation. He tells us everything that he went through in his journey that contributed to him having major success running track in high school and in college at The Ohio State University, and The University of Miami. Photo Credit: The Ohio State University.

Track and Field legend Ayrizanna Favours shouts out her high school coaches, teammates and family members who made her high school track and field accomplishments special, including winning the 400 m four years straight in the State Championship. She also discusses her time at Ohio State, and everything that made running track in college special.

The Independence Track and Field team tell us about all the work they put in when they won The Columbus City League Title, as well as placing 3rd place in a race at the State Track Meet in 2023. They tell us the work they need to do this year so that they can win again. Coach Douglas also shares some of his story as a former Division I football player.

First Team All City guard Jahmere Johnson and Head Coach Isaac Jefferson talk about all the work their team is putting in to bring back the winning tradition that the West High School Basketball Program once had. They tell us what it's going to take to restore order to the West Side of Columbus. Coach Jefferson also shares his high school and college experiences.

Western Michigan basketball alum Marley HiIl talks about all the fun she's had over the years, and how the game of basketball has helped her travel around the world. She shares with us the unusual way the game of basketball was introduced to her. She also tells us how she was connected to the right people during her childhood years, and how those relationships impacted her future. Photo Credit: Western Michigan University/Ashley Huss.

Benji Burke joins the show. He tells Dr. Clarno all the players from Walnut Ridge, South, and Brookhaven that he enjoyed competing against. He also talks about the Eastmoor teammates he appreciated the most, and what they brought to the table during their back to back City League Championship appearances. And of course he talked about what it was like raising high level athletes in his household: Trey Burke and Amani Burke. Photo courtesy of Ronda Crawford-Burke/unknown photographer.

Briggs alum Tony Rice joins the show. He relives some of his favorite City League days as a player, including helping lead Briggs to its only state semifinals appearance, and remembering the City League players he enjoyed competing against. In this episode, Rice goes on record naming his top 5 City League Players from the past 30 years. He also tells us how he ended up playing Division I college basketball and breaking records at Wagner College. Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com.

3 All City Wrestlers join the show. Kevin Green, Walnut Ridge class of 2025, Daryl Willis, South class of 2025, and Jermiah Jones, Marion Franklin class of 2024, tell us how wrestling has helped their confidence, and how it has helped them improve in other sports. They also tell us how much fun they've had over the years, including the times each of them won City League Championships as wrestlers.

Independence alum Eleia Roddy joins the show. She reminisces on what it was like playing on the same team with 2 other high level division 1 athletes in Star Allen and Jessica Davenport in high school. She also tells some of her favorite memories playing in the historic SEC at The University of Kentucky, giving advice to the kids today who want to follow in her footsteps. Photo Credit: The University Of Kentucky