How to nominate for the Columbus Dispatch’s Athletes of the Week
Here’s how to nominate students for the Columbus Dispatch’s athletes of the week ballots for the 2023-2024 school year.
After a successful four-year stint as Marysville girls basketball coach, Klarke Ransome is looking for similar success in the same role at OCC-Cardinal rival Olentangy.
Pending school board approval, Ransome will succeed Jamie Edwards, who stepped down after two seasons with the Braves.
“As (an adapted physical education) teacher in the district, I am grateful for the opportunity,” Ransome said. “I look forward to continuing to build on the success and history they have had in years past.”
Ransome left his mark on the Marysville program, guiding the Monarchs to a Division I district title and regional runner-up finish in 2023. Marysville also earned three OCC championships and three district runner-up finishes, and Ransome was named OCC-Cardinal Coach of the Year three times.
“I have nothing but great things to say about Klarke and what he did to elevate our girls basketball program, and not just at the high school level,” Marysville athletic director Joey Day said. “There was a lot of effort to establish a strong youth feeder program and really elevate that. He put a lot of effort in that.”
This past season, Marysville lost to Watterson 56-49 in overtime in a district final to finish 22-4.
“Marysville is a great community where we have been able to build the girls basketball program and earn a level of respect by playing the game the right way,” Ransome said. “(It was) a great group of girls who have done things the right way and changed the history of Marysville girls basketball. I’m forever thankful and grateful.”
Edwards guided Olentangy (24-2, 10-0 OCC-Cardinal) to Division I district and league titles this past season as two first-team all-state and all-district players, sophomore Whitney Stafford and freshman Sydney Mobley, led the way. The Braves lost to Watterson 47-44 in a regional semifinal.
Edwards, a sixth-grade math teacher at Olentangy Shanahan Middle School, plans to focus on teaching and watching his twin daughters, Kambry and Karsyn, play college basketball at Lourdes.