Ohio
In-state Back/Fly Specialist Cooper Burt Verbally Commits to Ohio State (2025)
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Cooper Burt has verbally committed to swim and study at The Ohio State University beginning in the 2025-26 school year. He wrote on social media:
“I’m extremely excited to announce my verbal commitment to THE Ohio State University where I will continue my academic and athletic career. I would like to thank my family for all they have done to help me get to this point. I also want to thank my coaches Chris McKinney, and Alex Muni, for all they have done for me over the years. I have dreamed of this since I was little and can not thank Coach Wright, Coach Hulme, and Coach Dorenkott and the rest of the coaching staff enough for this amazing opportunity. GO BUCKS! 🅾️🌰”
Burt is from from Okeana, Ohio, near the Indiana border. He is wrapping up his junior year at Ross High School in Hamilton, Ohio, and he does his club swimming with the Miami University Makos in Oxford, Ohio, where he trains under head coach Chris McKinney. He is a U.S. Open qualifier in both the 100 back and 200 back.
Burt placed 3rd in the 100 back (49.16) and 4th in the 100 fly (49.65) at the 2024 OHSSA Division I Championships. He also led off both the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay, going best times in the 50 back (23.34) and 100 free (47.70). He was the first swimmer from Ross High School to make the Ohio State Division 1 state meet in an individual event; he has qualified for the meet and made the podium in each of his three prep seasons.
At 2023 Winter Juniors East, he earned lifetime bests in all three of his events (100/200 back and 100 fly). He also clocked a PB in the 200 free in time trials. In March, he went best times in the 100 free, 200 back, and 50/100/200 fly at the Tim Myers Senior Short Course Championships. A couple weeks later, he kicked off 2024 long course season at Indy Sectionals with PBs in the 50 free (25.94), 100 free (55.48), 50 back (27.39), 100 back (57.69), 200 back (2:04.90), 100 fly (57.20), and 200 fly (2:12.52).
Ohio State was always Burt’s number one choice – he has been going to OSU football games his entire life and his family are big OSU fans. His mother, Shawn Burt, is a former swimmer who graduated from The Ohio State University in 1998. She coaches middle school swimming at Ross.
Burt will join the Buckeyes in the fall of 2025. His best SCY times include:
- 100 back – 49.00
- 200 back – 1:47.00
- 100 fly – 49.64
- 200 fly – 1:52.92
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Ohio
Columbus schools closed Monday, Dec. 15 after snowfall, cold
Snow hits downtown Columbus
Snow falls outside the Ohio Theatre as downtown Columbus turns into a winter wonderland.
Columbus City Schools is closing Monday, Dec. 15, after a weekend winter storm dumped more than 5.4 inches of snow on the region and cold temperatures descended.
Following the weekend snowfall, a cold weather advisory was issued for the area, to remain in affect across central Ohio through 11 a.m. Dec. 15.
It was 4 degrees at John Glenn Columbus International Airport at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 14, with a wind chill of 16 degrees below zero.
Late on Dec. 14, CCS posted it would close Dec. 15 “due to inclement weather.” See more school closings at NBC 4 or check back with the Dispatch throughout the morning.
This list will be updated as additional information becomes available. School districts are encouraged to send an email with any delays or closures to newsroom@dispatch.com.
Ohio
Single-digit temps, below-zero wind chills hit central Ohio after snow
Snow hits downtown Columbus
Snow falls outside the Ohio Theatre as downtown Columbus turns into a winter wonderland.
Now comes the cold.
After nearly 5½ inches of snow fell Dec. 13 in some parts of central Ohio, the National Weather Service says bitterly cold temperatures moving into the region will mean highs in just the single digits.
A cold weather advisory is in affect across central Ohio through 11 a.m. Dec. 15. It was 4 degrees at John Glenn Columbus International Airport at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 14, with a wind chill of 16 degrees below zero.
Temperatures to the west and south are even colder: 1 degree in Springfield, minus-1 in Dayton and minus-3 in Indianapolis. Those temperatures are not expected in the Columbus area, though. The forecast calls for slightly warmer temperatures by evening and highs in the low 20s Dec. 15.
The record cold expected for Dec. 14 — until now, the coldest high temperature in Columbus for this date was 16 degrees in 1917 — follows a day of record snow. The weather service recorded 5.4 inches of snowfall on Dec. 13 at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, topping the prior Dec. 13 record, which was 3.6 inches in 1945.
Level 2 snow emergencies, which means roads are hazardous and people should drive only if they think it’s necessary, remained in effect in Fairfield and Licking counties.
Level 1 snow emergencies are in effect in Delaware, Franklin, Madison, Union and Pickaway counties.
Bob Vitale can be reached at rvitale@dispatch.com.
Ohio
Ohio State men’s basketball fights back in 89-88 double OT win over West Virginia
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ohio State’s game-winning play over West Virginia in the second overtime period Saturday night was simple: give the ball to Bruce Thornton and get out of his way.
The result was an 89-88 double overtime win in the Cleveland Hoops Showdown at Rocket Arena.
It took so much to get to this moment.
The Buckeyes did all they could in regulation to overcome a 14-point deficit, while awaiting their top player in Thornton to come through.
His teammates did the dirty work to keep them in the game. From their defense creating transition points, matching the Mountaineers’ physical brand of ball.
Once extra time came after the first 40 minutes expired, Thornton took care of the rest in the two overtime periods.
He delivered bucket after another.
None more important than the final one.
A tightly covered Thornton took it down to the top of the key before finding a mismatch and looking to take it to the hole. A defender cut off his path, however, forcing Thornton to operate elsewhere in the paint.
Thornton used his pivot foot wisely before finding an opening for a fadeaway jumper and knocking it down.
Twelve of his 21 points came in the overtime periods.
Ohio State fought to the end and earned a win over a hard-nosed Big 12 opponent.
Center Christoph Tilly did his best to limit the Mountaineers’ big men, while adding 14 points and 11 boards of his own.
Freshman big man Amare Bynum was a pivotal spark off the bench with 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
Point guard John Mobley Jr. finished with 17 points and delivered the 3-point shot in the final seconds of the second half to give them their first lead since the 9:00 mark of the first half.
This story will be updated.
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