BGSU gets revenge in Battle of I-75
Falcons beat Rockets for 1st time in 710 days
Story by Chas McNeil | Photos by Kyle Brown
BOWLING GREEN – Bowling Green vs. Toledo is a rivalry that flies under the radar in the sports world, but don’t be fooled; the teams get along as well as cats and dogs, Batman and the Joker and oil and vinegar.
What turns a rivalry into loathing is proximity and stakes, and the stakes could not have been higher at the Stroh Center in Bowling Green last night as the Falcons faced off against the Rockets.
In front of a screaming orange crowd that packed the stands, BGSU finally silenced UT 81-72, breaking their longtime losing streak, which they’ve been unable to do since March 4, 2023.
“When I first got here (Bowling Green), Toledo was the monster. I mean, they were just formidable,” said second-year head coach Fred Chmiel following the game.
“Tricia Cullop was just knocking it out year after year. They’re really good this year, but I told the players today it’s not about emotion but motion. You’ve gotta make feet move; you have to communicate; everything has to move forward. You can’t worry about the emotional piece.”
The game ultimately came down to “big-time” moments, and Bowling Green was able to answer the call early and often with the first evidence of that coming off a buzzer-beater three-point shot by fifth-year guard Lexi Fleming. The shot splashed through the net as time expired, giving BGSU a 25-14 lead.
Multiple Falcons showed up in one of the biggest games of their season, with fellow senior Amy Valasco scoring 30 points, which was just two points off her career high. Velasco became ninth all time on the BGSU scorers list with a layup that put BGSU up 20-12 in the first quarter.
Snapping their little winning streak is great! We went out there, we competed, but we’re focused on one game at a time and we’re trying to take our momentum with us and keep carrying it on.
BGSU senior Amy Valasco
Despite not coming out of enemy territory with a win, the Rockets have a lot to be excited about. The team produced 42 points from their bench, which towered against BGSU’s 10 bench points.
But where there is good there must also be bad, and there were plenty of negatives on both sides. The biggest, glaring flaw of the game was 18 UT turnovers compared to BGSU’s 12. UT opened the game with a turnover, and Bowling Green capitalized on many of the Rockets’ mistakes. The Falcons tallied 23 points from just turnovers.
“This was an incredible environment and everything I thought it would be,” Toledo’s first-year head coach Ginny Boggess said. “All the credit to BG and their staff. Porter and Velasco were playing like seniors that didn’t want to lose to Toledo at home the last time they got to play them.”
A big standout in the game for Toledo was graduate student guard Nan Garcia, who tallied a season high 18 points and eight field goals.
“I’ve only got five of these games left so I’m gonna give everything I have for this team, for this jersey and for Toledo. That’s what they deserve, and I’ve got to be better from the get go, not just the fourth quarter,” Garcia said.
Late in the game, Garcia did make her presence known, scoring a layup that led an eight-point run, setting BGSU fan’s hearts in their throats when UT got close at 69-66 with just over five minutes left in the game.
In the final moments of the game, it came back full circle to the rivalry and which team could be the loudest, so, with thousands of Falcons screeching at once, the Orange and Brown defense tightened, closing the contest with a nine-point gap.
Barring a MAC tournament matchup, both teams will have to wait nearly a full year to battle again, with BGSU holding the all-time lead since the series began in 1974 at 46-44.
“Man, what a game … Toledo’s a really good team. It was a dogfight back and forth,” Chmiel said.
“We took some big punches from them but we held tough, held the rope, and I think that’s the hardest we’ve ever played in terms of physical and mental toughness.”
BGSU stuns UT in last-second
Story by Max Alfonso | TFP Photos by Kyle Brown
TOLEDO – In a season loaded with injuries, Bowling Green pulled off an upset against Toledo behind a Javontae Campbell put-back layup in the final seconds to win 69-68 Friday night.
Bowling Green walked into Savage Arena 3-7 in their last 10 games not having won in Toledo since February 2021.
Before the game, Jon Rothstein, of CBS sports, announced Bowling Green starting guard Trey Thomas would miss the rest of the season with a broken leg, adding to a lengthy Bowling Green injury report with Sam Towns and Yousef Kahayat already out for the year.
“We practiced 3 on 3, with managers, coaches playing; it’s just a hard situation. Some guys are just games only,” he said.
Derrick Butler had 20 points for Bowling Green and played all 40 minutes. He moved into the starting lineup for Javontae Campbell, who is playing with a hand injury that has kept him out of practice since Jan. 6. They combined for 43 of Bowling Green’s 69 points.
“Derrick has been doing a great job for us, he’s given us a scoring punch off the bench,” BGSU head coach Todd Simon said. “We want to stagger some of these lineups, especially when you’re shorthanded, to make sure you have some scoring.”
Sam Lewis gave Toledo the lead with 15 seconds left when he went 1-2 from the free throw line to make it a 68-67 lead. Toledo only led for 5:02.
Simon called timeout with 15 seconds left and down 1. He drew up a play getting Campbell to the basket. He missed the layup; Wilguens Exacte missed a putback; Marcus Johnson missed a put-back; it was deflected to Exacte who passed to Campbell who made the layup to give Bowling Green the lead.
“I wanted to get a quick shot just so if I did miss, we could get the rebound,” Campbell said.
Simon wins his second game in the battle of I-75 and his first at Savage Arena in front of a crowd of 6,837.
“With the transfer portal and all the changes that happened, rivalries still matter,” Simon said. “At least it does in our community, and it does to our guys.”
Toledo has now lost 3 of 4 and falls to 9-5 in the MAC. This is the first time Toledo has lost at least five conference games since the 2019-20 season.
“Disappointing loss. I never thought we got our typical Toledo run. We never got that 10 nothing run,” Toledo Head Coach Tod Kowalcyk lamented.
Sonny Wilson had 13 points for Toledo, his third straight game under 15 points. Before that he had eight straight games with at least 15 points.
Toledo is back in action on Tuesday at Kent State. Last time they played each other, the Rockets lost 83-64. It was their largest defeat in conference play this season.
Bowling Green travels to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday for another must-win game. The Falcons currently sit 9th in the MAC. The top eight teams make the MAC tournament in Cleveland. Eastern Michigan is currently 8th.
Battle of I-75 roundup
On this episode of The Flyby, co-hosts and school rivals Chas McNeil and Max Alfonso dive deep into the longtime rivalry between the Falcons and Rockets in all sports, including stats, scores and predictions. They also recap last week’s sports news and update you on the play schedule for this upcoming week.
Both students are spring journalism interns at the Toledo Free Press.
New episodes of the The Flyby Sports Podcast drop every Saturday.
WHAT’S UP? Restaurant Week
Leadership Toledo’s Anna Toney touts 15th annual charity event
TOLEDO – It’s time for the 15th Annual Restaurant Week! As Toledo eateries prepare their specialty menus for a deluge of curious, thrifty and adventurous palates, customers are busy figuring out which of the 40 restaurants they want to sample.
Organized by Leadership Toledo, the week-long event, which begins Monday and ends March 2, benefits the program’s fundraising efforts for youth involvement in our city. To get a grasp of the growth of the event and its financial contribution to charity, the Toledo Free Press caught up with Anna Toney, executive director of Leadership Toledo, who gave us insight in the event’s overall contribution.
Ian Hubbard: What has been the impact of Restaurant Week since its inception?
For us, it’s one of our largest fundraisers to support our tuition-free youth programming. Since 2010, this fundraiser has raised over $1 million. Many restaurants tell us it’s one of their busiest weeks of the year. What began with a dozen restaurants has grown to over 40! I’ve been with the organization since 2012 and it’s been incredible to see how it has evolved. We’re excited for another fantastic week!
Is there a metric you use to trace the event’s impact? Is it feedback from the community?
We measure the impact primarily by the dollars raised. The feedback we receive from community members and local restaurants is incredibly heartwarming. It reinforces how much our community values coming together to support locally owned businesses.
Is Leadership Toledo primarily a youth program?
Youth Leadership Toledo is a nine-month experiential program that brings together nearly 60 high school sophomores from over 30 area high schools. The program is designed to inspire community involvement and help students recognize their vital role in shaping the future of our communities.
Do you have any personal favorite participating restaurants or dishes?
Hard to choose! Local Roots offers really fun and tropical dishes during the event. I’m excited to try some new partners this year, like Regalo and Bluewater Grille. I do a lot of coffee meetings, so all of the coffee shops will be high on my list!
What is a misconception locals should get over when dining at these establishments?
The colder months are often the slowest for the restaurant industry, so supporting them makes a big impact. We always say it’s a win-win-win – for the restaurants, for customers enjoying great deals and creative menus, and for Leadership Toledo. Additionally, it’s important to know that you can order off the Restaurant Week menu or the regular menu, and it still benefits the fundraiser.
Locally owned recommendations
If you want to spend a day during Restaurant Week playing the role of “townie,” here are a few selections to get you from breakfast to dinner:
Maddie & Bella: Start the day off right with a slice of in-house coffee cake and a Cup of Joe (or tea, if you prefer less of a jolt). I’m fairly basic when it comes to caffeine – a hot coffee with a touch of cream always does the trick. If you want to be fancy, try their homemade scone, smeared in jam, and a hot matcha latte.
Balance Pan-Asian Grille: If you’re looking to change it up, the Mongo and Korean BBQ tacos are light fare for your money. Ask for two of the red dipping sauces. The mix of savory between the proteins and spiral-cut vegetables and the heat of the sauce is a tip-top combination. Grab an order of their Eye of the Tiger butterfly tea. The sweetness of the passion fruit, pomegranate and lemonade mix will cleanse the palate.
Home Slice Pizza: If you don’t want to venture away from downtown and crave a classic combination, there’s this St. Clair staple. I’ve had many pies there, and they’ve always hit the spot. Restaurant Week will see Home Slice offer two for $25 combos (large pizza and appetizer/dessert), as well as a Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza and a Spicy Meatball Pizza to benefit the event.
Souk Mediterranean: You’ll have to stop home for a nap and change into your Saturday night attire before heading to Souk’s fine dining atmosphere. They’ll offer a three-course dinner (or a two-course lunch) in benefit of Leadership Toledo. In case that doesn’t fit your bill, I recommend the Roman Mussels to start, followed by either the Lamb Ragu or Garlic Roasted Duck Breast for your entrée.
For a full list of the participating restaurants and their specialty menus, go to restaurantweektoledo.com.
Toledo Golf Show opens in Sylvania Friday – Sunday
SYLVANIA – The Masters Tournament historically signals the start of the golf season, but for Toledo-area golfers, there is one more important sign that spring is not too far away — the Toledo Golf Show.
Every year, the Toledo Golf Show provides area golf fans a chance to purchase new clubs, apparel, and book golf trips to their favorite resorts at discounted pricing. In addition, golf experts will be on hand to answer questions and give tips to improve your game.
This year the show will kick off at 3 p.m. on Friday at the Tam-O-Shanter Sports & Exhibition Center in Sylvania.
Friday Events
To get the show started, John Ambrose, director of instruction at Hemlock Springs Golf Club, will speak about Pendulum Putting on the big stage at 4 p.m. At 5 p.m., Tony Walters, head teaching professional and Callaway professional club fitter, will talk about the benefits of proper club fitting.
Local golf professional Dan Sutton will offer tips to lower everyone’s score. And to round out the evening, the Girl Scout Cookie Eating Contest, sponsored by The Legacy, will begin at 7 p.m., with the doors to close at 8 p.m.
In addition, Tony Packo’s, Inside the Five and Treu House of Munch will be on hand with all their favorites, plus adult beverages can be purchased on the show floor.
Saturday Events
The fun continues on Saturday as the doors open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Zoom Broom’s Randy Kuckuck, professionals Janet Rychnovsky and Andrew Headman will give golf tips to help increase your enjoyment. At 2 p.m., former PGA Tour winner and Toledoan Pat Lindsey, the keynote speaker, and will regale golf fans with stories from the tour. Other local pros will take the stage to talk golf, and the day will close with the Nothing Bundt Cake Blindfolded Cake Tasting Contest.
Sunday Events
On Sunday, Rychnovsky, Dale Perne, Ambrose and Sutton will offer more golf tips from the stage. At 3 p.m., Tony Packo’s will host their popular Pickle Eating Contest.
Every year, Andrew Brown, owner of the Toledo Golf Show, awards a check to a local charity from proceeds of the event. That will take place at 3:30 p.m. just before the doors close at 4 p.m.
Word to the wise: get there early for the best prices and widest selection of equipment and apparel. Get a jump on your buddies this year. Look good and play better, but remember — the early bird gets the best deals.
Tickets are available at the entrance for $7, but patrons can save $1 by purchasing from one of eight area locations, or online at ToledoGolfShow.com. Children under the age of 12 and parking are free.
Guide to live local comedy
Local venues give comedians chance to work on their craft
TOLEDO – Emily Garrow does not have fond memories of her first time on stage.
She was there hoping to be funny. Tell a few jokes. Make the audience laugh. It was Garrow’s inaugural moment to either sink or swim as a budding comedian.
“Funny people should just be left to be funny.”
Late comedian Patrice O’Neal
“It was open mic [night] at the Ottawa Tavern on Adams St.,” Garrow recalled. “It was kind of open to anyone who walked in and signed up. I had watched a few times and got brave enough to go up on stage.
“My first time was pretty terrible. My jokes were just not all there yet and the microphone went out and not everyone could hear me. I didn’t get very many laughs and I went home and cried.”
That was three years ago, and though the Ottawa Tavern permanently closed in December, Garrow continued with comedy – and now her prowess as a comedian has done a 180.
Comedian Dave Crumbley persuaded Garrow to take her shot on stage that night at the Ottawa Tavern. Crumbley is the executive producer and talent coordinator for Crumbley Comedy, which promotes shows at small venues around Toledo.
Garrow is one of 90 comedians Crumbley Comedy promotes locally.
“Emily is an incredible joke writer,” Crumbley said. “With Emily everything is earned and honest. A brilliant joke writer. No mess on it. It’s spotless.”
Crumbley wasn’t a class clown growing up. He had a “terrible” stutter until age 10 or 11 and said he was fascinated with anyone who could speak confidently to an audience. He loved pro wrestling and enjoyed listening to entertainers like Howard Stern, people who could confidently communicate to a mass audience.
“Stand-up is hard in general,” Crumbley, 39, said. “It takes years to get really good. A good stand-up comedian communicates effectively with confidence and knows exactly where the line is every night.”
As of 2024, there were an estimated 1,072 comedy clubs in the United States. Levis Commons in Perrysburg is the site of one national brand, The Funny Bone (formerly Fat Fish Blue) and regularly brings in national acts, such as DL Hughley.
“They are the big dog,” Crumbley said. “They have stars over there. They are very intelligent business people.”
Other comedy venues
Garrow and her fellow local comedians perform at smaller, non-traditional venues around Toledo, such as Home Slice Pizza, Chevy’s Place, Jake’s Saloon, Bent Custom Neon, Toledo Tech Loft, Great Black Swamp Brewing and Earnest Brew Works, which has locations in downtown Toledo, Westgate, and south Toledo.
Most of the shows are free.
- Free shows are held Sundays at Home Slice Pizza – it recently increased capacity by 20 by expanding to the heated and enclosed patio for their shows
- Tuesdays at Chevy’s Place
- Thursdays at Jake’s Saloon
- Crumbley said they also sell ticketed shows with headliners at Bent Custom Neon and Toledo Tech Loft.
As many as 200-300 people attend some of these events on any given week, Crumbley noted, but most of the establishments seat around 50 people per show.
Crumbley serves as host – he estimates he’s hosted 1,200 shows over the last several years – and does about five minutes of stand-up before introducing each comedian on stage.
“As a host, all I care about is the show being good,” he said. “We will send 15 comedians on stage at the free shows, doing five-minute sets. We’ve had comedians who are regulars at Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, like Brad Wenzel, who was on Conan O’Brien’s show three times.
“Getting professional comedians to come out to open mics, they set the tone for our local crew. They learn from these people who are super accomplished,” he said.
Besides Garrow, some other regular local comedians include Miss DivaNae, Tha Grizz, Van Morgan and Casey Heller.
Garrow, 34, a native of Temperance, Mich., works as a dental receptionist and said she really started to “hone in” on her stand-up routine early last year. She teams up with Crumbley for about four to six shows a month.
“I’m pretty awkward in real life and I have terrible anxiety,” Garrow admitted.
“I appreciate Dave for pushing me. He wouldn’t put me on a booked show until I could show up on stage without a notebook. Shout out to Dave for taking up the comedy scene locally and giving comedians an opportunity to practice and get good,” said Garrow.
For more information on local comedy shows, visit crumbleycomedy.com.
Girl Power inspires STEM involvement
TOLEDO – Striving to inspire future female innovators, Imagination Station is hosting Girl Power on Saturday in an effort to inspire more girls to embrace STEM.
While nearly half of the U.S. workforce consists of women, women make up only 27 percent of the STEM [science, technology, engineering, math] field, according to the United States Census Bureau.
Girl Power, an annual event, is an attempt to change those statistics by teaching young girls more about science and encouraging them to pursue a career in STEM.
One way Imagination Station hopes to foster this is through an inspiring speech from keynote speaker Stephanie Finoti.
Finoti, 2024’s Miss Ohio in the Miss America program, has a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science and is working towards becoming a pediatrician.
“I really hope to show these young girls that you can truly embrace your femininity and also be intelligent and a leader,” she said.
Finoti said she hopes exposing young women to STEM will encourage them to “bridge the gap in STEM in the future.”
Sloan Eberly Mann, chief education officer at Imagination Station, said Finoti challenges the traditional stereotypes.
“She has a very broad range of interests, and I think she shows that you can be girly and love makeup and dresses and all the things that are emblematic of being Miss Ohio, and then you can still pursue these really serious, rigorous science courses and be successful in that, as well,” Mann said.
In addition to the speech, there are working women professionals on hand, workshops and hands-on activities to enhance learning.
“Being able to show them these hands-on activities gives them a glimpse of what a day in the life of this career looks like. And it gets them more interested in the actual subject itself,” said Finoti.
Another way the event strives to encourage female interest in STEM is by encouraging younger girls to get involved, piquing their interest in STEM early on.
“The vast majority of children, young girls, who demonstrate an interest in the sciences will lose that interest in middle school,” said Mann.
“We’ve actually heard back from parents and kids (who said) it set them on the track to pursue the sciences in college. It’s just an exciting, fun day that reinforces our mission that science should be accessible to everyone,” Mann said.
“I hope that students can take away not only a love for STEM and the arts, but to also feel empowered and motivated, and that they can truly become anything they set their mind to doing,” said Finoti.
More information about Girl Power can be found on Imagination Station’s website.
More information about Girl Power can be found on Imagination Station’s website.
The Girl Power event is on Saturday, March 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
