ARSS | Charlestown Pirate Pride

Category Archives: ARSS

A Fresh Beginning: Anthony Fresh Commits to Miami of Ohio

January 8, 2026 Pirate Network ARSS, Boys Basketball

Recently, Charlestown senior Anthony Fresh was joined by teammates, coaches, family, and friends as he signed his letter of intent to attend school and play basketball at Miami University (OH) this fall.

Founded in 1809, it is the second-oldest university in Ohio and the tenth-oldest public university in the United States. It is named for its location near the Miami Valley, in turn named after the Myaamia people. Miami is about 30 minutes northwest of Cincinnati. The university enrolls over 18,000 students in Oxford and also has regional campuses in nearby Hamilton, Middletown, and West Chester. Miami also operates the international Dolibois European Center in Differdange, Luxembourg. The university offers more than 100 majors, 48 minors, and 11 co-majors with the most popular majors being finance, marketing, psychology, computer science, and biology.

Miami is a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and sponsors teams in nine men’s and ten women’s NCAA sanctioned sports at the Division I level. The RedHawks men’s basketball team has made 17 appearances in the NCAA tournament and they have eight former players who have gone on to play in the NBA. They are currently 16-0 and just broke the record for the longest home win streak in program history with 24 wins. There is extensive information on the program that you can dive further into at https://miamiredhawks.com/sports/mens-basketball

When asked about his choice to play for the RedHawks, Fresh said, “The reason I chose Miami is because of my visit there. It felt like home, and I loved the campus. Coach Steele showed how hard of a coach he was in practice and didn’t try to sweet talk anything. He told me nothing but the truth, and that’s a coach I need to make it professionally after college. The assistant coaches were the same way. Hanging out with them at the football game and eating with them made me see that outside of basketball, they are amazing people. The players did the same thing. When I asked the players questions, they told me how it was in their eyes. They didn’t try to sugarcoat anything. All of these factors played a big role in why I chose Miami. I can see myself getting better there; academically, athletically, and most importantly as a person. ”

Charlestown basketball coach Matt Lynch has coached Fresh for 2 years now. He has guided and allowed Fresh to be a key player on the team for these last couple years. This is what he had to say about Fresh: “We are beyond excited for Anthony Fresh. He has worked hard to give himself this opportunity to play at the Division I level. He immediately fell in love with Miami on his official visit and knew it was the right place for him to further his basketball career after high school. We cannot wait to see Fresh play at the collegiate level, but first we have unfinished business here at Charlestown.”

Article contributed by WPMQ, The Pirate Network.

FALL SPORTS 2025 ALUMNI ALERT!

January 7, 2026 Pirate Network ARSS

While we are on a bit of a break from high school sports for the holidays, we want to take the time to provide you with a recap of our Pirate Alumni who participated in intercollegiate athletics this past fall.

Below each athlete’s picture you can read their recap (provided by what stats and news were available through their school’s website). Please understand that some colleges and universities do a better job of providing stats/results and quality pictures than others, and we did our best to highlight our alumni with what resources were available.

Ava Benner – Midway University Volleyball

In her freshman campaign, Ava Benner posted 54 kills, 37 digs, 31 service points, and nine blocks for the Eagles.

Chase Benner – Georgetown College Football

Chase Benner wrapped up a four-year career with the Tigers as a tight end, contributing to Mid-South Conference championship teams in both 2023 and 2024 that earned NCAA postseason appearances. Georgetown made a strong run in the 2024 NAIA Football Championship, highlighted by a 27–21 second-round upset of No. 5 St. Thomas (Fla.) before falling to No. 1 Keiser (Fla.) in the quarterfinals. The Tigers finished this season 7–3 overall and 4–2 in conference play. Benner was also recognized for his academic achievements as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Blake Fraley – Indiana University Ultimate Frisbee

Blake is a member of the Indiana University Ultimate Frisbee team who completed the fall season with an 8-9 record. Fraley recorded six goals, one assist, and ten defended passes for the Hoosiers.

Ethan French – Hanover College Football

Ethan French finished up his sophomore campaign with six catches for 50 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers. Hanover posted a 9–3 overall record and went a perfect 6–0 in conference play to secure the outright HCAC championship. The Panthers reached the NCAA Division III playoffs, highlighted by the program’s first home playoff win over Grove City College, before falling to No. 1 overall North Central College in the second round.

Kaylee Kinser – Hanover College Cross Country

The Hanover sophomore turned in a personal-best 6K time of 22:56.79, finishing fourth at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship. Her performance now stands tenth on the Hanover College women’s cross country all-time Top 20 list. Kinser was also named to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference All Academic Team as well as the NCAA All Region Team where she missed the National Championship cut by just one place.

Clay McClelland – Knox College Football

Clay McClelland finished his sophomore season with 717 all purpose yards and six touchdowns for the Knox College Prairie Fire.

Jackie McCoy – Taylor University Cross Country

Jackie McCoy finished her junior season at Taylor University off strong with a 23:52 season record 6k, placing 62nd at the Crossroads League Championships. Jackie ran at a total of 5 meets this season for the Trojans after battling through some injuries.

Jessie McCoy – Taylor University Cross Country

Jessie McCoy is also coming off an injury yet finished her junior season at Taylor University off solid with a 24:32 season record 6k, placing 82nd at the Crossroads League Championships.

Austin Pickerell – Georgetown College Soccer

Austin Pickerell finished his sophomore season as a defender with the 2-10-1 Tigers where he started all thirteen games.

Jared Taylor – Mount St. Joseph University Soccer

Jared Taylor finished his freshman season where he played in five games for the 6-10-3 Lions.

Maci Vaughn – Indiana University Southeast Tennis

Maci Vaughn is currently in her junior year at IU Southeast, where she competes in both singles and doubles for the Grenadiers, who remain among the top teams in the River States Conference. While IU Southeast does not publish individual statistics, Vaughn has established herself as one of the team’s leading performers.

Bradley Watts – Georgetown College Soccer

Bradley Watts continued his soccer career at Georgetown College; however, an injury sidelined him for the season.

Alex Wright – Hanover College Golf

Alex Wright wrapped up his fall season at Hanover by competing in four tournaments across nine rounds. He totaled 10.6 points and recorded an 18-hole scoring average of 81.8. His top performance came at the Transylvania Fall Individual at the Wildcat Course, where he tied for 14th out of 30 golfers with a 22-over-par score, matching his best finish of the season. Wright will continue his season in the spring while preparing for the National Championships in early May.

Article and graphics contributed by the students in the Digital Sports Production class at Charlestown High School for WPMQ, The Pirate Network.

Rotondo Signs, Sets Sights on Berea

December 27, 2025 Pirate Network ARSS, Girls Soccer

Recently, Charlestown High School’s Lady Pirate Soccer senior Leanna Rotondo was joined by family and friends to sign a celebratory letter of intent to attend school and play soccer at Berea College.

Conveniently located just forty-five minutes south of Lexington, KY, Berea College is nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The 400-acre campus features rolling hills, wooded areas, and open green spaces, providing a scenic and close-knit college environment in south-central Kentucky.

Berea College offers more than 30 undergraduate degree programs across the arts, sciences, and professional studies, all grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation. Academic programs are organized into areas such as Arts and Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Education, Business, Health and Human Performance, Sustainability and Environmental Studies, and Technology and Applied Design.

Berea competes at the NCAA Division III level as a member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference with other schools like Hanover and Franklin Colleges. The Mountaineers sponsor a variety of men’s and women’s varsity sports, including basketball, cross country, soccer, volleyball, track and field, baseball, softball, and tennis.

Coming off a season with the most wins since 2018 and the second most in program history, the Mountaineers soccer program enters next season poised to continue its success.

Rotondo will major in business with a minor in digital media. When asked about her choice to attend school there and play soccer, she replied “I chose Berea because as soon as I stepped on campus, my parents and I felt like it was home. It is a perfect fit for myself and my future athletically and academically. The coaching staff and my parents were super helpful and supportive of my recruiting journey and that connection influenced my decision to attend Berea next fall. The team is everything I could ask for and more, and the girls made me feel like family on my first visit. I am blessed for the people that have helped me along the recruiting journey and I am excited for my future as a Lady Mountaineer.”

WPMQ, The Pirate Network congratulates Leanna and wishes her a healthy and prosperous future as a Berea College Lady Mountaineer.

Charlestown’s Lex Rose to Continue Baseball Career at IU Columbus

November 19, 2025 Pirate Network ARSS, Baseball

Charlestown baseball’s Lex Rose was joined by family, coaches, friends, and teammates last week to witness and him signing his celebratory letter of intent to attend school and play baseball at Indiana University-Columbus next fall. Pictured is Rose with his parents Tim and Emilee Rose, CHS Assistant Coach Matt French, CHS Baseball Head Coach Brian Hester, and CHS Assistant Coach Collin Rauck.

IUC is surrounded by the architectural beauty of Columbus, Indiana on a fifteen acre campus. The school of just over a thousand embraces collaborative ways of thinking that attract exceptional students and faculty for ten Bachelor’s Degree programs and three Master’s Degree programs.

The Indiana University – Columbus (IUPUC, known as the Crimson Pride, competes in four intercollegiate varsity sports in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily as a member of the River States Conference (RSC) as of this school year. Men’s sports include baseball, cross country, and soccer; while women’s sports include cross country, soccer, softball, and volleyball.

When asked about his choice to attend school and play baseball at IUC, Rose told WPMQ, “I chose IU Columbus because it’s the perfect fit for me academically and athletically. It felt like a place where I can truly succeed, and the coaching staff showed real confidence in my potential. I want to thank God, my family, and all my past coaches for pushing me and helping grow along the way. I’m excited to grow, compete, and represent IU Columbus, and I can’t wait to make the most of what’s ahead.”

Lex came to CHS during his Junior year and earned team MVP. He hit .390. In twenty-five games he had thirty hits, nine doubles, three triples, and twenty-eight runs scored. On the mound,he was 4-1 with a 2.154 ERA.

Charlestown baseball head coach Brian Hester shared this: “We are so proud of Lex Rose for his commitment to continue his baseball career at Indiana University Columbus! Lex has been a leader on and off the field, setting the standard for what it means to be part of our program. Excited to watch him continue to grow and succeed at the next level. Congratulations to Lex and his family.”

WPMQ, The Pirate Network congratulates Lex and wishes him a healthy and prosperous future at Indiana University-Columbus.

Photo contributed by WPMQ, The Pirate Network staff member Boomer Hester.

Pirate Baseball’s Andrew Varble Signs with IU-Columbus

November 17, 2025 Pirate Network ARSS, Baseball

Recently, Charlestown baseball’s Andrew Varble was joined by family, coaches, friends, and teammates to witness and him signing his celebratory letter of intent to attend school and play baseball at Indiana University-Columbus next fall. Pictured is Varble with his parents David and Stephanie Varble, CHS Assistant Coach Matt French, CHS Baseball Head Coach Brian Hester, and CHS Assistant Coach Collin Rauck.

Varble told WPMQ when asked about his choice to attend school, major in nursing, and play baseball there, “I chose IU Columbus because I know it’s a place that will help shape my future both academically and athletically. The confidence the coaching staff has in me meant a lot, and the support from my family made the choice even clearer. I really connected with the campus and the coaches made it feel like a program where I can grow and be challenged. I’m grateful for everyone who has been a part of my journey so far, and I believe IU Columbus will give me that same family atmosphere. I’m excited for what’s ahead and ready to make my loved ones proud. ”

Charlestown baseball head coach Brian Hester shared his sentiments on Varble’s decision and said, “The Charlestown High School Baseball program congratulates Andrew Varble on his commitment to continue his academic and athletic career at Indiana University Columbus! Although new to our program, we’re proud to celebrate this exciting achievement with him and his family. Wishing Andrew all the best as he takes this next step in his baseball journey!”

Varble made the tough decision to transfer to Charlestown from Southwestern (Hanover) this school year due to family circumstances. Southwestern Coach Dan Thurston was in attendance for the signing and had well wishes for Varble he shared. ” I am extremely happy for Andrew Varble and his opportunity to play at the next level. Andrew led us in on base percentage and was second in batting average, doubles, and RBI’s. He played a quality defensive outfield and was our back-up catcher. One thing is for certain, Andrew will work extremely hard to be successful on the diamond and in the classroom. We sure wish we had him back at Southwestern, but wish him nothing but success at Charlestown and at IUC.”

WPMQ, The Pirate Network congratulates Andrew and wishes him a healthy and prosperous future at Indiana University-Columbus.

Photo contributed by WPMQ, The Pirate Network staff member Boomer Hester.

PIRATE WINTER SPORTS SCHEDULES

November 17, 2025 Pirate Network ARSS, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Swimming, Wrestling

The winter season is here, and our Pirates are ready to compete! Mark your calendars and come show your Pirate pride at CHS athletic events! Also, go to the Facebook pages linked below and follow each for more news and information!

Charlestown High School Athletic Department

Charlestown Pirates Basketball

Charlestown Lady Pirates Basketball

Charlestown High School Swim Team

Charlestown pirate wrestling

*All schedules are subject to change. Please follow us here for updates.

CHS SAIL Team is Hosting an Online Auction

May 14, 2025 Pirate Network ARSS, Athletic Department, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Golf, Boys Soccer, Boys Tennis, Cheerleading, Community, Corporation, Cross Country, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Golf, Girls Soccer, Girls Tennis, Softball, Swimming, Track & Field, Volleyball, Wrestling

IT’S AUCTION TIME!

The CHS SAIL (Scholar Athlete Innovative Leaders) Team is hosting a Silent Online Basket Auction to benefit the Crusade for Children and the CHS SAIL Scholarship Fund!

Every CHS athletic team, cheer squad, band, WPMQ, and the athletic department has donated awesome themed baskets—now it’s your chance to BID & WIN while supporting a great cause!