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By Carson Francis
After a 2020-21 school year plagued with COVID-19 and a long hot summer, the Chillicothe Cavaliers are back to business as usual in their fall sports seasons. This season, the Cavaliers look to repeat the same success that brought life to the community during the pandemic-filled fall season in 2020.
The 2020 Chillicothe football season was one for the ages. Finishing the shortened season with a (5-2) record and a Frontier Athletic Conference title, the Cavs are looking to do it again in 2021. With no easy games on the schedule, the Cavaliers have started the season (1-2) with losses to Teays Valley and Wheelersburg. Led by all-state linebacker Isaac McCory, all-FAC linebacker Maxwell Lee, first-year varsity quarterback Mason Doughty, and senior wide receiver Xzavier Doss, the Cavaliers put it together and got their first victory of the season in a 32-0 defeat of Columbus Walnut Ridge. Looking to even their record on the season, the Cavs will play host to the undefeated Waverly Tigers this Friday at The O.
On the soccer pitch, both Cavalier soccer teams are looking to bring yet another FAC title back to Chillicothe. The CHS girls' soccer team looks hopeful in their quest to win their fifth straight league championship since joining the FAC, but they will have to win this one in the first year of the post Addie Erslan-era. The Cavaliers are off to a (1-3-0) start to the 2021 season, with seniors Kailey Doughty and Emma Fromm leading the team, alongside juniors Paige Huggins, Addie Price, and goalkeeper Ally Alderman. With a win against Westerville South and losses to Worthington Kilbourne and Hillsboro, the Cavaliers traveled to Grove City on Tuesday night to face the Grove City Greyhounds. The Greyhounds got the best of the Lady Cavs as they took a 5-1 victory over Chillicothe. CHS will try to rebound and get their season back on track as they host Unioto at the O, Thursday night at 7 p.m.
The CHS boys' soccer team has started the 2021 season on a hot streak. Looking to take back the outright FAC title after a three-way tie last season, the Cavaliers are off to a hot (3-0-1) start to the season, led by seniors Brady Wood, Isaac Crawford, and goalkeeper Jack Huggins. Chillicothe started the season with wins against Big Walnut, Hillsboro, and Groveport-Madison, and a 2-2 tie with rival Unioto. Crawford led the Cavs with 2 goals in Saturday's 5-1 win against Groveport. CHS will try to remain unbeaten as they travel to Miami Trace on Tuesday, September 14th, for a league battle with the Panthers.
Indoors, volleyball's Lady Cavaliers bring back a lot of talent despite losing 4 of last year's seniors. Seniors Johanna Crawford, Emma Barnes, and Maleah Oney bring plenty of experience to this Lady Cavalier squad looking to rebound after a second place finish in the FAC last season. After dropping their first game in straight sets to Unioto, the Lady Cavs rebounded and won two out of three games at both the Westerville North Invitational and the Unioto Invitational, the latter of which included the program's first varsity win against Unioto since 2012. Chillicothe returned home last night to face Hilliard Davidson, but lost 3-1 to the Wildcats. In an effort to earn their 5th win of the season, the Lady Cavs will travel to Miami Trace on Tuesday night to face the Panthers at 6:00 p.m.
Other fall sports the Cavaliers will be competing in this season include boys and girls golf, cross country, who took home first place in the Circleville Invitational on Saturday, and girls tennis, who defeated Washington Court House 4-1 last night. We will continue to give updates on all Cavalier sports throughout the fall season.