The Daily Standard
Story Archive
By GARY R. RASBERRY and JOE SCHATZ
sports@dailystandard.com
Three area students signed letters of intent to continue their educations and athletic careers on Wednesday.
At Celina, both Colbie Kinney and Jackson Newcomb will head north to the University of Findlay next school year. Kinney will join the Oilers softball team while Newcomb will swim for a team that is nationally ranked.
At St. Henry, Owen Zimmerman will head west to Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne to join a solid Warriors team that went to the NAIA postseason last season.
Celina's Colbie Kinney, center, will attend the University of Findlay next school year and play softball for the Oilers.
Kinney's interest in Findlay was due in large part to the medical sonography program, but getting a chance to play NCAA Division II was a perk.
"The school was beautiful, and it has a sonography program and a softball program, which is hard to find," said Kinney. "I've been to the campus a few times and to camps there. I've always had a good time."
The Oilers, coached by Danielle Lowe, are coming off a 34-16 season while going 19-5 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The team lost to Northwood in the G-MAC tournament, but earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II tournament, going 1-2 in the Midwest Regional.
Kinney has been a key component of the Bulldogs going from 16-31 in her first two seasons to winning an outright league championship last season and going 19-4. On the mound, Kinney earned first team All-WBL honors in going 15-3 with a 2.16 earned run average. In 113 ⅓ innings, Kinney struck out 118 batters and posted a 1.03 WHIP (96 hits, 21 walks). At the plate, Kinney batted .342 with five doubles, 22 runs and 23 runs batted in.
"The coaches (at Celina) have always told me that I lead by example," said Kinney. "I think that carries true to a lot of places I go and I hope to carry that with me to Findlay."
Celina's Jackson Newcomb, left center, will attend the University of Findlay next school year and swim for the Oilers.
Much like Kinney, a particular major was what played a big part in Newcomb's choice to go to Findlay.
"I met with their professor for forensic biology. He really showed me around the campus. That stuck out to me," said Newcomb. "I went on an overnight visit with the swim team. They have a great environment there. They're all so kind and the coaches made the decision so easy. It's also not very far from where I live (roughly an hour away)."
The Oilers are a powerhouse in the G-MAC, having won eight straight conference championships, and in NCAA Division II as they are ranked eighth in the most recent College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association poll. Last year the Oilers swept the men's and women's titles for the third straight season and fifth time since 2018.
Newcomb has won five WBL championships, including three straight 100-yard breaststroke titles to go with a 50 and 100 freestyle title. Newcomb has qualified for state each of his first three seasons. He earned a podium spot last year in finishing eighth in the 100 freestyle. He reached the B-finals in the 200 free last season and the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.
"Here at school and in the pool, I learned a lot about leadership," said Newcomb. "I've worked with the summer swim team and, being a senior, I've helped the team a lot. I'll take a lot of leadership with me and hopefully it will go with me to Findlay."
St. Henry's Owen Zimmerman, seated center, will attend Indiana Tech and play baseball for the Warriors next season.
Zimmerman announced he will take his baseball talents to Indiana Tech, where he will study construction management, after a very successful career at St. Henry.
"I really want to thank God for all the abilities he's given me and the opportunity to be here," Zimmerman said. "My family supported me the whole time and all my coaches and friends were there for me."
The senior hit .296 with 12 RBI and 15 runs scored in the spring for the Redskins, who finished 11-13 and 6-3 in the MAC. Zimmerman was a 2025 All-MAC honorable mention.
After being unable to pitch during the spring and for the majority of the summer, Zimmerman came on in relief in the ACME state championship game in July, pitching five innings of no-hit relief as the Redskins rallied for a victory over Defiance to capture the program's first ACME title. Zimmerman was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player for his effort. Zimmerman batted .308 average and had six RBI during the summer.
Indiana Tech is coached by Kipp Williams, who is entering his 19th season in charge. The Warriors finished 38-21 last season, and took a trip to the NAIA Tournament. They compete in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, where they had an impressive 20-8 record in 2025.
"I really wanted a college that had the right people and coaches that would push me the most to be the best version of myself," Zimmerman said at his signing day.
