Seven exceptions
Where the pattern broke
Much of the tournament lined up with seeding, class year, and record. These are the results that did not, based on the same data as the rest.
1. Freshmen placed more often than every other grade
18 of 29 freshmen placed (62.1%). Seniors placed 44 of 94 (46.8%). 5 freshmen reached a final and 1 won a title. The freshmen who qualified are a small group. The data does not include sectionals/pre-regionals before the district tournament.
2. Southwest schools piled up placers and almost no titles
By school region, Southwest had 57 qualifiers, 32 placers (56.1%), 3 finalists, and 1 champion. Northeast schools had 61 qualifiers, 30 placers, and 6 champions. Harrison, the Southwest district, had 32 placers and 1 champion. Depth and championships did not move together.
3. District thirds placed about as often as seconds, then stopped
District runners-up placed 27 of 56 (48.2%), with 7 finalists and 3 champions. District thirds placed 26 of 56 (46.4%), with 0 champions and 1 finalist. That finalist was Paige Cowan, East Liverpool, 125.
4. Juniors, not seniors, took the top of the podium
Juniors were 64 of 224 qualifiers and won 8 titles (12.5% of juniors; 57.1% of all titles). They also had 12 finalists (18.8%). Seniors were the largest class and won 4 titles, with a finalist rate of 7.4%.
5. A lot of strong records still missed the podium
30 qualifiers entered at .850 or better and did not place. By district: Mentor 4, Harrison 7, Big Walnut 9, Findlay 10. The misses were not confined to one corner of the state.
6. Big Walnut’s titles were juniors. Its seniors placed more often.
Big Walnut juniors: 18 qualifiers, 6 placers, 4 finalists, 3 champions. Big Walnut seniors: 21 qualifiers, 10 placers (47.6%), 1 finalists, 0 champions. Titles and finals favor the juniors. Raw medals favor the seniors.
7. No district fourth reached a state final
0 finalists and 0 champions came from district fourth place, across 56 tries. 12 placed (21.4%). 2 reached the top four.
56 qualifiers · 12 placers (21.4%) · 0 finalists · 0 champions