Dublin Jerome is headed back to the state Final Four.
The Celtics retook the lead twice after Sycamore equalized to beat the Aviators 3-2 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I regional final Sunday, Nov. 8, at Wright State University. Fritter scored the go-ahead goal on a header off a corner kick with 5:35 left in the second half to clinch the program's second straight regional championship, according to Dublin Jerome Athletics.
Jerome struck first. Pedro Maamud put the Celtics ahead 1-0 with a goal at the 9:30 mark of the first half. Sycamore answered before the break, and the teams went to halftime knotted at 1-1.
The second half followed the same pattern. Fritter gave Jerome a 2-1 lead at the 11:14 mark. Sycamore pulled level again at 2-2 with 7:21 remaining.
Then Fritter ended it.
His header off a corner restored the lead at 3-2, and the Celtics held on for the final 5:35. Jerome entered the regional final ranked second in the Nov. 5 MaxPreps statewide rankings with a 17-2-1 record, according to the Circleville Herald.
The win extends a dominant postseason run for the defending Division I state champions. Jerome won the 2025-26 state title after ending Cleveland St. Ignatius' championship streak, according to Cleveland.com's preseason rankings.
Senior Liam Neidenthal, who contributed seven goals and nine assists, is among several returnees from that title team, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Sycamore, champions of the Greater Miami Conference, had reached the regional semifinal round for the first time since 2020, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The Aviators entered the regional final with a 17-4 record, according to the Circleville Herald.
The OHSAA state semifinals are scheduled for Nov. 10-11, according to the Circleville Herald. The state championship games are set for Nov. 13-16 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus. Jerome (18-2-1) faces St. Charles (17-3-1) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Olentangy High School.
