Signing days came and went last week, and two of the Muskingum Valley’s best officially made their college commitments.
New Lexington wrestler Harrison Ratliff vowed to Ohio University and Tri-Valley volleyball player Ingrid Dittmar inked with Alabama-Birmingham
Here is at look at why each player made their decisions:
New Lexington’s Harrison Ratliff
Ratliff has starred on the mat and gridiron for some of the most successful Panther programs in school history, but it’s his wrestling prowess that earned him a Division I offer.
He was a Division II state placer as a sophomore and followed it up with a return trip in 2025, when he wrapped up a 45-6 finish to become one of the winningest Panthers in program history.
The 144-pounder, who is likely to wrestle at 150 this year, took visits to VMI and West Liberty (West Virginia) before settling on Joel Greenlee’s Bobcats.
Ratliff took an unofficial visit prior to last season’s state tournament. After a pause following the state tournament, the two rekindled their communication after OU came to New Lex to run a camp in preparation for their annual trip to the Disney Duals.
It was there where Greenlee saw him — and Chillicothe standout Cannan Smith — operate first hand with the SEO Club.
“We busted our butts,” Ratliff said. “We worked really hard, put a good impression on their face.”
After taking a visit to West Liberty, a Division II school just outside of Wheeling, West Virginia, Ratliff called Greenlee to inform him he wanted to stay close to home.
“I was like, ‘I’ll do whatever it takes. I’m gonna work my butt off, and whatever happens, happens. But I want to go to OU,'” Ratliff explained.
After an official visit, Ratliff committed on the spot. Smith also pledged to be a Bobcat.
“OU is a place where it feels like home,” Ratliff said. “I love the coaches, I love the teammates. Those guys treated me the best. They made me feel at home.”
New Lex coach David Ratliff, Harrison’s dad, called the opportunity “pretty special,” adding it has always been Harrison’s dream to wrestle at the Division I level.
The decision to stay close was partly because of his preference to be close to family. David described his son as a homebody and said the fit at OU fit the mold.
“He’s got a lot of work ahead of him,” David Ratliff said. “The one thing I do know, and I don’t know what the future holds, is he’s going to work hard.
Harrison, who plans to major in civil engineering, is the second MVL wrestler in three years to sign with OU — Philo record-setter Drew Lincicome is entering his third season with the Cats.
“We’re always proud,” David Ratliff said. “It’s his hard work that got him this opportunity. He’s got to make the most of it.”
Tri-Valley’s Ingrid Dittmar
Dittmar had been vowed to UAB, a Division I school that plays in the Sun Belt, for months. It became official in a signing ceremony at the high school, picking the Blazers over fellow Division I schools Robert Morris and Morehead State.
Dittmar, a 6-2 setter, had 682 assists as a senior and finished with 2,543 for her career. She will be closer to her older sister, Eva, who plays at South Alabama.
Ingrid landed at UAB after the Blazers’ coaches saw her play for her club team and set up a phone meeting. She came away impressed with head coach Betsy Freeburg, which led to a visit.
“I just loved the campus,” Ingrid said. “It’s in downtown Birmingham, and I really liked the urban feel, just being a bigger city. I loved the team and facilities were nice. I really could just see myself there. It was just different than another visit that I had gone on. Just a different feeling.”
She said academics carried heavy weight in her decision, which was another draw to UAB. She will major in business marketing.
From a volleyball perspective, her ability to set at 6-2 sets her apart from many others at the position. No other current Blazer setter is taller than 5-10.
It has been her natural position since she began playing the game at 13, even as her height would indicate a middle or outside hitter. She has spent much of the past offseason working on her defense.
She is excited to be in a new state.
“I definitely wanted a new feel other than Ohio,” Ingrid said. “I wanted something new, not something that felt the same or felt like Zanesville. I just wanted to experience something different.”
Tri-Valley coach Dani Lamonica said the decision was the right one for Ingrid and praised her for how she managed her school season and club seasons.
“It never interfered or overlapped,” Lamonica said. “I thought it was very considerate that she waited for her signing until after our season was over, so she was completely focused.”
Lamonica said Ingrid was a strong leader for a team with multiple underclassmen in key roles, including three of the team’s top hitters.
The team finished 18-6 and was one win from playing for a regional bid. Ingrid’s ability to pass from as far away as 13 feet helped keep the offense streamlined.
“She’s very level-headed, very focused when she needs to be, but she also made the team laugh with her sense of humor when appropriate,” Lamonica said. “We are going to miss her terribly.”
sblackbu@gannett.com; X: @SamBlackburnTR
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Muskingum Valley League stars Dittmar, Ratliff ink Division I offers
