FUTURE LADY BOBCAT … Bryan High School girls swimming standout Nora Kunsman (middle front row) signed a national letter of intent to continue her swim career at Ohio University. Front row from left: her mother, Meg Kunsman, Nora Kunsman, and her father, Jason Kunsman. Standing from left: assistant swim coach Michelle Leitch, sisters Claire Kunsman and Annie Kunsman, head girls swim coach Mackenzie Luce, and assistant swim coach Kaedyn Ward.
PHOTOS BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
FUTURE LADY WOLFPACK … Bryan High School softball standout Thea Staten (second left) signed a national letter of intent to continue her softball career at North Carolina State. From left, her mother and Lady Bears head softball coach Hillary Staten, Thea Staten, her father Scott Staten, and brother Maven Staten.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
BRYAN – A pair of highly recruited student-athletes from Bryan High School made it official after signing their national letters of intent to continue their respective athletic careers at the Division I level on Wednesday, November 12.
Nora Kunsman, a senior standout on the Bryan girls swim team, who came off a pair of runner-up finishes in the Division II state girls swim meet this past year, signed her letter of intent to Ohio University, where she will be a member of the Lady Bobcats swim team.
“It’s just an exciting feeling to be able to be a part of the Ohio University women’s swim team,” said Kunsman.
Kunsman credited the influence of former BHS swimmer Meggie Voigt, who was a four-year standout at Ohio University (2021-2024), as a huge factor in her decision and eventually decided to follow in her footsteps.
“I had checked out a lot of schools in Ohio, and honestly, I really wanted to be closer to my family and ended up choosing the farthest school in Ohio,” said Kunsman.
The Lady Bears’ swim standout was happy with her college decision. “I thought that Ohio had a great swim program with great team chemistry, and I loved it,” she noted. “They (Ohio) actually contacted me on the first day of recruiting (June 15, 2024).”
Kunsman currently holds three school records in the 50 freestyle (23.50), 100 freestyle (51.45), and 100 backstroke (58.79). All of those records were broken this past year.
“I’m so excited for her because she has put in the work and effort,” said her coach, Mackenzie Luce. For her to continue on, it’s so exciting for her, but she had some tough choices to make and long, thoughtful processes that she went through.”
One of the most talented girl swimmers in program history, Kunsman is also a two-time first team Division II All-Ohioan (2024, 25). She was also a second-team All-Ohioan in 2023 and 2024.
“Just think the buildup of the last couple of years, they (Ohio) had been looking at my freshman and sophomore year and again had followed me along as I went through my junior year and ended up going to state again,” said Kunsman.
She will be involved in the sprint events with the Lady Bobcats, where she will compete in the 50 and 100 freestyle, along with the 100 backstroke.
“It’s nice to kind of get everything locked down and just be able to relax and swim my senior season,” she said.
“The nice thing about Ohio University and their coaches is they’re not very pushy in going to certain meets or getting certain times or having putting so much pressure on myself while I’m still in high school season.”
The daughter of Jason and Meg Kunsman, Nora, will be majoring in business marketing. “A lot of the freshman recruiting class coming in will be majoring in business,” she said. “It’s going to be a great community and a lot of fun. I’m excited to be in that field.”
Kunsman not only stands out in the swimming pool, but she is also the president of the National Honor Society and the Class of 2026. She has been the class president in all four years of high school.
This past fall, she was chosen as the 2025 Homecoming Queen and a member of the volleyball team, where she achieved District 7 Coaches Association honors. She is a member of the honor roll.
As she begins her final high school swim season, Kunsman has already established some lofty goals to reach. One of those goals is to sweep both the 50 and 100 freestyles in the Division II state swim meet in February.
“I have some big goals to wrap up my high school season,” said Kunsman. “I just want to make every single day count in the water with my friends at practice. Just completing those goals that I’ve set for myself and looking towards the future.”
Her classmate, Thea Staten, one of the premier softball pitchers in Ohio, will be continuing her career next season after signing with North Carolina State in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“The biggest thing that really stood out was the people at North Carolina State,” Staten shared.
“Everyone there amazingly treated me the second I stepped on campus and just felt like family and my home. My family is very happy with my decision because they get to watch me play in warmer climates in the Atlantic Coast Conference.”
Thea Staten commented that the Lady Wolfpack is an up-and-coming softball program with the potential of getting better in the future.
“I’m really buying on what they do there, and it’s something that I’m super-excited to do,” said Thea Staten. “I’m looking forward in getting started after high school.”
For the past three seasons, Staten has been a dominant force in the circle for the Lady Bears, where she has achieved first-team All-Ohio, All-Northwest District, and Northwest Ohio Athletic League honors. She was also named the NWOAL player of the year for the past two seasons.
“It’s super amazing because I just love playing softball with my best friends,” commented Staten, who is also a member of the Beverly Bandits Premier summer softball team whose roster is mostly made up of Division I commits.
The daughter of Scott and Hillary Staten, Thea, who will be majoring in criminology at North Carolina State, has already put up some impressive numbers while being the first Division I softball signee in Lady Bear program history.
“As a coach, it’s a great feeling, knowing that you have an outstanding leader on the field,” said her mother and Lady Bears head softball coach Hillary Staten. “It’s pretty exciting to see her (Thea) make it to this level.”
The road to North Carolina State has taken Staten and her parents across the country, competing in off-season tournaments and various camps while showcasing her pitching talent.
“There was a lot of pressure on her (Thea) to make a good decision,” said her mother. I’m extremely happy with her choice and can’t wait to see what she can do on the field at NC State. All of the facilities there are second to none, and it’s a great environment.”
Staten, who has led the Lady Bears to three consecutive regional appearances and a Division II state runner-up finish in 2024, was heavily recruited by a number of Division I programs, including North Carolina State.
“She (Thea) can start focusing on getting better and improving her skills and getting ready to step on the field there,” said her mother.
In the circle, she has already recorded 880 career strikeouts since her freshman year while compiling an impressive 0.79 earned run average in 440 innings pitched over the past three years.
She also holds several school season records in strikeouts (305, 2025), pitching earned run average (0.424, 2025), pitching victories (23, 2023), home runs (8, 2024), doubles (11, 2023), runs batted in (37, 2024), and total bases (83, 2024).
Thea Staten has also done well in the classroom, carrying a solid 3.85 grade point average, and is a member of the National Honor Society.