Author Ben Stroup-bstroup@aimmediamidwest.com

In the past six seasons, the Olentangy Liberty women's basketball team has done something very special.

The Patriots have always been one of the top teams in the region, but it's not just because they are a great team. It certainly helps, but the emergence of league titles and regional champions — and the regional titles they won as the state's fifth-ranked team in 2015 — is because they are a family.

In other words, it is only suitable for one of the family members, Tom Waterworth, who was appointed as the next women's basketball coach at Olantangi Free High School later last week.

In the past four seasons, Waterwash has served as one of Sam Krafty's assistants.

"Six years ago, he (Krafty) and some very special student-athlete classes changed the culture of this project and made everyone involved in their work... They would do it because they value people next to them. ," Waterwash said. "The two most important things I learned from Coach Krafty, I think are his legacy to the entire project, the value of willingness to work and relationships.

"I am very grateful to Coach Krafty. I really appreciate him for bringing me to this special project. My gratitude for him can't be overemphasized, both personally and as a whole."

Since the establishment of the school, Waterwash has been a member of the Liberty family. Before bringing his talents to Otterbein University, he played baseball and basketball for the Patriots, where he was a four-year player and senior captain of the men's basketball team.

Prior to joining the Krafty staff, he was the head coach of women's basketball at Liberty Middle School, and has served as the school team assistant for Ty Brenning and the Liberty Baseball team for each of the past six years-including the 2018 state championship.

"I am honored and proud to continue participating in this project," Waterwash said. "Liberty is a special place with many great people and great kids. I think I knew this when I was in high school, but now I have more understanding and appreciation as a teacher and coach... I'm very lucky To be one of them."

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