Category: Girls Previews

2025 Western Reserve Conference Preview

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Regardless of what happens this season, 2025 will be the last year of the Kenston dynasty in the Western Reserve Conference. The league will be breaking up after this season with each team going in their own direction. Kenston would like nothing more than to walk away with their fifth straight conference championship. It looks to again be a very close race that will develop between the Bombers and the Mayfield Wildcats. A third team that will be in the mix is Riverside, who will only be in their second year as a program. Kenston returns juniors Ava Solak and Stefania Mighton, both players that have contributed in the past and will continue to in the future. Mayfield junior Julie Paradise will be at the top of their lineup and will have help from seniors Lucy Moran, Hannah Kasprisin, and Kendall Peugeot. Riverside has a stellar junior class featuring Sydney Barker, Kaylee Naymik, and Kaylee Kirk. They got better and better as the season progressed last year and they are already in a position to be competitive in the conference. Chardon looks to be the next team up behind the three top contenders. Eastlake North will begin the post-Lauren Iannetta years and Willoughby South will be in growth mode.

Impact Players

Sydney Barker (JR) Riverside
Allison Clark (JR) Riverside
Reghan Boulos (SR) Eastlake North
Sofia Finomore (JR) Chardon
Cameron Gerlica (SR) Chardon
Hannah Kasprisin (SR) Mayfield
Kaylee Kirk (JR) Riverside
Megan Master (SR) Kenston
Riley McKenna (JR) Chardon
Stefania Mighton (JR) Kenston
Amanda Moore (SR) Willoughby South
Lucy Moran (SR) Mayfield
Kaylee Naymik (JR) Riverside
Julie Paradise (JR) Mayfield
Kendall Peugeot (SR) Mayfield
Ava Solak (JR) Kenston

Freshmen to Watch

Morliana Victor (Riverside)
Madison Kirk (Riverside)

Chardon Hilltoppers

Head Coach- Rachel Gaspar
Last Year’s Results- 15th at Old Avalon Sectional, 4th in WRC, 5-12
Coach’s Comments- Player to watch – 4 year starter Cameron Gerlica, excited to welcome some new players to our roster.

Eastlake North Rangers

Head Coach- Beth Brettrager
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Fox Den Sectional

Kenston Bombers

Head Coach- Kip Freeman
Last Year’s Results- 7th at Old Avalon Sectional

Mayfield Wildcats

Head Coach- Geoff Grim
Last Year’s Results- 9th at Fox Den Sectional

Riverside Beavers

Head Coach- Logan Frank
Last Year’s Results- 9th at Old Avalon Sectional, Season Record: 15-5

Willoughby South Rebels

Head Coach- Chris Taglieri
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Fox Den Sectional

2025 Independent Schools Preview

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Magnificat became the first Division 1 Northeast Ohio school in well over a decade to win the State Championship after coming out of nowhere to down perennial powers Dublin Jerome and New Albany. The Blue Streaks will lose Cammy Reed, who was the face of their program, but Blue Streak fans have nothing to fear, because now it will be younger sister Calli Reed’s turn to continue on the family tradition of dominance. The sophomore will join players from each grade level to put together a top tier lineup. Senior Kristina Chill, junior Kayla Knaze, and her younger sister freshman Korinne Knaze will be a formidable lineup as they look to repeat the glory from 2024. Magnificat may be close to a lock to head back to the State Tournament, but they will still have stiff competition to win their own conference. Walsh Jesuit has worked to build a dominant lineup of their own. Sophomore Sarah Vojtko exceeded all expectations as a freshman and has quickly become one of the best players around. Junior Yumi Kohara has proven to be a steady player and seniors Colleen Stadler and Gianna Rodenhauser bring a ton of experience to the table. Magnificat and Walsh Jesuit both also have several players outside of their top four who can step up when needed and not miss a beat. Sophomore Kellen Gleason and senior Gwen Slabaugh will fill that role for Magnificat while sophomore Vivian Eich will be a strong contributor for the Warriors. After making a run to the State Tournament, the St. Joseph Academy Jaguars will be looking to take a repeat trip in 2025. They will have to do it with Gianna Reginelli, one of the greatest to don the purple and gold. Stepping into the Jaguar driver’s seat will be senior Emerson Glending, who has the potential to be a star this season. It will be the post Dixon Hill era in Shaker Heights as Hathaway Brown will turn to some young up and coming players to compete. Sophomore Saijal Jawa came out of nowhere in her rookie season last year and established herself as the future for the Blazers. In Akron, 2025 was a bit of a disappointment for the St. Vincent-St. Mary Irish, not because of performance but because of numbers. St. V was not able to enter into any team events, although Caitrin Coyle and Rylee Hoover, both of who will be seniors this year, gained valuable experience. The Irish are expecting a complete roster this season and will immediately be one of the better independent teams in Northeast Ohio. Gilmour Academy will be another team to watch as their numbers have continued to grow. They will have the needed depth to perform, but they will need some players to step up and lead the team on the scoreboard. Our Lady of the Elms is a growing program that is becoming more competitive each year and Archbishop Hoban will look to get some energy from juniors Lily Taylor and Nicole Krohn, who both look to have impactful seasons. Ursuline might not be contending beyond the District Tournament, but they will be building their young, talented roster for the future. The Bristol Panthers have become very relevant recently, and junior Anistyn Williams will look to take over the number one spot from graduate Addison Williams. Laurel will once again be relying on senior Elizabeth Weingart as the look to add some depth in 2025. Finally, keep an eye on the Cardinal Huskies, who will be in their first year as a program under coach Mike Topalian, who will be coaching both the boys and girls teams.

Impact Players

Brooklyn Berkowitz (JR) Our Lady of the Elms
Kristina Chill (SR) Magnificat
Tabitha Christman (SR) Firestone
Allison Clark (JR) Pymatuning Valley
Charley Collins (SR) Lake Center Christian
McCamey Compan (JR) Pymatuning Valley
Caitrin Coyle (SR) St. Vincent-St. Mary
Vivian Eich (SO) Walsh Jesuit
Autumn Fulks (JR) Chippewa
Tess Gibel (SR) St. Joseph Academy
Kayden Gillin (SR) Bristol
Kellen Gleason (SO) Magnificat
Emerson Glending (SR) St. Joseph Academy
Rylee Hoover (SR) St. Vincent-St. Mary
Saijal Jawa (SO) Hathaway Brown
Kayla Knaze (JR) Magnificat
Yumi Kohara (JR) Walsh Jesuit
Nicole Krohn (JR) Hoban
Kylie Luke (SR) Pymatuning Valley
Ellen Mingus (SR) St. Joseph Academy
Becca Padgett (SR) Our Lady of the Elms
Gianna Palumbo (JR) Lowellville
Calli Reed (SO) Magnificat
Bella Rosko (JR) Gilmour
Colleen Stadler (SR) Walsh Jesuit
Vera Swartz (JR) St. Joseph Academy
Lily Taylor (JR) Hoban
Sarah Vojtko (SO) Walsh Jesuit
Elizabeth Weingart (SR) Laurel
Maria Wilon (SR) Ursuline
Anistyn Williams (JR) Bristol

Freshmen to Watch

Hadley Bashiem (Gilmour)
Vivian Cleveland (Gilmour)
Callie Dennison (Gilmour)
Zara Fritz (Gilmour)
Clare Kenny (Gilmour)
Korinne Knaze (Magnificat)
Emily Krammes (Hoban)
Clara Miller (Ursuline)
Sophia Scianna (Ursuline)
Cecilia Voelker (Hathaway Brown)

Akron North Vikings

Head Coach- Mike McBennett
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Fox Den Sectional

Bristol Panthers

Head Coach- James Vecchio
Last Year’s Results- 5th at Punderson Sectional

Cardinal Huskies

Head Coach- Mike Topalian
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Punderson Sectional
Coach’s Comments- This is Cardinal’s first ever girls team! Cambrya played Boys JV last year and the others are all brand new to golf. All of the players are young so we are excited to have them as the cornerstone to build on for the next few years.

Chippewa Chipps

Head Coach- Jason Egli
Last Year’s Results- DNS at The Pines Sectional

Firestone Falcons

Head Coach- Justin Persinger
Last Year’s Results- 13th at Fox Den Sectional

Gilmour Academy Lancers

Head Coach- John Malloy
Last Year’s Results- 12th at Punderson Sectional, 4-8
Coach’s Comments- The enthusiasm to play girls golf is at a high with over 25 girls planning on playing. I am excited to help these young ladies pursue their own goals while playing this wonderful sport.

Hathaway Brown Blazers

Head Coach- Ronald Jones
Last Year’s Results- 3rd at Old Avalon Sectional, 6th at Brookledge District

Archbishop Hoban Knights

Head Coach- Katie Camp and Matt Monter
Last Year’s Results- DNS at The Elms Sectional
Coach’s Comments- We have four varsity players returning and about 12 new players the roster for tryouts. We are excited to see the growth in the team and create some bench strength for coming years. All of the returning players have been putting in the work in the offseason with lifting and practice. Lily Taylor has been successful in several NOPGA events, and has continued to lower her scores, she will be one to watch out for this season.

Lake Center Christian Tigers

Head Coach- Randy Yoder
Last Year’s Results- 11th at The Pines Sectional, 4-7 (overall), 2-2 (Portage Trail Conference)
Coach’s Comments- We’ll have a good mix of experience and youth at LCCS this season with five returning varsity players and five newcomers to the team. This will be Charley Collins’ third season leading the team as our number one and she’ll have some experience behind her as Josefina Freeman and Hailee Gingerich look to build on strong finishes from last year in our two and three spots. Intra-squad battles between the returning letter-winners and newcomers will fill out the rest of our varsity roster. Without a conference we’ll be looking to gain experience as the season progresses and be playing our best golf at the end of September – for the Stark County Championships and OHSAA tournament.

Laurel Gators

Head Coach- Marti Hardy
Last Year’s Results- 14th at Punderson Sectional
Coach’s Comments- Laurel is looking forward to a good year in golf; we only have 4 returning Varsity players, but will be watching the 9th graders and sophomores to compete for the last two spots. There’s potential to improve on last season and we are proud to represent Laurel’s golf team. Go Gators!

Lowellville Rockets

Head Coach- Daniel Dougherty
Last Year’s Results- 15th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Magnificat Blue Streaks

Head Coach- Danny Gallagher
Last Year’s Results- 1st at Big Met Sectional, 1st at Brookledge District, D1 State Champions
Coach’s Comments- We are excited to bring back some experience from our State Championship Team. We will also add some talented younger players to our program. We are in hopes to make another deep run this season.

Pymatuning Valley Lakers

Head Coach- Jeff Compan
Last Year’s Results- 4th at Pine Lakes Sectional, 10th at Good Park District

Our Lady of the Elms Panthers

Head Coach- Kellie Padgett
Last Year’s Results- 7th at The Pines Sectional

St. Joseph Academy Jaguars

Head Coach- Maureen Adler
Last Year’s Results- 2nd at Big Met Sectional, 5th at Brookledge District, Gianna Reginelli ‘25 came in 4th as individual at States
Coach’s Comments- We are looking forward to a great season for Saint Joseph Academy. We missed States by 3 strokes last year. We have 4 of the 5 golfers returning who remember that very clearly. 3 solid senior golfers and 3 talented juniors make for an exciting season to come. Emerson Glending has been shooting in the 70s and Tess Gibel and Ellen Mingus are right behind her in the low 80s

St. Vincent-St. Mary Irish

Head Coach- Dirk Hartman
Last Year’s Results- DNS at The Pines Sectional

Ursuline Fighting Irish

Head Coach- Michael Murphy
Last Year’s Results- 7th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Walsh Jesuit Warriors

Head Coach- Bill Reilly
Last Year’s Results- 2nd at Fox Den Sectional, 2nd at Brookledge District, 10th at State Tournament
Coach’s Comments- Walsh Jesuit has had a proud history with many successes. Though success in recent past 5-6 years has been gauged by the number of top 5 finishes in tournaments with a couple of wins dropped in each year. The 2024 team has brought back that ‘Measure of Success’ this year to whether we make it to the State Tournament each year or not. AND WITH THESE 2 FRESHMEN, SOPHOMORES, and 2 JUNIORS, we Certainly DID !!!! Only the 2nd time in 5 years did we qualifying through the sectional event. Junior Co-Captains Colleen Stadler and Gianna Rodenhauser did a very nice job of communicating, organizing, and transporting their young teammates. The Lady Warriors were moved out of the conference championship, won 2023 by a massive of 89 strokes. They proceeded to win 3 invites (Kent, Medina, Summit Co.) and also had runner-up in four events (Canfield invitational, Canterbury invitational, Districts and Sectionals) (3) 3rds. (1) 4th and (1) 5th 12 of 14 Top4 !! Freshman Sarah Vojtko quickly rose to becoming one of the top 10 players in N.Ohio with a scoring average 76.3 and low scores of 70 (Medina) and 71 (Districts). Individually, Yumi Kohara had a career low 72 in Sectionals, Vivian Eich a 78 at Summit County, Sarah had 9 hole Record 32. The team tied the all-time scoring record at Fox Meadow winning with a 309, and Sectionals breaking the record with 307.

Sarah Vojtko: where do we start? Best start ever for a freshman, surpassing LPGA Star Kathleen Ekey, with an average 76.3 and low scores of 70 (Medina) & 71 (districts) and a 9 hole scoring record 32. She was runner up Districts with 71, top 20 at State, multiple times named Player of the week, All-District Team, Plain Dealer All Stars Honorable Mention, Beacon Journal All Stars Team. She is such a strong influence on teammates with actions pushing them to reach past current success to strive for more much more

2024 Girls Golf Teams to Watch

Bobby BolinLeave a comment

We surveyed several coaches in the area and these are some teams to keep an eye on in the 2024 season.

Division 1

Top Teams
Magnificat– The Blue Streaks will be the team to beat in Northeast Ohio
Hoover– The Vikings return their entire lineup from their 2023 State qualifying team

State Hopefuls
Aurora– The Greenmen will need a strong supporting cast around 2023 State qualifier Gracyn Vidovic
Canfield– The Cardinals have built up a deep program that should be in contention for years to come
Hathaway Brown– Dixon Hill will lead the Blazers once again and they will be successful if they can build depth
Highland– This year could be a step back for the Hornets but they are a team that can reload around Elizabeth Coleman
Hudson– The Explorers lost some key pieces but have some young players looking to step up
Jackson– It seems that the Polar Bears turn it on and are in contention every postseason
Revere– The Minutemen are going to turn some heads this year and they are in it for the long run
St. Joseph Academy– Behind staple Gianna Reginelli and budding superstar Emerson Glending, the Jaguars will be a strong contender
Walsh Jesuit– The Warriors will have their most competitive team in several years with both new and returning talent

District Contenders
Avon– The Eagles lost a lot from last year but they are a team that can build from within
Avon Lake– Even with some significant losses, the Shoregals should still be near the top of the Southwestern Conference
Bay– The Rockets return much talent and are a team to watch out for in 2024
Brecksville– New coach Sylvia Stibley will look to rekindle some of the Bees’ past success
Brunswick– Freshman Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble is the real deal and will lead the Blue Devils
Carrollton– The Warriors will have a balanced attack with at least three players who can go low
GlenOak– The Eagles are a solid team who will be competitive in the Federal League
Green– The District Tournament is a usual stop for the Bulldogs, who will have a good shot of getting there again in 2024
Kent Roosevelt– The Rough Riders will be led by Ashlyn Leavery and have a deep supporting cast that features both young and experienced players
Lake– There will be some new faces contributing for the Blue Streaks this season
Nordonia– Julia Gulla will continue to impress and will lean on a young group of teammates to surround her
North Royalton– With the emergence of Chloe Yoon as a clear number one player last year, the Bears will dive into their depth to compete in 2024
Rocky River– Behind Mia Ginnetti, the Pirates will have a strong attack that could take them to high places
Strongsville– The Mustangs lost some generational talent but they still have experienced players returning in 2024
Stow– Olivia Berlingieri will take the reigns as the Bulldogs’ team leader and try to take the team on a postseason run

Other Contenders
Cloverleaf– The Colts will be a fun team to watch as they look to continue their MAC dominance
Copley– The Indians have had a strong foundation for the past few years and look to take the next step
Dover– With a good amount of depth, the Tornadoes are very close to being in contention
Kenston– The Bombers are a team that gets better throughout the season and are always in the hunt
Mayfield– Young talent will lead the Wildcats as they look to compete for a WRC championship
Massillon– This group of Tigers has grown together and hope to have their work culminate with a strong run in 2024
Medina– New coach Laura Stauffenger has a lot to replace and will have the Bees in rebuilding mode
Solon– Serena Wu is one of the top players in the state and will need her supporting cast to step up in 2024
Tallmadge– The Blue Devils are an under-the-radar team that could surprise some people this year

Division 2

Top Teams
Edgewood– The Warriors return a significant amount of talent and have a good chance to make program history
Southeast– Behind Taylor Blazek, the Pirates look to overcome a close miss from last year and punch a ticket to Akron

State Hopefuls
Chagrin Falls– Freshman Elizabeth Pollock is going to bring some energy to a Tigers team that is aways competitive
Columbiana– The Clippers have one of the most stable programs in the area and this may be their most talented team in years
East Canton– The Hornets will look to make history this year and might just have the roster to make it happen
Independence– Under new head coach Mike Gruber, the Blue Devils won’t be dominant as they have been in the past, but still have the talent to make a splash
Keystone– Look for freshman Sophia Clarico to make an immediate impact in LaGrange and lead the Wildcats to a successful season
LaBrae– Although there is no superstar in LaBrae, the Vikings have four solid players who will look to contend
Orange– After the emergence of Anuja Patel, the Lions have become an immediate contender in the Division 2 landscape
Perry– The Pirates always field a strong, competitive team and will have a very talented one-two punch this year

District Contenders
Bristol– The Panthers will surprise many other teams this year as they are a program on the rise
Canton South– The success of the Wildcats will depend on their third and fourth scores behind their strong top two players
Elyria Catholic– Destiny Perkins will lead the Panthers and try to get some help from a team that has built depth over the past couple years
Gilmour– The Lancers are a team that will rely on a steady performance from all four scorers in 2024
Lake Catholic– The Cougars are improving a little bit every season and are hoping it culminates in much success this year
Rootstown– Only three years in as a program, the Rovers are steadily building a strong team
Springfield (Akron)– Look for the Spartans to compete if they can get consistent play from their number three and four scores
Woodridge– The Bulldogs return a good amount of talent from last year and that is just what they will need to be successful

Other Contenders
Lakeview– Behind Cassie Klotz, the Bulldogs are a team right on the periphery
Mineral Ridge– The Rams have some depth and need just a little improvement to have a chance to prolong their postseason
Northwest– The Indians are a very well coached team who will improve as the season moves on
West Branch– The Warriors are without a superstar this year but still have some pieces to make a move

2024 Girls Golf Players to Watch

Bobby BolinLeave a comment

We surveyed several coaches in the area and these are some players to keep an eye on in the 2024 season. Also, check out our list of Individual Players. These are players whose teams do not have a girls team, but they will either be competing on their boys team or as an individual throughout the season.

Division 1 Top Players (Alphabetical)

Olivia Berlingieri (Stow)
Emmy Burling (Hudson)
Kristina Chill (Magnificat)
Elizabeth Coleman (Highland)
Mia Ginnetti (Rocky River)
Emerson Glending (St. Joseph)
Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble (Brunswick)
Julia Gulla (Nordonia)
Dixon Hill (Hathaway Brown)
Ellie Hutzler (Hoover)
Lauren Iannetta (Eastlake North)
Ava Kemp (Hoover)
Kayla Knaze (Magnificat)
Yumi Kohara (Walsh Jesuit)
Hannah Lee (Strongsville)
Zoe Mort (Marlington)
Cara Murphy (Jackson)
Maureen O’Leary (Magnificat)
Kylie Porter (Hoover)
Cammy Reed (Magnificat)
Gianna Reginelli (St. Joseph)
Elena Varga (Hudson)
Gracyn Vidovic (Aurora)
Sarah Vojtko (Walsh Jesuit)
Serena Wu (Solon)

Division 2 Top Players (Alphabetical)

Taylor Blazek (Southeast)
Sophia Clarico (Keystone)
Annie Johnston (Edgewood)
Macey McGhee (Independence)
Dally Meek (Hillsdale)
Samantha Morgan (Southeast)
Anuja Patel (Orange)
Jillian Peters (Perry)
Elizabeth Pollock (Chagrin Falls)
Katie Pregibon (Cardinal Mooney)
Mia Steigerwald (East Canton)
Addy Trefzger (Perry)
Avery Vencill (Edgewood)
Madison Wade (Dalton)

Division 1 Other Players to Watch

Avery Albright (Highland)
Kate Banning (Revere)
Natalie Barnes (Nordonia)
Blake Cody (Hathaway Brown)
Miya Cohol (Canfield)
Alex Conley (Canfield)
Caitrin Coyle (St. Vincent-St. Mary)
Amrita Deo (Revere)
Miya Downing (Dover)
Alyssa Evans (Hoover)
Kasee Gallo (Carrollton)
Tess Gibel (St. Joseph)
Manish Girn (Aurora)
Milena Grametbauer (Jackson)
Maddie Harpley (Revere)
Kamdyn Hershberger (GlenOak)
Rylee Hoover (St. Vincent-St. Mary)
McKenna Kiewatt (Hudson)
Ashlyn Leavery (Kent Roosevelt)
Saumya Mahajan (Revere)
Adrianna Mineo (Kent Roosevelt)
Jada Moore (Carrollton)
Julie Paradise (Mayfield)
Aubree Philibin (Canfield)
Charlotte Raketich (Jackson)
Gianna Rodenhauser (Walsh Jesuit)
Kaylee Russell (Carrollton)
Natalie Sawicki (Canfield)
Julia Schmid (Rocky River)
Brooke Shocklee (Green)
Sydney Shocklee (Green)
Kendall Sprutte (Highland)
Colleen Stadler (Walsh Jesuit)
Sophia Thompson (Stow)
Olivia Tobin (Avon Lake)
Julia Van Bokkelen (Hudson)
Hannah Weinberger (Hathaway Brown)
Gabby Witschey (Highland)
Chloe Yoon (North Royalton)

Division 2 Other Players to Watch

Ava Archer (Cornerstone Christian)
Reagan Burnight (Chagrin Falls)
Maria DeCapua (Independence)
Abby Evans (Ursuline)
Emma Feakins (Keystone)
Hailey Franks (Canton South)
Abby Hopkins (Open Door Christian)
Ellie Jackson (Columbiana)
Maddie Jackson (Columbiana)
Isabella Jenior (Waterloo)
Tessa Kemelhar (Orange)
Cassie Klotz (Lakeview)
Maggie Kothera (Kirtland)
Leah Kramer (Canton South)
Kennedy Lewis (Southern Local)
Emma Madsen (Lake Catholic)
Elyse Mallette (East Canton)
Hailey Muntean (Columbiana)
Zoe Naus (Edgewood)
Destiny Perkins (Elyria Catholic)
Avery Rodocker (Tuslaw)
Meghan Steigerwald (East Canton)
Madison Touart (LaBrae)
Aubrey Varga (Southeast)
Sadie Villers (Northwest)
Elizabeth Weingart (Laurel)
Addison Williams (Bristol)
Anistyn Williams (Bristol)
Ella Zampedro (Lake Catholic)

2024 All-American Conference Preview

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The changing of the guard in the All-American Conference looks to be complete as Canfield has now swept the league in consecutive years and are the heavy favorites to repeat. Coach Dean Conley has a solid foundation and will only see improvement over the next several years. The Cardinals should be a contender for both Districts and have an outside shot at finding a way to Dayton for the State Tournament. Austintown Fitch, Boardman, and Howland will all be in chase mode in 2024.

Impact Players

Miya Cohol (SR) Canfield
Alex Conley (SO) Canfield
Aubree Philibin (SO) Canfield
Gianna Ross (SO) Boardman
Natalie Sawicki (JR) Canfield
Sloan Wolanzyk (SO) Howland
Hannah Zhu (SR) Howland

Freshmen to Watch

Austintown-Fitch Falcons

Head Coach- Daniel Horacek
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Old Avalon Sectional

Boardman Spartans

Head Coach- Lee Christman
Last Year’s Results- 8th at Old Avalon Sectional

Canfield Cardinals

Head Coach- Dean Conley
Last Year’s Results- 4th at Old Avalon Sectional, 13th at Brookledge District, 6-1 AAC Season Champion, AAC Tournament Champions, 3.6 Team GPA (including two 4.0)
Coach’s Comments- We’re excited to have an experienced group returning this season led by our two seniors Miya Cohol and Cadence Elford! Last year’s district qualification has really motivated the entire team and they have been working hard since December in our winter and spring programs. We’re also hoping our tough schedule will allow us to see how competitive we can be at the end of the season.

Howland Tigers

Head Coach- Rex Rager
Last Year’s Results- 10th at Old Avalon Sectional

2024 Chagrin Valley Conference Preview

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The Chagrin Valley Conference will be broken up into two divisions in 2024. The division breakdown can be found by visiting the CVC Page on our website. Both the Chagrin and Valley divisions look to be very competitive as the season approaches.

The Chagrin Division has typically been dominated by the Independence Blue Devils. Independence will still be strong in 2024, led by seniors Macey McGhee and Maria DeCapua, but will face some stiff competition from both Orange and Chagrin Falls. Orange saw the emergence of Anuja Patel last season and she will lead the Lions while having a strong supporting cast. Freshman Elizabeth Pollock will have an immediate impact for Chagrin Falls and could be a contender for conference Player of the Year. Lutheran West and Hawken will both bring in young teams looking to build for the future. Cuyahoga Heights and Fairview look to have small rosters and will rely on their returning players to mentor their incoming teammates.

In the Valley Division, two teams are poised to make strong postseason runs and will likely be fighting for the division crown. Edgewood returns their entire starting lineup and have a legitimate shot to find a way to Akron to compete in the State Tournament. Led by Annie Johnston and Avery Vencill, the Warriors will look to improve a little more after a very successful 2023 season. The Pirates from Perry High School will be right up there with the Warriors. Senior Addie Trefzger and junior Jillian Peters will take on the workload for Perry as they look to contend in the CVC and the end of the year tournaments. Madison always fields a solid team and will have a good balance of both experience and new players. Geneva is another team that is building for the future along with both Berkshire and Lakeside.

Impact Players

Kelly Anderson (SR) Fairview
Jocelyn Bancroft (SR) Madison
Reagan Burnight (JR) Chagrin Falls
Keira Chang (JR) Hawken
Sarah Cybulski (JR) Geneva
Brooke DiBell (SO) Lakeside
Maria DiCapua (SR) Independence
Juliana Faraguna (SR) West Geauga
Kelia Goines (SR) Cuyahoga Heights
Kennedy Hughes (SO) Lutheran West
Annie Johnston (JR) Edgewood
Grace Louden (SR) Berkshire
Tessa Kemelhar (SR) Orange
Macey McGhee (SR) Independence
Zoe Naus (JR) Edgewood
Anuja Patel (SO) Orange
Jillian Peters (JR) Perry
Addy Trefzger (SR) Perry
Avery Vencill (SR) Edgewood

Freshmen to Watch

Samara Harris (Lutheran West)
Elizabeth Pollock (Chagrin Falls)
Jules Stilley (Lutheran West)
Saviana Taylor (Cuyahoga Heights)

Berkshire Badgers

Head Coach- Doug Lory
Last Year’s Results- 14th at Punderson Sectional

Chagrin Falls Tigers

Head Coach- Kristin Reboul
Last Year’s Results- 5th at Punderson Sectional
Coach’s Comments- We are excited for the 2024 season. We are grateful for our terrific combination of returning player leadership and experience combined with abundant interest and incoming talent.

Cuyahoga Heights Red Wolves

Head Coach- Erin Harris
Last Year’s Results- 9th at Punderson Sectional, 4-3 regular season

Edgewood Warriors

Head Coach- Christina Fischer
Last Year’s Results- 7th at Punderson Sectional, 17-0 regular season record, CVC Valley Division Co-Champs, Annie Johnston district qualifier
Coach’s Comments- With a good core of returning golfers, our expectations for the season are optimistic that we can continue to be a strong program and be competitive in every match. Players to watch are Avery Vencill, Annie Johnston and Zoe Naus as they are our solid core of returning golfers that have good averages for both 9 and 18 holes. Very excited in the growing number of golfers on the team this season. We have a total of 18 golfers and am hopeful that, even though many are new to the game, they will begin to develop into contributing team players. The returning golfers will be a good influence on their development.

Fairview Warriors

Head Coach- Chris Kaminski
Last Year’s Results- 16th at The Pines Sectional

Geneva Eagles

Head Coach- Randolph Ankrom
Last Year’s Results- 14th at Old Avalon Sectional

Hawken Hawks

Head Coach- Jennifer Creech
Last Year’s Results- 15th at Punderson Sectional

Independence Blue Devils

Head Coach- Mike Gruber
Last Year’s Results- 1st at Punderson Sectional, 1st at Good Park District, 5th at State Tournament

Lakeside Dragons

Head Coach- Bryan Schlaich
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Old Avalon Sectional

Lutheran West Longhorns

Head Coach- Megan Miller
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Punderson Sectional

Madison Blue Streaks

Head Coach- BJ Titman
Last Year’s Results- 13th at Old Avalon Sectional

Orange Lions

Head Coach- Cody Kovach
Last Year’s Results- 6th at Punderson Sectional, 9-6 dual meet record, 2nd place Berkshire Invitational, 3rd place in CVC Chagrin, Anuja Patel qualified for districts as freshman
Coach’s Comments- This team has a group of girls have some lofty goals. They know they can compete with any team and know they can make it far in the postseason. Taking it one shot at a time and making sure they don’t get to high or too low will be the key. We have great leadership with co-captains Anuja Patel and Tessa Kemelhar. This team is excited to play this year.

Perry Pirates

Head Coach- Esther Daniels
Last Year’s Results- 3rd at Punderson Sectional, 6th at Good Park District

West Geauga Wolverines

Head Coach- TBA
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Old Avalon Sectional

2024 Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference Preview

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The Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference did not have a champion in 2023, but the league features several teams that had successful seasons and will be back and competitive in 2024. Columbiana will once again come in as the favorite and as a team that has a legitimate chance to advance out of districts. The Clippers have built a deep program with many players capable of contributing every match. Numbers are also good for Southern Local, who are definitely seen as a program on the rise in the Youngstown area. United will not be able to replace legendary star Mati Zines but her legacy will live one with her returning teammates. East Palestine will need some impactful new players in order to compete in 2024.

Impact Players

Kayla Bland (JR) East Palestine
Ellie Jackson (SR) Columbiana
Maddie Jackson (SO) Columbiana
Kennedy Lewis (SR) Southern Local
Hailey Muntean (SR) Columbiana
Emma Murphy (JR) United

Freshmen to Watch

Grace Jones (United)
Alexa Kinneman (Southern Local)

Columbiana Clippers

Head Coach- Chad Moreschi
Last Year’s Results- 4th at Pine Lakes Sectional, 8th at Good Park District, Record 12-3, 1st Place EOAC tournament, 1st place: Terlesky Invitational @ The Lake Club, 4th place :Tam O’ Shanter Invitational
Coach’s Comments- We have our entire team returning after a successful year and 8th place finish at districts last year. This team is motivated to make a run for the state tournament this year.

East Palestine Bulldogs

Head Coach- Stephen Bycroft
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Pine Lakes Sectional

Southern Local Indians

Head Coach- Gerard Grimm
Last Year’s Results- 6th at Pine Lakes Sectional, 6-4, 1 District Qualifier (Paige Riggs)
Coach’s Comments- This group of young woman have put in a ton of work in the off-season. We are blessed that after just 3 short seasons of Southern Local Girls Golf, we will be able to have two separate varsity girls golf teams for the first time. The coaches are very proud of what the girls have built.

United Golden Eagles

Head Coach- Stacey Zines
Last Year’s Results- 6th at Pine Lakes Sectional, 7-6 last year; Matilyn Zines (2024 grad) was sectional and district champion and placed 8th at state.
Coach’s Comments- These girls are so much fun to be around. They work hard and know how to have fun playing a very difficult sport.

2024 Federal League Preview

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As is typically the case, the Federal League looks to be strong in 2024. Coming off a memorable run to the State Tournament in 2023, the Hoover Vikings return their entire starting lineup and will look to make a return trip to States, this time at NCR Country Club. The Jackson Polar Bears are in a good position to be Hoover’s closest challenger, also returning a good chunk of their district qualifying squad last season. Green will have an above average roster and will be looking to make a run to the District Tournament this season. GlenOak could be a much improved team and will probably turn some heads as they work through their league schedule. Lake looks to be in a bit of a rebuild but do have some young players coming up the pipeline to be competitive in the future. Perry looks to have some stability in their coaching staff and are headed in the right direction while Canton McKinley is looking to rebuild and gain more interest in the program.

Impact Players

Leah Dang (SO) Green
Addie Duclei (JR) Perry
Alyssa Evans (SR) Hoover
Milena Grametbauer (SR) Jackson
Kamdyn Hershberger (SR) GlenOak
Ellie Hutzler (SO) Hoover
Ava Kemp (SR) Hoover
Cara Murphy (SR) Jackson
Kylie Porter (SR) Hoover
Charlotte Raketich (JR) Jackson
Zoe Schnyders (SO) McKinley
Brooke Shocklee (JR) Green
Sydney Shocklee (SR) Green
Grace Swihart (JR) Lake

Freshmen to Watch

Charlie Brophy (Lake)
Olivia Dougherty (GlenOak)
Gia Remark (Hoover)

Canton McKinley Bulldogs

Head Coach- Clifford Lee
Last Year’s Results- DNS at The Elms Sectional

GlenOak Golden Eagles

Head Coach- Scott McCahan
Last Year’s Results- 6th at The Elms Sectional
Coach’s Comments- We have a nice mixture of returning experience and incoming freshmen. Offseason work will ultimately determine how well they improve this year.

Green Bulldogs

Head Coach- Jake Shocklee
Last Year’s Results- 4th at The Elms Sectional, 15th at Brookledge District, 4th place in Federal League
Coach’s Comments- Solid group of returning players that qualified for Districts last season. Need to have a couple young ladies step up and fill varsity roles in order to compete with the top teams. We are looking forward to the challenge! GO BULLDOGS!!

Hoover Vikings

Head Coach- Scott Snyder
Last Year’s Results- 1st at The Elms Sectional, 4th at Brookledge District, 9th at State Tournament, Federal League Champions (undefeated)
Coach’s Comments- We return 4 of our top 5 from last season, so we are hopeful for another good season. With a few key JV players improving, there’s no doubt we could be very competitive throughout the year.

Jackson Polar Bears

Head Coach- Teal Harvey
Last Year’s Results- 2nd at The Elms Sectional, 9th at Brookledge District, 2nd in league
Coach’s Comments- Looking to build off of last year with four varsity starters returning. Once again, we will be playing in some very good non-league tournaments throughout the state. Combine that with the always strong play our Federal League matches provide us, we hope that our team will be prepared when postseason play begins.

Lake Blue Streaks

Head Coach- Michael Yoder
Last Year’s Results- 3rd at The Elms Sectional, 16th at Brookledge District, 8-2 in matches
Coach’s Comments- We graduated 8 experienced players in the last two years. We will be young this year and return three girls that lettered last year. We are looking to our returning Junior players to provide leadership to this team and hoping that our underclassmen will be ready to play

Perry Panthers

Head Coach- Dan Pierce
Last Year’s Results- 8th at The Elms Sectional

2024 Greater Cleveland Conference Preview

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A two team race emerged in the Greater Cleveland Conference in 2023 as the Medina Bees and Strongsville Mustangs battled for conference supremacy. Medina was able to hold off Strongsville as they both won the conference and qualified for the District Tournament. The Bees, under new coach Laura Stauffenger, will have a good amount of work to do in order to repeat as they lost a once in a generation group of four seniors last year. Strongsville will also be trying to overcome a big loss, senior Natalie Kostalnick, who led the Mustangs for four years. That will leave Hannah Lee as the top player for Strongsville. If these two teams cannot hold their perennial positions at the top of the conference, it could leave room for the Brunswick Blue Devils to take control. Brunswick returns a young base of players and will have one of the biggest impact freshmen in Northeast Ohio, Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble. Shaker Heights will lose superstar Emily Lamb and will need some of their returning players to step up and show a good deal of improvement. Mentor is a team that could always contend because of shear numbers, although they do not have the star power at the top of the lineup. Cleveland Heights will have a new coach and will be in building mode.

Impact Players

Sydney Bass (SR) Strongsville
Jessica Buzinski (JR) Brunswick
Corinne Christeon (JR) Medina
Morgan Deeringer (SR) Medina
Hannah Lee (SR) Strongsville
Sarah Morris (SR) Mentor
Rylee Roth (SO) Brunswick
Santina Wilson (SR) Shaker Heights

Freshmen to Watch

Ashley Bittner (Mentor)
Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble (Brunswick)
Lily Zimmerman (Medina)

Brunswick Blue Devils

Head Coach- Chad Thompson
Last Year’s Results- 8th at Springvale Sectional, 3rd in the GCC
Coach’s Comments- We are extremely proud of the work that some of our players have put into this offseason so far. We have a total of 6 kids in our program that are signed up for summer tournaments. Jess Buzinski will be a junior and brings two years of varsity golf experience to the table. She made tremendous improvements in her sophomore season, dropping her career low (83) by over ten shots. Rylee Roth will be a sophomore, and returns after a fantastic freshman season. She has worked hard to improve throughout the winter and just recently posted her career low (86) on the NOPGA Tour. We will also add a very good junior player to our lineup this season with incoming freshman Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble. She has been playing competitive golf on the AJGA, Golfweek, NOPGA, and US Kids Tours since she could walk, and we are extremely excited for her to be a part of our program. These three will make up the core of our lineup, with Teigan Dryer (10th) and Autumn Muslusky (10th) being added into the mix. The expectations for our program will be higher this season. We expect to compete in the GCC and hope to win our first team conference championship in school history. We also think we will be much more competitive at the Sectional Tournament, and have the goal of making it to Districts as a team for the first time in school history. Brunswick would like to thank all the teams in NE Ohio that believe in the direction of our program and have invited us to their events! We are fortunate to be able to strengthen our schedule every year, and look forward to seeing how we stack up against all of the great teams in our area!

Cleveland Heights Tigers

Head Coach- TBA
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Fox Den Sectional

Medina Bees

Head Coach- Laura Stauffenger
Last Year’s Results- 3rd at Springvale Sectional, 12th at Brookledge District, Record: 6-2, Greater Cleveland Conference Champions

Mentor Cardinals

Head Coach- James Hrusovsky
Last Year’s Results- 11th at Old Avalon Sectional, Finished 4th in the conference.
Coach’s Comments- We are going to be a young group this year but Seniors, Sarah Morris and Genna Zagar will bring a lot of experience to the group. The girls have put in a lot of work this winter, spring and summer. I am excited to see what they bring to the course this fall!

Shaker Heights Raiders

Head Coach- Joe Welsch
Last Year’s Results- 9th at Fox Den Sectional, 6-5 in 9-hole matches. Emily Lamb qualified for Districts as an individual.
Coach’s Comments- We have been improving and made great strides from start to finish last year. We went from shooting a 496 at our first tournament to a 388 at Sectionals-Fox Den for a 9th/15 finish. Losing a 3 time district qualifier in Emily Lamb is difficult to replace, but we have many girls ready to make tremendous growth. Senior Gracie Turner, who shot a 93 at Sectionals last year and Addie Prude (SO) will be players to watch this upcoming season.

Strongsville Mustangs

Head Coach- Kevin Weir
Last Year’s Results- 4th at Springvale Sectional, 10th at Brookledge District, 2nd in the GCC
Coach’s Comments- We lost two key members to graduation last year from our squad, but have a handful of seniors who look to build off the momentum from the 2023 season.

2024 Independent Schools Preview

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As is always the case, there is a wide range of talent among the independent schools in 2024. Hathaway Brown and St. Joseph Academy will be the two teams on top of this group but there are several schools that are on the rise. Seniors Dixon Hill from Hathaway Brown and Gianna Reginelli from St. Joseph are two of the top golfers in Northeast Ohio. Archbishop Hoban, under second year coach Katie Camp, will continue to build in the hopes of being a contender. Bristol is a small school to watch out for in Division 2 and may make a serious postseason run. Firestone, Laurel, and St. Vincent-St. Mary will all look to replace several significant pieces that are generational talents and will most likely be in rebuilding mode.

Impact Players

Blake Cody (SR) Hathaway Brown
McCamey Compan (SO) Pymatuning Valley
Caitrin Coyle (JR) St. Vincent-St. Mary
Abby Evans (SR) Ursuline
Tess Gibel (JR) St. Joseph
Emerson Glending (JR) St. Joseph
Dixon Hill (SR) Hathaway Brown
Rylee Hoover (JR) St. Vincent-St. Mary
Mary Kim (SR) St. Joseph
Abbie Pantea (SR) Firestone
Gianna Reginelli (SR) St. Joseph
Mae Steigerwald (SO) Gilmour
Lily Taylor (SO) Hoban
Hannah Weinberger (SR) Hathaway Brown
Elizabeth Weingart (JR) Laurel
Addison Williams (SR) Bristol
Anistyn Williams (SO) Bristol

Freshmen to Watch

Akron North Vikings

Head Coach- Mike McBennett
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Fox Den Sectional

Bristol Panthers

Head Coach- James Vecchio
Last Year’s Results- 11th at Punderson Sectional

Chippewa Chipps

Head Coach- Jason Egli
Last Year’s Results- DNS at The Pines Sectional

Firestone Falcons

Head Coach- Justin Persinger
Last Year’s Results- 8th at Fox Den Sectional

Gilmour Academy Lancers

Head Coach- John Malloy
Last Year’s Results- 8th at Punderson Sectional

Archbishop Hoban Knights

Head Coach- Katie Camp
Last Year’s Results- 13th at The Elms Sectional
Coach’s Comments- I am excited to have 5 returning players and an additional 7 potential new players. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish as a team this year as the program continues to grow. I can’t wait to get back on the course with the girls. Go Knights!

Lake Ridge Academy Royals

Head Coach- Freddie Nelson
Last Year’s Results- DNS at The Pines Sectional

Lorain Titans

Head Coach- Dino Pappas
Last Year’s Results- Unknown

Lowellville Rockets

Head Coach- Daniel Dougherty
Last Year’s Results- 15th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Pymatuning Valley Lakers

Head Coach- Jeff Compan
Last Year’s Results- 9th at Pine Lakes Sectional

St. Joseph Academy Jaguars

Head Coach- Maureen Adler
Last Year’s Results- 2nd at Springvale Sectional, 14th at Brookledge District
Coach’s Comments- With the return of 4 of our 5 golfers who went to Districts, our goal is to return. Gianna Reginelli 12 and Emerson Glending 11 both have solid games and the potential to go to States. Tess Gibel 11 and Ellen Mingus 11 will have even stronger games and the rest of the team all have a shot at varsity experience. They are working hard and have a true love for the game.

St. Vincent-St. Mary Irish

Head Coach- Dirk Hartman
Last Year’s Results- 1st at The Pines Sectional, 2nd at Good Park District, 4th at State Tournament
Coach’s Comments- We will only have two girls competing this year, and have been moved to Division I

Ursuline Fighting Irish

Head Coach- Michael Murphy
Last Year’s Results- 3rd at Pine Lakes Sectional, 9th at Good Park District

Wellington Dukes

Head Coach- Michael Braddock
Last Year’s Results- 12th at The Pines Sectional

2024 Inter Valley Conference Preview

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While Garaway still looks to be the frontrunner in the Inter Valley Conference, the East Canton Hornets will definitely be a factor. This is a team that has ambitions to go all the way to Firestone Country Club for the State Tournament. Mia Steigerwald and company will play a significant role in the Division 2 landscape this season and have a legitimate shot to go a very long way in late September and early October.

Impact Players

Ella Cater (SR) East Canton
Elyse Mallette (SR) East Canton
Charlie Robinson (JR) East Canton
Meghan Steigerwald (SO) East Canton
Mia Steigerwald (SR) East Canton

Freshmen to Watch

East Canton Hornets

Head Coach- J.D. Ryder
Last Year’s Results- 2nd at The Pines Sectional, 11th at Good Park District

2024 Lake Erie Girls Golf Association Preview

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The Rocky River Pirates will look to repeat as LEGGA champions in 2024 after a dominant finish last fall in the exclusive girls golf conference made up of teams from the Lorain County League and Great Lakes Conference. Senior Mia Ginnetti will be the frontrunner for Player of the Year honors and will be leading an experienced Pirate squad who will look to make a run toward the District Tournament this season. They will be chased by Keystone, Bay, and Westlake. The Wildcats have some young talent coming up, namely freshman Sophia Clarico, and will be a strong contender in Division 2 while the Rockets are a team that is going the right direction and will be much improved. Westlake continues to be strong but will have to reload after losing several players to graduation. North Olmsted will be looking to fill in the back end of their lineup and Columbia will have a lot to replace from last season.

Impact Players

Maddie Bigler (SR) Bay
Addie Crane (JR) Rocky River
Emma Feakins (SR) Keystone
Charlotte Fox (JR) Bay
Mia Ginnetti (SR) Rocky River
Rose Lane (SR) North Olmsted
Manya Mitta (SO) Columbia
Julia Schmid (SR) Rocky River
Sophie Taylor (JR) Westlake
Kayla Weisenberger (SR) North Olmsted

Freshmen to Watch

Sophia Clarico (Keystone)
Isabelle Kessler (Westlake)

Bay Rockets

Head Coach- Victoria Budzyn
Last Year’s Results- 10th at Springvale Sectional, 11 wins-7 losses
Coach’s Comments- We are excited to have Charlotte Fox and Maddie Bigler leading our team this year. Along with Annabel Sjoberg, each of these girls has three years of varsity experience. We have 11 returning golfers from last year, most of which are now juniors with two years of experience. We also have a few new golfers joining our team that we expect to make an impact!

Columbia Raiders

Head Coach- Sam Clark
Last Year’s Results- 6th at The Pines Sectional

Keystone Wildcats

Head Coach- David Slee
Last Year’s Results- 4th at The Pines Sectional, 12th at Good Park District
Coach’s Comments- We had a tough year last year, a growing year for sure, but things are looking different out of the gate this year. Our girls have been working in the offseason and it shows this summer. We are excited for the season to start and see their hard work pay off.

North Olmsted Eagles

Head Coach- Nolan Turpin
Last Year’s Results- 15th at Springvale Sectional, 4-10 (3-9 League)

Rocky River Pirates

Head Coach- Jeff Hammond
Last Year’s Results- 5th at Springvale Sectional, 19-2, two district qualifiers, 1st place LEGGA Championship, LEGGA regular season champions, 1st place Rocky River Invitational, 3rd place Edison Invitational, 7th place Brunswick Tee-Off Classic, 7th place Fox Meadow COED classic, 10th place Flamingo Frenzy, 10th place Canterbury Invitational
Coach’s Comments- Player to watch: Mia Ginnetti. District qualifier and only getting better. Team bringing back 3 of our top 4 golfers from last year missing districts as a team by 1 stroke.

Westlake Demons

Head Coach- Traci Edmunds
Last Year’s Results- 11th at Springvale Sectional, 7-3 (3rd place in conference)