Category: Media

Big Met to Host Sectional in 2024

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According to multiple sources, the Sectional Tournament that had been previously played at Springvale Golf Course has been moved to Big Met Golf Course in Fairview Park. Big Met prides itself on potentially being the most played golf course in the state of Ohio and has been open since 1926. Stanley Thompson was the original architect of the course, which is owned and operated by the Cleveland Metroparks. The current Division 1 Sectional hosts are Old Avalon in Warren, Fox Den in Stow, and the Elms in North Lawrence.

The Offseason- Division 2

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Here is a look at the current state of some programs and what they will have coming back in 2024.

Changing of the Guard

The Division 2 Girls Golf landscape may be changing significantly in 2024. St. Vincent-St. Mary and Independence both had dominant runs but will need some young players to step up this fall. Both teams have two significant contributors returning from their state qualifying teams but will have some holes to fill to replace what they lose to graduation. For the Irish, Raygan Hoover and Reese Latta both gave four strong years to the program. Raygan’s younger sister Rylee along with Caitrin Coyle, both who will be juniors, will easily be the first two in St. V’s lineup. For the Blue Devils, Macey McGhee and Maria DeCapua will both be entering their senior seasons as the top players, but will need some help to replace Molly McGreal and Adriann Buyansky.

The uncertainty with the last year’s two dominant programs will open the door to some new blood in D2. One team that is looking to take advantage of that opportunity is the Southeast Pirates. Southeast missed going to the State Tournament by two strokes last year and will look to avenge that in 2024. The will lose one key piece of the 2023 team in Gracie Westover but return a deep, talented squad, which will also get some help from a strong freshman class. Senior Taylor Blazek will most likely stay in the top spot of the lineup. Other returners include juniors Aubree Varga and Adrianna Sloan.

In the far reaches of Northeast Ohio, the Edgewood Warriors will be really looking forward to the 2024 season. Edgewood will return their entire lineup from last season. Although they did not make it to Districts, Edgewood should have some very high goals for this upcoming season. Seniors Avery Vencill and Emma Hart-Wood will once again team up with juniors Annie Johnston and Zoe Naus to look to make something special happen in Ashtabula.

East Canton, like Edgewood will see their entire lineup look exactly the same this fall. With a little improvement over their results last year, 2024 could be the best team the Hornets have had. Senior Mia Steigerwald, her sophomore sister Meghan Steigerwald, senior Elyse Mallette, and junior Charlie Robinson are a group that will be very ambitious once August rolls around.

Columbiana might not have a single superstar player, but they may also be the deepest D2 team in Northeast Ohio. The Clippers regularly rotate their young players into matches and tournaments to give them the most experience they can get. 2024 might be the culmination of that strategy. Sisters Ellie Jackson, who is a senior, and Maddie Jackson, a sophomore will lead Columbiana and will receive assistance from seniors Hailey Muntean, Annaka Patrick, and Mackenzie Day along with juniors Sophia Perry, Sydney Spaite, Hannah Moffet, and Emma Gazzaniga. Sophomore Claire Banner will also contribute to the Clippers this year.

Possibly the most surprising team in the area in 2023 was Orange High School. Freshman Anuja Patel became a household name by the end of the season and will look to build on that success during her sophomore year. Two seniors, Tessa Kemelhar and Bree Turner, will join junior Alex O’Connor to provide the depth the Lions need to compete for a trip to the State Tournament. Orange is yet another school that returns their entire starting lineup and that experience will be crucial, especially when competing in Division 2, where many teams are not exceptionally deep.

A final team bringing back their entire starting lineup and on the verge of being competitive is the Bristol Panthers. They will need to take a big step in 2024 but it is possible to see them making a run to Districts and competing to go even further. Senior Addison Williams will lead the Panthers and will receive some help from sophomore Anistyn Williams along with juniors Kayden Gillin and Ava Stammer.

Time to Get Going

Lorain County has a team to keep an eye on. The Keystone Wildcats have quietly been growing their program to the point where 2024 will be a season where they could compete at the highest level. Keystone has built the foundation needed to be successful with seniors Emma Feakins and Lucy Cook. Junior Alexis Askew will also be a strong scorer for the Wildcats. With these three and some talented freshmen rising up, Keystone will be ready to make a run.

Chagrin Falls has had high hopes over the last couple seasons but have struggled to play well at the right times. That could very well change in 2024 as the Tigers have a talented freshman class coming up to assist the team in fighting for a Chagrin Valley Conference crown. Junior Reagan Burnight and senior Gracie Ryan are the returning contributors and the Tigers will also look for some help from a decent sized roster of experienced players.

Sitting right on the outskirts, looking for a place at the table in the D2 conversation are the Vikings from LaBrae High School. Madison Touart, a strong player, will enter her senior year ready for LaBrae to break through. Junior Mia Sloan and sophomore Riley Rowe will help Touart and the rest of the Vikings look to accomplish all they can in 2024.

Hard to Replace

Alongside Independence and St. Vincent-St. Mary, there are several other schools that will need to replace some key pieces in order to stay competitive. Perry will have to learn to play without graduate Emily Capitosti. They will rely heavily on returners Addie Trefzger and Jillian Peters, a senior and junior respectively. Canton South loses three key parts and will have a very young team, led by juniors Hailey Franks and Leah Cramer. Rootstown, minus Audrey Francis, will be a junior dominant team with several players looking to break out. Lake Catholic is in a similar situation, losing Theresa Lazanich. They will have a young core that will look to build together. Finally, Laurel, coming off a trip to the State Tournament will not be able to replace Siena Maschke, who won the individual state championship. They will need junior Elizabeth Weingart to step up and lead an inexperienced group to improve throughout the season.

Congratulations Coach Picicco

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Over the weekend, Kent Roosevelt JV coach Larry Picicco announced that he was stepping down from the position. Coach Picicco had been with the program for over a decade, including a short stint as head coach. Players, parents, and opposing coaches all respected and admired his dedication to his athletes and the program. We would like to offer congratulations to Larry Picicco on an amazing run at Kent Roosevelt. Below is a tribute from the Kent Roosevelt Girls Golf Facebook page.

A bittersweet week for the Lady Rider Golf program. On Monday, Assistant Varsity Coach Larry Picicco announced that he would be retiring from the program after 13 years of coaching. Coach Picicco was one of the founders of this program and gave endless time and effort to ensure its success. We will miss his knowledge, energy and commitment to the team. However, what will be missed the most will be his caring demeanor and ability, to make easy, the difficult transition from middle school to high school for our players. Coach Picicco truly impacted the lives of so many players on our team, on our youth program, and in the golfing community. The picture attached to this post speaks volumes of the importance of relationships and family that make Coach Pic the incredible coach and friend we all love. Best Wishes Coach, you will be missed on the fairways!

#Traditionofexcellence, #hardworkpaysoff

The Offseason- Division 1

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Here is a look at the current state of some programs and what they will have coming back in 2024.

Time to Dominate

For most teams, losing a generational talent like Cara Heisterkamp would be devastating to their program. But not Magnificat, who will look to reload after a second place finish in the state in 2023. They will look to returning stars Cammy Reed, Maureen O’Leary, and Kristina Chill to lead the team, and will look to see strong improvements from sophomore Kayla Knaze and senior Avery Paez.

Only one team that played in the District Tournament in 2023 brings back all four of their top players. The North Canton Hoover Vikings are a team looking to make their third consecutive trip to the State Tournament and will be one of the favorites to do so. They will turn to the same cast of characters that they did last season. Seniors Ava Kemp, Kylie Porter, and Alyssa Evans will join up with superstar sophomore Ellie Hutzler to lead the Vikings to what they hope is another Federal League title and another chance to play on the biggest stage.

Graduation Strikes

The Medina Bees had a core group of four seniors that played together since their freshman year. The group grew together over four years and kept the Bees competitive throughout their careers at Medina. Stella Burns stepped up and became the team leader in 2023, helping the Bees advance to the District Tournament. Lydia Dorman, Camille Christeon, and Carleigh Johns all were big contributors for the Bees. But all four of those top players will be graduating, leaving Medina with a young squad with not much varsity experience. Junior Corinne Christeon and senior Morgan Deeringer will be tasked with being at the helm for the Bees in 2024.

Avon Lake is a team that will also be losing most of their key contributors to graduation. While Olivia Tobin, who took a giant leap forward in 2023, will be returning for one more season, the Shoregals will see the rest of their big pieces depart. Sarah Quayle, Olivia Ritter, Mia Machovina, and Ava Lamb will leave some big shoes to fill in Avon Lake and will definitely be difficult to replace.

Another young team stepping onto the course in 2024 will be the Lake Blue Streaks. Their top three players from last season will be graduating. Audrey Nichols, Evanne Mast, and Emily Hudson all had successful careers that helped the Blue Streaks stay competitive. They will leave behind a rather inexperienced group that has a good amount of potential, led by juniors Grace Swihart and Olivia Gant.

The Avon Eagles will be looking toward the future after a big roster turnover, which includes losing District qualifier Madigan O’Leary. Allison Day and Rivya Veena will also be moving on, which will lead to opportunities for many up and coming players, such as incoming senior Kylie Kittrell and junior Emma Fitch.

Losing a Key Piece

Golf is one sport where losing one key piece can change the entire dynamic of a team and their competitiveness. When schools lose a generational players, it’s typically very difficult to impossible to replace that player. While some schools have enough depth to stay competitive, for others it is a very difficult task to move on.

Aurora is a team that will look to stay competitive in the Suburban League American but will have to do it without Brooklyn Millard, whose stellar career features a second place individual finish in Columbus along with several tournament medals. Aurora still returns Gracyn Vidovic, one of the premier players in the area and a State qualifier in 2023.

Losing the consistency of Sherry Du and leadership on and off the course from Ellie Davis will have a huge impact on the Hudson Explorers, after their most successful finish in school history. Seniors Emmy Burling and Julia Van Bokkelen will look to take another step forward and the Explorers will rely even more heavily on freshman Elena Varga this coming season.

Annie Stencel can be credited with helping bring back the Walsh Jesuit Warriors after a few years where they struggled. Stencel’s loss will be a big blow for Walsh Jesuit but they still have a talented young core of players led by sophomore phenom Yumi Kohara along with juniors Colleen Stadler and Gianna Rodenhauser. Walsh also looks to have a good freshman class coming to campus.

The Stow Bulldogs have had a sustained run of success over the past several seasons and will still have a quality team back in 2024. That team will be without Gabby Berlingieri, however. Berlingieri became the most decorated player in program history after qualifying for the State Tournament in 2023. Her sister junior Olivia Berlingieri will join senior Sophia Thompson at the top of Stow’s lineup and the Bulldogs will look to build depth behind them.

Kent Roosevelt has been a factory of producing quality golfers over the past decade. Maddie Kost was the latest in a long line of quality players for the Rough Riders. Her graduation will push senior Ashlyn Leavery into the spotlight. Kent has a young base of talent that will look to supplement Leavery to remain competitive.

In Shaker Heights, both the golf team and field hockey team will be losing a top contributor. With the graduation of Emily Lamb, the Raiders golf team will lose a two time District qualifier and a team leader. The Raiders have gotten better at attracting talent from the hallways over the past few years and could still be a team to watch out for in the Greater Cleveland Conference.

The Greater Cleveland Conference could be a very competitive league in 2024 with Medina losing their entire top four players and Brunswick emerging as a serious contender. Much of that will also depend on the Strongsville Mustangs, who will be losing their key cog, Natalie Kostalnick. Seniors Hannah Lee and Sydney Bass will return for Strongsville, who still will probably be the league favorites if their number three and four players continue to develop.

Rocky River had a dominant one-two punch at the top of their lineup in 2023. Chloe Holton will be moving on from Rocky River but Mia Ginnetti will be back for her senior season and look to lead a young group of Pirates to success in the Lake Erie Girls Golf Association.

In Plain Township, it seems that the GlenOak Golden Eagles always have one player step up to lead the team on a yearly basis. Corrie Schorsten was that player in 2023, leading the team to respectable finish in the Federal League. The team will now turn to senior Kamdyn Hershberger to take over that role in 2024.

With the graduation of Peyton Biery, the Louisville Leopards will look to remain competitive in Stark County. The Leopards have some talent returning but will need to increase their numbers to continue the success they’ve had over the past few seasons.

Ready for the Big Time

Perhaps the best depth of young talent in the area can be found at Revere High School. The Minutemen took a huge stride forward last year, including juniors Saumya Mahajan and Maddie Harpley both advancing to the District Tournament. Revere also saw the emergence of a stellar freshman class that will be supporting Mahajan and Harpley as sophomores. Amrita Deo, Kate Banning, Maddi Adessi, Ryenne Harpley, and Sarah Riley will all be potential top players for Revere heading into 2024. With a little offseason work, the Minutemen will be a serious contender.

In the Youngstown area, it appears that Canfield is on the verge of building a Mahoning Valley dynasty. While many schools in the area are seeing some diminishing talent, Canfield is going the opposite direction. They will be without 2024 graduate Taylor Morrone but all their other contributors will return for the fall season. A pair of sophomores with high potential in Aubrey Philibin and Alex Conley will join senior Miya Cohol and a loaded junior class. Canfield will look to build off their team District berth last season and see how far they can go this year.

Brunswick may still be a year away from making waves in the Greater Cleveland Conference, but they are on the precipice of being a strong contender. The Blue Devils have worked toward building a foundation and are ready for some potential freshman stars to come in over the next few years and make an immediate impact. Brunswick relied on the leadership of seniors Aislinn Leffel and McKenzie Berg last year and they will pass the torch to incoming junior Jess Buzinski who is emerging as the potential leader of the team. The depth comes from a strong sophomore class which includes Rylee Roth and Autumn Muslusky.

The team with the largest roster in Northeast Ohio is easily North Royalton. The Bears are over 25 players deep and now are starting to see talent emerge from the masses. Even losing two seniors last year, North Royalton still has the depth to try to get back to the District Tournament following a magical run two seasons ago. The surfacing of incoming sophomore Chloe Yoon is a huge positive for the Bears. Yoon will be joined by juniors Ali Kovalak and Ava Grugle along with senior Rena Steffas. With the depth the Bears have, North Royalton could also see contributions from several other players.

Everybody Back

Several area teams will have most or all of their key contributors back in the fall of 2024. These teams have seen varying degrees of success but all have the ability to be much better with little roster turnover.

One of the blue blood programs in Northeast Ohio is the Jackson Polar Bears. While they hit a little dip the last couple years, they will be back in full force. Jackson will go as senior Cara Murphy goes and she will be joined by senior Milena Grametbauer, junior Charlotte Raketich, and sophomore Kennedy Farrell, all of who were significant contributors last season.

The Federal League is one of the strongest conferences in the state year after year. The Green Bulldogs are one of the reasons for that. Green will return sisters Sydney and Brook Shocklee, a senior and junior respectively, along with freshman Leah Dang. If Green can find a fourth scorer for 2024, they will be a factor once again.

St. Joseph Academy has been in the shadow of local rival Magnificat for many years now, but the Jaguars are a very solid team themselves. Gianna Reginelli is a returning senior who is one of the best players in Northeast Ohio. She will be joined by returning juniors Emerson Glending, Tess Gibel, and senior Mary Kim. St. Joe’s will also look toward some incoming freshmen to help their team.

Cloverleaf won the Metro Athletic Conference behind junior Mackenzie Siewerth and freshman Quinn Malarkey. Both players will return with the focus on winning the MAC again and advancing through the tournaments in 2024.

Dixon Hill is back for her senior year at Hathaway Brown along with several key players, including Blake Cody. The Blazers have been a consistent state contender and 2024 looks to be another year where they will have a strong squad.

Brecksville has struggled over the last few years but the Bees saw some vast improvement in 2023. Seniors Cassidy Klodnick and Alexandra Czajkowski will pace the Bees and be joined by juniors Alice Cho and Amelia Budinsky along with sophomore Lila Beebe.

Freshman Julie Paradise came out of nowhere to lead the Mayfield Wildcats in 2023. Paradise will return and looks to be even better as a sophomore and will rely on help from senior Mackenzie Conley and junior Lucy Moran.

Things look to be a little more stable in Bay Village than they have been over the past couple years. The Rockets will return some important pieces in senior Maddie Bigler and junior Charlotte Fox. With a few more players contributing to the program, Bay will be much improved in 2024.

Tallmadge brings back their entire lineup and will have one of the most experienced teams in the Suburban League in 2024. The senior heavy group will be led by Brooke Davis and Grace Tackett.

In Eastlake, Lauren Iannetta will finish off her stellar career with the Eastlake North Rangers in 2024. Iannetta has qualified for Districts the past two years and has a good chance to get back to Brookledge this fall. The Rangers will not have as much depth as many of their competitors but Iannetta may be able to win some matches with her scores alone.

Suburban League Stars

After dominating Northeast Ohio for years, Highland will lose some significant players, including superstars Isabella Goyette and Paige McKendry along with Kavya Chada, who had a phenomenal career in eastern Medina County. That leaves junior Elizabeth Coleman as Highland’s unquestioned leader. The Hornets will still be a strong team in 2024 but will rely on some new faces. Seniors Kendall Sprutte, Avery Albright, Gabby Witschey, and Elizabeth Chester all have much experience and will compete to make the starting lineup for the Hornets.

Serena Wu single handedly led the Solon Comets in 2023 and will most likely be in a similar position this fall. Wu advanced to the State Tournament as a sophomore and will need to have a similar season to help lead the Comets in her junior year. Solon will be very inexperienced outside of Wu and will need some others to really step up to compete in a very competitive league.

Two years removed from advancing to the State Tournament, Nordonia has seen most of that team graduate, including Brooke Barnes this past season. The remaining member of that legendary lineup is senior Julia Gulla. Gulla will start the season as one of the best players in Northeast Ohio and will look to a young group of teammates to support her on the roster. Junior Natalie Barnes looks to have the potential to be one of those pieces and several other players can also contribute this fall.

The 2024 high school golf season starts on August 1st and will prove to be an exciting race to follow. Stay up to date with OhioHSGolf!

OhioHSGolf Awards 2023

Bobby Bolin2 Comments

We are lucky to live in a place and time where girls golf is extremely strong. There is a multitude of talent in all of Northeast Ohio and the game is continuing to grow. One of the reasons for starting this website was to give players the recognition and honor that they deserve. Here are our choices for the OhioHSGolf Awards!

Division 1

Danny Gallagher

Player of the Year- Isabella Goyette (Highland)
Coach of the Year- Danny Gallagher (Magnificat)
Senior MVP- Isabella Goyette (Highland)
Junior MVP- Cammy Reed (Magnificat)
Sophomore MVP- Elizabeth Coleman (Highland)
Freshman MVP- Ellie Hutzler (Hoover)

Isabella Goyette

All-Senior Team
MVP- Isabella Goyette (Highland)
Brooke Barnes (Nordonia)
Gabby Berlingieri (Stow)
Kavya Chada (Highland)
Sherry Du (Hudson)
Cara Heisterkamp (Magnificat)
Chloe Holton (Rocky River)
Maddie Kost (Kent Roosevelt)
Natalie Kostalnick (Strongsville)
Emily Lamb (Shaker Heights)
Paige McKendry (Highland)
Brooklyn Millard (Aurora)
Annie Stencel (Walsh Jesuit)

Cammy Reed

All-Junior Team
MVP- Cammy Reed (Magnificat)
Emmy Burling (Hudson)
Mia Ginnetti (Rocky River)
Julia Gulla (Nordonia)
Dixon Hill (Hathaway Brown)
Ava Kemp (Hoover)
Hannah Lee (Strongsville)
Zoe Mort (Marlington)
Cara Murphy (Jackson)
Maureen O’Leary (Magnificat)
Kylie Porter (Hoover)
Gianna Reginelli (St. Joseph)
Gracyn Vidovic (Aurora)

Elizabeth Coleman

All-Sophomore Team
MVP- Elizabeth Coleman (Highland)
Natalie Barnes (Nordonia)
Olivia Berlingieri (Stow)
Jessica Buzinski (Brunswick)
Kristina Chill (Magnificat)
Emerson Glending (St. Joseph)
Ava Grugle (North Royalton)
Charlotte Raketich (Jackson)
Gianna Rodenhauser (Walsh Jesuit)
Brooke Shockley (Green)
Colleen Stadler (Walsh Jesuit)
Natalie Warner (Louisville)
Serena Wu (Solon)

Ellie Hutzler

All-Freshman Team
MVP- Ellie Hutzler (Hoover)
Kate Banning (Revere)
Alex Conley (Canfield)
Leah Dang (Green)
Amrita Deo (Revere)
Kayla Knaze (Magnificat)
Yumi Kohara (Walsh Jesuit)
Stefania Mighton (Kenston)
Julie Paradise (Mayfield)
Aubree Philibin (Canfield)
Ava Solak (Kenston)
Elena Varga (Hudson)
Chloe Yoon (North Royalton)

Division 2

Marti Hardy (with Siena Maschke)

Player of the Year- Siena Maschke (Laurel) *Division 2 State Champion
Coach of the Year- Marti Hardy (Laurel)
Senior MVP- Siena Maschke (Laurel)
Junior MVP- Taylor Blazek (Southeast)
Sophomore MVP- Caitrin Coyle (St. Vincent-St. Mary)
Freshman MVP- Anuja Patel (Orange)

Siena Maschke

All-Senior Team
MVP- Siena Maschke (Laurel)
Abby Ankenman (Orrville)
Adriann Buyansky (Independence)
Emily Capitosti (Perry)
Kennady Grace (Champion)
Raygan Hoover (St. Vincent-St. Mary)
Delaney Kruger (Canton South)
Taylor Kuhrt (Columbia)
Molly McGreal (Independence)
Shaylee Muckleroy (West Branch)
Lauren Riccobelli (Gilmour)
Gracie Westover (Southeast)
Mati Zines (United)

Taylor Blazek

All-Junior Team
MVP- Taylor Blazek (Southeast)
Maria DeCapua (Independence)
Ellie Jackson (Columbiana)
Tessa Kemelhar (Orange)
Kennedy Lewis (Southern Local)
Macey McGhee (Independence)
Dally Meek (Hillsdale)
Hailey Muntean (Columbiana)
Mia Steigerwald (East Canton)
Addy Trefzger (Perry)
Avery Vencill (Edgewood)
Madison Wade (Dalton)
Addison Williams (Bristol)

Caitrin Coyle

All-Sophomore Team
MVP- Caitrin Coyle (St. Vincent-St. Mary)
Reagan Burnight (Chagrin Falls)
Keira Chang (Hawken)
Hailey Franks (Canton South)
Rylee Hoover (St. Vincent-St. Mary)
Annie Johnston (Edgewood)
Emma Madsen (Lake Catholic)
Zoe Naus (Edgewood)
Jillian Peters (Perry)
Katie Pregibon (Cardinal Mooney)
Aubree Varga (Southeast)
Elizabeth Weingart (Laurel)
Ella Zampedro (Lake Catholic)

Anuja Patel

All-Freshman Team
MVP- Anuja Patel (Orange)
Claire Banner (Columbiana)
Alexis Belser (Beaumont)
Angelina Boyles (Fairless)
Victoria Buckingham (Columbiana)
Maddie Jackson (Columbiana)
Maggie Kothera (Kirtland)
Isabella Linger (West Branch)
Avery Rodocker (Tuslaw)
Mae Steigerwald (Gilmour)
Meghan Steigerwald (East Canton)
Hayden Tomsic (Berkshire)
Anistyn Williams (Bristol)

Northeast Ohio All-District Awards

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The Northeast Ohio Golf Coaches Association has released the All-District teams for 2023. These awards were voted on by members of the NEOGCA. Please visit https://www.neogca.com/2021-all-neo-teams for all boys and girls honors.

Girls Division I

1st Team

Isabella Goyette – Highland (1st Team All-Ohio)

Cammy Reed – Magnificat (2nd Team All-Ohio)

Cara Heisterkamp – Magnificat

Paige McKendry – Highland

Julia Gulla – Nordonia

Sherry Du – Hudson

Emmy Burling – Hudson

Natalie Kostalnick – Strongsville

Madolyn Kost – Kent Roosevelt

Brooklyn Millard – Aurora

Gracyn Vidovic – Aurora

Serena Wu – Solon

Gabriella Berlingieri – Stow

Elizabeth Coleman – Highland

2nd Team

Ava Kemp – Hoover

Elle Hutzler – Hoover

Maureen O’Leary – Magnificat

Annie Stencel – Walsh Jesuit

Zoe Mort – Marlington

Olivia Berlingieri – Stow

Cara Murphy – Jackson

Stella Burns – Medina

Kavya Chada – Highland

Katie Sieverts – Jackson

Girls Division II

1st Team

Siena Maschke- Laurel – State Champion (1st Team All-Ohio)

Molly McGreal – Independence (2nd Team All-Ohio)

Matilyn Zines – United – (2nd Team All-Ohio)

Taylor Blazek – Southeast

Macy McGhee – Independence

Gracie Westover – Southeast

Anuja Patel – Orange

Raygan Hoover – SVSM

Caitrin Coyle – SVSM

Ellie Jackson – Columbiana

Maddie Jackson – Columbiana

Annie Johnston – Edgewood

Josie Bishara – Ursuline

2nd Team

Jade Gladue – Laurel

Katie Pregibon – Cardinal Mooney

Avery Vencill – Edgewood

Mia Steigerwald – East Canton

Kennedy Lewis – Southern Local

Abby Ankenman – Orrville

Tessa Kemelhar – Orange

Madi Wade – Dalton

Theresa Lazanich – Lake Catholic

Emma Madsen – Lake Catholic

FIRST JUNIOR OHIO CUP BEGINS TOMORROW

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AT WESTFIELD C.C.: First match goes at 11 a.m.


               Warrensville Heights: The South Course at Westfield Country Club will be the site of an historic event when the first Junior Ohio Cup begins on Saturday (October 28) at 11 a.m.

         The Junior Ohio Cup, presented by Cobra Puma Golf, is a Ryder Cup-like event between junior teams from the Northern Ohio Section of the Professional Golfers Association and the Southern Ohio Section.

         The teams are comprised of eight boys and eight girls between the ages of 14 and 18. They will compete in Four-Ball (aka Best-ball) matches at 11 a.m. on Saturday and singles matches on Sunday.

         The players earned their spots on their teams by winning their respective PGA Junior Section Championship or through their status on the season-long Player-of-the-Year points list.

         The NOPGA team will be captained by Drew Pierson, PGA and Ben Chandler, PGA will captain the SOPGA team.

 MEET THE NOPGA TEAMS

CAPTAIN: Drew Pierson, PGA

The Boys
ARYAN AHLAWAT
Age: 18
Residence: Broadview Heights
Attends: North Royalton High School
Grad Year: 2023
2023 Highlights: Won NOPGA Junior Tour events at Shawnee Hills and Mill Creek . . . Had 21 Top-10 finishes.
RYAN CZENSZAK
Age: 15
Residence: Twinsburg
Attends: Walsh Jesuit High School
Grad Year: 2026
2023 Highlights: Was the winner of NOPGA Junior Tour events at Trumbull Country Club, Wooster Country Club, Manakiki and Gleneagles … Overall, had 18 Top-10 finishes.
RYAN DINAN
Age: 17
Residence: Akron
Attends: Coventry High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Won NOPGA Junior Tour events at Fox Den and Columbia Hills . . . Added Top-10 finishes in 10 events.
DANIEL GAMBONE
Age: 16
Residence: North Canton
Attends:  North Canton Hoover High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Was the winner of the NOPGA Junior Section Championship at Oberlin, giving him automatic bid to the Junior Ohio Cup . . . Overall, had 12 Top-10 finishes.
DEXTER JAMES
Age: 14
Residence: Hudson
Attends: Hudson High School
Grad Year: 2027
2023 Highlights: Was a dominant player in his age group with victories at Trumbull Country Club, Black Brook, Plum Brook, Eagle Creek, Wooster Country Club, Shawnee Hills and Tannenhauf. That’s seven wins and 25 Top-10 finishes.
TREY LAUTENSCHLEGER
Age: 18
Residence: Dover
Attends: Massillon Washington High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Among his 11 Top-10 finishes was a victory in the NOPGA Junior Tour event at Avon Oaks Country Club.
NATHAN MENAPACE
Age: 17
Residence: New Philadelphia
Attends: New Philadelphia High School
Grad Year: 2024:
2023 Highlights: Finished the season with 10 Top-10 finishes.
SION PARK
Age: 18
Residence: Westlake
Attends: Westlake High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Was an individual qualifier to the OHSAA state tournament after getting Junior Tour wins at Plum Brook, Eagle Creek, Turkeyfoot Lakes, Wooster Country Club and Riceland.

The Girls
JULIA VAN BOKKELEN
Age: 16
Residence: Hudson
Attends: Hudson High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: 15 Top-10 finishes in NOPGA events; member of the Hudson team that qualified for the OHSAA state tournament.
EMILY BURLING
Age: 17
Residence: Hudson
Attends: Hudson High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Had three victories on the NOPGA Junior Tour – Old Avalon Stableford; Catawba Island Club and Fox Den . . . Posted 11 Top-10 finishes . . .Member of the Hudson team that qualified for the OHSAA state tournament.
KRISTINA CHILL
Age: 15
Residence: Columbia Station
Attends: Magnificat High School
Grad Year: 2026
2023 Highlights: Had NOPGA Junior Tour wins at Black Brook, Glenmoor, Columbia Hills and Manakiki . . .Had 13 Top-10 finishes . . . A member of the Magnificat team that finished as the Division I state runner up in the OHSAA state tournament.
BROOKLYN MILLARD
Age: 17
Residence: Aurora
Attends: Aurora High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Won the Junior PGA Section Championship at Oberlin Golf Club, giving her an automatic bid to the Junior Ohio Cup.
ANNELISE STENCEL
Age: 17
Residence: Akron
Attends: Walsh Jesuit High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Finished in the Top-10 in 10 events.
ALEXANDRIA VARDON
Age: 17
Residence: Akron
Attends: Firestone High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Recorded 13 Top-10 finishes
GRACYN VIDOVIC
Age: 16
Residence: Aurora
Attends: Aurora High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Had NOPGA Junior Tour victories at Ellsworth Meadows, Wooster Country Club, Shawnee Hills and Gleneagles . . . Was an individual qualifier to the state tournament . . .Had 11 Top-10 finishes.
SERENA WU
Age: 15
Residence: Solon
Attends: Solon High School
Grad Year: 2026
2023 Highlights: Won the NOPGA Tour Championship at Club Walden and was an individual qualifier for the OHSAA state tournament . . . Arguably was the NOPGA Junior Tour’s dominant player, winning 11 times at Old Avalon, Ashland, Lake Forest, Plum Brook, Legends of Massillon, Turkeyfoot Lake, Mill Creek, Windmill Lakes, Pine Hills and Punderson . . . Overall had 18 Top-10s.

MEET THE SOPGA TEAMS

Captain: Ben Chandler, PGA The Boys
CAMERON PHILLIPS
Age: 17
Residence: McDermott
Attends: Lucasville Valley High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Had one SOPGA Junior Tour victory this summer.
ANDY STEED
Age: 16
Residence: Wilmington
Attends: Clinton-Massie High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: He was the Division II state runnerup by two strokes in this year’s Division II state tournament at Northstar with consecutive rounds of 75 . . . Posted 10 victories and 19 Top-10 finishes in SOPGA events this summer.
GRIFF TURNER
Age: 17
Residence: Enon
Attends: Grenon High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Finished in the Top 10 in 12 SOPGA events this summer.
ZACH HARTLEY
Age: 18
Residence: Dayton
Attends: Centerville High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Finished in the Top 10 in 12 SOPGA events this summer.
JAMES WEI
Age: 16
Residence: Dublin
Attends: Dublin Jerome High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Had one victory and 10 Top-10 finishes in SOPGA events this summer.

COLIN CLEARY
Age: 18
Residence: Columbus
Attends: Grandview Heights High School
Grad Year: 2023
2023 Highlights: Nine Top-10 finishes in SOPGA events this summer.
LUCAS MASSA
Age: 14
Residence: Howard
Attends: Home schooled
Grad Year: 2027
2023 Highlights: He won four SOPGA events enroute to having 17 Top-10 finishes this summer.
OWEN WHITE
Age: 15
Residence: Tipp City
Attends: Tippecanoe High School
Grad Year: 2027
2023 Highlights: Posted three SOPGA victories and 12 Top-10 finishes this summer.

The Girls
ADDIE YARBROUGH
Age: 17
Residence: Dublin
Attends: Dublin Jerome High School
Grad Year: 2024
2023 Highlights: Was a member of the Division I state championship team after posting one victory and three Top-10 finishes in SOPGA events this summer.
PAIGE WEISS
Age: 16
Residence: Orient
Attends: Westfall High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Was the medalist – placing T4 individually — for the team that finished eighth in the Division II state tournament. Had six victories and 13 Top-10 finishes in SOPGA events.
KATELYN MILEY
Age: 16
Residence: Galion
Attends: Northmoor High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Turned in 13 Top-10 finishes in SOPGA events.
GRACE BOONE
Age: 16
Residence: Blanchester
Attends: Clinton-Massie High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Two victories and nine Top-10 finishes in SOPGA tournaments this summer.
AVA BRESSLER
Age: 16
Residence: Dayton
Attends: Centerville High School
Grad Year: 2025
2023 Highlights: Did not win an event but had a whopping 15 Top-10 finishes in SOPGA tournaments this summer.
ABBY HARWOOD
Age: 18
Residence: Dayton
Attends: Centerville High School
Grad Year: 2023
2023 Highlights: Had a prosperous SOPGA summer with five victories and eight To-10 finishes.
CADENCE MONROE-MCCOY
Age:14
Residence: Springfield
Attends: Northwestern High School
Grad Year: 2027
2023 Highlights: Her name was on many SOPGA leaderboards this summer with five victories and a stunning 17 Top-10 finishes.
REBEKAH HARTLEY
Age: 15
Residence: Dayton
Attends: Centerville High School
Grad Year: 2026
2023 Highlights: Three SOPGA victories and 16 Top-10 finishes suggests a future as bright as the present.

THE SCHEDULE: Friday, Oct. 27, Practice rounds; Saturday, Oct. 28, Four-Ball matches, 11 a.m.; Sunday, Oct. 29, Singles matches, 10 a.m..

SATURDAY FOUR-BALL PAIRINGS (NOPGA players listed first)
First match goes off at 11 a.m.
Girls
MATCH 1: Gracyn Vidovic & Kristina Chill vs. Paige Weiss & Katelyn Miley;  MATCH 2:  Brooklyn Millard & Julia Van Bokkelen vs. Addie Yarbrough & Rebekah Harley; MATCH 3: Serena Wu & Annelise Stencel vs. Grace Boone & Abby Haywood; MATCH 4: Emily Burling & Alex Vardon vs. Cadence Monroe-McCoy & Ava Bressler.
Boys
MATCH 1: Ryan Dinan & Aryan Ahlawat vs. Andy Steed & Griff Tuner; MATCH 2:  Sion Park & Ryan Czenszak vs. Cameron Phillips & Lucas Massa; MATCH 3: Daniel Gambone & Nathan Menapace vs. Zach Hartley & Owen White; MATCH 4: Trey Lautenschleger & Dexter James vs. Colin Cleary & James Wei.

SUNDAY SINGLES PAIRINGS (NOPGA players listed first)
First match goes off at 10 a.m.
Girls
MATCH 1: Brooklyn Millard vs. Paige Weiss; MATCH 2: Gracyn Vidovic vs.  Addie Yarbrough; MATCH 3: Serena Wu vs. Abby Haywood; MATCH 4:  Emily Burling vs. Katelyn Miley; MATCH 5: Kristina Chill vs. Ava Bressler; MATCH 6: Annelise Stencel vs. Cadence Monroe-McCoy; MATCH 7: Alex Vardon vs. Grace Boone; MATCH 8: Julia Van Bokkelen vs. Rebekah Hartley.
Boys
MATCH 1: Ryan Dinan vs. Cameron Phillips; MATCH 2: Sion Park vs. Andy Steed; MATCH 3: Daniel Gambone vs. Zach Hartley; MATCH 4: Trey Lautenschleger vs. Griff Turner; MATCH 5: Nathan Menapace vs. Colin Cleary; MATCH 6: Aryan Ahlawat vs. Lucas Massa; MATCH 7: Dexter James vs. Owen White; MATCH 8: Ryan Czenszak vs. James Wei.

Hey, 19: Four players in the Junior Ohio Cup share a stat from the recent girls Division I state tournament. The NOPGA’s Gracyn Vidovic (Aurora), Emily Burling (Hudson) and Serena Wu (Solon) and the SOPGA’s Addie Yarbrough (Dublin) were all part of a six-player tie for 19th, all at 154. Burling had the lowest 18 holes with a second-round 73.

***************************************************************************

For questions regarding the Jr. Ohio Cup, contact Northern Ohio’s Haleigh Gray at hgray@pgahq.com or Southern Ohio’s Alex Heban at aheban@pgahq.com

About the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Tour
Founded in 1982 the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Tour is dedicated to providing competitive golf opportunities for junior golfers in the Northern Ohio area. The tour offers a variety of events for players of all skill levels, including a 9-hole Futures Tour, 18-hole tournament series, Collegiate Preview events, and 36 Hole championships. Through its programs, the Northern Ohio PGA Junior Tour strives to foster a love for the game of golf, develop sportsmanship and integrity, and prepare young golfers for the next level of competition. Find out more at thenorthernohiopga.com.

About the Southern Ohio PGA Junior Tour
The SOPGA Jr. Tour was established in 2008 by the Southern Ohio PGA as an extension of the association’s more than 500 Members and Associates teaching juniors the game of golf throughout Central and Southern Ohio. Through the Players Series and Junior Series, the SOPGA Jr. Tour aims to develop young golfers while providing outstanding competitions on a local level. For almost 15 years, the SOPGA Jr. Tour has fostered the values of the game, like sportsmanship and integrity, among its members. Find out more at southernohiojuniorgolf.com.

Division 1 District Preview

Bobby BolinLeave a comment

The Information

Four team spots and four individual spots to the State Tournament are up for grabs at Brookledge Golf Club on Wednesday, October 11th. Sixteen Division 1 teams and sixteen individuals from non-qualifying teams punched their tickets to Brookledge last week. Here is all the information you need to follow along with the District Tournament.

Tickets can be purchased at http://www.ohsaa.org/tickets

Live scoring can be purchased through the OHSAA Golf App

The Course

Brookledge Golf Club

Par 71
5,337 Yards (District Tees)
Architect- Arthur Hills

Brookledge Golf Club is nestled on over 120 acres of rolling hills and woodlands, the challenging Arthur Hills layout is unlike any other in the area. The club was opened in 1992 and has consistently improved throughout the years, now ranked as the ninth best golf course in Ohio per PGA.com’s ranking. The course is always in excellent condition and has recently undergone irrigation and bunker improvements to make the course even better! (from Brookledge Official Website)

The Teams

Aurora Greenmen

Coach- Collin McEndree

Projected Lineup
1. Gracyn Vidovic (JR)
2. Brooklyn Millard (SR)
3. Manisha Girn (JR)
4. Nina Newkirk (SR)
5. Meena Kraus (JR)

Aurora won the Old Avalon Sectional with a score of 314. They finished second in the Suburban League American Division and Brooklyn Millard finished as the conference Player of the Year. The team won the Parma Flamingo Frenzy and Millard was the medalist in that tournament. Aurora’s top two players, Millard and Gracyn Vidovic, make up one of the best tandems in the state of Ohio and will look to carry the team to Columbus.

Canfield Cardinals

Coach- Dean Conley

Projected Lineup
1. Taylor Morrone (SR)
2. Miya Cohol (JR)
3. Aubree Philibin (FR)
4. Alex Conley (FR)
5. Natalie Sawicki (SO)

Canfield snuck into the fourth spot at the Old Avalon Sectional, edging out Stow by one shot. They are the champions of the All American Conference. Their best tournament finish was 5th in the morning flight of the Hudson Lady Explorer Invitational. Canfield has a young core that will gain some valuable experience competing in the District Tournament as a group.

Green Bulldogs

Coach- Jake Shocklee

Projected Lineup
1. Leah Dang (FR)
2. Sydney Shocklee (JR)
3. Brooke Shocklee (SO)
4. Raelynn Winkler (SR)
5. Reese Genet (SO)

Green finished fourth at The Elms Sectional with a team score of 365. Green has two fourth place tournament finishes, The Elms Sectional Preview and the Summit County Cup. They also finished fourth in the Federal League this fall. Freshman Leah Dang has emerged as a top player for Green and the two Shocklee sisters, Sydney and Brooke, have both become more consistent players.

Hathaway Brown Blazers

Coach- Ronald Jones

Projected Lineup
1. Dixon Hill (JR)
2. Blake Cody (JR)
3. Hannah Weinberger (JR)
4. Christine Kim (SR)
5. Lily Andrews (SO)

The Blazers from Hathaway Brown finished second in the Old Avalon Sectional, ten shots behind Aurora. They have third place finishes in the morning flight of the Lady Explorer Invitational, the Lady Bruin Invitational, and the Canterbury Invitational. Hathaway Brown has one of the most talented players in Northeast Ohio, junior Dixon Hill, and she is joined by a young core group of layers that will leave a lasting legacy at HB.

Highland Hornets

Coach- Mary Becker

Projected Lineup
1. Isabella Goyette (SR)
2. Paige McKendry (SR)
3. Elizabeth Coleman (SO)
4. Kavya Chada (SR)
5. Avery Albright (JR)

Highland won the Fox Den Sectional with a team score of 293, led by medalist Paige McKendry’s personal best score of 67. Coming off a fourth place finish at the 2022 State Tournament and returning every scoring player, Highland has had an expectedly good 2023 campaign. They easily won the Suburban League American Division and took the top spot in four separate tournaments. They are led by superstar Isabella Goyette but are at least six deep in quality players.

Hoover Vikings

Coach- Scott Snyder

Projected Lineup
1. Ava Kemp (JR)
2. Kylie Porter (JR)
3. Ellie Hutzler (FR)
4. Alyssa Evans (JR)
5. Olivia Pfannenschmidt (SR)

Hoover took the top spot at The Elms Sectional with a very good team score of 324 while Ava Kemp tied with Jackson’s Cara Murphy for medalist honors. Hoover was the champion of the Federal League again in 2023 coming off finishing 8th in the state in 2022. Hoover raced up three tournament wins this fall, the Mahoning Valley Invitational, Dover’s Lady Tornado Invitational, and the Stark County Championships. They are led by the duo of Kemp and Kylie Porter but have really thrived after the emergence of freshman Ellie Hutzler.

Hudson Explorers

Coach- Bobby Bolin

Projected Lineup
1. Emmy Burling (JR)
2. Sherry Du (SR)
3. Julia Van Bokkelen (JR)
4. Elena Varga (FR)
5. Ellie Davis (SR)

Hudson finished third at the Fox Den Sectional with a team score of 319, two shots short of second place Walsh Jesuit. The Explorers were the champions of the National Division of the Suburban League, winning three of the four tournaments. They had second place finishes at the Flamingo Frenzy and the Summit County Cup with a third place finish at the Brunswick Tee-Off Classic. Emmy Burling has had a strong 2023 season along with Sherry Du, and in order to advance Hudson will need good performances from Julia Van Bokkelen, Elena Varga, and Ellie Davis.

Jackson Polar Bears

Coach- Teal Harvey

Projected Lineup
1. Cara Murphy (JR)
2. Katie Sieverts (SR)
3. Milena Grametbauer (JR)
4. Charlotte Raketich (SO)
5. Katie O’Connell (SR)

Jackson finished the season on a high note with a second place showing at The Elms Sectional. Cara Murphy also tied for the individual Sectional Championship. Jackson was second place in the Federal League this year and had strong showings in many tournaments. They had three second place finishes, the Lady Tornado Invitational, the Mahoning Valley Invitational, and the Stark County Championships. Murphy is the star of the show for the Polar Bears but will also be able to rely on help from any of the other four players at Districts.

Kent Roosevelt Rough Riders

Coach- Bryan Harvey

Projected Lineup
1. Maddie Kost (SR)
2. Ashlyn Leavery (JR)
3. Izzi Wood (SR)
4. Cassidy Singer (JR)
5. Adrianna Mineo (SO)

Kent Roosevelt had a good showing at the Old Avalon Sectional with a score of 330, good enough for third place. The Rough Riders finished in third place this season in the Suburban League’s American Conference behind Highland and Aurora. They had one tournament win this season at Hudson’s Lady Explorer Invitational and a second place finish at the Terlesky Invitational. The team is led by senior Maddie Kost with a strong supporting cast.

Lake Blue Streaks

Coach- Michael Yoder

Projected Lineup
1. Audrey Nichols (SR)
2. Evanne Mast (SR)
3. Emily Hudson (SR)
4. Grace Swihart (SO)
5. Olivia Gant (SO)

After losing a couple very strong seniors to graduation, the Lake Blue Streaks reloaded and were able to finish third at The Elms Sectional. They also managed a third place finish in the always strong Federal League. Their best tournament finishes this year were at the Lady Tornado Invitational and the Stark County Championships, both third place. The Blue Streaks are led by three experienced seniors who look to have a strong finish to their high school careers.

Magnificat Blue Streaks

Coach- Danny Gallagher

Projected Lineup
1. Cara Heisterkamp (SR)
2. Cammy Reed (JR)
3. Maureen O’Leary (JR)
4. Kristina Chill (SO)
5. Kayla Knaze (FR)

The Blue Streaks of Magnificat easily won the Springvale Sectional with an amazing team score of 287, 41 strokes ahead of second place St. Joseph Academy. Magnificat won four Northeast Ohio tournaments behind one of the deepest teams in the state. They are led by national phenom Cara Heisterkamp and get plenty of help from Cammy Reed, Maureen O’Leary, Kristina Chill, and freshman Kayla Knaze. The Blue Streaks will look to all five of their stars to punch their ticket to Columbus.

Medina Bees

Coach- Mickey McGrath

Projected Lineup
1. Stella Burns (SR)
2. Lydia Dorman (SR)
3. Camille Christeon (SR)
4. Carleigh Jones (SR)
5. Corinne Christeon (SO)

Medina came home from Springvale Golf Course with a third place Sectional finish and a trip to the District Tournament. This postseason run capped off an impressive regular season for the senior-led Bees, who won three of the four Greater Cleveland Conference tournaments to take the league title. in regular season tournaments, the Bees finished fourth at both the Hudson morning wave and the Brunswick Tee-Off Classic. Stella Burns had a breakout year and she leads one of the strongest senior classes in Medina history.

Nordonia Knights

Coach- Greg Harris

Projected Lineup
1. Julia Gulla (JR)
2. Brooke Barnes (SR)
3. Natalie Barnes (SO)
4. Carley Sutton (SO)
5. Maddie Eisner (SO)

Nordonia had a magical season in 2022 and started their 2023 run with a strong fourth place finish in a very competitive Sectional Tournament at Fox Den. The Knights finished third in the Suburban League National Conference while junior Julia Gulla was the Player of the Year. Nordonia’s best tournament finish this year was a third place finish at Chenoweth in the Summit County Cup. Gulla and senior Brooke Barnes both willshould up good numbers at the District Tournament and will look to get assistance from of their sophomore teammates.

St. Joseph Jaguars

Coach- Maureen Adler

Projected Lineup
1. Gianna Reginelli (JR)
2. Emerson Glending (SO)
3. Tess Gibel (SO)
4. Caroline Neitzel (SR)
5. Ellen Mingus (SO)

The St. Joseph Jaguars have steadily risen to be one of the top teams on the west side of Cleveland over the past few years, as shown by their second place finish at the Springvale Sectional. Their best tournament finish was second place at the Mahoning Valley Invitational at Yankee Run Golf Course. St. Joseph is led by Gianna Reginelli, who has been a star since she arrived on Rocky River Drive. Emerson Glending has had a stellar sophomore campaign and the supporting cast is rounding into form.

Strongsville Mustangs

Coach- Kevin Weir

Projected Lineup
1. Natalie Kostalnick (SR)
2. Hannah Lee (JR)
3. Kendall Grau (SR)
4. Sydney Bass (JR)
5. Srikanishka Badri (FR)

Strongsville got out of the Springvale Sectional with a team score of 344, which was good for fourth place. The Mustangs were nearly edged out by Medina in the Greater Cleveland Conference after the two teams went down to the wire in the final league tournament. Senior Natalie Kostalnick did take home the conference Player of the Year award. Strongsville took third place in the Kent Lady Rider Invitational for their best tournament finish of the year. Kostalnick is complemented by Hannah Lee, who had a great day at Springvale, and Kendall Grau, who has been playing the best golf of her career over the past couple weeks.

Walsh Jesuit Warriors

Coach- Bill Reilly

Projected Lineup
1. Annie Stencel (SR)
2. Yumi Kohara (FR)
3. Gianna Rodenhauser (SO)
4. Colleen Stadler (SO)
5. Annie Cors (SR)

Walsh Jesuit had their best performance of the season at the right time, as they shot 317 to take home second place at the Fox Den Sectional, two shots ahead of Hudson. The Warriors handily won the Crown Conference Championship in its final year year while senior Annie Stencel was the Player of the Year. Walsh finished second in the Lady Bruin Invitational at Pine Hills and added two third place finishes on top of that. Stencel will lead a young squad to Brookledge and look to get to Columbus to finish off a great high school career.

The Individuals

Gabby Berlingieri (Stow)

  • Shot 77 to finish tied for second individual Old Avalon Sectional
  • Medalist at Summit County Cup at Chenoweth
  • First Team All Suburban League

Olivia Berlingieri (Stow)

  • Shot 77 to finish tied for second individual at Old Avalon Sectional
  • First Team All Suburban League
  • 2nd Place at Suburban League #3 at Fox Den

Mia Ginnetti (Rocky River)

  • Shot 82 to finish fourth individual at Springvale Sectional
  • 2nd Place at Rocky River Invitational at Big Met
  • Medalist at LEGGA Postseason Tournament at Springvale

Madison Harpley (Revere)

  • Shot 79 to finish third individual at Fox Den Sectional
  • 15th overall in Suburban League American Division
  • Shot 85 at Suburban League #1 at Old Avalon

Chloe Holton (Rocky River)

  • Shot 81 to finish third individual at Springvale Sectional
  • Medalist at Rocky River Invitational
  • 2nd at LEGGA Postseason Tournament at Springvale

Lauren Iannetta (Eastlake North)

  • Shot 75 to finish tied for first individual at Fox Den Sectional
  • Medalist at Western Reserve Conference Tournament at Erie Shores
  • Set school record by shooting 71 at WRC Tournament at Erie Shores

Emily Lamb (Shaker Heights)

  • Shot 75 to finish tied for first individual at Fox Den Sectional
  • 2nd overall in Greater Cleveland Conference
  • Finished 2nd twice and 3rd once in GCC tournaments

Saumya Mahajan (Revere)

  • Shot 81 to finish fourth individual at Fox Den Sectional
  • 19th overall in Suburban League American Division
  • Shot 90 in Suburban League #3 at Fox Den

Zoe Mort (Marlington)

  • Shot 77 to finish first individual at The Elms Sectional
  • Medalist at Elms Sectional Preview, Marilyn Jackson Invitational, Stark County Championships
  • Medalist at Tri-County Conference Postseason Tournament at Zoar Village

Anna Myers (Louisville)

  • Shot 88 to finish tied for third individual at The Elms Sectional (advanced in playoff)
  • Shot 84 at Tri-County Tournament at Zoar Village
  • Shot 86 at Stark County Championships at Pleasant View

Madigan O’Leary (Avon)

  • Shot 77 to finish first individual at Springvale Sectional
  • Tied for second place in Southwestern Conference Tournament at Springvale
  • Shot 76 at Edison Invitational at Thunderbird Hills (3rd Place)

Sarah Quayle (Avon Lake)

  • Shot 79 to finish second individual at Springvale Sectional
  • Southwestern Conference Player of the Year
  • Medalist at Southwestern Conference Tournament at Springvale

Sophia Rivera (Boardman)

  • Shot 79 to finish fourth individual at Old Avalon Sectional
  • Medalist at All-American Conference Tournament
  • Shot 77 at All-American Conference Tournament

Caroline Roush (Copley)

  • Shot 88 to finish tied for third individual at The Elms Sectional (advanced in playoff)
  • 22nd overall in Suburban League American Conference
  • Shot 84 at Suburban League #1 at Old Avalon

Natalie Ullum (Perry- Mass)

  • Shot 83 to finish second individual at The Elms Sectional
  • 21st at Federal League Preseason Tournament at The Elms
  • 27th at Federal League Postseason Tournament at The Elms

Serena Wu (Solon)

  • Shot 68 to finish first individual and medalist at Old Avalon Sectional
  • 3rd Place at Lady Rider Invitational
  • First Team All Suburban League

Division 1 Sectional Storylines

Bobby BolinLeave a comment

Highland looks to keep the streak alive at Fox Den

The Highland Hornets have been dominant at the Fox Den Sectional, winning the tournament each year since 2020. This year looks to be no exception. Hudson, Walsh Jesuit, and Nordonia have the best chance to give Highland a run at the title but they will most likely be battling for second place. Last year, Nordonia edged out Hudson for second place on a tie breaker and used the momentum to propel them all the way to the State Tournament. Walsh Jesuit was kept out of advancing by a strong performance from the North Royalton Bears, a team that will look to make a similar run this year.

Isabella Goyette from Highland is the favorite to be the medalist for the third consecutive year. She has already set the course record and had a hole-in-one at the Fox Den Sectional and now looks to add to her legend. Paige McKendry and Elizabeth Coleman will add to Highland’s high flying attack, while senior Kavya Chada also hopes to have a very strong showing. Hudson will have Emmy Burling back after missing two weeks with an injury. Burling and Sherry Du combine for a formidable one-two punch for the Explorers, who have more depth than they’ve had in previous years, getting scores throughout the year from Julia Van Bokkelen, Elena Varga, and Ellie Davis. Walsh Jesuit will look to the veteran leadership of seniors Annie Stencel and Annie Cors along with the rising talent of Yumi Kohara and Colleen Stadler as they battle for one of the four qualifying spots. Julia Gulla from Nordonia could give Goyette the best run at the individual title. Gulla won the Suburban League National player of the year and would love to add a Sectional Championship to her resume. North Royalton will feature freshman Chloe Yoon and has their sites on jumping in for one of the final spots. Another team right on the brink is the Minutemen from Revere. They will showcase three freshmen with the intent of gaining valuable tournament experience.

Individual players that will contend for District berths include Emily Lamb, who has had a terrific season for Shaker Heights, Alexandria Vardon from Firestone, and several players from Revere, one potentially being junior Saumya Mahajan.

Things will be tight at Old Avalon

Low scores tend to abound during Sectionals Week in Warren. There are a good number of teams looking to take advantage of a scorable course on a day where the forecast looks to be ideal. Hathaway Brown lapped the field in 2022 but this year looks to have more parity. The Blazers still have Dixon Hill, one of the top players in Northeast Ohio, but lost two important scoring seniors to graduation. Blake Cody and company will look to support Hill and move on to Districts.

With the reemergence of Brooklyn Millard and the significant improvement of Gracyn Vidovic, Aurora has a dynamic duo that can compete with any top two players in the state. They will head to Old Avalon as the favorites. Millard and Vidovic will be supplemented by Manisha Girn and Nina Newkirk, both of whom have had some strong finishes this season.

One of the hottest teams in Northeast Ohio over the past two weeks have been the Stow Bulldogs. Stow won both the Summit County Cup and the final Suburban League National tournament and would love to add in a Sectional Championship. Behind sisters Gabby and Olivia Berlingieri, Sophia Thompson has been on fire recently, and the Bulldogs have been able to get fourth scores from Jules Leffel-Elliott and Lily Gualtiere.

Another team eyeing a spot at Brookledge in the District Tournament is the Rough Riders from Kent Roosevelt, who have shown some signs of brilliance this year but have also struggled on occasion. Maddie Kost can put up a low number and Kent will rely on Ashlyn Leavery and Izzi Wood to help give the team a chance to move on.

Other team contenders include the Cardinals from Canfield and the Comets from Solon. If Solon does not make it out of Sectionals, Serena Wu will be a heavy favorite to grab an individual spot along with several players from Canfield, including junior Miya Cohol and sophomore Chloe Leskovac. Another individual to watch for is Sophia Rivera from Boardman, who has experience at Districts from last year.

Who jumps in behind Magnificat at Springvale

Similar to Highland, Magnificat has the firepower to boat race the competition at Springvale. Behind national phenom Cara Heisterkamp and a cast of many, including Cammy Reed and Maureen O’Leary, Magnificat has more depth than any team in Northeast Ohio. The Blue Streaks have thrived under first year head coach Danny Gallagher and Sectionals should be just another step in the process to reach their ultimate goal.

The real storylines start after Magnificat as at least five teams will be battling for the final three spots. Greater Cleveland Conference foes Strongsville and Medina battled neck and neck the entire season with the Bees barely edging out the Mustangs for the conference title. The two teams tend to post very similar scores but do it in very different ways. Strongsville is led by standout senior Natalie Kostalnick and junior Hannah Lee, who both can go low on any given day. Medina brings a more balanced attack, although 2023 has proven to be a breakthrough year for senior Stella Burns. Medina features a lineup of all seniors who are all very similar players and that balance has benefited them this year.

St. Joseph Academy is a team that on a good day can also compete for that second spot at Springvale. Their style is nearly identical to Strongsville. Junior Gianna Reginelli will lead the way for the Jaguars but their fate may be in the hands of the performance of sophomore Emerson Glending, who has had a fine year up to this point. Rocky River is a formidable team featuring senior Chloe Holton and junior Mia Ginetti. The Pirates won the LEGGA this season and will look to get out of Sectionals as a team. Southwestern Conference champion Avon Lake is also in the mix to get into the top four. The Shoregals have five starters who can all step it up on any given day. Olivia Tobin, Ava Lamb, Sarah Quayle, Mia Machovina, and Olivia Ritter all could end up in the scoring column on Wednesday.

Outside of the players on contending teams, contenders for individual spots include Madigan O’Leary from Avon, Jessica Buzinski and Aislinn Leffel from Brunswick, and Lizzy Iliff from Amherst. On top of those candidates, players from Westlake, Olmsted Falls, and North Ridgeville will also have an outside chance of qualifying.

Federal League may dominate The Elms

Throughout the history of girls golf in Northeast Ohio, Stark County has been dominant most years. While the talent has spread out more over the past few seasons, there are some teams from the Elms Sectional that will make a splash at Districts. Hoover, a state qualifier from a year ago, will lead that Stark County charge. They return Ava Kemp and Kylie Porter and feature star freshman Ellie Hutzler, a threesome that will compete with anyone in Northeast Ohio. A good day from junior Alyssa Evans will mean Hoover is dominating the competition.

Districts would not be the same without the Polar Bears from Jackson. It looks like a good bet that they will also be making the trip from North Lawrence to Cuyahoga Falls next week. Cara Murphy has had a remarkable season and the team looks to be at full strength with Katie Sieverts, Milena Grametbauer, Charlotte Raketich and Katie O’Connell all healthy and ready to go.

There looks to be a decent gap from Hoover and Jackson to the rest of the field at The Elms. Lake has improved a significant amount throughout the season and Green has the pedigree to move on. Audrey Nichols and Evanne Mast will lead the Blue Streaks while Sydney Shocklee is the star of the show for the Bulldogs. They will be challenged by GlenOak, Louisville, and Cloverleaf for the final spots.

Individuals to watch for at The Elms include Zoe Mort, a very strong player from Marlington, Miya Downing from Dover, who will be playing in the Northeast District for year two now, Corrie Schorsten from GlenOak, and Peyton Biery from Louisville.

Best of luck to all Division 1 teams and players this week!

Division 2 Sectional Storylines

Bobby BolinLeave a comment

Depth of Punderson Sectional

Punderson Golf Course will see a large amount of quality teams, making this arguably the most difficult Sectional Tournament to get out of in the state of Ohio. Independence is the perennial top dog at Punderson but they will see a challenge from some up and coming teams this year. Southeast has had an excellent season to this point and will be in contention. Laurel has improved a ton over last year and have one of the top players in the state, senior Siena Maschke. Chagrin Falls and Edgewood are both teams that will be contending for one of the top four spots to move on to Good Park. Teams on the brink of making an impact include Perry and Lake Catholic while Bristol, Rootstown, and Berkshire could have a chance to sneak in. Several of these schools would have had a chance to get out of the other two Sectionals but will have to play very well to compete at Punderson.

Players to Watch
Taylor Blazek- Southeast
Emily Capitosti- Perry
Sam Holtz- Chagrin Falls
Annie Johnston- Edgewood
Theresa Lazanich- Lake Catholic
Siena Maschke- Laurel
Molly McGreal- Independence
Avery Vencill- Edgewood
Gracie Westover- Southeast
Anistyn Williams- Bristol

Teams that could step up at The Pines

St. Vincent-St. Mary looks to be a lock to take the Sectional title at The Pines but Canton South will have their voice heard on Wednesday. It gets much more interesting after that. Columbia is not as strong as their magical 2022 year but still have a good chance to move to Districts. There are several other teams that will have their shot with a good day. East Canton is listed as only sending individuals so it appears that they will not be able to post a team score. Keystone and Woodridge could be two teams to watch for to catch fire at The Pines.

Players to Watch
Abby Ankenman- Orrville
Caitrin Coyle- St. Vincent-St. Mary
Josephine Eifert- Manchester
Raygan Hoover- St. Vincent-St. Mary
Isabella Jenior- Waterloo
Delaney Kruger- Canton South
Taylor Kuhrt- Columbia
Reese Latta- St. Vincent-St. Mary
Dally Meek- Hillsdale
Mia Steigerwald- East Canton

Pine Lakes will be Tight

There are legitimately five teams that could win the Pine Lakes Sectional. With only four spots available for Districts, that means someone will be going home. Ursuline, West Branch, and Columbiana have all been very competitive with each other throughout the year, so it is only fitting that they could be fighting it out on Thursday. Champion and Poland will also be very competitive to try to take home the Youngstown area crown in 2023. There are some excellent individuals that will be on display at Pine Lakes, including United’s Mati Zines and several players on the top teams.

Players to Watch
Addison Bycroft- East Palestine
Kennady Grace- Champion
Ellie Jackson- Columbiana
Kennedy Lewis- Southern Local
Shaylee Muckleroy- West Branch
Katie Pregibon- Cardinal Mooney
Katie Santee- West Branch
Gia Schiavone- Ursuline
Mati Zines- United

New Caddie Program at Lake Forest Country Club

Bobby BolinLeave a comment

Lake Forest Country Club is making an investment to establish a caddie program at the club. 

Well established caddie programs have at their core a solid training program, caddies who love the game, and players who understand that walking is a better golf experience.  In addition to being a great way for a teen to earn money, they also learn responsibility, make connections in their community, and gain a deeper appreciation for the game of golf.

Lake Forest Country Club has partnered with ClubUp, a leading provider of caddie solutions, to establish a caddie program at the club.  We are looking for prospective caddies who would like to participate in a formal training program to develop the skills needed to be an effective caddie and to provide caddying services at the club this summer.  Interested participants will be expected to attend training the evenings of May 9-10 at Lake Forest (100 Lake Forest Drive, Hudson.)  Training will include some classroom style learning as well as outdoors, on-course training.  Participants will learn the finer points of caddying and the basics of the course to prepare them to caddie.  Caddies will be certified after completing training and passing a test. 

After certification, caddies will have access to an app where they can be hired by golfers to provide caddying services.  Members will request a caddie when they make a tee time (typically a week ahead of the date of play.)  The tee time system will automatically notify all certified caddies that the loop is available.  Caddies can review the date and time and decide if they want to accept the offer.  After the round, caddies will receive feedback on their performance via the app.

Caddies are considered independent contractors and are not employees of Lake Forest.  The caddie fees are negotiated between the caddie and the golfer prior to the round.  Suggested ranges of fees are provided to both the caddy and the golfer and are based on relative experience and skill of the caddie.

Please pass this note along to anyone who may be interested in caddying this summer.  Anyone interested in attending training is asked to email LFCCCaddie@gmail.com to notify us of your interest.  Further information will be sent to anyone interested.

Sincerely

Gary Grant

Golf Committee Chair

Lake Forest Country Club