Tag: girls golf

2026 NCOGGL/Ohio Cardinal Conference Preview

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The Mapleton Mounties were one of the top stories in Division 2 golf last season. Coach Adam Harding was able to get the most out of his roster and the team made a successful run to the District Tournament. Mapleton could easily be a top 10 program in Northeast Ohio once again in 2026 as they return some prominent scorers. Their stacked junior class features Kail Callihan, Reagan Hickey, Payten Frye, and Anna Grundy. Wooster will have another new coach in 2026 as Misty Bisesi takes over the Generals. Senior Hailey Bode will return at the top of the lineup and juniors Ava and Ella Scott will just continue to get better as Wooster looks to take another big step.

Impact Players

Hailey Bode (SR) Wooster
Kail Calihan (JR) Mapleton
Payten Frye (JR) Mapleton
Reagan Hickey (JR) Mapleton
Ava Scott (JR) Wooster
Ella Scott (JR) Wooster

Freshmen to Watch

Mapleton Mounties

Head Coach- Adam Harding
Last Year’s Results- 3rd at The Pines Sectional, 12th at Good Park District

Wooster Generals

Head Coach- Misty Bisesi
Last Year’s Results- 11th at The Elms Sectional

2026 North Coast Conference Preview

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The North Coast Conference has proved to be a very competitive league since its inception and should continue that in 2026. Notre-Dame Cathedral Latin took home the crown in 2026. Prior to that, Lake Catholic was able to rise to the top of the league and has a had a strong team the past several years. That journey may be a little more difficult to traverse as they attempt to get back to the top in 2026. It would be an impressive feat considering they are the only remaining Division 2 team in the conference. Elyria Catholic is the newest team to join the rest of the league in Division 1. The Cougars will rely heavily on junior Mao Edwards, who has shown significant improvement over her high school career. The tough road to a conference championship will go through both Parma and Chardon as Padua and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin both look to have very strong teams this season. Padua junior Giulia Reginelli, a dual sport star in golf and basketball, rose to prominence last season and can be a huge factor in the conference. NDCL will be led by senior Alexis Urigel and might be the narrow favorites to once again win the NCC this season. CVCA brings a good combination of experience and youth to the table while Beaumont and Elyria Catholic look to shock the world and the North Coast Conference.

Impact Players

Alexis Belser (SR) Beaumont
Bianca Blair (SO) CVCA
Maddie Cox (SR) Lake Catholic
Mao Edwards (JR) Lake Catholic
Ava Desrochers (SO) Elyria Catholic
Lillian Kasper (SO) NDCL
Rylee McKelvey (SR) Padua
Sophia Raymond (SR) CVCA
Giulia Reginelli (JR) Padua
Claire Ribic (SR) NDCL
Selah Schaefer (JR) Padua
Alexis Urigel (SR) NDCL

Freshmen to Watch

Rylei Domeck (CVCA)

Beaumont Blue Streaks

Head Coach- Randy Williams
Last Year’s Results- 11th at Old Avalon

CVCA Royals

Head Coach- Linda Staker
Last Year’s Results- 8th at Fox Den Sectional

Elyria Catholic Panthers

Head Coach- Rick Montgomery
Last Year’s Results- 5th at The Pines Sectional

Lake Catholic Cougars

Head Coach- Tony Zampedro
Last Year’s Results- 1st at Punderson Sectional, 5th at Good Park District, 7-4-1; league finish 3rd; highlight winning Sectionals for the first time in school history
Coach’s Comments- After two successful seasons having won the North Coast Conference and Sectionals, we lost three of our top players and will spend this year developing the next crew of aspiring golfers. That being said, we have two solid golfers returning in Mao Edwards and Maddie Cox, with the rest of the Varsity team working hard. I am excited that we have six incoming freshman who have really taken to summer golf and will get their first taste of competitive golf this season!

Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Lions

Head Coach- Tiger Alexander
Last Year’s Results- 7th at Old Avalon Sectional, Overall record was 12 – 1, 1st in the North Coast Conference Tournament. Won the Mahoning Classic Tournament. Alexis Urigel was the 2025 NCC MVP, Alexis Urigel made it to the District Tournament.
Coach’s Comments- The Lions aren’t defending a title; they are hunting the next peak. The standard for this program remains unchanging: Process over Outcome. Our mindset will always be to play the course, never the opponent. Success will be measured by our daily commitment to elite preparation, sharp skill work, and mental fitness. This season, our journey will begin with several highly competitive tournaments. This stretch will demand complete focus, execution, and trust in the system.

Padua Bruins

Head Coach- Patrick Dailey
Last Year’s Results- 7th at Big Met Sectional, 2nd in conference, Giulia Reginelli advanced to districts.
Coach’s Comments- We will be a very experienced team looking to win the conference and advance to districts. The team will be led by seniors Rylee Mckelvey, Megan Svec and juniors Giulia Reginelli, Selah Schaffer. We also have a large JV squad that will be pushing the varsity players to keep improving.

2026 Northeast 8 Conference Preview

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The Northeast 8 Conference is one of the more isolated leagues in the OHSAA Northeast District. There is talent in the league even though the teams don’t really play in many out of conference events. Once again, both Bulldogs teams, Lakeview and Poland, look to be the class of the conference. Junior Olivia Norris of Lakeview looks to be the favorite to individually win the conference although teammates senior Parker Morris and junior Madeline Isenberg might have something to say about that. Poland will bring a more balanced attack with junior Cadence Berendt and sophomore Capri Carchedi leading the way. South Range is a team on the rise and could be the top contender to jump over Lakeview and Poland. Girard, Hubbard, Niles, and Struthers will compete at the bottom end of the conference.

Impact Players

Cadence Berendt (JR) Poland
Natalee Caldwell (JR) Struthers
Capri Carchedi (SO) Poland
Madelyn Fox (SR) Hubbard
Madeline Isenberg (JR) Lakeview
Tori Lanam (SR) Niles McKinley
Parker Morris (SR) Lakeview
Olivia Norris (JR) Lakeview
Khloe Shodd (JR) South Range
Lily Tillery (JR) Girard

Freshmen to Watch

Girard Indians

Head Coach- Abigail Cook
Last Year’s Results- 6th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Hubbard Eagles

Head Coach- Christopher Trobek
Last Year’s Results- DNF at Old Avalon Sectional

Lakeview Bulldogs

Head Coach- Dean Shanower
Last Year’s Results- 2nd at Pine Lakes Sectional, 8th at Good Park District

Niles McKinley Red Dragons

Head Coach- Traci Kempe
Last Year’s Results- 15th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Poland Seminary Bulldogs

Head Coach- Joseph Colella
Last Year’s Results- 8th at Pine Lakes Sectional

South Range Raiders

Head Coach- Dan Crish
Last Year’s Results- 9th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Struthers Wildcats

Head Coach- William Cammack
Last Year’s Results- DNF at Pine Lakes Sectional

2026 Southwestern Conference Preview

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The Southwestern Conference is in the middle of a resurgence. Last year’s sophomore class, especially at Avon and Avon Lake, have shown that they are going to have a lasting impact on the SWC. It will be fun to watch these teams grow over the next several years. It will also be an entertaining race between the Avon Eagles and Avon Lake Shoregals as the season unfolds. Avon sophomores Jenavieve Plantner and Jocelyn England established themselves as the top scorers in the program last year and will be even better in 2026. Avon Lake has their own list of super sophomores, including Pressly Martter and Adalyn Becker, but it may be junior Lily Dorsey who takes the Shoregals over the top. Avon senior Rylan Owens also hopes to be the deciding factor in winning a conference championship. Olmsted Falls proved to be a worthy competitor in 2025 and will once again hope to rain on the parade of their conference foes. Seniors Addison Mullen and Ashley Veverka have grown together throughout the years and over the span of a significant coaching change and will look to make their senior year memorable. Berea-Midpark will be under the direction of new head coach Max Rauch, who will look to bring the Titans into the conversation. Amherst will look to build depth, North Ridgeville will seek improvement, and Midview will attempt to fill out their roster as the 2026 season opens in the SWC.

Impact Players

Allyson Beatty (SR) Elyria
Adalyn Becker (SO) Avon Lake
Isabella Bernhardt (SO) Avon
Lily Dorsey (JR) Avon Lake
Jocelyn England (SO) Avon
Maddie Gerber (SR) North Ridgeville
Presley Martter (SO) Avon Lake
Sophia Morgan (JR) Midview
Addison Mullen (SR) Olmsted Falls
Jenavieve Plantner (SO) Avon
Isabella Santori (SR) Berea-Midpark
Charley Supers (JR) Amherst
Ashley Veverka (SR) Olmsted Falls

Freshmen to Watch

Sedona Benedict (Avon)

Amherst Comets

Head Coach- Dave Svarra
Last Year’s Results- 10th at Big Met Sectional

Avon Eagles

Head Coach- Aaron Millet
Last Year’s Results- 3rd at Big Met Sectional, 15th at Tanglewood District, SWC Champions
Coach’s Comments- We graduated 5 seniors last year and need to replace a lot of production. Jena Plantner and Jocelyn England were our top two players last year as freshmen and need to be even better next year for us to take the next step. Ella Sisto, Rylan Owens and other players coming back will need to contribute for us to compete with Avon Lake and hope to make another district appearance. We are playing a much more rigorous tournament schedule this year and are starting our own tournament at Oberlin GC to expand opportunities for our kids.

Avon Lake Shoregals

Head Coach- Kevin Fitch
Last Year’s Results- 4th at Big Met Sectional, 16th at Tanglewood District, 2nd place in SWC, won Edison Invitational

Berea-Midpark Titans

Head Coach- Max Rauch
Last Year’s Results- 13th at Big Met Sectional

Midview Middies

Head Coach- Jim Brabenec
Last Year’s Results- 11th at Big Met Sectional

North Ridgeville Rangers

Head Coach- Casey Bernhardt
Last Year’s Results- 14th at Springvale Sectional

Olmsted Falls Bulldogs

Head Coach- Emily Nagle
Last Year’s Results- 8th at Big Met Sectional

2026 Suburban League Preview

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There will be a new look to the Suburban League in 2026. With the departure of Cuyahoga Falls, Kent Roosevelt, and Tallmadge, the league will welcome new members Kenston, Mayfield, and Medina and will be slightly restructuring the divisional breakdown of the conference. Highland will be moving to the National Division while Twinsburg and Nordonia will now be in the American Division. Newcomers Kenston and Mayfield will make their way to the American Division and Medina will be part of the National Division.

Northeast Ohio golf experts have been touting Revere’s senior class since they were freshmen. They gave a good sense of their capabilities toward the end of last season as they almost made it to the State Tournament. The fab five of Maddy Addessi, Kate Banning, Amrita Deo, Ryenne Harpley, and Sarah Riley will be the clear favorites to win the American Division as second year head coach Mike Clark will help bring the energy to Richfield. Their top competitor could be new Suburban League foe Kenston, who had an incredible run in the former Western Reserve Conference. The senior heavy lineup will look to Ava Solak and Stefania Mighton to show them the way to prosperity. Aurora will be led by new head coach Tim Baczkowski, who has been promoted from his longtime position of JV coach. Juniors Bennett DeLuca and Kelly Macsurak have grown together and will stay at the top of the lineup for the Greenmen. Nordonia is one of many teams who lost a significant amount of scoring from last year. It will be up to senior Polly Loney and junior Kayla Joo to take up where their predecessors left off. Copley, led by senior Anna Yacknow, is another team with a new coach, Kory Braman, who will look to take the team to a new level. Senior Julie Paradise and junior Emily Morgan will look for some new talent to help the Mayfield Wildcats compete in their new conference. Twinsburg will continue to build up their team as they find their spot in the American Division.

Every year, teams look at the Highland Hornets and say it is the end of an era and there is no way they can possibly be as good as they were the previous year. And every year, Highland finds a way to be as good or sometimes even better than they had been. It’s going to be a huge task in 2026, as Highland will not only be replacing their entire starting lineup, but they will also have a new coach to replace the legendary Mary Becker. Christ Kestner will become the second coach in Highland’s girls golf history. He will look to juniors Anna Coleman and Charlotte Chester, who look to follow in their older sisters’, both whose name happens to be Elizabeth, footsteps. The team they will have to overcome looks to be Hudson. They are returning most of their starting lineup, including senior Elena Varga and sophomore Rachel Rush. It will be up to juniors Kiley Gorog and Molly Stock along with some varsity newcomers to round out the team score for the Explorers. North Royalton keeps getting better every year and they are going to surprise some teams in 2026. Seniors Maddie Pehanic and Madison Cutright look to be the top scorers for this year’s version of the Bears. Solon knows that is impossible to replace a generational talent like Serena Wu. They will take a next player up mentality and rely on senior Alexis Brown, who showed signs of brilliance last year, and junior Kaidi Wang to guide their younger players. Brecksville should add to their depth to be competitive in the National Division. Stow will have a senior heavy lineup led by Julie Dotson and Alyssa Lane. Medina will bring an infusion of young talent that just needs to be developed, with sophomore Honor Hlavna at the top of that list. Wadsworth has much experience back and will look to improve on their finish from last season.

Impact Players

Maddie Addessi (SR) Revere
Kate Banning (SR) Revere
Alexis Brown (SR) Solon
Anna Coleman (JR) Highland
Madison Cutright (SR) North Royalton
Bennett DeLuca (JR) Aurora
Amrita Deo (SR) Revere
Julie Dotson (SR) Stow
Ryenne Harpley (SR) Revere
Honor Hlavna (SO) Medina
Jillian Jones (JR) Wadsworth
Alaina Liem (SR) Brecksville
Lainey Lombardo (SO) Kenston
Polly Loney (SR) Nordonia
Kelly Macsurak (JR) Aurora
Stefania Mighton (SR) Kenston
Julie Paradise (SR) Mayfield
Maddie Pehanic (SR) North Royalton              Sarah Riley (SR) Revere
Rachel Rush (SO) Hudson
Ava Solak (SR) Kenston
Parker Sweeney (SR) Twinsburg
Elena Varga (SR) Hudson
Anna Yacknow (SR) Copley

Freshmen to Watch

Mya Buzzelli (Hudson)
Elizabeth Jia (Hudson)

Aurora Greenmen

Head Coach- Tim Baczkowski
Last Year’s Results- 6th at Old Avalon Sectional
Coach’s Comments- Looking forward to a season of growth as the younger generation of golfers are going to be joining an already experienced group.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bees

Head Coach- Sylvia Stibley
Last Year’s Results- 6th at Fox Den Sectional

Copley Indians

Head Coach- Kory Braman
Last Year’s Results- 17th at The Elms Sectional

Highland Hornets

Head Coach- Chris Kestner
Last Year’s Results- 1st at The Elms Sectional, 3rd at Tanglewood District, 5th at State Tournament, 1st in Suburban League
Coach’s Comments- New crop of golfers for the upcoming season. Looking forward to working with this great group of girls & watching them improve as the season progresses. Excited to create their own path during the upcoming season.

Hudson Explorers

Head Coach- Bobby Bolin
Last Year’s Results- 2nd at Fox Den Sectional, 10th at Tanglewood District, 6-0 in matches, 2nd in Suburban League National
Coach’s Comments- We have a fantastic group of players back and are really excited for the 2026 season. We play in a very tough league and hope to use that competition to get better throughout the season.

Kenston Bombers

Head Coach- Kip Freeman
Last Year’s Results- 4th at Old Avalon Sectional, 10th at Tanglewood District

Mayfield Wildcats

Head Coach- Michael Verdi
Last Year’s Results- 7th at Fox Den Sectional

Medina Bees

Head Coach- Laura Stauffenger
Last Year’s Results- 9th at The Elms Sectional
Coach’s Comments- Medina is looking forward to a new group of varsity golfers and rebuilding our team. Our focus is on improving every day.

Nordonia Knights

Head Coach- Greg Harris
Last Year’s Results- 3rd at Fox Den Sectional, 9th at Tanglewood District, 1st in Suburban League National Conference
Coach’s Comments- We have some strong leadership this year led by Polly Loney and followed by Kayla Joo and Tori Chylik. After that we are a very young with a lot of potential to grow into a very good team as we progress through the season.

North Royalton Bears

Head Coach- Don Filips
Last Year’s Results- 5th at Fox Den Sectional
Coach’s Comments- The 2026 North Royalton Bears enter the season looking to build on the momentum of a record-setting 2025 campaign. Last season, the Bears established a new school record for an 18-hole team score at the Flamingo Frenzy Classic and are eager to continue that success this fall. North Royalton returns three key contributors from last year’s squad, led by All-Suburban League performers Madeline Pehanic and Madison Cutright. The senior duo, affectionately known as the “Maddies,” will provide a strong one-two punch at the top of the lineup. They will be joined by 2025 Newcomer of the Year Mira Steele, giving the Bears an experienced and talented core. Competing for the remaining varsity spots will be second-year letterwinner Violet Frantz, along with a deep group of experienced players that includes seniors Hope Piasecki, Mya Goloja, Cali Wise, and Reese Benz, as well as juniors Prisha Bhanwala and Addison O’Shaughnessy. Entering his eighth season as head coach, Don Filips believes the leadership and experience of Pehanic and Cutright will be instrumental to the team’s success. “Madeline and Madison lead by example every single day,” Filips said. “They are outstanding role models for our younger players. They work incredibly hard to improve their games, compete on summer tours, and set the standard for what it means to be a North Royalton golfer. I couldn’t ask for a better pair of seniors to lead this team.” With experienced leadership, strong competition for varsity positions, and a proven culture of hard work and improvement, the Bears are poised to make another run at one of the top seasons in program history.

Revere Minutemen

Head Coach- Mike Clark
Last Year’s Results- 4th at Fox Den Sectional, 5th at Tanglewood District, The 2025 Lady Minutemen finished 2nd in the Suburban League American Conference behind an extremely talented Highland team. The Lady Minutemen finished in 4th place (345) in the OHSAA Sectional Tournament at Fox Den, advancing to Districts for the first time in program history. The Lady Minutemen posted an all-time program record low (326) at Tanglewood to finish in 5th place, just two strokes away from qualifying for the State Tournament.
Coach’s Comments- The excitement surrounding our 2026 season is at an all-time high. We return our entire varsity lineup, bringing back a tremendous amount of talent, experience, and confidence. Last season’s record-setting 326 at the OHSAA District Tournament and finishing just two strokes short of a state tournament berth showed our players exactly what they’re capable of achieving. That experience has fueled an incredible offseason, and our 2026 goals are lofty. Our team understands that success isn’t guaranteed, but they’ve embraced the challenge and are hungry to take the next step. We believe the foundation is in place for a special season, and we can’t wait to see what this group accomplishes together.

Solon Comets

Head Coach- Damien Kopkas
Last Year’s Results- 3rd at Old Avalon Sectional, 12th at Tanglewood District, finished 3rd in Suburban League National, Individual – Serena Wu was the Division 1 State Runner-Up with a 69-71 = 140
Coach’s Comments- Trying to replace a 3-time individual state qualifier will not be easy, but the girls are ready for the challenge. We return a top 4 of experienced and battle-tested golfers who are prepared to take the next step in their golf journey. To round out our starting 6, we have a couple of strong options from last year’s JV squad and a few exciting newcomers as well.

Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs

Head Coach- Scotte Rorabaugh
Last Year’s Results- 13th at Old Avalon Sectional, 6th in Suburban League
Coach’s Comments- With our entire team returning this year, we are looking forward to seeing development and improved scores from last year especially from our four Senior leaders.

Twinsburg Tigers

Head Coach- Ed Lipnos
Last Year’s Results- 10th at Fox Den Sectional

Wadsworth Grizzlies

Head Coach- Steve Ferris
Last Year’s Results- 18th at The Elms Sectional
Coach’s Comments- We are expecting big things out of our core group. They have been together for three years. Look for Carolyn Kresowaty, Jillian Jones, and Michelle Witschey to excel.

2026 Tri-County Conference Preview

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The Tri-County Conference is a large conglomeration of large and small schools in Eastern Ohio who come together to form a Girls Golf league. Five area teams look to be near the top of the league this season along with Minerva, who represented the East District at the State Tournament last year. The Marlington Dukes have a balanced roster that could produce some low scores throughout the year. Massillon will rely on junior Edisa Nabuufu and will look to some experienced returning players to provide the other scores needed to compete. Tuslaw has been a fun team to follow as they have taken a prominent role in the Division 2 landscape. Senior Avery Rodocker along with a deep class of juniors will lead a Mustangs team with high expectations. Senior Bella Linger and the West Branch Warriors are another quality team that will be in the conversation to win their conference. Alliance is a wild card team to watch for as well. At the next level, Canton South has had some quality teams the past several years and will look at a new group to keep up that momentum. Lake Center Christian could be a Cinderella type team this season as their school footprint continues to get larger. Fairless, under second year coach Susan Smith, Canton Central Catholic, with new head coach Brooke Newsome, and Northwest, led by veteran coach Laura Traganza, are all teams that will look to have an impact on the Tri-County Conference as well.

Impact Players

Angelina Boyles (SR) Fairless
Kay Givins (SR) Northwest
Anna Gosney (JR) Canton Central Catholic
Grace McGeehen (SR) Alliance
Bella Linger (SR) West Branch
Emma McLaughlin (JR) West Branch
Edisa Nabuufu (JR) Massillon
Lilly Peterson (JR) Marlington
Avery Rodocker (SR) Tuslaw
Hannah Samblanet (SR) Canton South
Taniyah Spencer (JR) Marlington

Freshmen to Watch

Adeline Klingelhofer (Lake Center Christian)
Natalie Noling (Marlington)
Gianna Pons (Canton Central Catholic)
Ellie Risaliti (Canton South)
Mia Ruthem (Northwest)
Norah Sanderson (Northwest)
Addison Slagle (Canton Central Catholic)
Teresa Warner (Marlington)
Riley Wolfe (Marlington)

Alliance Aviators

Head Coach- Phillip Yarian
Last Year’s Results- 16th at The Elms Sectional

Canton Central Catholic Crusaders

Head Coach- Brooke Newsome
Last Year’s Results- The Canton Central Catholic girls golf team placed 4th at the Division II Sectional Tournament with a team score of 416, qualifying for the District tournament. Leading the Crusaders was Lily Belden with a round of 90. Other notable scorers included Anna Gosney (100), Abigail Tucker (112), and Addison Rey (114).
Coach’s Comments- I’m excited to begin my first season leading this program. We have a great group of young women who are eager to learn, work hard, and support one another. Our goal this season is to continue developing our skills, compete with confidence, and represent Central Catholic with pride every time we step on the course.

Canton South Wildcats

Head Coach- David Mullett
Last Year’s Results- 2nd at The Pines Sectional, 10th at Good Park District, 17-3, 2nd best finish in school history, 2nd Place finish at Sectionals at The Pines, 1st Place Griffith Cup Champions at Spring Hill
Coach’s Comments- Canton South Girls Golf Had a Magical season last year and will certainly take a hit due to graduation, but, my girls will find a way this season because they want to keep winning! My Senior Stars, Samblanet and Daugherty are eager and ready to guide this team and my junior (GOAT) Jilly is ready to keep the winning tradition rolling! Ellie Risaliti is my incoming Freshman who I am excited to be getting, and she is going to be put to the test right away. I know these girls will give me everything they got because they want it to be 5 years in a row making it to the District Tournament! Good Luck Wildcats!

Fairless Falcons

Head Coach- Susan Smith
Last Year’s Results- 9th at Carroll Meadows Sectional

Lake Center Christian Tigers

Head Coach- Randy Yoder
Last Year’s Results- 8th at The Pines Sectional, 4-10 (overall as Independent)
Coach’s Comments- As the 2026 season tees off, the Lady Tigers face two major challenges: navigating a significant roster overhaul and stepping into a highly competitive new league. Replacing last year’s departing seniors won’t be easy, and the team’s biggest task will be finding a new No. 1 golfer to fill the void left by 2025 District qualifier Charley Collins. While five golfers return, only two bring more than a single year of varsity experience: senior Anna Mooney and junior Hailee Gingerich. For the team to remain competitive, we’ll need Sophomore Alexa Donatelli and junior Haley Phipps, who anchored the back half of the 2025 roster, to make significant contributions in 2026. Finally, keep an eye on freshman Adeline Klingelhofer, who looks to solidify the lineup as she adjusts to varsity competition. After playing last season as an independent, we join the competitive Tri-County Conference as the league’s smallest school; and our plan for 2026 will be simple – stay competitive in league play using the regular season to gain experience against quality opponents, then peak in September when the postseason and OHSAA tournaments arrive.

Marlington Dukes

Head Coach- Shawn Dillon
Last Year’s Results- 12th at The Elms Sectional, 12-4 overall, 5-3 EBC, 5-1 Tri-County
Coach’s Comments- We have a fairly young team overall, but they have tournament experience. Optimistic for this season.

Massillon Tigers

Head Coach- Sam Bushman
Last Year’s Results- 13th at The Elms Sectional

Minerva Lions

Head Coach- Kenneth Beaumariage
Last Year’s Results- 1st at Cambridge Sectional, 1st at Lancaster District, 12th at State Tournament

Northwest Indians

Head Coach- Laura Traganza
Last Year’s Results- 6th at The Pines Sectional

Tuslaw Mustangs

Head Coach- Matt Gulling
Last Year’s Results- 7th at The Pines Sectional, 8-7 Overall Record, 3rd Place Finish Tri-County Red Division
Coach’s Comments- We have a great deal of experience returning and our looking to continue to grow as we move into year 3 of our girls golf program.

West Branch Warriors

Head Coach- Dan Hall
Last Year’s Results- 5th at Pine Lakes Sectional

2026 Independent Schools Preview

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Many stellar high school careers came to an end at the end of the 2025 season. Kristina Chill will leave a lasting impact at Magnificat while Caitrin Coyle, one of the all-time good people, graduated from St. Vincent-St. Mary. Walsh Jesuit sees the departure of Colleen Stadler and Gianna Rodenhauser. St. Joseph will have to navigate the high school golf scene without Emerson Glending, Tess Gibel, and Ellen Mingus. The Jaguars will also bid farewell to coach Maureen Adler, an all-time legend at the school. Laurel will also see the end of an era as Marti Hardy has retired from coaching. She has made an impact on generations of young golfers and will be missed dearly in the high school golf landscape.

Looking ahead to 2026, Magnificat will be a unanimous choice to make another trip down to Dayton after a State runner-up finish in 2025 and a State Championship in 2024. They have a loaded roster featuring sisters Kayla and Korinne Knaze along with superstar Calli Reed and underrated talent Kellen Gleason. Barring any unseen circumstances, Magnificat should be once again representing Northeast Ohio in Dayton in October. Coming up right behind Magnificat will be the Warriors from Walsh Jesuit. Senior Yumi Kohara along with juniors Sarah Vojtko and Vivian Eich lead one of the most talented teams in the area. The question mark for Walsh Jesuit will be their fourth score. They may need to rely on senior Brooke Tercek or they could have another younger player step up. St. Joseph Academy, after graduating their core group of seniors will turn to another dynamic trio that has grown with the program. Ella Babcock, Vera Swartz, and Willa Streeter are all seniors who have plenty of varsity experience to draw from and begin new wave of Jaguars. They will do so under the eye of new coaches Lauren Demirjian and Amanda Schwab. Hathaway Brown looks to be back on the rise. Sophomore Saijal Jawa is an emerging star in the area and fellow sophomore Cece Voelker has put in a ton of work throughout the offseason. Add in junior Adelyn Ehlers and the Blazers will have their voices heard. Under the leadership of new coach Matt Monter and senior Lily Taylor, Hoban should have a successful season in 2026.

Spirits are high in Gates Mills as the Gilmour Academy Lancers have become a power to be reckoned with in Division 2. Sophomore Callie Dennison has taken the reins and is a top player in the program as they look to advance far in the postseason tournaments. Bristol continues to be a strong contender in the eastern part of the area while Ursuline looks to be one of the top small school teams in the Youngstown area. St. Vincent-St. Mary is developing a young roster and looking toward the future. They will rely on transfers Brooklyn and Gracelyn Berkowitz as the Our Lady of the Elms program was eliminated this season. Cardinal had a successful first season as a program in 2025 and will look to build off of it as the program grows. Another very new program, the Firelands Falcons have an ambitious head coach in Jacob Fitzpatrick. They will continually improve as the team grows.

Impact Players

Ella Babcock (SR) St. Joseph Academy
Brooklyn Berkowitz (SR) St. Vincent-St. Mary
McCamey Compan (SR) Pymatuning Valley
Callie Dennison (SO) Gilmour
Vivian Eich (JR) Walsh Jesuit
Adelyn Ehlers (JR) Hathaway Brown
Greta Geib (JR) Laurel
Kellen Gleason (JR) Magnificat
Saijal Jawa (JR) Hathaway Brown
Kayla Knaze (SR) Magnificat
Korinne Knaze (SO) Magnificat
Yumi Kohara (SR) Walsh Jesuit
Nicole Krohn (SR) Hoban
Nina Kumer (JR) Lowellville
Brooke Leedy (SR) Gilmour
Anna Mooney (SR) Lake Center Christian
Kaitlyn Omlor (JR) Cardinal
Calli Reed (JR) Magnificat
Sophia Scianna (SO) Ursuline
Willa Streeter (SR) St. Joseph Academy
Vera Swartz (SR) St. Joseph Academy
Lily Taylor (SR) Hoban
Cecelia Voelker (SO) Hathaway Brown
Sarah Vojtko (JR) Walsh Jesuit
Anistyn Williams (JR) Bristol

Freshmen to Watch

Zuzanna Citak (Firelands)
Sanaya Dubey (Hathaway Brown)
Stella Meyer (SVSM)
Brynn Wagamon (Cardinal)

Bristol Panthers

Head Coach- James Vecchio
Last Year’s Results- 9th at Punderson Sectional

Cardinal Huskies

Head Coach- Mike Topalian
Last Year’s Results- 17th at Punderson Sectional
Coach’s Comments- The Lady Huskies are excited to be back for their second formal season as a squad. The Huskies look to keep building experience and confidence as they progress on their golf journey.

Firelands Falcons

Head Coach- Jacob Fitzpatrick
Last Year’s Results- 15th at The Pines Sectional
Coach’s Comments- I am excited about the potential of this team. Our focus this season will be on building confidence, improving each player’s individual game, fostering a positive team culture, and competing with resilience. If we continue to embrace growth and support one another, I believe this group has the opportunity to achieve great things.

Firestone Falcons

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

Gilmour Academy Lancers

Head Coach- John Malloy
Last Year’s Results- 4th at Punderson Sectional, 6th at Good Park District

Hathaway Brown Blazers

Head Coach- Ronald Jones
Last Year’s Results- 5th at Old Avalon Sectional, Match Record: 6-3; Sectional Placement: 1 (single adv. to Districts); Tournament Finishes: 2 top 5 finishes
Coach’s Comments- Although HB will be young by age, our girls are playing quite a bit of golf this summer, coupled with few new student potential, we expect to have another solid and exciting season of golf.

Archbishop Hoban Knights

Head Coach- Matt Monter
Last Year’s Results- 10th at The Elms Sectional, 5-2 in matches, four top-4 finishes in tournaments, Lily Taylor missed qualifying for District by one stroke.
Coach’s Comments- We are exciting for the new season and hope to take a step forward as individuals and as a team this year.

Laurel Gators

Head Coach- Zachary Stenger
Last Year’s Results- 13th at Punderson Sectional
Comments- With the retirement of Marti Hardy, Laurel School has a new Varsity coach, Zachary Stenger, and assistants, former two-time State Champion, Laurel/Penn State golfer, Jami Morris, and JV coach Keith Rush. Together, they will work with a primarily 9th and 10th grade team along with our two Junior Captains, Abby Vasu and Greta Geib. We are looking forward to developing our young golfers into strong competitors this year and in the years to come. 

Lowellville Rockets

Head Coach- Daniel Dougherty
Last Year’s Results- 16th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Magnificat Blue Streaks

Head Coach- Danny Gallagher
Last Year’s Results- 1st at Big Met Sectional, 1st at Tanglewood District, D1 State Runner Up
Coach’s Comments- We are excited to continue to build the golf program at Magnificat and once again have high expectations to be one of the best golf programs in the State of Ohio.

Pymatuning Valley Lakers

Head Coach- Jeff Compan
Last Year’s Results- 14th at Pine Lakes Sectional

St. Joseph Academy Jaguars

Head Coach- Lauren Demirjian and Amanda Schwab
Last Year’s Results- 2nd at Big Met Sectional, 7th at Tanglewood District, Individual E. Glending qualified for States and finished 26th.

St. Vincent-St. Mary Irish

Head Coach- Dirk Hartman
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Fox Den Sectional
Coach’s Comments- Very young team, excited to have 2 transfers from the Lady of The Elms program which folded. This is the first full team we will field in two years.

Ursuline Fighting Irish

Head Coach- Michael Murphy
Last Year’s Results- 10th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Walsh Jesuit Warriors

Head Coach- Bill Reilly
Last Year’s Results- 1st at Fox Den Sectional, 2nd at Tanglewood District, 4th at State Tournament, Winning the sectional championship with a new School scoring record of 294 led by a three underpar 68 from Vivian Eich, 72 from Sarah Vojtko, 73 from Yumi Kohara was a great start to the post season only to be topped by a runner-up District finish and a 4th Place finish at the State Championship
Coach’s Comments- Setting a new school record (294) was a great accomplishment for the girls ,only to be topped by a 4th place finish at the State Tournament in 2025.An accomplishment we hope to build on in 2026. It could well be another fun run!!

Congratulations to Mary Becker and Marti Hardy

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The 2026 golf season is less than two weeks away and players from all over Northeast Ohio are preparing themselves to try out for their teams. Coaches are making their final preparations to get ready for what they hope is a magical Fall of 2026. Meanwhile, two legendary coaches are navigating life on the other side of high school golf. For the first time in decades, the Northeast Ohio golf scene will not feature Mary Becker or Marti Hardy. Becker started the program at Highland High School and is the only coach the program has ever had. Marti Hardy ends her stellar career at Laurel School as she leaves a very similar situation.

Standout Highland player Isabella Goyette, going into her junior year as a member of the Kent State women’s golf team leaves this message for Coach Becker: “Coach, first of all congrats on an amazing career in Highland Golf!! I am so happy and honored to have had you as my guide in high school. You’ve always inspired and driven me to be my best, which I am forever grateful for.” Goyette continued, “I can’t say I have a favorite memory, but your sandwiches always stood out to me. Thank you for all of the good moments that I will never forget. You truly have built something great for Highland Girls Golf. I am so thankful for all that you did to help me not only grow as a player, but as a person as well. Thank you for everything Coach, and enjoy retirement!! You deserve it!”

Siena Maschke is also going into her junior year as a member of the Denison University women’s golf team. She had several memories to share of “Senora” Hardy, a well-respected Spanish teacher at Laurel. “I would say some of my best memories with Senora are from the State Tournament and her support through my three years at States. Even after I graduated from Laurel, she would still come watch me play for Denison. I keep in touch with her and see her over breaks. She has always been like family to me, and I see her as one of my role models in life. She knows how to live life through a positive lens and lover her job every day.” After that touching tribute, Maschke also added, “She also makes the best carmelita brownies.”

While most readers now are craving brownies, they probably are wondering what the future holds for the Highland and Laurel programs. Chris Kestner at Highland and Zachary Stenger at Laurel will obviously have big shoes to fill. Becker’s greatest accomplishment on the course was sending 12 teams to the State Tournament. Hardy had the opportunity to coach some phenomenal individual stars. Siena Maschke and Jami Morris are the most recent players that made appearances in Columbus to represent Hardy and the Gators.

Marti Hardy will continue to be a fixture in high school golf as she plans to still be involved at the yearly Canterbury Invitational. Mary Becker is still assisting Highland with scheduling and running tournaments. Both coaches will be dearly missed as members of the Northeast Ohio Golf Coaches Association.

The Highland golf team created a video to commemorate Becker’s career which they have graciously shared with us. It can be seen below.

CONGRATULATIONS ON WONDERFUL CAREERS TO MARY BECKER AND MARTI HARDY!

2026 Lake Erie Girls Golf Association Preview

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With the emergence of Girls Golf being added to the Cleveland West Conference, there are several teams that will be playing in both the LEGGA and the CWC. The teams in both will be featured in the CWC Preview post. In the LEGGA, the Keystone Wildcats will be the team to beat. They are one of the top Division 2 teams in the state and are led by one of the best players in the state, junior Sophia Clarico. What the Wildcats have that many Division 2 teams lack though is depth. Seniors Caseabella Fye and Kennedy Accavallo provide that for Keystone and that is the reason that they made the State Tournament last year and are favorites to repeat that journey again this season. The Columbia Raiders have a new head coach, Jacki Daymut, who will look to return Columbia to the place they were in earlier this decade. Wellington is a program that is continuing to build under coach James Feliciano.

Impact Players

Kennedy Accavallo (SR) Keystone
Sophia Clarico (JR) Keystone
Caseabella Fye (SR) Keystone
Hannah Gott (JR) Wellington
Manya Mitta (SR) Columbia
Annamarie Vilchez (JR) Keystone

Freshmen to Watch

Kayla Gereke (Wellington)
Josie Kazmierczak (Wellington)
Abigail Markovic (Columbia)
Evelyn Panigutti (Columbia)
Carly Schramm (Wellington)
Myiah Whitney (Keystone)

Columbia Raiders

Head Coach- Jacki Daymut
Last Year’s Results- 10th at The Pines Sectional

Keystone Wildcats

Head Coach- David Slee
Last Year’s Results- 1st at The Pines Sectional, 1st at Good Park District, 4th at State Tournament, Won the LEGGA Conference
Coach’s Comments- We plan on making another run at States and our conference title

Wellington Dukes

Head Coach- James Feliciano
Last Year’s Results- 12th at The Pines Sectional, Season finish 3-9, Preview Finish Last, Conference Finish Tied 5th

OHSAA Division Changes for 2026

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The Ohio High School Athletic Association has released the Divisional Assignments for the 2026 Fall season. Several Northeast District teams are slated to bump up to Division 1 while one team is moving down to Division 2.

Moving to from Division 2 to Division 1

Edgewood
Elyria Catholic
Lutheran West
Niles McKinley
Orange

Moving from Division 1 to Division 2

St. Vincent-St. Mary

(Thanks to Dirk Hartman for contributing to this article)

Fundraiser for Berea-Midpark Golfer

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Avery James is a junior at Berea-Midpark High School who is a member of the golf, basketball, and softball team. In 8th grade, she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and her family is concerned that the symptoms of the condition will cause numerous problems as she goes off to college after graduation. They are hoping that they can provide Avery with a service dog to assist her as she makes that transition. Her friends and family are holding a fundraiser on May 30th at Rookies Sports Bar and Grill in Parma Heights.

The cost to attend the event is $30. The menu includes pizza, wings, pasta, salad, and dinner rolls. Drinks are also available. There will be raffles, sideboards, and a 50/50 drawing.

Please respond to bolinr@hudson.k12.oh.us if you would like to attend the event along with us.

Looking Ahead to the 2026 D2 Season

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Division 2 girls golf in Northeast Ohio is always fun because new teams are able to make a push each year. There are, of course, some programs that are constantly in the hunt, but every year there are schools that come out of nowhere to make heroic runs at District and State tournament berths. Here are 15 teams that we see contending in 2026. There are definitely more out there but we may not know who they are yet.

Starstruck

The Keystone Wildcats get better every year. Having the phenomenal skills and talents of Sophia Clarico the last two years has been a big reason why. Keystone is a contender, though, because of the improvement of their 2-4 players on the roster, including seniors Caseabella Fye and Kennedy Accavallo. The three of them, led by Clarico, will look for a final piece in 2026 and could very possibly return to the State Tournament.

Another Class of 2028 superstar is Elizabeth Pollock of Chagrin Falls. She has led the Tigers on and off the course over the past two seasons and 2026 should be no different. Chagrin Falls will have a new coach, Tom Porten, this fall and will rely on a similar supporting class with a lot of returning skill. Senior Natalie Venorsky and Kate Murphy should help form a formidable lineup as the Tigers look to be one of the top teams again.

This year’s deep junior class also features Samantha Morgan of Southeast High School. Following in the footsteps of some stellar performers, Morgan is the next in line for the Pirates. Add in junior Jennifer Mix and sophomore Emily Morrison, and Southeast will also be in the hunt to advance a long way during tournament season.

Last year’s super freshman Avery Robinette from Champion is back and will be looking to lead the Flashes on a long run into October. Senior Brilea Woods will be her tag team partner and Champion will hope to build up their depth spots in an effort to continue their program’s recent success.

Anuja Patel will be one of the top seniors in the state of Ohio as she embarks on her final season at Orange High School. The Lions lose some pieces to graduation but could also see strong incoming freshman class. Orange is a team to watch out for as their players will continue to get better throughout the season.

Reloading

Columbiana might be the best example of a small school that just keeps bringing in talented players on a yearly basis. The Clippers are always competitive and always have one of the deeper large rosters in Northeast Ohio. Senior Maddie Jackson will be the player to watch for the Clippers and the exceptional senior class will be rounded out with both Claire Banner and Victoria Buckingham.

Gilmour is a team on the rebound, much because of the emergence of Callie Dennison, a freshman last year who turned into one of the top players on the roster. Dennison should be the top player on Gilmour’s roster and will be helped by a strong senior class that includes Brooke Leedy and Mae Steigerwald.

The Norris/Morris duo at Lakeview has been fun to watch over the past two years and this year junior Olivia Norris and senior Parker Morris will once again be key pieces for the Bulldogs. Add in junior Madeline Isenberg along with one other potential piece and Lakeview could be right at the top of the District Tournament.

After coming out of nowhere over the last two seasons, Tuslaw’s youth has matured into a fine golf team. The Mustangs will once again be paced by now senior Avery Rodocker with a strong group behind her. Juniors Hadley Porter and Emilee Urbas are the next two up as Tuslaw should continue with another strong season.

In Beloit, Ohio, senior Bella Linger will lead the the West Branch Warriors on the course in 2026. Teaming up with junior Emma McLaughlin and building on the depth that the team has shown, West Branch will make a mark in the Mahoning Valley yet again this upcoming fall.

On the Doorstep

Not long ago, people didn’t even know that Mapleton High School in Ashland County even existed. Now they are a contender in D2 golf in Northeast Ohio. With a huge junior class that has grown together, the Mounties are excited to see what the next chapter has in store for them. Kail Callihan, Reagan Hickey, and Payten Frye are the three top juniors that will pace Mapleton this fall.

The Poland Bulldogs are consistently a top performer in the Northeast 8 Conference. They don’t have the star power at the top of the lineup but they make up for it with depth throughout. Junior Cadence berendt and sophomore Capri Carchedi will be the top players on the roster this year as Poland plans to be competitive throughout the season.

Independence is another team that had a youthful group two years ago that has continued to grow together. Juniors Abbey Cottrell and Jamie Tresp along with several other juniors will look to bring the Blue Devils and coach Mike Gruber back to where the program expects to be.

Seniors Alayna Valley and Savannah Turek have been mainstays on Mineral Ridge’s roster since they arrived at the high school. The Rams are a team that has been right on the edge of competitiveness and 2026 could be the breakout season that they have been hoping for.

Lake Catholic has gotten better every single year under coach Tony Zampedro. Last year was one of, if not the top year in program history. The Cougars will have a lot to make up for with the loss of Ella Zampedro and Emma Madsen to graduation. Stepping into the top spot on the roster will be Mao Edwards, a junior who has come out of nowhere to be a solid player, along with senior Maddie Cox.