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- James Hanek
Last Year’s Results- 9th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Struthers Wildcats

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

The Northeast 8 Conference continues to belong to the Bulldogs. However, the 2024 conference champion was the Lakeview Bulldogs instead of the Poland Bulldogs, who were not able to capture their third straight title. Lakeview had a great season last year and have a talented young group of players that will be front and center in 2025. Senior DJ Morris will play alongside junior Parker Morris, and sophomore Olivia Norris in the top three lineup spots for Lakeview. That puts Lakeview in a very good position to repeat as conference champions. The number one contender to Lakeview is still up in the air. Girard, led by senior Ally Gassman, and Poland with a roster full of underclassmen could each give Lakeview a big challenge. Rounding out the competitors in the NE8 are Niles McKinley, Hubbard, Struthers, and South Range.

Impact Players

Ally Gassman (SR) Girard
DJ Godfrey (SR) Lakeview
Madelyn Fox (JR) Hubbard
Alaina Haroulakis (SR) Niles McKinley
Addison Liptak (SR) Struthers
Parker Morris (JR) Lakeview
Olivia Norris (SO) Lakeview
Isabella Roberts (JR) Poland
Lily Susak (SO) South Range

Freshmen to Watch

Girard Indians

Head Coach- Abigail Cook
Last Year’s Results- 9th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Hubbard Eagles

Head Coach- Christopher Trobek
Last Year’s Results- 13th at Old Avalon Sectional

Lakeview Bulldogs

Head Coach- Dean Shanower
Last Year’s Results- 5th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Niles McKinley Red Dragons

Head Coach- Traci Kempe
Last Year’s Results- 13th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Poland Seminary Bulldogs

Head Coach- Joseph Colella
Last Year’s Results- 10th at Pine Lakes Sectional

South Range Raiders

Head Coach- James Hanek
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Pine Lakes Sectional

Struthers Wildcats

Head Coach- William Cammack
Last Year’s Results- 14th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Coming off back to back conference championships, the Poland Bulldogs will once again look to be the class of the NE8 Conference. Poland will have a lot of work to do in 2024 after losing most of their top scorers. Sophomore Lila Gordon will look to pick up the slack and will be relying on a new, young cast of characters to help her out. Poland’s biggest competitor will most likely be Lakeview, who returns most of their talent for last year and are looking to take a big step forward. Hubbard, with a good fourth scorer will also have a say in the conference this season. Madelyn Fox will lead Hubbard and will look to compete for conference player of the year honors, with her biggest competition being Lakeview’s Cassie Klotz. It’s looking good for the teams that wear blue in the Northeast 8.

Impact Players

Madelyn Fox (SO) Hubbard
Ally Gassman (JR) Girard
Lila Gordon (SO) Poland
Cassie Klotz (SR) Lakeview
Kelli Kover (SR) Niles McKinley
Bella Sandusky (SR) Struthers
Kiera Winner (JR) South Range

Freshmen to Watch

Girard Indians

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

Hubbard Eagles

Head Coach- Christopher Trobek
Last Year’s Results- 12th at Old Avalon Sectional

Lakeview Bulldogs

Head Coach- Dean Shanower
Last Year’s Results- 10th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Niles McKinley Red Dragons

Head Coach- Traci Kempe
Last Year’s Results- 13th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Poland Seminary Bulldogs

Head Coach- Joseph Colella
Last Year’s Results- 5th at Pine Lakes Sectional

South Range Raiders

Head Coach- James Hanek
Last Year’s Results- 11th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Struthers Wildcats

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

Poland will look to repeat as Northeast 8 Conference champions in 2023 and return a strong group of seniors in order to try to do so. Lakeview and Hubbard appear to be the top contenders to try to dethrone Poland. The NE8 will have a good amount of parity in 2023 and one new impact player could tip the scales for one of those teams or any of the other four teams.

Impact Players

Evan Flynn (SR) Hubbard
Nina Gordon (SR) Poland
Cassie Kotz (JR) Lakeview
Kelli Kover (JR) Niles McKinley
Julia Ragozzino (JR) Girard
Bella Sandusky (JR) Struthers
Bethany Witmer (SR) South Range

Freshmen to Watch

Girard Indians

Head Coach- Josh Camuso
Last Year’s Results- 9th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Hubbard Eagles

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

Lakeview Bulldogs

Head Coach- Dean Shanower
Last Year’s Results- 10th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Niles McKinley Red Dragons

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

Poland Seminary Bulldogs

Head Coach- Joseph Colella
Last Year’s Results- 5th at Pine Lakes Sectional

South Range Raiders

Head Coach- James Hanek
Last Year’s Results- 12th at Pine Lakes Sectional

Struthers Wildcats

Head Coach- Wendell Wagnon
Last Year’s Results- DNS at Pine Lakes Sectional