2024 Portage Trail Conference Preview

The Portage Trail Conference has shrunk to three teams going into 2024. Rootstown will be the team to beat and will be led by a group of four juniors. Rootstown has made some very positive strides in their first two years as a program and will continue to build on that success. Lake Center Christian will be rebuilding and St. Thomas Aquinas will need to add a few more players to be competitive this season.

Impact Players

Elizabeth Adkins (JR) Rootstown
Alex Biggin (JR) Rootstown
Charley Collins (JR) Lake Center Christian
Anna Drago (JR) Rootstown
Kate Tabellion (JR) St. Thomas Aquinas
Ava Miller (JR) Rootstown

Freshmen to Watch

Lily Gardner (Rootstown)
Morgan Giebel (Rootstown)

Lake Center Christian Tigers

Head Coach- Shane Byler
Last Year’s Results- 15th at The Pines Sectional

Rootstown Rovers

Head Coach- Matt Just
Last Year’s Results- 13th at Punderson Sectional, 12-4 (2-2 P.T.C.), Lady Spartan Inv. (@Chenoweth) 4th Place, 437 Team Score, P.T.C. Tournament (@Sable Creek): 2nd Place, 433 Team Score
Coach’s Comments- Looking forward to a successful season. Looking to improve upon our sectional finish last year. Playing a more competitive schedule this season, with more matches and an additional tournament.

St. Thomas Aquinas Knights

Head Coach- Terry Murphy
Last Year’s Results- DNS at The Pines Sectional


Portage Trail Conference Preview

There are four teams that make up the Portage Trail Conference, two each from Stark and Portage Counties. The Southeast Pirates are a team on the rise and have the potential to make a run to the State Tournament. They are the heavy favorites to win the Portage Trail with Rootstown and Lake Center Christian potentially battling for second place. St. Thomas Aquinas is projected to finish fourth but could improve that if they can find some additions to the roster.

Impact Players

Taylor Blazek (JR) Southeast
Charley Collins (SO) Lake Center Christian
JuleeAnn Doolittle (SR) St. Thomas Aquinas
Audrey Francis (SR) Rootstown
Gracie Westover (SR) Southeast

Freshmen to Watch

Gianna Giulitto (Rootstown)

Lake Center Christian Tigers

Head Coach- Shane Byler
Last Year’s Results- 5th at The Pines Sectional

Rootstown Rovers

Head Coach- Matt Just
Last Year’s Results- 14th at Punderson Sectional, 2022 (1st year as a team): 7-6 Overall, 3-3 Portage Trail Conference (Tied for 2nd), Audrey Francis 2022 PTC Golfer of the Year, 3rd Place at PTC Tournament

Coach Comments- We return all six members of our varsity squad from last year and will look to compete for a PTC title in just our 2nd year as a team. Our team goals are to win a PTC title and place in the top 10 at the 2023 OHSAA Sectional Tournament.

Southeast Pirates

Head Coach- Cynthia Fesemyer
Last Year’s Results- 4th at Punderson Sectional, 8th at Districts

St. Thomas Aquinas Knights

Head Coach- Terry Murphy
Last Year’s Results- DNS at The Pines Sectional