By Michael Beaven
Special to the Beacon Journal

The high school girls soccer season has begun with several area teams feeling that they are legitimate state contenders.

Archbishop Hoban and Walsh Jesuit return several key players from last season’s teams, which advanced to state semifinal matches. Jackson and Medina annually field strong teams. Brunswick Cloverleaf, Copley, Green, Hudson, Kent Roosevelt, Ravenna, Revere and Stow are all capable of making deep runs in the state tournament.

‘‘It just seems like that type of year,’’ said Frank Gagliardi, now in his 12th year coaching Jackson. ‘‘It doesn’t seem like there is any team where you say, ‘That team will win state.’ There definitely is a lot of teams that will be in the fight for a state title.’’

Veteran Walsh Jesuit coach Dino McIntyre said the Cleveland and Akron areas boast ‘‘a lot of teams that can go all the way,’’ mentioning Akron-area teams plus Strongsville, Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown, North Royalton and Brecksville.

Kent Roosevelt outlook
One team off to a flying start is Kent Roosevelt, which is 3-0 and has outscored Stow, Tallmadge and Coventry 16-4.

The Rough Riders, 7-8-2 last season, have eight returning starters. Senior tri-captains Katie Mitchell, Jessica Giulitto and Brianna Serafin are the foundation of the team along with senior forward Jennifer DeLuke.

‘‘We have four seniors who are contributing very well and showing good leadership,’’ coach Steve Mitchell said.

Katie Mitchell, the coach’s daughter, scored 10 goals in 2007. She and Giulitto, a defender, are entering their fourth years as starters. Serafin, a midfielder, sophomore midfielder Michaela Kline and junior goal keeper Abby Bradford are other key players.

‘‘Our depth is impressive,’’ Steve Mitchell said. ‘‘I can make any number of substitutions and not weaken the lineup, which is a great luxury.’’

Stow outlook
Stow returns 10 starters and 15 letterwinners from last season’s team, which went 8-5-4 and was second to Brunswick in the NOC River Division.

‘‘I tell my players to take it game by game and hopefully toward the end of the season we are in the running for the league championship, and from there anything can happen,’’ Stow coach Chris Tipton said. ‘‘I have high hopes for the team.’’

Sophomore forward Vickie Havas led the Bulldogs with nine goals last year. Senior sweeper Leah Poiner and junior stopper Ellie Swanger will pace the defense along with senior goalkeeper Sarah Conkle. Junior midfielder Kyrsten Kamlowsky also returns.

The Stow boys team won the Division I state title in 2006, an accomplishment that many of the girls witnessed.

‘‘We talk about that in a sense of that’s what we want to do,’’ Tipton said. ‘‘A lot of the
girls were there and saw it. I was there, I felt it and I saw it. I think it will take a lot of grunt work. Realistically, it will be tough, but this is the best team I have had here.’’

Championship caliber – Walsh Jesuit & Archbishop Hoban
McIntyre, entering his 16th season as Walsh’s coach, knows what it feels like to win championships. He led Walsh to state titles in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006. The 2000 and 2006 teams were recognized as national champions.

The Warriors, a 2007 Division I state semifinalist with a 13-4-5 record, will be led by
senior defenders Jaime Townsend and Jordan Finch, senior midfielders Alexis Garcia
and Kendra Simmons, sophomore forward Kelsey Smigel and sophomore midfielder/forward Elizabeth Bollinger.

Smigel paced Walsh with 15 goals last season. “She’s a pure goal scorer,‘‘ McIntyre said. ‘‘She knows the game technically and has all the tools.”

Townsend (Lehigh), Garcia (Dayton) and Finch (Miami, Ohio) are Division I recruits. McIntyre said Garica is training to overcome her third torn ACL in the past four years.

Juniors Juliana Libertin and Jessacca Gironda are among seven returning starters for
Hoban. The Knights compiled a 15-4-1 record and made their second consecutive appearance in the Division II state semifinals last season.

‘‘We want to win one more game and get in that final,’’ said Benny Pietrangelo, entering his third season as Hoban’s coach. ‘‘On paper, we look pretty strong, but the games have to be played. People are impressed with our talent, but you have to play the games on the field and win.’’

Libertin, a forward, received Beacon Journal Player of the Year honor last fall. She scored four goals Saturday in a 6-0 win at Chippewa. As a sophomore, Libertin scored 35 goals and had 20 assists, and she totaled 15 goals and 11 assists as a freshman.

‘‘When Jules is on, opponents can’t stop her,’’ said Pietrangelo, who also coached the Hoban boys soccer team for 17 years. ‘‘She never gets tired because she runs track and is a swimmer, too. She is a very special athlete. Her endurance is amazing.’’

Gironda, a midfielder/goal keeper, scored 16 goals last season. Senior defender Alex
Niehaus, sophomore defender Gabby Corwin, sophomore forward Margaret Woods and
senior goal keeper Francesca Gironda also return for Hoban.

Jackson & Medina outlook
Jackson returns 11 letterwinners from last year’s team, which posted a 17-2-1 record ` 7-0 in winning the Federal League.

The Polar Bears will be led by senior midfielders Rachel Dennis, a Kent State recruit, and
Melissa Hagan, a Northern Iowa recruit. Junior midfielders Maggie Rusnak and Lauren
Jokovich also return with junior sweeper Emily Sanders.

‘‘With the tradition of the past and the stage the previous girls have set, hopefully the
winning habits will still be strong within the program,’’ Gagliardi said.

Jackson is hoping to get some revenge against Walsh this season; the Warriors ousted the
Polar Bears the past three years in the state tournament.

‘‘We have never beaten Walsh in my 12 years as coach,’’ Gagliardi said. ‘‘That is a mental and a physical goal that we have as a team.’’

Medina will be paced by junior forward Becca Candler, an Indiana University recruit,
Sarah Flanders and Jillian Graff. The Bees should still be a strong team despite the absence of current Ohio State player Paige Maxwell, who was a four-year starter at Medina.

Suburban League balanced
Tina Salem is excited about what her Copley team can do in her 11th season. Senior
midfielders Kristen Mattei (Toledo recruit) and Kirsten Schulte (Case Western Reserve) lead the team.

The Indians also will rely on senior sweeper Liz Moyer, senior defender Julie Berk,
junior midfielder/forward Nikki Matttei and junior midfielder Maddi Buckham.

‘‘I think girls soccer has finally caught up with the boys,’’ Salem said. ‘‘You have a
lot more girls playing the sport. Northeast Ohio is just incredible for girls soccer. We
have a reputation for having strong soccer.’’

Copley and Revere are expected to be the top Suburban League teams, but Cloverleaf and Green should be in the mix for the league crown.

Junior forward Emily White will guide Revere after leading the Minutemen in scoring the previous two seasons. She enters 2008 with 22 career goals.

Revere coach Jeff Stoerkel said sophomores Tara Littman and Katie Kimberly will be key midfielders with freshman Amy Feher and sophomore Kristen Popa is the goalkeeper.

Cloverleaf compiled a 11-4-2 overall record and a 5-1-1 league mark last season to place second to Copley in the Suburban League. Colts coach Val Baughman said eight starters and 11 total letterwinners return from last season.

Sophomore forward Katie Roberts and junior midfielders Rachel Gokey, Hanna Cavalier and Megan Jackson lead Cloverleaf’s offense.

Juniors Melissa Zeigler and Shannon Kilkenny and sophomore Katie Koloka form the nucleus off Cloverleaf’s defense in front of junior goal keeper Karly Beuck.

“We have a really strong junior class,” Baughman said.

Green is led by seniors Desiree Aber and Kelsey Ahbe.

Cloverleaf defeated Green 4-0 Wednesday to improve to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the Suburban League this season.

Other promising teams and players
North Canton Hoover went 14-4-2 last season and Sarah Maj and Kathleen Ray are among eight returning letter winners.

Perry has seven starters and 10 total lettermen back from 2007. Junior goal keeper Megan
McMaster, sophomore forward Michelle Genetin and junior forward Ally Smith all return.

The Vikings and Panthers will try to dethrone the Jackson Polar Bears from the top spot in the Federal League.

Firestone senior forward Christine Black and Western Reserve Academy senior midfielder Anne Song are two other players that are entering their fourth varsity seasons.

Black netted the lone goal in Firestone’s 1-0 victory over St. Vincent-St. Mary earlier this
season.

Song, who also has a four-goal game this season, netted 18 goals at WRA as a forward last season enters 2008 with 37 career goals.

When it comes to track, it’s always about who ran the fastest, jumped the highest or threw the shot or the discus the farthest. But sometimes there are stories, GREAT, INSPRATIONAL STORIES, that don’t have to do with who won.

For instance, I remember watching the local news in the fall, I think it was, and there was an amazing story about a young lady (she may have been from the Youngstown area), who was competing in the state high school cross country meet and was almost near the finish line. Then came a gruesome sight. She broke her leg on the course and fell to the ground.

But this young lady had the courage and fortitude to crawl and limp her way to the finish line, despite being in obvious pain.

It was a story of incredible self-will. This young lady needed medical help, but she didn’t want it. She was withering with pain but she wanted to finish that race, and if you watched the video, you couldn’t help but get a little emotional, knowing she was in a world of pain. But watching her will her way to that finish line, regardless of the pain she was experiencing, was breathtaking and moving.

The yound lady gave a great television interview a few days later and it was great to see she was doing well and was in good spirts. I think she even joked that all she was thinking about, when she went down, was that she wasn’t going to be able to dance at her sister’s wedding later that night.

I witnessed another incredible story, but it didn’t involve injury. A few years ago I was covering a regional track meet at Ravenna and the Copley girls were favored in this particular relay event. As the race began, Copley was right there, as expected. But during one of the exchanges, the baton was dropped and the team was out of the race.

The young lady who dropped the baton was devasted. I mean, I had never seen an athlete more distraught. What I found out later was that the young lady was only a sophomore and there were two seniors on that relay team. The sophomore felt she had blown it for the seniors because it was their last chance to make it to state.

She was on the infield of the track, as the race was still going, slumped over an emotional ball.

She just shuddered and shook as she cried.

Then, former Copley standout Carrie Dyer, who was a senior and on that relay team, ran to the young runner to comfort her.

Then the rest of the realy team followed.

To me, that was one of the most inspirational stories I had ever witnessed.

The sophomore was heartbroken. But she was heartbroken because she cared about her teammates and wanted to perform at her best so that it would help the seniors.

It didn’t happen. But when it didn’t happen, the seniors weren’t mad, bitter or upset. They showed support for their younger teammate because they loved her. And in the end, winning didn’t matter.

So, with that, I’m asking readers to post any inspirational stories you witnessed, in track or any other sport, that didn’t involve someone winning.

A story where someone overcame odds to get where they are. Or a story about teammates helping one another.

Those are the most compelling stories.

It appears as if Eastern Michigan has searched deep into Ohio plucking four area softball players to fill next year’s roster. Hoover’s Sarah Gerber (1B) and McKenna Russ (OF) are both already inked. As is Jackson’s Jess Richards (3B). Stow’s Allison Scherer (SS) will join her sister, Jenny Scherer ( a sophomore OF),  at EMU  as well.

Former Canton McKinley baseball shortstop Zack Leonard is also at EMU. The freshman is hitting .263 with two home runs in 20 games this season.

Freshman defensive back Judson Rambaud, Formerly of Akron St. Vincent St. Mary, and redshirt freshman wide receiver Corey Welch (Green High School) are on the football roster there.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Varsity Letters Player of the Game: Revere junior forward Emilee Vitez scored nine of her team’s 11 fourth-quarter points to carry the Minutemen (16-3, 11-2) to a crucial Suburban League victory on Wednesday night.

Vitez, who finished with a team-high 13 points, was able to break free from Green defenders several times in the fourth quarter, catch passes from her teammates and make wide-open layups.

“We had communication on the backside,” Vitez said. “We all knew that the backside wing was open from tape we were watching. It was just great how we all worked together in the fourth quarter.”

With the win, Revere moved into a tie with Wadsworth (14-5, 11-2) for first place in the league standings.

Revere will play Copley next Wednesday in the final Suburban League game of the season for both teams. If the Minutemen win, they will earn at least a share of their first league title since 1978.

The upcoming Suburban League swimming meet looks like could be a nail-biter.

Just when the Copley boys swimming team appeared to be a clear favorite to win its second consecutive league title, the Green Bulldogs upset the Indians 86-84 on Wednesday.

In early January, the defending league champion Copley girls edged Wadsworth 86-84, indicating that the race to the league championship will also be tight on the girls side.

The Suburban League meet is scheduled for Feb. 1. It should be interesting.

BOYS BASKETBALL

REVERE 76, GREEN 59

Revere junior guard Zack Weidrick scored a season-high 21 points to lead the Minutemen (7-5, 3-3 in the Suburban League) to their sixth consecutive victory.

“Zack is really doing a good job of making good decisions, playing within himself, being patient and letting the game come to him,” Revere coach Dean Rahas said. “I’m really pleased with the things he’s doing out there.”

The game between Revere and Green (4-6, 2-4) featured an unusually high amount of fouls. Green was charged with 33 fouls, and Revere was charged with 20. The Bulldogs sank 14-of-20 foul shots, and the Minutemen made 36-of-52 free throws.

Weidrick, who also plays quarterback for the Revere football team, nailed nine-of-11 foul shots.

LEW STAMP/Akron Beacon Journal

Revere junior guard Zack Weidrick drives past Ben Pollock of Green on Friday night. Weidrick made nine-of-11 free throws on his way to a season-high 21 points during Revere’s 76-59 win over Green.

Here is some cross country analysis as leagues/conferences hold their championship meets and the state championships approach.

Louisville senior Kyle Kling and Medina junior Donny Roys have each been impressive runners this season, but there are still several teams that have a good collection of talent and other individuals that are having success.

The cross country teams at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and Woodridge are two examples of squads that have consistently fared well at invitationals this season, in addition to Louisville, Medina, North Canton Hoover Green, Jackson, Louisville, Hudson, Crestwood, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Vincent-St. Mary and Walsh Jesuit.

CVCA and Woodridge have front-end talent and depth that make them a contender at each meet.

CVCA has been led by juniors Katie Gillespie and Kyle Sullinger. The girls and boys teams each placed first recently at the Legends Meet at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds.

Gillespie and junior Carolyn Case have paced the Royals girls squad with freshmen Joy Talbott, Irene Frangos and Hannah Lyons also being key contributors. The girls team placed first in September at the Division II Boardman Spartan Invitational.

Sullinger and sophomores Ross Crocker and Mark Talbott have paced the Royals boys squad.

The Woodridge girls’ squad was second to CVCA at Boardman. The Bulldogs have been led by juniors Emily Sabo, Erin Mercer and sophomore Becca Howdyshell.

The Woodridge boys’ team won the Division II Boardman Spartan Invitational in September behind senior Brian Himelright, who placed first. The Bulldogs have also received significant contributions from juniors Michael Rhodes and Joe White, seniors Tony Marette and Matthew Weiss and freshmen Jimmy Charles and Vibus Sivakumaran.

This Saturday several leagues will be holding their championship. The City Series and Suburban League will be running at Goodyear Metro Park in Akron.

The Firestone boys will look to defend their title after winning the past four titles and five out of the past six. The Ellet girls will look to win the title for a sixth season in a row.

The Revere boys golf team won its third consecutive Suburban League postseason tournament to clinch the league title. Revere won a share of the league title with Green in 2006, but the Minutemen were able to win it outright this season.

Revere finished first in the team scoring with 309 points. Junior Cory Hill shot a 4-over 75 to lead the Minutemen. Junior Tom Kimberly (77), sophomore Patrick Alfieri (78) and junior Mack Kerker (79) rounded out Revere’s top four.

“We generally don’t have a day when three guys shoot in the mid-80s because we have six guys who have a shot at the 70s,” Revere coach Jed McKnight said.

Cloverleaf placed second in the tournament with a 322, and Tallmadge took third with a 329.

Cloverleaf senior Parker Hewit, who has committed to play golf at Bowling Green State University, shared the tournament’s top individual score with Tallmadge sophomore Matt Wellman. Hewit and Wellman each shot a 3-over 74.

LEW STAMP/Akron Beacon Journal

Revere junior Cory Hill is congratulated after sinking a 20-foot putt on No. 18 at J.E. Good Park Golf Course during the Suburban League tournament.

The girls Suburban League Golf Tournament had a sense of deja vu — with a twist.

The medalist was an Arison from Copley for the second consecutive year, yet this time it was the younger twin sister.

Copley senior Heather Arison won the individual title Tuesday by shooting a 1-over-par 73 at Barberton Brookside Country Club in Norton.

Carly Arison, last season’s Suburban champion at Good Park Golf Course, placed second with a 79.

The Arison twins led the Indians to their fourth consecutive Suburban League title under the
guidance of coach Bill Rhoades.

“Four in a row is pretty awesome,” Rhoades said. “I was pleased with the way we played. We had been struggling as a team lately. I thought today we kind of brought everything together. It was nice to see their hard work pay off.”

Heather Arison parred 11 holes and birdied three: Nos. 2, 3 and 16. Carly Arison also had 11 pars and birdied No. 10.

Indians junior Molly Leonard (85) placed third with eight pars. Leonard said she is battling a sinus infection and was scheduled to go to the doctor after the meet Tuesday to see if she had mono.

Green (363) placed second, Revere was third (384) and Wadsworth (420) was fourth.

Green senior Amanda Spitzer (86) placed fourth and Bulldogs sophomore Sarah Allred (90) was fifth. Revere junior Hanna Gabriel (91) was sixth.

ED SUBA JR./Akron Beacon Journal

Copley senior Heather Arison tees off at the second hole during the Suburban League Tournament. Arison had the top individual score and helped Copley win its fourth consecutive league title.

Here is a preseason look at Suburban League football. In this post, you will find players (and any all-star recognition they received in the league last season) to watch from each team and my predictions for the upcoming season.

TALLMADGE (8-3 overall, 6-1 in the Suburban League last season)

Top players: Senior LB-RB Collin Haben (first-team Suburban League), senior QB-DB Patrick Pakan (first-team), senior LB-TE Aaron Donze (first-team), senior OL-DL Nick Fleming (second-team all-district in Division II and first-team SL), junior PK-P James Plunkett (first-team), senior OL-DL Jesse Hobbel, junior Zack Cevasco (first-team), junior RB-DB Tyler Fortner, junior OL-DL Nick White.

WADSWORTH (7-3, 5-2)

Top players: Senior RB Dru Jones (second-team All-Ohio and first-team all-district in Division I), junior OL-DL Ricky Canestraro (second-team SL), junior DB Anthony Lorubbio (second-team), junior LB-RB Jake Palidar (second-team).

GREEN (8-2, 5-2)

Top players: Senior OL Nick Bridenbaugh (second-team), senior OL-DL Cory Potter (second-team), senior DL Shane Callahan (second-team).

REVERE (5-5, 5-2)

Top players: Senior QB Taylor Newmann (first-team), senior OL-DL Patrick Lyden (first-team), senior WR-DB Mick Battaglia (second-team).

COPLEY (5-5, 4-3)

Top players: Senior WR-DB Joe Hanlin (first-team), senior RB Justin White-Reid (second-team), senior OL Tim Goodman (second-team), senior LB-RB Walt Harris (second-team), senior OL Drew Bowser (second-team).

CLOVERLEAF (3-7, 2-5)

Top players: Senior DL Justin Marrs (first-team), junior QB-DB Cody Roberts (second-team).

HIGHLAND (1-9, 1-6)

Top players: Junior LB-FB Tyler Houska (special-mention all-state, first-team all-district in Divison III and first-team SL), junior Chris Snook (first-team), senior Will Sutton (second-team).

BARBERTON (3-7, 0-7)

Top players: Sophomore QB Kyle Snyder (second-team).

Here are my preseason predictions for the Suburban League:

1. Tallmadge

2. Wadsworth

3. Green

4. Copley

5. Revere

6. Highland

7. Cloverleaf

8. Barberton

Here is an explanation for my picks: Tallmadge has won the past two Suburban League titles, and the Blue Devils should be able to do it again. Wadsworth will also be tough with senior running back Dru Jones leading the way for the Grizzlies. But I think Tallmadge senior quarterback/defensive back Patrick Pakan will be able to help the Blue Devils hold the Grizzlies off. Tallmadge senior Nick Fleming, one of the area’s best offensive linemen, will lead an experienced unit that should be able to give Pakan plenty of time to orchestrate the offense effectively. Green lost its three offensive stars (quarterback Kade Wagner, wide receiver Evan Elliot and running back Corey Welch) because of graduation. But the Bulldogs have eight returning starters on offense, meaning all the linemen who blocked for the three offensive standouts will be back to block well for new skill players. That’s why I think Green will be dangerous. Copley will go through some changes under first-year coach Ron Viscounte, who will fill in for now-St. Vincent-St. Mary coach Dan Boarman. I think Revere will improve and be a dangerous team that can pull off some upsets. Highland, Cloverleaf and Barberton all have talented players returning but will have a difficult time making it out of the bottom three in a tough league.

What do you think of these picks? Leave comments to let me know.