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.

Kenny Frease of Perry and Brittany Orban of North Canton Hoover are among the standouts who who showcase their talents at this year’s Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association annual Boys and Girls All Star Games.

Four games will be played April 20 at Capital University in suburban Columbus, beginning with Division III-IV girls at noon. Caitlin Sharp of East Canton and Chelsea Fazekas of Chippewa are on the North roster.

Orban, a Northwestern University recruit, will be on the North squad for the Division I-II game at 1:45.

Division III-IV boys will play at 3:45. Canton Central Catholic’s Nick Foster is on the North roster. Frease, who has signed with Xavier University, will play on the Division I-II North team at 5:30.

GlenOak’s Jackie Greynolds is part of the Division I-II North coaching staff.

On April 19, the OHSBCA will hold its hall of fame induction at the Columbus Airport Marriott hotel.

Honorees are coaches Dave Hoover (Canton McKinley), Dave Krauss (Patrick Henry), Dave Sweet (Ottawa-Glandorf) and Frank Phillips (ChagrinFalls) and honorary inductee, Clair Muscaro, a former commissioner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
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The Canton Timken boys basketball team will play Toledo Whtimer tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Rhodes Arena in a Division I regional championship game at the University of Akron.

The winner of tonight’s game advances to Columbus for the state final four at Value City Arena on the campus of Ohio State University.

Timken, 24-0 this season, is seeking its first appearance in the state final four since 1960.

Timken and Whitmer have had to wait to play this game, orginally scheduled for Saturday, due to the heavy snowfall that recently hit Northeast Ohio.

Timken has defeated Massillon Washington, Jackson, Perry and Firestone so far in the tournament.

Senior guards Johnie Davis and Christian Alston and junior forward Chaz Moore led the Trojans past the Falcons this past Thursday.

If Timken wins the regional title it will mark the fifth consecutive season the Canton district winner will qualify for the state final four. GlenOak advanced to state in 2007 and Canton McKinley advanced to state in 2004, 2005 and 2006. McKinley won state titles in 2005 and 2006.

The 71st annual state wrestling tournament concluded with four area wrestlers winning a state title on Saturday night at the Value City Arena within the Jerome Schottenstein Center on the campus of the Ohio State University.

Please check out the print Akron Beacon Journal or the ohio.com website on the Internet for coverage about the state tournament that appeared from Thursday through Sunday.

Here is a quick synopsis:

Champions

Brunswick senior Richie Spicel won the Division I 140-pound state title and finished the season with a 43-0 record under the leadership of coach Mike Koshar. Spicel also won a state championship as a freshman in 2005 at 130 pounds.

Walsh Jesuit senior Chase Skonieczny won the Division II 135-pound title and finished the season at 44-2 under the guidance of coach Bill Barger.

Perry junior Seth Horner won the Division I 130-pound state title and finished the season at 40-4 under the leadership of coach Brent McBurney. Horner defeated Wadsworth sophomore Brad Squire (42-3) in the finals.

Aurora sophomore Ty Mitch won the Division II 103-pound state title and finished the season at 39-5 under the guidance of coach Dick Bliss. Mitch’s triumph came at the expense of Walsh Jesuit freshman Johnni DiJulius (48-5), who is also a close friend.

Runner’s-up

The area also featured eight wrestlers that placed second.

In Division I: Squire, Barberton senior Adam Cogar (47-1 at 215) and Perry juniors Sam White (37-3 at 112) and Nick Heflin (45-4 at 152).

In Division II: DiJulius and Highland junior Tyler Houska (39-6 at 215).

In Division III: Norwayne senior J.D. Smyers (44-2 at 171) and Triway senior Cory Akin (34-9 at 215) in Division III.

It should be noted that Squire and White were champions in 2007, a headline for the Sunday wrestling notebook was a little misleading regarding White.

A simply amazing kid

Hillsboro senior Dustin Carter’s qualification for the state wrestling tournament at 103 pounds caught the attention of many in Columbus.

A rare blood disorder at age 5 led to limb damage. Carter, a quadruple amputee, has built a powerful upper body. His arms end near his elbows, his legs above where knees would be. When he doesn’t wrestle, he uses prosthetic legs.

He was recognized before the semifinal round Friday and received a roaring, standing ovation that lasted over a minute. CBS interviewed him Thursday and filmed his first-round match, a victory.

Carter lost twice Friday, however, and finished the season 40-4.

Splendid Records

Richie Spicel concluded his Brunswick career as the school’s all-time leader in wins with 160. He said he is considering going to college and wrestling at Asland University, Ohio University and Gardner-Webb.

Chase Skonieczny, a Kent State recruit, concluded his career with a 166-26 record. The 166 wins are a school record at Walsh Jesuit.

Adam Cogar is headed to the University of Virginia to wrestle and study pre-med after compiling a 175-21 record under the leadership of coach Dave Mariola. He carries a 4.2 cumulative grade point average. The 175 wins are a school record at Barberton.

Johnni DiJulius’ 48 wins are the most in a single season at Walsh Jesuit.

Smooch, smooch

Walsh Jesuit coach Bill Barger planted a kiss on the forehead of Warriors senior Chase Skonieczny in the media room after the 135-pound wrestler won the Division II state title.

“I have been around it a lot and they are all special, especially for a kid that grinds it out,” Barger said.

Skonieczny, Walsh’s 39th state champion, jumped into the arms of assistant coaches Jeff Black and Clint Musser on the mat following his 5-0 victory in the finals.

“I have been coming down here since I was a little kid,” said the 18-year-old Skonieczny, who entered this season as a three-time state placer in high school and with a decorated resume as a youth and middle school wrestler. “It’s 15 years in the making. March 1st, it’s been my day all season. It’s been marked on my phone and on my calendar at home.”

Surprisingly explosive

Horner and Squire put together a very good match, that Horner ultimately won 4-2 in overtime.

“He’s very strategic,” Wadsworth coach John Gramuglia said of Horner. “He’s explosive and he’ll lull you to sleep. He is very hard to wrestle. You don’t expect the explosiveness and then boom he’s by you. He’s a heck of an athlete.”

Scarlet and Gray

Austintown Fitch senior Tony Jameson (145 pounds) became the 16th wrestler in the state tournament’s history to win four state titles.

Following Jameson’s victory he paraded around the mat with an Ohio State banner and received a loud ovation. Jameson, 4-2 this season and 168-6 in his career, is an OSU recruit.

The Perry wrestling team won its 10th consecutive Federal League wrestling championship by defeating rival Lake 43-21 on Thursday night at Perry.

The Panthers (8-1, 6-0) won 10 matches and the Blue Streaks (14-1, 5-1) won four matches.

Junior Joe Lyons (103 pounds), senior Dan Genetin (130) and junior Andrew Phillips (171) each won by pin to lead Perry. Junior defending state champion Sam White won by major decision over junior state placer Scott Mattingly in a 125 pound match.

Sophomore Nick Hannon (112), junior Nick Heflin (160) and senior Tyler Solenthaler (189) also won by major decision for Perry. Panthers juniors Mike Hillock (119), Seth Horner (135) and Brandon Clemens (152) won by decision.

Lake received wins from Jared Lijoi (140), Chad Rhoades (145), Tyler Rasho (215) and Ryan Jones (285)

Wadsworth sophomore Brad Squire still has a chance to become a four-time state champion, but his hopes of achieving that feat with an undefeated record have been shattered.

Perry junior Seth Horner gave Squire his first career high school loss last Saturday. After losing to Squire in early December in a title match at the Walsh Jesuit Ironman, Horner edged his rival by a 5-3 decision Saturday to win the championship in the 130-pound weight class at the eighth Mayfield Big 8 tournament.

“Seth kind of controlled that whole match and capitalized on Squire’s mistakes,” Perry coach Brent McBurney said. “He’s been the most disciplined he ever has been compared to the last two years. It’s made a difference and it paid off on Saturday.”

Horner’s win also helped the Panthers (298 points) edge the Grizzlies (290) in the final team standings.

“Wadsworth has a good program, but we kind of have something special going with them — we don’t like to get beat by those guys,” McBurney said. “It was good for our confidence as a team.”

Horner has finished third at the Division I state tournament in each of the past two seasons. His record is 24-3 this season.

Last season, Squire went 34-0 and became the first freshman in Wadsworth history to win a state title. He was 23-0 this season and 57-0 in his career before losing to Horner.

I have talked to several coaches and parents in the wrestling community who thought Squire could go undefeated in high school. As I’ve written on this blog before, I also believed he could finish his high school career with a perfect record. But his loss proves how difficult the competition is in Ohio.

Wadsworth sophomore Brad Squire defeated Perry junior Seth Horner by an 8-4 decision to win the title in the 130-pound weight class at the 14th annual Walsh Jesuit Ironman.

Squire, who is a defending Division I state champion, is the first wrestler in Wadsworth history to win an Ironman title and the first area wrestler to win an Ironman championship since CVCA graduate John Weakley accomplished the feat in 2005.

Squire went 5-0 during the past two days in one of the nation’s most prestigious high school wrestling tournament. Squire’s career high school record is now 39-0.

Two other area wrestlers made it to the Ironman finals.

Perry junior Sam White, a defending Division I state champion, lost by a 5-0 decision, and Walsh Jesuit senior Chase Skonieczny, a Kent State University recruit, was eliminated by injury default. Skonieczny placed second at Ironman for two consecutive years.

Click here for the story.

LEW STAMP/Akron Beacon Journal

Perry senior Dan Genetin gets Wadsworth junior Danny Foore in a hold during the 14th annual Walsh Jesuit Ironman. Genetin won the match and went on to finish third in the 125-pound weight class.

Heading into the second day of the 14th annual Walsh Jesuit Ironman - one of the nation’s elite high school wrestling tournaments - 11 area wrestlers were still alive in the championship bracket.

After Saturday’s quarterfinals and semifinals, only four of the 11 have advanced to a title match.

Perry junior Seth Horner and Wadsworth sophomore Brad Squire will face off in the championship match of the 130-pound weight class, meaning one area wrestler is guaranteed to win a title. Squire went 34-0 and won a Division I state title last season. Horner has placed third at the Division I state tournament each of the past two seasons.

Perry junior Sam White, a defending Divison I state champion, will meet Monroeville sophomore Logan Stiebler in a championship match in the 119-pound weight class. White finished fifth at Ironman last year, and Stieber placed second.

Walsh Jesuit senior Chase Skonieczny will face St. Edward junior Collin Palmer in a title match in the 135-pound weight class. Skonieczny, a Kent State University recruit, took third at the Division II state tournament and second at Ironman last season. Palmer is a two-time Division I state champion.

I’m at the tournament now, and I will update after the finals. Stay tuned.

Here is a preseason look at Federal League football for the 2007 season. In this post, you will find players (that received all-star recognition in the league last season) to watch from each team and my predictions for the upcoming season.

*** Please note that the 2007 High School Football Preview Section will appear in the Wednesday Aug. 22, 2007 edition of the Akron Beacon Journal with complete analysis of every league, team and top players in the area. ***

CANTON MCKINLEY (12-2 overall, 7-0 in the Federal League last season; Federal League champions)

Top players: Senior DB-WR Brandon Mingo (first-team Federal), senior OL-DE Sean Whited (first-team), senior DL-OL Isaac Gatlin (second-team), junior DB-RB Derrick Gordon (honorable mention).

PERRY (9-2, 6-1)

Top players: Senior TB-DB Eric Magnacca (first-team Federal, second-team All-Ohio and first-team all-district in Division I), senior QB-OLB Matt Vick (first-team Federal), senior TE-DL David Baughman (second-team), senior OT-DE Doug Elliot (honorable mention).

NORTH CANTON HOOVER (7-3, 4-3)

Top players: Senior WR-DB Matt Wakulchik (first-team Federal, second-team All-Ohio and first-team all-district in Division I), senior LB Kevin Dahl (second-team), senior DL James Georgiades (second team), senior DE Greg Tischler (honorable mention).

JACKSON (5-5, 4-3)

Top player: Senior TB-DB Carlin Isles (first-team Federal).

LAKE (7-5, 3-4)

Top player: Senior FB-LB Matt Higginbotham (honorable mention all-Federal).

AUSTINTOWN FITCH (4-6, 2-5)

Top player: Senior RB-DB Nick Wiery (honorable mention all-Federal).

BOARDMAN (3-7, 1-6)

Top players: Senior HB-CB Tyler Amdendola (second-team Federal), senior FB-OLB Eric Polen (honorable mention).

GLENOAK (3-7, 1-6)

Top player: Senior RB-S Anthony Smith (honorable mention all-Federal).

Here is my predicted finish for the Federal League (which is the same as the Federal League coaches predictions at media day):

1. Canton McKinley

2. Perry

3. North Canton Hoover

4. Boardman

5. Lake

6. Austintown Fitch

7. Jackson

8. GlenOak

Here is an explanation for my predictions:

I think tradition and talent will again lift Canton McKinley to another Federal League championship under coach Brian Cross. The Bulldogs will be seeking their third consecutive league title after reaching the Division I state final four last season.

The “Pups” will have a solid defensive secondary with Mingo, Gordon and senior Tremaine O’Neal. Whited will lead a young offensive line. Inexperienced players will line up on both lines, and also at running back, quarterback, receiver and linebacker. McKinley must replace tailback Morgan Williams, linebackers Disi Alexander and George Tabron, kicker Zack Campbell, center Drew McIntyre and quarterback Dan Grimsley. Replacing that collection of graduated stars could prove to be too much, opening the door for Perry or Hoover.

Perry, which was runner-up last season in the league, returns a solid tailback and quarterback combination in Magnacca and Vick. Magnacca is powerful and fast, two attributes that will strike fear in any defense. The Panthers have 24 lettermen back from a season ago and are poised to challenge for the title under coach John “Spider” Miller.

Hoover’s defense should be excellent with Dahl, Georgiades, Tischler and senior Mitch Rose under the tutelage coach Don Hertler Jr. The Vikings offense could be explosive with Wakulchik catching passes from senior quarterback Jared Wackerly.

Boardman should rise up the Federal standings with 22 lettermen returning. Spartans coach D.J. Ogilvie is very high on Amendola, Polen and seniors Evan Klepec and Nick Tuminello.

Lake could surprise with seven starters back on offense and six back on defense. Higginbotham and senior Gene Onabiyi should lead under coach Jeff Durbin.

Fitch, Jackson and GlenOak will each have new coaches. The Falcons will be guided by Phil Annarella, the Polar Bears have Thom McDaniels in charge and the Golden Eagles hired GlenOak alumnus Scott Garcia. Annarella and McDaniels are experienced leaders, and Garcia is entering his first season as a head coach.

Isles gives Jackson a game-breaking running back with tremendous speed. Add in McDaniels success as coach at Canton McKinley and Warren Harding, and the Polar Bears could challenge the top three teams in the league — McKinley, Perry and Hoover.

Let me know what do you think of these predictions?