6C
Thursday, August 23, 2012
LEHMAN CATHOLIC
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• PIQUA DAILY CALL
ROB KISER/CALL FILE PHOTO
John Copella is back for the Lehman boys golf team. Copella chips onto the first green during the Homan Memorial that started the season.
Lehman spikers look to continue success Tennis, golf teams will re-load SIDNEY — The Lehman Catholic volleyball team looks to continue its amazing success this season. The Lady Cavaliers, under veteran coach Greg Snipes, have one three state titles and were one set from advancing to the state tournament last year, finishing with a 24-4 overall record and the Division IV runnerups. Returning lettterwinners from that team include four-year starters Andrea Thobe and Ellie Waldsmith. Thobe, already one of the top setters around, made the move to outside hitter as well last season and will continue in that role. Waldsmith, a 5-11 middle blocker and defensive dynamo Erica Paulus give the Lady Cavaliers three starters back from their state championship team of two years ago. Paulus will be moving to the front row to play outside hitter, while both Thobe and returning starting Ellie Cain, a junior, will be setters and outside hitters. Sophomore Olivia Slagle, another returning lettermen, will join Waldsmith as a middle blocker. Sophomores Margo Baker, Ellie Sargent and Ava Schmitz will move up to the varsity. Schmitz will take over as defensive specialist, while Sargent and Baker will see action as opposite hitters and in the back row. “We are looking at having another strong team this year and hope to be playing at our highest level once the tournament starts,” Snipes said. “Our regular season schedule should have us playing at the highest level possible and we look forward to the competition.” CROSS COUNTRY Evan Baker and Christin Atkins will coach the Cavaliers boys and girls. The seniors include Stephanie Ulbrich and Louie Gaier; the juniors are Katie Heckman, Joe Fuller, Nick Elsner and Gabe Berning; and the sophomores are Derek Gaier, Erik Jackson and Teddy Jackson. They will be joined by freshman Janelle Gravunder. The coaches expect to have a good season and expect big things from Fuller, a state qualifier in track; and Elsner, a district qualifier in cross country last season.
over as Lehman golf coach. The Cavaliers advanced to the Division III state tournament a year ago. Reutrning letterwinners include senior John Copella, juniors Bryce Eck, Mitchell Shroyer and Michael Reinhart; and sophomores Sam Dean and Jake Watkins. Joining the team are sophomore Thomas Covault and freshman Adam Vonderhorst, Tyler Scott, Zach Scott, Zach Haas and Avery Pickrel. “I am very excoted for this season,” Harrmann said. “We had one lone senior, John Copella, who will look to make a state run. “In addition to her, the team has a host of young talent ready to make a name for themselves.” BOYS SOCCER The Cavalier boys soccer team has a new coach this season in Tom Thornton, and he takes over a team that has a lot of lettermen back from a 48-4 season. Returning are senior Mitchell defender Bosse,senior mid Zac Taylor, senior defender Louie Gaier, junior defender Seth Bensman, junior defenders Robby Heckman and Peter Comer, junior forwards Joseph Simpson and Noah Dunn, sophomore mid Travis Thorton and sophomore goalie Nick Earhart. The top newcomers include sophomore defender Kyla Caulfield, sophomore forwards Dylan Sherman and Rocco Catanzarite, and freshman goalie IanSmith and freshman forward Jared Brandt. “We are looking for a strong presence in the league this year because of our returning lettermen,” Thornton said, interference to Lehman joining the Northwest Central Conference.
GIRLS SOCCER It’s definitely a changing of the guard in girls soccer at Lehman this fall — for the first time since the program began, Bill Ramey and Mark Vondenheuvel will not be on the sidelines for the Lady Cavalier booters. The new coach is Tony Schroeder, a familiar name since he was highly successful as the school’s boys coach a few seasons back. “Lehman soccer owes a great deal to coach Ramey and coach Vondenheuvel for their many years of dedicated service,” said Schroeder. “”Beginning with the establishment of the program and continuBOYS GOLF ing to the competitiveness Joe Harrmann takes that defines it today.”
Schroeder inherits a team that returns 10 letter-winners and seven starters from an 11-4-3 season of a year ago, so optimism is running high. There are just two senletter-winners in ior defender Stephany McEldowney and forward Sarah Titterington. The juniors are defenders Karly Baird, Jordi Emrick and Madeline Franklin, goalie Grace Frantz, forward Taylor Lachey and midfielders Marla Schroeder and Jenna Kronenberger. There is one sophomore who lettered last year as a freshman in midfielder Elizabeth Edwards. MIKE ULLERY/CALL FILE PHOTO Schroeder expects sophomore McKenna Guillozet Ellie Waldsmith gets a set from Ellie Cain during last year’s district finals. and freshman Sara Fuller to both be in the starting lineup, while off the bench will come junior mids Kronenberger and Lauren Goettemoeller, junior forward Olivia Sehlhorst, junior goalie Allie Hall, freshman defender Kassie Lee and freshman mid Emily Reinhart. “With experienced seniors and juniors, we look forward to having great leadership on and off the field,” said Schroeder. “We have 15 strong players vying for the 11 starting positions, and the competition for those positions provides a challenge these girls need to take their skills to the next level. We look well-balanced and strong in all areas, and speed should be a definite asset.” MIKE ULLERY/CALL FILE PHOTO Schroeder said the Andrea Thobe will be back hitting and setting the ball for Lehman schedule is challenging, with the addition of Springfield Catholic and Piqua. GIRS TENNIS The Lady Cavs have a new coach this season in Will Harrelson, and he takes over a program that lost a lot of outstanding players to graduation. He’s left with just one returning player, junior Julia Harrelson, so he’ll be counting on newcomers to fill in, players like juniors Sarah Gravunder and Meghan Burner, and freshman Diana Gibson. “We have a young and inexperienced varsity squad after graduating all but one varsity player from last year,” said Harrelson. “It’s exciting as a first-year coach to be able to start with a young team and watch them develop. “We look forward to our large junior class stepping up and possibly a freshman making a run at a varsity singles spot. “We hope to represent Lehman well and look forMIKE ULLERY/CALL FILE PHOTO ward to a competitive regular season.” Lehman’s Erica Paulu digs the ball against St. Henry last year.