LIFE
2B • EASTERN HILLS JOURNAL • AUGUST 31, 2016
Summit defends girls cross country crown Nick Robbe and Scott Springer Community Press staff
SCOTT SPRINGER/COMMUNITY PRESS
The Clark Montessori boys team is in a festive mood prior to hosting the Clark Two Mile Meet Aug. 23 at Withrow High School.
Clark Montessori boys try cross country repeat Scott Springer and Nick Robbe Community Press staff
The Clark Montessori Cougars were the Miami Valley Conference champions last season, holding off Summit Country Day. Coach Carl Wiers will try to duplicate that effort this season behind several starting runners. Back for the Cougars are juniors Ryan Estes, J.D. Ray, Sam Colson and Chris Canty, plus seniors Jason Jarrold-Grapes, Harry Murphy and Ben Hammond. Estes finished with the second-best time in the league last year at 16:25. He made MVC first team as a sophomore with Carl Wiers taking Coach of the Year honors. Jarrold-Grapes and Murphy were also first team, with Canty and Hammond making second team. Senior Frank Metzmeier was honorable mention. “I like the attitude and work ethic displayed over the summer and through early practices,” Wiers said. The Cougars race Sept. 3 in the Xavier Invitational. Coach Kurtis Smith’s group, by his own admission, is coming off a somewhat disappointing season. Injury after injury prevented Summit Country Day from reaching full strength. However, the team did rebound to capture the district title for the fifth year out of the last seven. The Silver Knights will look to ride that wave of late-season success into this year. "This is a fairly talented group of individuals,” Smith said. “The challenge will be getting them motivated to work together as a unit.” Seniors Tullus Dean, Mathew LaMacchia and Beau Poston, junior Scott
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Seven Hills’ Chase Gardner returns and is looking for another strong season.
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Seniors Tullus Dean, pictured, Mathew LaMacchia and Beau Poston return to lead Summit.
Kinross, sophomores Daniel Shishler and Elijah Weaver and freshman Brian DeWine will be runners to watch for the Silver Knights this year. Dean finished 60th in the Division III state championship race and was first-team all-Miami Valley Conference along with LaMacchia. As a junior, Seven Hills’ Chase Gardner saved his best for last this season. He started that final push with the first-place finish in the conference championship meet, became runner of the year
and finished it just outside the top-25 in the Division III state championship race. Coach Tana Luckie hopes the team follows his example this season. “They are looking to build on their success from last season and are putting in the work to make it happen,” she said. Along with Gardner, Sam Stevens, Matthew Maring, Brett Miller and Jacob Weinstein will lead the Stingers this year. Mariemont will have to replace one of its top runners in program history and enters the season with a new coach. Natalie Dragovich takes over the program and will look to fill the spot vacated by Charlie Jordan. Jordan had designs of being the first runner at Mariemont to qualify for the state competition all four years. Crossing the line in 24th put him shy of that goal. He won the CHL championship race and was named runner of the year. Not having him is substantial, but Dragovich See TRACK, Page 3B
HYDE PARK - Summit Country Day is coming off a 2015 season where it won a seventh consecutive league title and fifth district title in the same time period. However, the Silver Knights will need to replace the likes of Alexis Hogya, Jodie Hutchins and Madelyn LaBar. But coach Kurtis Smith’s cabinet isn’t bare by any means. “The team seems to have a good core group of girls willing to put in the work,” he said. Seniors Margo Dailey, Taylor Bulla and Meghan O’Brien, junior Bailey Goodwin and sophomores Abby LaMacchia, Caitlin Barnes and Julia Dean are runners to keep an eye on for the Silver Knights. Clark Montessori’s girls finished second in the MVC behind Summit Country Day. Junior Ellie Jose and sophomore Eliza Lehman return as starters for coach Carl Wiers. Jose made MVC first team, with Lehman making second team. Sophomore Maia Kiniyalocts also made second team for Clark and is a runner to watch. Jose had the fourth-fastest time in the MVC last season as a sophomore. Clark Montessori races in the Xavier Invitational Sept. 3. Mariemont brings back a lot of its top runners from the team that won a Cincinnati Hills League title and district championship in 2015. The Warriors’ biggest threat to repeat as conference champion should come from Wyoming. However, coach Terri Thomas’ squad is equipped to handle it. Marin Valentine, Kate Overbey, Anna Scheeser and Corinne Fanta, who is battling an injury, all return for Mariemont. “Those girls were consistently in the top 5-7 runners last year,” the coach said. “We have 35 girls running. There’s a good mix of veterans from varsity and some newcomers that will compete for top spots. Valentine, in her freshman season, made an immediate impact by helping lead the Warriors to a Division II district championship and regional appearance as a team. She finished 20th out of 125 runners at the
SCOTT SPRINGER/COMMUNITY PRESS
The Clark Montessori girls squad prepares to run at their Two-Mile meet at Withrow Aug. 23. From left are junior Sydney Woodbring, freshman Dezzie Niemann, senior Mary Claire Fibbe, junior Ellie Jose, sophomore Lainey DeVol and sophomore Kathryn Jeffreys.
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Mariemont’s Marin Valentine, pictured, Kate Overbey, Anna Scheeser and Corinne Fanta, who is battling an injury, all return this season.
BRANDON SEVERN/FOR THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Beth Heimbuch of Mount Notre Dame will be a reliable runner this season for coach Jeff Johnson.
regional race and posted the conference’s fastest time (19 minutes, 43 seconds) in that race. She was selected to the CHL’s first team along with Overbey, Lauren Renner and Scheeser. The Walnut Hills girls coached by Bill Valenzano finished third in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference last fall behind Turpin and Kings. The Lady Eagles won the first two ECC crowns in 2012 and 2013. Leading the Walnut pack will be senior Julie Inman, who was ECC second team. Other top runners will be senior Greta Raser, juniors Emma Farrell and Chloe Shiff and sophomore Lina Dreschler. The Lady Eagles next run on Sept. 9. Three starters return for Dave Roberts and Purcell Marian. Back for the Lady Cavaliers are junior co-captain Rea-
gan Rubick, junior Ana Hagerty and sophomore Moriah Brown. Freshman Kyra Goins is also expected to have an impact. “I like the mix of experience and new runners and the enthusiasm of the runners,” Roberts said. “They have fun at practice.” The Purcell Marian girls join the boys team at the Xavier Invitational Sept. 3, then the Mason Invitational Sept. 10. Last year, Seven Hills didn’t have a full cadre of runners and therefore didn’t factor much into Miami Valley Conference proceedings. This year, the Stingers return Piper Spooner, Eliza Clark and Anne Chalmers. Tana Luckie coaches the Stingers. With what it has returning, St. Ursula could make a play for the Girls Greater Catholic League title. In 2015, Katie Miller ran in the Division I district race and came in 15th out of 93 runners. As a sophomore, she ran the GGCL’s fourth-fastest time (19 minutes, 22 seconds) at the Bluegrass Invite. She also made secondteam all-conference along with teammates Maggie Breitenstein, Ellie Rueve and Eva Tombragel. Miller, Breitenstein, See GIRLS, Page 3B
SHORT HOPS Continued from Page 1B
margo Monday last week. Henry Lewis was the medalist with a 38. » Seven Hills topped Lebanon, 169-188 Aug. 24 on the front nine at TPC Rivers Bend. The Stingers’ Max Lane was the medalist with a 2-over par 38.
Girls golf » Katie Hallinan was medalist for Walnut Hills Aug. 22 with a 38 at Wyoming Golf Club. The Lady Eagles lost to the Cowboys by four strokes. Hallinan was medalist
with a 38 at Deer Track in an eight-stroke loss to Milford Aug. 23. » Summit Country Day lost to Fenwick, 162167 at Tri-County Golf Ranch Monday last week. The Silver Knights’ Jenna Simpson was the medalist with a 34.
Finneytown Aug. 25, 2520, 25-16, 18-25, 25-16. » Mariemont lost to Norwood in four sets, 2515, 22-25, 26-24, 25-18 on Tuesday last week. » Mount Notre Dame beat Notre Dame Academy Aug. 23, 25-14, 25-22, 25-18.
Volleyball
Boys soccer
» Purcell Marian defeated Norwood 25-16, 2517 and Hamilton 11-25, 2518, 25-16 at the Madeira Invitational Aug. 20. The Lady Cavaliers beat Hughes Aug. 23, 2516, 25-12, 25-12. Purcell Marian beat
» Moeller shut out Ryle 1-0 Aug. 23. Sophomore Ryan Galanie had the shutout in goal and junior Dylan Grogan scored. The Crusaders routed Turpin Aug. 25, 8-1.Renneker, Lonneman, Buga-
da, Peters, Andrews, Clarke, and Walter all scored. » Purcell Marian blanked St. Bernard 7-0 on Aug. 26. Senior Quin McBreen led the Cavaliers with two goals.
Girls soccer » Walnut Hills defeated Princeton 4-1 on Aug. 23. Junior Kiley Keehan and freshman Kamryn Keehan had two goals apiece. » Mariemont blanked Clark Montessori, 5-0 on Aug. 24. Ava Dorsten recorded two goals in the win.
The Warriors defeated Ross, 4-1 on Aug. 22. Both Dorstens scored. » St. Ursula and McNicholas played to a 3-3 tie on Thursday last week. Madalyn Canter, MaHalle Long and Makenna Jordahl scored for the Bulldogs.
Field hockey » Mount Notre Dame beat Fairmont 3-1 on goals by Alexander, Benz and Harmon.
Football » Withrow lost their opener to Dunbar 36-30 on Aug. 27. The Tigers
host Mason Sept. 2. » Clark Montessori lost to Dayton Ponitz 48-6 on Aug. 26. The Cougars host Deer Park Sept. 3. » Walnut Hills won their debut under new coach Brian Lainhart 35-8 against Woodward Aug. 27. Junior quarterback Solomon Cummings had a touchdown pass to senior Michael Davenport. The Eagles host Ross Sept. 2. » Mariemont edged Oakwood, 30-29 on Aug. 27 to open the 2016 season. Alec Vianello, Wally Renie and Ryan Fields ran for a touchdown apiece in the victory.