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Volume 53, No. 14
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CHESTERLAND NEWS Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Your Community Newspaper Since 1967
Wargelin Re-Elected Treasurer of Fire Chief’s Association Staff Report Chester Township Fire Chief John Wargelin unanimously was re-elected treasurer of the Geauga County Fire Chief’s Association at its annual meeting Nov. 18 at the Welshfield Inn. University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center sponsored the meeting. Also re-elected the executive board for 2022 were: President Scott A. Hildenbrand, Chief of Hambden Township Fire Department; Vice President Wayne Burge, Assistant Chief of Bainbridge Township Fire Department; and Secretary William Reed, Chief of Middlefield Village Fire Department. Chester Township Trustees placed Wargelin, who has served Chester Township for more than 30 years, including the last 15 as chief, on paid administrative leave on Aug. 27, as they investigate whether Wargelin or Assistant Fire Chief Karen Moleterno violated any Ohio laws regarding fire departments. His leave has been extended several times and currently is through Dec. 2. Moleterno was reinstated Aug. 31, but has threatened to sue the township, trustees and Clemans Nelson, an Akron-based human resources management and consulting firm hired to conduct the investigation. Trustees have scheduled a special meeting at town hall for 4 p.m. Nov. 30 “to consider appointment, employment, discipline, and compensation of a public employee.” The meeting will include an executive session as well as a public meeting.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW
West G Looks to Right the Ship After Coaching Change By Jason Baxter sports@geaugamapleleaf.com
The Wolverines will have their third head coach in three years. This past offseason, Jim Fisher was hired to replace Dan Jones, who resigned after one season in Chesterland. Fisher was part of last year’s coaching staff, which will help ease the transition. West Geauga was only able to play 11 games last season due to a season interrupted by COVID-19. Its record was 1-10. This was only a season removed from a 17-8 record and trip to the District tournament in 2020. The Wolverines had very limited returning experience from that tournament team.
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“We were shut down two or three different times last year, we took our lumps. We had a lot of young guys playing up instead of where they should have been playing,” Fisher said. “I think everyone has a sour taste from last year.” Fisher said after he was hired with summer workouts, the hard work started. “Once football ended,” Fisher said, “we got our full team. They want to right the ship.” The Wolverines will be led by a
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large junior class that gained experience last season. That junior class features Jerry Kline-Ruminski, Sonny Catalano and Andrew Prexta. Fellow juniors Joey Hornyak, Angelo DeSciscio, Jesse Moriarity, Van Peck and Travis Veleba will add a considerable amount of depth. Fisher said the numbers are light in the lower classes (sophomore and freshman). See Boys • Page 5
Wolverine Girls More Up-Tempo Under New Head Coach By Jason Baxter sports@geaugamapleleaf.com
West Geauga welcomes a new head coach after Bob Beutel stepped down in July. Brandon Stewart takes over the program. Stewart, who stepped into the role this fall, also serves as the West Geauga athletic director. He was head coach last season at Hathaway Brown; he has also served as an assistant coach at Ursuline College. Beutel sat out last season due to COVID-19 precautions, so the team was coached by Greg Dugger. The Wolverines finished the
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season with a 7-5 record, 3-1 in the CVC during the shortened season. They will be replacing one of the area’s top players in Athena Hocevar, who is now playing at Youngstown State. Hocevar was Third-Team All-Northeast Lakes District last season after earning All-Ohio honors as a junior. The Wolverines have four seniors returning: Rae Ehrbar,
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Meghan Zebrowski, Tara Gall and Grace Wolfe. West Geauga will count heavily on a talented junior class led by Alexa Hocevar, who earned All-Ohio Special Mention honors last year as a sophomore. She averaged 17 points per game last season. Hocevar has numerous Division I college offers entering See Girls • Page 4
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