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Athletes are back in gear for spring
(by Tony Lange - March 24, 2011)
Athletes are back in gear for spring
By TONY LANGE
It's almost an addiction. High school athletes often get high or experience a state of euphoria when qualifying for state meets, state tournaments or winning playoff games. Motivation lingers in the off-season.
Win or lose, place or no place, seniors have no choice but to move on. Other high school athletes have another chance as they often develop a thirst to do better in the next season.
The common goal among athletes is always to do better as a team and as an individual. Those who didn't qualify for states want to. Those who did want to do better.
Paige Yaeger, Solon Comets
SPORT:Track and field
CLASS: Junior
HEIGHT: 5-foot-6
OTHER SPORTS: Soccer
VARSITY LETTERS: Two in track and field; two in soccer.
2010 SEASON: Finished ninth in the 300-meter hurdles (44.66 seconds) and fifth as a member of Solon's four-by-100-meter relay (48.28) at the Division I state meet.
2009 SEASON: Finished 14th as a member of Solon's four-by-100-meter relay at the Division I state meet.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: It would have to be at regionals when I made it to states in the 300 hurdles with a 44.63.
STATE EXPERIENCE: Running the 300 hurdles at states was a lot more stressful than just running a relay, because I didn't have my teammates to count on, but it was fun, and I felt confident afterward, because I knew I got there by myself and that I have the individual talent to compete at the state level. When I finished ninth in the 300 hurdles, it really motivated me to work harder over the summer, because ninth is one off from being on the place podium.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: Math
FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE: David Beckham of the Los Angeles Galaxy.
FAVORITE FOOD: Macaroni and cheese.
FAVORITE MUSICIAN: Justin Bieber
GOALS: My goals for this season would be to get on the podium for the 300 hurdles, hopefully in the top four, and also to qualify for states in the 100 hurdles, as well as the four-by-100 relay.
AJ Hicks, Solon Comets
SPORT: Track and field
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 6-foot-1
OTHER SPORTS: Football
VARSITY LETTERS: Three in track and field; three in football.
2010 SEASON: Placed third in discus (180 feet, 1 inch) and fifth in shot put (56 feet, 8.25 inches) at Division I state meet.
2009 SEASON: Placed sixth in discus (163 feet, 3 inches) at Division I state meet.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: Getting third in the disc at states, because I had thrown 177 earlier in the year, and then at states I hit 180, and it was a very good throw. All six of my throws at states were good throws, and I was shocked, because before that I hadn't had a complete good series of throws, but I did at Columbus.
STATE EXPERIENCE: I saw that I was placing behind seniors and it was my second time qualifying, so the state meet doesn't really get to me. I feel like I can go there this year with no nerves and just perform at my best and win both events. I've practiced more this indoor season than the past couple years to prepare myself.
FAVORITE CLASS: AP Chemistry
FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE: Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls.
FAVORITE FOOD: Steak, Longhorn Steakhouse.
FAVORITE MUSICIAN: Young Jeezy
GOALS: I'm aiming for 64 feet in the shot put and to place first at the state meet. My goal in disc is upper 190's, maybe hit 200 feet and also to place first. I want to win both at Columbus this year.
COLLEGE PLANS: Signed letter of intent at University of North Carolina for track and field.
Liam O'Brien
Solon Comets
SPORT: Tennis
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 6-foot-5
OTHER SPORTS: Basketball
VARSITY LETTERS Three is tennis; two in basketball.
2010 SEASON: Qualified for the Division I state tournament in doubles with Andrew Branstetter as partner and lost 6-2, 6-0 in the first round to the state runner-up team, New Albany.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: The three-set match that we won to qualify for states.
STATE EXPERIENCE: It gave me a lot more motivation to see how much better people were down at states. The competition is a lot better. It's a lot of motivation to come away with a little more appreciation for being down at states.
FAVORITE CLASS: AP Government
FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE: Tim Duncan of the San Antonia Spurs.
FAVORITE FOOD: Dominos Pizza
FAVORITE MUSIC: Jay-Z and Eminem, Rap.
GOALS: We definitely have expectations to make it down as a team and qualify as a team to the state tournament. So, hopefully, I qualify for states both with the team and in doubles.
Andrew Branstetter
Solon Comets
SPORT: Tennis
CLASS: Junior
HEIGHT: 6-foot-1
VARSITY LETTERS: One
2010 SEASON: Qualified for the Division I state tournament in doubles with Liam O'Brien as partner and lost 6-2, 6-0 in the first round to the state runner-up team, New Albany.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: I think winning the second match at districts, which qualified us for states, that most memorable. It was very exciting. It was an intense match and to come out on top, it felt great.
STATE EXPERIENCE: The state tournament showed what we need to work on and improve for this season. It showed us the high caliber of other players in the state that we didn't necessarily get to play during the season. So, this year, we'll be more ready for that.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: Math
FAVORITE PRO TEAM: Cleveland Browns
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: P.F. Changs
FAVORITE MUSIC: Everything but country.
GOALS: Ideally, our team goal is to make it to states as a team, and I would also like to get back to states playing doubles.
COLLEGE PLANS: Visiting Northwestern, Vanderbilt, John Hopkins, Georgia Tech and Ohio State University.
Billy Lennon, University School Preppers
SPORT: Tennis
CLASS: Junior
HEIGHT: 6-foot-1
VARSITY LETTERS: Two in tennis
2010 SEASON: Qualified for Division II state tournament in doubles with Nick Smedira as partner and lost in the quarterfinals to Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 6-3, 6-4. Smedira graduated, and Lennon is focused on playing singles this year.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: Beating Hawken at the team state tournament.
STATE EXPERIENCE: I was a lot thinner last year. I didn't weight lift at all, and I was a weak kid. We were just overpowered by a team that we were arguably more talented than. They were just in much better shape than us. That motivated me to get in the gym more often and take tennis more seriously. I've just refocused my game so that, when I do get in those situations, I can be like, you know what, I've played more, and I'm in great shape.
FAVORITE CLASS: AP U.S. History
FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE: Aaron Lennon of the Tottenham Hotspur.
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Yours Truly
FAVORITE MUSIC: Indie Rock
GOALS: Individually, we're playing a lot of really tough teams this year that have good No. 1 singles players, so the goal for me is to have a winning record and to make it to states in singles.
Pat Porter, Kenston Bombers
SPORT: Baseball
CLASS: Senior, co-captain.
POSITION: Outfield, closer (pitcher).
HEIGHT: 6-foot-0
OTHER SPORTS: Football
VARSITY LETTERS: Three in baseball; three in football.
2010 SEASON: Played center fielder, batted .478, hit six home runs, nine doubles, eight triples and 33 runs batted in as leadoff hitter and stole 20 bases in 21 attempts, as well as named first-team All-Chagrin Valley Conference.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: Hitting a walk-off home run against Olmsted Falls.
PLAYOFF EXPERIENCE: Now we know what to expect, and we're only losing three seniors from last year, so we're going to be pretty good this year.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: Economics.
FAVORITE RESTAURANT: Cosentino's
FAVORITE MUSIC: Country
GOALS: The team goal is to win the Chagrin Valley Conference and make it far in the playoffs. My person goal is to try to break a .500 batting average.
COLLEGE PLANS: Made a verbal commitment to Ohio State University to play baseball.
Ally McLean
Kenston Bombers
SPORT: Fast-pitch softball
CLASS: Junior
HEIGHT: 5-foot-3
POSITION: Outfielder, catcher.
VARSITY LETTERS: One in softball.
2010 SEASON: Batted .380 and named first-team All-Chagrin Valley Conference.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: After beating Painesville Harvey 9-2 in the playoffs, I was nominated for player of the week for batting 5-for-7 with four runs scored, five runs batted in and two stolen bases.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: History
FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE: Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets.
FAVORITE FOOD: Italian
FAVORITE MUSICIAN: Justin Bieber
GOALS: I want our team to improve our record, because I believe we were better than what our scoreboard showed last season. Individually, I want to try to win a conference award again.
Zach Singerman, Solon Comets
SPORT: Tennis
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 5-foot-9
VARSITY LETTERS: Three in tennis.
2010 SEASON: Qualified for the Division I state tournament in doubles with Evan Schrode as partner and lost the first round.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: Against Hudson in the sectional semifinals, we were down and kept going back and forth on match points, and I eventually hit a backhand down the middle, and we went on to win and move on to the sectional finals.
STATE EXPERIENCE: It makes you want to get back to the state tournament. It was a good experience to play on the courts. The courts can be a little intimidating in Columbus. If I go back this year, I'll know what to expect.
Having two state doubles teams: We just play so many practice matches. With most teams they have to find competition from other schools. But our practices are always really competitive.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: History
FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE: Roger Federer, tennis.
FAVORITE PRO TEAM: Cleveland Browns
FAVORITE FOOD: Steak
FAVORITE MUSIC: Dave Matthews Band
GOALS: My main goal is to make it to the team state tournament, which is the state final four. So I want my team to qualify more so, and then I would like to make it back to the state tournament individually.
COLLEGE PLANS: Ohio State University
Evan Schrode, Solon Comets
SPORT: Tennis
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 5-foot-10
VARSITY LETTERS: Three in tennis
2010 SEASON: Qualified for the Division I state tournament in doubles with Zach Singerman as partner and lost the first round.
2009 SEASON: Qualified to district tournament, playing doubles with twin brother, Jason, as partner.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: Going to states was great. I'll always remember my states match, but I think the most memorable one was just winning the second district match that qualified us for states, because I just remember the emotion. It was such a high at that point. I turned around. I was smiling. I was jumping. Zach and I just knew we had finally made it. You just think about this moment so long, and, when it finally comes, you just hold onto it.
STATE EXPERIENCE: It was a little short-lived. After we lost, we were both pretty upset. We made it that far and then kind of didn't play so great. During the off-season, we've had a mentality of, "Well, let's do it this year. Let's do it as a team. Let's do it as a doubles team." It's just kind of, work a little harder, and we know what to expect this year, because we've been there before. So we're ready to face the challenge again, and, hopefully, this time we'll be more prepared.
Having two state doubles teams: It's a great advantage to us. All the guys on the team are very solid, and having two doubles teams that went to states, it's great practicing against the best of the best. The competition is not exactly what you would hope it's going to be against other high school teams throughout the season. So the fact that we practice against a state- qualifying team every day is a great advantage.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: English and government.
FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE: Kenny Lofton and the Cleveland Indians.
FAVORITE FOOD: Italian
FAVORITE MUSICIAN: Blink 182
COLLEGE PLANS: Ohio State University
Therese Haiss
Solon Comets
SPORT: Track and field
CLASS: Sophomore
HEIGHT: 5-foot-5
OTHER SPORTS: Cross country
VARSITY LETTERS: Two in cross country; one in track and field.
2010 SEASON: Finished 10th in the 1,600 meters (5:13.53) and sixth as a member of Solon's four-by-800-meter relay team (9:23.86) at the Division I state meet.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: The best moment was after regionals, just thinking that I qualified for states in both the mile and the four-by-800 relay. I was happy and confident.
STATE EXPERIENCE: It motivated me to train harder and just be prepared.
FAVORITE CLASS: Biology and chemistry.
FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE: David Beckham, soccer.
FAVORITE FOOD: Mom's homemade barbecue chicken pizza.
FAVORITE MUSIC: Florence and the Machine
GOALS
: This year, I hope to place in the top eight in the 1,600 at the state meet and get close to five minutes, if not under. I also would like to start focusing and trying to do well in the 800.
Meghan Pryatel
Gilmour Academy Lancers
SPORT: Track and field
CLASS: Sophomore
OTHER SPORTS: Cross country
VARSITY LETTERS: One in track and field; two in cross country.
2010 SEASON: Finished 10th in the 1,600 meters (5:21.63) and first as a member of Gilmour's four-by-800-meter relay team (9:31.28) at the Division III state meet.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: At states, winning the four-by-800 with two freshman and two seniors was a best memory to hold onto, since two of my close teammates would be graduating.
STATE EXPERIENCE: Qualifying as a freshman was really special and very important, because I know that doesn't happen for a lot of people, but this year I would like to place and be on the podium.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: History
FAVORITE PRO ATHLETE: Steve Prefontaine
FAVORITE FOOD: Pasta
FAVORITE SONG: "Muskrat Love," by America.
GOALS: Place in the top eight at the state meet in the 1,600 meter. I really want to try to qualify in the 800 meter too.
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