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Local athletes spring back into action
(by Tony Lange - March 31, 2011)
Local athletes spring back into action
By TONY LANGE
Whether coming off a loss or recovering from an injury, as the final season of the school year gets under way, many area athletes look to end their high school careers on top.
The University School and Chagrin Falls girls' lacrosse teams both are returning from state runner-up finishes, while Chagrin Valley baseball and softball teams experienced short-lived playoff runs -- none of which advanced to regionals last season.
Gilmour Academy's Candace Longino-Thomas, a senior, is looking to make another run at the state title in the 100- and 200-meter dashes after suffering a hamstring injury late last season. As a team, the Lady Lancers have four Division III state titles and two runner-up finishes during the previous six seasons.
Some area athletes are looking forward to playing at the collegiate level.
Candace Longino-Thomas
Gilmour Lancers
SPORT: Track and field
POSITION: Sprinter
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 5-foot-4
VARSITY LETTERS: Three in track and field.
2010 SEASON: The beginning of the season was OK. As we got closer to states, we had a track meet where I pulled my hamstring, and I went to rehab for a few weeks, and I came back, and I ran at regionals, and I ended up hurting my hamstring again, and so I didn't get to finish my year off the way I wanted to, but my team did great without me. It was really hard for me, because half of the reason why I got hurt was because I wasn't warming up, and I felt bad, because I wasn't doing what I was supposed to be doing, warming up and staying healthy. I just felt like I let my whole team down when I wasn't able to go to states with them, but I was still there to support them. I did PR in the beginning of the season last year in the 200-meter dash. I ran a 23.87, and that was my PR I had that year. It was not the state record, because there was too much wind, so they didn't count it as the state record. It happens all the time when wind can help you get a better time. But I have the state record from 2009 with a 24.19.
2009 SEASON: Won four gold medals in the Division III state meet as a sophomore: Won the 100-meter dash (11.86) and was 0.05 seconds off the state record, won the 200-meter dash (24.42) and holds the state record with a 24.19 for a race earlier that season and was the anchor for Gilmour's triumphant four-by-100, which broke the state record with a 48.70, and four-by-200-meter relay, which broke the state record with a 1:41.31. It was an amazing experience. I didn't expect that out of myself. I didn't know I was going to do all of that. I felt like I accomplished a lot my sophomore year. I was very proud of myself, and so were my parents and my teammates and my coaches. So, overall, it was great experience.
2008 SEASON: As a freshman, placed second in the 100-meter dash (12.59), second in the 200-meter dash (25.43) and was the anchor for the third-place four-by-100-meter relay with a 49.79.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: When I broke the state record in the 200. That was my best memory, because I didn't expect myself to break the record as a sophomore. There was one girl who was close behind me. It was unexpected. I can't explain it.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: Creative writing
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Allyson Felix, U.S.A. gold medal Olympian in the four-by-400-meter relay
FAVORITE FOOD: Japanese
FAVORITE MUSIC: R&B
GOALS: My goals this year are to stay healthy and warm up to my best ability and just do my best for my last year. I hope I can break the 100 and 200 state records, and I'm going to work as hard as I can to make it come true.
COLLEGE PLANS: To run track at Texas Christian University.
Andrew Preiser
University School Preppers
SPORT: Lacrosse
POSITION: Attack, captain
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 5-foot-8
OTHER SPORTS: Ice hockey
VARSITY LETTERS: Two in lacrosse; three in hockey.
2010 SEASON: Named second-team All-Ohio and was the second-team leader in points with 97.
2009 SEASON: Started on the team that won the state championship.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: In the 2010 state semifinals, we played Toledo St. Francis, and they came to our place earlier in the year and actually beat us, and, when they came back to play us in the state semifinals, we crushed them. It was a great feeling, because they were pretty cocky coming in.
2010 PLAYOFFS: Lost 14-6 to Dublin Jerome in the Division II state championship game. A lot of our guys on this year's team started for the previous two state teams, so our experience level is pretty high.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: Math
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Alex Ovechkin, of the Washington Capitals.
FAVORITE FOOD: Chipotle
FAVORITE MUSIC: Darius Rucker
GOALS: The main goal is to win another state championship and beat Dublin Jerome, because they're our main competition.
Jack Hinman
Chagrin Falls Tigers
SPORT: Baseball
POSITION: Catcher, captain
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 5-foot-11
OTHER SPORTS: Football
VARSITY LETTERS: Two in baseball; two in football.
2010 SEASON: Named second-team All-Chagrin Valley Conference and honorable mention All-Ohio and batted in the .420 range.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: One of the best times of our season last year was in Myrtle Beach for spring training, because we played really well. It was just a really good time.
2010 PLAYOFFS: Chagrin Falls lost 7-4 to Hawken School in the first round. In the playoffs, we didn't play as well as we should have. It's definitely just a reality check for everyone.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: Video production
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Cleveland Indians
FAVORITE FOOD: Chipotle
FAVORITE MUSIC: Lupe Fiasco
GOALS: Our team goal for this year is to win the CVC. We obviously want to do better this year in the playoff than we did last year. We've got some good bats in the lineup this year, so, if we can get some pitching and defense together, we should be OK, because we'll be scoring a lot of runs.
COLLEGE PLANS: To play baseball at Fordham University.
Taylor Tercek
West Geauga Wolverines
SPORT: Fast-pitch softball
POSITION: Shortstop
CLASS: Junior
HEIGHT: 5-foot-5
OTHER SPORTS: Soccer
VARSITY LETTERS: Two in softball; one in soccer.
2010 SEASON: Named second-team All-Chagrin Valley Conference.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: When we played at Perry, we were evenly matched, and it went into extra innings, and it was exciting.
2010 PLAYOFFS: Lost 5-1 to Beaumont in the Division II district quarterfinals. I think we'll be more successful this year. I think everyone is working harder to get better and improve from last year. I think the girls this year are focused, and we'll be ready.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: Latin
FAVORITE TEAM: Ohio State football
FAVORITE SONG: "Maroon 5"
GOALS: I want to bat over .500 this year. As a team we want to win the Chagrin Valley Conference for sure and the district tournament.
John Rayburn
Hawken Hawks
SPORT: Lacrosse
POSITION: Midfielder
CLASS: Junior
HEIGHT: 6-foot-0
OTHER SPORTS: Basketball
VARSITY LETTERS: Two in lacrosse; one in basketball.
2010 SEASON: I started as a sophomore on the first midfield line, won 50 percent of my face-offs as the team's second face-off man, led the team in ground balls and scored 14 goals with seven assists.
2009 SEASON: Second on the team in ground balls as a freshman.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: Our game against Jackson last year. We scored with eight seconds left to win at the Fisher House Charity Showcase. It's an event that we host at our school that raises money for families of wounded soldiers to give them places to stay close to where a soldier is hospitalized. There were four other games that day, and we were one of them. There was a big turnout, and that was just exciting and probably the best moment. I had two goals that game. It was a big win for us, because it was an upset.
2010 PLAYOFFS: Last year we got knocked out of the playoffs in the second round in kind of a heartbreaking game against Walsh Jesuit. It was a game we should have won. That really made me work really hard over the summer. I trained a lot and played as much as I could to get better. Coming back this year, we have them on our regular schedule again (at 7 p.m. April 21), so that adds a personal game, and beating them this year is a big goal. Losing that early in the playoffs, especially when we had a good team that could have gone far, it was a blow that I took to the heart and really made me anxious for this year and to play a role for this team.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: History
FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: Ohio State Buckeyes
FAVORITE FOOD: Steak
FAVORITE MUSICIAN: Kid Cudi
GOALS: Individually, I was voted captain this year, and that's one of the main things I want to focus on, is just being a great captain on the field and especially off the field, because we have a lot of younger players. On the field, I want to play a big role for my team all around. We have to grow a lot, and I believe we will and overcome the challenges of beating teams we aren't favored to.
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Molly Stancik
Chagrin Falls Tigers
SPORT: Lacrosse
POSITION: Attack, co-captain
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 5-foot-6
OTHER SPORTS: Soccer and swimming
VARSITY LETTERS: Two in lacrosse; three in swimming; two in soccer.
2010 SEASON: Second leading goal scorer with 35. I trust all my teammates, so I don't feel the pressure like I need to score.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: It was definitely when we played Hathaway Brown in the regular season, because we came back from being down by like six goals at halftime, and I scored the goal that tied the game with three seconds left, and we went into overtime, and we won. That was the biggest game we played last year. It was kind of a disappointment losing to them in the state championship, but we'll get them this year.
2010 PLAYOFFS: Lost 14-5 to Hathaway Brown in the Division II state championship. That experience just gets the returning players so much more pumped for going back to states. This year's state championship game is June 4, so we're working for that every day at practice. We have a lot of seniors coming back, and we all know what it feels like to play in that game. I think we'll be even more ready, and, hopefully, we'll win it this year.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: Biology
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Cleveland Cavaliers
FAVORITE FOOD: Panera Bread
FAVORITE MUSIC: Pop
GOALS: I know for the team we want to try to go far in the playoffs and get to states, and we want to have an undefeated season. I'm really looking forward to playing with my senior teammate Katie Seidel this season. She got injured during the Hathaway Brown regular season game, and we're looking forward to having her back.
Hannah Newcomb
Gilmour Lancers
SPORT: Fast-pitch softball
POSITION: First baseman, co-captain
CLASS: Senior
OTHER SPORTS: Soccer
VARSITY LETTERS: Three in softball; three in soccer.
2010 SEASON: We had a really strong season last year. We had a really young team, but we pulled together. Personally, I had a knee injury toward the end of the season. I was stealing second base, and I slid, and my knee went into the ground. It just completely cut everything up. I was able to come back at the end of the season, but I wasn't exactly the athlete whom I started out the season as. I had to play with a knee brace. After the softball season, I started working out more often, because I wanted to be better for this season, but in the fall I received two concussions in soccer, and that set me back a lot. So, after I got back from those two concussions, that just set another fire in me, and I just kept going, and I kept working out. My goal for this season is to not get injured, because I believe that, if you work out and you do it properly, it will help prevent injury. So I'm really focused on that right now because of my experience.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: When we played against Chagrin Falls, I hit a triple, a double, and then I made two really good plays at first base, which decided the game, so that was a really important moment for me. It was right after I came back from my knee injury. I used to play with a lot of the girls on the Chagrin team, so it's always a great friendly competition.
2010 PLAYOFFS: Lost 7-5 to Chagrin Falls in the sectional finals.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: Catalyst, because I got a chance to go into a hospital and actually work with spinal-cord injured patients. I started to develop a wheelchair to help lessen bed sores for paralytic patients, and so that got me into mechanical engineering a little more, which I really enjoy. That was a lot of fun.
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Jennie Finch, of the USA national softball team.
FAVORITE FOOD: If you put it in front of me, I'll probably eat it. I'm a huge fan of homemade macaroni and cheese.
FAVORITE SONG: "Hotel California," Eagles.
GOALS: As an individual, I'm hoping to hit a .500 batting average or as close to it as I can. And not getting injured is a huge part of my season. As a team, we want to go far in the playoffs.
Matt Debick
Gilmour Lancers
SPORT: Baseball
POSITION: Second baseman
CLASS: Senior
HEIGHT: 5-foot-10
OTHER SPORTS: Football
VARSITY LETTERS: Three in baseball; four in football; one in basketball.
2010 SEASON: I was second-team All-Cuyahoga River Conference last season. I had a .344 batting average.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: It was definitely when we played at the Indians stadium against US. I mean, we lost, but it was so awesome playing on the Indians field. It's a big change from high school. Just playing on a huge field, the grass has no flaws, there's always a true hop on the grounders.
2010 PLAYOFFS: We lost 8-2 to Trinity in the second round. We just didn't hit well. My freshman and sophomore years, we went really far in the playoffs. My freshman year we went all the way to states. Losing in only the second round last year was real upsetting for the whole team. It motivates the whole team to work really hard in the off-season and play our hardest at all times.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: English
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Manu Ginobili, of the San Antonio Spurs.
FAVORITE FOOD: Chipotle
FAVORITE MUSIC: Yelawolf, rap.
GOALS: As a team, we definitely want to make it further in the playoffs and make a run at the state championship. But obviously that's always the goal. But the goal is just to communicate as a team this year and also have leaders step up.
COLLEGE PLANS: To play baseball at John Carroll University.
Ryan Schwenke
Solon Comets
SPORT: Baseball
POSITION: Utility infielder
CLASS: Junior
HEIGHT: 6-foot-0
OTHER SPORTS: Football
VARSITY LETTERS: One in baseball; two in football.
2010 SEASON: Named first-team All-Northeast Ohio Conference. Batted in the .410 average range.
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT: I remember at the Cuyahoga Falls game, we were down by one or two runs late in the game, and we needed something. This kid who was pitching, he had a very good slider, and all the people on the bench were talking about it. He threw one to me, and I hit a triple off of it, and it kind of got the team going for a little bit, but, unfortunately, we couldn't cap it off.
2010 PLAYOFFS: We were upset 5-4 against Cuyahoga Falls in the first round, and that obviously wasn't too good for us. The regular season went much better. That experience definitely makes us hungry to work harder to make it further and win more.
FAVORITE SUBJECT: Chemistry
FAVORITE ATHLETE: Albert Pujols, with the St. Louis Cardinals.
FAVORITE FOOD: Steak and potatoes
GOALS: As a team we definitely want to win the conference, and the overall goal is to win a state championship, but we have to start thinking game by game at first. We just want to be successful.
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