Each month, the Southwestern Conference will recognize student-athletes who are excelling in the classroom as well as those who have demonstrated the highest levels of integrity and sportsmanship. For April the SWC recognizes the following student athletes:
Scholar Athletes of the Month
Lauren Gumeny (Senior)
Olmsted Falls High School
Soccer, Basketball
Cheer, Track and Field
Olmsted Falls’ 2019 Class President, Gumeny is a four sport athlete for the Bulldogs and still finds time to hold a cumulative GPA of 4.3. Gumeny is in the top 10% of her class and was named two-time SWC Scholar Athlete. She is currently enrolled in AP Calculus, AP Psychology, AP Literature and Composition as well as taking CCP courses. A member of National Honors Society, Rho Kappa Honor Society and National English Honor Society, Gumeny was also recognized as a GCSSCA All Greater Cleveland Honorable Mention.
Christian Velez (Senior)
Amherst Steele High School
Football, Baseball
A two-sport SWC Scholar Athlete, Velez holds a 4.39 cumulative grade point average and has been on the Honor Roll all four years. The senior is enrolled in Spanish 4, Anatomy and Physiology as well as Pre-Calculus and Calculus 1. In addition to participating in football and baseball, Velez is engaged in several after school activities. He is a peer tutor and also volunteers with the Comets baseball team at the Lorain County Board of Developmental Disibilities Murray Ridge Center. Velez volunteers at the Special Olympics Track and Field and the Mary Lee Tucker Clothe a Child each winter. He can also be seen volunteering with Operation Open Heart, Black River Landing Clean Up as well as the Velez Family Foundation. Christian has accepted an appointment to the United States Naval Academy.
Sportsmanship Athletes of the Month
Mia Vargo (Senior)
Berea-Midpark High School
Soccer, Track and Field (Indoor/Outdoor)
Vargo encompasses the true definition of a model student-athlete. A three sport athlete and an academic high achieving student (4.40 cumulative GPA), Vargo continually displays outstanding traits of ethical behavior and integrity as a Titan and is a role model for the younger athletes who inspire to achieve greatness. She is a member of the Senior Executive Board as well as the National Honors Society and currently holds the title of Builders Club Coordinator for Key Club. Vargo has volunteered her time within the Berea City School District as a Camp Mi-Bro-Be counselor and a volunteer coach with the Titans Youth Soccer Camp in the summer. She gives back to her community by volunteering with the Berea Kiwanis to help run the Empty Bowl Fundraiser where proceeds from the event go to the local food banks.
Jacob Winslow (Sophomore)
Midview High School
Cross Country, Track and Field
Winslow is the backbone behind the Middie home High School and Middle School track and field meets and one of the reasons they are one of the best operated meets in the conference. The sophomore takes pride in setting up the hurdles for each meet and even built hurdle carts to assist in meet setup and management. He also developed Midview’s current finish line routine for getting athletes to report their placements. In addition to running in the meets, Winslow spends his down time helping the finish line with timing. He is always willing to do what is asked in order to ensure his fellow athletes have a positive experience at Midview events. When not involved in athletics, Winslow assists with the Kiwanis Strawberry Festival and is also the Sound Engineer for First United Methodist Church and drama performances at MHS.
