With the fall athletic season just around the corner, the Southwestern Conference is excited to launch its Southwestern Conference Fall Preview. The preview will be a tradition for faithful Southwestern Conference followers and will signal the beginning of the much anticipated 2019 fall athletic seasons and the first step on the pathway to this year’s Southwestern Conference Champions.
Follow along this week as we preview each of the Fall sports as they begin their 2019 campaigns:
Monday Aug 12th – Football
Tuesday Aug 13th – Boys & Girls Golf / Girls Tennis
Wednesday Aug 14th – Boys & Girls Cross Country
Thursday Aug 15th – Volleyball
Friday Aug 16th – Boys & Girls Soccer
Amherst Steele
Head Coach: Mike Passerrello
Years at school: 3
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 6-4 (5-4 SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 6
Athletes to Watch: OL/DL – Clay Carpenter, WR/DB – Kyle Ferguson, OL/DL – Lavell Gibson, RB/LB – Aidan Johnson, RB/LB – Jonathan West
2019 Season Outlook: The Comets are young and talented. Coach Passerrello is confident that his team will gain valuable experience during the 2019 season.
Avon
Head Coach: Mike Elder
Years at school: 13
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 12-2 (8-1 SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 12
Athletes to Watch: WR/DB – Joey Lance (Sr), OL – Tommy Lorincz (Sr), OL/DL – Chris Pepe (Sr), RB – Nick Perusek (Sr), OL/DL – Joe Svec (Sr), QB – Danny Zeh (Sr)
2019 Season Outlook: Elder’s Eagles look to chase down another conference championship in 2019 and qualify for the playoffs with aspirations of a state title.
Avon Lake
Head Coach: Matt Kostelnik
Years at school: 2
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 10-2 (8-1 SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 9
Athletes to Watch: WR – Creed Bolognia (Sr), QB/K/LB – Harry Hebert (Sr), CB – Kai Kawalu (Sr), LB – Nico LaBianca (Sr), TE/DE – Nick Marsh (Sr), DE – Jack McCrum (Sr), OT – Alex Padgett (Jr), WR – Nate Sidloski (Sr), S – Josh Vlasak (Sr), OT – Max Von Der Lieth (Sr)
2019 Season Outlook: The Shoremen are excited to get out and defend their SWC title from 2018. Avon Lake returns a host of defensive players who are tough, smart, and physical. On offense, the Shoremen look to replace a number of starters including an entire offensive line, quarterback, and running back. A variety of juniors and seniors will be called upon to fill the gaps and compete for another conference championship.
Berea-Midpark
Head Coach: Jon Hunek
Years at school: 4
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 5-5 (5-4 SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 9
Athletes to Watch: OL/DL – Josh Andrews (Sr), DE/WR – Beau Bachie (Sr), OL/DL – Jared Bycznski (Sr), DL/RB – Brandt Eckerfield (Sr), S – Chase Ivancic (Sr), WR/S – Jonathan Lyons (Sr), OL – Cooper Roff (Sr), DE – Cameron Siggers (Sr), DT – Danny Yu (Jr)
2019 Season Outlook: The Titans will lean on a veteran, talented offensive and defensive line to be the core of their team. Led by returning starters Jared Bycznski, Josh Andrews, Cameron Siggers, Cooper Roff, Danny Yu, and Beau Bachie, Berea-Midpark looks to be exceptional on both the offensive and defensive line. The Skill positions on both offense and defense will be a mix of veteran, returning starters such as Jon Lyons, Chase Ivancic, and Luke Wolak, with exciting, talented underclassmen De’Angelo Borders, Jack Arnold, Devin Johnson and Luke Devins. Coach Hunek loves to have his team play fast on in all three aspects of the game and hopes his Titans has what it takes to contend for the SWC Championship.
Lakewood
Head Coach: Tom Thome
Years at school: 2
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 1-9 (1-8 SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 15
Athletes to Watch: DE/OL – Yousef Awad (Sr), WR/FS – Evan Hampton (Jr), RB/DB – Milan Jackson (Sr), WR/DE – Phoenix Jouriles (Jr), WR – Pete Patsouras (Jr), LB/OL – Spencer Reynolds (Sr), RB/LB – Ste’von Semedo (Sr), QB – Albert Wilhelmy
2019 Season Outlook: Lakewood hopes to grow off of the gains they made in 2018. The numbers and weight room participation in the off season for the Rangers has grown from previous years. Its is year two in Thome’s defensive system, with several juniors and seniors that have received playing time or Friday night experience.
Midview
Head Coach: DJ Shaw
Years at school: 6
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 2-8 (2-7 SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 11
Athletes to Watch: OL/DL – Daniel Bucknavich (Sr), QB/DB – Zac Gill (Sr), RB/DL – T.Y. Nelson (Sr), RB/DB – Domenic Roman (Sr)
2019 Season Outlook: Midview will be young again in 2019, but hope to have found building blocks for their future. As always in Middie Nation, expectations are high. Coach Shaw is optimistic his team can rise to the challenge after working extremely hard in the off-season.
North Olmsted
Head Coach: Tim Brediger
Years at school: 7
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 5-5 (4-5 SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 12
Athletes to Watch: Camren Bellamy (Sr), Kyle Connolly (Sr), Bradley Gribble (Sr), Anthony Guercio (Jr), Avery Jones (Sr), Xavier Liddic (Sr), Robert Payne (Sr), Samuel Roach (Sr), Collin Strong (Jr)
2019 Season Outlook: The Eagles look to replace a large group of talented seniors. North Olmsted will need outstanding leadership from the new group of seniors and from the underclassmen to be successful in 2019.
North Ridgeville
Head Coach: Luke Durbin
Years at school: 6
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 4-6 (4-5 SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 10
Athletes to Watch: OL/DL – Patrick Casselberry (Sr), TE/DE – Bryce Howell (Sr), QB/LB – Tyler Richmond (Sr), RB/CB – Shane Swindig (Sr)
2019 Season Outlook: Coach Durbin has set the bar high for the Rangers in 2019. In his sixth season, Durbin would love to see North Ridgeville compete for the conference championship, a spot in the OHSAA playoffs, and get the Rangers a playoff victory. Young at receiver and in the secondary, North Ridgeville hopes the development of senior running back Shane Swindig will help the Rangers accomplish their goals.
Olmsted Falls
Head Coach: Tom DeLuca
Years at school: 7
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 8-3 (7-2 SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 4
Athletes to Watch: DB/RB – Stephen Ellis (Sr), DE/OT – Tyler Schompert (Sr), DB/RB – Keegan Skozen (Sr), LB/WR – Dylan Varga (Sr), LB/RB – Alec Wall (Sr)
2019 Season Outlook: Graduating 18 starters from last year’s campaign, the Bulldogs are young but hungry. Coach Deluca hopes to get his team better each day throughout the 2019 season.
Westlake
Head Coach: Dan LaRocco
Years at school: 1
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 1-9 (1-8 SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 6
Athletes to Watch: LB/TE – Dylan Bednar (Jr), DB/QB – Jake Collins (Sr), OL – Nolan Dacek (Jr), DL/OL – Nick Gauntner (Sr), OL/DL – Tim Gerent (Sr), LB/RB – Connor Gregory (Jr), DB/WR – Lamar Griggs (Sr), WR – Joe Klessel (Sr), DL/TE – Tyler Malin (Sr), QB – Travis Monken (Sr), DB/WR – Cal Reghi (Jr)
2019 Season Outlook: The 2019 Westlake Demons will look to lay the foundation of change. The Demons return four starters on offense, lineman Tim Gerent and Nolan Dacek, to go along with 6’5 Joe Klessel, and three-year starter Dylan Bednar. Austin Norris who finished fifth at the regional meet in the 300 hurdles, and ran the fastest 40 time at the SWC combine will look to have a breakout season. Defensively, a change in scheme comes with some familiar faces. Three-year starter Connor Gregory will play linebacker, returning starters Tyler Malin, Nick Gauntner, Cal Reghi and Lamar Griggs will hold down the defensive backfield. Westlake will look to gain experience in 2019 while competing in everything they do.
