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: Dave Zvara
Years at school: 17
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 10-8 (8-8 in SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 5
Athletes to Watch: Rosalyn Friend (Sr), CeCe Iliff (Jr), Ayalis Vicens (Sr)
2019 Season Outlook: Coach Dave Zvara feels his Comets will be competitive in 2019, in both regular season play and in the SWC Tournament.
Avon
Head Coach: Kaitlin Neumann
Years at school: 2
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 16-4 (14-4 in SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 4
Athletes to Watch: Amanda Hotelman (Sr), Kavita Nanda (Jr), Aubrey Rush (Fr)
2019 Season Outlook: Neumann is thrilled to get the 2019 Eagles season underway as Avon returns nearly its entire starting lineup from an impressive 2018 season and adds new talent to the mix this year.
Avon Lake
Head Coach: Kristyne Frisch
Years at school: 5
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 16-0 (16-0 in SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 2
Athletes to Watch: Lauren Hawkinson (Jr), Maggie Masterson (Jr), Keely McGinty (Jr)
2019 Season Outlook: After an undefeated 2018 conference schedule, coach Frisch hopes her girls continue to be competitive and strive for another SWC title.
Berea-Midpark
Head Coach: Bob Intihar
Years at school: 2
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 1-15 (1-13)
Number of Returning Starters: 6
Athletes to Watch: Mackenzie Haneberg (Jr), Samantha Parker (Jr), Ella Powell (So)
2019 Season Outlook: The Titans remain young in 2019, but the core group of golfers have been together for two seasons now. While room for growth and development remains, Coach Intihar feels his team is trending in the right direction.
Midview
Head Coach: Jim Brabenec and Sean Moennich
Years at school: 1
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 2-14 (2-14)
Number of Returning Starters: 3
Athletes to Watch: Lib Birth (Jr), Callie Bradley (Jr), Emilee Cruz (Sr), Lauren Mathes (Sr), Riley McCaffrey (Sr), Katie Weaver (Sr)
2019 Season Outlook: In year two of existence, the Midview girls golf program continues to improve and learn the game. The team has decided to dedicate the 2019 season to Coach DiFranco.
North Olmsted
Head Coach: John Wadas
Years at school: 1
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 6-10 (6th in the SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 5
Athletes to Watch: Natalie DeLaney (Jr), Natalie Ellis (Sr), Alyssa Kell (Sr), Layla Ruben (Sr), Lauren Willis (Sr)
2019 Season Outlook: The Eagles return five starters and look to improve on their sixth place finish in 2018.
North Ridgeville
Head Coach: Norm Frindt
Years at school: 12
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 4-14 (4-12 in SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 2
Athletes to Watch: Cara Caldwell (Jr), Heather Gerome (Sr)
2019 Season Outlook: Only returning two golfers from last year’s roster means the Rangers will be young in 2019. Three freshmen step into starting roles as Coach Frindt will focus on their development throughout the year.
Olmsted Falls
Head Coach: Emily Nagel
Years at school: 4
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 12-4 (12-4 in SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 4
Athletes to Watch: Becca Abbott (Jr), Kayla Kippes (Sr), Samantha Torres (Sr), Alyson Veverka (Jr)
2019 Season Outlook: The Bulldogs are returning their top 3 golfers from the past two seasons. Started off the 2019 season finishing 2nd out of 23 teams at the Edison Invitational and SWC play with wins over Amherst and Avon Lake. Nagel has the team focused on winning an SWC title and advancing to district play.
Westlake
Head Coach: Traci Edmunds
Years at school: 11
Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 15-4 (12-4 in SWC)
Number of Returning Starters: 2
Athletes to Watch: Julia Cuellar (Sr), Alexa Prexta (Sr), Sydney Schons (Jr), Kayla Schuemann (Jr), Bailey Votaw (Jr)
2019 Season Outlook: Despite losing four starters from last year’s campaign, the Demons have three returning varsity players and a lot of potential coming from the junior varsity ranks to step up and contribute in 2019. Overall, Edmunds wants her players to continue to grow and develop into better golfers and to compete in every match while enjoying their experience of being a part of the Westlake team.
