Chagrin Falls begins the 2025-26 season with a mix of excitement and challenges as the new-look Tigers swap divisions in the Chagrin Valley Conference.
While the roster is young and lacks some key veterans from last year’s district championship team, 21st-year head coach Dave Bargar sees plenty of opportunity for growth and leadership among his returning players.
“Replacing four starters and nine seniors off of last year’s team that reached the district championship game was going to be challenging in and of itself,” Bargar said, “but we feel that our identity will be based on our tenacity and toughness, and that will give us a chance to be successful. There is a tremendous opportunity for many of our players to get a chance to make an impact on our team.”
Last winter, the Tigers finished 16-9 overall and 5-5 in the CVC Chagrin Division. They’ll play in the Valley Division this season.
Bargar and the Tigers will lean on their most experienced players to set the tone this season.
Leading the way is Quin Bargar, a 5-foot-9 senior point guard.
“Quin is one of the few players who has gained valuable experience over the past two years as he started several games for us and played a significant role off the bench,” Coach Bargar said. “He will run the show as our point guard this season. Quin is an extremely tough player. He defends well, handles the ball, and is very aggressive attacking the basket. He has become a very good 3-point shooter and has a good mid-range game. Quin will be counted on to be a big part of what we do this season as a leader, scorer, and defender.”
Joining him in the backcourt is 5-foot-11 junior guard Jake Vasko, who brings versatility and scoring ability.
“Jake is poised to fill a big role as one of our starting guards,” Bargar said. “He has worked extremely hard over the past few years and has made tremendous strides in his game since entering our program. Jake is a versatile offensive player who can score in a variety of ways. He is a very good 3-point shooter, can get to the rim, and is as good as anyone playing without the ball. As he gets more comfortable with the speed of the varsity game, we look for him to be a big part of what we do over the next two years.”
Brady DeVito, a 6-foot senior guard, adds perimeter shooting and playmaking.
“Brady will give us depth this year at the guard spot and has the opportunity to play a large part of our success,” Bargar said. “This year, we are looking for Brady to provide us with some perimeter shooting that will open the floor for some of our other players. In addition to being a good 3-point shooter, Brady competes hard and is a very good passer. As he gets more experience at the varsity level, we think Brady will do a great job for us this year.”
In the frontcourt, 6-foot-3 senior forward Jack Orazen anchors the 4/5 positions.
“Jack will be one of the players we count on this year at the 4/5 spot,” Bargar said. “Jack is a strong player and does a good job around the basket. He uses his body really well and has a great touch at the rim. Jack is a strong rebounder who can also step out and shoot the three if teams aren’t careful. The key for Jack is to stay aggressive and compete on each end of the court. If he can do that consistently, Jack has an opportunity this season to have a big impact on our team.”
Harrison Horvath, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, will start under the basket.
“Harrison takes over as our starting 5-man this year,” Bargar said. “He is one of the few players who has any varsity experience, so we will look for him to have an impact on our team with his play and leadership. Harry is very athletic and plays with a lot of energy on both ends of the court. He does a great job of running the floor in transition and is an active rebounder. Harry is tremendous in the pick-and-roll and has become more consistent finishing at the rim. We look for Harrison to have a big season for us this year.”
Depth will be critical for the Tigers, and several players have the potential to make an impact once healthy.
Returning to the court this season after missing last year with an injury is Brady Kaas, a 6-foot junior guard.
“Brady missed all of last year and is currently battling another injury, but once healthy, he has a chance to play a big role on our team,” Bargar said. “Brady competes extremely hard on both ends of the floor. He is a terrific rebounder for a guard and plays physical on the defensive end. Brady has good offensive skills; he can shoot, pass, or attack the basket. The key for him is to stay aggressive, looking for his shot. If he can do that consistently, he will have a big impact on our team over the next few years.”
Peter Fischer, a 6-foot-4 junior forward, offers versatility on both ends of the floor.
“Peter is a very talented player, and we are looking for him to make a big impact on our team over the next two years,” Bargar said. “Peter is versatile offensively; he is very good in the open court, quick off the dribble, and has the ability to get to the rim and finish. As he continues to get better with his 3-point shooting, he will become even more dangerous. Defensively, Peter is an outstanding shot-blocker who will have a tremendous impact on that end of the floor. He will play a large part in our success this season.”
Owen Adelman, a 6-foot senior forward returning to the program, adds athleticism and effort.
“Owen is back after a year away from our program,” Bargar said. “Owen is quick, athletic, and plays with tremendous effort and energy. He does a great job of attacking the basket, he competes on the defensive end, and he is relentless on the boards. Owen will certainly have an impact on our team with his outstanding effort and leadership. He can play multiple positions that will allow us to mix things up if necessary. As he gets back into basketball shape, we expect Owen to have a big role in what we do this year.”
Jayden Hawkins, a 5-foot-10 senior guard new to the program, has impressed with his quickness and scoring ability.
“This is Jayden’s first year in our program after coming to Chagrin. In the short time that he’s been here, Jayden has impressed us and will provide depth at the guard position,” Bargar said. “Jayden does a good job of attacking the basket, he’s a good passer, can make a three, and can disrupt the game with his quickness defensively. As he gets more comfortable with our system, Jayden has the opportunity to help us in a variety of ways this season.”
Other contributors include Will Murray, Jake Benzel, and Andrew Broz, all capable of providing valuable minutes.
Murray is a 5-foot-7 junior guard.
“Will is battling an injury right now but has the opportunity to give us depth at the point guard position once healthy,” Bargar said. “He is a very fundamentally sound player who doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and competes hard. Will is a good 3-point shooter and handles the ball well. He is a tough, hard-nosed player who doesn’t back down on the court. We are hoping to get him back soon so that he can help us over the next two years.”
Benzel is a 6-foot-1 junior forward.
“Jake will have the opportunity to compete for a chance to provide some depth for us this year,” Bargar said. “Jake has good athleticism, runs the floor well, and is long defensively. As he becomes more consistent with his 3-point shot, Jake can become a solid offensive player on several levels. The more comfortable Jake gets with the speed of the varsity game, he has a chance to give us some productive minutes over the next two years.”
Broz is a 6-foot-4 junior forward.
“Andrew continues to make strides since he entered our program,” Bargar said. “He has a unique skill set with his height, length, and his ability to step out and shoot the three. Andrew is a tremendous passer, has great touch around the basket, and understands how to play. The key for Andrew is to stay aggressive on both ends of the floor and learn to compete at the varsity level consistently. As he continues to get more comfortable at the varsity level, Andrew has the chance to help us over the next two years.”
The Tigers will be without 6-foot-1 senior guard Jacob Kay and 5-foot-9 junior guard Elliot Kler this season. Both suffered injuries during the fall sports season.
“Jacob will miss the entire season this year after suffering an injury in football. He has been a two-year starter for us while earning all-conference honors each year. Jacob is a terrific all-around player who has been a big part of our success over the past two seasons. We are going to miss Jacob’s talent, experience, and his positive impact on our team,” Bargar said. “Elliot will miss the entire season after suffering an injury during soccer. Elliot is a high-energy player who makes things happen on both sides of the floor. He is an aggressive offensive player who can get to the rim and has the ability to impact the game on the defensive end of the court. We look forward to having Elliot healthy for his senior season.”
As the regular season approaches, the Tigers’ focus remains on practice, intensity, and togetherness.
“Our goals every year are to practice like champions, compete with intensity and toughness, play with togetherness, and show continued improvement,” Bargar said. “If we do those things, we will put ourselves in a position to reach the level of success where we can compete with everyone on a nightly basis.”
