Conneaut will have a new look this winter after new head coach Nicole Grimmett took over the program.
Grimmett returns four starters and three others with varsity experience from a squad that finished 9-14 overall and 5-9 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division last season.
“I was extremely excited to come in and get to work with these young women,” said Grimmett, who previously coached at Lakeside. “I was very impressed last year at the growth they had made, and I saw a team that was willing to work hard and push the limits. They have continued to show up and do so. The energy, effort, and attitude at practice have been great so far. The girls are set on improving upon our record from last year and are determined and ready to battle with the top competitors in our conference.”
Grimmett has been impressed with her team’s overall speed and she plans to use that to aggressively break down opposing defenses.
“We have the personnel this year to really put all the pieces together on offense, hopefully making it hard for our opponents to guard us,” she said. “We have speed to run the floor, girls that can shoot from the outside, and a strong presence in the paint.”
Despite their experience, the Spartans are relatively young. That will present the team with some challenges this winter.
“We are a younger team with three sophomores and two freshmen looking to get several minutes per game,” Grimmett said. “With it being my first year at Conneaut, my coaching style and several aspects of our game are new to everyone on the floor. We are meshing what’s worked well for this team in past seasons with some things I think will elevate our play to the next level. We have strong leadership from our seniors and other returners, but we will make mistakes early on. I know this group will continue to be coachable and make the adjustments we need to make to meet our goals this season.”
The Spartans return three all-conference performers from last season.
Senior guard/forward Addie Kennedy earned honorable mention All-CVC honors after scoring four points per game with 3.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
“Addie is a great leader on and off the court,” Grimmett said. “She will take on many different roles for us this season and can play any spot on the floor. She is always willing to do what the team needs of her.”
Senior forward Bella Fix was a second-team All-CVC selection. She scored 18 points with nine rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest as a junior.
“Bella is a strong athlete and fierce competitor,” Grimmett said. “She led the team in points and rebounds last year. We will look to her to do the same this season.”
Junior guard Alexis Kiser was an honorable mention All-CVC performer after scoring 9.0 points with 6.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game.
“Kiser made a big impact at the varsity level last season as a sophomore. We expect an even bigger impact as a junior,” Grimmett said. “She has worked on several parts of her game this offseason. She takes advantage of every rep she can get at practice. She leads by example and her hard work will show in her game play this season.”
Sophomore guards Alexis Warner and Maddie Drew round out the projected starting lineup.
Warner scored 4.0 points with 3.0 rebounds per game last season while Drew finished with 2.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest.
“Warner saw a lot of minutes as a freshman and that experience will be valuable for us. Warner is a skilled player who pays attention to the details. She has all the potential to make a huge impact this season,” Grimmett said. “Maddie is a hustle player. She ignites the energy on our team. She gained a lot of varsity experience as a freshman and will take on a big role as our point guard this season. She is one of the most coachable athletes I’ve worked with and is constantly trying to improve herself.”
One senior, two juniors, one sophomore, and a pair of freshmen will provide the Spartans with depth.
Emma Catanazo, a forward, is the senior.
“Emma will play a significant role in our subbing rotation,” Grimmett said. “She is a strong presence in the paint. We will rely on her to work hard on the boards and in post play. Execution of her role will be key to our success.”
Forward Raymie Fill and guard Chloe Jones are the juniors.
“Raymie is another player who will take on a few roles for us. She is a player who will make sure whatever role she does is to the best of her ability,” Grimmett said. “Chloe will play quality minutes for us. She has great court vision and anticipates the game well.”
Anna Ring is a sophomore guard.
“Anna is a player that refuses to be outworked,” Grimmett said. “She goes 100 percent all the time and we can count on her to make the hustle plays. She plays fast and aggressive which will be key for us in some game situations.”
Freshmen guards Allison Harmon and Liz Hamm will debut on the varsity squad.
“Allison Harmon and Liz Hamm will see some varsity time as freshmen,” Grimmett said. “They are both hard workers and have the ability to contribute at the varsity level. As the season progresses, we hope to see their impact increase.”
Conneaut hopes to finish the season with a winning record and play competitively in each game.
To do that, the Spartans must remain focused on the fundamentals.
“It is going to be key for us to play one game at a time,” Grimmett said. “We need to focus on preparing for and playing each game like it’s the biggest one of the season because it will be. We can’t get ahead of ourselves; the conference has a lot of talent and there will be some exciting games this season. We have the talent it takes to win but we have to stay focused, communicate, and play disciplined to get there.”
