Athletes from 13 different schools have been named the Chagrin Valley Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, August 24, 2025.
Each athlete was nominated by his or her coach. All statistics incurred from Monday, August 18, 2025, through Sunday, August 24, 2025.
CROSS COUNTRY
Name: Mitchell Creel
School: Independence
Grade: 10
Stats: Placed third out of 346 runners in the Black Division of the HOKA Kickoff Classic with a time of 17:16.1, a 25-second PR, and moved him onto the school’s leader board
Coach’s Quote: “After being set back with a virus last fall, Mitchell’s hard work, determination, and motivation since then resulted in this outstanding performance at the Hoka Kickoff Classic Showcase,” said Independence coach Vern Blaze. “The next three seasons are going to be exciting for this outstanding young man and his teammates.”
FOOTBALL
Name: Gavin Chamberlin
School: Cuyahoga Heights
Grade: 12
Stats: Carried the ball 36 times for 168 yards and three touchdowns
Coach’s Quote: “Gavin had not practiced all week leading up to the game due to injury,” said Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin. “He demonstrated a lot of heart and toughness and delivered a great performance when it was really needed.”
Name: J.J. DuFour
School: Edgewood
Grade: 11
Stats: Completed 18 of 21 passes for 210 yards and four touchdowns; carried 13 times for 95 yards
Coach’s Quote: “J.J. was extremely efficient in all phases of the game,” said Edgewood coach Olajuwon Cooper. “Every time we needed a play, he made it. His dual-threat ability makes him really dangerous in space. He’s our unquestioned leader, and he led us to arguably the biggest win in program history.”
Name: Bryce Peet
School: Geneva
Grade: 12
Stats: Carried 15 times for 218 yards and three touchdowns; recorded 12 tackles, including seven solo stops, and one tackle for a loss
Coach’s Quote: “Bryce had a tremendous all-around game on both sides of the ball to give his team a come-from-behind win against a quality opponent,” said Geneva coach Don Shymske. “He is a senior captain and a leader of this team. Without Bryce, our team would not have won last week.”
Name: Devin Salinas
School: Jefferson
Grade: 12
Stats: Caught seven passes for 129 yards with three touchdowns, picked off a pass, recorded three tackles, and broke up a pass
Coach’s Quote: “Devin excelled on both sides of the ball in our win against Chagrin Falls,” said Jefferson coach Jason Root. “His three touchdown receptions and interception were keys in helping us secure the win.”
BOYS GOLF
Name: Peter Fischer
School: Chagrin Falls
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded nine-hole scores of 39 and 41
Coach’s Quote: “Peter stepped up in a big way this week,” said Chagrin Falls coach David Kimball. “His steady play was a huge factor in us winning both conference matches.”
Name: Connor Penny
School: Edgewood
Grade: 10
Stats: Shot a 36 in a tri-match
Coach’s Quote: “Connor played his best round of the season so far in this tri-match,” said Edgewood coach Ben Frable. “He is a great player to work with and is very receptive to any coaching he is given. Connor brings a considerable amount of energy to every practice and match, which sparks our team. He just loves being at the golf course, and it is showing in his play over the last week.”
BOYS SOCCER
Name: Napoleon Davies
School: Brooklyn
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored three goals
Coach’s Quote: “Napoleon stepped up in a big way to help our boys take a strong lead against Shaw High School,” said Brooklyn coach Johnny Grigson. “He scored three goals and facilitated the ball immensely well in the midfield, helping create plays that led to others scoring, which led to our dominant 10-1 victory. Napoleon has been a huge asset in our midfield this year, as his senior year also happens to be his first year at Brooklyn.”
Name: Owen Edwards
School: Chagrin Falls
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored two goals with two assists in two games
Coach’s Quote: “After earning first-team honors in the conference and in Greater Cleveland as a junior, Owen is back at it with leading the offensive power for the Tigers,” said Chagrin Falls coach Brian McKenna.
Name: Ryan Mack
School: Independence
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored two goals with one assist
Coach’s Quote: “After missing most of last season due to an in-game injury, it was apropos to see our captain Ryan Mack score the first goal of our season, which turned out to be the game-winner against Conneaut, and our first win of the season,” said Independence coach Brien McDonald. “Ryan loves playing soccer, is a fierce competitor, and has worked so hard to be back on the field for his senior year.”
Name: Gabriel Parry
School: Hawken
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored one goal in one game
Coach’s Quote: “Gabe had a brilliant performance vs NDCL, being one of the catalysts of our attacking game plan and being extremely dangerous every time in possession,” said Hawken coach Vlad Muresan. “He followed that up by scoring against Elyria, an important goal that opened the game for us and allowed our team to keep attacking and putting the opponent under pressure.”
Name: Jonathon Rosa
School: Trinity
Grade: 12
Stats: Has scored seven goals with two assists this season
Coach’s Quote: “Having Jonathan on the field fortifies our defense, helps us control midfield and makes our team dangerous when in the final third on offense,” said Trinity coach Mario Gerhardt. “Jonathan has no designated position on the field; he plays where he is needed, depending on the game conditions. Jonathan takes our goal, free and corner kicks, and long throw-ins when warranted. Against Lakeside, in our opener, we were losing 2-0 with minutes to go in the first half when the team was awarded a penalty kick for a handball. Jonathan drilled it. A couple of minutes into the second half, Jonathan tied the game after taking a throw-in and dancing the ball past two defenders into the penalty area and then sliding the ball past the keeper into the far corner. Trinity won the first two games of the new season, a record, and the team did it thanks to Jonathan’s contributions on the field.”
Name: Kyle Shelhamer
School: Crestwood
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored six goals (two hat tricks) with one assist in three games
Coach’s Quote: “Kyle started his senior year off on the right foot,” said Crestwood coach Amanda Parsons. “He wants to see the team succeed this season and is doing everything in his power to help that happen. Coming off a year-ending injury last season, he has come back stronger than ever. Kyle puts the team goals above his personal success. He is very humble and is helping lead this team to another successful season.”
GIRLS SOCCER
Name: Macey Fulkerson
School: Edgewood
Grade: 10
Stats: Scored one goal with two assists in a win
Coach’s Quote: “Macey has been working hard this offseason,” said Edgewood coach Kaytee Shimek. “She is becoming a true leader on our team by showing everyone how to work hard and how to give everything that they have to make sure the team is successful.”
Name: Alexis Warner
School: Conneaut
Grade: 11
Stats: Scored three goals in one game
Coach’s Quote: “Alexis is a hard-working athlete whose selflessness has led to the team’s wins this season,” said Conneaut coach Rebecca Thomas. “On top of her ability to score, she is also always looking to dish the ball out to open teammates and keep play moving forward.”
GIRLS TENNIS
Name: Elsa Henderson
School: West Geauga
Grade: 11
Stats: Won a singles match, 6-3, 6-0
Coach’s Quote: “Elsa is a great athlete and team player,” said West Geauga coach Mary Kay Yuhas. “She has improved so much and is always willing to help the new athletes on our team. She is a pleasure to work with.”
VOLLEYBALL
Name: Anna Grill
School: West Geauga
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded 34 kills in two matches
Coach’s Quote: “Anna has stepped up into a leadership role for us this season,” said West Geauga coach Amber Baketr. “She is mixing up her shots and working on her double block. I look forward to Anna putting up double-digit kill stats all season long.”
Name: Reannan Konopka
School: Brooklyn
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded 18 service points, 120 serve receives, 45 digs, five service aces, and three back row attacks
Coach’s Quote: “Reannan is our co-captain and our Libero this season,” said Brooklyn coach Debbie Hall. “This is a new position for her as she has been setting over the past two years and mostly at the JV level. Reannan is an integral part of our defense, and even with just learning the position and all that it entails, her defense has been keeping us competitive. We are a very young team with most of our players never playing at the varsity level; however, Reannan, in her captain role, as well as her never-give-up attitude, keeps our team motivated and in almost every play.”
Name: Jill Smetana
School: Berkshire
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 29 service points with 10 aces, 29 kills, 13 digs, and four blocks in three wins
Coach’s Quote: “Jill had a great first week,” said Berkshire coach Joni Prots. “She contributed to three team victories with outstanding work in the front row and behind the service line. Jill also showed great leadership on the court throughout the week.”
