Athletes from 10 different schools have been named the Chagrin Valley Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, September 14, 2025.
Each athlete was nominated by his or her coach. All statistics incurred from Monday, September 8, 2025, through Sunday, September 15, 2025.
CHEERLEADING
Name: Brooke Vollman
School: Independence
Grade: 12
Stats: N/A
Coach’s Quote: “I am nominating Brooke for Athlete of the Week for her exceptional performance and leadership during last Friday’s game,” said Independence coach MacKenzie Carter. “As a captain, Brooke not only led her teammates and called cheers with confidence but also organized a crowd engagement game that incorporated stunting elements, keeping the student section energized throughout the night. In addition, she represented our school as a top-five Homecoming Court nominee, balancing both roles with grace and professionalism. Brooke exemplifies the spirit, dedication, and leadership we value in our athletes.”
CROSS COUNTRY
Name: Izzie Copeland
School: Kirtland
Grade: 12
Stats: Placed fourth at the Spartan Invitational
Coach’s Quote: “Izzie has been on a mission to start her senior year of cross country,” said Kirtland coach JP Moran. “She now owns the second fastest 5K in school history and has been racing in the front pack of all of our invites. She has been a tremendous leader and role model for our team.”
FOOTBALL
Name: Liam Rienerth
School: Independence
Grade: 12
Stats: Carried two times for 13 yards and a touchdown, caught six passes for 30 yards, and completed 1-of-2 passes for 31 yards; returned three kicks for 88 yards; recorded seven tackles on defense
Coach’s Quote: “Liam was everywhere on Friday night, he played a full 60-minute game, a true ironman of football,” said Independence coach Matt Burns. “He really put the team on his back and kept encouraging his teammates throughout the game. He never backed down, never bowed out, just kept fighting. We are proud of Liam and his performance.”
Name: Matt Webster
School: Jefferson
Grade: 12
Stats: Carried 33 times for 176 yards and three touchdowns
Coach’s Quote: “Again, Matt was a workhorse for the Falcons on offense,” said Jefferson coach Jason Root.
Name: Tommy Wright
School: Hawken
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 13 receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns with one two-point conversion; recorded three tackles on defense; returned five kicks for 62 yards
Coach’s Quote: “In our exciting 49-48 victory over Geneva, Tommy was outstanding on both sides of the ball and in the return game,” said Hawken coach Mark Iammarino.
BOYS GOLF
Name: Dylan Phillips
School: West Geauga
Grade: 10
Stats: Shot 38 in two separate matches during the week
Coach’s Quote: “Dylan has been very consistent all season long,” said West Geauga coach Jay Kletecka. “He won the CVC preseason tournament and finished second at the CVC postseason tournament (on Monday). Congrats to Dylan on finishing first overall for total CVC points for the entire season. He was named the Chagrin Valley Conference MVP for golf for the 2025 season. Looking forward to more postseason success coming up. Dylan was a state qualifier last year as a freshman.”
GIRLS GOLF
Name: Payton Lamson
School: Edgewood
Grade: 9
Stats: Shot a 44 and a 39 in two separate matches
Coach’s Quote: “Payton has had a consistently strong season for us,” said Edgewood coach Christina Fischer. “She started the season in the No. 3 position, but due to a team injury, has played the No. 2 spot for the majority of the season. Even though she is a freshman, she plays with poise and is a true competitor. She is a student of the game and always strives to improve in every match.”
Name: Elizabeth Pollock
School: Chagrin Falls
Grade: 10
Stats: Averaged 37 strokes per nine holes and shot a 74 at the Laurel Invitational
Coach’s Quote: “Elizabeth is a talented player whose focus and work ethic lead to her accomplishments on the course,” said Chagrin Falls coach Kristin Reboul. “We’re proud to have her as a core team member during conference play and throughout the season.”
BOYS SOCCER
Name: Jensen Bezuijen
School: Independence
Grade: 11
Stats: Helped the team record a clean sheet as an outside back
Coach’s Quote: “In only his first full season as a high school soccer player, Jensen Bezuijen improves daily and plays with a tremendous level of intensity and vigor,” said Independence head coach Brien McDonald. “Against Euclid this year, a team with multiple offensive threats, and a team we lost to last year, Jensen provided athleticism and protection to our back line while also driving our team forward to help us achieve a clean sheet and achieve another important win.”
Name: Ryder Miller
School: Crestwood
Grade: 10
Stats: Scored five goals in three games
Coach’s Quote: “Ryder has stepped up huge for us, and it’s coming at the perfect time,” said Crestwood coach Amanda Parsons. “His ability to dribble through the defensive line has generated more offense for us and has been a huge asset. Ryder currently has the second-most goals on our team as a sophomore.”
Name: Ethan Nielsen
School: Chagrin Falls
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded nine saves, including one shutout in two games
Coach’s Quote: “We had our biggest test of the season with a tough 3-1 victory over Beachwood,” said Chagrin Falls coach Brian McKenna. “Ethan had a number of key saves. Our 9-0 record with seven shutouts and only two goals given up all season is a testament to Ethan’s play in goal.”
Name: Zach Pastor
School: Rootstown
Grade: 11
Stats: Scored three goals with two assists in two games
Coach’s Quote: “Zach Pastor has been a leading offensive threat for us since he was a freshman, and this year is no different,” said Rootstown assistant coach Michael Farkash. “He provided the offensive spark in both of our games this past week. Zach’s two goal performance helped us beat a previously undefeated Kirtland, and he had three more goal contributions in our dominant win over Cuyahoga Heights.”
Name: Brandon Shaw
School: Hawken
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded six goals with six assists in three games
Coach’s Quote: “His vision and ability to play the final pass is a massive part of our attack,” said Hawken coach Vlad Muresan. “His finishing and calmness in front of goal allow him to be one of the best strikers in the state. His best is still yet to come.”
GIRLS SOCCER
Name: Caroline Briggs
School: Hawken
Grade: 11
Stats: Scored one goal with one assist
Coach’s Quote: “Caroline has been a driving force for our offense by putting consistent pressure on the opposing backline,” said Hawken coach Adam Severs. “Caroline played a major role in all three goals in our win over Perry and has proved invaluable to our team by playing forward, midfield, and center defense throughout games.”
Name: Chloe Hall
School: Edgewood
Grade: 11
Stats: Scored two goals in two games
Coach’s Quote: “Chloe has grown a lot as a player,” said Edgewood coach Kaytee Shimek. “She scored the only goal that led us to a 1-0 victory over Conneaut. She also scored a great goal against Bristol. Her goals have sparked life into our team. We are very proud of her.”
GIRLS TENNIS
Name: Lilly Isgro
School: West Geauga
Grade: 12
Stats: Won a match in straight sets
Coach’s Quote: “Lilly is the perfect athlete for tennis,” said West Geauga coach Mary Kay Yuhas. “She has been our No. 1 singles player for three years. She is calm, driven, and resilient. I love her demeanor and the positivity she shares with her teammates.”
Name: Valeria Kislyansky
School: Hawken
Grade: 11
Stats: Went 4-0 on the week
Coach’s Quote: “Valeria has developed into a team leader and fierce competitor this year,” said Hawken coach Lori Shulman. “She had a great week helping our team go 3-1, including a big win over Hathaway Brown at first doubles. I have moved her around in the lineup quite a bit this season, and she has stepped up for the team in a big way for every match. The consummate team player, she is a great and supportive teammate and has helped push the team to get better every day.”
VOLLEYBALL
Name: Lauren Hanek
School: Jefferson
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded 43 service points, 24 kills, 10 service aces, nine block kills, and seven digs
Coach’s Quote: “Lauren had an outstanding week for us by controlling the net and putting the ball on the ground,” said Jefferson coach Don Palm. “She was a major contributor to our three home victories last week. She is still just scratching the surface of her potential as a dominant volleyball player, and I want to see her continue to put together solid performance after solid performance.”
Name: Delana Kellogg
School: Berkshire
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 42 service points with 12 aces, five digs, and passed a 2.0 average on serve receive
Coach’s Quote: “Delana had a great week, especially from the service line,” said Berkshire coach Joni Prots. “She scored points in critical points of the matches, helping the team go 2-0 this week. Delana has shown great leadership and hustle all season.”
Name: Addison Lamson
School: Edgewood
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 19 kills, 16 digs, 14 service points, 10 service receptions, and two service aces
Coach’s Quote: “Addison played extremely well this week, and I couldn’t be more proud of her and her efforts,” said Edgewood coach Kyra Vencill. “She’s such a coachable kid with many talents. She was dominant on the serving line, aggressive on offense, and led in digs for our team against Conneaut this past week. She is one of our captains and is a leader on the floor, in both play and her voice. She brings so much experience to our floor and no matter how much I push her, she rises to the challenge. I place a lot of pressure on her and this week she deserves all the recognition. She is such a team player, willing to sacrifice herself for her team, rises to the challenge, keeps her composure, and is a model athlete. She brings so much to our team, but individually she shined this week. I’ve been pushing her defensively, and I’m so proud of her achievements this past week. She is such a joy to coach, has a strong work ethic, and her efforts in performance were a big reason for our success this week.”
Name: Olivia Penzenik
School: West Geauga
Grade: 10
Stats: Recorded 27 digs in one match
Coach’s Quote: “Olivia has been working extremely hard and is supporting her teammates on defense,” said West Geauga coach Amber Baker. “Olivia is truly giving 100 percent in practice and games this year, and she is proving herself through hard work and positivity.”
Name: Ellie Spencer
School: Kirtland
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded 61 serve receptions, 41 kills, 37 digs, and 15 service aces
Coach’s Quote: “Outside hitter Ellie Spencer’s performance in our past three matches was the difference that carried Kirtland to an 8-2 record on the season,” said Kirtland coach Ricky Sanders. “Her aggressive play and team attitude have given Kirtland a huge boost of confidence. With Ellie on the floor, it motivates our players to play with confidence knowing she has their backs.”
Name: Sadie Conrad/Gigi Calabrese
School: Chagrin Falls
Grade: 11/12
Stats: Sadie recorded the 500th dig of her career/Gig reached 500 kills
Coach’s Quote: “Gigi and Sadie make up two of our three captains and continued to lead the team through their performance,” said Chagrin Falls coach Kelly Hotlz. “Not only is it special to make the 500 mark in your particular skill set, but the two reached 500 in the same match. Sadie’s defense makes the offense possible to score. Gigi has grown as an attacker to find how to make her swings count more than for power, but for points.”
