Athletes from 12 different schools have been named the Chagrin Valley Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, September 28, 2025.
Each athlete was nominated by his or her coach. All statistics incurred from Monday, September 22, 2025, through Sunday, September 29, 2025.
CROSS COUNTRY
Name: Joee Cichocki
School: Cuyahoga Heights
Grade: 10
Stats: Placed third at the Woodridge Invitational in 22:32
Coach’s Quote: “Joee is an incredible force on the trail,” said Cuyahoga Heights coach Chadwick Robinston. “Only a sophomore, Ms.Cichocki has the grit, determination, and work ethic to break our school’s 5k cross-country course record in the next year or two before she graduates. Assistant Coach Allison Phelps is the current record holder, and it’s only fitting that Joee has her in her corner to accomplish this goal. But it won’t stop there. This girl is as tough as they come and is only getting tougher as her confidence builds with each meet. The best part? She has humility. Ms. Cichocki doesn’t talk the hype, she runs it.”
Name: Hazel Kananen
School: Perry
Grade: 10
Stats: Finished the Madison Invitational in 20:16.4
“Hazel raced confidently throughout the entire race this past Saturday, where she cruised past her previous personal best time by over 30 seconds,” said Perry coach Kristen Thomas. “She stayed focused and fluid, especially in the middle mile of the race, which set her up for a strong finish. We are excited to see her progress through the final weeks of the regular season and the postseason.”
Name: Robert Knox
School: Edgewood
Grade: 12
Stats: Finished the Madison Invitational in 17:45
Coach’s Quote: “Robert is a senior but in his first year of cross country,” said Edgewood coach Steve Hill. “Robert has already broken 18 minutes twice this year. Robert has a great attitude and has embraced running cross country and has big goals in helping his team this postseason.”
Name: Landon Rusnak
School: Perry
Grade: 11
Stats: Finished the Madison Invitational in 17:22.1
Coach’s Quote: “Landon led his young team to one of their best collective efforts,” said Perry coach Kristen Thomas. “His hard work through the summer and September was on display last Saturday. Landon raced the most complete race of his junior season, and he smashed his previous personal record. He was relaxed and patient through the first 3K, and he stayed aggressive through the last 2K. We are excited to see how this race carries over to CVC championships and the postseason.”
FOOTBALL
Name: Jacob Clemens
School: Geneva
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded 11 tackles, including 3 sacks and 1 hurry; part of an offensive line that paved the way for 460 yards of offense and six touchdowns
Coach’s Quote: “Jacob has been a huge presence for us on both our offensive and defensive line this year,” said Geneva coach Don Shymske. “He had a tremendous impact on the game this week. It isn’t often you see an interior tackle on the defensive front have double-digit tackles, but Jacob did just that this week. He also played every snap on the offensive line, paving the way for our backs to have another successful evening.”
Name: Zach Shafer
School: Cuyahoga Heights
Grade: 11
Stats: Completed 7-of-8 passes for 100 yards and 1 touchdown; ran 6 times for 27 yards
Coach’s Quote: “Zach executed our offense very well and was very accurate throwing the ball,” said Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin. “His leadership has been a big part of our success early in the season.”
Name: Wyatt Januska
School: Crestwood
Grade: 12
Stats: Carried 8 times for 136 yards and 1 TD; recorded 7 tackles and 1 tackle for loss
Coach’s Quote: “Wyatt continues to impress on the field,” said Crestwood coach Jack D’Amato. “He stacked together another performance in all three phases of the game that put us in a position to win a tight football game. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands and has a nose for the ball on defense.”
Name: Levi Sears
School: Independence
Grade: 10
Stats: Recorded 9 tackles, 1 QB pressure, 1 forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries
Coach’s Quote: “Levi was relentless off the edge,” said Independence coach Matt Burns. “He racked up nine tackles, forced a fumble, and scooped up two more—making his presence felt on every snap. Levi always put himself in a position to make plays. He also played great offensively with an offensive line grade of 90 percent. He continues to make an impact for the Blue Devils.”
Name: Colby Stiltner
School: Conneaut
Grade: 12
Stats: Completed 7-of-11 passes for 159 yards and 3 TDs, ran four times for 53 yards and 2 TDs, and converted two two-point conversion passes
Coach’s Quote: “Colby has been a great leader all year and did a great job managing the offense Friday night,” said Conneaut coach Rocco Dobran. “He utilized many of his receivers, completing passes to six different players. His work ethic all offseason showed in his performance against Jefferson.”
BOYS GOLF
Name: Jayden Park
School: Orange
Grade: 12
Stats: Finished second at the sectional tournament with a 74, helping the team advance to the district tournament
Coach’s Quote: “Jayden was very good during our postseason tournament schedule by shooting a career best 74 at Pine Hills in the sectional, but also shooting 79 at the CVC postseason tournament, and also playing well in our Ryder Cup match we had last week,” said Orange coach Rick Clark. “He also competed at the Aurora Invitational at Barrington. All of this in the last week and a half, when our events are most important. Jayden has always played his best in this part of our season. He has continued that this year.”
BOYS SOCCER
Name: Parker Branford
School: Hawken
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded one clean sheet and two wins
Coach’s Quote: “Parker returned from his concussion to help the Hawks pick up two important wins against Mentor and Gilmour,” said Hawken coach Vlad Muresan. “He only conceded one goal during these two games, and that was from a penalty kick. His calmness, shot-stopping ability, and the trust that the team has in him make him one of the top goalies in the state.”
Name: Kade Rotter
School: Crestwood
Grade: 12
Stats: Dominant defensive performance
Coach’s Quote: “Oftentimes, defensive players get overlooked because they don’t get the stats like midfielders or strikers. Kade is an exceptional defender and leader on and off the field,” said Crestwood coach Amanda Parsons. “He has saved us back there more times than I can count. He is physical and plays with heart. He will be extremely hard to replace after this year.”
Name: Jackson Scarcella
School: Independence
Grade: 10
Stats: Scored four goals in two games
Coach’s Quote: “Jackson had a breakout week for us,” said Independence head coach Brien McDonald. “He was involved in four of our 10 goals scored, including his first high school hat trick against league opponent Trinity. He followed that up with the game winner at Wickliffe on Thursday. He capped the week with a solid defensive effort Saturday at Edgewood to preserve the 1-1 tie to help us go 2-0-1 on the week.”
GIRLS SOCCER
Name: Julia Fallon
School: Geneva
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored five goals
Coach’s Quote: “Julia put in stellar performances this week,” said Geneva coach James Restad. “She found the net five times while dominating the midfield. Her work ethic is contagious, and she makes everyone around her better.”
Name: Heaven Rivera
School: Edgewood
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 12 saves in two games
Coach’s Quote: “Heaven is a key player on our team who is consistently making game-changing saves,” said Edgewood coach Kaytee Shimek. “This is her second year being our starting goalkeeper, and she has grown so much as far as technique and leadership. We are super proud of her.”
Name: Sienna Sidoti
School: Madison
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored three goals
Coach’s Quote: “Sienna netted her first hat trick against Lakeside in a game that clinched a share of the CVC Lake Division title,” said Madison coach Chad Butler.
VOLLEYBALL
Name: Emily Amador
School: Harvey
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 52 digs, 7 assists, and 3 service aces
Coach’s Quote: “Emily is one of our most reliable players, and she makes it difficult for our opponents to score on us,” said Harvey coach Lila Kalina. “Her passing is always consistent, but she was especially dominant in our recent matches. She embodies all qualities of a good libero.”
Name: Shalaya Strozier
School: Brooklyn
Grade: 10
Stats: Recorded 12 digs, 10 kills, and 10 hits still in play
Coach’s Quote: “Shalaya Strozier is one of our sophomore players and a first-time varsity player,” said Brooklyn coach Debbie Hall. “While we are still building our program, Shalaya has emerged as a force at the net. She has great instincts and quick reactions, which she has saved many plays and kept the play going. She brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to our team, and I look forward to her continued growth in the next few years.”
Name: Faith Vencill
School: Edgewood
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded 51 kills, 26 serve receptions, 20 service points with 6 aces, 13 blocks, and 16 digs
Coach’s Quote: “Faith played exceptionally well this week,” said Edgewood coach Kyra Vencill. “She has an exceptional volleyball IQ and sees the floor well. She is aggressive on the serving line, tough on our offensive line, and hard to get through defensively in blocking. Her ability to excel in all areas of the floor adds strategic depth to our floor. She handles pressure well, and her influence extends far beyond her individual stats in leading this team both physically and mentally. Her joy for the game is clearly visible, and she shows it every time she steps on the floor. She’s an elite athlete, and we are very proud of all her efforts on the floor.”
