Kenston hopes to leave the Chagrin Valley Conference with a bang.
The Bombers, winners of four of the last five CVC Chagrin Division titles, will join the newly formed Western Reserve Conference next year. They hope to add one more CVC title before they go.
“(We hope to) compete for a CVC title in the last year of the league,” said Kenston’s eighth year coach Josh Jakacki, who is 113-40 at the school.
The Bombers have seven seniors, two juniors and a pair of sophomores on the roster.
Senior Jay Weemhoff returns as the team’s top scorer. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 14.2 points, 1.5 assists and 2.4 rebounds last season on his way to being named first team all-conference. Bernie Porter, a senior, also earned first team all-CVC honors last season after averaging 7.2 points, 3.5 assists and 1.4 rebounds per game, but he is out with an ACL injury.
At 6-foot-4, Jimmy Artale is the tallest of the Bombers. He averaged 6.0 points, 1.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds per contest last season.
“He’s an experienced forward,” Jakacki said. “(He’s a) very solid athlete who is a two-year starter. He does a lot of the little things.”
Seniors Jeremy Wyers (6-0) and Tyler Rendlesham (6-2) averaged 5.1 and 1.2 points, respectively, last season and junior C.J. Maynard (5-10) is poised for a breakout year after scoring 6.0 points per contest as a sophomore.
Jakacki expects contributions from seniors Luke Winovich and Charlie Ellis, junior Drew Sova and sophomores Josh Kain and Brian Clayton.
“We may lack the big time talent, but we have a lot of depth,” he said. “The kids play really hard and have had a great off-season. (We) beefed up an already tough schedule to challenge the program and push us for more post-season success.”
The Bombers finished 16-6 overall last season and finished second to Chagrin Falls in the CVC. The Bombers won conference titles in the previous four seasons.
Jakacki is assisted by Rob Winton, Sr., Danny Lieberth, Ryan Dickard, Ryan Novak, Bob Lieberth and Justin Brownlow.
