Athletes from eight different schools have been named the Chagrin Valley Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.
Each athlete was nominated by his or her coach. All statistics incurred from Monday, Oct. 8, 2024, through Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Name: Brandon Gent
School: Orange
Grade: 12
Stats: Won the district title with a time of 15:52
Coach’s Quote: “Brandon Gent has been a strong competitor all season long,” said Orange coach Rachel Frutkin. “He is a positive influence to his younger teammates, always offering words of encouragement or advice. It shows in his performances as he embraces a challenge and uses positive mindsets to work through them. Brandon deservedly came out on top at the district meet as the district champion. We’re proud of him, his progress, and his work ethic this season.”
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Name: Aubreigh Kitzmiller
School: Cardinal
Grade: 12
Stats: Placed 25th at the district meet with a time of 21:33
Coach’s Quote: “Aubreigh is the heart of our team as the team captain and only senior,” said Cardinal coach Jennifer Fekete. “Her leadership is felt and heard from all runners on the team. Not only does she complete the workouts without hesitation, you can always hear her encouraging and cheering on others. Aubreigh attacks from the back of a race and continually picks up her pace as she runs, making it a goal to pass as many people as possible. She runs with pure heart and determination.”
Name: Meghan McDonald
School: Fairview
Grade: 11
Stats: Earned a regional berth with a time of 21:41
Coach’s Quote: “Meghan has gotten stronger and stronger with every week the second half of this season,” said Fairview coach Jennifer Dahler. “Watching her confidence grow with a huge PR at the CVC meet helped her believe in herself and qualify for regionals out of a tough district.”
Name: Francesca Taracila
School: Orange
Grade: 12
Stats: Ran a time of 20:43.07
Coach’s Quote: “Francesca has proven to be an incredibly hard worker this season,” said Orange coach Rachel Frutkin. “As the first girl in for Orange at Madison, she led the girls’ team to runner-up at the district meet. She is a fierce competitor and continues to improve and apply experiences in practice and training to her performances.”
FOOTBALL
Name: Brendan Healy
School: Hawken
Grade: 11
Stats: Graded out at 93% on the offensive line with three pancake blocks; recorded four tackles on defense
Coach’s Quote: “Brendan has been a mainstay of our offensive and defensive lines all season,” said Hawken coach Mark Iammarino. “He has never missed a snap with the first team. He has consistently performed very well with great technique. Quiet and unassuming off the field, he has led with his outstanding play and helped us to an 8-1 record.”
Name: Bryce Rusch
School: Cuyahoga Heights
Grade: 11
Stats: 3-for-3 on extra-point tries, 1-for-1 on field goal tries; also had an onside kick recovered
Coach’s Quote: “Bryce executed all his kicks flawlessly on Friday night,” said Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin. “He started the game with a well-placed onside kick and then made a clutch field goal late in the fourth quarter to win the game.”
Name: Russell Tye
School: Orange
Grade: 11
Stats: Carried 23 times for 280 yards and three touchdowns; recorded five tackles including one for a loss and forced a fumble
Coach’s Quote: “Russ continues to do a little bit of everything for us,” said Orange coach Rob Senor. “We have so much confidence in him, and will give him the ball in any situation knowing he can make a big play.”
Name: Matthew Webster
School: Jefferson
Grade: 11
Stats: Carried 30 times for 277 yards and two touchdown
Coach’s Quote: “Our offensive line was impressive,” said Jefferson coach Brandon Hanna. “Matt ran extremely hard behind those guys and made the right cuts at the right time.”
GIRLS TENNIS
Name: Genevieve Hayden
School: Orange
Grade: 9
Stats: Finished as the Division II singles state runner-up after defeating a two-time doubles state champion in the semis and a defending state semifinalist in the quarterfinals; lost to two-time defending state champion
Coach’s Quote: “This was a magical season for Genevieve, but it was also just the beginning for her as a student-athlete,” said Orange coach Rich Boles. “We are so proud of what she has accomplished and so optimistic about her future in the program and beyond.”
VOLLEYBALL
Name: Claire Cafaro
School: Geneva
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded 12 kills, three blocks, and one ace
Coach’s Quote: “Claire Cafaro had a great week,” said Geneva coach Annah Haeseler. “She was a positive force in our tournament run. She had 12 kills in two matches, but her positive outlook and work ethic in the matches did not go unnoticed. She is smart, athletic, and a true team player. She wants to learn, works hard, jumps well, and is a true pleasure to have on our team.”
Name: Aubrey Sorboro
School: Crestwood
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored one point with one assist
Coach’s Quote: “Aubree Sorboro has been a core player for us this season,” said Crestwood coach Wanda Hoffman. “She is always a team player. Aubree will use her voice on defense when needed and take charge. Sorboro has a calmness about her. When the match gets tense, I can rely on her to make the tough plays. Aubree is a senior this year and will be missed next year.”
