Athletes from five different schools have been named the Chagrin Valley Conference Athletes of the Week.
Each athlete was nominated by his or her coach. All statistics incurred from Monday, Dec. 20 through Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.
Here’s a look at each Athlete of the Week by sport:
BOYS BASKETBALL
Name: David Collins
School: Cuyahoga Heights
Grade: 11
Stats: Scored 16 points with 24 rebounds, nine assists, and five blocks in two games
Coach’s Quote: “David is taking on a different role for us this year,” said Cuyahoga Heights coach Michael Tartara. “He is scoring the ball better and he has tremendous court vision. David competes at a very high level and he has earned the respect of his teammates. He has been leading us on the boards the last few games. David’s coachability has helped to make him a more complete player.”
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Name: Ava Gabriel
School: Wickliffe
Grade: 9
Stats: Scored 24 points and hit on 8-of-13 shots with three 3-pointers, four rebounds, and three steals; has scored 20-plus points in three of 10 games this season
Coach’s Quote: “Ava had an all-around performance against Richmond Heights in leading us to a 49-28 win,” said Wickliffe coach Bill Harvey. “As the season has moved along, she has become more comfortable and you can see it in her performances. For just being a freshman, Ava has shown the composure of a junior or senior in helping us turn the corner as a team.”
Name: Julia Jaenke
School: Cuyahoga Heights
Grade: 10
Stats: Scored 28 points (13-of-21) with 12 rebounds, four steals, three blocks, and four assists in two games
Coach’s Quote: “Julia continued her strong play last week,” said Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin. “She is averaging 11.2 points per game, shooting 59-percent on 2-point shots, and leads the team in rebounds, steals, blocks, and assists.”
Name: Lydia Kastor
School: Berkshire
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored 36 points with 10 rebounds, eight assists, and six steals in two games
Coach’s Quote: “Lydia has really started to play with a lot of confidence and is playing a complete game,” said Berkshire coach James Bosley. “It’s rare she comes off the floor and she is usually on one of the other team’s best players. She is also leading the team in assists right now that’s helping when teams are trying to slow her down offensively.”
WRESTLING
Name: Christian Fleissner
School: Lakeside
Grade: 10
Stats: Placed eighth at the Kenston Invitational Tournament
Coach’s Quote: “Christian is both a young sophomore and a very undersized heavyweight, weighing in at 219 pounds,” said Lakeside coach Andy Horvath. “At the KIT, Christian wrestled and upset ranked wrestlers and others who were much larger than him by consistently out-working his opponents.”
Name: LaDon Turner
School: Trinity
Grade: 11
Stats: Went 2-1 on the week to finish second at the Maple Holiday Classic
Coach’s Quote: “In only his second varsity wrestling tournament, LaDon Turner, wrestling at 190 pounds, went 2-1 at the Maple Holiday Classic,” said Trinity coach Jeremy Clarke. “He finished in second place in only his second wrestling tournament in his first year of wrestling. LaDon continues to do what’s asked of him and works hard during practice and it paid off with his finish at Maple.”
