Athletes from 16 different schools have been named the Chagrin Valley Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending October 15.
Each athlete was nominated by his or her coach. All statistics incurred from Monday, October 8 through Sunday, October 15, 2023.
Here’s a look at each Athlete of the Week by sport:
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Name: Parker Carrus
School: Hawken
Grade: 12
Stats: Placed second at the CVC championships in 16:34.22
Coach’s Quote: “Parker embraces being a captain and earns it through his calm, confident, and steady demeanor,” said Hawken coach Kim Curtis. “He is someone whom I can count on to lead practices and rally for competitions. But he’s even more; he is a student of cross country. Parker never stops his passion for learning, evolving, and adapting, and is open to coaching at all times. This weekend, he finished second at CVCs with a time of 16:34 and currently holds the sixth-fastest time in Hawken history. We all rely on Parker in different ways, but it’s his steadying approach that has been critical to this team’s growth and achievements.”
Name: Max Kollhoff
School: Madison
Grade: 11
Stats: Ran a time of 17:51 to help Madison win the CVC Lake Division title
Coach’s Quote: “Max has become a full-time cross country runner for the first time in his career and his hard work and focus is making Madison a tough group to beat,” said Madison coach Jeremy Verdi. “All the top five guys are not only good runners but great athletes.”
Name: Landon Rusnak
School: Perry
Grade: 9
Stats: Placed 22nd at the CVC championships in 18:36.15
Coach’s Quote: “Rusnak raced well in his first CVC championship (meet),” said Perry coach Kristen Thomas. “He’s still learning how to compete in the 5K, but his lack of experience did not faze him. He stayed in touch with our top three through the first two miles. Rusnak had a strong final 800 meters for a top 25 spot, and he was our third man through the finish.”
Name: Mason Starr
School: West Geauga
Grade: 9
Stats: Ran a time of 19:49 to win the open race at the CVC championships
Coach’s Quote: “Mason won his first high school cross country race and ran his PR at the CVC cross country championships on Saturday,” said West Geauga coach John Boylan. “Mason works hard and races hard. I’m looking forward to the next three years. Mason is going to be a big part of the West Geauga cross country team.”
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Name: Lily Ayer
School: Cardinal
Grade: 12
Stats: Placed fifth at the CVC championships
Coach’s Quote: “Lily is finishing up her senior year on a high note,” said Cardinal coach Jennifer Fekete. “She has been an amazing leader for her team. She is always encouraging them and bringing them up to her level. She had an outstanding race at the CVC meet with a fifth-place finish earning her first-team CVC. She has earned first-team (all-conference) all four years.”
Name: Mila Gresh
School: Chagrin Falls
Grade: 12
Stats: Won the CVC Chagrin Division championship
Coach’s Quote: “Mila is an incredibly hardworking and dedicated athlete, and her leadership and commitment to her team are truly commendable,” said Chagrin Falls coach Amy Fenton.
Name: Kate Farrell
School: Perry
Grade: 9
Stats: Placed 20th at the CVC championships in 23:13.04
Coach’s Quote: “Farrell had a gutsy first CVC championship race,” said Perry coach Kristen Thomas. “She rounded out our top five and helped her team win the Lake Division championship on a wet and cold day. We are excited to see her race at her first district championships this Saturday.”
Name: Eve Kaminski
School: Cardinal
Grade: 10
Stats: Placed sixth at the CVC championships
Coach’s Quote: “Eve has had an outstanding season,” said Cardinal coach Jennifer Fekete. “Only a sophomore, she has found a home on Cardinal’s Top 10 board for personal records. She placed sixth in the Valley Division earning first-team CVC. She works hard every practice pushing herself harder than she ever has. She also double-dips as a varsity soccer player and pulls double practice every day. Her hard work is paying off and I cannot wait to see what she is capable of doing in the future.”
Name: Camilla Mari
School: Hawken
Grade: 12
Stats: Placed fifth at the CVC championships in 21:19.37
Coach’s Quote: “Camilla exemplifies the definition of grit and determination,” said Hawken coach Kim Curtis. “This past week, her efforts culminated in a fifth-place finish at the CVC championship meet, earning first-team all-conference in the process. Her time places her in the top 20 of Hawken’s all-time performances. Just two years ago, we weren’t sure of Camilla’s future in cross country competition. Last year, she made a conservative return that was built upon over time. Through it all, Camilla stayed positive and never gave up. We couldn’t be prouder given this long road to recovery, and she will serve as hope and inspiration for all athletes that encounter a similar lengthy return to competition.”
Name: Megan Urbanick
School: Kirtland
Grade: 10
Stats: Placed among the top 10 at the CVC championship to help the Hornets defend their team title
Coach’s Quote: “Megan is a first-year cross country runner deciding to come out as a sophomore after having a tremendous freshman year in track and field,” said Kirtland coach J.P. Moran. “She has been a solid and steady varsity runner for us all season as part of our top five. She will be a key component of our varsity team this postseason.”
FOOTBALL
Name: Tony Hall
School: Edgewood
Grade: 12
Stats: Completed 16-of-25 passes for 291 yards and six touchdowns; ran for 53 yards and a score on 10 carries
Coach’s Quote: “Tony tied his own school record by accounting for seven total touchdowns,” said Edgewood coach Olajuwon Cooper. “Tony did a great job of getting the ball to our playmakers and letting them do their job. We had four different players score receiving touchdowns, which speaks to the playmakers we have on the perimeter. Tony has raised the standard for quarterback play at Edgewood and our future quarterbacks have a bright future because of it.”
Name: Justin Phillips
School: Berkshire
Grade: 11
Stats: Carried 16 times for 166 yards and a touchdown; recorded eight tackles, including three solo stops and three for a loss, one sack, and two hurries
Coach’s Quote: “Justin was working downhill all night on both sides of the ball,” said Berkshire coach Josh DeWeese. “He set the pace for the offense, averaging 10.4 yards a carry. Defensively, he was in the backfield causing havoc from his linebacker position.”
Name: Fletcher Sturgill
School: Cuyahoga Heights
Grade: 12
Stats: Carried 13 times for 103 yards and two touchdowns; completed 5-of-8 passes for 102 yards and two scores
Coach’s Quote: “Fletcher had touchdown runs of 14 and 10 yards, and also had a 43-yard run,” said Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin. “He was very accurate passing and connected with Devon Dzik for a 56-yard touchdown and Nick Armbrust for a nine-yard touchdown.”
Name: Jamyan Theodore
School: Lutheran West
Grade: 10
Stats: Caught two passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown, and a punt 60 yards for another score
Coach’s Quote: “Jamyan was the total package Friday night scoring three touchdowns, one on offense and two on special teams,” said Lutheran West coach John Parrella. “Jamyan has continued to improve throughout the season putting in extra work and it showed against Orange.”
Name: Kenny Young
School: Geneva
Grade: 12
Stats: Completed 5-of-5 passes for 142 yards three touchdowns and a two-point conversion
Coach’s Quote: “Kenny had a big game for us passing the ball, which usually isn’t the focus of our offensive game plan,” said Geneva coach Don Shymske. “His throws were on target, and he did very well reading the defense. He’s done a great job managing our offense all season long and making big plays when called upon to do so.”
BOYS SOCCER
Name: Drew Abrams
School: Orange
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded two assists
Coach’s Quote: “Drew controlled the midfield and created our chances with his two assists this week,” said Orange coach Stevan Bjelicic. “He is the engine in the middle that connects our defense to our offense. His vision for the assists was class.”
Name: Eve Kaminski
School: Cardinal
Grade: 11
Stats: Key plays in the field
Coach’s Quote: “Eve is a strong player for us on the field,” said Cardinal coach Dakota Ward. “The past couple of weeks, she has played exceptionally well and made plays on the field that needed to happen. Not only is she excelling on the field but has been improving her times in cross country as a dual sport athlete.”
Name: Joey Skoczen
School: Hawken
Grade: 9
Stats: Scored three goals in two games
Coach’s Quote: “Joey has had the most impressive season as a freshman in my five years at Hawken,” said Hawken coach Vlad Muresan. “He plays with a maturity that is beyond his 14 years old age. He always makes the right decisions on the field, and he has developed into one of our most important leaders. Versus a very strong Hoban side, Joey captained our team and scored two brilliant goals to help us get an important 3-2 victory. Against Orange, in our last CVC game, Joey scored again; a beautiful goal dribbling past the goalkeeper and slotting it home. The sky is the limit when it comes to the future of this kid.”
GIRLS SOCCER
Name: Elizabeth Bailey
School: Madison
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded one assist
Coach’s Quote: “In the title-deciding match against Perry, Liz Bailey assisted the tying goal,” said Madison coach Chad Butler. “Her assist was the culmination of constant pressure and creativity on the ball.”
Name: Madison Durosko
School: Berkshire
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored one goal with one assist
Coach’s Quote: “Madison has really emerged as a standout player on the field for the Badgers this fall,” said Berkshire coach Ian Patterson. “Playing a lot of varsity minutes at different positions in her career, she really found her groove this season as a leader of the program. Many around the program would consider Madison to be the glue keeping this squad together and making sure they are competing at the highest of their ability. She has very high standards for her individual gameplay as well as her teammates and is a driving force for the competitive nature of this pack of Badgers. Not only is Madison a great leader for us, she has really contributed to the dynamic offense in recent games scoring one goal in each of the last three regular season contests.”
VOLLEYBALL
Name: Leigha Guyton
School: Edgewood
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded 23 points, nine kills, nine blocks, and five aces
Coach’s Quote: “Leigha had a great week and has improved so much throughout this year,” said Edgewood coach Kyra Vencill. “She has become a force for us offensively. She has learned to score with various tempos and various net locations. She has also become a phenomenal blocker for us as she is extremely athletic and has a nice vertical. She has a great ability to read where the ball is going and has such quick agility to get out to set a block, placing pressure on hitters. Leigha has a great attitude, works extremely hard, a leader for us, and is a wonderful teammate. Her smile is one I’ve grown fond of and could not be more proud of her and her accomplishments this year.”
Name: Kayleigh Helm
School: Crestwood
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded 35 points, 15 digs, 10 kills, five aces, and two assists
Coach’s Quote: “Kayleigh Helm is in her first year as a varsity player. She works extremely hard for our team and is an excellent role player,” said Crestwood coach Wanda Hoffman. “Kayleigh plays well in the front row, hustles on defense, and steps up when the team is out of system. She is also an unbelievable server; Helm is often our starting server and has done an amazing job of stringing off many runs against our opponents. Helm is an essential player for us, and I’m excited to see her growth for next season.”
Name: Gianna Preston
School: Beachwood
Grade: 9
Stats: Recorded 26 digs, three aces, and zero service errors
Coach’s Quote: “Gianna Preston had an exceptional week serving as our libero, showcasing remarkable adaptability and versatility,” said Beachwood coach Shaneice James. “Gianna, primarily our outside hitter, displayed an impressive court awareness and a high volleyball IQ for a freshman player. Her passing skills were nothing short of effortless, and her unwavering commitment to going after every ball was evident. A notable highlight was during our match against Cardinal, where Gianna transitioned from her role as an outside hitter to that of a libero, seamlessly. Her ability to maneuver around the opposing block and react to the ball without hesitation was truly remarkable. One of the standout moments was during our last home game against Orange. Despite being down 13-24, Gianna’s serves and her knack for shifting the momentum back in our favor resulted in an incredible comeback, clinching the match 25-24. With the season drawing to a close, it’s exciting to contemplate how Gianna will further enhance her skills and contribute to our team in the upcoming year. Her potential for growth and impact on the team is a source of great anticipation.”
Name: Hayley Stoddard
School: Berkshire
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 18 kills, nine service points, seven blocks, and three aces
Coach’s Quote: “Hayley has really worked this year to improve her skills,” said Berkshire coach Joni Prots. “She is our leading blocker and is still working to learn new swings and tempos. Hayley’s hard work and determination have been keys to our success this season.”
Name: Maddie Zappitelli
School: Conneaut
Grade: 11
Stats: Scored 18 points with five aces with 20 kills, eight digs, and two blocks
Coach’s Quote: “Maddie has been consistent for us all year,” said Conneaut coach Maureen Ritari. “She is our leading scorer and leads in kills. We played tough teams last week and she still played her game.”
