Athletes from 15 different schools have been named the Chagrin Valley Conference Athletes of the Week for the week ending Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024.
Each athlete was nominated by his or her coach. All statistics incurred from Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, through Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Name: Nicolai Nagy
School: Perry
Grade: 12
Stats: Ran a time of 18:40.03 at the Madison Invitational
Coach’s Quote: “Nicolai ran his best race of the season,” said Perry coach Kristen Thomas. “He was aggressive at the start and put himself in the top third of the field. He committed to work the middle of races the last half of this season, and it showed on Saturday. Nicolai actively competed in the second mile and stayed strong to the finish.”
Name: Garrett Tracy
School: Edgewood
Grade: 11
Stats: Placed sixth at the Madison Invitational with a time of 16:30
Coach’s Quote: “Garret continues to get stronger and better every week,” said Edgewood coach Steve Hill. “His time from this past Saturday puts him as the eighth-fastest runner in school history. He is primed and ready to go for the championship part of our season.”
Name: Ethan VanNorman
School: Conneaut
Grade: 9
Stats: Ran a time of 19:34 at the Madison Invitational
Coach’s Quote: “Ethan is one of the hardest working athletes I know,” said Conneaut coach Jessica Kennedy. “His dedication to practice and races is a coach’s dream. Ethan always has a positive attitude and is a great teammate. I look forward to his success during his high school career as a Spartan.”
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Name: Tessa Canfield
School: Madison
Grade: 10
Stats: Ran a personal best time of 22:39 at the Madison Invitational
Coach’s Quote: “Tessa took two minutes off her PR this past Saturday,” said Madison coach Becky Barton. “She stuck with our No. two runner the whole race and ran strong. Her determination and hard work are paying off in huge ways as we are headed into the last month of the season.”
Name: Holly Vis
School: Perry
Grade: 12
Stats: Placed seventh at the Madison Invitational with a time of 20:34.10
Coach’s Quote: “Holly started strong in her first race of the season,” said Perry coach Kristen Thomas. “She was diligent all summer and fall to get back into racing, and she showed her strength from start to finish. Holly’s return as a positive and impactful leader was critical for the team on Saturday. Her presence in the race gave them a huge boost of confidence. They loved having her back on the course with them.”
FOOTBALL
Name: Spencer Kaas
School: Chagrin Falls
Grade: 12
Stats: Caught three passes for 60 yards and two scores, returned a kickoff 85 yards for another touchdown, and recorded five tackles on defense
Coach’s Quote: “Big players make big plays in big games,” said Chagrin Falls coach John Scott. “Spencer set the tone for us once again with a huge kickoff return to start the game. He is a big, strong receiver who provides matchup problems for most secondaries. His ability to go get a ball sets him apart and continues to prove to be a huge asset for our offense. His leadership in the secondary may be even more valuable. There isn’t anything that Spencer can’t handle on the field.”
Name: Kene Obi
School: Hawken
Grade: 11
Stats: Caught three passes for 27 yards and ran three times for eight yards; recorded 12 tackles including six solo stops and four for a loss with one sack
Coach’s Quote: “Kene was outstanding as a player and leader in an exciting 21-17 comeback victory over West Geauga,” said Hawken coach Mark Iammarino. “He played every play and led the team in tackles on defense and was great as a lead blocker and receiver on offense.”
Name: Rocco Ressler
School: Independence
Grade: 12
Stats: Carried eight times for 47 yards and a touchdown with a two-point conversion; caught five passes for 32 yards with a touchdown; returned an interception 85 yards for another score, and recorded nine tackles on defense with a pass breakup and two interceptions
Coach’s Quote: “Rocco accounted for 20 of our 22 points by scoring three different ways–rushing, receiving, interception,” said Independence coach Rick Adams. “Rocco kept drives going with key third and fourth down runs and made big tackles on defense.”
Name: Matthew Webster
School: Jefferson
Grade: 11
Stats: Carried 15 times for 160 yards and three touchdowns, and recorded 6 ½ tackles on defense
Coach’s Quote: “This week Matt ran downhill with an attitude and great vision,” said Jefferson coach Brandon Hanna.
BOYS SOCCER
Name: Paxton Galliazzo
School: Geneva
Grade: 11
Stats: Scored three goals in one game
Coach’s Quote: “Paxton has been an excellent athlete for the many years I have coached him,” said Geneva coach Jamie Lee. “His ability with the ball is because of the time he dedicates to the sport when not at practice. He will be an excellent leader for our team next year as he already takes on a leadership role.”
Name: Grant Keilin
School: Beachwood
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored three goals with six assists
Coach’s Quote: “Grant’s performances at this point speak for itself,” said Beachwood assistant coach Josh Lowe. “The impact he has had on our team’s success over the last three (and four) seasons could not be more obvious. It makes life so much easier when your best players are also the most dedicated and driven.”
Name: Ben Mackin
School: West Geauga
Grade: 11
Stats: Scored three goals
Coach’s Quote: “Ben is a very dynamic and versatile player,” said West Geauga coach Daniel Cappelucci. “He can play anywhere across the forward line and works very hard for the team both in and out of possession. Ben has been a leader for us in attack the last few games helping us create scoring opportunities and grabbing important goals. He scored the first goal for us in our 2-2 tie against Harvey, and he scored a pair of goals in our win against Geneva.”
Name: Jonathan Rosa
School: Trinity
Grade: 11
Stats: Scored two goals with four assists in two games
Coach’s Quote: “Trinity has never won two games in a row but did this year, 3-0 against Brooklyn and 4-3 against Fuchs Mizrachi,” said Trinity coach Mario Gerhardt. “Jonathan scored his ninth and 10th goals against Brooklyn and Fuchs Mizrachi where his game-winning PK came with less than 30 seconds left in the contest. Jonathan also had two assists against both Brooklyn and Fuchs Mizrachi, which is quite an accomplishment when one considers that he played defensive midfielder in both games.”
Name: Angel Torres
School: Brooklyn
Grade: 11
Stats: Scored two goals
Coach’s Quote: “Angel was an asset for the Hurricanes this week playing extremely well on the wing,” said Brooklyn coach Johnny Grigson. “His overall ball control and decision-making resulted in a two-goal performance against Independence, giving us a much-needed victory in the conference.”
GIRLS SOCCER
Name: Aurora Murray
School: Fairview
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored one goal with two assists
Coach’s Quote: “Aurora plays our eight and links our back line to our attackers,” said Fairview coach Scott Underwood. “Her calm demeanor, strong composure, and tireless effort have led the Lady Warriors on a 12-game unbeaten streak. Her measured ball distribution keeps defenses on their heels and wears them down, while her persistence in defending the midfield frustrates opponents. Aurora is a key leader and has shouldered her responsibilities with a maturity beyond her years.”
GIRLS TENNIS
Name: Lillian Isgro
School: West Geauga
Grade: 11
Stats: Won a singles match in straight sets
Coach’s Quote: “Lilly is my MVP,” said West Geauga coach Mary Kay Yuhas. “She is an incredible athlete. She has been my No. 1 singles player since day one. I love her dedication to the sport and her team. She is always encouraging her teammates. Lilly has competed with the best in the state this year. She has such a strong game and the perfect, no-quit attitude to back it up.”
VOLLEYBALL
Name: Gigi Calabrese
School: Chagrin Falls
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded 23 kills with a .250 attack percentage, three aces, 11 digs, and a block
Coach’s Quote: “Gigi Calabrese added the punch Chagrin needed as she led the Tigers in their second five-set win over local rival West Geauga,” said Chagrin Falls coach Kelly Holtz. “Gigi has been steadily improving her play overall. She has gotten stronger with her swings while refining her range of shot selection. This season, Gigi has pushed herself to offer more to her team with her defense. With her 11 digs and one block assist, Gigi is improving in balancing her game out which is uplifting our total team play overall.”
Name: Maddie Dustman
School: Crestwood
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 43 kills, 10 service points, seven digs, seven blocks, and an assist
Coach’s Quote: “Maddie Dustman is one of our main hitters,” said Crestwood coach Wanda Hoffman. “I am so very impressed with Maddie. She had surgery over the summer, and we weren’t sure if she was even going to be able to play this season. Dustman worked extremely hard to rehab and get back onto the court. I know that she has pushed through many matches in a lot of pain. That still hasn’t stopped her from racking up the kills. She has the ability to play all around for our program, but I don’t want to push her too hard and lose her for any matches. Maddie is a huge part of our offense. Maddie Dustman is looking forward to playing volleyball in college. I believe any coach would be very lucky to have Maddie on their team. Maddie Dustman will definitely be an asset.”
