Athletes from 21 Chagrin Valley Conference schools have been named CVC Athletes of the Week following standout performances during the latest week of the 2026 fall sports season.
A total of 36 athletes were recognized across cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Each athlete was nominated by his or her coach based on performances during the nomination period.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Name: Reece Kovach
School: Edgewood
Grade: 12
Stats: Ran a personal-best 17:19 in the Gold Race at the HOKA Night Race at SPIRE on Aug. 29, improving his PR by 23 seconds. Five days earlier, he finished eighth at the War on the Shore in 18:36.
Coach’s Quote: “Reece has been committed to getting better since the beginning of his junior year,” said Edgewood coach Steve Hill. “This was a big step in the right direction for him going into his senior year by setting a PR by 23 seconds. We look forward to what he will continue to do this year.”
Name: Mason Starr
School: West Geauga
Grade: 12
Stats: Ran a personal-best 17:07 at the HOKA Night XC Showcase at SPIRE, finishing 11th out of 435 runners in the Black Division and helping West Geauga place fifth out of 48 teams.
Coach’s Quote: “Mason has come a long way since his freshman year,” said West Geauga coach John Boylan. “He has put in a lot of time and effort and many, many miles. Looking forward to his senior cross country year — I can’t wait to see what he does!”
Name: Ethan Van Norman
School: Conneaut
Grade: 11
Stats: Finished third overall at War on the Shore in 17:54, setting a personal record, then placed sixth in the Gold Division at the HOKA Night Invitational at SPIRE in 16:33.69. His HOKA time broke a Conneaut school record that had stood for 31 years.
Coach’s Quote: “Ethan’s performance this week is a testament to the work he has put in since June,” said Conneaut coach Luke Stecki. “He is helping spread excitement and enthusiasm for our program.”
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Name: Claire Passow
School: Berkshire
Grade: 9
Stats: Finished fifth in the HOKA Gold Division race in 19:30.03, posting the fastest freshman time in the CVC and helping Berkshire to a fourth-place team finish.
Coach’s Quote: “Claire finished sixth in the Junior High State Track Meet last spring and has not stopped working hard since,” said Berkshire coach Bryan Wadsworth. “She takes her training seriously and focuses on all aspects of training necessary for excellence. She is an excellent teammate and a great young person. The HOKA meet was her first of the season, and she started conservatively and pushed herself through the last mile and a half. We are excited to see her progress this season.”
FOOTBALL
Name: Brady Kaas
School: Chagrin Falls
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 10 tackles and two pass breakups and rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-12 win over Orange.
Coach’s Quote: “Brady is the straw that stirs the drink on both sides of the ball and kicking game,” said Chagrin Falls coach John Scott. “On offense, he consistently made plays in critical situations. On defense, he was physical and set the tone for our unit. His versatility, toughness, and willingness to contribute wherever the team needs him make him one of our most valuable players.”
Name: Arthur Alt
School: West Geauga
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded an interception, a fumble recovery, and two solo tackles in a 7-0 victory over rival NDCL.
Coach’s Quote: “Arthur has done everything we have asked of him,” said West Geauga coach Rossi Santo. “He’s unselfish and starting to become a leader on our defense. He put in the effort to get bigger and stronger over the summer.”
Name: Tommy Caimi
School: Kirtland
Grade: 12
Stats: Rushed 22 times for 232 yards and two touchdowns and recorded eight tackles on defense in a 36-34 victory.
Coach’s Quote: “Tommy had an incredible game on both sides of the football,” said Kirtland coach Tiger LaVerde. “His efforts were much needed as we only won 36-34.”
Name: JJ DuFour
School: Edgewood
Grade: 12
Stats: Completed 18 of 21 passes for 379 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed nine times for 55 yards. His seven touchdown passes set a school record for passing touchdowns in a game.
Coach’s Quote: “JJ had a remarkable game on Friday en route to breaking the school record for passing touchdowns in a game,” said Edgewood coach Olajuwon Cooper. “The offensive line and receivers did an excellent job all game. JJ was extremely accurate with the ball, and his attention to detail led to high-level execution for our offense. JJ’s greatest attribute is his leadership ability. He’s our unquestioned leader, and the players rally around him for sure.”
Name: Levi Sears
School: Independence
Grade: 11
Stats: Rushed seven times for 25 yards and two touchdowns, caught five passes for 67 yards and recorded eight tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack on defense.
Coach’s Quote: “Levi Sears was a difference-maker on both sides of the ball,” said Independence coach Matthew Burns. “Offensively, he found the end zone twice and accounted for 92 total yards, including five catches for 67 yards. Defensively, he was just as impactful, finishing with eight tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. Levi played physical, made plays when we needed them, and showed exactly what it means to be a complete football player.”
Name: Zander Meriwether
School: Cuyahoga Heights
Grade: 11
Stats: Rushed seven times for 41 yards and one touchdown and caught three passes for 30 yards. On 10 total touches, he accounted for six first downs and a touchdown.
Coach’s Quote: “Zander made a number of high-impact plays for us in the second half,” said Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin. “He scored a touchdown and converted six first downs with his nine other touches.”
Name: Miles Hamilton
School: Hawken
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 13 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and two pass breakups at middle linebacker in a 36-6 win over Lutheran West. He also graded out at 98% at center, handled punt snaps, and played every snap of the game.
Coach’s Quote: “Miles is a senior co-captain and leader of our team,” said Hawken coach Mark Iammarino. “He played every snap in our 36-6 victory over Lutheran West. He was relentless on defense, helping hold Lutheran West to minus-13 yards rushing. He is an honor student and class leader. He already has several high-academic Division III college offers.”
BOYS GOLF
Name: Ben Dame
School: Perry
Grade: 12
Stats: Shot a 40 on the back nine at Hickory Grove, a 38 on the River nine at Fowler’s Mill and rounds of 34 and 33 on the back nine at Madison Country Club.
Coach’s Quote: “Ben has had a great senior season to this point, and this past week was no different,” said Perry coach Bob Dame. “He takes his game very seriously, and his scores are a reflection of how hard he works at it. He also has tremendous teammates. The competition pushes all of them to be their best.”
Name: Anna Phillips
School: West Geauga
Grade: 9
Stats: Helped lead West Geauga to three CVC victories, including a win over previously undefeated Orange. Shot a 39 against Orange on the Lake nine at Fowler’s Mill, an even-par 36 against South on the front nine at Manakiki and a 40 against North on the River nine at Fowler’s Mill.
Coach’s Quote: “Anna Phillips joins her brother Dylan Phillips in helping lead West Geauga to its best start in over 18 years,” said West Geauga coach Jay Kletecka. “West Geauga is currently 8-1 on the season and 7-1 in the CVC. Anna has been extremely consistent with her ball striking and scoring all season long. She has handled the pressure of playing varsity extremely well considering she is only a freshman. I’m looking forward to seeing her continued success throughout the rest of the season.”
GIRLS GOLF
Name: Sienna Boman
School: Orange
Grade: 10
Stats: Shot a 38 at Pleasant Hill Middle School to earn medalist honors, finishing two strokes ahead of Anuja Patel.
Coach’s Quote: “Sienna drained some key putts in some big situations,” said Orange coach Cody Kovach. “She started off with a double, and then from there she just relaxed and had a lot of fun out there.”
Name: Payton Lamson
School: Edgewood
Grade: 10
Stats: Shot a 46 at Village Green Golf Course in a match against Geneva.
Coach’s Quote: “Payton continues to lead our team in scoring and has demonstrated consistency throughout the season,” said Edgewood coach Christina Fischer. “Her dependable play has put the team in a strong position and has been a huge part of our team’s success.”
BOYS SOCCER
Name: Parker Branford
School: Hawken
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded two shutouts in two games, blanking St. Edward and Orange.
Coach’s Quote: “Parker is an amazing goalkeeper who gives our team the stability, trust, and leadership needed to win games at this level,” said Hawken coach Vlad Muresan. “He had two spotless performances against St. Edward and Orange, where he made important saves at key moments of the game. We feel that we can beat anyone on any day as long as we have Parker in goal.”
Name: Zach Pastor
School: Rootstown
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored two goals against Crestwood on Aug. 25, then added three goals and one assist against Manchester on Aug. 29 for five goals and one assist in two games.
Coach’s Quote: “Zach has been a consistent threat for us up top over the past few years and this season is no different,” said Rootstown coach Michael Farkash. “His offensive skill and determination played a major role in our wins over Crestwood and Manchester.”
Name: Ahmad Shabazz
School: Trinity
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded eight saves, including two penalty-kick saves, in a 2-2 tie against Brooklyn. Four of his saves were described by his coach as bordering on spectacular.
Coach’s Quote: “Trinity’s key players from 2025 graduated, including our goalkeeper, four starting defenders and the two players who accounted for 22 of the team’s 33 goals,” said Trinity coach Mario Gerhardt. “After losing our first two games 5-0 and 4-0, the team needed a result and got it thanks to a 2-2 tie against Brooklyn in which Ahmad had eight saves, four bordering on spectacular, including two penalty kicks he saved. Ahmad was a field player in 2025, but when asked if he wanted to give goalkeeping a try, he jumped at the opportunity. He was also a state qualifier in wrestling last year.”
Name: Alex Lee
School: Geneva
Grade: 12
Stats: Scored five goals against Perry.
Coach’s Quote: “Alex is a talented young man who continually works hard to be the best he can be,” said Geneva coach Jamie Lee. “His teammates did an amazing job placing perfect passes for him to beat their last defenders and finish strong.”
Name: Colt Byers
School: Crestwood
Grade: 10
Stats: Scored two goals, including the game-tying goal in a comeback victory over Ravenna.
Coach’s Quote: “Colt’s hard work, determination, and leadership played a key role in our comeback victory over Ravenna,” said Crestwood coach Amanda Parsons. “After we entered the second half trailing, Colt scored the equalizing goal, which swung the momentum in our favor. His impact didn’t stop with two goals. Colt rallied his teammates and helped keep the team’s intensity high, refusing to let them take their foot off the gas. His performance was a great example of how leadership, effort, and determination can make a difference when a team needs it most.”
Name: Owen Willis
School: Fairview
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded four shots on goal, one goal, and two assists in wins over Cuyahoga Heights and Kirtland. Helped anchor a defense that posted a 9-0 shutout against Cuyahoga Heights and allowed just one goal in a 3-1 win over Kirtland.
Coach’s Quote: “Owen Willis had an outstanding week for us in our wins over Cuyahoga Heights and Kirtland,” said Fairview coach Roger Brooks. “While his one goal, two assists, and four shots on net show his ability to contribute offensively, his biggest impact came from his work as a center back. Owen controlled the back line and did an excellent job connecting and directing our defense and midfield. His communication, positioning, and ability to read the game made it extremely difficult for our opponents to generate quality scoring opportunities. Across the two games, our defense was able to hold Cuyahoga Heights scoreless in a 9-0 victory and limit Kirtland to just one goal in a 3-1 win. Owen’s leadership and composure in the center of our defense were a major reason for our success.”
Name: Jensen Teppo
School: Conneaut
Grade: 10
Stats: Recorded three goals and one assist in two games, including an assist against Berkshire and a hat trick against Brooklyn.
Coach’s Quote: “This past week Jensen had four goal contributions across our two games, including an assist at Berkshire and a hat trick against Brooklyn,” said Conneaut coach Joe Jury. “As one of our young captains, he is off to a great start to his sophomore season.”
GIRLS SOCCER
Name: Sophina Cowen
School: Hawken
Grade: 10
Stats: Scored three goals during the Aug. 24-30 nomination period.
Coach’s Quote: “Sophina is a consistent offensive threat who bends defenses with her speed, skill and determination,” said Hawken coach Adam Severs. “She has a knack for putting the ball in the net in pressure situations.”
Name: Riley Virant
School: Geneva
Grade: 9
Stats: Recorded three goals and two assists during the nomination period.
Coach’s Quote: “Riley is a strong player who has been a great addition to our team from day one,” said Geneva coach Wesley Burns. “I expect many more great performances from her as she continues to grow!”
Name: Lola Horvath
School: Lutheran West
Grade: 11
Stats: Played nearly 80 minutes in both games during the nomination period, providing a high work rate and significant contributions on both ends of the field.
Coach’s Quote: “Lola has been a leading contributor to the Lady Longhorns both offensively and defensively,” said Lutheran West coach Dana Raponi. “She has fought and won nearly every 50/50 battle she faces, has refused to sub even in difficult games where the chips were against her, and has aided in goals directly from her outstanding corner kicks. Lola is an asset to the team and puts in the work no matter where she is on the field. It has been a joy to watch her play this season already.”
GIRLS TENNIS
Name: Casey Malasi
School: Fairview
Grade: 11
Stats: Went 2-0 overall and 1-0 in CVC play during the nomination period.
Coach’s Quote: “Casey was the definition of resilience last week,” said Fairview coach Michael Herman. “Casey holds down the first singles spot for us, which means she has to go up against every team’s best. In our conference match against West Geauga, she got off to a rough start, couldn’t find her rhythm, and fell behind 0-4 in the first set. She remained calm and focused and battled back to earn a victory against an awesome opponent.”
Name: Caroline Yeager
School: West Geauga
Grade: 12
Stats: Won at first singles in straight sets against Independence.
Coach’s Quote: “It has been so much fun to coach Caroline since she was a freshman,” said West Geauga coach Mary Kay Yuhas. “She now plays No. 1 singles and is captain of our team. What is great is her calm demeanor paired with a fierce competitive spirit. She has the work ethic to succeed in tennis and anything this bright young star puts her mind to. The struggles she endures in her matches will give her confidence to achieve great things.”
VOLLEYBALL
Name: Gianna Kos
School: Brooklyn
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded nine aces, four kills, four hits, four blocks, and five digs against Laurel.
Coach’s Quote: “Gianna is our senior co-captain who is a leader both on and off the court,” said Brooklyn coach Debbie Hall. “She sets a great example by always giving 110% and encourages her teammates and underclassmen to give the same. Against Laurel, Gianna kept us in the last set with her serves and defense, which brought some life back to our team and gave us the boost we greatly needed to stay in it point for point.”
Name: Summer Matthews
School: Edgewood
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded seven points, including four aces, two kills, 34 assists, and six digs. She also surpassed 1,000 career assists.
Coach’s Quote: “Summer has a large role on our team being our setter,” said Edgewood coach Kyra Vencill. “She controls the floor running the offense, and I enjoy seeing her blossom in her role. This week she reached the goal she set for herself, earning over 1,000 career assists. I am so proud of her growth over the years and proud of her performance this past week. Summer sacrifices herself for her team weekly and is a vital part of our success. She has a bright future, and I am so happy to be a part of her journey as her coach.”
Name: Lily Victoroff
School: Chagrin Falls
Grade: 12
Stats: Posted a 97.3% serving percentage, hit .340, and averaged 5.5 kills, 1.5 assists, and 3.8 digs per set over four matches.
Coach’s Quote: “Lily has been a stable force in the middle,” said Chagrin Falls coach Kelly Holtz. “Her consistency in generating points, whether it is through attacks, digs, or even the occasional set, has been a real contributor to our team’s success in the past four matches.”
Name: Madisen Kemp
School: Geneva
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded more than 30 assists and more than 10 digs during the nomination period.
Coach’s Quote: “Madi has entered the season with a new job as our leading setter,” said Geneva coach Annah Haeseler. “She has worked hard in the offseason, has actively made those connections with her hitters, and is leading the team in assists and ace serves. We have had some tough opponents to start our season, and she has maintained a positive attitude and a strong work ethic throughout.”
Name: Lauren Hanek
School: Jefferson
Grade: 12
Stats: Totaled 48 points, seven aces, 49 kills, six block kills, and six digs over four matches against South Range, Berkshire, Pymatuning Valley, and Howland.
Coach’s Quote: “I thought Lauren had a strong start to her senior season of volleyball,” said Jefferson Area coach Don Palm. “She can really give us a boost in the front row with her attacking and blocking. She also puts pressure on opposing teams with her serving as well. We want her to help lead our offense by consistently showing up and playing at a high level in all our matches, but especially our toughest matches.”
Name: Kanai Gillispie
School: Beachwood
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded 33 kills with a .202 hitting percentage and 11 total blocks during the nomination period.
Coach’s Quote: “Kanai Gillispie has come into our program and immediately made an impact with her competitive spirit and intensity on the court,” said Beachwood coach Shaneice James. “She brings a level of energy and determination that pushes not only herself, but also the players around her. Even being new to the program, she has embraced the team, competed hard every day, and shown that she is not afraid of a challenge. Her willingness to work, compete, and continue growing makes her an exciting player to have in our program.”
Name: Maddie Bower
School: Berkshire
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 37 digs, six aces, and 15 points in two matches while posting a 2.0 serve-receive average on 27 attempts.
Coach’s Quote: “Maddie has shown great leadership on the court so far this season,” said Berkshire coach Joni Prots. “She reads well on defense and has really stepped it up from the service line.”
Name: Haley Podojil
School: Crestwood
Grade: 11
Stats: Recorded one ace, eight digs and eight assists in Crestwood’s season opener against Mogadore.
Coach’s Quote: “In just our first match of the season, Haley has already shown growth as a returning varsity setter,” said Crestwood coach Oliver Wuensch. “The biggest improvement we saw in game one against Mogadore was her defense, making sure she doesn’t let the ball hit the floor before moving on to her responsibilities as a setter.”
Name: Gabby Kaplan
School: Lakeside
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 36 kills, 18 aces, three blocks, 37 digs, and 58 assists during the Aug. 24-30 nomination period.
Coach’s Quote: “Gabby showed up big this week on both sides of the ball,” said Lakeside coach Tessa Daywalt. “She’s putting up great numbers on the offensive and defensive side, consistently leading in kills and digs for the team and running the offense as one of our setters. Gabby is currently leading the CVC Lake Division in service aces. Gabby worked extremely hard in the offseason to be able to come into her final high school season and make a huge contribution to the team all around. We are lucky to have her.”
Name: Joelle Insana
School: West Geauga
Grade: 12
Stats: Recorded 25 digs and six kills against West Branch while also going flawless from the service line.
Coach’s Quote: “Joelle has proven herself as a leader in both the back row and the front row,” said West Geauga coach Amber Baker. “She had 25 digs and six kills, as well as being flawless from the service line. When we need a side out, we know we can count on Joelle.”
