The Chagrin Valley Conference‘s latest Players of the Week include 20 student-athletes who delivered standout performances during the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4.
The week featured a 43-year-old school record falling in cross country, several postseason breakthroughs on the golf course, explosive offensive performances on the football field, key conference victories in soccer and volleyball, and a strong showing at the conference tennis tournament.
Cross Country
Name: Claire Passow
School: Berkshire
Grade: 9
Stats: Placed fourth overall at the U Wanna Comeback Invitational at Madison with a time of 18:37, breaking the 43-year-old school girls cross country record set by Nancy Starr in 1983.
Coach’s Quote: “Claire was determined to set the record this year and worked hard all offseason to achieve her goal,” Berkshire coach Bryan Wadsworth said. “We are excited to see what she can do the rest of the season.”
Name: Mila Delgado
School: Kirtland
Grade: 9
Stats: Placed 33rd at the U Wanna Comeback Invitational at Madison with a personal-best time of 20:00, helping Kirtland win the team championship. Moved into the top 20 on Kirtland’s all-time girls cross country list.
Coach’s Quote: “Mila has burst onto the cross country scene as a freshman this season and has made a huge impact on our team,” Kirtland coach JP Moran said. “She has been very steady and reliable, keeps improving, and has become one of the top freshman runners in our area and even region and state. She has been the perfect complement to a great group of female runners and just a tremendous addition to our team.”
Name: Hunter Kline
School: Perry
Grade: Junior
Stats: Placed 66th at the U Wanna Comeback Invitational at Madison with a time of 17:29.2.
Coach’s Quote: “Hunter embraced the discomfort at Madison and completed one of the best races of his season,” Perry coach Kristen Thomas said. “He was aggressive and active the entire race. Hunter was steady in the second half of the 5K after the whole field ran a fast first two miles. We are excited to see Hunter build on this performance at conference and in the postseason.”
Name: Kate Farrell
School: Perry
Grade: Senior
Stats: Placed 108th with a season-best time of 21:41.6 at the U Wanna Comeback Invitational at Madison.
Coach’s Quote: “Kate had a gutsy race on the Madison course this past Saturday,” Perry coach Kristen Thomas said. “She finished in her season’s best time, and she had her most aggressive start of the year. She was just shy of the top 100 of a very deep and talented field. Kate’s been such a positive leader all season. We are very excited to see her lead her young team at conference and the postseason in a few weeks.”
Name: Cody Weber
School: Jefferson
Grade: Junior
Stats: Placed 27th at the U Wanna Comeback Invitational with a time of 16:47.
Coach’s Quote: “Cody has done a great job of leading our team on and off the field of play,” Jefferson coach TJ Furman said. “He has led our team all year in every race he has run, setting a great example for our younger athletes to follow.”
Football
Name: Oliver Miller
School: Berkshire
Grade: Senior
Stats: Rushed 10 times for 77 yards and five touchdowns. Completed 12 of 18 passes for 162 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a win over Rootstown.
Coach’s Quote: “Oliver struck early through the air on Friday night, then finished the night off with five rushing touchdowns,” Berkshire coach Josh DeWeese said. “He executed the offense with great poise and patience, leading us to victory over Rootstown.”
Name: Zac Shafer
School: Cuyahoga Heights
Grade: Senior
Stats: Completed 12 of 19 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Rushed 13 times for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
Coach’s Quote: “Zac made great decisions throughout the game,” Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin said. “He threw the ball accurately and was very physical as a runner. Every time we needed a play in a critical moment, he made it.”
Name: Tanner Brandt
School: Hawken
Grade: Junior
Stats: Completed 17 of 21 passes for 291 yards and five touchdowns, posting a reported 158.3 quarterback rating.
Coach’s Quote: “In his first year as a starter, Tanner has continued to progress into being one of the area’s top passers,” Hawken coach Mark Iammarino said. “He has total control of the offense and has spread his passing to several receivers. His leadership in the huddle has helped our offense perform very well.”
Name: Levi Sears
School: Independence
Grade: Junior
Stats: Rushed eight times for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, recorded five tackles, one assist, one tackle for loss, and four quarterback pressures.
Coach’s Quote: “Levi played a really complete football game,” Independence coach Matt Burns said. “He ran the ball hard, finished runs, and was disruptive all night defensively. He continues to be a guy we can count on to make plays when we need them.”
Girls Golf
Name: Payton Lamson
School: Edgewood
Grade: Sophomore
Stats: Shot an 84 at the OHSAA sectional tournament at Old Avalon, finishing among the top four individual qualifiers to advance to the district tournament for the second consecutive year.
Coach’s Quote: “Payton played a solid round at the sectional tournament to place in the top four as an individual to advance to the district tournament for the second year in a row,” Edgewood coach Christina Fischer said. “Payton played a great round. She started off strong and was able to overcome a few difficult holes on the back nine to finish with back-to-back pars. I know she put a lot of pressure on herself since she advanced last year, but she put the work in and learned from her practice rounds.”
Name: Sophie Sivon
School: Perry
Grade: Junior
Stats: Shot a 94 at Punderson Golf Course, finishing third among individuals not on a district-qualifying team to advance to the district tournament.
Coach’s Quote: “Sophie has put in the practice time,” Perry coach Rob Walker said. “It showed when she finished with a 94 at a tough Punderson course, qualifying her for the district tournament.”
Boys Soccer
Name: Toni Opelami
School: Hawken
Grade: Senior
Stats: Scored one goal and recorded one assist in a CVC victory over Chardon, then helped Hawken secure a 1-0 win over Beachwood.
Coach’s Quote: “Toni is one of the most selfless and underrated players we have,” Hawken coach Vlad Muresan said. “He always puts the team first, never misses a training, and leads by example. Last week, he had a goal and an assist in an important CVC victory against Chardon, and he followed it up with a brilliant all-around performance in a 1-0 win against Beachwood.”
Name: Alex Lee
School: Geneva
Grade: Senior
Stats: Scored five goals against Conneaut.
Coach’s Quote: “Alex is a talented young man who continually works hard to be the best he can be,” Geneva coach Jamie Lee said. “Alex’s ability to beat defenders on the run and dribbling under pressure has improved throughout the season. Great passes by teammates and good footwork under pressure made Alex shine this week.”
Name: Cristopher Delgado
School: Harvey
Grade: Senior
Stats: Scored two goals and contributed to two defensive shutouts.
Coach’s Quote: “Cris is a dynamic center-back that is both an offensive weapon on corners and an anchor for our back line,” Harvey coach Natalie Green said. “He is a tenacious leader of the defense as well as for the entire team. He plays with a toughness that just can’t be taught.”
Girls Tennis
Name: Renee Mason
School: West Geauga
Grade: Junior
Stats: Finished as the runner-up in the doubles division at the CVC tournament.
Coach’s Quote: “Renee is an outstanding athlete,” West Geauga coach Mary Kay Yuhas said. “She has determination and drive. Renee truly loves the sport of tennis and has a great relationship with all her teammates. The younger girls look up to her, and her enthusiasm is contagious.”
Volleyball
Name: Kaitlyn Wyman
School: Lakeside
Grade: Senior
Stats: Recorded 23 kills, three blocks, and 23 digs. Had 13 kills against Eastlake North in an important conference victory.
Coach’s Quote: “Kaitlyn’s 13 kills against North led us to an important conference win,” Lakeside coach Tessa Daywalt said. “Kaitlyn has consistently shown up for us this season on both sides of the game, and has become one of the ‘go-to’ players that the team trusts when we need to make a play. She has put in a ton of work on the defensive part of her game, earning herself a six-rotation spot and routinely ranking in the top three on the team in digs per match. She is also our current leader in kills per set for the entire season. Kaitlyn is a great leader, hard worker, and we are very proud of how far she has come.”
Name: Katie Lyons
School: Crestwood
Grade: Junior
Stats: Recorded two kills, five blocks, seven digs, 17 assists, and six receptions.
Coach’s Quote: “During our first match of the week, we had one of our starters go down with an injury,” Crestwood coach Oliver Wuensch said. “When that happens as a coach, you immediately have to scramble to figure out how to fill that role, especially when that player was playing six rotations. Katie immediately stepped into the game, and then had to take on a brand new role as a setter for the team’s next two matches that week. She has done an amazing job handling the situation, and we have already seen her grow in confidence in the position since last Tuesday.”
Name: Avery Miller
School: Jefferson
Grade: Senior
Stats: Recorded 25 points, four aces, 35 digs, and 45 successful serve receptions on 49 attempts in two matches against Madison and Edgewood.
Coach’s Quote: “Avery has been one of our vocal leaders this season and embraced that leadership role as a team captain,” Jefferson coach Don Palm said. “She’s one of our best backrow defenders and has done a solid job in serve receive as well. Avery is an amazing teammate and has been a tremendous role model for our younger players. As we get closer to the postseason, our team is going to rely on Avery’s experience in big matches as well as our other upperclassmen if we want to extend our season during the tournament.”
Name: Niema Davis
School: Brooklyn
Grade: Senior
Stats: Recorded 17 kills, 18 hits kept in play, eight net attack points, seven solo blocks, three double blocks, and five digs.
Coach’s Quote: “Senior Niema Davis has become a force to be reckoned with, and her confidence in her ability is continuing to make her stronger,” Brooklyn coach Debbie Hall said. “She reads the court well, with either her kills or her quick tips to the open areas. Her blocks are also more consistent. Niema has a strong serve, and even though our taller middle, handles defense well.”
Name: Emma Hutchinson
School: West Geauga
Grade: Junior
Stats: Recorded six solo blocks and seven block assists against Willoughby South.
Coach’s Quote: “Emma has been one of our most improved players,” West Geauga coach Amber Baker said. “My primary goal for Emma is blocking, and she is exceeding my expectations. ‘Big Hutch’ is earning her keep at the net.”
