Fairview High School enters the 2025-26 girls’ basketball season with momentum, confidence, and one of the youngest — yet most experienced — rosters in the region.
After posting a 14-10 record last winter, including a 7-5 mark in conference play, second-year head coach Karen Swanson Haan believes her team is ready to take another leap forward.
“We feel really good about our ability to compete and the intensity our team is bringing every day,” Swanson Haan said. “We laid a very solid foundation last year and are already making big gains on that foundation this preseason.”
That foundation includes four returning starters and four additional varsity returners, giving the Warriors a deep and seasoned lineup.
“Our strength lies in how we play together as a team and support one another through challenges and adversity,” Swanson Haan said. “We will see these strengths manifesting when we face our toughest opponents.”
The Warriors’ projected starting five offers a blend of scoring punch, defensive grit, and versatility across all positions.
Leading the way is sophomore guard Claire Dahler (5’7”), the team’s go-to scorer and all-around playmaker. Dahler averaged 10.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 3.2 steals per game last season, earning First Team All-Conference, Second Team All-District, and Honorable Mention All-Ohio honors.
“Claire is our engine,” Swanson Haan said. “She has the ability to get in the lane and score or knock down outside shots, she is a prolific rebounder, and she is incredibly active on defense for us. She led us last year in all major statistical categories, and we expect her to continue that momentum into the 2025-26 season.”
Junior guard Bella Pecchio-Schuerger (5’9”) brings leadership and poise to the backcourt. Averaging 3.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, she is the steady hand that keeps the offense in rhythm.
“Bella is such a steady presence for us on the court,” Swanson Haan said. “Her ball handling and court vision are vital in helping us break pressure, and her physical skills are matched by her incredible leadership. She is incredibly well respected by her teammates, who continually look to her for encouragement and guidance.”
Sophomore Ryane Kerrigan (5’9”) gives Fairview a potent perimeter threat, hitting for 8.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game en route to Second Team All-Conference honors last year.
“Ryane is a prolific outside shooter who can knock down mid and long-range shots,” Swanson Haan said. “She also works tirelessly on the boards and came down with some huge rebounds for us last year. We expect her to pick up right where she left off and have a fantastic sophomore campaign.”
At forward, Emily Larkin (5’10”, junior) offers a mix of physicality and finesse. She posted 3.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and earned Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition.
“Emily is one of our most versatile players, capable of excelling inside or out,” Swanson Haan said. “She can step out to the perimeter and get downhill or knock down shots, or she can use her strength and physicality in the post. Her rebounding is also vital for us. She truly excels on the boards.”
In the paint, sophomore center Ivy Budzar (5’11”) adds size and defensive presence after averaging 4.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
“What a gift to have Ivy’s length,” Swanson Haan said. “She uses her height to pull down boards, score easy inside buckets, and prevent our opponents from doing the same. We expect her to dominate the paint this year with both points and rebounds.”
Fairview’s depth will play a key role in the Warriors’ success this season.
“We have a really strong group of girls competing for minutes off the varsity bench, and each brings a very unique skillset to the table,” Swanson Haan said. “We have great athletes who bring tremendous defensive intensity, and we have some excellent shooters off the bench who can give us additional points. We are excited to see who rises to the top in the preseason and earns their way to those minutes.”
Health will be one of the Warriors’ biggest challenges this season, but Swanson Haan said her team is preparing for the grind.
“One of our biggest challenges will be staying healthy,” she said. “We will need to battle through the little bumps and bruises, fuel our bodies appropriately, and keep everyone energized for the length of the season.”
With no seniors, the Warriors are young, but Swanson Haan says their energy and commitment are contagious.
“We do not have a single senior on our roster this year,” she said. “We are young, talented, and hungry. The future is incredibly bright for Fairview Girls Basketball.”
The team’s goals are clear: compete for conference and district titles by “playing our game and handling adversity.”
With a strong returning core, emerging young talent, and a coach focused on steady growth, Fairview looks primed to turn potential into playoff success this winter.
