Iannello leads Lady Pirates to third at Division II state
Losing all five starters from last season’s Division II runner-up team didn’t phase this year’s young crew from climbing to near the peak again. The Lady Pirates churned out an impressive third-place finish Oct. 13-14 at Firestone Golf Club in Akron, adding to the growing list of accomplishments this program continues to build.
Another year, another outstanding finish for a Garaway Lady Pirates golf team that continues to etch its name into the annals of the state’s top golf programs.
On Oct. 13-14, Garaway ventured to the renowned Firestone Golf Club in Akron to square off with the rest of the top talent in Division II, and the Lady Pirates did well, posting a 702 to place third overall behind champion Columbus Academy (668) and Madeira (695).
The past three seasons Garaway has placed runner-up twice to go with this year’s third-place finish, with Columbus Academy emerging as champion in all three years.
Garaway coach Angie Miller said that having graduated five senior starters left an enormous hole in the lineup as well as plenty of question marks, and while this year’s crew got plenty of tournament experience at the JV level, it was the same as playing under the bright lights.
“These girls had never faced the challenges they had this season, and it was a whole new level of competition, but they just kept working hard, battling and improving throughout the year,” Miller said. “I am so proud of everything they accomplished. They deserve it all.”
Shining brightest for the Lady Pirates was Camryn Ianniello, a senior who was relegated to watching last year’s senior-heavy team play at state last year.
In her final go-around her senior year, Ianniello made it count, firing off scores of 80 and 76, her total of 156 earning her first-team All-Ohio honors, tying her PR for her career in the process on the biggest of stages.
“What a time to do that,” Miller said of her senior. “She has been in the shadows for the past three years, but during that time she has been the consummate teammate, incredibly supportive and continuing to work on her game. It was so exciting to see her accomplish what she did.”
Miller said Iannello’s junior year was filled with struggles as she worked to figure out her game. However, this season, Iannello came in full of confidence, ready to lead this young core group.
“From the first match of the season to the final stroke, she played with so much confidence,” Miller said of Iannello. “She just couldn’t have been a better leader or teammate.”
Sophomore Kylie Miller (83-83) and junior Sara Weaver (79-89) also produced solid results, placing 15th and 17th overall, respectively. Freshman Reegan Gerber (109-104) and sophomore Abby Steiner (108-107) rounded out the effort for the Lady Pirates.
Having to tackle a new course in Firestone G.C., a long, challenging course that will now be part of the OHSAA postseason, the Lady Pirates had to learn the nuances of the course quickly.
Unfortunately, their practice round before the tournament was greeted by heavy downpour, as was the case on the final day of play when it rained throughout most of the day.
“It wasn’t good conditions, and we had to putt through some puddles, and that made a tough course even more difficult, but it was that way for everyone and we battled through it,” Miller said. “But we were treated so well there and you could tell that they really wanted to host it.”
Finishing just seven shots out of the runner-up spot was tough to take for the team since it doesn’t take a lot to find those seven shots that are left on the course over two days of play.
But considering where this team came from and how quickly they had to learn on the fly, Miller said they are more than happy with the results.
Miller said she and the team recognized that there would be plenty of question marks surrounding this year’s team after her two-time runner-up group graduated all five of its starters from last year’s team.
However, she also realized that she had a young but strong core of up-and-coming talent hungry to step in and continue the program’s successful tradition.
“These girls were excited to start the year, and they worked hard to carry on the tradition here at Garaway,” Miller said. “Getting to state was our goal from the start, and I always preach believing in yourself and your teammates and maintaining a good, positive attitude, and this group did just that. They bought into the work ethic, and it paid off.”
Despite losing their lone senior in Iannello, it sets the table for another run at returning to state and challenging for a title again in 2025.