Capsule look at Wooster High’s spring sports teams
Wooster lacrosse all region players Courson Kauffman and Copper Laughlin lead a strong Generals team.
The following are capsules of Wooster’s spring varsity teams.
BASEBALL
Head coach: Steve Young, 81-43 entering seventh year
2022 record: 20-5 (11-1 Ohio Cardinal Conference, first place)
Scouting report: The Generals have lots of returnees as they work toward a third straight league title, something that hasn’t been done by a Wooster baseball team since the early 1980s.
Senior Blake Bowen (SS-P), a Kentucky signee and returning first-team All-Ohioan and OCC POTY, leads the way after batting .568 last season with 13 doubles, four triples, seven HR, 45 RBI and 39 runs. His sophomore brother, Brady Bowen (P-OF-INF, first-team OCC), batted .397 and went 5-0 on the mound with a 2.16 ERA. Also returning as letterwinners are senior Elisha Steiner (P-INF) and sophomores AJ Likowski (OF-P), Sam Nielsen (1B-P), Ben Winge (2B-P) and Hayden Meese (P-OF). Nielsen and Winge were honorable mention All-OCC.
Senior Luke Wright (OF-LHP) is expected to make a big impact after transferring from Northwestern. Newcomers expected to contribute are led by senior Jacob Russell (OF) and juniors Dylan Hudson (C), Will Tirakis (C), Henry Wilds (INF-OF), Ashton Still (LHP) and Jack Ritchie (P).
Coach’s quote: “We’re excited to get going this year with some key pieces back, but several new faces as well,” Young said. “We’re looking forward to a challenging schedule that we feel will prepare us for the tournament and develop our players at a high level.
“Team strengths are pitching depth, speed and chemistry. Team weaknesses are position player depth and experience. We started five freshmen last year, so our position players are still fairly young. The majority of our seniors are pitchers only.”
SOFTBALL
Head coach: Dave Smith, second year
2022 record: 7-14 (2-10 OCC, sixth)
Scouting report: The Generals have 12 letterwinners back as they try to improve upon last season’s mark.
Seniors Paige Becker (P-3B), Kaylee Buzzard (SS) and Hannah Chupp (C); juniors Madison Besies (LF), Promise Markley (2B), Isabella Fortune (1B), Jasmine Lehmine (OF) and Tori Pettorini (CF); and sophomores Emily Boyd (3B), Ava Parker (OF), Kiara Hanna (P-OF) and Kennedy Russell (RF) return with lots of experience.
Becker earned first-team All-OCC honors and Pettorini was second-team, while Boyd and Markley earned honorable mention in 2022.
Newcomers include senior Nora Levy (RF), along with freshmen Ella Karger (P) and Ella Nelson (C).
Coach’s quote: “As a coach I have so much respect for these young players that continue to represent their sport and their school,” said Smith, who has more than three decades worth of experience coaching at a variety of schools, including Hiland. “I believe these young players will achieve many goals that they have set for themselves. We have great senior leadership this season and the players are motivated to play at a higher level. We are happy to have a JV team.”
BOYS TENNIS
Head coach: Justin Crooks, 23-9 entering third year as boys coach.
2022 record: 13-3 (6-1 OCC, second)
Scouting report: Junior twin brothers Brock and Garrett Ranney, along with senior Ishaan Gireesh are the lone returning letterwinners from last season’s OCC runner-up team. The Ranneys were unseeded as a doubles team last season, but finished as a Div. I Canton Sectional runner-up to qualify for the district tournament. Despite having several newcomers in the lineup, the Generals were ranked No. 5 in the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association preseason coaches poll for Northeast Ohio.
Newcomers include freshman Henry Pozefsky, who will start out the year at first singles. Brock Ranney will play No. 2 singles and freshman brother Saxon Ranney will be at No. 3 singles. Garrett will play first doubles with Gireesh, while sophomore Aidan Cleveland and senior Brendan French will be at second doubles and junior Bobby Dotson will play singles or doubles.
Coach’s quote: “We have a very deep team, but we have four out of seven that have not played varsity tennis before,” Crooks said. “I believe we will have a great year. Brock and Garrett Ranney were district qualifiers in doubles last season and they have been great leaders so far.”
BOYS TRACK
Head coach: Doug Bennett, 33rd year
2022 record: Fifth at OCC Meet
Scouting report: The Generals return 18 letterwinners and look to be in a good position to rank among the OCC’s best teams. Bennett believes they’re well-balanced between all events.
Returning letterwinners are seniors Luke Hootman (middle distance), Michael Howman-Williams (throws), Kenyonn Jolly (sprints, throws), Ethan Keating (distance), Ethan Lee (sprints, hurdles, PV), Bronson Morgan (sprints, HJ), Gabe Thompson (distance), Alan Van Lieu (mid-distance, hurdles), Jaymin Walker (throws);
Juniors Tyler Hamilton (distance), Landen Hamilton-Topovski (sprints, jumps), Keygan Johnson (throws), Jayden Ortiz (sprints, HJ), Jackson Stansifer (distance); sophomores Owen Buchholz (middle distance), Tyler Davis (sprints), Julian Franklin (sprints, jumps) and Tristan Walker (sprints).
Newcomers include Jack Frichtl, Oliver Miller, Anthony Sines, Talen Keys, Gabe Bray and Anthony Carmean.
Coach’s quote: “We have a good crew of returning letterwinners,” Bennett said. “We are excited to watch their development. We have a good core of experience in most of the 17 track and field events. Our league will be competitive as usual. We will seek to compete and strive to finish well.”
GIRLS TRACK
Head coach: Chris Mascotti-Rasor, eighth year
2022 record: Third at OCC Meet.
Scouting report: Wooster is considered to be one of the favorites for the OCC girls title. The Generals have standouts across the board in all events. Senior Faith Timko qualified for the indoor state track meet in the high jump this winter, placing 13th out of 26 jumpers.
Returning letterwinners are seniors Faith Timko (jumps, hurdles), Ava Eagle (sprints, jumps), Hana Tucker (sprints, jumps), Sydney Older (sprints), Natalie Fagert (sprints, jumps), Audrey Miller (distance), Brenna Huffman (throws), Abbi Jones (throws), Paonia Campbell (sprints, PV),
Juniors Mattie Dunlap (distance), Rosalind Holt-Frank (distance), Grace Kostohryz (throws), Adyson Thorley (sprints, PV), Lily Campbell-Lehtinen (sprints, mid-distance), Kailey Kartisek (sprints, hurdles, jumps); sophomores Mara French (sprints, PV), Judith Ezeji (sprints), Miley Green (sprints, throws)
Newcomers include Abi Strand-Fox (distance, jumps), Avery Hamilton-Topovski (sprints, jumps) and Ani Tzonev (distance).
Coach’s quote: “We are again a very well-rounded team,” Mascotti-Rasor said. “We have strong competitors in every event. Our goal is to compete for the championship.”
BOYS LACROSSE
Head coach: Reid Delaney, 8-9 entering second year
2022 record: 8-9
Scouting report: The Generals have a great deal of optimism entering the season, with 90 percent of their scoring returning. All-region attacks Courson Laughlin (27 goals, 17 assists) and Cooper Laughlin (39 goals, 13 assists) are the top returnees.
The returning letterwinners are seniors Kauffman, Landon Miller (MF), Jonah Chavez (D); juniors Laughlin, Jake Allen (D), Ethan Shetler (D), Grant Hoffman (MF), Sam Jewell (MF); sophomores Liam Harwood (MF), Braylon Dawson (A), Jake Haas (D), Walker Barr (A), Braeden Flint (MF) and Brady Mingay (MF).
Promising newcomers include freshmen Logan Beery (face-off), Liam Ozar (G), Andrew Thomas (MF) and Grady Hahn (MF).
Coach’s quote: “I’m very excited about this year and the future of this program,” Delaney said. “I have high expectations for this team as we return a large majority of our starters and role players.
“You could name any single person on offense as a player to watch. You have to keep an eye on our two all-region returners, Courson Kauffman and Cooper Laughlin. They are going to be the catalysts to our offense and we expect big things from them this year. Also, keep Liam Harwood on your radar. Defensively, we return all the starters and bring back a injured returner in Jonah Chavez. I’d say our entire starting defense is a unit to watch. We are eager and excited to see the freshman additions on defense of Logan Beery (face-off) and Liam Ozar (goalie).”
GIRLS LACROSSE
Head coach: Holly Pope, 100-86-5 entering 13th year
2022 record: 5-12-1
Scouting report: The Generals have improved depth and athleticism and should put lots of points on the board this season. If they can develop their team chemistry they should have a much-improved record.
Letterwinners returning are seniors Madison Giauque (D), Alexis Miller (D), Madi Sommer (MF), Hannah LoGiudice (A); juniors Amber Street (MF), Emily Williams (MF); and sophomores Sophie Burianek (GK), Aley Lemmon (D), Schae Followay (MF) and Kylie Timko (A).
Key newcomers are juniors Natalie Gibson (A), Kylie Long (MF), Aubrey Beall (D); sophomores Layla Russell (MF), Kahlia Steele (D); freshmen Amelia Correll (A), Kameah Lyons (A), Carolyn Greene (A).
Coach’s comment: “We are a mix of returners as well as newcomers, so we are adjusting to what our team looks like now,” Pope said. “We have more scoring power than we have had in years past. We continue to work on reading situations and being able to adjust to what the other team is doing. The key to our success this season is communication all over the field, playing good fundamentally sound defense, and being able to make adjustments on the offensive end as we play different teams with different defensive strategies.”
Triway High spring sports capsules will appear in the April 8 edition.