Holmes sports wrap: Knights take out frustrations on Redbirds
West Holmes’ Viany Vasquez takes control of a ball during recent action. The youthful Lady Knights took their bumps against Ashland but have shown signs of improvement.
The West Holmes Knights boys soccer team survived a series of misfortunes to thrive in headlining this week’s high school sports scene.
Soccer
After dealing with a series of setbacks in recent days, the West Holmes Knights got exactly what they needed in squaring off with the Loudonville Redbirds on Saturday, Sept. 19 at West Holmes High School.
Carson Yoder recorded his first career hat trick, and the Knights rolled to a 6-1 victory to improve to 4-4-1, all of this despite not having the services of head coach Jason Arnold.
Curtis Wagner got the scoring started for the Knights, taking an assist from Cameron Arnold and smoking home the game’s first goal.
It was at that point Yoder kicked things into high gear, scoring his first goal, taking a pass from Jackson Oliver and driving it home for a 2-0 Knights’ lead. That was where it stood as the teams went to half-time, but West Holmes would leave little doubt with an early second half flurry, courtesy of Yoder.
A mere 17 seconds into the half, Yoder came squirting out of a scrum with the ball at his feet, flying toward the goal and driving home his second score. He didn’t stop there, getting his third score off of an assist from Wagner for the 4-0 lead.
A short 30 seconds after that goal, Wagner ripped home his second score of the day on an unassisted goal, making it 5-0. Then Arnold scored off a pass from Oliver to complete the Knights’ scoring. Loudonville would score on a PK with under seven minutes to play off the foot of Tanner Ports.
The Knights outplayed the Redbirds statistically too, firing off 16 shots on goal compared to just three for the Redbirds. West Holmes banged out seven corner kicks compared to two for Loudonville. Ben Sanchez had 10 saves for Loudonville while Knights’ keeper AJ Jones collected two. The Redbirds fell to 3-3-1 with the loss.
Volleyball
On Saturday, Sept. 19, the West Holmes Lady Knights pounded Chippewa in three games, carving out a 25-19, 25-17, 25-13 victory. The win improved the WHHS record to 6-5-1 as the team continued its ascent.
West Holmes was led by Jerzey Morris, who served up 20 points including five aces. Avery Yoder followed with 14 points and an ace while Harmony Mast finished with seven kills and Megan Jones added six. Jones also produced 16 digs while Dani Miller added 14. Lauren Jones doled out 18 assists in the quick win.
The Lady Pirates of Garaway also were a winner in three games, but it took some hard work to fend off Harrison Central in a 27-25, 25-22, 25-17 victory.
Brooklyn Frey kept up her torrid pace, drilling 14 kills, while Laiken Wallick cranked out nine kills to go with 21 digs. Shelby Gerber added 13 assists and two aces, Lizzie Mullet had a dozen assists, and McKenzie Miller recorded three blocks.
The Waynedale Golden Bears took it to the Hiland Lady Hawks on Sept. 19, handing Hiland a 25-18, 30-28, 25-16 defeat.
In the loss Sara Schlabach produced eight service points and three aces, and Annika Schneider racked up 15 kills. Schlabach added seven kills, Maddy Miller had 22 assists, and Amanda Troyer and Schlabach pitched in with 12 and seven digs, respectively. The loss dropped Hiland to 6-5 on the campaign.
The Hiland Lady Hawks didn’t take long to dispose of Sandy Valley, reeling off a three-game victory by a count of 25-20, 25-18, 25-18.
In the win Sara Schlabach served for 10 points, of which three were aces. Maddy Miller recorded 19 assists to go with seven digs, Amanda Troyer had nine digs and 10 service points, Haley Yoder added eight digs, Annika Schneider pounded out nine kills, and Ava Troyer added six kills.
Hiland then tackled Coshocton in a four-game set Sept. 21, winning 25-23, 25-20, 19-25, 25-14, improving to 7-5. Amanda Troyer had 11 points, three aces and 25 digs. Maddy Miller added 11 points and four aces to go with 35 assists. Schneider recorded 14 kills, Schlabach tacked on 11 and Ava Troyer added 10. Belicia Yoder added 16 digs.
The Garaway Lady Pirates fell to Ridgewood in four games, falling 25-19, 25-17, 24-26, 25-17. In the defeat Brooklyn Frey had a huge game, collecting 15 digs to go with 15 kills. Laiken Wallick added 15 digs and three service aces, McKenzie Miller accumulated 10 kills, Shelby Miller amassed 24 assists, and Nicole Custer recorded three blocks.
Golf
Garaway, Hiland and West Holmes traveled south to compete in the River View Invite at Hickory Flats, and the Pirates made it worthwhile, coming home with a championship title by firing a 314.
The Pirates got consistent scoring top to bottom with Charles Beachy and Zehnder Gibson both firing 75s, Rendall Weaver carding an 81, and Michael Blauch adding an 83. Emmet Royer tacked on an 86.
The Hawks emerged as runner-up in the 18-team event, shooting a score of 317. Brookston Hummel took home tournament medalist honors with an even-par 72 while Carter Mishler fired a 78, Nathan Kline shot an 83, Garret Shoup carded an 84 and Kenny Weaver added an 85.
The Knights finished in eighth, but with a little luck, they could have moved up significantly, their score of 344 just two shots behind New Philadelphia, three shots behind Dover and eight shots from placing fourth.
Grady Toye and Brody Allen led the Knights with 85s. Hunter Ellis and Brice Hunter each carded 87s, and Trey Baker added a 96.
Dover was led by Reese Klar’s 82 and Carter Begue’s 84 while Shad Kenily and Jacob Hootman each fired 82 for New Philadelphia. Ridgewood’s Charlie Kilpatrick shot a 78, River View’s Austin Bahmer carded a 79 and Tuscarawas Central Catholic was led by Andrew Angelini’s 91.
The Garaway Lady Pirates fell one shot shy of Indian Valley in a 185-186 loss. All of Garaway’s players were tucked within one shot of each other with Hannah Steiner and Mikayla Weaver firing 46s and Sydni Prysi and Sammi Miller each carding 47s. Indian Valley got a medalist round of 41 from Justice Hartzler, as well as a 46 from Abby Barrett and a 47 from Kaylie Wrather. Emily Jones added a 51.
The West Holmes Knights got a solid outing from all of their starters en route to a 168-173 win over Loudonville in their final home match of the season at Fire Ridge. Ellis led the way with a medalist round of 40. Allen shot a 42, and Toye and Baker each fired 43s for the Knights.
West Holmes then took 11th at the Lexington Invitational out of 16 teams. Ellis shot an 87, Allen fired an 88, Baker carded an 89 and Toye shot a 96.
In the IVC postseason middle school tournament, Indian Valley won with a 344 with Garaway second at 352 and Hiland third at 354. They were followed by Dover (371), New Philadelphia (377) and Strasburg (380). West Holmes placed eighth out of 10 teams with a 418.
Trace Gibson shot a medalist score of 74 to lead the Pirates, Hiland was paced by runner-up medalist Camden Bille’s score of 77 and the Knights got a 91 from Maverick Rickley.
Tennis
The West Holmes Lady Knights fell to Massillon Washington 3-2. In the defeat Maggie Taylor won 6-2, 6-1 at first singles while Madison Baker earned a win at second doubles by a score of 6-0, 6-0. Rosanna Miller fell at third singles 6-4, 6-2 while first doubles tandem of Anistin Gallion and Jessie Zheng fell 6-1, 6-2. Second doubles duo Sydney Rolince and Morgan Heflin dropped a 6-4, 6-2 decision.