The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
GOLFER OF THE YEAR
Alec Matej North Ridgeville, senior
When Matej was on the course, it meant everyone else was most likely about to lose. The North Ridgeville senior claimed medalist honors in seven of the nine conference matches en route to Southwestern Conference MVP honors. He had a nine-hole average of 37and an 18-hole average of 77. In other words, Matej was always a tough out. At a Division I sectional tournament, Matej was the first individual qualifier for districts, shooting a 76. He followed that with an 81at the D-I Northeast District tournament to close his career with a 56th place finish.
COACH OF THE YEAR Joe Schneid Vermilion
There is a difference between a talented team that succeed and a talented team that underachieves. That difference is the coach. And, in the case of Vermilion, Schneid was the final ingredient that made the Sailors’ season such a success. Vermilion was the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division champion with an 11-1 record. But that was only the start of the success, as the Sailors advanced to districts as a team after a second-place finish at the Division II Pine Hills sectional. At the Northwest District tournament at Red Hawk, Vermilion placed fourth and narrowly missed a team state berth. While the Sailors were undoubtedly talented, none of it would have been possible without the steady guidance of Schneid fixing the miniscule issues that came about to help mold Vermilion into a success.
FIRST TEAM
(In alphabetical order)
Austin Bray, Fr., Amherst
Shot an 86to place 90th at the D-I NE District tournament. Placed 24th at sectionals.
Noah Cacciatore, Sr., Vermilion
Shot an 85to place 11th at the D-II NW District tournament. Placed sixth at sectionals. Had a nine-hole average of 43.4and an 18-hole average of 82.9.
Jacob Fitzpatrick, Jr., Amherst
Shot a 90to place 109th at the D-I NE District tournament. Placed second at sectionals.
Kyle Mahaffey, Jr., Elyria Catholic
Shot a 79to place ninth at the D-II NE District tournament. Placed sixth at sectionals.
Reese Miller, Sr., Vermilion
Shot an 81to place third at the D-II NW District tournament. Placed fourth at sectionals. Had a nine-hole average of 39.9and an 18-hole average of 81.8.
Mason Montgomery, Sr., Vermilion
Shot at 95to place 31st at the D-II NW District tournament.
Placed an 18-hole seventh average at sectionals. of 82.4. Had a nine-hole average of 42.1and Ryan Shinko, Jr., Avon Lake
Shot a 79to place 41st at the D-I NE District tournament. Placed second at sectionals.
John Smolik, Sr., Lutheran West
Shot an 86to place 31st at the D-II NE District tournament. Placed second at sectionals. Had a nine-hole average of 42.2.
Sam Spacek, Sr., Lutheran West
Shot an 86to place 31st at the D-II NE District tournament. Placed sixth at sectionals. Had a nine-hole average of 41.8.
Josh Wells, Sr., Elyria Catholic
Shot a 90to place 43rd at the D-II NE District tournament. Placed third at sectionals.
SECOND TEAM
(In alphabetical order) Will Bennett, So., Rocky River: Shot an 87to place 94th at the D-I NE District tournament. Placed 16th at sectionals.
Grant Cooper, Jr., Bay: Shot a 112to place 120th at the D-I NE District tournament. Placed eighth at sectionals. Will Fankhauser, Fr., Westlake: Shot an 86to place 24th at a D-I NE District sectional. Ben Lampe, Fr., North Ridgeville: Shot an 84to place 18th at a D-I NE District sectional. Andy Lewis, Sr., Midview: Shot an 86to place 24th at a D-I NE District sectional. Had a nine-hole average of 38and an 18-hole average of 80. Tyler Madden, Jr., Avon Lake: Shot an 85to place 19th at a D-I NE District sectional. Nick Mills, Sr., Olmsted Falls: Shot an 83to place 17th at a D-I NE District sectional. Jacob Morgan, Fr., Keystone: Shot an 87to place 18th at a D-II NE District sectional. Had a nine-hole average of 42.6and an 18-hole average of 85.2. Nick Robbins, Sr., Avon: Shot an 86to place 24th at a D-I NE District sectional. Jackson Talbott, So., Firelands: Shot an 83to place 10th at a D-II NE District sectional.
HONOR ROLL
Amherst: Zach Pana; Avon: Nolan King; Avon Lake: Sean Laverty; Bay: Eddie Papp; Columbia: Zach Hritz; Elyria: Colin Weekley; Elyria Catholic: William Muzilla; Fairview: Ryan Eckert; Firelands: Jacob Newman; Keystone: Ian Morgan; Lake Ridge: Sam Dresing; Lutheran West: Jakob Gross; Midview: Ryan Staron; North Olmsted: Matt Olah; North Ridgeville: Andrew Bogner; Olmsted Falls: Michael Fritz; Rocky River: Ethan Mylett; Vermilion: Brock Fisher; Wellington: Jordan McKee; Westlake: Matt Romansky