The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Record-setting seniors ready for the next level
North Ridgeville sets team record with four players from same class set to play in college
The first commitment from North Ridgeville’s senior class came from midfielder Abby Bernhardt. After an eight-month recruiting courtship, Bernhardt committed to play soccer at Hiram. Next up was fellow midfielder Lindsey Moore, who, after going on an overnight visit and talking with coaches, committed to Wooster in September 2019.
A couple weeks after Moore’s commitment, goalie Alexis Klingenheber became the third Ranger to sign when she decided on Mount Union. The fourth and final commitment came from outside back Taylor Wohleber, who, after having her official visits canceled by the novel coronavirus pandemic, signed with John Carroll in mid-March.
The four collegiate signings in one senior class is a school record for North Ridgeville girls soccer.
“I’m very proud of our team and how far we’ve come,” Moore said. “I really owe it all to our coaches because they’re the ones who gave us the confidence to know that we could do that, we never really had that before. It’s exciting to know that I’m a part of this group.”
Bernhardt’s college courtship started in summer 2018, when she attended a Hiram soccer camp as a rising junior. There, she developed a rapport with Hiram coach Michael Cracas, who encouraged her to stay in touch. As her junior season went on, so did Hiram’s interest. After going on an official visit, Bernhardt’s mind was made up, as she officially committed to Hiram in spring 2019.
“My whole dream was to go play Division I soccer, but once I visited Hiram it all clicked,” she said.
“I like that I’m going to be able to see them. We’re a very competitive group of girls. So it’ll be exciting to play against them. It’ll be a lot of fun.” — Taylor Wohleber, on potentially facing some of her high school classmates in college matches
“They have a really good nursing program. Coach Cracas cares about his players and that’s a big thing for me.”
Moore’s recruitment started with her club coach. After the two discussed Moore playing collegiately, the two devised a list of potential schools. Moore then reached out to some schools, with Wooster standing out among the crowd. From there, she met with the coaches and went on an overnight visit. When it was all said and done, she knew she had found the place for her.
“It’s exciting,” Moore said. “I’ve always had the thought of playing in college in the back of my mind, but it’s really the coaches who gave me the confidence to know that I could do it. It’s a really good feeling to know that I’ll be able to continue to do what I love; it would feel strange to stop doing it.”
Klingenheber’s recruitment came down to school as much as it did soccer. She initially had her sights set on joining Moore at Wooster but decided to back away once she found out they didn’t have her preferred major of criminal justice. Almost immediately after she made that decision, Mount Union coach Kelley Corey reached out to express interest. She subsequently went on a visit and fell in love with their soccer team and criminal justice program.
“It’s really exciting,” Klingenheber said. “When you’re younger and playing you don’t really think about the future, so just to hear colleges say that they like your skillset is exciting and reassuring.”
Of the four, Wohleber’s recruitment featured the most tension. She took her first visit to John Carroll in the fall, and from there began to get in communication with the Blue Streaks’ coaching staff. After spending the winter thinking on her decision, she scheduled an overnight visit with John Carroll’s soccer team for mid-March.
That never came to fruition, however, as it — much like everything — was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of being able to have her signing day at North Ridgeville, she signed at home with her family.
It’s very reliving to be signed,” she said. “I was really stressed out before I figured out what I was doing, but now it’s awesome to be able to play in college. Not being able to have a signing day wasn’t the best. Past classes have been able to sign in front of everyone and have that feeling of accomplishment, it just stinks to have that taken away.”
While the quartet are all headed to different schools, this isn’t the last they’ll see of each other. Both Hiram and Wooster play in the North Coast Athletic Conference while Mount Union and John Carroll play in the Ohio Athletic Conference. All four schools are Division III.
“I know for sure that we do play against Hiram and John Carroll, but I’m not sure about Mount Union. I know they’ve played them in the past,” Klingenheber said.” If I can manage to make it into a position where I can play against them, I think I’d be a little nervous, but I’d also be really excited to see them.”
Although they’ve all played against each other on their respective club teams, Wohleber is looking forward to facing off against her former teammates.
“It’ll be fun,” she said with a laugh. “I like that I’m going to be able to see them. We’re a very competitive group of girls. So it’ll be exciting to play against them. It’ll be a lot of fun.”
In the days after she signed at Hiram, Bernhardt fielded questions from both friends and teachers about why she signed so early. Now, she’s been able to sit on the sidelines as the coronavirus pandemic decimates the recruiting world.
“It’s relaxing,” she said of signing so early. “I (committed early) because I felt like I wanted to. Now there are seniors rushing the get out because they were relying on the senior season.”
While the pandemic didn’t impact any of their individual recruiting, it will no doubt impact their freshman seasons. While all four of them have already said that some aspects of their college life will be impacted — Bernhardt’s experience has arguably changed the most thus far, as she’s now living in an individual dorm and starting classes early online — there’s no telling what could end up happening to their soccer season.
Although no decisions have been made in regard to Division III competition, the NCAA released a statement on May 19 announcing the Division II Presidents Council had adjusted the minimum and maximum games for all sports in the 2020-2021 season.
“It’ll be a relief and a weight off my shoulders,” Moore said about the thought of playing again. “We basically didn’t have a spring club season and I miss playing a lot, so I’m really hoping it all works out and we’re able to have a normal season.”