Gilmour Academy, Medina, St. Ignatius, Stow and University School should all enjoy good seasons this fall.
View full sizeGilmour Academy senior Alex Andrews is The Plain Dealer's reigning Golfer of the Year. He won the Division III state championship by seven shots on Ohio State's Scarlet Course.What other teams and golfers deserve special mention? Let us know about more standout teams and athletes now, or as the season progresses. You can do this by commenting in this story below. And look for a weekly fall sports notebook beginning in September.
Notable golfers
Alex Andrews, Sr., Gilmour Academy: The Plain Dealer's golfer of the year is one of the state's premier players in any division. In a remarkable performance, he won the Division III state championship by seven shots with a pair of 73s (2 over) on Ohio State's Scarlet Course in horrendous weather conditions.
Mike Clum, Sr., Lutheran West: One of two returnees from the team that finished in a tie for fifth place in last year's Division II state tournament. Played well in the recent Cleveland Amateur qualifier and has posted 19 scores in the 70s this summer.
Matt Gerard, Jr., St. Ignatius: Has shown significant improvement after a terrific summer that included a fine showing for three rounds in the Ohio Open at Quail Hollow.
Ian Holt, Fr., Stow: Combines physical skills with a superb knowledge of the game. One of the top ninth-graders in Ohio. He is capable of making it to Columbus four years in a row.
Cody Nickson, Sr., Stow: He is a two-time player of the year in the Northeast Ohio Conference. His round of 79 was the second-lowest of any area player who returns from last year's state tournament.
Holden Pahr, Jr., Chardon: Finished in the top 25 in last year's Division I state meet and tied for eighth in the district tournament with a round of 76. His state tourney score of 81 was one of the lowest of any area returnees.
Austin Schreiber, Jr., Medina: He was the team's best performer at the Division I state tournament. A great attitude and a productive summer should help him continue that momentum. Tied for fifth in the district and tied for 25th in the state.
John Shoemaker, Sr., Chagrin Falls: The only junior on his team last fall that reached the Division II state tournament. His rounds of 85-83 were the best on the team.
Scott Smith, Sr., University School: A Plain Dealer All-Star, he is regarded as one of the state's top players. Averaged 75 strokes in helping his team finish third in the state in Division II. Should be a state title contender.
Beau Titsworth, Jr., St. Ignatius: Must take over the leadership role created with the graduation of Kyle Kmiecik. He was sixth in the Division I state tournament and was the district runner-up at Pine Hills. A Plain Dealer All-Star, his intensity is apparent.
Notable teams
Gilmour Academy: The Lancers return every player from last year's team that finished fourth in the state in Division III, led by
reigning state champ Alex Andrews. Fellow seniors Greg Calabrese and Matt Oliver and juniors Duncan DeFino and Connor Moriarty round out the squad. Move-in Andrew Bieber has had a productive summer and will probably dislodge one of the above.
Medina: The Bees have three proven performers in juniors Austin Schreiber, Bobby Koch and Mike Bishop. An improvement on the ninth-place finish in last year's Division I state meet is likely with the addition of sophomores Sean Sherman and Patrick Luth.
St. Ignatius: With Beau Titsworth, Matt Gerard and Connor McCafferty in place, the Wildcats have a chance to repeat as district champs and challenge for the Division I state title.
Stow: Incoming freshman Ian Holt, one of the top ninth-graders in Ohio, adds depth to a roster that returns two players that keyed a trip to the Division I state tournament. Cody Nickson, a two-time Northeast Ohio Conference player of the year, and Brandon Nixon, a first-team all-league performer, should be joined by senior Jeff Keener and junior Max DeCheco.
University School: Any team that has Scott Smith on it has to be watched. Fellow seniors Will Reitan and Steve Kelly add depth. Smith led the team to a third-place finish in the Division II state meet by finishing in a tie for seventh. Reitan averaged 79 strokes, and Kelly was at 81.
-- Tim Rogers