By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

PORTAGE COUNTY TEAMS MAKE HEADLINES AT MVAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Southeast girls golf medalists from Wednesday’s Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference tournament were (left to right) Taylor Blazek, Sammy Morgan and Jenni Mix.

The success was in the numbers at the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference championship tournaments on Wednesday.

The Southeast girls won the championship easily, making it their first conference win in the MVAC and their fourth straight conference victory, continuing their success from the Portage Trail Conference.

The Southeast boys were the runner-up in the Gray Division, but were also runner-up among all 16 boys teams at the MVAC, missing the championship by only five strokes to winner Brookfield.

The Southeast boys and girls, along with the Waterloo boys, claimed six medalist spots among the top-nine golfers in three divisions: Girls, Scarlet and Gray.

SOUTHEAST GIRLS

The Pirates not only won the tournament, but they did it with a statement score of 330, a full 75 strokes ahead of runner-up LaBrae (408).

With this conference victory, Southeast has now won four conference tournaments across two different conferences, winning the past three years in the PTC before the move to the MVAC this season.

Even more astounding, Southeast had the top-three medalists in the girls field: Taylor Blazek, a senior, 75; Sammy Morgan, a freshman, 78 and Jenni Mix, also a freshman, 84.

“We are thrilled to win our first MVAC tournament and to have the top-three spots is an extra bonus,” said Cindy Fesemyer, coach of the Pirates.

“Taylor played the course extremely well today. She was consistent and worked through some tough shots.

“Sammy, like Taylor, is a competitor and a very confident player. As a freshman, she makes some great decisions on the course,” Fesemyer added.

“Jenni is really coming on strong,” said Fesemyer. “It’s hard to believe she, too, is a freshman. She shot her personal-best score of 84. Jenni played smart and stayed out of trouble.

“Now that the regular season is over, it’s off to the postseason. We need to keep dropping strokes and just play within ourselves, then see what happens,” concluded the coach.

IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY

For the Southeast programs, the Morgan golfers had a stellar day, as they often do.

Junior James Morgan, medalist at the MVAC boys championship, and freshman Sammy Morgan, runner-up at the MVAC girls championship, are brother and sister.

SOUTHEAST BOYS

Southeast’s Cole Bruno (left) and James Morgan.

The Pirates fired a team total 324, just six strokes behind Brookfield’s 319 at the 18-hole tournament.

To almost overtake Brookfield, the Pirates had the top-two medalists in the tournament, junior Jamese Morgan fired an outstanding 3-under-par 69 as the best in the entire tournament. Morgan’s round included an astounding six birdies through the 18 holes.

Teammate Cole Bruno, a sophomore, added a 1-over-par 73 to earn runner-up medalist honors. Bruno was on fire, carding four birdies throughout the round to only five bogeys.

“This is a defining moment for the program,” said Mike Jenior, coach of the Pirates. “It was record-setting performances all around with junior James Morgan winning back-to-back conference titles in two different conferences, shooting a 3-under 69, a program-tournament record in very tough conditions. James has proven why he is one of the best in the state.

“Sophomore Cole Bruno’s one over 73 was sensational,” Jenior added. “Not only was that an incredible performance for Cole against a tough field, but it had to be first for the boys team to claim the top two spots in a league tournament.

“As a team, shooting 325 was really a statement, heading into the postseason, that we are fully capable of setting sail towards a run at making it to districts and beyond,” said Jenior. “And to think that we don’t even have a senior on the team, it is exciting.”

WATERLOO ADDED ONE MORE MEDALIST

Waterloo’s Trevor Simons

In the Scarlet Division, the Waterloo Vikings finished fifth as a team.

But the Vikings’ Trevor Simons, a senior, rose to the top of all eight teams in the division, turning in a 74, just 2-over-par.

Simons had a double-bogey on the card, but recovered nicely with three birdies and an eagle on the par 5, 15th hole, navigating the 456 yards in just three shots.

BOYS GOLF

MOGADORE’S JUDE THIRY TIES FOR SECOND INDIVIDUAL AT PTC

The Portage Trail Conference ended its regular season with the championship tournament at Sable Creek Golf Course in Hartville.

Warren JFK won the tournament championship, shooting a team total 295 led by Henry Phillips’ 3-under-par 69.

Mogadore’s Jude Thiry

The Mogadore Wildcats finished in the runner-up spot (332). Jude Thiry was the best on the Sable Creek fairways for the Wildcats, carding an even-par 72, good for a tie as the runner-up medalist.

Thiry tied with Jacob Rainieri, a member of the Lake Center Christian team.

The Rootstown Rovers captured third place (364) as Trentan Sines shot the low score for the team, an 88.

Teams now head to the sectional tournaments beginning on Monday.

GIRLS GOLF

MORGAN GIEBEL GRAB MEDALIST HONORS AT PTC GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

Rootstown’s Morgan Giebel

Morgan Giebel of Rootstown fired at Sable Creek Golf Club in Hartville to capture the medalist honors at the PTC Championship.

Giebel and teammate Chloe Lynn Gardner were the top two golfers as Gardner fired a 100 for 18 holes on the Par 71 fairways of Sable Creek.

GIRLS GOLF SCOREBOARD

MAHONING VALLEY CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

(At Salem Hills Golf Club, Salem – Par 72)

TEAM STANDINGS: Southeast 330, LaBrae 405, Mineral Ridge 408, McDonald 431, Garfield 437, Champion 454, Brookfield 470.

MEDALISTS: Taylor Blazek, Southeast 75, Samantha Morgan, Southeast 78, Jenni Mix, Southeast 84.

SOUTHEAST (330): Taylor Blazek 75, Samantha Morgan 78, Jenni Mix 84, Aubree Varga 93, Jessica Mix 96.

GARFIELD (437): Addison Snyder 97, Lily Thompson 116, Emily Knerem 100, Brooke Hrabak 124, Aubrey Thornton 137.

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

(At Sable Creek Golf Course, Hartville – Par 71)

TEAM STANDINGS: Rootstown 402, Lake Center Christian 460.

MEDALISTS: Morgan Giebel, Rootstown 97; Chloe Lynn Gardner, Rootstown 100; Charley Collins, Lake Center Christian 101.

ROOTSTOWN (402): Ava Miller 104, Alex Biggin 115, Chloe Lynn Gardner 100, Anna Drago 101, Morgan Giebel 97, Ella Derr 113.

BOYS GOLF SCOREBOARD

MAHONING VALLEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

GRAY DIVISION

(At Salem Hill Golf Club, Salem – Par 72)

TEAM STANDINGS: Brookfield 310, Southeast 324, LaBrae 347, Garfield 360, Champion 365, Crestview 405.

MEDALISTS: James Morgan, Southeast 69, Cole Bruno, Southeast 73; Cody Davidson, Brookfield 76.

SOUTHEAST (324): James Morgan 69, Alex Peelish 91, Cole Bruno 73, Ethan Shodd 95, Shade Stevens 91.

GARFIELD (360): Hunter Anderson 82, Dillan Paul 86, Caleb Sheer 95, Garet Warnick 104, Daniel Mcle 97.

MAHONING VALLEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

SCARLET DIVISION

(At Sable Creek Golf Club, Hartville – Par 72)

TEAM STANDINGS: Jackson-Milton 325, McDonald 338, Lowellville 353, Springfield 366, Waterloo 371, Mineral Ridge 374, Sebring 448, Western Reserve 456.

MEDALISTS: Trevor Simons, Waterloo 74; Jackson Ensley, Springfield 76; Ryan Romigh, Jackson-Milton 79.

WATERLOO (371): Trevor Simons 74, Clayton Smith 93, Mitch Shepherd 103, Cole Kaiser 110, Trevor Flarida 101.

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

(At Sable Creek Golf Course, Hartville – Par 72)

TEAM STANDINGS: John F. Kennedy 295, Mogadore 332, Rootstown 364, Lake Center Christian 389, St. Thomas Aquinas 400.

MEDALIST: Henry Phillips, JFK 69; Jacob Rainieri, Lake Center Christian 72; Jude Thiry, Mogadore 72.

MOGADORE (332): Jude Thiry 72, Tyler Pendergast 86, Brock Thiry 91, Max Shannon 89, Jackson Lanham 91, Blake Waterhouse 92.

ROOTSTOWN (364): Luke Flowers 97, Trentan Sines 88, Anthony Cambareri 90, Ryan Wolf 96, Nathan Waesch 104, Logan Uphold 90.