By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

HEAD COACH

Jen Ritch

11th year

113-122 career record

THE TEAM

League: Portage Trail Conference.

Coaching Staff: Bill Ritch, assistant; Ann Murphy, JV; Mike Murphy, assistant; Ashley Jarvis, middle school; Tom Pollock, middle school.

2023-24 Record: 13-12 overall; 3-5 PTC.

Returning Letterwinners (10): Amelia Morris, sr.; Julie Tompkins, sr.; Ari Tompkins, sr.; Ava Miller, sr.; Eden Cameron, jr.; Rylee Clark, jr.; Hayli Clester, soph.; Kasey Bolyard, soph.; McKenna Clark, soph; Naomi Lewis, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (3): Brook McIntyre, Olivia Kidd, Savannah Thomas.

SEASON OUTLOOK

The Wildcats’ formula for success will rely on pushing the pace and defending aggressively.

With a group of returning letterwinners, they already have experience on their side, eight returning from the team’s sectional championship season a year ago.

Mogadore eventually lost in the district final to state-qualifier Loudonville.

Veteran head coach Jennifer Ritch expects her team to rebound well, but she needs them to “shoot more effectively from outside and get to the foul line as much as possible. We are small, but super athletic and maybe the fastest team I have ever had.”

GUARDS

Ari Tompkins and Julie Tompkins are two veterans in the backcourt.

Both are seniors and both are tough players, who also are good leaders and are great defenders.

Ari Tompkins averaged 11.2, 6.8, 2.0 assists and 2.4 steals a year ago, earning All-PTC and All-District honors.

“She will be one of our main scorers, especially off the dribble and on the glass. She is a tough kid, who slashes to the basket hard and rebounds well.”

Julie Tompkins averaged 5.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game last season, which was a bounce-back year for her after missing her sophomore season with an ACL injury.

“She will be one of our most consistent outside scoring threats.”

Clark will be another player in the backcourt rotation.

“She has a great shot and is not afraid to step up and knock it down when needed. She is very quick, tough and athletic.”

Bolyard is another quick and athletic guard. She missed almost the entirety of last season because of a broken ankle.

“She has a pure shot and runs the floor like a gazelle.”

Sophomores McKenna Clark and Naomi Lewis, along with freshmen Ava Murphy and Emma Moledor all have the potential to join in the rotation at some point in the season.

FORWARDS

Morris averaged a double-double last year (10.4 points, 12.2 rebounds) and was named Second Team All-PTC and Second Team All-District.

“She has great court vision, runs the floor well and can rebound with the best of them. She really worked hard to improve her footwork and post moves in the off-season.”

Miller will step into an expanded role this season.

“She is a smart basketball player, who always gives 100 percent when on the floor.”

Cameron looks to bounce back after missing the majority of last year with a broken thumb and will make the move from guard to forward.

“She is a super-intelligent player, and she will do anything she is asked to do to help the team.”

Clester, as well as freshmen Jessica Holler and Tali Bartholomew, add depth to the frontcourt.

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH

Hali Clester, soph.; Kasey Bolyard, soph.; McKenna Clark, soph.; Naomi Lewis, soph.; Jessica Holler, fresh.; Tali Bartholomew, fresh.; Ava Murphy, fresh.; Emma Moledor, fresh.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

“We are undersized, and we need to stay healthy. Also, we have numbers in the post, but we lack experience at the varsity level.”

LEAGUE OUTLOOK

Ritch said she expects Warren JFK and Rootstown to be in the title conversation, with her Wildcats pushing to be in the mix.