By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Preview capsules for the 2022 high school girls golf season.

FIELD FALCONS

Head Coach: Mariah Siedler.

2021 Recap: 8-6 overall; finished 4th in Metro Athletic Conference; 5th at sectional tournament; Devon Carpenter advanced to district tournament.

Home Course: Sunny Hill.

Returning Letterwinners (4): Hannah  Combs, jr.; Kendall Brugler, jr.; Marissa Blakey, jr.

Letterwinners Lost (2): Devon Carpenter, Isabella Puzin.

General Outlook: “This year we have a young team,” Siedler said. “We are pushing to be competitive in every match and to reach our individual and team goals.”

Reason to be Optimistic: “We are looking to the juniors to step up and become team leaders to the underclassmen.”

The Falcons finished just one placement away from advancing to the district championship as a team.

Something Interesting: “We have multiple girls who do numerous activities within the Field community such as band, tennis and working in the community.”

GARFIELD G-MEN

Head Coach: Andrew Olesky, 8th year.

2021 Recap: 8-6 overall.

Home Course: Sugarbush in Garrettsville; Par 36.

Returning Letterwinners (5): Marissa White, sr.; Raachel Evans, srl; Grace Scirocco, jr.; Madison Woconish, jr.; Lauren Evans, jr.

Letterwinners Lost (1): Jaiden Proctor.

General Outlook: “We return almost everyone from a young team last year that exhibited much growth and success throughout the duration of the season,” Olesky said.

The top of Garfield’s lineup features Woconish and White.

“We are also lucky to have depth from ladies that are experienced, including Rachel Evans, Grace Scirocco and Lauren Evans. We are hopeful that the depth our team possesses will allow us to be competitive in each match.”

Reason to be Optimistic: “Our blend of experience and youth, along with a touch of depth should allow our team to be competitive during each match this season.”

Someting Interesting: “Our league tier is in the very early stages of its growth.”

While only a couple of Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Division schools sponsor girls golf, the league is also expanding this year.

“The continued growth is good for our team, our league and the game of golf.”

KENT ROOSEVELT ROUGH RIDERS

Head Coach: Larry Picicco, 1st year.

2021 Recap: 10-2 record; Suburban League runners-up; 4th at sectional; 4th at district; 10th at state tournament.

Home Course: The Fairways at Twin Lakes.

Returning Letterwinners (6): Ashlyn Leavery, soph.; Anna Picicco, jr.; Izzi Wood, jr.; Maddie Kost, jr.; Cassidy Singer, soph.; Ella Houk, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (3): Maren Seaholts, Sydnie Leavery, Morgan Bauza.

General Outlook: With three talented players graduating, the Rough Riders will turn to a set of younger players to step up.

Leavery and Picicco return from last year’s state-qualifying team.

“Last year, as a freshman, Ashlyn played a very important role in our success during the season and in the postseason,” Picicco said. “Anna gained valuable experience, especially in the later part of the season.”

Junior Maddie Kost is also returning to the Rough Riders’ program.

“Maddie has been playing tournament golf all summer and has developed into one of the premiere players in Northeast Ohio.”

Something Interesting: Picicco takes over after being a longtime assistant and JV coach for Brian Harvey. Picicco went 79-14 as a JV coach and Harvey was 129-10 in 12 seasons.

The success does not end there.

The Rough Riders have qualified for the state tournament nine times — five as a team and four other times with individual players.

ROOTSTOWN ROVERS

Head Coach: Matt Just, 1st year.

Home Course: Sunny Hill, Suffield, par 34.

Returning Letterwinners (0).

Letterwinners Lost (1): Ava Heubner.

General Outlook: The 2022 season will be Rootstown’s first as a girls program. For the previous  25 years, all girls golfers at Rootstown would play on the boys team.

“We will be very inexperienced, but talented,” head coach Matt Just said. “Our lone returning golfer, after playing last year with the boys golf team, is junior Audrey Francis.”

The rest of the Rovers’ team will consist of five freshmen: Elizabeth Adkins, Alex Biggin, Anna Drago, Lily Matthews and Ava Miller.

Reason to be Optimistic: “We have a great group of young ladies that will lay a strong foundation for our program. I am very excited to see what we can accomplish this season.”

Something Interesting: Prior to the start of this season, only two of Rootstown’s players have competed in competitive golf.

SOUTHEAST PIRATES

Head Coach: Cindy Fesemyer.

2021 Recap: 6t at district.

Returning Letterwinners (6): Gracie Westover, jr.; Taylor Blazek, soph.; Skylar Werschey, jr.; Lexi Morris, jr.; Rebekah Lane, sr.; Taylor Tufts, jr.; Nina Yoder, sr.

Letterwinners Lost (1): Alaina Goldstein.

General Outlook: Goldstein will be difficult for the Pirates to replace, but Westover seems ready to step into the No. 1 spot for the program.

STREETSBORO ROCKETS

Head Coach: Tim Foster, 4th year, 28-25 record.

Coaching Staff: Phil Starks, assistant.

2021 Recap: 13-8 overall; 3rd in Metro Athletic Conference; 9th at sectional tournament.

Home Course: Boulder Creek.

Returning Letterwinners (7): Megan Solly, sr.; Abbie Myers, sr.; Courtney Morgan, sr.; Samantha Clark, jr.; Cortney Evert, jr.; Juliana Reyes, jr.; Miranda Gerk, jr.

General Outlook: “With the hard work that the girls put in during the off-season, we should be pretty competitive,” coach Tim Foster said. “We also have a push from the younger girls that has not been there in the past.”

Freshmen Claire Campbell, Hazel Schoenherr and Kendall Clark will all help create a competitive environment within the program.

Reason to be Optimistic: Depth and experience, according to Foster.

“It is a coach’s dream. As long as the girls can stay focused on their game, shot by shot, they have a chance to accomplish some really great things this season.”

Something Interesting: Megan Solly volunteers at UH Portage in Ravenna as a transporter.