Boys Bowling

Boys Bowling

With three letterwinners returning from last season’s sectional qualifying team, third-year head coach Carl Hurd is hoping that the newcomers to the program will mesh with his upperclass leaders and hopefully advance even further this season.

“We have 19 scheduled matches and will have our hands full, especially with our rivals from the All-America Conference, Red Tier.

“The key for us will be how fast the newcomers can adapt. We’re a young team, but will ask our freshmen to step up their game if we are to have any success this season,” Hurd noted.

Returning is junior Jeremy Hammond who, as a sophomore last season, qualified for states, finishing third overall as a sophomore.

In addition to Hammond, other letterwinners include seniors Breland Cockrell and Robert Woolley.

The top newcomers include Woolley’s brother, Nick, a freshman and Mike Dercolli, also a frosh with senior J.R. Hoon, a first-time roster addition set to pick up the slack.

GIRLS BOWLING

Last year, the Cardinals went 15-5 under second-year head coach Howard Mancini and finished runners-up to Hubbard in the first-ever All-America Conference/Red Tier Tournament; the first year that a league tourney was held.

“We qualified for the state and finished 15th overall; a real eye-opening experience for everyone.

“I was pleased with our overall performance and with essentially the same team back this season, we are hoping to improve in all areas from a season ago,” Mancini stated.

Seven overall letterwinners return: three juniors and four seniors. Last year’s team MVP, senior Melanie Arnold, is back in the fold.

“We lost our best bowler last year at Christmas time and asked Melanie [Arnold] to be our anchor. She responded and was our team MVP, so it is great to have her back this season,” Mancini added.

Other seniors returning include Kim Buckley, Brittany Wolf and Carissa Kime. Juniors Alexis Harris, Alexis Bates and Sarah Bolina solidify Mancini’s lineup.

Bates was the Cardinals’ lone First-Team All-Conference selection last season.

“We have an interesting schedule this year. There’s a 17-game conference slate with home-and-home matches against all Red Tier opponents and single games against White Tier teams.

Add Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline, the conference tournament and our President’s Day Weekend tourney and you can see that we will have to be at the top of our game every time out,” Mancini added.

BOYS & GIRLS SWIMMING

Andrea Linelli enters her 11th season as the coach of the Canfield boys and girls swimming programs, cautiously optimistic that both programs will have representation at the state tournament.

Last season, Garrett Trebilcock became the first Cardinal state swimming champion and, as a senior captain this season, Linelli is hoping that he, along with several relay teams can, make a return trip to the state tournament.

Six swimmers were lost to graduation while four seniors comprise this year’s 14-man roster and will assume a leadership role.

Steve Dalvin (freestyle events), Daniel Carlozzi (100 backstroke and 500 freestyle) and captain Sam Smith (100 backstroke; 50 and 100 freestyle) are ready to pick up the slack.

“We already have two meets in the books and as a member of the Northeast Aquatic Conference, we will definitely be tested,” Linelli stated.

In addition to Canfield, the other teams that comprise the NEAC include Wooster, Canton GlenOak, Warren Harding, Boardman, Kent Roosevelt and Massillon Washington.

On the girls side of the ledger, the last state qualifier was Linelli’s daughter, Meghan, that coming in 2003.

“We’re looking for a good season and are hoping to have both individual and relay teams qualify for the state.

“It will be tough, but that still remains our aim and a goal that we set each and every season,” she noted.

There are six seniors on this year’s squad, including captain Emily King (50/100 freestyle); Cathryn Mason (100 backstroke/100 freestyle); Johnna Dunkel (200 IM/50 and 100 freestyle); captain Allie Butta (100 breaststroke/100 IM) and divers Emma Pierson and Elizabeth Wilkens.

Wrestling

As the Cardinals make the move from Division I to Division II, head coach Dean Conley is hoping that a brutal schedule will prepare them in their quest for post-season honors.

“With 17 dual meets the first three weeks of the season, it’s safe to say that our schedule is a very demanding one.

“We will then go to the Medina Invitational Tourney, which is one of the very best wrestling tournaments in the nation so we will have our hands full.

“We have an experienced team and an excellent work ethic, but we’ll find out real fast exactly where we stand,” Conley said.

With 10 letterwinners returning, Conley and assistants Derrick Fletcher and Rich Donnalee, both former head wrestling coaches, are cautiously optimistic about the season.

Senior captain Leo Daprile is currently 6-0 this season with classmates Mark Douglass and Drake Gray two other seniors expected to set the pace.

A strong junior class will be counted upon heavily with Robby Reed (125-lbs.), who placed at the District last season; Alex Benedict, who was a match away from placing at the District and Ethan Olson (15 wins a season ago) the mainstays.

Also ready to contribute are Richard Rapone, Lucas Daprile, P.J. Hido and Eric Mirto.

ICE HOCKEY

The Canfield Cardinals are the only local hockey team to play in a league that is sanctioned by the OHSAA, participating in the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League) where they went 3-7 (tying for fourth in league play) and 11-15 overall.

Head coach Randy Emery is currently in his third season with the Cardinals’ hockey program and he will welcome back nine letterwinners to the fold this season.

Forward Scott Sittig is the captain and is coming off a 14 goal, 16 assist performance season a year ago.

Emery’s son, Riley, a second-team blue division/south selection last year, is an assistant captain, along with junior Nick Carney.

Emery, a junior, set the school record for points in a season with 51 (30 goals and 21 assists), eclipsing the old mark of 42 which was set by Andy Davis during the 2003-04 campaign.

Carney, a defenseman, is strong in the corners, a team leader according to Emery who is coming off a one goal, 13 assist campaign last year.

Goaltender Roger Geiser had a 90 percent save rate, was first-team blue/south and honorable mention all-blue division.

“Our schedule is challenging, to say the least. It’s a tough road, as usual, with no room for mistakes.

“On any given night, any team can win, so there really isn’t a dominant team this season. There is plenty of parity and that is a good thing,” Emery noted.