Curbstone hears from fall’s state champs

By Greg Gulas

sport @vindy.com

CANFIELD

The Curbstone Coaches on Monday paid tribute to the Lakeview High School girls golf team and the Maplewood boys cross country teams for winning state championships.

Last fall, the Bulldogs golfers in Division II won the school’s first title while the Rockets won the Div. III crown. It was the Rockets’ seventh title, tying them for second all-time in the state with McDonald.

“The key for us was that we returned a solid nucleus that did so well last year,” Rockets head coach Dave Deeter said. “We had a lot of experience coming back.”

Lakeview placed seventh in 2013 and was runner-up last season before claiming this year’s crown.

“Our nemesis this year was Rocky River Lutheran West,” Lakeview head coach Mike Turco said. “They beat us early in the season in our own tournament when we were without Kaylee Neumeister.

“Then we turned around and beat them in both the district and state by two shots so it was a very special run,” Turco said.

Lakeview (694) topped Rocky River Lutheran West (696) by two strokes en route.

“Anytime you win a state title its special, but this group of girls has really brought [acclaim] to the school and a sense of pride to the community,” Turco said. “It’s really been fun to see how the community has embraced their accomplishment.”

Lakeview featured four seniors (Neumeister, Ashley Frasca, Taylor Horn and Molly McAllister) and two juniors (Emily Coller and Sami Hrusovsky).

Neumeister, a four-year letter-winner, will major in chemical engineering and pursue her collegiate golf career at Cleveland State University.

“It has been an unreal run for us,” Neumeister said. “My goal and the goal of the entire team, was to win it all for the school and community.

“We were neck-and-neck with Rocky River at both district and state, even partnering with them for a round as well,” Neumeister said. “Winning it all was a combination of everything as we drove, chipped and putted well.”

Maplewood (61) easily outdistanced St. Thomas Aquinas by 26 points for its second consecutive championship.

Deeter has led his team to back-to-back titles for the second time in program history (2002-03). In five seasons, he has two titles, a runner-up, a fourth- and a fifth-place finish.

“After winning last year, we knew that we would have a target on our back so we upgraded our schedule,” Deeter said. “[Aquinas] was going to improve, so we ran as much as possible against Division I opponents in order to be prepared.

“Had we not done so, we wouldn’t have been ready.”

Deeter noted that while last year was more of an awestruck experience, this year’s approach was more business-like.

Tristan Dahmen, a four-year letterman, was first overall with a 15:18.8. It was the second best time ever recorded in Division III. The other runners were Allen Sparks, Nate Keeney, Ethan Sparks, Nick Cowger, Jake Hall and Nike Shipman.

Dahmen will study business management when he enters YSU this fall as a member of the Penguins cross country team.

“We wanted to defend our crown and winning consecutive titles was a great experience,” Dahmen said. “It’s a great sense of accomplishment.”