Spartans girls green on links
Steve York inherits a young squad in his first season as the varsity girls golf coach at Waynesville High.
The Spartans are comprised of all freshmen and sophomores in this, their fifth full season of competition.
Just three team members have varsity experience — sophomores Kayla Theis, Kaitlyn Boggs and Rachel Johnson.
“We’re just looking to improve as the season goes on because we’re so young,” York said.
— Scott Hayes Staff writer
Dick Miller has had some very good girls soccer teams during his 16-year tenure as varsity coach at Waynesville High.
This year’s squad might be better than all of them — and that includes the 2002 squad that reached the state final four.
“This is as good as any team we’ve had, and we’ve had some good teams,” Miller said. “We’ve got depth, we’ve got a solid defense, and we’ve got a star scorer. On paper, that’s as good as our final four team. We just have to stay healthy and get the job done on the field.”
The “star scorer” Miller referred to is diminutive senior Lauren Price.
Though she stands barely five feet tall, Price soars above most players. She has scored 70 career goals (28 last year), has 50 career assists (20 in 2008) and was an all-state performer as a junior.
“Sometimes it’s unfair to see what LP does to a defense,” Miller said. “She stands them up and makes them fall.”
Junior Amber Bell is the Spartans’ other striker, while Lauren Bunn, Lizzie Elson and Sarah Dick comprise three midfield spots with the fourth still open among Katelyn Danner, Hannah Morgan and Alex Gray.
The defense — which posted 10 shutouts last year after finding its legs midway through the season — returns intact with McKenna Warfel in goal and Ashley Stockton, Hannah Warfel, Chandler Gianattasio and Elysha Bacca in front of her.
Morgan Price is the only freshman to make the varsity squad that has only three seniors — Dick, Lauren Price and McKenna Warfel.
Spartan tennis team seeks another title
Waynesville High’s varsity girls tennis team is expected to once again win the Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division title.
Rightfully, so.
With everyone back from last year’s team that swept through the league undefeated, the Spartans are heavy favorites to repeat.
Alyssa Ritchie returns at No. 1 singles and hopes to not only threepeat as league champion, but advance to the final day of high school competition.
“Alyssa looks great,” Bowman said. “She’s played in some national tournaments this summer and fared well.
“Our goal is to win sectionals, win district and advance to the second day at state, which would mean making the semifinals. Then, we’ll see what happens.”
Joining Ritchie in the singles lineup for Waynesville is junior Lydia Sizemore while Erica Foged and Nikki Millar, a freshman, are in competition for the No. 3 spot.
Seniors Brooke and Ashley Cornett will comprise one doubles squad while Emily Michael, Kayla Sizemore and Alana Stewart are in competition for the second doubles team.
“We’ll be pretty tough,” Bowman said. “The girls hit all summer and are chomping at the bit to some matches under their belts.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4526 or shayes@coxohio.com.
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