Fall Sports Wrap-up

Fall 2022 proved to be an exciting season across the Warrior Nation. From the fields to the links and the courts in between, the highs and lows of the season leave much to celebrate and reveal areas to improve upon. As a wrap up to the season, The Pioneer takes stock of the many teams and athletes that made the WJ shine.

Cross Country

The cross country team had a very strong fall season, despite being younger than normal with only 6 out of the 21 runners being upperclassmen. They competed well in all the races that they participated in. Unfortunately, no runners made it to states but the upcoming junior and sophomore classes hold a lot of promise for next year. “The season went well; we had a lot of great chemistry and important moments this fall. Practices started early this summer and we’ve seen a lot of improvement from just about the whole team. The team competed well at the Mustang Invite in Strongsville, OH, and the McQuaid Invite in Rochester, NY, with top finishers in the races and PRs across the board. I think the team really improved on their work ethic these past couple months- I’ve seen a lot of positive energy passed around the team. The varsity team competed in the first race of the postseason but did not move on after competing in the fastest district in Northeast Ohio,” senior team captain Ryan Hall reflected.

Field Hockey

Women’s field hockey had a productive season full of growth led by 3 new coaches this year. They ended the season with a 5-9-1 record.  As the season progressed, the girls continued to get stronger, and the wins came with it. They managed to secure a sectional championship against Kent Roosevelt 4-1. They ended the season losing in districts to the number one seed, Shaker Heights, playing a much better game against them than they had at the beginning of the season. “The highlight of our season was our tie against Western Reserve Academy. It was a very competitive game, and we pushed through till the end and kept good sportsmanship throughout,” said Lydia Kefalas, senior captain.

Football

The football team ended their season going 9-3, including the playoffs. The team had 26 senior players on the team this year. They finished the regular season with an 8-2 record which earned them a playoff home game for the third straight year. “We had some tough losses early in the year, losing to Erie McDowell and Hoban. But we beat St.V. and kept the bell at Walsh another year, which was a very big goal for our team. We also won the Crown Conference which was a goal for us early in the year,” said senior captain Dominic Bernard. The Warriors’ season ended in the second round of the OHSAA playoffs after a 7-37 loss to the Hudson Explorers.

Golf – Boys

The boys’ golf team had their ups and downs this year as well. The year started off a little slowly with the varsity team not quite set in stone. Things went up from there, with the team winning their last three tournaments. They ended the season with six total tournament wins, including shooting a 298 at St. Edwards-hosted Oberlin, the lowest round the team has had in six seasons. “We grew closer as a team towards the end of season and really started to play well,” senior Paul Kropf remarked. Unfortunately, the season was cut short after a bad outing in the first round of the playoffs. Senior Josh Weiner kept hope alive by individually making it to states. Josh had a fantastic four seasons at Walsh and will go on to play D1 golf at Youngstown State University.

Golf – Girls

The girls’ golf team enjoyed a strong fall season. The Lady Warriors won the Crown Conference where junior Annie Stencel was a medalist after she shot an 83 to win the conference. The Warriors took home Crown Conference “Player of the Week” numerous times as Annie Stencel and Annie Cors both won the honors. They competed in many golf outings and placed high in most of the competitions. They ended their regular season placing 3^rd in the NEO Independent Championship. The Warrior season came to an end in the sectionals, but junior Annie Stencel qualified as an individual. She ended her season 32nd out of 96 golfers in the district tournament.

Soccer – Boys

The boys’ soccer team also had a great season.  After last year’s season, which ended in the team having a losing record, the boys turned around very quickly. The Warriors finished the season with a 15-5-2 record. The Warriors had 6 seniors on the team this year with a strong group of underclassmen. “We did something we had not done in 12 years, and that was winning the district championship by beating University School. That was our first Division 1 District Championship in school history! We really came together over the course of the season,” captain Jack Burke, a senior, said. The season ended with a tough loss to the Hudson Explorers (1-2) in the OHSAA Regional Semifinals.

Soccer – Girls

The girls’ soccer team dominated their season once again. Following their trip to the State Championship last year, the Warrior season started off a little slower than usual as they dropped two games early, losing to Hoban and Centerville. The Lady Warriors finished their season with an impressive 15-3-3 record. The team overcame a big obstacle when they lost sophomore Reagan Pentz, who tore her ACL in a game late in the year. The Warriors won the Crown Conference title, going 4-0 in the conference. The Lady Warriors had 7 seniors this year and have a very strong underclass group who is looking to come back even stronger next year. The team’s season ended in a disappointing 1-0 loss to the Strongsville Mustangs in the OHSAA Regional Finals.

Girls Tennis

The varsity girls’ tennis team (14-8) made the W shine. Each girl played a big role in the success of the season. Rachel McHale battled many long matches at first singles and often came out on top. Lauren Stephens and Laura McHale at second and third singles were powerful throughout every match. Cara Gabriel and Corinne Sanders, playing first doubles, gave it their all and contributed a great deal to the tennis program. Lucy Kaczmar and Maggie Hummel at second doubles had many close matches but eventually came out on top. At the end of the season, the girls won the 1st team Crown Conference Championship.

Girls Volleyball

The girls’ volleyball team made it all the way to the district finals. They managed a 13-13 record with a strong performance from many players, including senior Allie Bedrick, who will continue her D1 volleyball career at Middle Tennessee State. Their toughest opponent was Magnificat, who were the D1 state champs in 2021 . The Warriors managed a win in five sets after a very hard-fought game. A great season came from many other players such as junior Taylor Angielski, who led the team with the highest hitting percentage, and senior Cassie Shaw, who reached 1,000 assists in her WJ career. Kate Trzcinski, Maddi Crea, Gabby Grdina, and Marielle McCarty also contributed significantly to the team.