Field hockey team shows focus

After winning just five games a year ago, the Hartley High School field hockey team has set incremental goals for this season.

After winning just five games a year ago, the Hartley High School field hockey team has set incremental goals for this season.

The Hawks, who finished 5-10 overall last season, lost their first two games, falling to Watterson 8-0 on Aug. 25 and New Albany 3-1 on Aug. 29.

"Our team theme this year has been all about improvement," second-year Abby Porter said. "We give our full effort and always take something away from every mistake, practice, drill and game to work on. The girls have been practicing focusing on what they can control."

The top returnees are seniors Maddy Bowman (defender) and Madison Kaple (midfielder) and junior Nancy Pellegrino (midfielder).

The Hawks have a pair of capable goalkeepers, according to Porter, in senior Kathleen Price and sophomore Azaria Greene-Williams.

Also at defender are junior Luci Kanowski and freshman Sam Hanson, while sophomores Sienna Caridi and Ingrid Gillies are other midfielders.

Porter also has been pleased with a freshman class that also includes Juliana Brody, Kassady Herriot, Katelyn Lee, Sarah Oboy and Margaret Samuel. They are among those who have seen time at forward and other positions.

"I've been impressed with how the quickly the girls are catching on," Porter said. "We have a lot to work on, but I've seen how hard they're willing to work to become the best they can be."

Football team looks to again beat Devils

The football team has beaten Marion-Franklin each of the last three seasons and will be looking to improve to 5-1 all-time against the Red Devils when it travels Friday, Sept. 9, to play the City League-South Division perennial power.

Hartley won 44-14 last season over Marion-Franklin, which finished 7-3 and had a run of 11 consecutive playoff appearances snapped but still earned a share of its 12th league title in a row.

The Hawks opened with a 31-28 loss at Toledo Central Catholic on Aug. 26 and played Central Crossing on Sept. 2. The Red Devils lost to Dresden Tri-Valley 27-7 in their opener Aug. 26 and played Beechcroft on Sept. 2.

Hawks coach Brad Burchfield was pleased with his team's "grit" against Central Catholic, last year's Division III state runner-up.

"It's really difficult because I don't know anybody else who starts off with an opponent like Toledo Central Catholic," he said. "I thought it was good because we went down by 14 (points) and came back and took the lead. There are a ton of things we need to get better at."

Hartley is hoping to enter its game Sept. 16 at DeSales with momentum.

Marion-Franklin scored its only touchdown against Tri-Valley on a 15-yard run by Maleek McIntosh in the first quarter. Quarterback Zaire Porter passed for just 36 yards and rushed for 78 against the Scotties, who went 10-2 a year ago. Tri-Valley outgained the Devils by more than 100 yards in total offense.

Another key player for Marion-Franklin is junior Travis Geiger, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman who is receiving interest from Division I colleges.

Season underway for cross country teams

Coming off a season in which it qualified for the Division II regional meet, the girls cross country team returns several key athletes and has been lifted by the return of one of its top runners from two seasons ago.

The boys team also is hoping for a strong season with the return of most of its lineup from last year when it took sixth at district.

"The boys team's goal is to get out of district this year," Reggie Osborne, who coaches both teams.

"The girls made it to the regional last year and their expectations are to do much the same this year. We're looking forward to having a good season."

Sophomore Bailee Zacovic, who was the Hawks' top finisher at regional last season when she placed 85th (21 minutes, 42.6 seconds), helped Hartley take 15th (361) in the 18-team Division II race of the OHSAA Preseason Invitational on Aug. 20 at National Trail Raceway, behind champion Lexington (85).

Senior Katie McCormick, who was a key runner as a sophomore but did not compete last fall, was the Hawks' second finisher in the OHSAA Preseason Invitational, placing 47th (23:13.1).

Also back are junior Grace Murnane and sophomores Hannah Kitsmiller and Cara Luallen.

Other key girls are senior Allison Sommer, junior Audrey Bailey and freshmen Abby Rhodes and Kate Sheely.

Back to lead the boys team are seniors Gabriel Levert, Sam Rees and Michael Smith and juniors Chase Rawlins, Matt Sauer and Evan Vautour. Sophomore Christopher Wolf and freshmen Chase Orndoff are others looking to contribute.

Levert placed 87th (20:26.3) in the Division II-III race of the OHSAA Preseason Invitational as the boys finished 21st (543) of 23 teams, behind champion Massillon Tuslaw (115).

julrey@thisweeknews.com

@UlreyThisWeek

Schedules

CROSS COUNTRY

Aug. 20 -- OHSAA Preseason Invitational at National Trail Raceway

Aug. 27 -- Newark Catholic Invitational at Bryn Du Mansion

Sept. 3 -- Circleville Invitational at Ohio Christian

Sept. 10 -- Dover Invitational

Sept. 17 -- Central Ohio Invitiational at Three Creeks Metro Park

Sept. 24 -- Bob Reall Invitational at Lancaster

Sept. 27 -- Denny Stevens Invitational at Fredericktown

Oct. 1 -- Erin L. Nance Fall Distance Classic at London Country Club

Oct. 5 -- Bexley Invitational at Jeffery Mansion

Oct. 8 -- Darby Dash at Hilliard Darby

Oct. 15 -- CCL meet at Otterbein University

FIELD HOCKEY

Aug. 25 -- Watterson at Thomas Worthington

Aug. 29 -- at New Albany

Aug. 31 -- vs. Columbus Academy

Sept. 7 -- at Bexley

Sept. 14 -- vs. Olentangy Orange

Sept. 15 -- at Columbus School for Girls

Sept. 17 -- vs. Toledo St. Ursula Academy

Sept. 21 -- vs. Lancaster

Sept. 26 -- at Granville

Sept. 28 -- vs. Worthington Kilbourne

Oct. 3 -- vs. Hilliard club team

Oct. 6 -- vs. Olentangy

Oct. 10 -- vs. Dublin Scioto

*League contest

Below are the coming schedules for the Hartley boys golf, boys soccer, girls soccer, girls tennis and girls volleyball teams:

BOYS GOLF

Sept. 8 -- Bexley at Westchester

Sept. 13 -- Fisher Catholic and Wellington at Pinnacle

BOYS SOCCER

*Sept. 13 -- At St. Charles

GIRLS SOCCER

*Sept. 8 -- Home vs. DeSales

Sept. 13 -- Home vs. Johnstown

GIRLS TENNIS

*Sept. 8 -- Home vs. Columbus School for Girls

Sept. 12 -- Home vs. Hamilton Township

*Sept. 13 -- Home vs. DeSales

Sept. 14 -- At Grove City

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Sept. 10 -- Home vs. Casstown Miami East

*Sept. 12 -- Home vs. Ready

*Sept. 14 -- Home vs. CSG

*League contest