Tag Archive for: Falcons

GOING, GOING, VAUGHN

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AUSTINTOWN, OH-  In today’s player profile, we delve into the world of Austintown Fitch High School football and shine the spotlight on one of their star players, Deshawn Vaughn.

Deshawn, a talented quarterback and free safety, has faced his fair share of challenges, with a devastating injury sidelining him for a season. But now, in his senior year, he’s determined to make up for lost time and leave it all on the field. Join us as we explore Deshaun’s journey, his growth during his injury, and his goals for the season. Don’t miss out on this intriguing profile of a player who’s ready to make a lasting impact.

Stay tuned to YSN, where we bring you the inside scoop on the stories that matter in the world of high school sports.

 

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AUSTINTOWN FITCH FOOTBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 6) WITH TJ PARKER

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AUSTINTOWN, OH-  This week, we dive into the Austintown Fitch Football Coach’s Corner with none other than the esteemed head coach, TJ Parker. Coach Parker joins us after a tough loss and a much-needed bye week to discuss the upcoming challenge against the formidable Massillon Tiger team.

We’ll hear about the team’s preparation during the bye week, their focus on fundamentals and health, and the special activities they participated in to keep the players motivated. Coach Parker also shares his insights on the strengths of the Massillon team, including their solid defense and a talented offense led by a star quarterback.

Join us as we delve into the strategies, mindset, and beliefs that will drive the Austintown Fitch Falcons to take on this Goliath. Get ready for an engaging and insightful episode of YSN – let’s kick it off!

 

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FITCH WIN STREAK GETS BITTEN BY THE LEOPARDS

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LOUISVILLE OH- After clinching the AAC title with an impressive win over Canfield the previous night, the Fitch volleyball team faced another challenging contest, this time on the road against the formidable Louisville Leopards. Despite their best efforts, Fitch experienced a tough four-set loss, with both teams showcasing their skills and determination throughout the match.

The first set kicked off the action, and both teams displayed their prowess. Louisville managed to secure the set with a score of 25-20, but Fitch quickly regrouped for the upcoming battle.

In the second set, Fitch showed their resilience and determination, clinching a convincing 25-17 victory. This balanced the score, making it clear that the match was going to be a fierce contest.

However, Louisville regained their momentum in the third set, delivering a strong performance that resulted in a 25-16 win, putting them ahead once more.

The fourth set proved to be the most intense of them all, with both teams giving their absolute best on the court. Despite their valiant efforts, Fitch fell just short, as Louisville managed to secure the set and the match with a final score of 25-23.

Throughout the match, standout performances defined Fitch’s efforts. Kylie Folkwein led the offensive charge with 14 kills and also contributed significantly on defense with 20 digs, earning herself a double-double.

Afton Roby showcased her versatility with 13 kills and 3 blocks, while Rylie Simons orchestrated the offense with 42 assists, demonstrating her playmaking ability. Simons also played a pivotal role at the net with 4 aces and 4 blocks.

In the back row, Izzy DiRenzo displayed exceptional defensive skills, accumulating 22 digs and ensuring that Fitch remained competitive throughout the match.

Although Fitch faced a tough loss, their performance against a strong Louisville team highlighted their competitive spirit and determination. With the AAC title secured and an undefeated league season still within reach, Fitch will continue to strive for excellence as they look ahead to future challenges, including their upcoming match against Howland.

FITCH EARNS A CHAMPIONSHIP ON SENIOR NIGHT

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In a night filled with emotions, celebrations, and outstanding volleyball, the Fitch Falcons soared to an emphatic victory on their senior night, sweeping Canfield 25-16, 25-13, 25-15. The Falcons took the opportunity to honor their three exceptional seniors, Jordan Smith, Afton Roby, and Payton Binion, and the result was a dominating performance that clinched their fourth consecutive outright AAC championship. A share of the title was already clinched last week with their win over Boardman.

The Falcons paid a heartfelt tribute to the injured Binion, who has been an integral part of their success. In a touching gesture, they sent her in for the first serve of sets 1 and 3, drawing a well-deserved ovation from the crowd as she exited the game. It was a poignant reminder of the strength and unity that defines this Fitch volleyball team.

On the court, the Falcons displayed the kind of excellence that has become synonymous with their program. Jordan Smith, one of the seniors being celebrated, led the charge with 12 kills and 8 digs, showcasing her exceptional hitting efficiency with a .365 hitting percentage. Afton Roby, another senior, contributed 6 kills, 4 blocks, and 3 aces, demonstrating her versatility and impact on both ends of the court.

Kylie Folkwein added to the offensive firepower with 8 kills and 10 digs, while Rylie Simons orchestrated the offense beautifully with 29 assists and 4 aces. The defensive effort was anchored by Izzy DiRenzo, who notched an impressive 19 digs.

Canfield, facing the relentless Fitch attack, had strong performances from Meridian Ross, who recorded 8 kills and 2 blocks, and the return of Lily Weaver, who contributed 7 kills after returning from injury.

With this resounding victory, Fitch clinched the outright AAC championship, a remarkable achievement marking their fourth consecutive conference title. The Falcons now turn their attention to the last few matches of the regular season, with a road matchup against Louisville on the horizon. Canfield, on the other hand, looks to regroup as they return home to host Howland in their next contest.

WATTS CHOOSES GEORGIA TECH

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AUSTINTOWN OH- For the last two seasons Austintown Fitch pitcher Sydnie Watts has taken the area by storm.  She has been the talk of the local softball community with her excellence in the circle.  Last season she led Fitch to their program’s first state championship.  Watts finished the championship season with a 0.38 ERA and 281 strikeouts.  She also hit .492 at the plate with  6 HR and 23 RBI.

The summer before her junior year was definitely important for her and everyone in the class of 2025. Sydnie finally was able to have contact with college coaches and make serious headway in her decision on where to play after high school. That question has been floating around pretty much since she started her first game at Fitch. “Where do you think Sydnie will play in college.” Today that question has an answer. Live on YSN’s Running Point Sydnie made the announcement that she is continuing her softball career at Georgia Tech.

Georgia Tech is a technical institute in the heart of downtown Atlanta. They play in the ACC, among the names like Florida State, Clemson, and Duke.  Tech is coached by Aileen Morales. Morales played her college ball at Georgia Tech, and recently got inducted into their Hall of Fame. She took over the head coaching job in 2018 and immediately started seeing the program do things they hadn’t done in a while, like make the postseason, win over 25 games, and winning 5 conference series.  Coach Morales and her staff were a big reason why Sydnie chose Tech.

Austintown Fitch head coach Steve Ward has had a front row seat to Sydnie’s talent and ability for two seasons.  He was as excited as anyone to hear that Sydnie found a home. He had this to say about her commitment.   “Syd is such an amazing talent and that is clearly evident in the circle so what I’m really excited for Georgia Tech to continue to learn about her is how amazing she is as a teammate in and out of the dugout.”

While it is exciting to see Watts find a home, the area gets to watch her play for two more seasons at Austintown Fitch before she heads to the 404.  With plenty to still accomplish as a Falcon, Sydnie can now put all her focus on finishing her career at Fitch.

Sydnie came on YSN’s Running Point today to make her commitment public and to tell us what made Georgia Tech feel like home. She talks to the voice of the Falcons Ty Bartell about her decision, her recruiting process, and so much more. Check out this exclusive interview with future Yellow Jacket Sydnie Watts only on YSN!

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EDGAR IS THE SET MASTER OF JEFFERSON

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In the sport of volleyball, few positions require the level of precision, trust, and leadership as that of a setter. Helaina Edgar, the senior setter for the Jefferson volleyball team, not only embodies these qualities but has elevated them to an art form throughout her high school career. As she enters her senior season, the rewards for her unwavering dedication are finally manifesting.

One cannot talk about Edgar’s journey without highlighting her remarkable achievement of becoming Jefferson’s all-time leader in assists. With an impressive 1,778 assists under her belt and counting, Edgar has rightfully earned the title of the Jefferson assist Queen. Her ability to orchestrate the offense and provide her teammates with scoring opportunities is second to none.

At the heart of a setter’s success lies the crucial bond and trust between them and their hitters. Helaina Edgar has mastered this relationship, knowing precisely how to bring out the best in each of her teammates. Her innate understanding of their strengths and preferences on the court is a testament to her exceptional volleyball IQ. This trust and chemistry on the team are invaluable and contribute significantly to Jefferson’s success.

In her senior season, Edgar is once again demonstrating her prowess on the court, having already tallied an impressive 500 assists. What’s more remarkable is her trajectory, as she is on pace to surpass her junior season total, marking her best statistical performance yet. To achieve this, she’ll need 671 assists, a target that appears well within reach for the Jefferson star.

Helaina Edgar’s contributions have been vital to Jefferson’s success this season. The team currently boasts an impressive 14-2 record, positioning them among the top teams in the competitive CVC. If they continue their stellar performance, they have a real chance to surpass last season’s 19-win mark, setting the stage for a memorable senior year for their exceptional setter, Helaina Edgar.

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FITCH FIGHTS ON THE ROAD

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By Ty Bartell

MEDINA OH- After an All-American Conference clinching victory against The Boardman Spartans on
Thursday, The Austintown-Fitch Falcons traveled up to Medina to take on The Highland Hornets. Highland, a fellow 10+ win opponent, like Fitch, also entered Saturday’s match as winners of five straight matches. With both teams riding a win streak, one was bound to end in this Saturday afternoon battle!

The first set, as you would expect from two good teams, battleted it out tooth and nail till the very end! Needing extra points to settle the back-and-forth affair in the opening set. With a returning Izzy DiRenzo, The Falcons defense got the boost it needed, putting The Hornets away in a thrilling 28-26 opening set win! With Fitch leading 1-0 in sets, it left them with an advantage and a chance to really put the pedal to the metal in set two. After a battle from the beginning to the middle of set two, Austintown managed to find a couple key rallies to win set two, a little more comfortably, 25-19.

By the third set, despite trailing by two sets to The Falcons, Highland had plenty of fight left and continued to make life as hard as they could on Fitch. Both teams exchanged scores at one a piece plenty of times in the set. However, with the two set lead, Fitch would not mess around and take set three 25-22. The set win would secure the match in straight sets 3-0 for Austintown as The Falcons have now won four matches this week and extended their winning streak to six!

Afton Roby continued her hot week with 10 kills, 2 blocks and 2 aces in the win! Jordan Smith recorded another double-double on the year with 10 kills and 12 digs. Rylie Simons contributed with 30 assists, 9 digs and 3 aces of her own. Morgan Roby also was active behind the service line with 2 aces, while also racking 13 digs. In her return, Izzy DiRenzo led the team with 19 digs while also collecting 2 aces!

Fitch (15-3)(6-0) will now turn their attention to next week where they will host conference foe, Canfield (6-8)(2-3) on Tuesday, October 2nd for their senior night and a chance to upgrade their share to a sole possession of The AAC crown for the fourth season in a row! That match will be streamed for FREE on YS

DRAGONS BURN HOT AT HOME

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Photo Credit: CM Photography

Ashtabula, OH- Looking to grab their first win in the CVC Lake Division against an old but familiar foe, the Lakeside Dragons soared to victory against the Jefferson Falcons with a commanding final score of 44-14. Lakeside’s fans at Lakeside Stadium were treated to an impressive performance by their home team.

The game kicked off with Lakeside’s quarterback, Alex DiSalvitore, showing his prowess early in the 1st quarter. With 8:05 left, he connected with Devan Miller on a 38-yard touchdown pass, setting the tone for the night. Alex then followed it up with a successful 2-point conversion run, making it 8-0 in favor of Lakeside.

Devan Miller wasn’t done making an impact in the 1st quarter. With 3:10 remaining, he dashed 45 yards for another Lakeside touchdown, and the 2-point conversion was good, extending the lead to 16-0.

As the 1st quarter drew to a close, Jefferson’s Dylan Burlingham attempted to mount a comeback but was intercepted by Lakeside’s Caleb Stitt. The Dragons’ defense remained steadfast, denying Jefferson any scoring opportunities.

The 2nd quarter was marked by more frustration for Jefferson as Dylan Burlingham was intercepted once again, this time by the multi-talented Devan Miller. Lakeside continued to dominate, and with just 9 seconds left in the half, DiSalvatore found Sincere Turner for another touchdown pass. A successful 2-point conversion by Nate Bartone brought the score to 24-0 in Lakeside’s favor at halftime.

Jefferson showed some signs of life at the start of the 3rd quarter when Kaige Boczar returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown, with Devan Salinas converting the 2-point attempt. However, Lakeside quickly countered with an 8-yard touchdown run by Alex DiSalvatore, though the 2-point conversion was unsuccessful. The Dragons continued to build their lead, with DiSalvatore connecting with Matt Wagner for a 19-yard touchdown pass, although the 2-point conversion was again denied.

In the 4th quarter, Jefferson finally managed to break through Lakeside’s defense with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Burlingham to Kaige Boczar. Despite the touchdown, the 2-point conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 36-14.

Lakeside sealed the deal with 7:02 left in the game as Nate Bartone ran for an 8-yard touchdown, followed by a successful 2-point conversion on a pass from DiSalvatore to Matt Wagner. The final score stood at 44-14 in favor of the Lakeside Dragons.

Devan Miller was undoubtedly the star of the game, racking up 150 yards rushing, 1 interception, and 2 touchdowns. Lakeside’s overall performance showcased their strength on both sides of the ball.

With this victory, the Lakeside Dragons improved their record to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in the CVC Lake Division. They look ahead to a challenging road game against the Geneva Eagles in week 8. On the other hand, the Jefferson Falcons, now 0-7 overall and 0-2 in the CVC Lake Division, will face the Madison Blue Streaks at home in week 8, hoping for a turnaround in their season.

FALCONS ASSURED A PERCH ATOP THE AAC YET AGAIN

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BOARDMAN OH- As the regular season for volleyball begins winding down, conferences will start being
decided and teams will take home their first of potentially more trophies for the season. Conference contests have found a home of Thursday evenings for volleyball in Northeast Ohio and for The All-American Conference (AAC) this was no different. With a battle between the first place Austintown Fitch Falcons and the second place Boardman Spartans. The Falcons sporting a 5-0 record in the AAC entering Thursday have been a powerhouse in the conference to say the least. Winners of three straight conference championships and 21 consecutive AAC matches, they were in search of their fourth straight championship. The Spartans came in as a scrappy underdog, beating the likes of Canfield, Howland and Warren Harding to compile a 4-1 record and a chance to force a first place tie atop the conference. Dropping the prior meeting in straight sets at Fitch on September 5th, Boardman searched for their first win over The Falcons since September 27th, 2018.

The stage was set and both teams came ready to battle as both exchanged early points with both squads looking to start a rally. Boardman was riding the wave of momentum by the home crowd and wins by their freshmen and junior varsity teams over The Falcons. But Fitch broke away in the middle of the opening set with Rylie Simons behind the service line and captured the 25-18 win.

The following set started off in similar fashion with both teams scoring back-and forth; however, Austintown found their groove a little earlier. As The Falcons saw production from multiple sources equating to a 25-15 set two victory! Much of the same would be seen in set three, despite Boardman grabbing an early 3-0 lead, struggles behind the service line derailed some momentum. Fitch would duplicate the set previous with a 25-15 win to take the match in straight sets.

The match win officially clinches Austintown a share of the AAC crown with a chance to win it outright with a Falcon win or a Spartan loss in one of their next two contests. It is also the fourth consecutive AAC championship for The Austintown-Fitch volleyball team as they extended their win streak to 5 games in the regular season and 22 in the AAC!

Jordan Smith led the team in kills with 11 while also collecting 7 digs. Rylie was Rylie once again with the double-double in assists at 32 and digs at 13. The libero for the night Morgan Roby led all of the team in digs with 23 and some stellar defense. Katie Wilt continued to earn her wings with a 6 kill and 15 dig night. Player of the Match Afton Roby was the difference maker in battling the height of The Spartans at the net and getting 8 kills and 2 blocks to go along with 4 aces behind the service line!

Fitch (14-3)(6-0) will now turn their attention to The Highland Hornets (11-4) on Saturday, September 30th at noon. While Boardman (10-6)(4-2) will stay home to host Salem (1-15) on Tuesday, October 3rd. Interviews with Fitch Head Coach Kylee Herberger and Player of the Match Afton Roby can be found below!

FITCH GETS A W IN Y-TOWN

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Austintown Fitch Sweeps Mooney in Impressive Volleyball Showdown

In a highly-anticipated volleyball clash, Austintown Fitch showcased their supremacy on the court as they traveled to Youngstown and secured a convincing sweep over Mooney. The final scores of 25-10, 25-16, and 25-17 underscored Fitch’s dominance, leaving Mooney struggling to find their footing.

Austintown Fitch boasted an array of standout players who played pivotal roles in their resounding victory. Jordan Smith was a force to be reckoned with, recording 11 kills, 13 digs, and 1 ace, earning herself a well-deserved double-double. Smith’s precision in her kills and remarkable defensive skills were instrumental in her team’s success.

Afton Roby matched Smith’s impressive performance with 11 kills, 3 aces, 2 blocks, and 3 crucial digs. Her versatility in both offense and defense kept Mooney on their toes.

Kylie Folkwein displayed her all-around skills with 6 kills, 8 digs, and an impressive 6 aces. Her serves were particularly lethal, causing havoc for the Mooney squad.

Rylie Simons orchestrated the team’s offense brilliantly, tallying an impressive 29 assists while also contributing 6 digs, 2 blocks, and 3 aces. Her ability to set up her teammates and contribute defensively played a crucial role in the sweep.

Morgan Roby anchored the defense with 20 digs, ensuring that Mooney’s offensive attempts were met with staunch resistance.

On the Mooney side, Amarra Anderson led with 4 kills and 3 blocks, showcasing her skills at the net. Natalie Blasko contributed 13 assists and 8 digs, while Nina Santisi added 4 aces to the mix. Jaida Lane’s 3 kills and 6 blocks demonstrated her tenacity in the front row, and Maria Pecchia and Katie Frommelt each recorded 11 crucial digs.