Tag Archive for: Garfield

WRESTLING WEDNESDAYS WITH GARY ALTHISER (EP 13) FEATURING KEEGAN SELL & HUNTER ANDEL

And that’s a wrap on the 2022-2023 high school wrestling season! As the state’s best grapplers got together in Columbus over the weekend, we got to see so many great YSN athletes compete. Last season YSN only crowned 1 state champion at the end of the year, but this year we get to praise 3. The first state champion came from Louisville as Dominic Hoffarth went back to back winning another trophy.  Both of the others came from the same program in Garrettsville Garfield.  The G-Men had never had a state champion before Sunday, and after Sunday they got 2.  Hunter Andel, and Keegan Sell both brought home the big trophy.

In this final episode of Wrestling Wednesdays with Gary Althiser of the year, we brought on both Andel and Sell to talk about bringing home their program’s first state championship.  They also talk about how much they push each other, and what this will do for the future of Garfield wrestling.  Gary also recaps all of YSN’s performances down in Columbus as we put a bow on a great wrestling season.

GARFIELD BRINGS HOME A PAIR OF STATE CHAMPIONS

COLUMBUS OH- Garfield has always had a strong tradition in their wrestling program. They build strong kids, that are technically sound, and able to navigate the grind of a long wrestling season. Through all the years and grapplers that have walked the halls in Garrettsville, that elusive state championship has always eluded them. That is until this season. After a long weekend in the Columbus Garfield came in to Sunday with two wrestlers having a chance to win a title. Hunter Andel, and Keegan Sell.

Hunter was up first.  In an incredible defensive battle against his fellow Portage County stand out Cody Coontz from Rootstown.  After two rounds the match was still scoreless, neither athlete could find space over the other.  Andel opened up the third with an escape to grab a 1-0 lead.  He would seal the deal later with two points on a takedown to Garfield their first ever wrestling state champion.

Keegan saw his teammate win his match and knew that his school couldn’t walk out of Columbus with just 1 title.  He would not be outdone.  It was Sell’s signature speed that gave him the edge in his title match. He took on Wyatt Ripke from Archbold.  He got a takedown in the first that was faster than you could blink, then another in the second while he made Ripke loose his footing as he tried to escape trouble.  With a third take down to follow Sell would hold on to the 6-4 win to give Garfield their second state champion of the day.

GILBERT LEADS GARFIELD AS 2023 COACH OF THE YEAR

GARRETTSVILLE, OHIO- For a team to achieve a great amount of success, it takes someone who will lead them. There are many leaders on the basketball court, but it is the leadership of the Head Coach that sets everything in motion. Aaron Gilbert, the Head Coach of the Garfield girls basketball team, has been the ultimate leader for his squad. Gilbert always had his squad motivated and ready to go.

The G-Men finished the season with MVAC championship that they shared with Crestview, but it did not end there for them as they made a fantastic run in the Division III tournament and came away with a district championship before falling to Laurel in the regional semi finals. Gilbert and his team had a wonderful season that we at YSN want to congratulate them on. We are honored to announce that Aaron Gilbert is the 2023 recipient of the YSN Coach of the Year award!

*Contributed By YSN’s Matt Morrison

FOGEL IN FOCUS

GARFETTSVILLE OH- It’s official, Garfield is now celebrating a three peat as district champion.  Usually when you see a team have this kind of sustained success, it’s the same core of players.  However this season at Garfield, there are plenty of new faces keeping the G-Men standard alive. Through all the doubts the outside world had before the season started the G-Men have focused on just one goal winning. One of the players that has stepped up big time this season to fill in a role is senior Maggie Fogel.

Fogel was definitely a part of the team for the previous two district championships, but she admits this one feels the different. For the first time Maggie has been able to have a significant impact on what happens on the floor.  She has bided her time for this moment. Now with her fellow seniors next to her, it’s her time to shine.  Fogel learned a ton from the leaders that came before her.  The lessons she has learned from leaders of the past have gotten her to this moment where now she leads a group of new faces to a district championship.  It’s time to lock in your focus to Maggie Fogel.

Maggie was able to take the time to check in with Anthony Hartwig’s Anthony Hartwig about her senior season.  They go over what this year has felt like, how proud she is to hold up another district championship, and so much more. Check out the latest Garfield Girls Basketball Player Profile only on YSN.

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GARFIELD MAKES IT A THREE PEAT

GARRETTSVILLE OH- Many people doubted the realistic ability for Garfield to win a third straight championship coming in to this season.  The skeptics were not hard to find, but neither was the work ethic of the G-Men. All season long they took those doubts from the outside, and turned them in to motivation to thrive.  After winning an MVAC championship in the regular season, Garfield worked their way to a district championship. Standing in their way of a third straight trophy was another reigning district champion. Liberty was hungry to get back to regionals, and they were more healthy than ever before.

Garfield started the game off quick and jumped out to an early lead.  The G-Men set the tone with a couple of early threes from Laura McCoy and Zoey May.  By the time a few minutes went away in the second quarter Garfield built a 16-8 lead.  That’s when Liberty stepped back in the frame. Scoring 9 of the next 11 points the Leopards cut their deficit to 18-17.  Garfield was able to barely hold on to their halftime lead 20-17.  Out of the break it was Garfield’s turn to make a run.  They jumped back ahead by ten 28-18.  Yet once again the Leopards came roaring back ending the third quarter on a 9-1 run.  The final push however belonged to the G-Men. Down the stretch Garfield made all the right plays.  Garfield used their poise to walk away with a 43-37 win.

McCoy would not be denied on the night as she ran her way to 17 points.  In her first district championship game of her career, Mandy Cardinal was also in double figures with 13 points.  Zoey May put together 9 points to help out the cause.

Liberty was paced by Aaliyah Foster who tied for the game-high in points with 17 points.  Cianna Smith gathered 10 points for the Leopards in her final game of her high school career.  Demi Watson contributed 6.

Garfield won their third consecutive district championship and advances to the Division III regional semifinal on Wednesday.  They’ll be paired up against Laurel.  That game is slated to tip off at 6:00 in Cuyahoga Falls.

GARFIELD GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 3) WITH AARON GILBERT

GARRETTSVILLE OH- It’s time to talk about district championships! Before the season, not too many people expected a repeat performance from Garfield. The G-Men cut through the district last year with a slew of talented seniors leading the way. The doubters were definitely loud, but the G-Men hunger to quit them might have been even louder.  Garfield has stormed through this season with some new faces that have given them the same production as last year.  And now because of that, here they are in their fourth straight championship game.  Garfield lines up with MVAC foe Liberty with the rights to cut nets on the line.

Garfield head coach Aaron Gilbert was kind enough to come back on YSN’s Running Point to talk to Anthony about their semifinal win, how different a healthy Liberty team will be, and much more. You won’t want to miss the latest Coach’s Corner with Aaron Gilbert exclusively on YSN!

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GARFIELD HANDLES THIRD MATCHUP WITH RED DEVILS

GARFIELD OHIO – Garrettsville Garfield girls basketball team got a huge win over the struggling Campbell Memorial Lady Red Devils on Wednesday night courtesy of a 42-5 final score.

Garfield got production on the offensive end from six different players, including Laura McCoy who led the team with 10 points, Mandy Cardinal and Maggie Fogel both had nine points, Nora Trent had eight points, Karleigh Clelland had four points, and Madeline Shirkey had two points. As for the Red Devils, this was not the ideal way to end what has been a hard season.

Garfield could not have asked for a better start to the tournament as they have added to what has been a spectacular season as they shift their focus to their next round opponent.

*Contributed By YSN’s Michael Wolfgang

GARFIELD GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH’S CORNER (EP 2) WITH AARON GILBERT

GARRETTSVILLE OH- It’s officially tournament time in Garfield. The Lady G-Men find themselves as a two seed in the Northeast district.  Being the two seed gave them the right to be the highest seed in their own bracket, which they gladly took.  Garfield has their sights set on a MVAC for in the sectional semifinals on Wednesday against Campbell.  Interesting enough, if they win they have another MVAC opponent Champion waiting for them.

Garfield head coach Aaron Gilbert has done a great job this year reloading after losing so many great seniors from a year ago.  He took time to talk with YSN’s Anthony Hartwig about the excitement of tournament time. Check out this exclusive interview only on YSN!

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BROOKFIEKD KEEPS THEIR PACE UP

GARRETTSVILLE, OHIO- The Brookfield Warriors took on the Garfield G-Men on the road, seeking their ninth consecutive win.

The main man for the Warriors tonight was Isaiah Jones, who had a double-double performance with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Matteo Fortuna also helped out with 14 points.

The G-Men were led by Jackson Sommer, who had 13 points, and by Preston Gedeon, who had 8 points. The G-Men were overwhelmed by the Warriors on the defensive side, which included 4 steals by Donovan Pawlowski and the Warriors would go on to win 61-42.

The Warriors will finish the season at home against the Mathews Mustangs. Garfield will finish their regular season at home as well when they take on Crestwood.

*Contributed By YSN’s Matt Morrison

SWEET REVENGE FOR GARFIELD

GARRETTSVILLE, OHIO- The Garrettsville Garfield Lady G-Men held host to the visiting Brookfield Lady Warriors. It was a close matchup in the first quarter as the Warriors only trailed 14-11. Garfield then got on top of their assignments in the second quarter, only allowing the Warriors to 2 points as the G-Men scored 17 points to take a 31-24 lead.

The Warriors were led by Cailey Wellman and Sophia Hook, with 18 points each. The Warriors did not have much offense going for them other than Hook and Wellman. The G-Men were led by Laura McCoy, who dropped 23 points, Mandy Cardinal, who added 9 points, and Nora Trent, who came down with 8 points as the G-Men got the best of the Warriors, winning 58-42.

The Warriors will try and get back on track when they travel to Pymatuning Valley on Thursday. The G-Men, on the other hand will take on Berkshire at home.

*Contributed By YSN’s Matt Morrison