Tag Archive for: Independence

FINLEY’S NOT FINISHED

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AKRON OH- In this latest YSN Player Profile, Anthony Hartwig sits down with Finley Kennedy, a standout senior on the Hoban girls basketball team. Kennedy, the sole senior this season, opens up about the emotional journey of her final high school season and the responsibilities that come with being the team’s veteran leader.

Kennedy admits the emotional weight of being the only senior and the inevitable transition of leaving her teammates behind. Yet, her ambitions continue beyond high school as she eyes playing basketball at the next level. Reflecting on her role, she credits her composure and experience in keeping the team calm and focused. Kennedy emphasizes the importance of balancing emotional expression to maintain positive momentum on the court. The Hoban Knights, known for their winning tradition across all sports, hold a significant legacy that Kennedy upholds. She speaks proudly of the high standards, particularly in the girls’ basketball program, known for their intense defensive pressure and their reputation for rigor and success.

Kennedy’s basketball roots run deep, influenced by her mother, a college basketball coach, who instilled both skill and a strong faith in her daughter. Her comfort in navigating her basketball journey is evident in how she balances athletics with academics, maintaining a strong performance even with a lighter class load during her senior year. Looking ahead, Kennedy is considering a move to Florida, fueled by the promise of sunshine, as she pursues business marketing. Her decision-making process in choosing a college revolves around the value of forming relationships both on and off the court. Finley’s journey, supported by her faith and family, is a testament to her resilience and ambition. As she steps off the court for Hoban, her legacy of leadership and tenacity leaves a lasting impact on her team and the Hoban sports community.

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THE HOUSE OF CROUSE

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CANFIELD, OH-  On the latest episode of the YSN podcast, host DJ Yokley welcomed South Range senior Heath Crouse, whose reputation on the football field has garnered widespread admiration in the tight-knit community. As a tight end and defensive lineman, Crouse has made significant strides, following in the footsteps of his older brother, JD.

Crouse reminisced about his personal and athletic growth throughout his high school years, highlighting the independence and work ethic he’s developed. “I’ve learned to be more independent, to always work hard, and to focus on doing the little things right,” Crouse shared.

The senior reflected fondly on the support he’s received from both his family and the community. “The Krause name means a lot around here,” he noted, acknowledging how his family’s legacy has inspired him to maintain the high standards set by his brother and parents.

As the season progresses, Crouse hopes to lead his team to new heights, stressing the importance of camaraderie and collective effort. With ambitions extending beyond high school football, Crouse also expressed his intent to pursue a career in heavy equipment operation, inspired by his family’s work ethic.

“Heath chants” from the stands serve as a constant reminder of the community’s unwavering support, something that brings a smile to Crouse’s face every game night.

With his sights set on finishing the season strong, Heath Crouse embodies the spirit of hard work and dedication, qualities that define the Krause family legacy.

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PAOLILLO’S NO HITTER OVERPOWERS BLUE DEVILS

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Photo Credit  Annie Grace Photography

Story by Larry Jennings

Ashtabula, OH- Led by a dominant pitching display, the Edgewood Warriors claimed a resounding 4-0 victory over Independence in an exhilarating softball showdown on Tuesday, propelled by a stellar performance from sophomore pitcher Lucianna Paolillo.

Paolillo’s presence on the mound was nothing short of remarkable as she showcased her pitching prowess, striking out an impressive 14 batters over seven innings of play. Her impeccable command and precision allowed her to completely shut down Independence’s offense, conceding zero hits and runs while issuing only three walks throughout the game.
The Warriors wasted no time in asserting their dominance, opening the scoring in the first inning thanks to an error that allowed a crucial run to cross the plate. Despite Independence’s best efforts, pitcher Ally Biondi struggled to contain Edgewood’s potent lineup, surrendering four runs, three earned, on six hits over six innings of play.
Faith Vencill emerged as a key contributor for the Warriors, delivering a clutch performance with two runs batted in, including a scorching triple from the number seven spot in the lineup. Her timely hitting provided the offensive spark that propelled Edgewood to victory.
Alongside Vencill, Gianna Ianetta, Mckenna Vencill, Lucianna Paolillo, Addison Lamson, and Avery Vencill each contributed with one hit for the Warriors, collectively driving the team’s offense and keeping the pressure on Independence’s defense.
Edgewood’s solid defensive effort was equally impressive, as they displayed impeccable fielding throughout the game, committing zero errors and ensuring that Independence had no opportunity to capitalize on any scoring chances. Natalie Ianetta stood out in the field, making the most chances with 14 and anchoring the Warriors’ defense with her exceptional play.
With their sights set on their next challenge, the Edgewood Warriors will look to carry the momentum from their impressive victory forward as they prepare to face Lakeside in their upcoming home game on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Independence will aim to rebound from their defeat as they take on Columbia in their next matchup, determined to bounce back and return to winning form.

SPARTANS BOUNCE BACK IN WEEK 3

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Photo Credit: Noelle Nunes

Independence , OH- Trying to bounce back from a tough week 2 loss, the Conneaut Spartans faced off against the Independence Blue Devils, resulting in a final score of 33-15 in favor of the Spartans. With 4 minutes and 26 seconds left in the first quarter, Conneaut’s Wyatt Payne powered through the Independence defense with a 3-yard touchdown run, putting Conneaut ahead 7-0. The Spartans continued their strong start when Independence’s Xavier Wilson fumbled the ball, which was promptly recovered by Conneaut. Then, with just 29 seconds remaining in the quarter, Wyatt Payne added another touchdown to his name with a 10-yard run. Unfortunately, the extra point attempt was no good, leaving the score at Conneaut 13 – Independence 0 at the end of the first quarter. As the second quarter neared its conclusion, Ty Covill of Conneaut extended the lead with a 2-yard touchdown run. However, the two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful. The scoreboard read Conneaut 19 – Independence 0 at halftime. Independence came out of halftime determined to make a comeback. Rocco Ressler managed to get Independence on the board with a 5-yard touchdown run, followed by a successful extra point. Nevertheless, Conneaut quickly answered back with Wyatt Payne securing his third touchdown of the game, this time a 4-yard run, with the extra point good. Max Gleason then showcased his skills with a 55-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Osborne, extending Conneaut’s lead. The third quarter ended with the score Conneaut 33 – Independence 7. In the final quarter, Independence’s Rocco Ressler connected with Tyler Miller for a 17-yard touchdown pass, and they successfully converted a two-point play, narrowing the gap. However, Conneaut’s lead was insurmountable, and the game concluded with a final score of Conneaut Spartans 33 – Independence Blue Devils 15.

Wyatt Payne had a standout performance, scoring three touchdowns and increasing his season total to five after just three games. Conneaut improved their record to 2-1, setting up an exciting matchup against Chagrin Falls (2-1) in week 3, while Independence remained winless at 0-3 and looked forward to a clash with Cardinal (1-2).

CRESTVIEW BATTLES TO THE VERY END

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BARBERTON OH- Thursday night’s regional semifinal between Crestview and Independence was a thriller! And if you asked the Blue Devil faithful, they’d probably tell you it was the last thing they expected. Independence came in on their path to their third straight state championship appearance. Surely they wouldn’t have trouble in the regional semifinals. Well, the Rebels were not going to be tough to beat on this night. After being dominated in set 1, Crestview fought and clawed their way to a set 5, where eventually they’d come up just short. Independence quest for a title stays alive, but certainly not comfortably. (25-13 17-25 25-17 28-30 15-13)

Abbey Emch gave Independence problems all night. She came in to the night with just a few less blocks by herself than the entire Independence team. Emch was a force the Devils couldn’t get around. She led the Rebels with 14 kills, and was 1 block away from a double double with 9. Grace Auer finished with a triple double on the night with 12 kills, 22 assists, and 18 digs. Lucy Montgomery finished with a double double collecting 12 kills, and 17 digs. Crestview as a team finished with 16 blocks. Shelby Rambo had 5.

Crestview ends their incredible season 26-1.

REBELS PREPARED FOR REGIONALS

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COLUMBIANA OH- It’s going to be the third year in a row the Crestview volleyball team will head to Barberton for a regional tournament game. The last two appearances didn’t go as planned, but they say the best way to grow is through experience. The stage will not be a surprise for this Rebels team. They know all too well what the standard is to win in Barberton. Standing in their way is state superpower Independence. The Blue Devils are trying to get to their third straight state championship. The title has eluded them the last two seasons, but they are hoping it’s three times a charm. Both teams come in to this game with an undefeated mark. The Rebels 26-0, the Blue Devils 25-0.

The Rebels have a balanced attack led by Lucy Montgomery with 293 kills. Grace Auer is also over 250 on the year, coming in with a kill count of 251. If you thought that was it for the Rebel attack, you’d be mistaken. Freshman Abbey Emch has had an impressive season with 232 kills. Shelby Rambo is no slouch in the middle either with 173 kills.

When you look at the Blue Devils offense, they don’t have anyone with over 200 kills, but they have 6 players with more than 100. They are led by freshman Aubrey Anders with 195 kills. She also has a very impressive .434 hitting percentage, only committing 34 attack errors all season. Senior Calli Prokopius has a solid 160 kills.

We had the chance to talk with Crestview head coach Alisha Auer, and the Rebel seniors to talk about this big matchup in the Purple Palace in Barberton. If you can’t make it to the game, we will have the broadcast on YSN at 6:00.

 

CRESTVIEW‘S RUN UPENDED BY BLUE DEVILS

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Crestview saw their season come to a close on Thursday night with a three set loss to Independence. (22-25 4-25 8-25)

The energy in the gym at Barberton High School was ramped up after a thrilling match to start the night. Crestview and Independence saw their start time pushed back about 45 minutes because of the length of match one. The wait didn’t affect either team in set one as it was highly contested. After being tied 5-5, Independence took a 9-5 lead and seemed to have momentum. The Rebels came marching back getting it to 7-9. They stayed in striking distance until they finally saw room to make a run and tie the set at 16-16. The Rebels would take an 18-17 lead later on and looked to be on their way. With the set tied at 20-20 by far, the longest rally of the night went the way of the Blue Devils, and they used that to rattle off 3 in a row. With set point at 24-21, the Rebels were only able to get one point back before bowing out of set one 22-25. Although they stayed close and made some clutch points, the Rebels offense struggled in set one. They only gathered 4 kills, and finished with a .000 hitting percentage.

Min set two that lack of offense would catch up with the Rebels in a haunting way. The Devils aired up their errors and played crystal clean volleyball. The Rebels could not get any traction once this high powered Blue Devils team got rolling. They were like a freight train each swing getting harder than the last. The Rebels tried calling timeouts, tried to get their energy up but it was to no avail as the Devils have clear momentum in the set.

That momentum did not go anywhere in set three, as the Devils jumped out to a 9-2 lead. That quickly ballooned into a bigger lead. The Rebels showed some fight and pride as they went on a couple of small runs towards the end. Tess Neville hammered away what would end up being her last kill as a Rebel late in the set. The Devils persisted and took set three 25-8.

Tess Neville led a struggling offense with 2 kills, Brenna Auer also added 2 kills. Lucy Montgomery had 7 assists.

The Rebels end their season at 24-2. Coach Auer had five powerful words for her team that echoed through the gym. “This doesn’t define our season.” The Rebels win a district championship for the first time since 2016 and put their program back on the map.