Tag Archive for: Vikings

MIGHTY MAZUR FLEXES FOR WATERLOO

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Girls Basketball was out in full force for a Monday night on the network. With a total of 16 matchups, including over half a dozen conference battles, filling the YSN streams! One of those conference matchups occurred in Atwater, or better known as Atsnow this time of the year, when The Vikings welcomed in The Trojans of Sebring. 

Waterloo, taking a different approach in the non-conference slate at the beginning of the season, opted to schedule three tough games right out of the gate. Despite being competitive, The Vikings dropped those three contests; however, it was all to keep their sights set on The Mahoning Valley Athletics Conferences (MVAC) Scarlet Division and defending their crown. 

Following the losses to start the season, The Vikings have quickly bounced back as winners of five straight, including three consecutive conference matchups heading into Monday night. On the other side, The Trojans are looking to get back to the rich basketball tradition that is known at Sebring. Through some growing pains, Head Coach Anthony Agresta plans to be the guy to lead them there. 

With the mismatch, The Vikings wasted little time in jumping ahead early, as a scoring outburst put Waterloo ahead 29-4 after the first quarter and they never looked back. Scoring another 29 points in the second quarter for a total of 58 first half points. Finishing with 82 points overall, it was the largest offensive output from The Vikes this season. 

Abby Mazur had a night that was, quite simply, magical! As the senior was as dangerous as can be from three-point-territory, Mazur nailed down a program record-breaking total of eleven shots from distance! Finishing with 35 total points, Mazur’s major night helped lead The Vikes to victory while leaving a memory for the senior scrapbook that will last forever! 

Both teams look to get back to action this week! Waterloo (5-3) will stay home to host The Akron Firestone Falcons (0-3). For Sebring (0-6) they will look to change their luck against Leetonia (0-7) as The Bears will entertain them, also on Thursday.

 

Scoring (Waterloo)

Abby Mazur: 35 PTS, 11 3PM. (Player of the Game)

Rose Couts: 24 PTS.

Lilly Foster: 9 PTS.

Baylee English: 8 PTS.

Kaira English: 6 PTS.

 

Scoring (Sebring)

Raegan Wynn: 7 PTS.

Maddy Gilbert: 4 PTS.

Davianna Bowyer: 2 PTS.

Allie Horschar: 2 PTS.

Blake Thomas: 2 PTS.

*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell

WARRIORS WIELD THEIR POWER IN BIG VICTORY

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LEAVITTSBURG OH- The talent that Brookfield has on their roster can shined bright on Monday night. The Warriors coming off a tough loss on Thursday to Crestview got right back on the horse and barreled their way through LaBrae 56-24.

Sophia Hook had a exceptional game for the Warriors pacing the team with 24 points. Cailey Wellman added another double double under her belt as she totaled 10 points, and 16 rebounds.  Katie Logan contributed an important 8 points in the victory.

Ella Kuszmaul led the Vikings by breaking into double figures with 10 points.  Marissa Levensky added 5 points to the cause.

Brookfield will try and keep the positive momentum going on Thursday as they hit the road to take on Mathews.  LaBrae is on the road next as well as they travel to Windham.

RESERVE GETS REVENGE ON WATERLOO

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ATWATER OH- It was boys basketball on a Tuesday night in Northeast Ohio and with that brought rivals, both old and new, to the court thus opening up conference play in The Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference’s (MVAC) Scarlet Division. All eight teams from the conference competed in four games across three counties Tuesday night. Including Portage County, where the town of Atwater’s own Waterloo Vikings met The Western Reserve Blue Devils on the hardwood! 

A repeat matchup between the two schools, as The Vikings earned a 43-37 victory, on the girls side, against Western Reserve on Monday night. Leaving the boys with revenge on their mind, The Blue Devils also thought back to this past football season, where Waterloo gained the victory on the gridiron 27-24 on September 16th. 

Plenty of animosity and tension has been built in this, new-found, friendly rivalry that has emerged in recent years and Tuesday night was no different. Taking a page from the girls teams a night previous, it was four quarters of a defensive grudge-match between the two programs. With guys like Hayden Fellows (Reserve) and Drew Flarida (Waterloo) battling for every rebound, every loose ball and making life difficult in the paint for opposing offenses. 

As both teams jockeyed for position in a feeling out process on offense, Reserve was able to grab an early 14-4 advantage. The Vikings would have to turn back the clock and claw their way back into the game, old-school, with free throws. Working themselves into the single-bonus Waterloo scored their next seven points at the stripe, going 7 for 8, including a 6 for 6 stretch by Navarre Alhassan! Stepping back a few paces, Alhassan also nailed down a big 3-pointer that made the deficit just four for The Vikings heading into halftime with The Blue Devils leading it 18-14. 

Returning from the half, both teams picked up where they left off defensively, meaning both coaches were looking for someone to step up offensively. Enter Luke Henning, a young man who hit a 3 in the first half, but dialed it in from all over the court in the second 16 minutes. Hitting two more shots from distance, Henning helped Western Reserve reclaim their double digit advantage. A point in which The Blue Devils would never look back from! Scoring 14 points total, his season-high, Henning also had some partners in crime with Hayden Fellows and Dom Riccardi both scoring in double figures. 

Heading into conference play, The Vikings were 2-1 with wins against Windham and Rootstown, while dropping one to a tough Mogadore team. Despite The Blue Devils 0-3 record, reading between the lines showed that Western Reserve was right there in games against three phenomenal programs in Mathews, Crestview and Struthers. While also not losing any of those contests by more than eight points; however, Reserve needed to learn how to win through their tough losses. 

Following the loss, Waterloo (2-2)(0-1) will look to have better luck against the Blue Devils, as they head to McDonald (2-2)(1-0) on Friday, December 16th. As for Western Reserve (1-3)(1-0), they will now travel to the launching pad in Lowellville to take on the conference-favorite Lowellville Rockets (4-0)(1-0), also on Friday! Four teams now sit at 1-0 in The MVAC, taking that first-step to realizing a conference crown!

 

Scoring (Western Reserve)

Luke Henning: 14 PTS.

Hayden Fellows: 13 PTS

Dom Riccardi: 12 PTS.

Josh Klasic: 5 PTS.

Joey Serensky: 2 PTS. 

 

Scoring (Waterloo)

Navarre Alhassan: 11 PTS.

Anthony Podojil: 7 PTS.

Ryan Wise: 6 PTS.

Drew Flarida: 4 PTS

Kai Warren: 2 PTS

Kyle Werbeck: 1 PT

 

Scoring by Quarter

Q1: Waterloo 2 – 12 W.R.

Q2: Waterloo 12 – 6 W.R.

Q3: Waterloo 6 – 13 W.R.

Q4: Waterloo 11 – 14 W.R.

Final: W.R. 45 – 31 Waterloo

*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell

WATERLOO FINDS WAYS TO WIN

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ATWATER OH- In what was a highly anticipated matchup on the girls side of The Mahoning Valley Athletic Conferences Scarlet Division, The Western Reserve Blue Devils traveled to Atwater, to take on the reigning, defending, undisputed conference champions in The Waterloo Vikings. Like most matchups inside the conference a year ago, this one started as a defensive grudge match and saw no let up throughout. Both teams went into Monday night undefeated in conference play, albeit just 1-0 records for both; however, they were congested at the top with Mineral Ridge and Springfield who also have yet to drop a game in-conference.

As most Vikings games go, Kaira English started Waterloo off on the right foot and got them in tempo, scoring the first seven points for her team. The first half had plenty of punches and counterpunches from both teams, as an answer was dialed up in response to every heavy hit in the contest. As Kaira English was scoring with brute force, Angelina Cappabianca was responding with a deadeye from distance, knocking down some, timely, corner 3’s throughout that kept Reserve in striking distance. 

The Blue Devils would capture a lead towards the end of the first half; however, The Vikings called on another English, as freshman Bayley English knocked down a pair of triples late in the first half to give The Vikings the halftime lead! Defense stayed the story in the second half, with Western Reserve doing an incredible job of limiting Waterloo’s fastbreak game. Give credit to Brooke Schantz who played her heart out on both sides of the ball and put together an MVP-worthy performance for her team! But The Vikings Rose Couts started to see her shot fall and provided a late jolt of scoring to help The Vikings over the hump. Waterloo had the lead with a waning clock, meaning it would be a game of free throws, that is where Couts and company shined. Knocking down some clutch, late-game, free throws that helped put The Blue Devils on ice. 

Winning their first matchup of the year against Western Reserve 43-37. The Vikings (3-3)(2-0) will now travel to take on ANOTHER set of Blue Devils in McDonald (3-3)(0-2) on Thursday, December 15th. Also on Thursday, Western Reserve (3-2)(1-1) will head to Lowellville to take on The Rockets (3-3)(0-1). 

 

Scoring (Waterloo)

Rose Couts: 13 PTS

Kaira English: 12 PTS

Bayley English: 9 PTS

Abby Mazur: 7 PTS

Lilly Foster: 2 PTS

 

Scoring (Western Reserve)

Brooke Schantz: 11 PTS

Alyvia Hughes: 8 PTS

Lisa Eichert: 6 PTS

Angelina Cappabianca: 6 PTS

Madison Leone: 3 PTS

Quincy Miller: 3 PTS

*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell

GARFIELD HITS THE HIGH NOTE

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GARRETTSVILLE OH- Garfield has a lot of goals in mind coming in to 2022.  The first goal is always to win a conference championship.  They took their first step towards MVAC dominance on Thursday as they opened their slate with a 50-12 win over LaBrae.

The scoring from Garfield came from multiple players. Lauren McCoy and Mandy Cardinal both led the G-Men with 11 points a piece.  Madeline Shirkey was also in double figures with 10 points for Garfield.  Maddie Fogel had a nice day for Garfield chipping in 6 points.

Garfiekd will continue the season on Monday as they stay in the MVAC with a road trip to Campbell.  LaBrae will stay on the road as they go to Newton Falls.

WARRIORS GO ON THE ROAD AND SINK WATERLOO

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ATWATER OH- In a cross-divisional Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference (MVAC) battle, The Brookfield Warriors from the Gray Division traveled to Atwater to take on, Scarlet Division champion from a year ago, The Waterloo Vikings on Monday night. The Vikings, returning all starters from last season, were looking for their first victory of the season following a close loss to Alliance in their opener. However, despite a good turnover from a season ago, Waterloo was easing Kaira English back into the rotation with an injury prior to the start of the 2022 campaign.

That did not prevent this game from still being a competitive battle between two quality teams. Brookfield also brought back a lot of familiar faces, allowing Coach Forsythe to utilize a starting five made up of four seniors and one junior. Including Sophia Hook, with her passes on line and her shots being sinkers from deep! Legend has it, The Hook has been sighted making a ton of noise just off of Bedford Road. On Monday night, Hook contributed with 21 of her team’s 51 points on the night in another Warriors win! 

Following the loss, The Vikings (0-2) will now travel to Akron St. Vincent & St. Mary’s (1-0) on Thursday, December 1st. Brookfield (2-0) will take their early season success back home where they will host another Scarlet Division representative of The MVAC in The Springfield Tigers (0-1) also on December 1st. 

 

Scoring by Quarter

Q1: Brookfield 17 – 10 Waterloo

Q2: Brookfield 15 – 12 Waterloo

Q3: Brookfield 10 – 11 Waterloo

Q4: Brookfield   9 – 9 Waterloo

Final: Brookfield 51 – 41 Waterloo 

 

Scoring (Brookfield)

Sophia Hook: 21 Points

Cailey Wellman: 15 Points

Katie Gibson: 6 Points

Katie Logan: 5 Points

MiKenzie Jumper: 3 Points

Abby DeJoy: 1 Point

 

Scoring (Waterloo)

Kaira English: 14 Points

Rose Couts: 13 Points

Abby Mazur: 9 Points

Lilly Foster: 5 Points

*Contributed By YSN’s Ty Bartell

FAMILIAR BEGINNINGS FOR WATERLOO

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ATWATER OH- Last season, Waterloo went on a rampage to win the MVAC Scarlet tier. They only lost one game in the regular season, and it was to Alliance to open the season.  This year the Vikings saw their season open up with the Aviators yet again.  With a different result on their mind, the. Vikings would have to try to do it without Kaira English. With English on the bench with an injury the Vikings controlled a big chunk of the game,  but a resilient Aviators team came back on them using a late 16-2 run to win 56-50.  It shouldn’t be panic time for the Vikings though, last season after losing the opener to Alliance they rattled off 20 wins in a row.

Rose Couts had a great day for the Vikings notching 22 points.  She shot well going 10-14 from the field.  Abby Mazur used 5 three pointers to shoot her way to 19 points for the Vikings.

Waterloo returns to action on Monday as they will host Brookfield, a top contender on the other side of the MVAC.

PENALTY KICKS PROPEL LAKEVIEW TO REGIONALS

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NILES OH- It was an instant classic between two quality teams on Thursday night in Niles. Waterloo came in undefeated looking to stay on a long awaited tournament run, and Lakeview looked to keep this incredible turnaround season going. As it turns outs 2 overtimes weren’t even enough to decide the winner. Still tied 2-2 after 2 extra periods the teams went into penalty kicks. Lakeview won the penalty kick round 6-4 to seal the district championship.

Kaira English struck first for Waterloo at the 29:03 mark. She got loose on a ball that squirted free out of Lakeview’s defense.  Lakeview responded before halftime as Anastasia Hall netted a goal off a corner kick.  Hall would strike again later in the first half Eliza Farr got the assist.  That was score at half time with the shots on goal even at 5-5.  English knotted the game back up pretty quick out of halftime off a Sydney Jackson corner kick.  Both teams showed off their defense the rest of the way until regulation ended.

In the first overtime, Waterloo goalie Sophia Wood made a great save that could have saved the game for the Vikings.  English made a good attempt on goal from an awkward position, but it sailed just wide.  In the second overtime, both defenses locked down not giving up any real scoring threats. The game would have to go to the most exciting part of tournament soccer, penalty kicks.  Lakeview made all 6 while their goalie Ava Hipple made an impressive diving save to her left to seal the deal.

Lakeview advances to the Division III Regional Semifinal against a familiar opponent.  They’ll meet up with Poland

VIKINGS GRAB LAST SECOND OVERTIME GOAL TO ADVANCE

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ATWATER OH- The Vikings hosted the Badger Braves in the district semifinal Monday night and came out on top 3-2 in overtime. In a back-and-forth battle, the game ended 2-2 at the end of regulation and moved to overtime, where the golden goal rule was in effect. With seven seconds left, Kaira English received a pass from Kayla Turcsak and drove up the right side of the field, and found the back of the net as time expired, moving the Vikings into the district final for the first time since 2012.

Viking Nation showed up and was loud! This support helped will the team to victory! The student section was loud all night long, and this was a huge difference in the outcome. The Vikings used a total team effort to win the game, and every player played their role like a superstar. The Vikes got goals from Kaira English with 2 goals, and Rose Couts had one goal. Sydney Jackson, Kayla Turcsak, and Rose Couts each had an assist. Sophia Wood had 15 saves, and the defense was amazing in holding off the Badger attack.

So proud of the team tonight for battling through adversity and coming out on top. The Vikings play in the district finals on Thursday in Niles; please come out and support the team as they play for the district title. (Shoutout to Drew Flarida for organizing the student section). Let’s Go Vikings!

*Contributed By William Jackson at waterlooathletics.org

RIDGE ESCAPES BATTLE IN WATERLOO

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ATWATER OH- Mineral Ridge had to put up with a desperate Waterloo team needing a win to get into the playoffs on Friday night. After trailing 20-14, the Rams scored 14 unanswered points to walk away with the 28-20 victory.

Triston Valley had a great offensive output gaining 101 yards through the air and a touchdown, and 72 yards on the ground with another touchdown.  Ian Erb ran his way to 136 yards rushing.  Nate Rohman also contributed 70 rushing yards and a score.  He caught a touchdown as well.

Mineral Ridge finished the regular season 8-2 and will look forward to their OHSAA playoff destination. Stay tuned to YSN for all of your playoff football coverage.