Amherst’s boys were unbeaten in eight of 12 matches and four of their last five before they fell 2-0 at North Olmsted in a Southwestern Conference match Wednesday night. 
Good season so far. But the Comets are having an even better year in the classroom. The team has a collective grade point average of 3.5, and 16 of the 18 players on the permanent varsity roster have GPAs above 3.0.
“We stress academics and the kids push each other academically,” Comets coach Brett Thompson said. “Our seniors set the tone, we use them as examples and they push the younger kids to do well. I’ve seen these kids studying on the bus on our way home from road games, reading by the lights of their cell phones.”
Thompson said nine of his players are above 3.5 and four of them have 4.0 GPAs.
“Lee Ferber ranks seventh in the senior class with 4.0 and Brian Kurish is 16th in the class with 3.94,” Thompson said. “Brian just scored incredibly well on his ACTs. Kale Klekota is second in the junior class with 4.0 and Shelby Neidert is tied for first in the sophomore class with 4.0. Freshman Connor Klekota brought a 4.0 GPA from the junior high, which I guess would be first in his class.”
He said Ferber and his involvement in activities of all kinds could serve as a model for other athletes at the school.
“Lee is involved in incredible things,” Thompson said. “He’s on the tennis team, he attends leadership conferences and he’s into sailing. He’s very involved in National Honor Society and he’s taking all AP (advanced placement) classes. We tell the kids that family and school come first, then they’re athletes. They seem to have bought into it.”
Shoregals showdown
Speaking of the SWC, the Avon Lake girls lost 2-0 to Brecksville on Wednesday, missing a chance to jump ahead of the Bees and into second, a game behind Westlake.
The Shoregals (9-2-3) are 3-2-1 in the SWC and much of the credit goes to their strong defense anchored by goalkeeper Bridget Lyons. Lyons had allowed just eight goals in 13 games heading into Wednesday’s game, which is a tribute to the defenders in front of her: Ali Kenni, Crissi Ward, Kaylee Donegan, Halle Orlinski and Laura Rickey.
Avon Lake also has a dangerous offense led by Trisha Wladecki, The Chronicle’s player of the week, who has 10 goals and seven assists for 27 total points. The goals and assists numbers put her among the top 40 Division I players statewide. The Shoregals also have scoring punch in Taylor Miller, who has posted eight goals and three assists, and Lani Lopez, with five goals and two assists.
“We have good balance,” said Kiko Lopez, a longtime fixture in Northeast Ohio soccer circles. “Nine different players have scored for us this year.”
Charity games
Elyria athletics director Jerry Chizmar has come up with a neat idea for the annual Elyria-Elyria Catholic soccer games Oct. 11.
There will no admission charge for the junior varsity games, which will be played at Pioneer Field on Abbe Road. Instead, spectators will be admitted when they contribute canned foods or make a monetary donation of their choice. Everything will be turned over to the Salvation Army.
The JV girls kick off at 9 a.m., the boys at 11. There will be an admission charge for the varsity games at Knights of Columbus Field.
Still state’s best
Despite being shut down by Avon last week, Firelands stars Rachael Melendez and Elizabeth Kozlowski continue to lead the state in two offensive categories.
They bounced back Monday, combining for seven goals and six assists in an 8-0 rout of Open Door. Five of the goals belonged to Melendez and four of the assists to Kozlowski.
Melendez has 36 goals for the season, an even dozen more than Lexi Zubick of New Middletown Springfield, who ranks second statewide. Melendez also has 14 assists, which ranks third statewide in Division II.
Kozlowski has 21 assists for the season. That’s four more than No. 2 Heather Beachy of Champion. Kozlowski ‘s 16 goals are in the top 20 statewide.
Contact Daniels at 329-7135 or soccer@bobdaniels.info.

Players of the Week

A.J. Hyde, Wellington
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Last week: The Dukes’ leading scorer had a goal in a 2-1 victory over Vermilion, and put up two goals and three assists as nine Wellington players scored in an 11-0 drubbing of Brookside. The three assists against Brookside give him 44 for his career, just one shy of the school record set last year by Chris Huelsman, who’s now playing at Ohio Northern.
Bio: Has 17 goals and eight assists for the season, the best in each category among Division II players in Northeast Ohio. Iis tied for fifth place statewide in goals and 15th in assists, according to the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association. Was a member of the track team the past two seasons, but plans to prepare for college soccer in the spring. Is a member of the school Leadership Planning Committee and enjoys his math and history classes.
Looking ahead: Hopes to play college soccer, but is undecided as to where.
Trisha Wladecki, Avon Lake
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Last week: The Shoregals’ leading scorer had an assist in a 1-1 tie with North Olmsted, a goal in a 2-1 win over Magnificat and a hat trick in a 3-1 victory over Bay.
Bio: Has 10 goals and seven assists for the season, which puts her in the top 10 in each category in Northeast Ohio and among the top 40 Division I players statewide. Was also a member of the track team as a freshman and sophomore. Is a member of the Model United Nations, is treasurer of the senior class and secretary of the Math and Science Club. Enjoys science classes, especially chemistry. She reads a lot, loves to sing and is a member of the school choir.
 Looking ahead: Wladecki has accepted a soccer scholarship from Division I Valparaiso in Indiana. The daughter of a physician, she plans to study pre-medical courses.

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here.
If you are registered, click here to log in.
Need help? Email Us.