Hoover’s Laurel Utterback caps season as Stark County Tennis Player of the Year – Sports – The Independent

Vikings’ Ryan Shaffer, Perry’s Kevin Knoch share coaching honors

Hoover junior Laurel Utterback was selected as the Stark County Player of the Year and her head coach, Ryan Shaffer, and Perry head coach Kevin Knoch were named co-coaches of the year in a voting of the area’s girls tennis coaches.

Utterback played first singles for the Vikings and lost just one game to a Stark County player on her way to winning Federal League Player of the Year. She went on to win the Canton sectional title, finished fifth at the district tournament and then won her first match at the state tournament to earn All-Ohio honors. Utterback finished with a 34-4 record.

Shaffer’s Vikings went undefeated in winning the Federal League championship. They compiled a record of 22-2, were ranked eighth in the state coaches poll and reached the regional finals for an Elite Eight finish in the OTCA team tournament. Knoch’s Panthers turned in a third-place finish in the Federal League and owned an overall record of 14-3.

Here all the players selected for the Stark County Tennis Coaches’ Association All-County Team:

First team singles

Lilly Altman, Hoover, fr.; Molly Altman, Jackson, sr.; Claire Foltz, GlenOak, jr.; Hallie Hunt, Hoover, sr.; Rachel Kibler, Louisvillle, fr.; Laurel Utterback, Hoover, jr.; Destiny Winans, Canton South, so.

First team doubles

Katie Harcourt, Hoover, fr./Izzy Warburton, Hoover, fr.; Emma Henson, Jackson, so./Samantha Reese, Jackson, so.; Marissa Schoeppner, Jackson, jr./Jillian Cardi, Jackson, jr.

Co-Coach of Year: Ryan Shaffer, Hoover; Kevin Knoch, Perry

Player of Year: Laurel Utterback, Hoover

Second team singles

Corinne Hartline, Perry, sr.; Samantha Thorpe, Perry, sr.; McKenzie Ecrement, Jackson, jr.; Shreyaa Nagajothi, Jackson, jr.; Abigail Franks, Canton South, so.; Mary Mason, Marlington, so.

Second team doubles

Payton Gottshall, Perry, sr. /Madison Hoskins, Perry, sr.; Gracie Andrews, Canton South, sr. /Elizabeth Scott, Canton South, jr; Abby Altman, Hoover, jr. /Alexia Guira, Hoover, jr.

Honorable mention singles

Jenna Belot, Central Catholic; Grace Foltz, GlenOak; Madeline Lloyd, McKinley; Amiah Turley, Massillon; Madeline Dodson, McKinley; Olivia Paschke, Lake

Honorable mention doubles

Kali Aten, Lake /Hannah Wilson, Lake; Ava Anderson, Central Catholic /Rachel Smith, Central Catholic; Jordyn Richie, Marlington /Sarah Lane, Marlington