2010 Outlook
Four seniors return for their final year of Cavalier competition, ready to imprint their name in Walsh University history. As team captains, Danielle Cofojohn (Sr., Diamond, OH/Southeast), Natalie Borland (Sr., Kent, OH/Kent Roosevelt), Katelyn Paul (Sr., Garrettsville, OH/Garfield), and Denise Sahli (Sr., East Canton, OH/HS) will have experience on their side as each has placed in the AMC Championships, came close to qualifying for the NAIA National Meet, or been a national qualifier four times. For the last ten years, the Walsh Women’s team has qualified a discus thrower to the national meet. Senior Danielle Cofojohn has been there three times and hopes to up her school record of 145’6” and qualify again in 2010. She could be backed by senior volleyball team captain Natalie Borland, who just missed the mark by two inches in 2009. Both Natalie and Danielle double up as Natalie is a place winner in the AMC in the high jump, while Danielle finished second in 2009 in the shot put and holds the school mark of 44’5”. Katelyn Paul has made her way to the finals of the AMC in the 400 Intermediate hurdles, while Denise has been a stalwart on the sprint relay units.
Behind the seniors comes the new crop of freshmen, who sport a lot of talent ready to compete at the college level. Amanda Bennett (Fr., Tallmadge, OH/HS) has been a part of the Cavalier basketball team this winter and headlines the high jump and long jump, where she finished in the top four of the Ohio State High School Championships.
The Cavalier soccer squad also lends Carley Adams (Fr., Louisville, OH/HS), Molly Martin (Fr., Canfield, OH/HS) and Alyssa Akers (Fr., Twinsburg, OH/HS) to the mid-sprint crew. They are headed toward possible school records in the sprint relays, specifically the 4x400 meter relay. Sarah Martter (Fr., Peninsula, OH/Woodridge) promises to help on the relay unit and do her own thing in the sprints and long jump where she was a district champ. Jeni Eichler (Fr., Atwater, OH/Waterloo) will help in the long jump and hurdles. Allison Swarny (Fr., Bolivar, OH/Tusky Valley) could anchor the squad with her standout high school career where she set many 400 meter marks at different venues. The pole vault crew is happy to add Stephanie Foster (Fr., Lodi, OH/Cloverleaf), an 11’6” state place winner, and Kendrajo Wilson (Fr., Coshocton, OH/HS), a 9’6” standout.
Other freshmen: Lissa Yoder (Framdale, OH/Maplewood) and Emily DePalmo (Minerva, OH/HS) are distance specialists who ran cross country. Ruth Giles (Sandusky, OH/HS) sprints; Carlie Ellison (Sandusky, OH/Perkins) shows potential in the high jump; and Leah Beatty (Enon Valley, PA/Mohawk) will challenge the weight events and threw the javelin in high school.
Two legs of the NAIA-national qualifying 4x800 meter relay unit return with Megan Case (Jr., Louisville, OH/HS) and Kristi Havens (Jr., Wadsworth, OH/HS) to help out in the middle-distance events. Both have placed in the 800 and 1500 meter events area in the AMC.
Several Cavs are out for track and field for the first time, yet are upper-class students. Chelsea Megyes (Fr., Manchester, OH/HS) and Mara Mysliwiec (Fr., Parma, OH/Padua) should help in the sprints. Emily Walker (Fr., Tallmadge, OH/HS) should help the pole vault crew.
Upper class returnees: Melissa Moziejko (Jr., Columbus, OH/Bishop Hartley) runs mid-distance and the 800 meter. Cara Bedard (Jr., Mogadore, OH/Waterloo), who will join the squad after the competing at the NAIA Women’s Basketball Championships, will compete in the throws, where she has placed in the javelin in the AMC. Katie Laughlin (So., Malvern, OH/Canton South) may lend a hand in the steeplechase. Expect Sara Stone Jr., North Canton, OH/Hoover) and Emma Heck (Jr., Canton, OH/Central Catholic) to place in the javelin. Stone also doubles in the hammer and discus, while Heck is also pole vaulter. Holly Gospodinsky (Jr., Wadsworth, OH/HS) and Melissa Overmann (So., Amherst, OH/Amherst Steele) compete in the throws. Holly was conference champ in the SP as a freshman and should again be in the hunt this year. Jumpers include Allie Simmons (So., Toledo Central Catholic), Catie Shears (So., Washington Court House), and Lauren Ignazio (So., Austintown, OH/Ursuline).
