Solon Fall Sports Teams Off to Strong Starts

Solon's fall sports teams are off to fast starts to the new season with strong performances from the girls' and boys' golf teams and an early season tournament triumph from the girls' tennis team.

Girls' Tennis

Solon captured the top spot in the Medina Doubles Tournament Saturday, finishing with a team total of 29 points to edge CVCA (27 points) for first place.

The Lady Comets got first places from the second doubles team of Daisy Chung and Danielle Pivovar (6-0, 6-4), the third doubles team of Hailey Baird and Lisa Guo (6-2, 7-5) and the fourth doubles team of Monika Bandi and Alana Fayman (6-4, 6-4). The first doubles team of Tinisee Kandakai and Jamie Marks took a fourth place after a tough 7-6, 6-2 setback in the consolation finals.

Chung, Kandakai and Marks all return from last year's team. Baird, Fayman, Pivovar and Guo will all be counted on to contribute for the Lady Comet netters.

"I think we are in store for a strong season," said Solon head coach Linda Fox. "This is a very coachable team."

Girls' Soccer

Head coach Dave FitzGerald lost three standout players from last year's team – All-Ohio performer Allie Sirna (now at Tennessee), Calli Rinicella (Kent State) and Briana Kottler, a walk-on at George Mason. Fortunately, he has a pair of senior veterans back to lead the team with Jordan Spiegle and Lauren Ferguson.

The Lady Comets have a strong junior class with Hannah Schippers, Jillian Fox, Natalie Ockunzzi and Ariana Banks. Sophomore contributors are Maria Collica, Maddie Kresevic and Kristen Confroy. Freshmen Emily Russell and Natalia Kontul will also be relied on this season.

Solon's girls have reached the district finals the past five seasons before being eliminated by Walsh Jesuit. The good news is that Walsh is now a Division II program. As a team, the Comet ladies earned Academic All-Ohio honors last year.

"We will start four juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen," said FitzGerald. "This is a great group, both on and off the field. They have lots of speed and hustle and are fun to coach."

FitzGerald will be assisted by first-year coach Lauren Wilson, a former Lady Comet standout who still holds the school record of 91 goals and also holds the scoring record at Kent State.

Boys' Golf

The Comets captured a 175-190 victory over Mayfield in a match held at Signature of Solon. Senior Anthony Stames led the winners with a nine-hole score of 43 while senior Jim Tornatore, junior Eric Rudary and sophomore Justin Razzante all added rounds of 44.

Solon finished ninth of 14 teams at the Aurora Invitational. Tornatore had a round of 80, highlighted by an eagle. Dave Rudary also finished at 80 while Razzante carded an 82 and Eric Rudary added a round of 85.

Dave Rudary posted the low round of the season thus far with a sizzling 76 at the Brunswick Invitational, where he tied for medalist honors. Razzante had the team's low score of 82 at the Twinsburg Invitational held at Gleneagles.

"We always like to play in the tough tournaments," said head coach Jeff Aker. "The kids get to go up against the best teams on some nice courses."

Girls' Golf

The Lady Comets (2-0) defeated Hawken and Orange in a match at Grantwood, shooting a team score of 184. Aly Ales was the team medalist with a round of 42 while Alexis Gray shot 43 and Leah Wilson added a 48.

Ales shot a score of 87 and Gray added an 89 as Solon finished seventh out of 18 teams with a score of 378 at the Padua Lady Bruin Invitational. Tiffany Li aided the cause with a 91.

The Lady Comets were 12th out of 25 teams in the Magnificat Invitational, which featured 12 teams that qualified for the state tournament last fall. Ales led the way with an 86, Gray shot a 91 and Li contributed a 99.

Grace Gutierrez and Meagan Crowl will also be counted on for the Solon girls this season.