(EDITOR’S NOTE: Sports Information director Rich McGowan was unable to write this week due to a medical issue. Here is a recap of Fremont Ross athletics from Tuesday, Sept. 11 through Thursday, Sept. 13.)
Boys golf
The Little Giant golf team had its best round in three years Wednesday at the Clay Invite TRAC Shootout.
Ross posted an 18-hole score of 365 – its best score in three years, according to coach Jim Scharer – and accomplished a long-term team goal of breaking 370. The Little Giants scored 20 shots ahead of TRAC rival Toledo Central Catholic.
Zane Rusch
Zane Rusch (86), Cole Druckenmiller (89) and Mike Keegan (100) all shot career-low rounds while Rusch’s front-9 score of 39 is also Ross’ lowest nine-hole score in three years as well.
Braxton White rounded out the scoring with a 90.
“Overall a great day for the Little Giant boys golf team,” Scharer said.
Thursday Ross split a three-way match with Lakota and Northwood. Lakota shot the lowest score of the day, a 169, while Ross posted a 189 and Northwood scored a 204.
Druckenmiller led Ross with a 43, White carded a 46 while O’Brien shot 49 and Rusch a 51.
Ross’ golfers are back in action Wednesday at the TRAC Championship, at Stoney Ridge, at 1 p.m.
Girls golf
The Lady Giant golfers also enjoyed a pair of solid days on the course this week.
Tuesday, Ross hosted Port Clinton and Clyde at the Fremont County Club for a competitive round. Clyde won the day with a 225 with Port Clinton shooting 232 and Ross finishing three shots behind at 235.
Shelby Level
Alana Smith led Ross with a 52, followed by Shelby Level’s 58. Mekhia Williams carded a 60 and Sarah Widman finished with a 66.
“The match today really hit some of the areas we need to improve,” coach Nicole Kulasa said. “We need to continue making putts when they count and (have) solid contact with the ball.”
The following day the Lady Giants shot a 238 at a TRAC Jamboree, finishing sixth overall, seven shots behind fifth-place Whitmer.
Level and Smith were co-leaders for Ross, each shooting 53, while Widman shot a 65 and Williams, who played while feeling under the weather, shot a 67.
“Shelby put together a great round today,” Kulasa said. “A 53 is a solid score at Maumee Bay. Shelby really played the par threes well today. Alana improved from the last time she played the course so she is proud of herself for that. Alana was also hitting the drives very well.”
The jamboree also allowed the Lady Giants to get an up-close look at the team they’re chasing at the top of the league, Notre Dame.
“Today we were paired with Whitmer and Notre Dame. This was the first time that we played alongside Notre Dame, so the girls were intimidated at first,” Kulasa said. “I think once they got over that they realized we were all playing the same course and that we all had to make shots to score.”
The Lady Giants are back on the course Monday for another TRAC Jamboree at Stoney Ridge, at 1 p.m.
Boys soccer
The Little Giant soccer team picked up a pair of big victories this week, one in league play and the other in non-conference action.
Dylan Brady
On Tuesday, the Little Giants hosted Whitmer and came away with a 2-1 win thanks to a pair of goals by Dylan Brady, one of which included an assist from Kevin Navarro.
Thursday night, the Little Giants blew away the Tornadoes of Tiffin Columbian, 9-0.
For the second time this season Brady scored five goals, upping his season total to 19. Isaac Minor scored a pair of goals while Alec Slemmer and Caleb Bennison each added a goal.
Bennison and Brady split the work in goal, combining for a shutout in net.
The Little Giants are now 5-2 overall on the season, with a 2-1 mark in the TRAC. Ross is back in action Tuesday at St. John’s.
Girls soccer
The Lady Giant soccer team didn’t fare quite as well in its matchup with Whitmer this week. Ross traveled to Whitmer Wednesday and came home with a 6-0 loss.
The loss drops the Lady Giants to 3-3-2 overall, with a 1-2 record in the conference.
Ross’ next game is set Wednesday at home against Notre Dame Academy, 5 p.m.
Volleyball
For the second time this season the Ross volleyball team rallied for force a fifth set in a game and, once there, the Lady Giants would not be denied in completing their comeback.
Ross came back from a 2-1 deficit to come back to win in five sets at Whitmer Thursday, 25-16, 18-25, 24-26, 25-14, 15-8.
The victory lifted the Lady Giants to 3-6 overall and 2-1 in the TRAC.
The volleyball team returns to the court Saturday morning at 9 at the MBK Invitational at Sandusky High School.
Girls tennis
The Lady Giants took on a pair of TRAC foes this week as well as crosstown rival St. Joseph Central Catholic.
Gillian Gallagher
Lily Abdoo
Tuesday, Ross lost a 3-2 decision to Oregon Clay. The Lady Giants won both doubles matches as Gillian Gallagher and Lily Abdoo rolled in straight sets at No.1 doubles, 6-0, 6-2, while the No. 2 doubles team of Sophia Biggins and Berling Swaisgood won a three-set thriller, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.
Wednesday Ross cruised to a 4-1 win over the Crimson Streaks. Swaisgood picked up the win at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-0, and Vivyanna Esquivel won by default at third singles.
Gallagher and Abdoo won every game in their No. 1 doubles win, 6-0, 6-0, while Biggins teamed with Alexis Huff for a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 2 doubles.
Thursday, hosting league power Notre Dame, the Lady Giants suffered a 4-1 defeat where Gallagher and Abdoo’s 7-5, 7-5 win at No. 1 doubles was Ross’ lone bright spot for the day.
The Lady Giants’ record now sits at 10-4 overall, 3-3 TRAC. Ross hosts the Michaels Memorial Doubles Invitational Saturday beginning at 9 a.m.
Oregon Clay 3, Fremont Ross 2 – Tuesday
No. 1 singles: M. Arquette (OC) def. Lillie Swinehart, 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 singles: T. Gallaher (OC) def. Emma Jahns, 6-1, 6-0
No. 3 singles: K. Arquette (OC) def. Vivyanna Esquivel, 6-3, 6-3
No. 1 doubles: Gillian Gallagher/Lily Abdoo (FR) def. M. Burgess/L. Wells, 6-0, 6-2
No. 2 doubles: Sophia Biggins/Berlin Swaisgood (FR) def. L. Mahler/J. Stringham, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
Fremont Ross 4, St. Joseph Central Catholic 1 – Wednesday
No. 1 singles: Berlin Swaisgood (FR) def. Gloria Rhinehart, 6-3, 6-0
No. 2 singles: Olivia Eshleman (SJCC) def. Emma Jahns, 6-2, 6-0
No. 3 singles: Vivyanna Esquivel (FR) wins by default
No. 1 doubles: Gillian Gallagher/Lily Abdoo (FR) def. Erin Borer/Hannah Shell, 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 doubles: Sophia Biggins/Alexis Huff (FR) def. Hannah Haubert/Shayla Steinberger, 6-4, 6-1
Notre Dame Academy 4, Fremont Ross 1 – Thursday
No. 1 singles: C.C. Patton (ND) def. Lillie Swinehart, 6-0, 6-0
No. 2 singles: Olivia Assenmacher (ND) def. Emma Jahns, 6-0, 6-0
No. 3 singles: Julia Loeb (ND) def. Vivyanna Esquivel, 6-1, 6-2
No. 1 doubles: Gillian Gallagher/Lily Abdoo (FR) def. Grace Bennett/Tierney Sturgeon, 7-5, 7-5
No. 2 doubles: Gretchen Smitter/Erin Sturgeon (ND) def. Sophia Biggins/Berlin Swaisgood, 6-1, 6-2
Fremont Ross record: 10-4 overall, 3-3 TRAC