2019 – 20 League Preview: Federal League

The Federal League is an athletic conference spanning schools from Stark and Summit Counties. The high schools comprising the league include Canton McKinley, GlenOak, Green, Hoover, Jackson, Lake and Perry. <strong>(Players mentioned in the preview are assumed to be attending the same school, unless PGH is 100% sure that they have enrolled elsewhere)</strong> &nbsp; <strong>5 Players to Watch:</strong> Nakyah Terrell – McKinley MaKenzie Green – GlenOak Emma Dretke – Jackson Abby Stephens – Lake Olivia Payne – Green &nbsp; <strong>4 Thoughts:</strong> GlenOak made a run to the State Final 4 last year and many fans of the Golden Eagles expected this year’s team to be even better – however, a lot has happened since last March. Jade Abdulla (Malone) and Sophia Cashner are gone after graduating and Erica Warren, Hayley Smith and Addison Mucci have transferred to nearby St. Thomas Aquinas. Even with all of the losses, GlenOak will still certainly have major goals, as they return a boatload of talent that includes Aniyah Hall, Lexi Lemire, MaKenzie Green, Breezie Williams, Kamryn Vance, Meya Metz and Lexi Kleptach. There are few teams with that kind of depth in Northeast Ohio. If there is a team that does have as much talent as GlenOak (if not more), it may be Jackson. Last year’s Polar Bears showed that they could manage the loss of Taylor Mikesell to Maryland and this year’s group returns a majority of those contributors – while also adding some very talented freshmen. Kerianne Diese, Emma Dretke, Rachel Stran, Kylie Hawke, Ava Scroggs and Alayna McMullen are just some of the talented returners for JHS. Leena Patibandla and Lauren Pallotta join this loaded group – making Jackson a team that many would consider the favorite in the conference. Ms. Basketball award winner Kierstan Bell has moved on from Canton McKinley to The Ohio State University. McKinley’s long-time bench boss Pam Davis has also left – she will be coaching at Akron Hoban this winter. The good news for the Bulldogs is that a pair of outstanding guards in Nakyah Terrell and <strong>Kyla Foster - pictured above; photo credit - Canton Rep</strong> are back to lead the way for new coach Bryant Bowden’s squad, who always has high expectations. In addition to the tremendous talent at GlenOak, Jackson and McKinley, the Federal League has dozens of other big-time players. It would be nearly impossible to list each player, but some of the other players who should have outstanding seasons are Peyton Davis, Kate Haubert and Angela Roshak from Hoover, Abby Stephens and Kiley Dyrlund from Lake, Olivia Payne and Marissa Berlin at Green and Hanna Groft, Hannah Leapline and Meredith Randulic at Perry. &nbsp; <strong>3 Big Games:</strong> GlenOak @ McKinley on December 4^th Jackson @ GlenOak on January 22^nd Perry @ Hoover on January 29^th &nbsp; <strong>2 Fun Facts:</strong> The Federal League has always been strong. In addition to the current 7 schools that comprise the league, Austintown-Fitch, Alliance, Boardman, Fairless, Louisville, Marlington, New Philadelphia, Sandy Valley, Canton South, Timken and Wooster were all once members. Alicia Manning is the new head coach at Green. After winning 14 games at Northwest last winter – the most wins that school had in a decade – Manning will be replacing Tracy Miller. The former Tennessee Volunteers standout for legendary head coach Pat Summit has also previously served as an assistant coach at John Carroll University. <strong> </strong> <strong>1 League Champion Prediction:</strong> Jackson &nbsp;