2020 – 2021 Conference Preview: Principal’s Athletic Conference

The Principal’s Athletic Conference is an athletic conference spanning schools from Wayne, Summit and Stark Counties. The high schools comprising the league include Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Fairless, Manchester, Northwest, Orrville, Triway and Tuslaw. <strong>5 Players to Watch:</strong> <strong>(schools are as of last year – unless PGH is 100% certain that a player has enrolled elsewhere)</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="160419" first="Gia" last="Casalinova"] - 5’7 Guard - CVCA - Class of 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="214497" first="Shaffer" last=""] - 5’6 Guard - CVCA - Class of 2023 Brook Stookey - 6’1 Post - Tuslaw - Class of 2022 Jordan Marecek - 5’8 Guard - Northwest - Class of 2021 Grace Lyon - 6’0 Post - Fairless - Class of 2022 <strong>4 Thoughts:</strong> Last year’s PAC race was one of the closest in league history. In fact, there were tri-champions when all was said and done, as Tuslaw, Northwest and CVCA traded victories and each grabbed a pair of the crown. Although it’s tough to predict a front-runner in this conference - one would think that CVCA is the front-runner heading into the season. The Royals return nearly their entire team, including Sydnie Pearce, Sidney Marshall, [player_tooltip player_id="160419" first="Gia" last="Casalinova"], [player_tooltip player_id="214497" first="Nina" last="Shaffer"], Jillian Ianetta and [player_tooltip player_id="214503" first="Kylie" last="Bettinger"]. CVCA will need to make shots and hold opponents to one shot - as they play teams with much more size. Northwest has already been dealt a big blow with an injury to Riley Cudnik - that could keep her out for the entire season. Carly Spradling and Lily Bottomley could develop into a pair of "twin towers" for the Indians, as Ashley Cudnick, Gianna Kuhn, Jordan Marecek and others lead the way from the perimeter. Tuslaw was a quarter away from making a trip to the State Final 4. They lost some outstanding seniors from that team due to graduation, but return a solid nucleus that could lead them back to a PAC title if things come together like they did last winter. The Mustangs will play through Brook Stookey on the block - a legitimate scoring option around the rim. Emma Koons was a 1st-team all-conference selection as a junior - her senior leadership will be important as her teammates settle into their roles. Selah Yost, Abby Hoiles, Kasi Tully and Vanessa Frascone should all have increased roles. Manchester - a program that many thought would be a contender this year - was decimated by the transfers of their two best players a year ago, [player_tooltip player_id="91080" first="Karli" last="Anker"] and Rylee Bennett - both to Akron Hoban. Anker was the PAC Player of the Year last winter. Bri Brown, Emma Stamperd, Ashley Fraley, Chloe Perry and Rylie Petroff are still a good young core to build around for the Panthers and new coach AJ Hite. <strong>3 Big Games:</strong> Tuslaw @ CVCA on December 16th CVCA @ Northwest on December 19th Orrville @ Triway on January 30th <strong>2 Fun Facts:</strong> Mike Miller is the new head coach at Triway. The long-time Smithville head coach was 405-160 while in charge of the Smithies, including 8 league championships and 4 trips to the state Final Four. Triway returns Makayla Feikert and Natalie Adams - as well as some outstanding underclassmen. The Titans may surprise some teams. 3 CVCA freshmen - [player_tooltip player_id="160419" first="Gia" last="Casalinova"], [player_tooltip player_id="214497" first="Nina" last="Shaffer"] and [player_tooltip player_id="214503" first="Kylie" last="Bettinger"] - combined to average over 36 PPG a season ago for the tri-champs. All 3 can play multiple positions on the perimeter - hurting you in a number of different ways offensively. <strong>1 League Champion Prediction:</strong> CVCA