Bellevue girls soccer debuts as varsity sport

BELLEVUE — Girls soccer has its own place at Bellevue High School. Playing the last two years under club status at Harmon Field, the Lady Red are entering their first season as a varsity sport. Coach Josh Young wants to see his team get better each day knowing the task ahead. "The scoreboards are going up right now," Young said. "That brings a lot of natural excitement. The numbers are up. We're going to have 17 girls this year, including five seniors. Some of them are first-year players still. We did summer league this year, like we did the last two years." In order to become a full-time varsity sport, Young and his group had to go through two years as a club sport. It was supported by Bellevue High School, but had a feel of independence. With five seniors on the roster this year, the Lady Red are all in. "We did the last two years and then we re-applied," Young said. "There's a whole process to it. Our numbers were good and we had everything in place. Then, it becomes a paid coach and paid assistant. The school takes on the sport completely then. They were helping do a lot of things before that. "Now it becomes contracts and the stuff behind the scenes you don't think of." Bellevue has three senior captains in Bailey Nichols, Jersey Mayes and Reece Young. Seniors Brooklyn Stoval and Lilly Sosa will help with leadership in their first year on the team. "We've been busy all summer to get better as a team," Nichols said. "We have five seniors this year, so we're senior heavy. I think our senior heavy is a little different than everybody else's. We have some upcoming freshmen that are going to be really good. All around, we've built good team chemistry so far this summer." Coach Young said Stoval and Sosa have battled knee injuries, including a torn ACL for Stoval during her sophomore year of basketball. He expects their speed up front to help the Lady Red. "Great group of captains and a great group of seniors," he said. "We're excited for that. We didn't have any seniors last year. The first year we did it, we only had one senior." Mayes brings the most experience. She has played all three years and was on a U15 team with Sosa. Her leadership throughout the process has been vital, coach Young said. "I'm very excited for the season," Mayes said. "I think I can say for my teammates that we're excited to go out this season and do a pretty good job. I think we're just about as good as these other teams we're going to be facing. I think every game is going to be pretty close. I don't think they have as big a step on us anymore. "I think we've worked hard to the point where we're right there with them." Nichols and Reece Young both came out last year for the Lady Red. Both are good athletes who can make things happen for Bellevue. "We're ready to show up to each game and work hard and win," Reece Young said. "We've put the work in this year, especially. We've come together as a team." Nichols said if nothing else, this season will be different since Bellevue will enter the OHSAA tournament for the first time. "Last year was different because we didn't have an end-of-the-season goal," said Nichols, who was on the Bellevue girls basketball team that won a state championship this past March. "Most teams, you're working all season to get far in the tournament. For us, we were playing teams to win. "This year will be a little different since we're preparing for the tournament. It's a different mindset." Bellevue has two scrimmages scheduled before the season starts, but both are on the road. The Lady Red then open the regular season at Fremont Ross and at River Valley. Bellevue will host its first official varsity match Aug. 25 against none other than Route 20 rival Clyde. "It's going to be a lot of fun," coach Young said. "Obviously a lot of the girls know each other. I know (Clyde coach) Rob (Ochier), too. A lot of good kids over there. It's good to have that game be one that matters and one they want to win. It's something to look forward to." Regardless of how the season goes, it'll be a learning lesson for Bellevue. The Lady Red plan to stay around a long time, building from the youth program. "I think it's great for them," coach Young said. "They felt like part of the school and the school has done a great job of making it feel like it was a school activity already. We're on the school campus now and it's a prime spot right outside of the football field. They want to get out there. "We found out from our youth program all the way through high school, kids want to play for their town. They want to have Bellevue on their chest and get into some competition." Around the SBC Elsewhere in the Sandusky Bay Conference, Norwalk won the league title with an undefeated 9-0 record last year. The Truckers return Most Outstanding Performer Claire Spettle, a junior attacker. Norwalk also brings back first-team pick Xavi Immel (senior midfielder). Norwalk must replace first-team league picks Lilly Farmer (keeper), Bella Koelsch (defender) and Abby Koenig (midfielder). Perkins had the most postseason success among SBC teams last year, winning a Division III district championship. The Pirates bring back four All-SBC juniors: first-team pick Jordyn Brunner (midfielder), second-team honorees Makenna Fullerton (midfielder) and Isabella Ramirez (attacker) and honorable mention pick Lucy Miller (keeper). Vermilion is the only other area team that returns a first-team pick. Sophomore Morgan Frenk (attacker) is back for the Sailors while Vermilion also returns second-team pick Abby Gawry (senior defender). The top goal scorer in Edison school history, first-team selection Amelia Chartrant, graduated. The Chargers return a trio of second-team picks in seniors Kellyn Ritchie (midfielder) and Peyton Koch (defender) and sophomore Ella Rogers (keeper). Huron had three picks across the honors last year and all three are back: second-team junior Casey Laffay (defender) and honorable mention picks junior Ava Manner (attacker) and sophomore Lillian Thompson (midfielder). Clyde also has its two lone selections back: honorable mention picks junior Bree Caudill (attacker) and sophomore Meredith Greenslade (midfielder). Emma Knecht (attacker), Gabrielle Heilmann (midfielder) and Audrey Rohrer (attacker) all return for Port Clinton while the Redskins must replace first-team pick Amelia Honeycutt (defender) and second-team honoree Morgan Delhees (midfielder). Returning All-SBC selections First team Midfielder: Jordyn Brunner, Perkins; Camille Strong, Woodmore; Xavi Immel, Norwalk Attacker: Claire Spettle, Norwalk; Morgan Frenk, Vermilion Second team Keeper: Ella Rogers, Edison Defender: Peyton Koch, Edison; Amira Turner, Norwalk; Abby Gawry, Vermilion; Kiera Travis, Woodmore; Casey Laffay, Huron Midfielder: Kellyn Ritchie, Edison; Makenna Fullerton, Perkins Attacker: Taryn Temple, Norwalk; Isabella Ramirez, Perkins; Emma Knecht, Port Clinton; Mia Zeis, Columbian Honorable mention Keeper: Lucy Miller, Perkins Defender: Sophie Baker, Edison Midfielder: Lillian Thompson, Huron; Izzy Helmke, Woodmore; Gabrielle Heilmann, Port Clinton; Meredith Greenslade, Clyde Attacker: Willow Lewis, Woodmore; Ava Manner, Huron, Bree Caudill, Clyde; Audrey Rohrer, Port Clinton