Titusville Rockets
Boys
Coach (season, record): Mark Nesto (2nd season, 9-9-0)
2011 overall record: 9-9-0
2011 region record (place): 6-4-0 (third)
2011 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class AA playoffs.
Top players lost: Alex Kennedy, Gene Berlin, Tyler Brown
Top returning players: Tom Feiereisen, Henry Kennedy, Aaron Marsh, Chris Hoffmeister, Mike Gionti, Josiah Leach, Derek Schneider, Ryan Schwab
Assistant coaches: K.C. Miller, Toby Cressman
Outlook: Titusville could be an interesting team this season. The Rockets were decent in 2011 but with a year of experience with coach Mark Nesto, Titusville has a veteran group back. The Rockets need to plug some holes left by Alex Kennedy, Gene Berlin and Tyler Brown. Kennedy was voted to the all-region first team on offense and Berlin to the second team. The Rockets return second-team defender Aaron Marsh to anchor the defense along with Derek Schneider and Chris Hoffmeister. Tom Feiereisen and Henry Kennedy will look to emerge as playmakes on offense, while Mike Gionti returns after missing last season with an injury. Ryan Schwab has developed into an impressive keeper and will be important to the Rockets’ success this fall. Titusville is a region that is primed for a team to step forward after Warren was hit hard by graduation. If the Rockets can develop their offense in camp and build some chemistry, they will be a team to keep an eye on.
Schedule
September
1 Franklin 11 a.m.
4 at Conneaut 4:30
6 Seneca 4:30
11 at Eisenhower 4
13 North East 4
17 Oil City* 4
19 at Corry* 6
25 Saegertown* 4
27 at Warren* 3
29 at Franklin 11 a.m.
October
1 at Bradford* 5
3 at Oil City* 4
9 Corry* 4
11 at Saegertown* 4
13 Eisenhower 11 a.m.
17 Bradford* TBA
*Region 4 matches
Girls
Coach (season, record): Rick Shrout (7th season, 61-48-8)
2011 overall record: 10-5-4
2011 region record (place): 3-1-2 (second)
2011 playoff results: Lost to Villa Maria 9-0 in the District 10 Class AAA quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Natilee Zdarko, Kari Sutton, Veronica Ditty, Brianne Come, Lindsey Downing
Top returning players: Faith Champion, Grace Champion, Haleigh Scott, Jennifer Kellogg
Assistant coach: Kim Wheeling
Outlook: Titusville has reached the District 10 playoffs the past four years but making it five in a row will be tough. The Rockets move to a talented Class AA region in the south and have some key positions to replace. Titusville lost three of its four midfielders and moved its fourth – Jennifer Kellogg – to defense. Kellogg was voted to the all-region second team as a junior last fall. The Rockets lost Natilee Zdarko, Kari Sutton, Veronica Ditty, Brianne Come and Lindsey Downing to graduation this past spring. Zdarko and Sutton made the all-region first team on offense, while Come was a first-team selection on defense. Downing also leaves a hole as a second-team goalkeeper gone to graduation. The Rockets have plenty of offensive firepower back in Faith Champion along with defenders Grace Champion and Haleigh Scott. Faith Champion already holds Titusville’s scoring records and is back after being named the region co-player of the year and a first-team pick. Grace Champion and Scott were voted to the first team on defense last fall. Lisa Harger and MacKenzie Foley will compete for the starting keeper job, while Shannon Moore could contribute on offense with Faith Champion. The Rockets need to fill in their needs at midfield and keeper successfully in order to compete with D-10′s top Class AA teams.
Schedule
September
4 Cambridge Springs 4
10 at Maplewood 4:30
13 Conneaut 4
15 at Corry 11 a.m.
18 Slippery Rock* 4
20 at Meadville* 4
24 at Grove City* 4
26 Hickory* 4
29 Eisenhower 11 a.m.
October
2 Oil City* 4
3 at Cambridge Springs 4
4 at Slippery Rock* 4
6 at Conneaut 4
8 Meadville* 4
10 Grove City* TBA
16 at Hickory* 7:30
18 at Oil City* 6:30
*Region 2 matches
Saturday: Villa Maria
– Tom Reisenweber
Loading ...