Varsity » Union City

Fall Fastbreak – Union City

Tom Reisenweber — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:00:03 +0000

Union City Bears
Boys
Coach (season): Kelley Ponsoll (1st season)
2011-12 overall record: 3-19
2011-12 region record (place): 3-5 (fourth)
2011-12 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class AA playoffs.
Top players lost: None
Top returning players: Drake Burgess, Alex Hoban, Jarad Ossa
Assistant coaches: Kyle Ponsoll, Rossi Santo, Cody Campbell
Outlook: Union City will look to go in a new direction with new head coach Kelley Ponsoll. The Bears struggled last season but a big part of their struggles could have been youth. Union City didn’t lose anyone to graduation and will bring back an experienced team. Drake Burgess was voted to the all-region first team last year, while Alex Hoban was voted to the second team. Both are returning juniors along with Jarad Ossa. Burgess averaged 8.4 points per game last year, while Hoban was at 10.6 ppg and Ossa scored 4.9 ppg. All three are returning starters along with Raymond Pituch. The Bears could also receive big contributions from new players Quentin Maynard, Lucas Dougherty and Brody Mangel. Union City returns all five starters from last year and the chemistry they built last winter could translate into more wins this season. The Bears will have to deal with strength and size issues this year but taking care of the ball and playing mistake-free basketball will be important to counter those disadvantages. Union City has a new system in place and the quicker the Bears buy into it, the quicker they can rebuild the program.

Schedule
December
7-8 Cambridge Springs tournament
11 at Maplewood 7:30
18 at Corry 7:30
21 Northwestern* 7:30
January
3 Fairview* 7:30
5 at Titusville* 7:30
8 at North East* 7:30
11 Seneca* 7:30
12 Saegertown 1:30
15 Iroquois* 7:30
18 Mercyhurst Prep* 7:30
19 Reynolds 7:30
22 at Northwestern* 7:30
25 Mercer 7:30
29 at Fairview* 7:30
February
1 Titusville* 7:30
5 North East* 7:30
6 at Cambridge Springs 7:30
8 at Seneca* 7:30
12 at Iroquois* 7:30
15 at Mercyhurst Prep* 7:30
*Region 4 games

Girls
Coach (season): Chris Krause (6th season)
2011-12 overall record: 0-22
2011-12 region record (place): 0-14 (eighth)
2011-12 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class AA playoffs.
Top players lost: Matti Uber, Amber Bacon, Halle Hinkle, Katie Kirik
Top returning players: Michaela Krause, Morgan Peterson
Assistant coaches: Frank Snyder, Mary Russell
Outlook: Union City faced a big problem with numbers last year. The Bears’ problem could have carried over this year but they had more participation and have 12 girls on the roster. Now that the program has more stability, Union City can focus on winning games. The Bears will have to replace Matti Uber, Amber Bacon, Halle Hinkle and Katie Kirik. Union City returns two starters in sophomore Michaela Krause and senior Morgan Peterson and will look to the younger players to fill in the rest of the lineup. Junior Autumn Kinney is back after not playing the past two years, while freshmen Carly Williams, Hayley Patchen, Jolene Bacon, Sarah Toy and Jordyn Kosienski could be impact players right away. Union City will have to deal with Erie County powerhouses but this year could be more about continuing the build the program than winning every game. The Bears are starting to build confidence and put their work in during the offseason. Union City may go through more growing pains this year but their hard work could pay off in the future.

Schedule
December
12 Cambridge Springs 7:30
13 Lakeview 7:30
17 at Rocky Grove 7:30
19 Fairview* 7:30
27-28 Union City tournament
January
4 General McLane* 7:30
7 at Seneca* 7:30
10 at Northwestern* 7:30
11 at Maplewood 7:30
14 North East* 7:30
16 Titusville 7:30
17 Girard* 7:30
21 Iroquois* 7:30
24 at Fairview* 7:30
28 at General McLane* 7:30
30 at Commodore Perry 7:30
31 Seneca* 7:30
February
4 Northwestern* 7:30
7 at North East* 7:30
11 at Girard* 7:30
14 at Iroquois* 7:30
*Region 4 games

Friday: George Junior, VisionQuest, Villa Maria

–Tom Reisenweber

Jump Serve: Union City

Tom Reisenweber — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 13:00:59 +0000

Union City Bears
Coach (season): Sherri Miller (6th season)
2010 overall record: 4-10
2010 region record (place): 4-10 (tied for sixth)
2010 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 playoffs.
Top player lost: MacKenzie Gilson
Top returning players: Halle Hinkle, Amber Bacon
Assistant coach: Nancy Zielinski
Outlook: Union City’s biggest concern in camp will be developing a new libero with the graduation of all-region selection MacKenzie Gilson. The Bears play in one of the top Class A regions in the state and it won’t be easy to rebuild in. Setter Halle Hinkle and middle hitter Amber Bacon are back to lead the way, while Nikki Adams and Julia Davis are up-and-coming underclassmen that could have an impact on the varsity level this fall. Union City will need to develop its defense with a new libero this fall and play consistently on offense in order to hang with powerhouses Maplewood, Cochranton, Linesville and Saegertown.

Schedule
September
13 at Conneaut Lake* 7:15
15 Maplewood* 7:15
20 at Saegertown* 7:15
22 Conneaut Valley* 7:15
27 at Linesville* 7:15
29 Cambridge Springs* 7:15
October
4 Cochranton* 7:15
6 Conneaut Lake* 7:15
11 at Maplewood* 7:15
13 Saegertown* 7:15
18 at Conneaut Valley* 7:15
20 Linesville* 7:15
25 at Cambridge Springs* 7:15
27 at Cochranton* 7:15

Later today: Villa Maria

– Tom Reisenweber

Summer Huddle: Union City

Tom Reisenweber — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 04:05:30 +0000

Union City Bears
Coach (season): Joe Sanford (1st season)
2010 overall record: 5-5
2010 region record (place): 5-3 (tied for third)
2010 playoff results: Lost 33-0 to Farrell in the District 10 Class A quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Greg Reinke, Ryan Myers, Luke Hetrick, Shane Rankin
Top returning players: Justin Bengel, Austin Shettler, Cole Lewis, Curtis Brown, William Manross, Shane Russell, Tim Vargo, Kyle Hetrick, Coltin Warner, Tyler Lindsley, Jarad Brooks, Jeff Burger, Josh Reinke
Assistant coaches: Randy Gunther, Paul Yoculan, Dan Clark, Brian Patten, Josh Kerns and Ray Salmon
Outlook: Union City looked for a new direction in the offseason and hired long-time coach Joe Sanford. Sanford has been a head coach at Corry and Seneca as well as an assistant and defensive coordinator at McDowell. His first priority is to get to know the team and start developing a gameplan that will work. Sanford hasn’t coached on the Class A level and will have to get used to a different style of football.

The Bears lost a few key players from last year’s playoff team, including Greg Reinke, Ryan Myers, Kurt Hetrick and Shane Rankin. Union City has plenty of experience, however. Justin Bengel, Austin Shettler, Cole Lewis, Curtis Brown, William Manross and Jeff Burger are back to anchor the offensive and defensive lines, while Tim Vargo, Coltin Warner and Shane Russell could compete for the starting quarterback job. Kyle Hetrick and Tyler Lindsley are back to compete for carries in the backfield along with Jarred Brooks and Josh Reinke.

Union City will be in for some changes in the offseason and could sneak up on some teams under Sanford. The Bears have a huge test to start the season at Lakeview before an interesting home opener against Youngsville. Union City’s chances for the region title and a playoff spot should be determined in October with games against Cambridge Springs, Maplewood, Iroquois and Mercyhurst Prep.

Schedule
September
2 at Lakeview 7
9 Youngsville* 7
17 at East 7
23 Cochranton* 7
30 at Saegertown* 7
October
7 Cambridge Springs* 7
14 Maplewood* 7
21 at Iroquois* 7
28 Mercyhurst Prep* 7
November
4 at Eisenhower* 7

Look for the Kickoff magazine at a Country Fair near you beginning Aug. 15. The 112-page magazine previews the upcoming District 10 football season, including top returning players, schedules, stats and more.

Sunday: Warren

– Tom Reisenweber