Frank DiRenna|ThisWeek
In her 12th season as girls volleyball coach at Dublin Scioto, Jackie Wilson continues to guide one of the top programs in the Central District.
Despite losing several key players to graduation each year, Wilson and her athletes have been able to maintain those high standards.
“Our program recognizes that high school sports are really about a full experience,” she said. “We want our kids to come in and enjoy their time and grow as people and not just as athletes. That respect for the person has created a culture in our program that’s really positive.
“That positive culture is one where we want to do well and it leads to competitive success, but it’s overall a place where kids want to be and where we’re growing as people, too, and that says a lot.”
Scioto has reached a Division I district final the past two seasons, losing to Watterson in 2019 and Olentangy Liberty last year.
The Irish also have their sights set on a third consecutive OCC title after winningthe OCC-Capital Divisionlast season at 14-0. They shared the OCC-Cardinal title with Hilliard Bradley in 2019.
Wilson believes her team is prepared for the challenge of repeating.
“We’ve talked about that,” said Wilson, who was named Coach of the Year in the district and OCC-Capitallast season. “Being two-time (league) champions, people are going to come after us and they’re going to give us their best games. We don’t get a day off. Whoever we’re playing, they want to beat Scioto. We were a top team in central Ohio last year.”
Although the Irish lost three key players to graduation, expectations remain high.
“Last year we had a lot of special people on our team, but this year we have special people, too,” senior outside hitter Ayva Leon said. “We’re a different team this year, but we’re going to get it right together, we’re going to come together and it’s going to be good. We’re in a good spot right now.”
Leon was second-team all-league and honorable mention all-district last season.
The Rothe family has played a major role in the program’s success, led by 2021 graduates Ashleigh and Karleigh, who are twins.
Karleigh was named Player of the Year in the league and districtand was second-team all-state, while Ashleigh was first-team all-district and all-league.
The third sister in the family, Alec, also played a key role, earning first-team all-league and second-team all-district honors. A sophom*ore middle hitter, Alec led the team in blocks (67) and added 268 kills.
“I hate to use the word compare because every team has a new identity, and we definitely have some growth to do,” Wilson said.
fdirenna@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekFrank
COFFMAN
Coach: Max Miller, second season
Top players: Ella Durham, Katy McCaffrey, Ruby Moore, Leah Shumate, Annabelle Straty and Grace Thomas
Key losses: Anna Dorenkott and Erin Peebles
Last season: 16-8 overall
2020 OCC-Central standings: Olentangy Orange (10-0), Olentangy Liberty (5-2), Coffman (6-4), Upper Arlington(3-6), Hilliard Bradley (2-7), Hilliard Davidson (1-8)
2020 postseason: DefeatedWesterville North 25-20, 25-13, 25-13; def. Jerome 25-15, 25-16, 25-16; lost to Watkins Memorial 25-12, 25-16, 25-20 in Division I district semifinal
Outlook: After improving by four wins in Miller’s first season, the Shamrocks believe they could have enough depth and experience to contend for league and districttitles. Coffman had a run of 13 consecutive league titles snapped a year ago.
The return of juniors Durham (outside hitter/right-side hitter) and Shumate (outside hitter/setter) is one of the biggest reasons for optimism. Durham had 425 kills and Shumate had 243 kills last season.
Other returnees include seniors McCaffrey (middle hitter/right-side hitter) and Moore (middle hitter/right-side hitter), junior Straty (defensive specialist) and sophom*ore Thomas (middle hitter/right-side hitter).
Seniors Megan Mullins and Maiha Ashida and sophom*ore Rachael Kiley are other defensive specialists, with Ashida also seeing time at setter. Sophom*ore Ashley Stephen will see time as an outside hitter and defensive specialist, and freshman Elizabeth Foreman will split time between outside hitter and right-side hitter.
Quotable: “As long as we’re healthy, we should have a great opportunity. Winning one of the four district titles is the goal, with aspirations to play in the (regional).” — Miller
—Jarrod Ulrey
JEROME
Coach: Andrea Baylin, first season
Top players: Brooke Carpenter, Isabelle Coplan, Surabhi Srinivasan, Paige Wleklinski and Caroline Zimovan
Key loss: Paulina Esquerra
Last season: 7-11 overall
2020 OCC-Cardinal standings: Olentangy (9-0), Thomas Worthington (7-3), Olentangy Berlin (4-5), Jerome (4-6), Hilliard Darby (4-6), Marysville (0-8)
2020 postseason: Lost to Coffman 25-15, 25-16, 25-16 in second round of Division I district tournament
Outlook: Jerome has a new coach as Baylin has replaced Randy Cline, who guided the team for three seasons. Baylin, 29, is a 2010 graduate of Coffman who played for the Shamrocks. She was the junior varsity coach at Hilliard Davidson last season.
Key returnees include outside hitters Srinivasan and Zimovan, both of whom weresecond-team all-league last season. Wleklinski, a senior right-side hitter, was honorable mention all-league.
Jerome has 39 players in the program.
Quotable: “We have such hard workers on the team. We have a lot of talent and we have a lot of height. We have some girls who have been trained really well. Everyone just gets along. You can tell that they love each other, they love the sport and I’m just here to try to help them make their high school experience the best it can be.” — Baylin
—Frank DiRenna
SCIOTO
Coach: Jackie Wilson, 12th season
Top players: Taylor Jenkins, Ayva Leon and Alec Rothe
Key losses: Abby Leonard, Ashleigh Rothe and Karleigh Rothe
Last season: 23-2 overall
2020 OCC-Capital standings: Scioto (14-0), Worthington Kilbourne (11-3), Delaware (10-4), Big Walnut (9-5), Canal Winchester and Westerville South (both 5-9), Westerville North (2-12), Franklin Heights (0-14)
2020 postseason: Def. Logan 25-15, 25-15, 25-9; def. Bradley 25-16, 25-17, 25-11; lost to Liberty 25-20, 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-10 in Division I district final
Outlook: The Irish are seeking a third consecutive OCC title and a third consecutive trip to a district final.
Scioto should be led by Alec Rothe, a sophom*ore middle hitter, Leon, a senior outside hitter, and Jenkins, a junior middle hitter.
A key loss to graduation was Karleigh Rothe, who wasPlayer of the Year in the district and league and second-team all-state.
Quotable: “We feel like we’re on an upward track. We haven’t peaked yet and we’re going to be in a good place.” — Wilson
—Frank DiRenna
