SANDUSKY — Basketball season is less than six months away, but area teams took their talents to Cedar Point.
In the annual Midwest Live at the Cedar Point Sports Center in Sandusky, Elyria Catholic, Rocky River and 2024-25 Division III state runner-up Avon Lake stepped up to the challenge.
“This is probably the best event of the summer,” Avon Lake coach Paul Appel said. “We have quality teams, everything is on schedule … It is a great chance for us to show ourselves to college coaches as well.”
Avon Lake made a historic run to the Division III state championship game, led by seniors Izzie Polinko (Lorain County Player of the Year), Olivia Tobin and All-Ohioan Bre Jones on the wing.
“Every year, you are always losing a few seniors and are evolving as a team,” Appel said. “(The Midwest Live) is the closest thing that you can get to a real game. You learn a ton about your team — their strengths and weaknesses. Then, you get back at it before the season starts.”
Molly Milligan and Division III All-Ohioan Olivia Miller return from last year’s starting five. The Shoregals will also have senior Evelyn Ritt and junior Alyssa Jones, who contributed off the bench in 2024-25.
“Our girls come with the expectation of being successful now,” Appel said. “I think that is one of my biggest takeaways from our (2024-25) success. … With that comes a lot of pressure and our girls are embracing it.”
On June 13, Avon Lake (23-6, 12-2 SWC) took on Perrysburg and Streetsboro (2025 Division IV regional finalist), then followed up against Toledo Start (Division II regional finalist) and Massillon Perry on June 14.
Avon Lake’s new faces projected to help carry the torch will be Bri Droke (class of 2027), Frankie Persia (2028), Rachel Beshaw (2027) and Mariela DiTullio (2026).
“They are doing a great job of competing and fighting for minutes now,” Appel said. “They are bringing a new element (to the team) and can do some different things.”
The Panthers at Elyria Catholic (19-6 record, 11-1 in NCC) won a share of the North Coast Conference en route to a Division IV district final appearance.
They are looking to rebuild their core after losing seniors Mya Rivera (10.5 points per game, first-team NCC), Camara Ogletree (first-team NCC) and Lexi Rodriguez (second-team NCC).
Health-wise, Elyria Catholic lost its footing. Numerous injuries sidelined returning contributors for long and short periods.
“We are just trying to get better. That is all we are trying to do,” Rothgery said. “We are not one of those teams that practices five days a week. We just go out there and play and will be ready for the season.”
Nadia Pagan’s injury will result in her missing the 2025-26 basketball season.
The Panthers suited up 8-to-9 players and even brought up middle schoolers to compete. They took on Whitehall-Yearling, Shelby, Loveland and Norwalk in their first Midwest Live appearance.
Elyria Catholic has the potential to produce a lengthy lineup. It will include Claire Petrus (6-foot), Ari Dimacchia and Julianna Cerny at 5-11. The focus is reaching full strength, while giving their healthy players opportunities to grow.
“We can be (long), but we are not there right now,” Rothgery said.
Rocky River (18-5, 13-1 Cleveland West Conference) graduated one senior and will bring back starters Oliva Dewey (CWC Co-Defensive Player of the Year), Nora Bruder (CWC Co-Offensive Player of the Year), Elizabeth Lang and Claudia Roche.
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“(This year) is different, because we have a lot of girls that play AAU where basketball is first,” Rocky River coach Jamey Pfahl said. “We’ve had some volleyball- or basketball-first girls. This group of girls has a lot that play AAU and they are in the gym on their own a lot.”
Roche is the only senior on the team. The Pirates took on Canfield, Sycamore, Tiffin Columbian and Creston Norwayne in their second appearance at the Midwest Live.
“We knew that every game was going to be against a great opponent and we had to be ready in every game. We had to continue to bring the energy,” Rocky River coach Jamey Pfahl said. “It is a big moment and we have to treat it that way.”