To be called one of the very best of the best.
That's what earning All-Ohio honors means, and for some local athletes that's exactly what they are.
Caldwell senior Lizzy Nau was named first-team All-Ohio while Waterford senior Kim Barker was second-team and Marietta sophomore Erica Dawson was third-team as local players received honors from The Associated Press.
All told, 11 area girls were named All-Ohio, as one of the state's best according to a media panel.
"It's just nice to see other people recognize your kids and the kind of year they have. I think it speaks volumes to their work ethic and what they do in the offseason to make them better players," said Waterford girls' basketball coach Jerry Close.
Nau, Barker and Dawson were the only three local girls named to one of the first three teams while eight others were accorded special mention or honorable mention from the state.
Fact Box
AP Girls Division I All-Ohio
COLUMBUS (AP) - The 2010-11 Associated Press Division I All-Ohio girls basketball team, based on the recommendations of a media panel:
DIVISION I
FIRST TEAM: Kavunaa Edwards, Pickerington North, 6-foot, senior, 21.0 points per game; Ameryst Alston, Canton McKinley, 5-9, jr., 21.0; Azia Bishop, Tol. Start, 6-2, sr., 16.4; Kalpana Beach, Westlake, 6-1, sr., 16.8; Kelsey Mitchell, Cin. Princeton, 5-7, freshman, 19.3; Maleeka Kynard, Tol. Start, 5-7, sr., 14.5; Malina Howard, Twinsburg, 6-4, jr., 21.4.
Player of the year: Ameryst Alston, Canton McKinley.
Coaches of the year: Jack Purtell, Reynoldsburg; Jill Phillips, Cin. Princeton; Pam Davis, Canton McKinley.
SECOND TEAM: Raeshaun Gaffney, Fairfield, 5-9, jr., 27.1; Chelsea Welch, Kettering Fairmont, 5-9, soph., 14.6; Caitlin Kusan, Westerville North, 5-10, sr., 14.1; Brenae Harris, Marion Harding, 5-10, sr., 21.0; Taylor Williams, Waren Howland, 6-3, jr., 19.1; Shanique Ogle, Lorain, 6-1, sr., 18.1.
THIRD TEAM: Alexis Peterson, Cols. Northland, 5-6, soph., 13.8; Cat Wells, Tol. Notre Dame, 5-4, jr., 13.9; Miriam Justinger, Sylvania Northview, 5-11, jr., 16.8; Jessican Monsman, Hudson, 6-2, sr., 19.6; Imani Gordon, Akron Firestone, 6-0, sr., 22.5; Rachel Theriot, Middleburg Hts. Midpark, 6-0, jr., 12.7; Kelsey Pacholke, Eastlake North, 5-10, sr., 18.3.
Special Mention
Travecia Franklin, Cols. Brookhaven; Meredith Stranges, Dublin Coffman; Mackenzie Loesing, Cin. St. Ursula; Olivia Schretzman, Springboro; Loryn Cassady, Logan; Jaime Gluesing, Solon; Jordyn Peck, Shaker Hts.; Stephanie Haas, Rocky River Magnificat; Kourtney Williams, Warren Harding; Taylor Woods, Wadsworth; Logan Pastor, Green; Lauren Walker, Wooster.
Honorable Mention
Ashley Bassett-Smith, Lewis Center Olentangy Orange; Paige Cashin, Newark; Destini Cooper, Reynoldsburg; Morgan Neighbors, Westerville South; Aliyah Zantt, Reynoldsburg;
Alyssa Grevenkamp, Liberty Twp. Lakota East; Chloe Pavlech, Cin. Sycamore; Bianca Quisenberry, New Carlisle Tecumseh; Kathryn Reynolds, Cin. Mt. Notre Dame; Jaymee Veney, Fairborn;
Kelsey Koskinen, Madison; Lady Walker, Cleve. Glenville; Erica Schultz, Strongsville; Therany Dunnigan, Middleburg Hts. Midpark; Jacquee Herron, Mayfield; Alexandria Harris, Lorain; Audrey Smolik, Strongsville;
Kelsea Newman, Perrysburg; Emma Ricketts, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne; Jaymie Jackson, Tol. Start; Racheal Mahan, Mansfield Senior; Danielle Sallisbury, Findlay;
LaNeisha Lennon, Canton McKinley; Hannah Romano, North Canton Hoover; Ashley Rininger, Canton GlenOak; Anita Brown, Warren Harding; Erika Nites, Warren Howland; Alex Shaver, Stow; Sebrina Mangapora, Canfield; Alyssa Jones, Louisville.
AP Girls Division II All-Ohio
COLUMBUS (AP) - The 2010-11 Associated Press Division II All-Ohio girls basketball team, based on the recommendations of a media panel:
DIVISION II
FIRST TEAM: Chelsey Radcliff, Cols. Eastmoor Acad., 5-foot-9, senior, 20.3 points per game; Chelsie Butler, Minerva, 6-4, sr., 16.5; Nikki McKee, Cin. Wyoming, 5-11, sr., 23.1; Kayla Fletcher, South Point, 5-0, sr., 16.4; Colette Hounshell, Mentor Lake Cath., 6-1, sr., 12.8; Leslie Raifsnider, Bellevue, 5-8, jr., 19.2; DiAndra Gibson, Ravenna, 5-11, jr., 14.3.
Players of the year: Nikki McKee, Cin. Wyoming; Chelsie Butler, Minerva.
Coaches of the year: Rod Hersha, Napoleon; Dan Linscott, Cambridge.
SECOND TEAM: Alana Lassiter, Cols. East, 6-1, jr., 19.1; Molly Ritz, Cambridge, 5-10, sr., 9.3; Kelley Austria, Dayton Carroll, 6-0, jr., 13.0; Macketta Allen, Tol. Scott, 5-8, sr., 15.3; Amanda Cahill, Clyde, 6-1, fresh., 17.3; Annie Bova, Cleve. Hts. Beaumont, 5-7, jr., 22.1; Ne'Keia Evans, Painesville Harvey, 6-2, jr., 18.9; Nicole Bell, Cin. Indian Hill, 5-3, jr., 19.4.
THIRD TEAM: Lindsy Snyder, Millersburg West Holmes, 6-0, sr., 12.6; Jalynn Bradburn, South Point, 5-9, sr., 19.0; Erica Dawson, Marietta, 5-9, soph., 16.8; Hailey Griffo, Lima Shawnee, 5-9, sr., 15.7; Emma Hostetler, Shelby, 5-7, soph., 19.1; Hannah McCue, Rocky River, 6-0, jr., 17.0; Taylor Krusinski, Parma Hts. Holy Name, 5-11, jr., 19.0.
Special Mention
Tabatha Piper, Sunbury Big Walnut; Tajanee Wells, Cols. Eastmoor Acad.; Brooke Zwayer, Lewis Center Olentangy; Shelby Stover, Byesville Meadowbrook; Bri Kamarec, Wintersville Indian Creek; Karen Sidwell, Zanesville Maysville; Kailee Howe, Zanesville; Mariah Harris, Spring. Kenton Ridge; Breanna Stucke, Tipp City Tippecanoe; Janae Driggs, Chillicothe Unioto; Ashley Lawson, WCH Miami Trace; Emily Robinson, Circleville Logan Elm; Nicole Chapman, Jackson; Beth Switzler, Mentor Lake Cath.; Sam Morford, Jefferson Area; Alyssa Kraus, Norton; Liz Reeves, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit; Taja Dave, Akron SVSM; Lori Inkrott, Wooster Triway; Allison Howard, Aurora; Katie Reed, Alliance Marlington.
Honorable Mention
Shanevian Holden, Cols. Mifflin; TaRonna Neal, Cols. Beechcroft; Morgan Plummer, Plain City Jonathan Alder; Kellie Roudabush, Hilliard Bradley; Jelicia Shelton, Cols. Bexley;
Abby Wetherell, Cambridge; Kayla Prokopakis, Richmond Edison; Sarah Stephenson, New Philadelphia; Olivia Neace, Warsaw River View; Melanie Poorman, Zanesville Maysville; Mallory Waggle, East Liverpool;
Rebecca Bruner, Spring. Northwestern; Whitney Dabbelt, Kettering Alter; Jordanne Gambill, Clarksville Clinton-Massie; Tess Jenike, Bethel-Tate; Kelsey Matthews, Cin. Indian Hill;
Maegan Grosel, Marietta; Kyleigh Wyeth, Lancaster Fairfield Union; Chrissy Cobb, Greenfield McClain; Morgan Howard, Pomeroy Meigs; Kristin Reisinger, WCH Miami Trace; Elena Lein, The Plains Athens; Hannah Miller, Chillicothe Unioto;
Vanessa Smith, Shaker Hts. Hathaway Brown; Taylor Seton, Bay Village Bay; Emily Julius, Avon; Lindsay Hammer, Chardon NDCL; Delani Stopp, Mentor Lake Cath.; Julia Weilemann, Chagrin Falls Kenston; Tanisha Lawler, Shaker Hts. Hathaway Brown;
Cha'Ron Sweeney, Tol. Rogers; Jordan Fraley, Sandusky Perkins; Kaylea Griffin, Clyde; Megan Zachrich, Napoleon; Emily Ruhe, Lima Bath; Erika Thronsberry, St. Marys Memorial;
Maura Bobby, Poland Seminary; Malorie Gibson, Ravenna; Moniqua Smith, Ravenna; Ronn'yeil Hogan, Alliance Marlington; Vakelyla Merriweather, Youngs. Liberty; Mindy Dykes, Youngs. Liberty; Brandi Snyder, Beloit West Branch; Katelyn Aredale, Struthers.
AP Girls Division III All-Ohio
COLUMBUS (AP) - The 2010-11 Associated Press Division III All-Ohio girls basketball team, based on the recommendations of a media panel:
DIVISION III
FIRST TEAM: Raven Ferguson, Cols. Africentric, 5-foot-11, sr., 19.5 points per game; Heidi Hines, Barnesville, 5-11, sr., 20.9; Amy Malott, Middletown Madison, 6-3, sr., 21.2; Breanna Butler, Oak Hill, 5-7, jr., 18.7; Meghann Wright, Burton Berkshire, 5-10, sr., 14.0; Caitie Craft, Findlay Liberty-Benton, 5-8, jr., 21.1; Hannah Plybon, Orrville, 5-9, soph., 20.9; Kaysie Brittenham, Millbury Lake, 5-9, sr., 19.3.
Players of the year: Raven Ferguson, Cols. Africentric; Ally Malott, Middletown Madison.
Coaches of the year: Doug Hale, Oak Hill; Jack Billing, Anna.
SECOND TEAM: Lakin Caudill, Oak Hill, 5-10, jr., 10.9; Kayla Mohr, Marion Elgin, 5-9, sr., 18.3; Jordan Kimes, Galion Northmor, 6-1, sr., 18.4; Jessica Kinney, Martins Ferry, 5-8, soph., 22.5; Megan Fogt, Anna, 6-0, sr., 13.9; Lauren Langenderfer, Metamora Evergreen, 5-8, jr., 20.9; Brooke Tabaka, Akron Manchester, 5-7, sr., 15.7; Brittany Layton, Gates Mills Gilmour Acad., 6-2, sr., 12.5; Emily Taylor, Elyria Cath., 5-6, sr., 10.0.
THIRD TEAM: Enri Small, Cols. School For Girls, 5-8, sr., 15.0; Lyndsey DeRoads, Milford Ctr. Fairbanks, 5-8, sr., 17.1; Sarah Bardall, Sugarcreek Garaway, 5-11, sr., 11.6; Shelby Sheets, Fayetteville-Perry, 5-11, sr., 22.8; Nikki Elswick, Ironton, 5-11, sr. 20.6; Whitney Daugherty, Albany Alexander, 5-4, sr., 17.0; Brittany Swingle, Crooksville, 6-1, sr., 17.0; Erica Cramer, Attica Seneca East, 5-8, sr., 16.2; Megan McKean, West Salem Northwestern, 5-6, soph., 15.1; Ashley Shuster, Elyria Cath., 6-0, sr., 12.8; Alexis Guy, Shaker Hts. Laurel School, 5-8, jr., 22.5.
Special Mention
Alex Kuhn, Woodsfield Monroe Central; Karlie Collins, Zanesville West Muskingum; Kara Gerbus, Hamilton Badin; Kirsten Grant, Georgetown; Kendra Justice, Minford; Whitney Bear, Lucasville Valley; Brooke Monnolly, Andover Pymatuning Valley; Mercedes Hudson, Beachwood; Lauren Abendroth, Tol. Ottawa Hills; Veronica Wonderly, Fostoria; Sarah Bonar, Kinsman Badger; Courtney Powell, Youngstown Ursuline; Tara Schaffter, Smithville; Destiny Prusky, Newton Falls; Jenn Moore, Jeromesville Hillsdale.
Honorable Mention
Ashley Milligan, Carroll Bloom-Carroll; Ashley Ohler, Mount Gilead; Jenna Ruble, Amanda-Clearcreek; Reagan Stofchek, Richwood North Union; Jordy Ute, Marion Elgin;
Sami Schott, Sarahsville Shenandoah; Morgan Liedtke, Beverly Fort Frye; Kayla Tedrick, West Lafayette Ridgewood; Madison Richards, Cadiz Harrison Central; Paige Ricketts, Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley;
Casey Carter, Georgetown; Chelsea Farrell, Middletown Fenwick; Morgan Prescott, Cin. Hills Christian Acad.; Carrie Watkins, Anna; Lisa Weber, Dayton Christian;
Taylor Hale, Oak Hill; Amanda Ruffner, Chesapeake; Brooke Marcum, Bidwell River Valley; Morgan Grinstead, Albany Alexander; Sierra Sigman, Chillicothe Zane Trace; Erin Dailey, Chillicothe Zane Trace; Tori Leader, Portsmouth West; Shaylin McDaniels, Peebles;
Abbey Deckard, Gates Mills Gilmour Acad.; Kelsey Dugger, Gates Mills Gilmour Acad.; Taylor Ratliff, Columbia Station Columbia; Krystal Pearson, Beachwood; Lindsay Thomas, Rocky River Luth. West; Kayla Jackson, Oberlin; Nicole Virostek, Andover Pymatuning Valley;
Kelsey Wyant, Collins Western Reserve; Alicia Drewes, Archbold; Anna Steffel, Defiance Tinora; Alyssa Meis, Genoa; Kendra Brunswick, Fort Recovery; Holly Brunswick, Fort Recovery;
Hannah Lindesmith, Canton Central Cath.; Ali Gagne, Cortland Lakeview; Mckenzi Mocilnikar, Creston Norwayne; Morgan Van Scoy, Akron Manchester; Courtney Aldridge, Leavittsburg LaBrae; Aurielle Irizarry, Youngst. Ursuline; Alexis VanHorn, Loudonville.
AP Girls Division IV All-Ohio
COLUMBUS (AP) - The 2010-11 Associated Press Division IV All-Ohio girls basketball team, based on the recommendations of a media panel:
DIVISION IV
FIRST TEAM: Shicole Watts, Canal Winchester Harvest Prep, 6-foor-1, senior, 14.0; Lizzy Nau, Caldwell, 5-11, sr., 17.2; Kayla Linkous, New Madison Tri-Village, 5-11, jr., 23.7; Jenna Burdette, Reedsville Eastern, 5-8, fresh., 16.4; Deana Lewis, Cuyahoga Hts., 5-9, jr., 14.6; Teneil Krebs, Bucyrus Wynford, 5-9, sr., 19.2; Paige Klaric, Warren JFK, 5-2, sr., 23.7.
Player of the year: Shicole Watts, Canal Winchester Harvest Prep.
Coaches of the year: Tina Yates, Shadyside; Craig Hamilton, Newcomerstown; Seth Newlove, Arlington.
SECOND TEAM: Kim Barker, Waterford, 5-11, sr., 11.5; Brenna Kurilec, Mount Gilead Christian, 5-11, sr., 20.4; McKenzie Miller, Berlin Hiland, 5-10, jr., 17.0; Kelsey Holloway, Shadyside, 5-8, sr., 13.0; Brittany Williams, Cin. Summit Country Day, 5-10, sr., 16.0; Kacee Hockenberry, Haviland Wayne Trace, 5-6, sr., 15.4; Kristin Klausing, Delphos Jefferson, 5-7, sr., 17.9; Tina Brunswick, Arlington, 5-9, sr., 15.1.
THIRD TEAM: Jaren Francis, Canal Winchester Harvest Prep, 5-11, jr., 13.0; Janel Olberding, Fort Loramie, 5-10, sr., 11.0; Stephanie Recker, Pandora-Gilboa, 6-1, sr., 19.8; McKenzie O'Brian, Mansfield St. Peter's, 5-7, soph., 20.3; Presley Destro, Mogadore, 5-9, sr., 24.8; Macie Malone, Willoughby Hills Cornerstone Christian Acad., 5-5, jr., 14.0.
Special Mention
Logan Mattix, Morral Ridgedale; Melea Smith, Lancaster Fisher Cath.; Ellie LeMasters, Bellaire St. John; Heather Booth, New Matamoras Frontier; Teesha Bennett, Lockland; Kailey Ketterer, Dayton Miami Valley; Emeri Connery, Reedsville Eastern; Brooke Drayer, Waterford; Allison Flowers, Belpre; Courtney Rowe, Beaver Eastern; Holly Hempill, Portsmouth Clay; Kourtni Taylor, North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Acad.; Courtney Reese, Willoughby Hills Cornerstone Christian Acad.; Hali Butler, Fairport Harbor Harding; Carissa Johnson, Fairport Harbor Harding; Kellie McDonald, Newbury; Tasha Kaufman, Ottoville; Audrey Metzger, Dalton; Mikyla Tipton, Wellsville; Sarah Cash, Warren Lordstown; Taylor Hvisdak, Lowellville; Emily Carlson, Lowellville.
Honorable Mention
Kirsten Dewese, Lancaster Fairfield Christian Acad.; Haley Kirby, Delaware Christian; Chelsea McKnight, Canal Winchester Harvest Prep; Audrey Rettstaett, Worthington Christian; Tori Thompson, Cols. Tree of Life Christian;
Stephany Felton, Newcomerstown; Millie Patchan, New Philadelphia Tuscararawas Central Cath.; Molly Nash, Zanesville Rosecrans; Karli Bonar, Shadyside; Kendra Schlabach, Berlin Hiland;
Tara Dennis, Williamsburg; Jenna Erwin, S. Charleston Southeastern; Kelsey Funderburgh, N. Lewisburg Triad; Ashley Oren, Springfield Emmanuel Christian; Ricci Snell, Cin. Country Day;
Emily Brown, Waterford; Abbie Walls, Bainbridge Paint Valley; Brenna Holter, Reedsville Eastern; Chandra Canaday, Crown City South Gallia; Jenn Arnzen, Portsmouth Notre Dame; Rachel Staker, Beaver Eastern; Katie Little, Manchester;
Martha Thompson, North Ridgeville Lake Ridge Acad.; Rachel Borowske, Kirtland; Brooke Rayokovich, Cuyahoga Hts.; Jenny Velotta, Newbury; Carly Stock, Cuyahoga Hts.; Kellie McDonald, Newbury; Kaitlyn Kish, Kirtland;
Audrey Badovick, Norwalk St. Paul; Lacey Kessler, Mount Blanchard Riverdale; Morgan Keeterle, Holgate; Jo Ellen Fickel, Haviland Wayne Trace; Bre McVey, Plymouth; Tayler Tackett, Greenwich South Central; Randa Payne, Mansfield St. Peter's; Delanie Wolf, Minster;
Kati Varian, East Canton; Taylor Ward, Sebring; Taylor Stanley, McDonald; Aleysha Gregory, Rittman; Taylor Ketler, Dalton; Ashley Harrison, Columbiana Crestview; Clarissa Perkins, Leetonia; Ashley Moore, Lowellville.
Dawson enjoyed a tremendous year for the Lady Tigers, averaging 16.8 points per game as well as 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 4.0 steals a contest.
She was the complete package for Marietta this year, and earned recognition as third-team All-Ohio, one of the 22 girls named to the top three teams.
"I went down through the three teams and she was the only sophomore listed and there was only one freshman in the first three teams. I think that says a lot right there," said Marietta girls' basketball coach Scott Cozzens.
Dawson also received Southeastern Ohio Athletic League Player of the Year honors as she excelled during her first year of varsity competition after playing JV a year ago.
Blessed with incredible athleticism, Dawson is still learning the game of basketball but continues to get better every day out. Cozzens believes she'll continue to mature and get stronger in the weight room as well, which can only help the youthful Tiger's game.
"Whatever it takes for her to be the best player she can be, she's going to put the effort in," Cozzens praised.
Along with Dawson, Marietta senior Maegan Grosel also earned All-Ohio honors as she was accorded honorable mention from the state.
Grosel averaged 10.6 points, 2.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game this year but contributed far more to Marietta's success than just numbers.
She was also the girl who did all the little stuff that was needed by the team, whether it be guarding an opposing team's top player or providing some emotional guidance to keep her teammates heads up.
"Maegan was a nice surprise down there at honorable mention," Cozzens said. "Maegan won't, but she can look back and brag on herself when she gets older."
Grosel was also an All-Ohio soccer player for Marietta, so she is one of the rare athletes who have received top honors from the state in multiple sports.
Nau was the area's only first-team All-Ohio selection as she capped her high school career in fine fashion.
"I was tickled to death when I found out she got first team," said Caldwell girls' basketball coach Mike Podlasiak. "If anybody deserves that honor, she's earned that."
Nau nearly averaged a double-double for the Lady Redskins this year as she contributed 17.1 points a game as well as 8.3 rebounds. The senior post player also shot 74 percent from the free throw line as she connected on 150-of-204 attempts from the charity stripe.
Aggressive going to the basket, Nau earned plenty of free throws and it helped her team as she was so successful from the stripe.
"She just did whatever it took for us to win," Podlasiak said.
Along with her athleticism, Nau also carries a 3.75 GPA and is an honor student, Podlasiak said. Combine the two together, and she has set an impressive standard for girls' basketball at Caldwell.
"You don't replace players like that. She has set the tone and set the bar extremely high for the girls coming through the basketball program at Caldwell," Podlasiak praised.
Barker helped Waterford advance to the regional tournament for yet another year where the Lady Wildcats were eventually ousted by Tri-Valley Conference opponent Eastern.
The only senior on the team, Barker averaged 11.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.5 seals and 1.0 assists a contest for the Lady Wildcats as she received second-team All-Ohio honors.
Barker has received many awards this winter, but the state awards are given on the biggest stage for high school athletics in Ohio.
"That's the thing that makes it nice. These awards come down from other coaches and writers across the state. It's not just a localized group," Close praised.
Waterford fared the best of the local teams as the Lady Wildcats actually had three players earn All-Ohio honors.
Along with Barker, Waterford sophomore point guard Brooke Drayer was a special mention all-state player while junior forward Emily Brown was honorable mention.
Drayer averaged 14.2 points, 4.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 steals a game this winter while Brown led Waterford in scoring with 14.4 points a game while also averaging 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 1.6 assists a contest.
"It's a great honor any time you can get All-Ohio. Those three have continued to get awarded all year for their efforts," Close said.
Fort Frye sophomore Morgan Liedtke was an honorable mention All-Ohio selection after averaging 12.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 steals a game.
Shenandoah's Sami Schott was also honorable mention while Monroe Central senior standout Alex Kuhn was a special mention all-state player in Division III.
Kuhn, who recorded her 1,000th career point this winter, averaged 17.6 points per game while Schott averaged 16.0 points a contest.
Frontier senior Heather Booth was a special mention All-Ohio player for the Lady Cougars. Booth also surpassed the 1,000 point plateau for her career and became Frontier's all-time leading scorer in girls' basketball history.
This winter Booth averaged 15.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals a game.
Belpre junior Allison Flowers was also a special mention All-Ohio honoree as she averaged 16.2 points and 6.8 rebounds a game. An outstanding shooter from the perimeter, Flowers connected on 57 three-pointers this winter as one of the Mid-Ohio Valley's leaders.
The success that area basketball teams may have earned some girls recognition from the state, but there are many more outstanding players waiting in the wings for honors, Cozzens noted.
"Hopefully, if we can continue to do well, then maybe more people around the state will recognize, gosh, we've got some players," Cozzens said.
