With multiple pre-season scrimmages having been played or being played this week, and the Mason showcase this weekend and the OE and Mariemont ones next week I thought it's time to share my ramblings on what to expect this upcoming year, that will be made even more strange with the addition of 2 more divisions.
D1 and D2 at half the size or less from before will certainly shake things up. D4 is loaded with both mid size plutocratic suburban and private schools who have well over a dozen state championship wins or finalists between them across D2 and D3 previously. The few good D3 and especially D5 schools locally have a much easier path I believe.
My predictions.
D1
Oak Hills, arguably the best player locally this coming year Pennekamp will possibly become only the 2nd girl in local history to break 300 points. Oak Hills has lots of other threats and they had 6 of the top 10 GMC Scorers from last year returning. Oak Hills issue last year was a weak conference schedule and the random unfortunate goal. I still don't see them losing any GMC games (will any even be close??) and with the graduation of the true scorers in the GGCL, GWOC, GMC and ECC that D should have less to worry about in non conference games. Oak Hills has already played multiple scrimmages and is way ahead of most other teams as far as play time before they jump into the season. Obviously it's not 100% the varsity team playing but I bet it's close. I'm sure their coach can taste a state run between the split of D1 and D2 and all the graduated talent from last years D1 rosters.
Seton is my other pick to win D1. Seton lost some really big impact players but have solid youth and that high line (and poor ref work around it) wrecks havoc on undisciplined teams. Losing Carle, Cluxton and Glahn who were the GGCL's top 3 scorers may be too much to overcome. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out and if monster school Mason can compete. A school that size with that player pool should be in the conversation every year. Same can be said for Centerville. Well coached, and a ton of club players.
D2
MND should runaway with D2. Always in the mix and even though some give their coach a hard time they have found many big results wins and ties against some really strong competition. They only lost 1 game all last year and that was to at that point reigning state champ Seton. Maybe Anderson can make a push, a few young talented players and the east side mystique may paly out. Loveland has a new coach (still seems odd to say that) and could shake it up. Be interesting to see.
D3
My call is Turpin or Badin with Bellbrook being the dark horse. Turpin just does what the East side does and socioeconomics their way into relevance. Badin the best of the D3 Private schools who showed they can play with anyone at anytime last year and Bellbrook only had 1 loss all last year and that was in the playoffs and they held last years ECC powerhouse to just 1 goal. Carroll also has the ability to win some crazy games and surprise. But I'm going Turpin.
D4
Private
Summit (State champs), CCDS (State Champs), Alter (State Champs), McNick (State Champs), Fenwick (State Champs)
Public
Indian Hill (State Champs), Waynesville (State Champs)
Not a stretch to say Summit runs away with it in a very deep D4. They had an exceptional season last year. 1 loss vs SUA and 2 draws (Seton and Waynesville) and a state championship with only losing 3 players who played in the state game and they were not hugely impactful. A young and talented team that has been tested and won a championship. Summit is always in the mix, always plays tough schedules and is always dangerous and as we saw vs River and Waynesville they come prepared and coached for who they are playing. Should be a no brainer to see them playing and winning in November again. McNick could be a surprise to many. Lots of young talent and they beat and hung with a lot of teams last year they maybe should not have. Is this the year McNick becomes relevant again?
CCDS and Waynesville were decimated by graduations. The Zimm twins cannot be replaced for the nighthawks. 57 goals and 49 assists between the two of them, and Ferris is also a gargantuan loss with 24/24. All 3 had double digit goals and assists, now throw in Weber that had 30 points and double digit goals and man that's tough along with a D1 Defender in Hardesty leaving...Their next best scorer that is still there had 5 goals and 5 assists. But is there a better coached team in SW Ohio? Still losing the Zimmerman girls and Ferris and Hardesty both going D1 is just so massive. And they always find a way to reload. Waynesville loses probably the most prolific scorer in SW Ohio history in Erbach plus their #2 scorer in Woody and a total of 6 seniors that saw significant playtime with 96 goals and 70 assists between them. They do still have a few double digit scorers but Erbach was man marked and doubled so much it gave lots of chances to others, with her gone it will be much tougher. I'll be very interested to see what they both do this year.
The Hill! They took the hit last year that CCDS and Waynesville are taking this year when they lost Fiore, Evans, Church, Vigran and Ericksson. Last year was rough but Is their a more storied public school in SW Ohio? The answer is no (sorry Loveland fans). They will rebuild and while it may not be a great year, Reading will still be the whipping post in the CHL. Can I remind everyone they (reading) have not ever beaten anyone in the league except Deer park and Finnytown. Just pointing that out, and If you forget I'll be sure to remind you weekly. Wyoming also took a hit losing 100 point player Mouch along with Koch. But they return some talent on the field and statistically the CHL's best keeper in Dinardo.
Mariemont. Last year was some growing pains, but they are supremely coached, and have a ton of youg talent. I watched them a bunch last year and while they made many mistakes they also showed signs of some real breakthroughs. Cant catch Summit as a D4 favorite but I think this year will be a turning point and next year they will be at the top of the CHL and at or near the top of D4.
D5
Madeira, not only do I think they will dominate the CHL (again) but they will win districts and regionals and play at state. The coaching, the talent, just sit back and watch the socioeconomics work. I can't wait to see them play Mariemont this year, it should be back in the village this time, always a scrappy hard fought game. There is nobody else locally that can compete in D5
D1 and D2 at half the size or less from before will certainly shake things up. D4 is loaded with both mid size plutocratic suburban and private schools who have well over a dozen state championship wins or finalists between them across D2 and D3 previously. The few good D3 and especially D5 schools locally have a much easier path I believe.
My predictions.
D1
Oak Hills, arguably the best player locally this coming year Pennekamp will possibly become only the 2nd girl in local history to break 300 points. Oak Hills has lots of other threats and they had 6 of the top 10 GMC Scorers from last year returning. Oak Hills issue last year was a weak conference schedule and the random unfortunate goal. I still don't see them losing any GMC games (will any even be close??) and with the graduation of the true scorers in the GGCL, GWOC, GMC and ECC that D should have less to worry about in non conference games. Oak Hills has already played multiple scrimmages and is way ahead of most other teams as far as play time before they jump into the season. Obviously it's not 100% the varsity team playing but I bet it's close. I'm sure their coach can taste a state run between the split of D1 and D2 and all the graduated talent from last years D1 rosters.
Seton is my other pick to win D1. Seton lost some really big impact players but have solid youth and that high line (and poor ref work around it) wrecks havoc on undisciplined teams. Losing Carle, Cluxton and Glahn who were the GGCL's top 3 scorers may be too much to overcome. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out and if monster school Mason can compete. A school that size with that player pool should be in the conversation every year. Same can be said for Centerville. Well coached, and a ton of club players.
D2
MND should runaway with D2. Always in the mix and even though some give their coach a hard time they have found many big results wins and ties against some really strong competition. They only lost 1 game all last year and that was to at that point reigning state champ Seton. Maybe Anderson can make a push, a few young talented players and the east side mystique may paly out. Loveland has a new coach (still seems odd to say that) and could shake it up. Be interesting to see.
D3
My call is Turpin or Badin with Bellbrook being the dark horse. Turpin just does what the East side does and socioeconomics their way into relevance. Badin the best of the D3 Private schools who showed they can play with anyone at anytime last year and Bellbrook only had 1 loss all last year and that was in the playoffs and they held last years ECC powerhouse to just 1 goal. Carroll also has the ability to win some crazy games and surprise. But I'm going Turpin.
D4
Private
Summit (State champs), CCDS (State Champs), Alter (State Champs), McNick (State Champs), Fenwick (State Champs)
Public
Indian Hill (State Champs), Waynesville (State Champs)
Not a stretch to say Summit runs away with it in a very deep D4. They had an exceptional season last year. 1 loss vs SUA and 2 draws (Seton and Waynesville) and a state championship with only losing 3 players who played in the state game and they were not hugely impactful. A young and talented team that has been tested and won a championship. Summit is always in the mix, always plays tough schedules and is always dangerous and as we saw vs River and Waynesville they come prepared and coached for who they are playing. Should be a no brainer to see them playing and winning in November again. McNick could be a surprise to many. Lots of young talent and they beat and hung with a lot of teams last year they maybe should not have. Is this the year McNick becomes relevant again?
CCDS and Waynesville were decimated by graduations. The Zimm twins cannot be replaced for the nighthawks. 57 goals and 49 assists between the two of them, and Ferris is also a gargantuan loss with 24/24. All 3 had double digit goals and assists, now throw in Weber that had 30 points and double digit goals and man that's tough along with a D1 Defender in Hardesty leaving...Their next best scorer that is still there had 5 goals and 5 assists. But is there a better coached team in SW Ohio? Still losing the Zimmerman girls and Ferris and Hardesty both going D1 is just so massive. And they always find a way to reload. Waynesville loses probably the most prolific scorer in SW Ohio history in Erbach plus their #2 scorer in Woody and a total of 6 seniors that saw significant playtime with 96 goals and 70 assists between them. They do still have a few double digit scorers but Erbach was man marked and doubled so much it gave lots of chances to others, with her gone it will be much tougher. I'll be very interested to see what they both do this year.
The Hill! They took the hit last year that CCDS and Waynesville are taking this year when they lost Fiore, Evans, Church, Vigran and Ericksson. Last year was rough but Is their a more storied public school in SW Ohio? The answer is no (sorry Loveland fans). They will rebuild and while it may not be a great year, Reading will still be the whipping post in the CHL. Can I remind everyone they (reading) have not ever beaten anyone in the league except Deer park and Finnytown. Just pointing that out, and If you forget I'll be sure to remind you weekly. Wyoming also took a hit losing 100 point player Mouch along with Koch. But they return some talent on the field and statistically the CHL's best keeper in Dinardo.
Mariemont. Last year was some growing pains, but they are supremely coached, and have a ton of youg talent. I watched them a bunch last year and while they made many mistakes they also showed signs of some real breakthroughs. Cant catch Summit as a D4 favorite but I think this year will be a turning point and next year they will be at the top of the CHL and at or near the top of D4.
D5
Madeira, not only do I think they will dominate the CHL (again) but they will win districts and regionals and play at state. The coaching, the talent, just sit back and watch the socioeconomics work. I can't wait to see them play Mariemont this year, it should be back in the village this time, always a scrappy hard fought game. There is nobody else locally that can compete in D5
Last edited:
