High school softball: Jessica Toocheck stepping down at Medina

MEDINA — The Medina High softball program will have a different look in 2024. Longtime coach Jessica Toocheck tearfully informed her team at its postseason banquet that she was stepping down after 13 years on the job (counting the pandemic-canceled season in 2020). "It was just the right time," the 2004 Medina graduate said Thursday, two days after turning 37 years old. "I'm looking to start a new chapter and the girls deserve more time than I'm able to give them at this time. I want them to have success." Toocheck, who compiled a 216-103 career record and led the Bees to the 2012 Division I state semifinals in her second season, said the growing demands created by summer and winter workouts contributed to her decision, but added her primary reason for stepping down was because the players deserve a coach capable of making a total commitment to the program, which she felt she could no longer do. "It was extremely difficult for me to tell them," she said. "I had difficulty getting it out. Everybody was crying, including me. It's just time for someone new to come in who has the energy to take them where they need to go. "The girls all mean the world to me and the relationships I've made have been incredible, from my playing days to my coaching days. Whether it be the players, the parents, the other coaches, the administrators, I couldn't have asked for a better group to make memories with. It's hard to walk away, but I always said if I wasn't the best option for the girls, I wanted to let someone else lead them." Toocheck, who will continue to work as a special education teacher at Medina, has not ruled out returning to coaching at some point. "I might, but at this point I need a break from softball," she said. "It's all I've known for 30 years of my life. For me to be at my best, I think I need some time away. "The state has opened up a lot of opportunities for coaches in the summer and winter, but it's hard giving players their schedules, managing your schedule and checking on facility schedules. I'd like to be able to manage it, but right now there's not enough hours in the day." The Bees finished 10-14 overall and 4-6 in the Greater Cleveland Conference in 2023. It was their second straight losing season — they were 11-13, 6-4 in 2022 — after going 18-8 and reaching the Avon Lake District final in 2021, but Toocheck said she had been thinking about stepping down for several years. "I felt like I was getting a little burned out," she said. "I'm passionate about the sport, but when I felt like I wasn't able to give the time and energy the girls deserve, it was time to step away." Toocheck, who led the Bees to three league titles, two district crowns and one regional championship, said she didn't think any of her assistants were interested in the head coaching position, but Medina athletic director Todd Hodkey is confident a number of qualified people will apply for the job. "Jess is one of the best educators and coaches we've had at Medina and arguably in Medina County," Hodkey said. "She's up there with any of the top coaches. She is Medina softball, for all intents and purposes. From playing here, coaching here and still teaching here, we are blessed to have her. "We'll post the job and do our due diligence to find her successor. These are pretty big shoes to fill, but I feel confident the program is in good shape with a lot of young players coming back." Only honorable mention All-Gazette pick Amelia Cassidy and shortstop Natalie McGraw graduated from the 2023 team. Medina will return a strong core led by All-Gazette freshman Katie Rubino, pitchers Alexa Kuczkowski and Madison Thiemeke and position players like Sammi Rambo, Carley Ostendorf and Ryann Allar. "There's a lot of potential," Toocheck said. "We were able to keep games close with some of our tougher opponents. It just seemed like we were always one play away." Prior to coaching the Bees, Toocheck was a star player at Medina. The 2014 Medina County Sports Hall of Fame inductee was Gazette Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 2004 after earning county MVP honors in softball and also starring in volleyball and basketball. Toocheck went on to play four years of softball at Kent State, where she was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year as a senior shortstop, before spending two seasons playing professionally for the Akron Racers. "The community's been great and the alumni have always been supportive," she said. "I will miss it. I've not had softball in my life, so it will be an adjustment, but it was time. I will still be cheering them on." Contact Rick Noland at (330) 721-4046 or rnoland@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @RickNoland on Twitter.