Girls soccer: Highland's Bill Zufall announces retirement

After leading the talented Highland girls soccer team to great heights the past three seasons, coach Bill Zufall announced he is retiring from coaching. Zufall cited spending more time with his family and informed the team Friday. "It's been a blessing and privilege to be a part of Highland, going back to when I was the boys coach and the girls coach," Zufall said. "I've missed a lot of opportunities with my two sons (Billy and Owen), but been blessed to be around my daughter (Vanessa on Highland's soccer team) so much. "With her going off to college and my two sons still in the Highland school district, I felt it was the right time to spend more time with the people I've kind of neglected over the past few years and some other family members." The Hornets experienced their three winningest seasons under Zufall, going 56-5-5 (.886) and capturing their first three district championships. In addition to the past three seasons, Zufall was the girls coach from 2015-19, going 48-34-7 (.579), and the boys coach from 2005-10, going 74-25-10 (.725). Overall, Zufall has won 130-of-216 games for a .653 winning percentage. The highlight of his second tenure with the girls came in 2024, when the Hornets reached the Division III state title game. Highland fell to Bay after allowing a goal by Maya Holmes with 12 seconds remaining in a 1-0 loss. The Hornets won a program-record 21 games that season, matching the Medina County record set by Medina's 2009 state championship team. "It was truly a blessing to be around all these athletes and super soccer ambassadors for our community," Zufall said. "They've really created a legacy for Highland. To be a part of that excellence daily is special." The season prior, Highland beat Avon 4-2 to win its first district title while competing in D-I. The Hornets took a 2-0 lead on Strongsville before losing on penalty kicks in the regional semifinals. This season, Highland looked poised to reverse that storyline in a D-II regional semifinal against Sunbury Big Walnut. The Hornets fell behind 2-0 but tied on goals by Avalynn Price and Katie Wetzel. Highland saw potential goals by Gazette MVP Grace Shondel and Price waved off on controversial calls before losing 3-2 in double overtime. The team held a cumulative 4.08 grade-point average. "The spirit that they created is going to be a long-lasting memory that I'll always cherish," Zufall said. "The memories aren't about the games but the process and the journey. ... They became better players but were even better people." Though the Hornets will graduate seven starters, including Gazette MVPs Shondel and Vanessa Zufall and All-Gazette picks Price and goalie Hailey Trzaska, the cupboard isn't bare. Starters Jordyn Caples, Penny Dykeman and Wetzel will be seniors next season, while Amelia Price started as a freshman. "I wish our school nothing but the best," Zufall said. "I hope these players, every single one of them, not only stay with the program, but keep dreaming bigger." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.