Girls golf preview: Buckeye re-establishes team after long absence

With new coaches, league alignments, a program restart and one school replacing its entire starting lineup, things are sure different in Medina County girls golf this season. Following its sixth consecutive trip to the state tournament, Highland graduated all five starters who took the Hornets to fifth place at Firestone's Fazio Course. Additionally, 2007 program founder Mary Becker retired, putting Chris Kestner in charge. Meanwhile, Buckeye is beginning anew under the direction of Nick Shea. The Bucks have been without a team since the early 2000s. Elsewhere around the county, Medina and Highland are joining Wadsworth in the Suburban League National Conference. The Hornets are making the move from the SL American and the Bees from the Greater Cleveland Conference, leaving reigning champion Brunswick as the only county school in the GCC. Led by All-Gazette selections Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble and Emma Gonzalez-Ribble and a wealth of experience, the Blue Devils should be a team to watch. Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble was second-team Division I All-Ohio last season after finishing eighth at the state tournament, one spot behind 2025 Gazette MVP and 2026 Highland graduate Elizabeth Coleman. Additionally, the Metro Athletic Conference will expand to 10 teams, with Tallmadge, Cuyahoga Falls and Roosevelt joining Cloverleaf and Coventry departing. Here's a closer look at the county's six girls golf teams: Brunswick Coach: Chad Thompson (4th season, 8 seasons as boys coach). Last season: 1-1 non-league, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st Greater Cleveland Conference tournaments (1st overall), 3rd of 20 at The Elms Division I Sectional, 8th of 16 at Tanglewood District, Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble eighth at state tournament. Home course: Bunker Hill Golf Course Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble (All-Gazette, jr.), Emma Gonzalez-Ribble (All-Gazette, so.), Rylee Roth (HM All-Gazette, sr.), Autumn Muslusky (sr.), Brianna Behrend (so.). Newcomers: Teigan Dryer (sr.), Allison Hudak (sr.), Olivia Tytko-Fox (sr.), Kylee Rubino (jr.), Alece Paroda (jr.), Addie Wish (fr.). Noteworthy: After qualifying for districts for the second year in a row and winning the GCC, Brunswick has bigger goals. l Ellie Gonzalez-Ribble is the county's top returning player after averaging 37.0 and earning All-Ohio honors last season. Buckeye Coach: Nick Shea (1st season) Last season: n/a. Home course: Coppertop Golf Course Key letterwinners lost: None. Newcomers: Anna Eberhardt (jr.), Angelina Vannello (jr.), Valentina Barber (so.), Amelia Kenney (so.), Olivia Hanna (so.), Kamille Shea (fr.). Noteworthy: Buckeye has been working on re-establishing a girls program for a few years and will set a foundation this season. l Shea said a number of the girls have experience with the sport. Cloverleaf Coach: Grace May (2nd season) Last season: 12-0 overall, 10-0 Metro Athletic Conference, 1st, 1st MAC tournaments (1st overall), 15th of 20 at The Elms Division I Sectional. Key letterwinners lost: None. Home course: Rawiga Golf Club Letterwinners: Quinn Malarkey (All-Gazette, sr.), Maclaine Bell (sr.), Cameron Todd (jr.), Jaylynn Holmes (so.), Kora Klinect (so.). Newcomers: Lily Dluzynski (so.), Kayla Schempp (so.), Bailey Bishop (so.). Noteworthy: After winning its 10th consecutive league title last season, Cloverleaf welcomes Tallmadge, Roosevelt and Cuyahoga Falls to the MAC. l Reigning MAC Player of the Year Malarkey was two strokes from a playoff to qualify for districts last season. Highland Coach: Chris Kestner (1st season) Last season: 3-1 non-league, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st Suburban League American tournaments (1st overall), 1st of 20 at The Elms Division I Sectional, 3rd of 16 at Tanglewood District, 5th of 12 at state tournament, Elizabeth Coleman seventh at state tournament. Home course: Pine Hills Golf Course. Key letterwinners lost: Elizabeth Coleman (Gazette MVP), Mirabella Shelton (All-Gazette), Kate Vickerman (HM All-Gazette), Miley Tylicki (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinner: Anna Coleman (jr.). Newcomers: Charlotte Chester (jr.), Adriana Fazio (jr.), Elianna McDaniel (jr.), Melaina Schorr (jr.), Adriana Rooks (so.). Noteworthy: While Highland graduated all five members of last year's state qualifying team, they have more experience than most thanks to the varsity "B" team. l Kestner said the key to unlocking scoring potential will come from the short game. Medina Coach: Laura Stauffenger (3rd season) Last season: 3-3 non-league, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd Greater Cleveland Conference tournaments (2nd overall), 9th of 20 at The Elms Division I Sectional. Home course: Fox Meadow Country Club. Key letterwinners lost: Lily Zimmerman (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Madison Roose (sr.), Honor Hlvana (so.). Newcomers: Natalie Maybaum (jr.), Olivia Maybaum (jr.), Olivia Bruckman (so.), Emma Cain (fr.). Noteworthy: Medina graduated four of the five players who competed at The Elms D-I Sectional last season, so it will be counting on new players to step up. l Stauffenger is focused on course management and sound decision making as many of the players adapt to varsity golf. Wadsworth Coach: Steve Ferris (3rd season) Last season: 1-4 non-league, 7th, 7th, 7th, 7th Suburban League National Conference (7th overall), 18th of 20 at The Elms Division I Sectional. Home course: Pine Valley Golf Course Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Caroline Kresowaty (sr.), Jillian Jones (jr.), Paige Ross (jr.) Newcomers: Aubrey Masuda (sr.), Kinley Stallard (jr.), Caylin Kresowaty (fr.) Noteworthy: The reigning Gazette MVP for girls bowling, Masuda is a first-year golfer but is picking up the game quickly, according to Ferris. l While Ferris oversees the boys and girls programs, assistant Morgan Zuk handles a lot of the day-to-day operations for the girls. Junior varsity coach Owen Ferris helps Steve Ferris on the boys side. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.