KARL PEARSON
Girls golf in Ashtabula County is still a relatively young enterprise, so it’s not surprising that the makeup of the Star Beacon Ashtabula County team is basically made up of underclassmen.
In fact, there are only two seniors on this year’s team. One of those is Jefferson’s Shelly Ford, who reached the Division II state tournament for the second straight year and placed 16th in Columbus this year. For those efforts, she was chosen Star Beacon Ashtabula County Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.
The other senior on this year’s team is SS. John and Paul’s Nicole Gallo. It is her first selection to the all-county team.
Even the Coach of the Year for 2009 is relatively new to the girls golf scene. Geneva coach Rob DiPofi has been honored as the Eagles, who have had a program for just two years, finished second in their first year among Premier Athletic Conference teams and also were runners-up in the Northeastern Ohio Girls Golf Coaches Association. DiPofi has been honored in the past as the Star Beacon Ashtabula County Boys Golf Coach of the Year.
Four girls from the Geneva squad have been chosen to the first team. Two of them, sophomores Lindsey Adams and Carlin Kern, are repeat selections. They are joined by junior Alissa Wortman and freshman Megan Lara, the youngest member of the team.
Edgewood has three girls on the team. Junior Yeram Kang repeats on the first team. Junior Kathryn Lutes and sophomore Elizabeth Schantz have also been chosen.
The final repeat member of the first team is Lakeside sophomore Krista Johnston.
Completing the first team is Conneaut sophomore Alexa Griswold.
