Ramirez taking defensive skills to San Francisco college

Ramirez recorded one goal and two assists as a sophomore. She scored her lone career goal in a win over Delta College on Oct. 23. Following the season, she was named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Second Team All-Region XII and NSCAA All-Central Region. Additionally, she was the recipient of the team's Coaches Award for the second straight season.

The 2012 Northwood High School graduate was named Second Team All-Region XII after her freshman year, as well.

Ramirez joins Erika Brinkman (Purdue University Calumet, NAIA), Jill Burkholder(University of Saint Francis, NAIA) and Elizabeth Theaker (MidAmerica Nazarene University, NAIA) as one of four sophomores to sign with four-year schools from last year's Owens women's soccer team.

Academy of Art University finished 3-14-1, but will be led by first-year head coach Katie Awerkamp, as well as former Owens women's soccer head coach Mary Whisler, who is in her first year as an assistant there. The team competes in the Pacific West Conference (PacWest).

Aside from Ramirez being from Northwood High School, the other three signees are also local players with Brinkman from Kalida High School, Burkholder from Bryan High School and Theaker from Maumee High School. (— by Owens Sports Information Director Nick Huenefeld)

Rase calls honor ‘special’
Gibsonburg baseball coach Kyle Rase, in his 10th season as the Golden Bears’ head coach, led Gibsonburg (23-5, 8-4 TAAC) to the most wins in school history this season.

His 2012 squad held the previous record, with 21 victories. The Toledo Area Athletic Conference coaches named him Coach of the Year.

“Overall, we had an outstanding season,” Rase said. “I knew we could have a good season. We had good senior leaders. We had hitters returning and good pitching returning. We had the pieces of the puzzle, and for the most part it did click. Four of our losses were by a total of five runs.”

Rase said being named conference coach of the year was special.

“It was kind of neat, especially with the quality of coaches we have in the league,” he said. “I have great assistant coaches and great kids. I don’t look at it like a coach of the year award. It’s sort of a program of a year award. Without my assistant coaches and senior leaders…that’s what this award is about. These players were developed by a good jayvee coach.”

Katafias served as Rase’s varsity assistant coach, and Justin Edgell is the Bears’ jayvee coach.

“We had a great group of (six) seniors who were good role models,” Rase said. “They did exactly what they were supposed to do. There weren’t any off the field issues and they played hard and got along well together. That makes it a lot easier to coach.”

Rase also received votes from 10 area coaches and media members for Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press Coach of the Year, but the lead vote-getter was Lake coach Greg Wilker, who got his 500th career victory during the season and led his team to the regional tournament. (— by Press contributing writer Mark Griffin)

The Press

The Press
1550 Woodville Road
Millbury, OH 43447

(419) 836-2221

Email Us

Facebook Twitter

Ohio News Media Association