Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
The Woodmore girls soccer program reached the state semifinals last year for the first time, and sixth-year head coach Jeff Helmke believes this year’s team can achieve similar success despite the loss of several key seniors.
The Wildcats lost seven seniors, including All-Ohio forward Kelsey Kaylor and key midfielder Camille Strong, from last year’s team that went 20-2-1. It was a school record for wins, and they also finished 11-0 in league play to claim the SBC crown.
In addition to Kaylor and Strong, the group of Keira Travis, Izzy Helmke, Lyndee Wagner, AvaLee Cobb and Ariana Florio also graduated.
“What stood out the most last year was the work ethic and the business-like approach that the team had always moving on, always completing the task at hand, and right on to the next job,” Jeff Helmke said. “The seniors set a great example, and I believe it'll carry into this year in terms of what needs to be done and what has to happen.”
Kaylor will leave a large scoring void as the Heidelberg University bound star established school records for most goals in a season (49) and career (92) last year. She was the Northwest District Player of the Year, while Strong, Travis and Helmke, who was the team’s second leading goal scorer, also earned all-district recognition.
Despite that, Coach Helmke believes that his team is just as balanced as last year.
“Kelsey did a great job. She was lethal. She doesn't know how to quit,” he said. “But a lot of her goals were from our team and our team philosophy of making the right play, and all the girls that are returning have that same drive to make the right play.”
Four of those departed seniors started, and Woodmore has seven starters back this year. The senior class includes a talented group that includes Rylie Hesselbart, Willow Lewis, Bailey Meggitt, Abbie Schmeltz, Lexi Rohrbacher, Addie Pleasnick, Lily Smola, Emma Hahn, Taylor Hill and Liv Scavio.
“This group has a hunger to prove to everybody that they're as good as any other senior group we've had,” Helmke said. “They have the talent and the drive. I actually can't wait for their senior year because a lot of these girls have had to wait their turn behind all the talented players we've had the last two to three years. We're going to see a lot of really good things out of girls that haven't got to see a lot of minutes.”
While Scavio transitions back to the sport from volleyball after playing soccer growing up, Schmeltz returns as the team’s veteran goalkeeper and Hesselbart is the team’s top returning goal scorer with nine goals and 15 assists last season.
“(Rylie’s) hustle, her drive and her willingness to do whatever's necessary is second to none on our team,” Helmke said.
Willow Lewis also returns after leading the team with 17 assists last year.
“She’s a really good all-around player,” Helmke said. “Whether I play her in the midfield or forward, she makes plays for people. A few of our huge, important goals in the playoffs were off her foot. She's a great facilitator, and she'll be doing another great job as a senior in that role.”
Hill, who has largely helped on the defensive side in the past, and Pleasnick, a center back, also return.
“I look for a big year from Taylor,” Helmke said. “She’s really taking ownership and going to see a lot more offense than she used to. I really like everything she's brought to the table this summer. She's one of the most complete players I've probably coached. Addi also does a phenomenal job. She is always asking questions on how to make herself and the defense better.”
In addition to the seniors, the group of Valerie Kerecz, Wren Lewis, Grace Hablitzel and Karli Heins also return. Several of them are back as starters.
“They’re really good players,” Helmke said. “Karli came off the bench last year, and in the playoff games, she ended up being a crucial part of the defense. In our state semifinal, she really did a heck of a job on an All-Ohio player and gave her problems the whole night. Really, that junior class, I think they're going to have a great year, honestly, stepping up into more of a role with the departing seniors.”
Overall, Helmke believes the strength of his team is that they are strong everywhere.
“We have really good players across the field from forward all the way through the defense to goalie,” he said. “Our midfield is going to have to step up. One thing we're going to miss the most is Camille (Strong) playing in the middle of the field. Someone's going to have to fill those shoes.”
With the changes in the SBC, Woodmore will be independent of a league this year. But that doesn’t dim Helmke’s enthusiasm to get this team on the field.
“There's a lot of excitement. We can tell the girls are still hungry,” he said. “It was a great year getting to the state semifinals, and all these girls that were on that team want that same success. They want the same feeling. They're driven, they want to work, and they're not afraid to put their nose to the grind and do the same exact thing.”
