Local athletes dominate All Ohio lists, spotlight area programs
Area volleyball and soccer standouts earned All Ohio honors in selections released November 24, recognizing individual excellence and program depth across Holmes County and neighboring districts. These distinctions matter locally because they reflect strong coaching pipelines, bolster college recruiting prospects, and reinforce community investment in youth sports.
Local high school athletes from Wooster, Chippewa, Dalton and other area programs were prominent on the All Ohio lists released November 24, with several players posting career marks that place them among the region's best. The honors spanned volleyball, girls soccer and boys soccer, and underscored long running program success while highlighting rising talent for college recruiters and local fans.
In volleyball, Wooster senior Sara Snowbarger led the area recognitions. Snowbarger finished the season with 539 kills, bringing her career total to 1,923 kills, second all time in area history behind Kara Koch's 2,196 set in 2008. Her career totals also included 719 points, 204 aces, 1,397 digs and 84 blocks. The Indiana bound Snowbarger earned her fourth All Ohio selection, her second consecutive first team honor in Division II and her third straight first team honor overall. Triway setter Taylor Mathis received a first team nod in Division V after a season with 854 assists and a career total of 2,034 assists, which ranks 14th all time in the area. Dalton junior Sara Geibel earned a second team selection in Division VI and enters her senior year with 1,117 career kills, placing her among the top 15 in area history. Teammate Mya Geiser finished with 970 assists this season, the fifth most in area history, and received honorable mention. Other volleyball honorees included Norwayne senior Ava Maibach, Northwestern senior Claire Buchholz, Hiland sophomore Addi Mast and Garaway junior Charlee Yoder, whose 2,412 career assists rank 12th all time.
On the girls soccer field Chippewa senior Delaney Marshall earned All Ohio recognition after a season with 41 goals and 17 assists, lifting her career totals to 90 goals, 37 assists and 217 points. Her 90 career goals rank 10th in area history and sit six goals shy of the program record set by Bailey Clark in 2018. Chippewa coach Ruth Coney was named Division V Coach of the Year. Coney is noted as the first female coach ever to be selected to the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and since establishing the program in 1997 her teams have won 19 Wayne County Athletic League titles and posted an 83-25 record in OHSAA playoff games. Additional girls soccer All Ohio honorees included Hiland senior Chanelle Kellogg, Norwayne senior Alanna Bauman, West Holmes junior Charli Murphy, Orrville junior Emma Brede and Tuslaw senior Paige Marthey. Murphy finished with 51 goals, placing her second all time in area career goals and fourth in total points.
Boys soccer recognitions highlighted Wooster senior Calen Relle in Division II, who finished with 20 goals, 11 assists and 51 points. Division V honors included goalkeepers Luke DeRodes of Smithville and Bryan Martin of Central Christian, and Hiland junior Christian Mullet compiled 28 goals and 12 assists for All Ohio recognition.
These honors matter to Holmes County because they validate program investment, energize college recruiting conversations and provide role models for younger athletes. Recognition on All Ohio lists also helps athletic departments and local schools promote sustained community support, and it signals that the area remains a robust pipeline for high level high school sports.
