Ellwood City Fall Sports Q&A 2023

This is part one of a two part series featuring area athletes in fall 2023 sports.

The start of fall sports is upon us, so we took the opportunity catch up with the athletes of those teams to see what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming rivalries and to offer some perspective on the season ahead and their plans for the future.

Ellwood City Athletes

Colten Crizer

Sport? Golf

Grade? 12

How many years have you have played? I’ve been playing consistently for 3 years.

What do you feel is your biggest strength? My biggest strength for me is my mental game.

What is your favorite part of it? My favorite part of golf is that only you can dictate how good you play and you have to play against yourself.

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Mohawk or Neshanock is probably the biggest rivalry/most important matches.

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? My favorite memory’s are playing little chipping matches against Jordan.

What are your future plans after graduation? I plan to study Finance at either The university of Pittsburgh or Slippery Rock.

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? I plan to run track in college as well.

Jordan Keller

Sport? Golf

Grade? 10th grade

How many years have you have played? 2 years

What do you feel is your biggest strength? I have the ability to just keep pushing no matter how i’m playing that day. Like Barry says “grind it out”. And that’s definitely helped me.

What is your favorite part of it? I love my teammates and having a great coach like Mr. Barry. We have lots of fun and lots of talent on the team this year and hopefully we can make something happen.

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? I believe our biggest rivalry is Mohawk. We were close last match and home but our team couldn’t pull through. They’re a great team this year and it’s important for us to get one against them

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? Going to team dinners and having fun with my teammates.

What are your future plans after graduation? I plan to go to college to study finance.

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? I would like to continue playing baseball or golf.

Annabelle Woodhead

Sport? Cheerleading

Grade? 12th

How many years have you have played? 12 years

What do you feel is your biggest strength? I think my biggest strength is my leadership skills and my ability to take control of a situation

What is your favorite part of it? My favorite part of cheering is getting all cute for the games and making the best memories with my closest girlfriends

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Probably Neshannok

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? My favorite memories are the bus rides home from away games

What are your future plans after graduation? I plan on attending a two year dental hygienist program somewhere

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? I would like to continue my cheerleading career depending on where I go after high school

Kaylee Shriver

Sport? Cheerleading

Grade? 12th grade

How many years have you have played? 9 years

What do you feel is your biggest strength? My biggest strength is my leadership qualities

What is your favorite part of it? My favorite part of cheerleading is getting to spend time with all of my amazing friends

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Riverside

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? My favorite memory was senior year stunt camp

What are your future plans after graduation? My future plan is to get a certificate in sonography and become and ultrasound technician

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? Unfortunately I will not be participating in any cheerleading after high school.

Giovanna Huth

Sport? Cheerleading

Grade? 12

How many years have you have played? 2

What do you feel is your biggest strength? Leading a team in a fun, encouraging way.

What is your favorite part of it? Spending quality time with my best friends.

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Riverside

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? Senior stunt camp.

What are your future plans after graduation? Go to a 4 year college to pursue becoming a physicians assistant.

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? I do not plan on playing a sport in college. I will be spending my time on my studies.

Claire Noble

Sport? Volleyball

Grade? 12

How many years have you played? 6

What do you feel is your biggest strength? My swing/hitting the ball

What is your favorite part of it? Being around my team and playing for each other like we’re family.

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this season? Beaver

What has been your favorite memory over the years? I was very blessed to be a part of the 2020 team that was the WPIAL runners-up.

What are your future plans after graduation? I have received collegiate scholarship offers for both basketball and volleyball. I hope to make a decision soon.

Do you plan to continue sports after high school? Yes, as I mentioned above, I will be playing D2 basketball or volleyball.

Ellie Kalantzis

Sport? Volleyball

Grade? 12th

How many years have you have played? 6 years

What do you feel is your biggest strength? My biggest strength is definitely my passing for defense.

What is your favorite part of it? My favorite part of volleyball is playing with all my friends and getting to share love for the same sport with them.

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? I feel our biggest rivalry this upcoming season is Neshannock.

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? My favorite memory over the years is Delaney Sturgeon running over my daily game coffee (that’s in the same spot every single game) and spilling it everywhere, including her brand new white volleyball shoes.

What are your future plans after graduation? My plans after graduation are to attend a 4 year college and major in ecology.

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? I would absolutely love to play volleyball in college, so if I have the opportunity to play, I would.

Maddy Long

Sport? volleyball

Grade? 12

How many years have you have played? 6

What do you feel is your biggest strength? Serving

What is your favorite part of it? The energy after a positive play

Who do you feel is your biggest rivalry this upcoming season? Shenango

What has been your favorite memory been over the years? Telling Claire to dance battle the Neshannock team in the Forbush parking lot

What are your future plans after graduation? Attend a 4 year college for criminology

Do you plan to continue to play sports after high school? I’d like to!