The Mason City Schools are one of the top school districts in Ohio and for good reason. The success of the girls soccer program is just one piece of the puzzle.
“The parents in our district are amazing and we are blessed to have many great student athletes come out for our program,” head coach Andrew Schur commented. “We are one of the highest academic achieving districts in the state of Ohio. I think the academic success combined with all the extracurricular and athletic success makes Mason a very desirable place to be.”
And who wouldn’t want to be at Mason HS? The girls soccer program there has been regarded as one of the best in the state for years, and recently, got some national recognition thanks to a spot on the NSCAA poll.
Consistency is the name of the game for Mason. They have claimed or shared four of the last five league titles in the GMC. They are poised to win another one this year, even though it is one of the most demanding conferences in the state. In the past five years, they have also claimed three district titles, two regional championships, and appeared in two state title games.
They are also earning a reputation as a pipeline to the college ranks as they average three to four players moving on to the next level each season. They have a bumper crop of student-athletes this year with seven or eight seniors expected to play in college.
Senior forward Jill Vetere is considered to be their best all-around player and is currently leading the team in points. Senior defender Meghan Grable and junior goalkeeper Toni Bizzarro anchor a stingy defense, one that had conceded just two goals in 12 games. Senior midfielder Emily Calvani and senior forward Rachel Holloway are other dangerous options in the team’s attack.
Quality players and coaches are an obvious reason for sustained success, but Schur points out the excellent fan support the program receives. Students, parents, and the community are dedicated to their cause and always turn out for matches and functions year-round. This is even more important when the squad faces talented rivals from Fairfield, Oak Hills, and Lakota West. Having a strong “12th Man” is always a good idea.
Being named to the NSCAA national poll twice this season would be a huge honor for any school, but Schur admits there is still work to be done.
“They have not gotten much national press, so I think this will be unique for them. While in-season rankings are great, our ultimate goal is to be #1 in Ohio at the end of the year. If that happens, I think we will enjoy the national rankings a bit more.”
They might not be the only team in the district to enjoy the national spotlight in 2014. The Mason HS boys soccer program recently earned a national ranking from the NSCAA pollsters and is widely considered to be the frontrunners for the state title on the boys side.
Just imagine two state titles going to Mason HS this fall. You could certainly say they are a dynasty in the making and we should expect many great things to come.
The ISN Ultimate XI began as an effort to recognize the very best of high school soccer, a side of the game often neglected by the national media. That is certainly no longer the case as ISN leads the way in promoting the game at this level, honoring the young men and women that are the future of the sport.
Promotion of the ISN Ultimate XI will culminate in a major multi-state event in the summer of 2015.
