5 Shoremen Commit to College Sports

Five Avon Lake seniors committed last week to continue their academic and athletic collegiate careers.

Avon Lake Shoremen baseball standout Cole Rosmarin has committed to playing baseball at Div. II Tiffin University; Shoremen soccer standout Alex Strimbu will play soccer at Div. III Ohio Northern University next fall; Isabele Wagner, a volleyball standout, has committed to Div. III Case Western Reserve University;  Hayley Burke has decided to continue both her education and athletic (Lacrosse) career at Div. II Ursuline College and Emily Pechaitis has decided to continue both her education and athletic (Lacrosse) career at Div. III Baldwin Wallace University.

The five were honored at a ceremony at Avon Lake High School April 17.

“We excel in the class and on the field, and it’s because of support,” Superintendent Bob Scott said, crediting coaching, parents and teachers. “It works. They’ve worked hard and they deserve what they get now an in the future.”

Avon Lake coach Dan Berkheimer who coached both Pechaitis and Wagner, called them “Tremendous athletes but tremendous teammates.” 

Baseball coach Kevin Marlow has coached Rosmarin since his freshman year and spoke of the athlete’s dedication.

“When Cole was a junior, I made a decision to have Cole play on JV,” Marlow said.
“Cole went back down and he worked. Cole was called up again by the end of the year.”  Rosmarin went on to have several standout games including a game against Amherst where a two-run homerun gave the Shoremen a win.

Girls lacrosse coach Mike Ferrell coached both Burke and Pechaitis in the sport, now in its second year at Avon Lake.

“They’re going to do awesome next year,” Ferrell said.

Athletic Director Tom Barone spoke of Strimbu’s fancy footwork on the field and noted how Strimbu’s coach, who was unable to attend the ceremony, bragged about him being All Greater Cleveland.