These Jonathan Alder girls athletes have signed to continue their academic and athletic careers on the collegiate level. The are from left, McKenzie Wright, volleyball (Indiana Southeast University); Lindsey Potter, softball (The Ohio State University); Emily Walker, softball (Ohio University); Jillian Jakse, softball (Youngstown State University); Sydney Bourquin, basketball (Tiffin University); Kylie Ricker, volleyball (University of Rio Grande); and Elise Dygert, swimming (Augustana University). Not pictured, Cierra Clark, softball (University of Rio Grande). (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Girls athletics have been very strong at Jonathan Alder High School for a number of years.
Whether it’s a state championship softball squad, a regional runner-up volleyball outfit or a district runner-up basketball team, the Lady Pioneers have forged a very good reputation.
That team success has led to a number of JA girls who will continue their careers on the next level.
A collegiate signing ceremony was held last week to honor eight Lady Pioneers who will continue their academic and athletic careers once they graduate next spring.
The softball team, which won the Division II state title last June, saw four of its now seniors sign for higher competition.
The volleyball team had two members commit to college, while the hoop squad and swimming program each had one.
Cierra Clark, Linsdey Potter, Jillian Jakse and Emily Walker will move on in softball, as will McKenzie Wright and Kylie Ricker in volleyball.
Sydney Bourquin will play basketball on the collegiate level, while Elise Dygert will do the same as a swimmer.
Clark and Potter played in the outfield for a Lady Pioneer team that posted a 27-1 record en route to the D-II state championship.
Clark will play at the University of Rio Grande and Potter has signed with The Ohio State University.
Clark batted .330 and drove in 33 runs, while Potter hit .443 with six homers, eight triples, 33 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.
Jakse, the third baseman, supplied most of the power hitting. She ripped 15 homers and drove in 56 runs to go along with a team-leading .527 batting average.
She will play at Youngstown State University.
Walker, who originally started her career as an outfielder, has turned into one of the top shortstops in central Ohio.
She hit .443 with seven homers, 40 RBIs, 23 stolen bases and five triples.
Walker will play at Ohio University.
“I’m very proud of these young ladies,” said Alder head coach Dave McGrew. “They are great kids and our team has a great bond with each other.”
The Lady Pioneer volleyball squad (26-2) captured the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division title and repeated as Division II district champions.
They fell to Parma Heights Holy Name a few weeks ago during the regional championship match.
“McKenzie and Kylie were great leaders for us,” said first-year head coach Joe Ross.
Wright, who will play at Indiana Southeast University, finished the season with more than 220 assists as a setter and more than 40 ace serves.
Ricker, a back row defensive specialist, will play at the University of Rio Grande.
She tallied more than 70 points and nearly 100 digs on the season.
Bouquin averaged 12.5 points per game as the JA girls hoopsters finished as district runners-up.
“It has been a pleasure to coach Sydney these past couple of years,” said third-year head coach Steve Cawley. “She has been very dedicated to the team and showed that to me my first summer as head coach.
“Sydney played in an AAU game in Cincinnati one morning and then got back here to school to play in a summer game we had,” he said. “That showed me her dedication.”
Bourquin, who will play at Tiffin University, holds several JA records, including 12 steals and a like number of assists during a game, 155 assists for a season and six three-pointers during a single game.
She has scored 826 points for her career and should easily break the 1,000 mark during the 2019-20 campaign.
Bourquin also needs just 15 assists to break the Lady Pioneers’ career mark of 335.
Dygert will continue her swimming career at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“Elise has worked very hard as a swimmer,” said JA head coach Katie Bumgarner. “She has been a valuable member of several relay teams.”