2025-26 Winter Sports Recap

by Madison Conley, Sports Information Director 

Boys Basketball (11-13, 2-6 in conference play)

The varsity boys' basketball team finished the season 11–13 overall and 2–6 in the Miami Valley Conference, competing in a highly competitive Gray Division. After opening the year 1–5, the Nighthawks found their rhythm and went 7–3 in January, ultimately making a strong postseason push that ended just three points short of a District Championship appearance. The team will graduate seniors Trey Blum, Sanjay Cherukuri, and Evan Robinson, whose leadership and contributions were key throughout the season. Robinson was a consistent presence in the paint, averaging 8.3 points and 5 rebounds per game. Cherukuri showed up big time with a career-high 19 points in the team's first-round tournament win over Felicity-Franklin. Gianni Zeljo '27 had an outstanding first season as a Nighthawk, averaging 16.2 points and 6 rebounds per game, highlighted by a 35-point performance against Bethel-Tate that moved him into a tie for third on the program's all-time career scoring list. Levi Guttman '27 also played a key role, averaging 9.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while scoring in double figures in eight games this season. The team showed a lot of heart all season and has plenty to build on heading into next year.

Girls Basketball (8-16, 0-8 in conference play)

The varsity girls' basketball team had a great year, ending the season 8-15 overall and 0-8 in the Miami Valley Conference. They competed in the highly skilled Scarlet Division, where four teams sit above .500. It was a growing season for the team, as they fielded six returners and seven newcomers. The junior duo of Nicole Hardesty and Roxy Vollmer led this young team through some tough games. Nicole scored in double figures in 16 games and led the team with 12.7 points per game and 5.4 rebounds. Roxy led the team in rebounds with 7.5 per game and added 9.3 points per game. She scored in double figures in 10 games, four of those being double-doubles. The Nighthawks will look forward to having Audrey de Alarcon back next season, who missed all but the final eight games due to an injury, averaging 9.5 points and 3.9 rebounds. This young team battled with some highly skilled teams, and there's plenty to be excited about for next season.

Gymnastics

The varsity gymnastics team entered the season with a mix of returning leaders and talented newcomers, aiming to build on last year's successes. Seniors Hayden Zimmerman  and Jessica Chen, along with second-year gymnast Gabrielle Gonzalez '28, led the team with skill and consistency. Coach Steve Conner, in his 36th season, praised the group's potential to compete at the top of the city and Southwest Ohio rankings.

The season featured multiple standout performances. At the Country Day Cup, Gonzalez posted a personal best all-around score of 28.1500, while Zimmerman scored 7.8500 on vault and 7.8250 on bars. The Nighthawks finished 5th at the City Championship, with Zimmerman earning All-City honors and the Most Dynamic Routines award.

At Districts, the team set a team high score of 95.2750. Zimmerman finished 7th in the all-around, the highest placement in school history and one of the program's top five scores, just missing a state qualification by .075 points, but earning a spot as an alternate. Additional season honors included All-District for Zimmerman, Academic All-Ohio for Chen, and CCDS Sportsmanship for Ann Wilson '28. The Nighthawks capped the season with record-setting performances and a solid foundation for the future.

Swimming

The 2025‑26 varsity swim team had a standout season, marked by record-breaking performances and strong showings at State. At Sectionals, the boys finished 4th and the girls 3rd, with top finishes from Jason Starodub '26 (100 yd back, 200 yd IM), Weichu Wang '26 (100 yd free), and Delaney Gorman '26 (100 yd fly), along with strong relay performances from both squads.

At Districts, Starodub became District Champion in the 100m backstroke, setting a new school record (52.62 seconds), and six Nighthawks qualified for State: Jason Starodub, Delaney Gorman, Katherine Connelly '26, Greta Varga '26, Zsofia Varga '26, and Talia Gholston '29.

At the OHSAA D2 State Championship in Canton, six Nighthawks competed, including five seniors concluding their high school careers. Jason Starodub finished 8th in the 100m back (52.87) and 14th in the 200 IM (2:00.90), while Delaney Gorman placed 9th in the 100m fly (58.74) and 21st in the 100m back (1:00.76). The 400m free relay team finished 23rd, with Katherine Connelly, Delaney Gorman, Talia Gholston, and Greta Varga representing the Nighthawks.

The senior class of Katherine Connelly, Delaney Gorman, Jason Starodub, Greta Varga, Zsofia Varga, and Weichu Wang leaves behind a legacy of school records. Alongside returning underclassmen and newcomers, the Nighthawks' season showcased talent, teamwork, and determination, setting a high bar for future squads.

Winter Track

The winter track season displayed a sneak peek into the excellence that will take place during this spring's outdoor track season. Luke Schnieber '27 continued his record-setting run this winter with a 17'0.25" vault to win the Ohio DIV Indoor State Championship, which is the best vault in Ohio and the 6th best in the nation. Cross country stars Vanca Pandey '26 and Max Sun '27 continued to dominate. Vanca recorded a 5:55 indoor mile while Max recorded a 5:49 mile. William Lothman '26 had a great indoor season, posting personal records in the 60m (7.41) and the 200m (24.52).

Girls Wrestling

The 2025‑26 season marked a historic milestone for CCDS athletics with the school's first-ever female wrestling team. Dominique Makasiar '29 and Erica Peterson '26 represented the Nighthawks at the varsity level, continuing the legacy started by Nicole McNeal '25, CCDS's first female wrestler and varsity letter recipient, who helped pave the way for future female athletes in the program.

Dominique finished the season with a 6‑14 record, highlighted by a hard-fought match against a District qualifier where she led 11‑4 before being pinned in the final minute of the third period. Erica Peterson missed Sectionals due to a late-season injury but was a key part of the team leading up to the postseason.

Under the guidance of Coach Theresa Hirschauer, the Nighthawks celebrated their inaugural season, establishing a foundation for female wrestling at CCDS. This historic year not only showcased the determination of Dominique and Erica but also set the stage for future female athletes to join and grow the program in the years ahead.