Mike Combs, Omar Cummings Named boys varsity soccer coaches

Lotspeich physical education teacher Mike Combs has been named the new head boys varsity soccer coach. Combs was the head soccer coach for Cincinnati State for 14 years and was the head boys varsity soccer coach at Mason High School, where he had a three-year record of 43-9-4. He led Cincinnati State to 12 conference championships and was named conference coach of the year 10 times. “The opportunity to teach and coach at this phenomenal school will allow me the greatest opportunity to make a positive impact on our student athletes and lead a program that the athletic department and the Seven Hills community will be proud of,” said Combs, who was the eighth grade soccer coach last season. Joining Combs as a top assistant is former FC Cincinnati and Jamaican National Team player Omar Cummings. After playing for Cincinnati State and the University of Cincinnati, Cummings went on to win the MLS Cup with the Colorado Rapids in 2010 and play for FCC before retiring in 2017. Combs is taking over from Nick Francis, who left Seven Hills after coaching the Stingers since 1999. Francis led the team to eight conference, six sectional, six district, and one regional championship title.

Seniors, Alum honored at Signing Day

Six seniors were honored for signing to play a sport in college at a ceremony in Kalnow Gym on April 13. Athletic Director Scott Willard congratulated the students and he and other coaches shared their impressive lists of achievements for Seven Hills. Congrats to the following Stingers!

Aanya Anand – Squash – Wesleyan University
Mackenzie Hartman – Track & Field – University of North Carolina
Corinne Kieser – Swimming – Emory University
Ella Jo Piersma – Swimming – University of Michigan
Caitlin Drew – Soccer – Otterbein University
Alexis Veldhuis – Lacrosse – University of Chicago

The ceremony also honored three members of the class of 2021, who walked onto teams at the collegiate level.

William Hawgood ’21 – Soccer – Sewanee College of the South
Laxmi Namboodiri ’21– Track & Field – Colby College
Joe Moses ’21 – Track & Field – Wheaton College

Swimmer is LaRosa’s MVP Athlete of the Week

Congratulations to senior Ella Jo Piersma for being named the LaRosa’s MVP Featured Athlete of the Week on April 19. Piersma has seven Miami Valley Conference titles for swimming, four state championships, and numerous Seven Hills swimming records. She will be swimming collegiately at the University of Michigan. Congrats, Ella Jo!

Middle Schooler sets powerlifting record

Seventh grader Kendall Niehaus competed in the 2022 Women’s Pro/Am Powerlifting competition on April 9. She set the state record for her age and weight class with a 155lbs squat and 200lbs deadlift. She also achieved a 90lbs bench press. She ended with a meet total of 445lbs, more than three and a half times her body weight. Kendall has been weightlifting for three years and the meet was her first competition. Congrats, Kendall!

Track starts season with top finishes

The boys and girls track teams both had a strong showing at the Miami Valley Conference Relays, the first meet of the season. The girls relay team of sophomores Margret Schnirring and Callie Drew and seniors Riley Jones and Mackenize Hartman won the sprint medley relay and the 4×400. Hartman also placed first in the long jump. The boys relay team of freshmen Ryan Brackett, Diego Godoy, Brady O’Connor, and Nick Roblyer took second in the sprint medley.

Girls Lacrosse starting strong

The girls varsity lacrosse team is looking to defend its Miami Valley Conference title. The team is currently tied for the top spot in conference play. Senior and captain Alexis Veldhuis has been nominated for Cincinnati Enquirer player of the week twice so far. She was nominated for the week of April 11 for having six goals, four assists, and 11 draw controls in the Stingers’ 17-7 win over Summit Country Day. She was nominated again for the week of April 18 for having five goals and one assist in the win over Princeton High School and seven goals and one assist in the Stingers’ one goal loss to Notre Dame Academy.