CLEVELAND — Two local high school athletes saw their hard work pay off Wednesday as they received the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards' High School Athlete of the Year awards.
Kirsten Eppele, of Strongsville High School, received the honor for female athletes. Eppele is a two-sport athlete lettering in softball and volleyball. The senior led the Strongsville Mustangs softball team to its first District appearance in nine years, while setting seven school records with a .659 batting average, 46 runs, 47 RBI, 19 doubles, six triples and nine home runs. She earned First Team OHSAA and all Cuyahoga County honors, as well as First Team All-Ohio. The Cuyahoga County Softball Coaches Associated also named her Player of the Year. She’ll continue her softball career at The Ohio State University this fall.
Kyle Cusimano, a Bay Village High School senior, received the honor for male athletes. Cusimano led the Bay soccer team to a 16-0 season and No. 1 ranking atop the OHSAA D-II state poll. Cusimano holds Bay’s school record with 81 career goals and 64 assists. He was named 2019’s Ohio Mr. Scoccer, as well as the Great Lakes Conference MVP and United Soccer Associated National Player of the Year. Cusimano will continue his soccer career at Bowling Green State University.
