For the team that set the standard for greatness, with its five state championships, five state runners-up and 17 appearances in the Final Four over the past 32 years, the Hiland Lady Hawks added another jewel to their crown on Monday, when five seniors from this year’s team signed full athletic scholarships to further their education at the next level.
With the signings of Zoe Miller, Morgan Yoder, Brynn Mullet, Kyli Horn and Kelsey Swihart, it brings the total to 49 players, earning more than $5 million in scholarships during Dave Schlabach’s tenure as coach of the Hawks.
It was the second time the Hawks had five players from one team move on to the next level, as five members of the state champion 2000 Hiland team, Erin Hostetler, Jill Yoder, Alisha Yoder, Melissa Miller and Kim Mast all signed scholarships as well.
“When you have one kid sign a scholarship, it is a big deal. When you have five, it is really incredible,” Schlabach told the small group of family, friends and teammates assembled at the Perry Reese Jr. Community Center. “These kids have some really good statistical numbers, but even with that, they have sacrificed a lot with their own numbers to be a part of the program and team. To these kids, it’s all about winning, which makes this group really special.”
Not bad for a small school in the middle of nowhere.
The coach pointed out that this quintet of players has scored more than 3,400 points heading into this season, and they have a whole lot more to offer.
Miller, a three-time All-Ohioan who has scored more than 1,100 points and grabbed 663 rebounds heading into her senior season, will take her talents to Bowling Green,
“I really felt comfortable with their program and the family-like atmosphere there,” Miller said, noting that she has enjoyed her entire career at Hiland and appreciates all the effort her coaches and teammates have put forth to help them get to where they are.
“It’s been so much fun,” Miller said. “It’s going to be really hard when we have to leave each other, but I think, overall, we’ll be happy that we got to play with each other.
“The practices (at BGSU) were a lot like our practices here,” she added. “It should be pretty much the same thing.”
Yoder is heading to Ashland University. Another three-time All-Ohioan, Yoder is the general of the Hiland offense, dishing out 373 career assists heading into this season to go with her 707 career points. She has shot nearly 40 percent from 3-point range and is a 74 percent career free throw shooter.
She chose Ashland because of the culture established by the coaching staff, morals and values she agrees with, and a team that brings it all together.
“The campus is great and it’s close to home, which helps a lot,” Yoder added. “I think it will be a tough transition, but they do a nice job working freshmen in, and I feel ready to move to the next level.”
Mullet will be playing at Ohio Dominican University next year. The long-range sharpshooter is another near-40 percent 3-point shooter who earned All-Ohio honors after her junior season. She has scored 732 career points to go with 199 career assists heading into her senior season.
She is looking forward to playing with former Hiland star Kennedy Schlabach, who has two more years of eligibility at ODU.
“The entire team was super nice when I was on my visit, and I really felt good with them,” Mullet said. “I love the campus, the location, I just really loved a lot about the program. I’m excited to go there, and hopefully I will fit in and make a big impact. All the stuff I’ve learned here should really help”
Horn and Swihart are heading to Malone. Horn is another long-range sharpshooter who has provided scoring pop off the bench the past two seasons. She has scored 414 points in her career.
Horn said she loved Malone from the first moment she stepped foot on campus, which is small and close to home and reminds her of Hiland.
“Kelsey committed there before I did, and it was nice knowing I could go there and be comfortable with somebody else,” she said. “It’s going to be bitter sweet playing this last year with the girls I’ve been playing with the last 12 years, but I’m excited to meet new people and grow basketball-wise.”
Swihart has done most of her damage inside on the low past, scoring 445 points and grabbing 281 career rebounds heading into her senior season. She liked the atmosphere at Malone, and immediately loved the players and coaching staff.
“I felt it would be a really good fit,” she said. “I’m really excited that I get to play with Kyli again in college. I think we’re all ready to move up to the next level.”
The players all pointed to playing in Classic in the Country games as some of their fondest memories, going up against top talent and playing well.
Schlabach noted that the players in his program have committed themselves to working hard and doing what it takes to achieve their goals.
“It is not an easy thing to do. There are a lot of kids fighting for scholarship money, and spots on teams,” Schlabach said. “They’re competing against people from all across the country. What they’ve done is extremely special, and we’re very proud of them.”
It takes special parents that allow us to push their kids,” the coach said. “I can tell you these five parents do not make excuses for their kids. Their kids work for what they get. In 30 years, the biggest change I’ve seen is parents don’t get involved as much as they used to. These parents have gotten involved in a positive manner, and that’s awesome.”
