State Champion Kilbourne Reaps Postseason Awards
Jun. 13, 2009
Throughout the season, Worthington Kilbourne boys lacrosse coach Mike Riffee was reluctant to discuss individual statistics -- the reason being Riffee wanted the focus to be on the team and not on individuals.
With the end of the regular season, however, the individual accolades came pouring in for the Division I state champions.
For just the second time in school history, two Wolves were named to the All-American team.
Senior attack Pat Riffee and senior midfielder Austin Wright join 2008's Nick Beattie and Andrew Wilfong as the only twosome to receive All-American status in the same year.
Riffee and Wright bring the overall number of WKHS players so honored to 12.
Both players also earned first-team All-Ohio honors. Joining them on the first team is Wolves senior midfielder Drew Roper .
Junior goalkeeper Cole Horwatt and senior defender Lucas Wood were second-team All-Ohio selections.
In addition to winning the school's first state championship, the Wolves' 21 season victories is the most in school history.
This year's squad improved the squad's all-time record to 237-132 -- a .642 winning percentage.
Although WKHS loses 15 seniors to graduation, there are plenty of key players expected to return in 2010, including Horwatt, junior attack Conor Igoe , junior midfielder Will Campbell and junior defender Jake Hertenstein .
The state crown was the latest title this season for Kilbourne, which was 7-0 in Ohio Capital Conference play for the league championship, and regional titlists with a 7-0 mark in OHSLA Division I Region 2 action.
Worthington News
Published: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 9:42 AM EDT
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