Hailey DeGroff | The Chronicle
Jack Mendelsohn | The Chronicle
Libby Pullen | The Chronicle
Winter sports season has officially arrived, and the Comets are ready to bring the heat despite the cold weather. Mason High School (MHS) athletes across each program are gearing up to chase Greater Miami Conference (GMC) titles and create memorable seasons. Whether on the court, the mats, or in the pool, the Comets are prepared to compete at a high level.
Basketball sets the tone for the season. The MHS varsity boys basketball team is looking for a fresh start after finishing 4-19 in the 2024-2025 season. New head coach CJ Fleming, who joins Mason from Badin, aims to guide the Comets back to contention. Among some of these great players, Brycen Johnson stands out, who plays guard and recently led the Comets to their first win of the season on Nov. 29 against Fairmont with an overtime buzzer beater. On the girls’ basketball side, varsity head coach Gideon Dudgeon enters his second season after earning GMC Coach of the Year honors and leading the team to an impressive 24-2 overall record and an undefeated 16-0 run in the GMC in the 2024-2025 season. As demonstrated by their early 2-0 start on the 2025-2026 season, the Comets have returned with a strong core led by senior Eastern Michigan commit Anna Habra, junior North Florida commit Addy Gilman, and sophomore Taylor Stanfeild, all of whom are dedicated to keeping Mason on top.
That same competitive energy carries into wrestling. The boys’ head coach, Nicolas Maffey, looks to push his team back to the top of the GMC after their last title during the 2022-2023 season. For girls’ wrestling, head coach Wayne Black continues to build a fast-rising program, developing a strong core of returning wrestlers and new talent that is helping Mason make its mark in the GMC.
While the wrestlers look to make their mark, Mason’s swim and dive teams prepare to defend one of the strongest legacies in the GMC. The MHS swim and dive team remains one of Mason’s most dominant forces under Hall of Fame coach Mark Sullivan. The boys team will look to continue where they left off and to extend its impressive streak with a 10th straight GMC championship, while the girls team, led by Northwestern Commit, senior Bella Teply. With a group of talented swimmers, the Comets are chasing a 19th consecutive conference title and a state championship push.
The boys’ bowling lineup is determined to climb up the GMC standings and make a push toward the top with their last GMC title in the 2022-2023 season. On the girls’ side, a strong mix of veteran bowlers and promising talent gives the Comet the confidence for an exciting season. With dedicated coaches, standout players, and established programs, the Mason winter sports teams are prepared to certify their high expectations. Together, these teams are ready to build off previous years and have another successful winter season for the Comets.
Girls basketball starts season off strong, eyes postseason run
Interview with head coach Gideon Dudgeon.
What is the outlook for your team this season?
The team looks to continue its 5 year streak of winning a conference and district championship.
Who are some of the players or performers you’re really relying on this season?
senior Anna Habra, junior Addy Gillman, sophomore Taylor Stanfield are returning starters in addition to senior Addy Bianchini who is coming off an unbelievable 4 year varsity volleyball career. There are many others that will need to star in their role. Not many teams have the player of the year in a different varsity sport – we have two!
What do you feel will be the areas of strength for your team this season?
The strength of the this year’s team will be our team chemistry a long with their ability to compete at a high level on a daily basis.
In February/March, when the postseason rolls around, where do you hope your team will be in their growth and progress?
We simply try to get better everyday. The focus is more on the preparation than the outcome. If we focus on the little things we will be in position to make another tournament run.
What characteristics would describe your team’s mentality this season?
We have a lot of respect for those that came before us and made this program one of the best in Ohio. We want to make our alumni proud.
What do you see as your team’s biggest challenges this season?
We graduated 9 seniors so we lost a lot of experiences. The GMC is one of the best, if not the best, conference to compete in every year. We are looking forward to competing for another conference championship.
Boys basketball looks to set new standard under fresh leadership
Interview with head coach CJ Fleming.
What is the outlook for your team this season?
It sounds cliché, but we are focusing on the present. Continue to improve each and every day. With a new coach, staff, and system, focusing on preparation and a heavy emphasis on each day learning and getting better.
Who are some of the players or performers you’re really relying on this season?
We have several guys back from last year. Including Brycen Johnson, Jake and Ty Lupinski, Wyatt Cooper and a few others. Looking for some senior leadership to add to a good group of sophomores and juniors.
What do you feel will be the areas of strength for your team this season?
We are going to emphasize the defensive end and play incredibly hard. The boys have been working extremely hard to learn our new system and feel comfortable in it.
In February/March, when the postseason rolls around, where do you hope your team will be in their growth and progress?
Any time wants to be playing their best at that time of year. That is when it matters the most. We play in one of the best conferences in the state, and will prepare us well for that time of year.
What characteristics would describe your team’s mentality this season?
We want to be defensive minded-tough guys, who play extremely hard, and extremely together as a unit. The best teams are ones who are the most together in unison, playing for one another
What do you see as your team’s biggest challenges this season?
Winter is a long season, and continuing to stay true to what we do in implementing the foundation of a new standard. Bringing Mason basketball back to what it once was.
Experienced divers lead Comets toward championship-level performance
Interview with head coach Paige Fischer.
What is the outlook for your team this season?
As for the outlook for the season I expect we will do well again in the post season and for GMCs.
Who are some of the players or performers you’re really relying on this season?
We have the 4 divers who went to states last year back again so I expect they will continue to perform. Corinne Hartmann, Isabella Giraldo, Christian Poh and Juju Nkhumane consistently scored points for us.
What do you see as your team’s biggest challenges this season?
The team has had some mental challenges this year as they are getting older and dealing with harder classes and decisions about college, etc but they’ve rallied and worked hard at practice despite some of the school stress. The biggest challenge I see is staring healthy so we can get consistent practices in each week.
Comets swimming targets championship run with seasoned and state-bound roster
Interview with head coach Mark Sullivan.
What is the outlook for your team this season?
The outlook is extremely high this season. We return many of our swimmers & divers who swam at the high school state meet last year where our girl’s team was state-runner-up & our boys team was 5th.
Who are some of the players or performers you’re really relying on this season?
Girls – Returning state champion Bella Teply (2 time state champion), senior Dana Fairbanks, Junior Lucy Rhoten, Sophomore Anna Erickson. Senior diver Isabella Giraldo and junior diver Corinne Hartmann are also returning.
Boys – Seniors Aidan Jansen, Yassin Ghobril, Liam Clark, Ethan Tu, Robbie Wall. Juniors Mulenga Cole, Noah Kirk, Ethan Peyton, Samyak Ranchandre, Max Vazquez, Austin Zhong, Alex Zhu. Sophomores Nick Moore & Jake Xu Divers – Junior divers (both qualified to State) JuJu Nkhumane & Christian Poh
What do you feel will be the areas of strength for your team this season?
Girls possess top 8 scorers in multiple events. Don’t have considerable depth but will score championship points. Outstanding leadership among our seniors.
Both have the best & most depth in recent history. Lot’s of returning qualifiers back!
In February/March, when the postseason rolls around, where do you hope your team will be in their growth and progress?
The season ends in February. Obviously we want both teams ready to compete & move up in our places from last year. With our returning state qualifiers & their experience last season, I feel it should be an exciting state meet!
What characteristics would describe your team’s mentality this season?
Tough, competitive, willing to accept challenges. Both sides are extremely “seasoned” & ready to go!
What do you see as your team’s biggest challenges this season?
Avoiding illness which is always an issue during the winter. Understanding the final goal is state.
Boys bowling rolls into winter season with eyes on the GMC
Interview with head coach Joe Riestenberg.
What is the outlook for your team this season?
The boys’ bowling team is looking very strong this year. We have 2 starters on the IR, but we still have 7 strong bowlers challenging each other for the starting 5 spots.
Who are some of the players or performers you’re really relying on this season?
This season will be terrific because of our senior class. Drew Freeman and Ryan Monahan expect to be top 5 in the GMC this year. One of them may make GMC bowler of the year. We also have a couple of juniors who should be top 10. So, if all goes as planned, we could easily have the top ranked team in the GMC.
What do you feel will be the areas of strength for your team this season?
Senior leadership will be our biggest strength. They are very committed to the program and trying to make sure everyone succeeds.
In February/March, when the postseason rolls around, where do you hope your team will be in their growth and progress?
By the time we get to our sectionals and districts, we hope to be at our best. This year we have a lot of tournaments and that should prepare us for the big events. We expect to be highly ranked in the region and hopefully be prepared to head back to state.
What characteristics would describe your team’s mentality this season?
Our mentality is be prepared. We have a lot of challenges this year and expect to be ready for all issues. Bowling is different from many sports. Each house has a different oil pattern and different lane conditions. Our seniors are doing their best to get everyone ready to make adjustments and thrive on difficult oil patterns.
What do you see as your team’s biggest challenges this season?
Keeping everyone focused for the entire season. Being locked in for every match and every tournament may be difficult but they are up to it. We have several leaders who are very committed to the sport and thrive on the challenges.
New faces, strong chemistry set girls bowling up for long-term growth
Interview with head coach Aimee Hansen.
What is the outlook for your team this season?
We have a lot of new bowlers, but I think they are going to get better very quickly. Lots of our new bowlers are very athletic and/or enthusiastic and excited about bowling, which I just love.
Who are some of the players or performers you’re really relying on this season?
Lacey Doll, Kennedi Grayer, Tierney Flynn, and Aubrey DeWood. They are all returning varsity bowlers, and they haven’t skipped a beat from the previous year. They have already racked in some great scores.
What do you feel will be the areas of strength for your team this season?
I have a really great feeling about the chemistry amongst all of the girls. They seem to be getting along very well and are very supportive of each other.
In February/March, when the postseason rolls around, where do you hope your team will be in their growth and progress?
Oh Boy. Anything is possible! If the girls really lock in and focus on their fundamentals and consistency, I feel like we could do well in the postseason. It will be a team effort. I don’t think we will have any one girl who is carrying the team, but rather our success will come down to a good, solid team effort.
What characteristics would describe your team’s mentality this season?
I think the girls are ready to work hard / play hard. Take the practices and matches seriously but enjoy each other’s company as well. We hope to do a lot more with team bonding this year.
What do you see as your team’s biggest challenges this season?
The mental game. I sense that these girls can get caught up in their head and negative self-talk if a game is not going the way they want. So, we have to learn that every frame is a new frame and not focus too much on the score.
Comets wrestling pushes into winter season fueled by returning talent
Interview with head coach Nicholas Maffey.
What is the outlook for your team this season?
We’re excited because this group has the potential to take another real step forward. We return a room full of athletes who’ve embraced high expectations, a growth mindset and the willingness to outwork their comfort level. The roster is big, the energy is good and our culture is moving in the right direction. If we stay committed to daily improvement and to each other, this can be one of the most complete teams we’ve had during my 7 seasons at the helm.
Who are some of the players or performers you’re really relying on this season?
We’re fortunate to have a strong group of returning leaders setting the tone every day. Jack Brock is coming off a team-leading 28 wins last season and had an outstanding summer, dominating high-level competition in Illinois. He’s wrestling with confidence, maturity and a level of consistency that raises the standard in the room.
Bryan Oh and Jack Hayden both won matches at the District Tournament last season, each will be major contributors from start to finish. This group has stepped naturally into leadership roles, guys who do things right, hold teammates accountable and understand what it takes to compete deep into March.
We also have a talented class of young guys we expect to take another step in the varsity lineup. Aaron Sung, Jaxson Castner, Nash Werner, Abdallah Alqaraja and Cole Hugenberg have all grown up in this Mason Wrestling Program. This core has wrestled together since elementary/junior high and has won a lot of events together! They’re ready to make their mark at the varsity level. Their development gives us confidence that the future and the present are both in good hands.
What do you feel will be the areas of strength for your team this season?
Our strength starts with buy-in. We have a room full of workers, a group of athletes who show up, learn, ask questions and take pride in doing things the right way. Technically, we’re getting faster in transitions, tougher in hand-fighting and more confident in scoring from positions we used to hesitate in. As a group, our depth is also a major asset. We’ve got competition in almost every spot, which forces everyone to level up daily.
In February/March, when the postseason rolls around, where do you hope your team will be in their growth and progress?
By the postseason, I want us to be a team that knows exactly who we are.. tough, disciplined, resilient, and confident in our preparation. Results will take care of themselves if we’re still improving, still hungry and still choosing the hard things every day. My goal is that by February/March our “Month of Champions”, we’re wrestling our best by peaking at the right time and showing the maturity to respond to pressure with poise.
What characteristics would describe your team’s mentality this season?
Grit. Gratitude. Discipline. Unselfishness. This group has shown they’re willing to put the team first, embrace high standards and do the small things consistently. They’re starting to understand that belief is good, but commitment, our daily behaviors, is what wins.
What do you see as your team’s biggest challenges this season?
With a roster this large, our biggest challenge is making sure every athlete understands their role and stays connected to our standards. Depth is a strength but it also requires communication, accountability, and consistency. Another challenge is maintaining our level of intensity throughout a long season. Handling adversity, injuries, school demands and the grind that comes with chasing excellence. If we stay locked into our culture, we’ll handle those obstacles the right way.
MHS girls wrestling sets sights on GMC title and sectional success
Interview with head coach Wayne Black.
What is the outlook for your team this season?
We will be a young team, but we have some solid girls looking to make an impact. It’s an exciting time because the team has been training together for several months, and they are now ready to compete. We are returning a state qualifier, three district qualifiers, and we were the sectional runner-up as a team. Several new girls will surprise the competition, and our returners are poised to make a jump. This will be the first time we have filled out all 14 weight classes, so we should be a competitive team and get better as the season progresses.
Who are some of the players or performers you’re really relying on this season?
I’m relying on the entire team to be leaders and help establish our culture because we are young and have really good energy around our team. We have three girls returning who have postseason experience. It starts with sophomore Saniya Erzhanova who is a returning state qualifier and will be one of the better girls in the state at her weight class. After that, we have Arryana Troutman, a two-time district qualifier, who has the potential to make a state run. Evalie Maffey qualified for districts in her first year and had the most consistent offseason; she is someone I’m relying on to continue leading through her actions.
What do you feel will be the areas of strength for your team this season?
Our youth is the biggest strength. We have girls who are hungry and want to keep improving, and that is something that sets this team apart. Style-wise, our main strength lies in our ability to move our feet and adopt an aggressive defensive style.
In February/March, when the postseason rolls around, where do you hope your team will be in their growth and progress?
By the postseason, we should be ready to win the inaugural GMC tournament and a sectional title. Last year, we took second at sectionals by half a point, so this year I’d like to either make that gap bigger or outright win sectionals. Wrestling is a long season, so making sure we are mentally fresh, have a strong team bond, and girls are having fun with the sport in February/March is the primary goal. Lastly, I hope the girls are dogs out there on the mat, who score a lot of points. I want us to have an entertaining style that people enjoy watching, so by the end of the season, I’m hoping we’ll bring that vibe to the mat and each girl feels comfortable enough to let her personality and style shine through her wrestling ability.
What characteristics would describe your team’s mentality this season?
Be an athlete – that’s our motto, and that’s the mentality this team has. The girls are hungry and want to improve, so we consistently have girls showing up and making progress, creating a culture of growth. The girls are building a good team, and there’s a lot of joy in the practice room, which is excellent. Competitiveness is another characteristic for this team.
What do you see as your team’s biggest challenges this season?
The biggest challenge is just being young. This will take some time to develop and for things to click, as competing at the high school level becomes increasingly competitive every year, with girls’ programs across the state improving. So, the challenge will be seeing how everyone responds to the adversity that’ll hit and making sure that even as a young team, we have leaders who are prepared to help navigate the ship. I know we have the girls to lead; it’s just a matter of time and development.
