West Clermont’s Anna Swisshelm puts up a shot against Little Miami during the 2022-23 season. Swisshelm was named to the All-Ohio Division I First Team. Photo courtesy of West Clermont High School
West Clermont’s Seini Hicks drives to the basket against Little Miami during the 2022-23 season. Hicks was named to the All-Ohio Division I Second Team. Photo courtesy of West Clermont High School
West Clermont head coach Jeff Click was named the All-Ohio Division I Coach of the Year. Photo courtesy of West Clermont High School
When he was asked recently to comment on another round of honors for him and several of his players, West Clermont High School girls basketball coach Jeff Click said, “It’s basically most of the same stuff that I said (earlier in the month) for Southwest Ohio (honors).”
Yes, the basic sentiment might have been the same. But Click admitted that these newest honors are extra special. That will happen when “all-state” is added to a player’s – and coach’s – resume.
The All-Ohio High School Girls Basketball Teams were announced recently, and as was the case with the All-Southwest Ohio selections, made earlier this month, West Clermont dominated.
Senior Anna Swisshelm was named to the first team, junior Seini Hicks was named to the second team and Click was selected Coach of the Year to headline the All-Ohio Division I teams, as announced by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. Swisshelm and Hicks were both First Team All-Southwest Ohio and Click was also the All-Southwest Coach of the Year.
“I’m extremely happy for Anna and Seini,” Click said of the all-state honors. “I know in my 27 years (of coaching girls basketball), I can’t remember any player – definitely not a basketball player, boys or girls – making first, second or third team all-state. So to have two – ‘Swiss’ on first and Seini on second – is amazing.”
Led by Swisshelm and Hicks, the Wolves finished 24-1 overall and 16-0 in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference during the 2022-23 season. The Wolves were ranked first in the state in the Martin RPI and MaxPreps polls and second in the AP poll, according to Click, with their season ending in the Southwest District Division I section finals.
“Neither one averaged the most points or took the most shots compared to other players around the state,” Click said of Swisshelm and Hicks. “But they won and winning puts them in a position to earn these awards. They were great leaders this season, and they cared about their teammates and winning more than anything, and that was a great contributor to our success. This was a historic season at West Clermont for team and individual accomplishments.”
Swisshelm, a 6-foot forward, led the Wolves with a 15.2 scoring average in 2022-23. She also averaged 4.6 rebounds a game and shot 81.1 percent from the free-throw line and 52.1 percent from the field, including 41.7 percent from 3-point range.
“Being selected as a first-team all-Ohio member is something I can’t really put into words,” Swisshelm said. “Looking at the names of the many talented players on this list makes me even more grateful to be selected for this honor. I feel extremely honored to have been considered as a D1 First Team All-Ohio member. This was truly a dream come true.”
Hicks, a 6-foot forward in her first year with the Wolves after moving from North Carolina, averaged a double-double in scoring and rebounding for the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds per game. She also averaged 2.4 steals, 1.5 assists and 1.4 blocked shots.
Of the Coach of the Year selection, Click said, “I’m very honored to receive this award. It was totally unexpected, but obviously, it’s only possible because of my team and staff. All our accomplishments were the result of everyone – team and coaches – working together and supporting each other the entire season. I’ve had lots of good teams and players in my 27 years at Glen Este and West Clermont, but this will always be one of the most special teams that I will always remember.”
Several other area Clermont County players also were named to the various girls teams. Also in Division I, Miah O’Toole, a 5-10 senior from Milford (13.7 ppg), was named honorable mention. In Division II, Peyton Shafer (5-9, junior, 19.2) of Goshen was named honorable mention. In Division III, Emma Yeager (5-9, freshman, 10.1) from Clermont Northeastern was honorable mention. And in Division IV, Angela Jones (5-5, senior, 21.2) of Felicity-Franklin was a special-mention pick.
On the boys side for area Clermont County players, earning Division I honorable mention were Milford’s Gavin Dalen (6-8, junior, 11.6) and Erich Morgan (6-1, senior, 15.5) and Caden Zeinner of Goshen (6-0, junior, 20.8). In Division II, Luke Abbott of New Richmond (6-1, senior, 15.8) and Austin Brookenthal of Bethel-Tate (6-4, senior, 14.9) also were honorable mention. And in Division III, Conner Yeager of Clermont Northeastern (6-4, sophomore, 13.5) was a special-mention pick.