The Hawken Hawks are heading into the winter with a fresh direction and a new voice leading the way.
First-year head coach Cy Lippold, who spent recent seasons helping Columbia University win three Ivy League championships and make back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, has stepped into a program returning four starters and six additional varsity players. With a 3–20 record behind them and a much deeper, healthier group ahead, she likes what she sees.
“This team has a very high ceiling,” Lippold said. “They are very smart and coachable and have really impressed me with their ability to apply coaching points right away. What we lack in size, we make up for with resilience, synergy, and a strong commitment to our culture.”
A read-based offense will be at the center of Hawken’s identity, one built around IQ, versatility, and the ability to adapt quickly.
Lippold believes this roster is tailor-made for it.
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“We’re a very versatile team,” she said. “Our offense will be read-based, allowing players to showcase their IQ and adaptability. The players around our standout scorers will benefit from the attention those scorers draw, creating open shots and clean opportunities.”
She expects the same collective approach defensively, especially without a traditional post player to anchor the paint.
“Defensively, we have emphasized defending as a unit and being strong in our help rotations,” she said. “Our communication has been excellent, allowing us to anticipate actions and take calculated risks on defense.”
Size will be a season-long challenge, but it’s one Lippold and her team are preparing for.
“We don’t have a true center or rim protector on this roster,” she said. “I imagine some teams will try to pound the ball inside against us, but we are building defensive strategies to counter that.”
One of Hawken’s biggest additions to the lineup is actually a familiar face returning from injury. Junior Julia Scales, a 5-foot-10 guard/forward, missed last season but now steps back into the rotation with a chance to make a major impact. Lippold expects her to be one of the most versatile threats in the Chagrin Valley Conference.
“Julia is a relentless worker,” she said. “She can play multiple positions and score in a variety of ways, and her athleticism and knack for the ball make her an extremely pesky defender and dominant rebounder. I am very excited to see her take over the CVC this season.”
Senior Sophia Cicerini, a 5-foot-5 guard and returning starter, averaged 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists last season. She’ll run the show again, bringing leadership and steadiness in every possession.
“Sophia is our steady, senior leader who leads with consistency and accountability,” Lippold said. “Her ability to score is sometimes overlooked because of her selfless nature, but when she gets hot, she can really put the ball in the hoop.”
Sophomore forward Rilynn Knighton, at 5-foot-9, averaged 0.8 points and 1.5 rebounds last year but enters this season as one of the team’s fastest risers.
“This year will be Rilynn’s breakout season,” Lippold said. “She brings a unique skill set and confidence to the team that is contagious.”
Junior guard Maddie Mailer, a 5-foot-7 returning starter, adds stability and shooting after posting 1.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.9 steals last season.
“Maddie is a steady guard who will step in and fill whatever role her team needs,” Lippold said. “Her shot is something for teams to watch out for; she can get hot fast.”
Junior Tess Peterson, a 5-foot-10 forward and returning starter, averaged 3.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals last season, bringing toughness and energy to every lineup combination.
“Tess is our high-energy and toughness specialist,” Lippold said. “She will do all the intangibles—rebounding, defending, setting screens, running the floor, and all the effort plays that hold a team together.”
Among the key contributors off the bench, sophomore guard Sasha Miller returns after a 5.1-point, 1.6-rebound, 0.9-steal season. She earned All-CVC honorable mention last year and added more scoring tools to her game over the summer.
“Sasha is a natural three-level scorer who adds real depth to the roster,” Lippold said. “She has really added to her offensive skills and elevated her scoring variety.”
Freshmen guards Maurielle Reynolds, Gabrielle Fisher, and Jada Tomsich round out a young but competitive rotation, giving Hawken added backcourt options and quickness.
Lippold has set a clear expectation for her first year in the program.
“This season, our team is setting out to finish with a winning record and etch the 2025–2026 team into the banners,” she said.
And for her, the formula starts with culture and teamwork.
“For us to accomplish our goals, we must first and foremost live by our ‘SOAR’ culture on and off the court,” she said. “We will be a team that wins by playing together and celebrating one another—sharing the ball on offense and committing to team defense.”
For a program returning nearly its entire core, welcoming back a key player from injury, and adding a coach accustomed to winning at the highest levels of college basketball, the Hawks enter the season looking steadier, deeper, and far more prepared to take a step forward.
