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The bond between sisters can run deep.
For Courtney Harriman and Emily (Harriman) Vossers, that meant athletics growing up, especially basketball.
The sisters started playing the sport in the Geneva Youth Basketball League, then at Geneva High School and Thiel College.
Then it was back to GHS as coaches.
Vossers is the Eagles’ head girls basketball coach, while Harriman is JV coach and varsity assistant.
Like many players who are active in sports, the beginning was at home. The two were active in games such as “Pig”, and one-on-one contests.
“We started playing in the driveway,” Harriman said.
It became heated at time, as both sisters said they are very competitive.
“It helped us bond in a different way,” Harriman, a 2016 GHS graduate, said.
When talking about their basketball influences, one name popped up immediately.
“Coach [Nancy] Barbo,” Vossers, who is two years younger than her sister, said of the 2023 Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation Hall of Fame selection. “A big part of it is being in Geneva.
“It’s a legacy we want to continue. We know how hard she was, but she had a good balance. Her saying was ‘Heart and Grit.”
Harriman agreed.
“We’re fortunate to be part of a great program,” she said.
Barbo ended her Eagles’ head coaching career with a 341-148 record in 22 years.
Both Harriman and Vossers were on the Eagles’ regional-final qualifying team in the 2014-15 season.
“The best memory was the atmosphere, and how it brought us closer as a team,” Vossers said.
Geneva eventually lost to West Branch 50-30 with a trip to state at stake.
The experience, however, not only brought excitement for Vossers and Harriman, but friendships that still remain.
Harriman is engaged to Tim Bowling, with a wedding date in October.
Vossers, who is married to Kyle Vossers, is the maid of honor.
Lindsey (Mayle) Rivera, a four-time All-Ohio selection in Division II and a teammate of Harriman and Vossers at Geneva, is in the bridal party.
Both Harriman and Vossers moved on to play at Thiel, a Division III athletics school which plays in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
“I followed my sister,” Vossers said. “I’ve always looked up to her.”
While in Greenville, Pennsylvania, their teammates included Grand Valley graduate Jess Vormelker, who is now Thiel’s head coach; Alivia (Sidley) Bess, a Ledgemont alum, and Danyelle (Lucido) Kendra, who played at Grove City (Pa.) High School.
They are also in the wedding party.
After Thiel, both returned to the area, and became teachers in the Geneva school system.
Harriman teaches eighth-grade math, while Vossers educates the kindergarteners.
Vossers said she has a passion for basketball, and when the chance to lead her alma mater, she threw her hat into the ring.
“I was 23 when I started coaching,” she said. “It’s been a blessing to be able to coach for three seasons.”
Harriman also ventured into coaching, and was an assistant coach at Madison for four years.
The opportunity arose to become a coach on Vossers’ staff, and Harriman took over as the JV and varsity assistant coach.
“We talked about one day ending up in the situation,” she said. “We reconnected.”
Both Harriman and Vossers said their coaching philosophies are similar.
“We balance each other well,” Vossers said.
Harrison chimed in, “We’ve learned a lot about each other.”
That’s not to say there aren’t disagreements.
“If you have a sister, you can be mad at them, then two seconds later be friends,” Vossers said.
The sisters remember what Barbo coached them.
“Defense is something you can control,” Vossers said.
On the court, the Eagles improved from six wins to 14 this past season, with a young team.
Junior Giavanna Bobish and sophomores Elli Burns and Ella Walker are among the key returners expected back for the 2026-27 season.
Vossers has watched the team progress this summer.
“The girls are working hard,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of growth. We went 4-0 in a shootout at Cedar Point and 2-2 in one at Ursuline College. We competed well in the Edgewood Summer League.”
As the program continues to move forward, Harriman could play an important role teaching at the middle school level.
“Our goal is to continue to build the numbers up,” she said.
The sisters are running the girls basketball program, but they haven’t forgotten those who helped get them to this point.
“[Former head] Coach [Mike] Hassett did a great job,” Harriman said.
Vossers said Jeff Richmond was a mentor for her when she became head coach.
Both Harriman and Vossers also cited middle school coaches Emily Corlew and Brian O’Dell as beneficial to the program. Harriman played soccer for O’Dell in high school.
The sisters said they want to continue coaching together, but know the situation can change.
That’s why they’re taking this opportunity to continue to progress and evolve with each other and an extended basketball family.
“Basketball is so important to us,” Vossers said. “We do the best we can.”
Harriman added, “This is special. This is bigger than basketball.”
Continue reading...
For Courtney Harriman and Emily (Harriman) Vossers, that meant athletics growing up, especially basketball.
The sisters started playing the sport in the Geneva Youth Basketball League, then at Geneva High School and Thiel College.
Then it was back to GHS as coaches.
Vossers is the Eagles’ head girls basketball coach, while Harriman is JV coach and varsity assistant.
Like many players who are active in sports, the beginning was at home. The two were active in games such as “Pig”, and one-on-one contests.
“We started playing in the driveway,” Harriman said.
It became heated at time, as both sisters said they are very competitive.
“It helped us bond in a different way,” Harriman, a 2016 GHS graduate, said.
When talking about their basketball influences, one name popped up immediately.
“Coach [Nancy] Barbo,” Vossers, who is two years younger than her sister, said of the 2023 Ashtabula County Basketball Foundation Hall of Fame selection. “A big part of it is being in Geneva.
“It’s a legacy we want to continue. We know how hard she was, but she had a good balance. Her saying was ‘Heart and Grit.”
Harriman agreed.
“We’re fortunate to be part of a great program,” she said.
Barbo ended her Eagles’ head coaching career with a 341-148 record in 22 years.
Both Harriman and Vossers were on the Eagles’ regional-final qualifying team in the 2014-15 season.
“The best memory was the atmosphere, and how it brought us closer as a team,” Vossers said.
Geneva eventually lost to West Branch 50-30 with a trip to state at stake.
The experience, however, not only brought excitement for Vossers and Harriman, but friendships that still remain.
Harriman is engaged to Tim Bowling, with a wedding date in October.
Vossers, who is married to Kyle Vossers, is the maid of honor.
Lindsey (Mayle) Rivera, a four-time All-Ohio selection in Division II and a teammate of Harriman and Vossers at Geneva, is in the bridal party.
Both Harriman and Vossers moved on to play at Thiel, a Division III athletics school which plays in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
“I followed my sister,” Vossers said. “I’ve always looked up to her.”
While in Greenville, Pennsylvania, their teammates included Grand Valley graduate Jess Vormelker, who is now Thiel’s head coach; Alivia (Sidley) Bess, a Ledgemont alum, and Danyelle (Lucido) Kendra, who played at Grove City (Pa.) High School.
They are also in the wedding party.
After Thiel, both returned to the area, and became teachers in the Geneva school system.
Harriman teaches eighth-grade math, while Vossers educates the kindergarteners.
Vossers said she has a passion for basketball, and when the chance to lead her alma mater, she threw her hat into the ring.
“I was 23 when I started coaching,” she said. “It’s been a blessing to be able to coach for three seasons.”
Harriman also ventured into coaching, and was an assistant coach at Madison for four years.
The opportunity arose to become a coach on Vossers’ staff, and Harriman took over as the JV and varsity assistant coach.
“We talked about one day ending up in the situation,” she said. “We reconnected.”
Both Harriman and Vossers said their coaching philosophies are similar.
“We balance each other well,” Vossers said.
Harrison chimed in, “We’ve learned a lot about each other.”
That’s not to say there aren’t disagreements.
“If you have a sister, you can be mad at them, then two seconds later be friends,” Vossers said.
The sisters remember what Barbo coached them.
“Defense is something you can control,” Vossers said.
On the court, the Eagles improved from six wins to 14 this past season, with a young team.
Junior Giavanna Bobish and sophomores Elli Burns and Ella Walker are among the key returners expected back for the 2026-27 season.
Vossers has watched the team progress this summer.
“The girls are working hard,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of growth. We went 4-0 in a shootout at Cedar Point and 2-2 in one at Ursuline College. We competed well in the Edgewood Summer League.”
As the program continues to move forward, Harriman could play an important role teaching at the middle school level.
“Our goal is to continue to build the numbers up,” she said.
The sisters are running the girls basketball program, but they haven’t forgotten those who helped get them to this point.
“[Former head] Coach [Mike] Hassett did a great job,” Harriman said.
Vossers said Jeff Richmond was a mentor for her when she became head coach.
Both Harriman and Vossers also cited middle school coaches Emily Corlew and Brian O’Dell as beneficial to the program. Harriman played soccer for O’Dell in high school.
The sisters said they want to continue coaching together, but know the situation can change.
That’s why they’re taking this opportunity to continue to progress and evolve with each other and an extended basketball family.
“Basketball is so important to us,” Vossers said. “We do the best we can.”
Harriman added, “This is special. This is bigger than basketball.”
Continue reading...
