Full strength

Jimerson returned to the field in her junior campaign, but only played in 11 games and it was evident she was not back in top form since the injury.

Nearly two years after her injury, Jimerson had one last opportunity to show that not only could she return to her form from her sophomore season, but elevate it to another level.

Right out the gate Jimerson scored the game-winning goal in this season’s opener against the reigning Section VI Class B champion Southwestern Trojans and then did not look back from there.

“Two years ago, Ava had 29 goals and 20 assists before she tore her ACL,” Frewsburg head coach said after the first game. “She played last year, but she wasn’t Ava. Ava’s back and Ava’s hungry. She’s a menace for anybody, she’s going to be putting pressure on people all year long and she wants to win right now to prove that she didn’t lose a step.”

Frewsburg senior Ava Jimerson scored 43 goals and 17 assists to lead Section VI in scoring.
OBSERVER file photo

Jimerson certainly did not lose a step, she actually took several steps that culminated with her leading all of Section VI in scoring with 43 goals and 17 assists.

Scoring one goal in her first game turned out to be one of Jimerson’s bad games, that’s how good she was. The Frewsburg senior scored 10 hat tricks on the year and posted 15 multi-goal games out of the 19 contests in which she played.

The only game Jimerson did not register her name on the scoresheet was in a 2-1 loss to Allegany-Limestone near the beginning of the season. That defeat was Frewsburg’s only loss in regulation and the next time the Bears would fall would be at the hands of an eventual state champion.

Jimerson torched the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 3 competition as the Bears outscored opponents 92-0 to regain sole possession of the league title.

Her biggest games came against league opponents as scored a hat trick in both games against Silver Creek/Forestvile, scored a hat trick and then five goals in competition against Westfield/Brocton, a hat trick and then three goals and four assists versus North Collins, and a pair of hat tricks defeating Dunkirk.

Chautauqua Lake managed to limit Jimerson to two goals on both occasions, but that could not swing the outcome in its favor.

Jimerson’s teammates joined in on the fun for several blowouts, but when the games were important and the test was tough she answered the call.

Frewsburg battled the eventual Section VI Class B champion Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove early in the season and she scored her most impressive hat trick of the year while adding an assist in the 4-1 victory.

Then in the playoffs, Jimerson lifted the Bears in the Section VI Class C semifinals when she scored two goals in the first half against Wilson before advancing on a 3-1 win.

In the sectional finals, Jimerson netted both goals in a 2-0 win to defeat Randolph for the Bears’ sixth title in a row. Those goals would be the last of Jimerson’s career, but that did not stop her from making a mark on the Far West Regional against Section V’s Byron-Bergen.

The Bees keyed in on Jimerson all game knowing she was a top threat, but that didn’t stop her from making chances on her own. However, it wasn’t her goal scoring prowess that highlighted the game, it was her IQ when helping Frewsburg tie the game.

On a counterattack Jimerson had space to run down the left wing and the opportunity was there for her to make a strike at the goalkeeper, but she recognized it would be a tough shot. Instead of forcing a ball past the goalie, Jimerson crossed it into the box with no intention of scoring, but instead left the ball in the perfect place for her twin Taytum to scurry in to slam home the tying goal.

Frewsburg ended up falling short in the overtime to Byron-Bergen and the Bees went on to win the Class C state title, but soon after several of the Bears players started receiving well-deserved accolades.

Ava Jimerson was named the CCCA Division 3 Offensive Player of the Year, earned a spot All-WNY Small School team, was named Second-Team all-state by the New York State Sportswriters and Coaches Organization for Girls Sports and is now the 2024 OBSERVER/Post-Journal Player of the Year.