Tue Feb 09 2010
By KEVIN EIS
Area boys and girls cross country teams will determine who will make the trip to Scioto Downs on Saturday at Tiffin's Hedges-Boyer Park during the Division III regional cross country meet.
The D-III girls race is scheduled for 11:05 a.m., while the boys are slated to run at 1:20 p.m.
Among a host of teams from the six-county area, four schools have earned the right to advance both boys and girls packs to Tiffin for a shot at the biggest stage in the sport.
Following a district championship run a week ago at Ottawa Park, the Stryker boys punched their ticket to regionals along with the girls, who finished third in the team standings.
"Winning (at districts) doesn't necessarily make us a shoe-in for the regional," noted Stryker boys and girls mentor Maurice Zuver. "Our kids know that and I'm pretty sure they'll step up and do something about it this week."
The Panther boys are paced by district individual champion Kenny Graber. The Stryker senior led the Panthers to a fourth-place team finish at Tiffin a year ago while coming in 11th in the individual standings.
Graber will be joined by Jay Planson, Conner Frey, Luke Graber and Tyson Rohrs in the quest for regional glory.
On the girls side, Stryker will send a strong pack led by freshman Emily Rupp, Natalie Graber, Lindsey Strup, Michaela Rupp and Andi Grieser after placing third as a team in the district.
"It's just going to be a matter of who perseveres," said Zuver. "The regional is the thing. If you run well down there, you get the reward of going to Columbus. We're going to have to step up ... we're pretty proud of the things we've accomplished this year, but one of our goals is to get to Columbus and we've got to really focus on that and put everything into perspective."
In a year of firsts for the Liberty Center CC program, the Henry County harriers will see both boys and girls teams in the regionals at the same time.
After winning its inaugural NWOAL title two weeks ago and defending a district crown, the LC girls enter regional competition behind Chelsea Knapp, Jordan Sidel, Mallory Spieth, Kelly Haubert and Ashlyn Myers. The top five Lady Tigers will look to improve upon a 10th-place regional showing last season.
"We have such a tough regional and we realize that," stated Liberty Center mentor Tim Atkinson, who is in his second season at the helm of the Liberty Center boys and girls packs. "We just take it one week at a time and this week will be no different. We'll prepare like we normally prepare, do our best out on the course and hope things fall our way."
"The girls are excited," he added. "They like that course, they like challenges, they love hills, so it's really a custom-made course for us."
The LC boys will see regional action after packing together for an impressive third-place district stand as a team. The junior duo of Josh Seedorf and Ben Martinez paced the Tigers out of districts, while Lynn Leatherman, Zach Poignon and Joe Seedorf round out the top five.
"We stress one program, we're one family," stressed Atkinson. "We don't stress boys and girls, we're one program. The kids work together, they eat meals together, they do everything together and the girls are just as excited for the boys as the boys for the girls. I think that speaks volumes for our program."
Also advancing two squads to Tiffin is Delta. While the Panthers captured their fifth-consecutive district crown a week ago, the boys are a regional favorite, returning a pack of talent from last season's regional runner-up squad.
"We have five of the seven guys back from last year," noted Delta mentor Jeff Taylor. "So not only were they able to get to that course, but if we get so lucky to be able to get back to Columbus, that always helps to be a part of that and have a little bit of experience on those courses."
The Panthers are led by district champion Colin Fisher and runner-up Elliott Oberneder, along with K.J. Abair, Zech Hites and Maxx Lackie.
However, Taylor knows what the competition brings with the likes of stiffer competition at the next stage.
"The game definitely raises its level," he admitted. "Elmwood, Stryker and Hilltop all had a great (district) race. But I know our guys are looking forward to the challenge and we want to get that second regional title, but it's going to be a battle to get to Columbus."
Rounding out the list of dual-qualifying teams is Ottoville. The girls are hoping to repeat as regional champs behind talented junior district champ Shayla Siefker, who was the individual runner-up at Tiffin as a freshman before improving to champion a year ago. Also needing to run well for the Lady Green will be Molly Maag, Brianna Rodriguez, Brooke Bendele and Melissa Turnwald. Maag turned in an impressive fourth-place finish last year at Tiffin.
The Ottoville boys made the team cut in the fourth spot behind strong performances by Seth Bendele, Drew Bendele, Tyler Looser, Jason Turnwald and Tyler Turnwald.
Hilltop, Archbold and Fayette and Coldwater are the remaining teams coming out of the Ottawa District. Cody Livensparger and Travis Burwell will lead Hilltop, while Archbold will be fronted by the skills of sophomore Adrian Ramirez along with freshmen Zeb Frank, Alex Hurst, Seth Yoder and Bryce Tinsman.
Representing Defiance County at Tiffin on Saturday will be the Fairview girls squad after garnering fourth-place district team honors. The junior duo of Tierney Czartoski and Morella Roehrig led the Lady Apaches with a strong district run followed by Olivia Brieninger, Samantha Rhodes and Jenna Graham.
"I think as we move up a level, the pack is going to have to move up a level also," commented Fairview girls coach Angela Karacson. "You get to regionals and all the runners are good. I know it's a cliché, but you've got to bring your 'A' game because everybody there is good."
District individual runner-up Tanner Hostetler will lead a strong Pettisville girls pack along with Lexie King, while Pandora-Gilboa will also face added pressure from teams out of the two Tiffin district meets held last Saturday.
The following area runners will also compete in regional competition as individuals from the D-III Ottawa district: Lincoln Frey (Pettisville), Jake Graham (Columbus Grove), Cody Bigger (Edgerton), Erica Goeltzenleuchter (Fayette), Ellise Wetli (Antwerp), Grace Ebersole (North Central), Ashlyn Purk (Hilltop), Josh Hilton (Antwerp), Dylan Crawford (Antwerp), Sebastian Rue (Ayersville), Cade Mansfield (Ayersville), Hannah McKibben (Ayersville), Lindsey Matthews (Wayne Trace), Michala Ross (Tinora), Levi Cvikel (Edon), Deanna Kahle (Kalida) and Dani Bassous (Ayersville).
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