VW boys win Greenville meet, girls 4th

VWHS cross country information

GREENVILLE — After a four-year hiatus from the Treaty City, Van Wert returned to Greenville’s competitive Treaty City Invitational this past Saturday and left its mark in fine fashion. The Cougar girls finished fourth in the Girls Green Division, while the boys continued their winning ways by capturing the White Division crown.

The girls had three girls in the top 25, led by Andrea Foster (13th in 20:33), Chloee Gamble (19th in 20:55), and Jacey Eikenbary (25th in 21:38.  Megan Barnhart (56th in 22:39), and Shelissa Williams (63rd in 22:56), rounded out the Cougar scoring. Kelsey Wagner (73rd in 23:19), and Whitney Meyers (86th in 23:40 also competed in the girls’ green race.

In junior varsity action for the girls, Alicia Danylchuck was the first Van Wert girl to traverse the 5k course, finishing in second place in a time of 22:33.  Marissa Sperry (21st in 24:15), Leah Brubaker (27th in 24:34), and Karlyn Koontz (60th in 25:46) completed the junior varsity line-up.

“I was very excited with how the ladies ran today,” said Van Wert Coach Brendon Moody. “Alicia got our day started off on the right foot when she put herself in contention for the win in the JV race and the girls just fed off of the energy that she created. The varsity girls had a strong race as well.”

In the boys’ race, Van Wert knocked off Division II the state champion Springfield Shawnee Braves by five points. Senior Jared Fleming led the way for the third straight week with an impressive second place finish in 16:08.  Kase Schalois was close behind in seventh place, 16:42, while Conner Holliday, eighth in 16:51; Nick Keber, 34th in 17:55; and Jordan Butler, 43th in 18:05, rounded out the scoring.  Conner Shaffer (45th in 18:06), and Spencer Prichard (106th in 19:22 also competed in varsity action.

“Anytime you beat the defending state champs, it gives you a huge confidence boost,” said Coach Moody. “Fact of the matter is our guys didn’t run as well as we have, nor as well as we can, so we know there is work to be done.

“Don’t get me wrong, we will savor the victory over Springfield Shawnee, but no one remembers who wins in September, it’s who wins on the first week in November,” he added.

The junior varsity race was once again dominated by Van Wert as the Cougars took four of the top 11 places, led by Eric Easley, third in 18:25, Cade Fleming, fifth in 18:35, Ryan Rice, eighth in 18:42, and Daniel Perry, 11th in 18:45.  Reed Baxter finished 21st in 19:15 to finish out the JV scoring.  Nick White (190th in 22:46) and Austin Taylor (201st in 22:59) completed the JV roster.

The girls record stands at 54-11, while the boys are 70-2. Both squads are back in action on Saturday at the Tiffin Cross Country Carnival.