VWMS runners do well at meets

VWMS cross country news

The Van Wert Middle School boys were victorious at the Crestview Cross Country Invitational earlier this week.  The Cougar harriers finished first in the field of six teams.

Thane Cowan and Blake Henry led the charge for the Van Wert squad, earning fifth and sixth place honors, respectively. However, it was the pack of Stephen Hamblett (eighth), Max Sealscott (ninth), and Michael Etter (10th) that sealed the victory for the Cougars.  Korey Oechsle (23rd) and Kyle Spray(27th) rounded out the scorers.

Also running for the Cougars were Zac Tomlinson, Noah Carter, Gage Chiles, Anthony Borack, Brayden Cox, Noah Brubaker, David Maurer, and Noah Arend.

In the girls’ race, the Cougars took second place to Western Buckeye League rival Defiance in the sixth-person tiebreaker.

The Cougars were paced by another duo: Cassidy Meyers and Sierra Shaffer, who finished in second and third places, respectively.  Other Cougars contributing to the score were Julia Springer (10th), Nicole Clay (14th), and Emma Rutkowski (20th). Also contributing were Risa Pollock (24th) and Chloe Boroff (28th).

Other Cougar runners who competed in the meet included: Kylee Bagley, Erienne Cassidy, Michaela Johnson, Hannah Kraner, Kathryn Wray, Kaileigh Gentry, Nykee Billingham, Allison Hauter, Courtney Sanderson, and Victoria Etzler.

Last Saturday, Cougar runners suffered through another hot day as they competed in the Tiffin Cross County Carnival.  Competing against schools from all across the state, the Cougars held their own, with the boys’ team ending the day ninth out of 41 teams, while the girls’ finished 10th out of 46 teams.

With a season-best performance of 11:38, Thane Cowan led the Cougar harriers with an eighth place finish.  The Cougar pack of Blake Henry (12:25), Stephen Hamblett (12:49), and Max Sealscott (12:53) finished next, while Michael Etter (13:09), Kyle Spray (13:47), and Gage Chiles (13:53) rounded out the varsity seven.

The duo of Cassidy Meyers (13:07) and Sierra Shaffer (13:19) led the charge for the Lady Cougars, finishing in 12th and 19th places, respectively. Julia Springer (13:59), Nicole Clay (15:18), and Emma Rutkowski (15:31) completed the scorers. Erienne Cassidy (16:01) and Caton Williamson (16:40) also competed in the varsity race.

Zac Tomlinson was the first Cougar runner in the boys’ open race with a time of 14:50.  Other Van Wert runners were Anthony Borack, Korey Oechsle, Noah Carter, Noah Brubaker, Brayden Cox, David Maurer, and Noah Arend.

Risa Pollock was the top Van Wert finisher in the girls’ open race with a time of 16:05.  Also competing were Michaela Johnson, Kylee Bagley, Kathryn Wray, Chloe Boroff, Sammy Allmandinger, Hannah Kraner, Kaileigh Gentry, Nykee Billingham, Courtney Sanderson, Allison Hauter, and Victoria Etzler.