Local runners do well in VWCH CC meet

Van Wert independent sports

The Van Wert Cougar cross country teams hosted the Van Wert County Hospital Invitational on Saturday morning and, once again, the Cougar boys came out victorious. The short-handed Van Wert girls’ squad ran themselves to a sixth place finish.

The Cougar boys’ cross country team was led by junior Connor Holliday (sixth in 16:57).  Rounding out the top seven for the Cougars were junior Connor Shaffer (10th in 17:28, junior Jordan Butler (12th in 17:45), junior Daniel Perry (13th in 17:46), sophomore Cade Fleming (14th in 17:50), junior Ryan Rice (22nd in 18:15), and junior Nick Keber (23rd in 18:20).

Leading the way for the Lady Cougars was senior Andi Foster (20th in 21:10). junior Schelissa Williams (25th in 21:29), freshman Natalie Riethman (30th in 21:43), sophomore Megan Barnhart (34th in 21:56), and sophomore Alicia Danylchuk (66th) rounded out the top five scorers. Senior Leah Brubaker (75th in 23:27), and junior Marissa Sperry (79th in 23:31) completed the varsity squad.

“It’s always fun for our kids to run in front of the home crowd; we get one home meet a year and the teams made the best of the day,” said Van Wert Head Coach Brendon Moody. “The times aren’t reflective of how well the kids competed today.

“The boys beat some very good teams and the girls had a solid showing with our current injury laden team,” he added.

The Cougar squads will be back in action on Saturday morning at the Otsego Bulldog Invitational in Otsego, Mich.

The Lancer cross country teams also competed in the Van Wert Hospital Invitational on Saturday, with the Lincolnview boys’ team taking home the runner-up trophy with a second-place finish behind state No. 14-ranked New Bremen and just ahead of state No.12-ranked Minster.

The Lancers were led by a solid performance from Bayley Tow, who also placed second individually in the race. He was followed by teammates Alex Rodriguez (seventh), Ben Bilimek (12th), Travis Lippi (21st), Colton Snyder (33rd), Tracey West (37th), and Trevor Neate (39th).

“The boys really fought hard today; we have really been working hard in practice and I was anxious to see how we would respond if our legs were not fresh,” said Lincolnview Head Coach Matt Langdon. “I liked the fight that I saw.

“We benefited from some of the other teams not  being completely healthy, but late in the season that is part of it: can you get all your guys to the line healthy,” Coach Langdon explained. “We still have another three weeks or so of really focused work, so we will have to see what we look like once we come out the other side of that.”

A top-20 finish by Anna Gorman, who placed 14th overall, led the girls. She was followed by teammates Abbie Enyart (42nd), Claira Rhoades (72nd), Mikinzie Dull (76th) and Ryanne Ducheney (82nd).

“Anna has looked really good in practice and we are just waiting for her to bust out,” Coach Langdon said.” Once we begin to rest and taper our training I think she is going to start to see her times really drop as we move towards the tournament.

“The girls are making strides in the right direction and we are beginning to see them learn how to race and not just run,” he added.

The Crestview boys’ cross country team was fourth and the girls were 10th Saturday at the Van Wert County Hospital Invitational meet.

The boys’ team earned a fourth-place finish out of 15 teams competing in the Gray Division race. The top five scoring runners for Crestview were Mycah Grandstaff (sixth), Charles Thornberg (10th), Branden Clayton (22nd), Copsey Bogle (23rd) and Adam Saylor (48th).

The top scoring runners for the Lady Knights included Brooke Ripley (30th), Chelsea Hancock (35th), Hali Finfrock (41st), Meghan Sherman (62nd), and Vicki Callow (66th).