Cougar boys 4th at Galion CC meet

Van Wert cross country information

It was a busy day for high school cross country on Saturday, as Van Wert split squads to have representation at both the Ottawa-Glandorf Blue\Gold High School Invitational, as well as at the Galion Cross Country Invitational.

At Ottawa-Glandorf, the boys’ squad, comprised of Van Wert’s junior varsity line-up, held its own, finishing ninth in the 17-team field.  Leading the way for the Cougars was junior Eric Easley (19th, 17:45), sophomore Daniel Perry (31, 17:57), sophomore Reed Baxter (33rd, 17:58), sophomore Ryan Rice (34th, 18:02), and junior Austin Taylor (140th, 21:29).

In girls’ action at Ottawa-Glandorf, Marissa Sperry paced the Cougars, finishing in 72nd place in 23:46.  Karlyn Koontz (97th, 24:53), and Leah Brubaker (127th, 27:31) also competed in varsity action.

“I thought that all our kids at Ottawa-Glandorf did a really good job,” said Van Wert Coach Brendon Moody. “As a junior varsity athlete competing against other teams’ varsity, it isn’t always easy. They handled it very well.”

In the second half races for the Cougars, the varsity boys took to the newly named Ohio High School Athletic Association Northwest District course at Amann Reservoir in Galion.  The Cougars came away with six new lifetime best times, but wound up a disappointing fourth place in the race.

“The guys ran extremely well today, which is why when you have six lifetime bests and still get beat, it is a tough pill to swallow,” Coach Moody said. “We know there is still work to be done and that when we are all healthy, we will be in the mix when it counts.

“Kase Schalois was a great team leader for us today in the absence of Jared (Fleming) and Connor (Holliday). Our sophomore class is the lifeline of this team and they showed why today with Connor Shaffer, Jordan Butler, and Nick Keber all stepping up. That is what you need in order to have a championship caliber team, people step up when others are struggling.”

Kase Schalois finished in third place in 16:04, while Nick Keber was 42nd in 17:12, Conner Shaffer finished 46th in 17:22, Jordan Butler was 49th in 17:26, Cade Fleming was 50th in 17:28, and Spencer Prichard, who finished 61st in 17:40, comprised the varsity lineup.

Pacing the way for the Cougar girls was junior Andi Foster, who was fourth in 19:40.  Sophomore Schelissa Williams (46th in 21:31), freshmen Megan Barnhart (51st in 21:43 and Alisha Danylchuck (66th in 22:15), and senior Kelsey Wagner (85th in 22:39) rounded out the scoring. Whitney Meyers (133rd in 24:17) also ran in the varsity race.

“Arguably, we didn’t run all that bad,” Coach Moody noted. “Unfortunately, when you are missing your number two and three runners, it makes it extremely difficult to contend for a team title in a race of this caliber.

“Andi has established herself as one of the top girls in the region and continues to lead our team up front, the coach said, adding, “Our younger girls are beginning to mesh with the upperclassmen throughout the race. It’s just a matter of putting it all together on the right day. That time will come.”