Conference XC Preview: Can Rittman boys repeat as WCAL champs?
The place to see the top area cross country runners this Saturday will be Wooster High School.
Sure, the school's campus will once again host the Ohio Cardinal Conference Championships, but the meet will be first of two league championships to be decided on the layout.
After the OCC wraps up in the morning, the Wayne County Athletic League meet takes to the course in the afternoon.
Two of the top 40 boys runners among the state's three divisions will be on display — Rittman's Luke Snyder (seventh overall, first in Division III) and Northwestern's Kade Tegtmeier (38th overall, sixth in D-III), along with Smithville's Kaitlyn Carr (14th overall, third in D-III) on the girls side.
Here’s a look at league meets involving area teams:
Inter-Valley Conference
WHEN: Saturday, 9 a.m. (girls), 9:45 (boys)
WHERE: Sandy Valley High School (5130 State Route 183, Magnolia, 44643)
TOP RUNNERS: Boys — Joe Carlisle (Indian Valley, 16:07.28), Jake Kapper (Tusky Valley, 16:18.83), Luke Buxton (East Canton, 16:44.16), Nathan Money (Garaway, 16:47.54), Cade Conrad (Tusky Valley, 16:48.40), Teagan Perkowski (Tusky Valley, 17:07.71). Girls — Audrey Wade (East Canton, 18:39.60), Trista Lieser (Tusky Valley, 18:44.26), Kali Wallace (Claymont, 18:53.31), Meghan Schwartz (Garaway, 19:30.12), Casey Russell (Sandy Valley, 19:37.57), Kenzie Bice (Ridgewood, 19:46.09)
WHAT TO WATCH: Tusky Valley comes in as the team to beat, thanks to three of its top six runners among the top runners in the league, but Carlisle is running in the low 16s and is expected to set the pace for the rest of the field. Hiland has been led by Nathan Young, who has been close to getting under 20 minutes on the season. Wade has been one of the top runners in the state, but will be pushed in the IVC final with Lieser and Wallace both expected to push the state qualifier. Tusky Valley and Sandy Valley will battle it out for the team championship.
'You just have to set the tone': Northwestern's Kade Tegtmeier wins at Wayne/Holmes
Mid-Buckeye Conference
WHEN: Saturday, 9 a.m. (girls), 9:30 (boys)
WHERE: Loudonville High School (421 Campus Ave., Loudonville, 44842)
TOP RUNNERS: Boys — Gavin Bichsel (Lucas, 17:43.72), Lettie Wenell (Loudonville, 18:02.33), Landin Cyphers (Mans. Christian, 18:14.66), William McFadden (Central Christian, 18:31.16), Ray Lewis (Lucas, 18:42.34), Brock Rentzel (Mans. Christian, 18:44.45). Girls -— Tess Shultz (Loudonville, 18:17.53), Meagan Them (Mans. Christian, 19:26.59), Chloe Sturts (Lucas, 20:02.15), Ashlyn Calnek (Crestline, 21:20.20), Angela Miller (Central Christian, 22:51.32), Nora Lance (Loudonville, 23:35.79)
WHAT TO WATCH: On the heels of an All-Ohio season in 2022, Shultz has picked up where she left off. The junior registered a career-best 18:17.53 at the end of September and has three victories and three runner-up finishes on the current year. The Redbirds' Wenell is close to breaking the 18-minute mark, something that might happen on his home course this weekend with a guy like Bichsel expected to set the pace for the field. Look for McFadden also to be among the top finishers, while fellow Comets harrier Miller having the same impact behind Shultz in the girls race.
Ohio Cardinal Conference
WHEN: Saturday, 9:30 a.m. (girls), 10:15 (boys)
WHERE: Wooster High School (515 Oldman Road, Wooster)
TOP RUNNERS: Boys — Marcus Adelman (New Philadelphia, 15:23.70), Alec Adelman (New Philadelphia, 15:36.80, 3. Chance Basilone (Lexington, 15:48.40), K'Tyo Hedershot (Ashland, 16:11.91), Owen Buchholz (Wooster, 16:18.67), Wyatt Lendon (New Philadelphia, 16:21.30). Girls — Brailey Slone (Lexington, 18:30.80), Noelle Smith (West Holmes, 19:08.77), Elyana Weaver (Lexington, 19:18.50), Jenna Halfhill (Lexington, 19:21), Lucy Rush (Mount Vernon, 19:29), Mattie Dunlap (Wooster, 19:48.70)
WHAT TO WATCH: Both the Generals boys and girls squads will look to use their home-course advantage to push for the OCC crown. It won't be easy, however, as both New Philadelphia and Lexington poise the biggest threat on the boys side, with the reigning champion Minutemen and West Holmes standing in Wooster's way in the girls portion of the meet. New Philadelphia's boys has three of the top six harriers in the Adelman brothers and Lendon, but the Generals have started to see their pack come tighter in recent weeks with Buchholz, Oliver Miller and Cole Kuzma leading the way. West Holmes has been led all fall by Jacob Miller (16:48.60). While Lex has a strong advantage on the girls side, thanks to Slone, Weaver and Halfhill, the battle between the Generals and Knights should be an interesting one. West Holmes' Smith has the second-fastest time in the league, but Wooster's Dunlap got the upper hand on her area rival in last weekend's Wayne/Holmes Invite. The Knights will look to Alexis Wagers and Lexy Starner to provide support behind Smith, while Margaret McBride and Madelynn Whyte have had strong seasons for the Generals.
Principals Athletic Conference
WHEN: Saturday, 9 a.m. (girls), 9:30 (boys)
WHERE: Nickajack Farms (2955 Manchester Ave NW, North Lawrence, 44666)
TOP RUNNERS: Boys — Dylan Easterling (Northwest, 16:12.30), Andrew Hearn (Fairless, 16:14.40), Micah Colbert (CVCA, 16:33.50), Owen Lacy (Orrville, 16:36.30), Noah Mammone (CVCA, 16:37.50), Bradlee Keehn (Fairless, 16:49.80). Girls — Madelyn Begert (Northwest, 17:59.20), Lizzie Dolan (CVCA, 19:16.10), Jayna Cooley (CVCA, 19:18.40), Ahna Doane (Fairless, 19:41.20), Kayla Ritzman (CVCA, 19:41.30), Brielle Varney (CVCA, 20:15.50)
WHAT TO WATCH: With its first full squad in nearly five seasons, Triway comes in projected to finish in the top three in the conference. A big reason for that has been a pack, led by Cassidy Self (21:01.40). Teammates Martha Johnson and Ella Wigal have also provided support, which could be key in the Titans competing with CVCA and Northwest. While Begert of Northwest is the lone runner under 18 minutes, CVCA's depth has them as a heavy favorite for the team title with six of the eight fastest times in the league. Adriana Pudloski of Tuslaw is also expected to be a top-20 finisher. The boys side could have a similar team standings finish with CVCA and Northwest, but the individual finish is expected to be one to watch as Easterling and Hearn are within seconds of each other. Orrville's Lacy has put together an impressive sophomore campaign and should break up some of those groups and have an impact on who takes the team trophy. Brady Speicher and Kaden Hilty of Triway have each broken 18 minutes this fall and are expected to compete for an all-conference spot.
'I gave it my best': Norwayne’s Lillith Dreibelbis wins at Wayne/Holmes Invite
Wayne County Athletic League
WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m. (boys), 2:40 (girls)
WHERE: Wooster High School (515 Oldman Road, Wooster)
TOP RUNNERS: Boys — Luke Snyder (Rittman, 15:02.30), Kade Tegtmeier (Northwestern, 15:31.54), Jackson Varner (Waynedale, 16:01.40), Tripp Wingate (Norwayne, 16:37.82), Romagn Wingate (Norwayne, 16:44.92), Joey Clabaugh (Smithville, 16:47.56). Girls — Kaitlyn Carr (Smithville, 18:01.80), Annabelle Snyder (Rittman, 18:41.20), Brooke Bowlby (Rittman, 19:12.80), Lillith Dreibelbis (Norwayne, 19:17.13), Ryver Ramsier (Rittman, 19:24.70), Emberlynn Nolt (Dalton, 19:51.30)
WHAT TO WATCH: No local team has had a more balanced lineup this season than Rittman's girls squad. Behind Snyder, who is putting together an impressive freshman year, the Indians have a strong lineup that has both Bowlby and Ramsier both in the low 19-minute range. But the support of rookies like Adyson Fosen and Selah Amos has Rittman a heavy favorite. Carr comes in with the fastest time in the field, a mark she set on the same Wooster course earlier this season, while Dreibelbis captured the Wayne/Holmes Invite title last weekend and comes in with a lot of confidence. Look for Nolt, Maryn Erdman (Smithville) and Clara Sundberg (Waynedale) also to be pushing for a top spot. The boys team race will be a bit more interesting with defending county champ Rittman, Waynedale and Dalton expected to be near the top among a team field that has five schools with a chance to take the title. Luke Snyder has the seventh-fastest time among the state's three divisions, which he ran at Wooster in September, and will be the runner to beat. Tegtmeier and Varner will be right behind Snyder, with the Wingate brothers also among the top individuals.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Cross Country: previewing the Wayne/Holmes area conference meets
