Returnees: Senior — David Zanish. Sophomore — Austin Miller.
FYI: Zanish will be the Irish’s top runner.
Coach’s comments: “We expect David to be improved, and do well at the district. His endurance is better and he’s a stronger runner. Austin is working on his experience and we expect he’ll improve.”
CEDARVILLE
Coach: Jim DeLange, 12th season.
Last year: Fourth in the OHC.
Returnees: Sophomores — Jaden Smith, Tim Waymire, Daniel Bolender.
Newcomers: Junior — Bradford Traeger. Freshman — Zac Bowen.
FYI: The Indians graduated four seniors from last year’s squad.
Coach’s comments: “We’re really young, but the guys are running pretty close together in practice. I’m anxious to see how they’ll do in meets. They’re working hard and doing a good job.”
EMMANUEL CHRISTIAN
Coach: Chris Lundquist, third season.
Last year: Fourth in the Metro Buckeye Conference.
Returnees: Junior — Jared Klawer. Sophomores — Noah Bragg, Wes Haney.
Newcomers: Senior — Jason Reep. Junior — Kevin Stewart. Sophomores — Christopher Pauley, Kyle Loper.
FYI: The Lions lost Isaiah Bragg to graduation. Bragg finished second at the Division III state cross country meet last season and is currently running at the Air Force Academy. Stewart was a state qualifier in both cross country and track who moved in from Mechanicsburg.
Coach’s comment: “We lost Isaiah but with the addition of Kevin and everyone else getting stronger and better, I think we’ll be better than we were last year. We fell short of some goals, so we really want to achieve the goals we missed last year.”
GRAHAM
Coach: Todd Buschur, 15th season.
Last year: CBC Mad River Division champs, district champs, regional runner-up, ninth at D-II state meet.
Returnees: Seniors — Jon McMaken, Danny Byers. Junior — Caleb Pumphrey. Sophomore — Brady Newcomer.
Newcomers: Sophomore — Parker Wright. Freshmen — Luke Hawke, Sam McGill.
FYI: The Falcons lost three seniors, Zach Hawke, Robbie Pumphrey and Taylor Wright, to graduation. McMaken was the team’s top runner most of last season.
Coach’s comments: “Their goal is to go back to state again, and that’s a big undertaking. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but they have the physical tools to do it. They have to believe it and keep working hard. We don’t have any room to spare for injuries.”
GREENEVIEW
Coach: Dean Mullikin, sixth season
Last year: Unavailable.
Returnees: Junior — Joel Jordan. Sophomore — Mick Mullikin.
Newcomers: Freshmen — Ethan Mullikin, Matt Hyser.
Coach’s comments: “Without five guys, we won’t be in a league title race. We hope to keep getting better.”
GREENON
Coach: Kim Wise, third season.
Last year: Fourth in the CBC Mad River Division.
Returnees: Seniors — Ryan Vieu, Jared Grant. Juniors — Brandon McNeil, Joshua McReynolds, Kyle McNeely, Paul Schaefer, Seth Currier. Sophomores — Aric Ross, Travis Hill.
Newcomers: Seniors — Joshua Boyd, Kevin Ivancic, Eric Witt. Freshmen — Taylor Bennington, Colin Auckerman, Jake McGoyer, Jeremy Bennett, Brandon Campbell, Aaron Smith.
FYI: The Knights grew by six members this year from 12 to 18 runners. Currier was first team All-CBC and finished fourth at the Clark County Meet last fall.
Coach’s comments: “The boys team, if healthy, will be much improved over last year. They did their summer running. We have some strong upperclassmen, but our strength will be our freshmen. We can have some success, but we need to get some experience for next year. Hopefully we can improve on last year’s record. The team is excited.”
KENTON RIDGE
Coach: Don Monroe, 31st season.
Last year: Clark County champs, sixth in the district.
Returnees: Senior — Mike Noonan. Juniors — Collin Hawke, Jake Menda. Sophomore — Ryan Shroyer.
Newcomers: Freshmen — Travis Miller, Gabe Rastatter, Elijah Dobbins, Alek Eckert, Jordan Brown.
FYI: Brandon Townsend, a district champ a year ago, moved to Michigan. The team also graduated four seniors. Hawke will be the team’s No. 1 runner this season.
Coach’s comments: “We’re small and have a lot of work to do. We’re going to have to concentrate on a pack of runners. It’s going to take a group of guys trying to run under 18 minutes as a pack.”
MECHANICSBURG
Coach: Josh Bell, sixth season.
Last year: Unavailable.
Returnees: Seniors — Michael Schaffner, Justin Howells, Adam Allbright. Junior — Tyler Bossetti. Sophomores — Zach Pope, Ben Pfeiffer.
Newcomers: Freshmen — D.J. Sanders, David Willson.
FYI: Schaffner is the team’s No. 1 runner this season.
Coach’s comments: “We have a young team this year with strong leadership from the senior class. I’m looking forward to seeing how much time the younger runners can shave off this season and set some really great personal best times.”
NORTHEASTERN
Coach: Steve Schwitzgable, eighth season.
Last year: Second in the OHC, third at the Clark County Meet.
Returnees: Seniors — Jessy Reeder, Cody Falloon. Junior — Zack Trombley. Sophomore — Dalton Murray.
Newcomers: Sophomore — Adam Ingerman. Freshmen — Cameron Erwin, Dylan Buffenbarger.
FYI: Murray will be the Jets No. 1 runner.
Coach’s comments: “I like what we’re doing. Jessy has been a great leader for us. Dalton is learning to work hard. We’ve got a core of four guys who should fairly competitive, and it will be up to the new guys to find a fifth guy. I like the boys’ attitude. We’re working hard everyday. If we stay healthy and progress, we should be competitive.”
NORTHWESTERN
Coach: Tracy Cleland, 17th season.
Last year: Third in the CBC Mad River Division.
Returnees: Seniors — Corey Kleis, Colin Salyers. Sophomores — Jaden Cleland, Kaleb Turner, Ben Hermetz.
Newcomers: Sophomore — Jordan Adams. Freshmen — Jordan Johnson, Brandon Reigel, Austin Lumbberg, Levi Salyers.
FYI: The Warriors lost regional qualifier Andrew Spencer to graduation. Kleis was also a regional qualifier, finishing 14th at the district meet.
Coach’s comments: “I think we’ve got the nucleus of a young group.. It’s a matter of time, trying to get in the best shape we can. We have a good group of freshmen and sophomores to build off of the next few years.”
SHAWNEE
Coach: Brian DeSantis, eighth season.
Last year: Third in the CBC Kenton Trail, second at the Clark County Meet.
Returnees: Seniors — Cole Thornberry, Tyler Pontsler. Juniors — Alex Brouhard, Jacob Dockter, Dylan Hickman, Eric Hoecker, Grant Johnson, Patrick Myers, Josh Richardson. Sophomores — Tyler Greenwood, Joey Mullen, Billy Peterson, Michael Tymoski, Austin Szekacs.
Newcomers: Junior — Josh Kirby. Freshman — Austin Newkirk.
FYI: DeSantis returns to coach after taking two seasons off.
Coach’s comments: “They’re eager to do more. I have to hold some of them back. They’ve got the work ethic.”
SOUTHEASTERN
Coach: Josh Murray, fourth season.
Last year: Unavailable.
Returnees: Senior — Alex Xayathone. Junior — Dylan Bowen. Sophomore — Scott Hannah.
Newcomers: Junior — Tyler Gregory.
FYI: The Trojans are hoping to field a full team this season.
Coach’s comments: “Individually, we have a good group of kids. We’re hoping Scott can make it out to regionals.”
SPRINGFIELD
Coach: Elliott Shuman, second season, third overall.
Last year: Unavailable.
Returnees: Seniors — Colin Romine, Tyler Dean, Dustin Robinson, Sean Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Carl Koehler. Juniors — Tyler Ellington, Kasey Cydrus.
Newcomers: Senior — Kyle Galyen.
FYI: The Wildcats graduated just two seniors.
Coach’s comments: “They’ve been working real hard this summer which will hopefully turn into some great times. The seniors have run together for a long time. The competition will push them to have better times and hopefully they’ll have a good senior season.”
TECUMSEH
Coach: Dan Vaughan, 11th season.
Last year: Fifth in the CBC Kenton Trail Division.
Returnees: Junior — Andrew Thomas. Sophomores — Sam Flack, David Canaday, Scott Harmon.
Newcomers: Junior — Joe Nau, Eric Allen. Sophomores — Mike Johnson, Nick Gianuzzi, Charles Emberton. Freshmen — Alex Gilles, Oliver Gladfelter, Justice Seitz.
FYI: Thomas, Nau and Allen will be the team’s top runners.
Coach’s comments: “I’m happy with who we’ve got out. We graduated a couple runners from a year ago, but I’m confident our top few runners will be pretty good. We hope our younger kids and middle schoolers will help get us back to where we were a few years ago. They’re hungry.”
TRIAD
No information provided
URBANA
Coach: Kate Smith, second season.
Last year: Sixth in the CBC Mad River Division.
Returnees: Senior — Brandon Clark. Junior — Joe Beams. Sophomore — Steven Thiel.
Newcomers: Seniors — Otis deNijs, Kyle Upchurch, Brad Murray. Juniors — Andrew Angles, Austin Caudill. Sophomore — Caleb Baum. Freshman — Eli deNijs.
FYI: This is the second year for the Hillclimbers varsity program.
Coach’s comments: “We’re excited to have our returners back and to have the team grow with younger guys. They have great role models with older guys, and I’m sure they’ll do well.”
WEST LIBERTY-SALEM
Coach: Mike Louden, fifth year.
Last year: 117-32 (meets and tourneys combined).
Returnees: Seniors — Matt Vogel, Zak Esch; Juniors — Zane Esch, Colin Wilson, Jerrod Yoder; Sophomores — Aaron Scott, Alex Adams.
Newcomers: Junior — Ryan Meister; Freshman — Chris Buschur.
FYI: The Tigers return six of top seven runners from last season. Wilson and Scott will be competing for the No. 1 spot. The three through seventh spots are completely up in the air heading into the season.
Coach’s comments: “The guys have had a tremendous summer of training and are anxious for the upcoming season. I believe with our experienced runners coming back and the addition of Ryan Meister to the mix, the season has the potential, with a little luck to be very successful.”
YELLOW SPRINGS
Coach: Vince Peters, 27th season.
Last year: Second in the Metro Buckeye Conference.
Returnees: Seniors — Gabe Amrhein, Mitchell Brickson, Josh Meadows. Juniors — Zach McHugh, Nathaniel Reed.
Newcomers: Seniors — Lonya Clark, Nerak Patterson, Adam Zaremski. Juniors — Cole Santell.
FYI: The Bulldogs have five guys vying for their top runner. ... Clark and Patterson each ran as freshman and sophomores. Brickson is a nationally ranked race walker.
Coach’s comments: “I’m hoping there’s enough strength there that we can challenge for a league title. We have no true No. 1 runner, but 3-4 guys who can run under 17. The talent is there, we just have to get dedicated and get into it.”
— Compiled by Michael Cooper
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