Columbus Grove’s Luke Ellerbrock competes in Saturday’s Division III, District 1 race at Columbus Grove.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
COLUMBUS GROVE — Several times this fall, Columbus Grove and Lincolnview went head-to-head for boys’ cross country team titles.
Last Saturday, Columbus Grove edged out Lincolnview for the Northwest Conference boys’ team title, 28-33.
However, at Saturday’s Division III district meet at Columbus Grove, the Lincolnview and Columbus Grove boys’ teams were separated. There were two district races for Division III.
In Saturday’s Division III, District 1 boys race, Columbus Grove ran away with the team title, defeating second-place New Bremen 24-58. Marion Local (74) finished third in a field of 11 full teams. The top three squads Saturday at Columbus Grove qualified for next Saturday’s Division III regional meet at Tiffin’s Hedges-Boyer Park. Also, the top 12 individual placers Saturday stamped their tickets for Tiffin.
In Saturday’s Division III, District 2 boys’ race, Lincolnview won the district title, defeating second-place Minster, 31-54. Crestview (78) notched the third and final regional qualifying spot in a field of 10 full teams.
In the Division III, District 1 race, Columbus Grove senior Luke Ellerbrock won in a personal-best time of 15 minutes, 45.96 seconds on the 5,000-meter course that traversed around the Columbus Grove athletic fields and finished on the track at Clymer Stadium. New Bremen’s Zach Wiedeman finished a distant second (16:12.82).
“I wanted to get out like I normally do the first mile and be around that 5 (minute)-flat mark,” Ellerbrock said. “I came through at 4:57. Every race, I’m trying to get the school record. It seems like my second mile is kind of my weak spot, because the third mile, I speed up toward the end. So, I just try to keep going hard that second mile. That was really my goal there – to attack that second mile, and then see where I could be at. For the school record, I was off by three seconds. I have two races left, so maybe I can still get it.”
Columbus Grove placed its five scorers in the top 10 overall spots on Saturday.
Behind Ellerbrock were teammates Evan Pitts (third, 16:16.97), Levi Bryan (fifth, 16:53.57), Caiden Squillante (sixth, 16:55.53) and Bryce Bonifas (10th, 17:13.40).
“All of our guys ran the course really well,” Ellerbrock said. “We run it (home course) every single day, pretty much. So, we all knew that our course is a fast course. So, we went out and attacked it like it was a PR (personal record) day. I think six of our seven guys ran a season PR. So, we all ran pretty well.”
Longtime Columbus Grove boys’ head coach Terry Schnipke said his team set a goal for Saturday’s district race.
“It’s funny. … You get to the next level and they’re always trying for the next goal. So, their next goal for today was our five-man school record. I think they missed it by two seconds. They were going for it. I knew they had a shot,” Schnipke said.
Columbus Grove’s top five runners averaged 16:37 in Saturday’s race.
Other Lima area runners in the Division III, District 1 boys’ race that did not qualify for the regional meet on a team, but qualified individually were Bluffton’s Levi Fenzl (eighth, 17:12.52), Ottoville’s Wyatt German (ninth, 17:13.25), and Leipsic’s Diego Baldazo (11th, 17:15.55).
In the Division III, District 2 boys’ race, Lincolnview’s Conner Baldauf separated from Fort Recovery’s Trevor Heitkamp down the stretch for the win. Baldauf crossed the finish line in 16:14.11. Heitkamp’s time was 16:22.98.
“I knew there were going to be some guys around me,” Baldauf said. “The Fort Recovery guy (Heitkamp) has been running my times. So, I wanted to stay with him, or get ahead of him.
“I could hear him catching up with me (late in the race). I just gave it everything I had until I got to the (finish) line. … It worked out.”
Lincolnview placed its five scorers in the top 11 overall spots on Saturday.
Teammates Evan Johns (fourth, 16:43.36), Kreston Tow (fifth, 16:50.08), Maddox Norton (10th, 17:17.15) and Myles Moody (11th, 17:22.85) rounded out Lincolnview’s scorers.
The Lincolnview boys’ five scorers clocked an average time of 16:53 on Saturday. Its previous best average was 16:55.
“That was one of our goals,” longtime Lincolnview head coach Matt Langdon said, in reference to the five-man average. “We also had six guys individually qualify (for regionals), which was a secondary goal. … That was the most we ever had in school history.”
Fort Recovery’s Heitkamp was the lone Lima area individual regional qualifier on Saturday in the Division III, District 2 boys’ race.
D-III boys results
at Columbus Grove
District 1
Team Scores: 1. Minster 19, 2. Ft. Recovery 78, 3. Parkway 83, 4. Delphos St. John’s 144, 5. New Bremen 148, 6. Miller City 172, 7. Crestview 175, 8. Bluffton 206, 9. Pandora-Gilboa 236, 10. Swanton 246.
Race Winner/Area Finishers in the Top 25:
1. Chaney Cedarleaf (Min) 19:16.63, 2. Margaret Hemmelgarn (Min) 19:16.63, 3. Maria Niekamp (Min) 19:16.66, 4. Natalie Brunswick (FR) 19:22.08, 5. Andrea Pfau (MC) 19:24.49, 6. Annie Hemmelgarn (Min) 19:29.25, 7. Morgan Ketner (Min) 19:54.58, 8. Taylor Muhlenkamp (Pa) 20:14.81, 9. Paige Williamson (Pa) 20:15.45, 10. Riley Hagins (Min) 20:29.08, 11. Savannah Knueven (P-G) 20:38.10, 12. Ellie Will (FR) 20:43.60, 13. Joelle Kaup (FR) 20:44.48, 14. Cady Donaldson (DSJ) 20:44.48, 15. Ariyah Pfenning (NK) 20:45.00, 16. Ava Stammen (Min) 20:50.66, 17. Christina Tong (Pa) 20:53.91, 18. Anna Lammers (MC) 21:10.23, 19. June Essinger (Bl) 21:17.38, 20. MacKenzie Harting (Crest) 21:24.69, 21. Anna Gardner (Crest) 21:25.12, 23. Anna Roessner (FR) 21:36.07, 24. Chloe Homan (NB) 21:38.92, 25. Alexis Berry (Pa) 21:40.21.
District 2
at Columbus Grove
Team Scores: 1. Lincolnview 39, 2. St. Henry 65, 3. Columbus Grove 100, 4. Marion Local 107, 5. Coldwater 119, 6. Waynesfield-Goshen 165, 7. Kalida 170, 8. Wayne Trace 195, 9. Paulding 217.
Race Winner/Area Finishers in the Top 25:
1. Brynleigh Moody (Lin) 19:04.68, 2. Ava Milligan (Lin) 20:11.61, 3. Rileigh Baumer (SH) 20:20.40, 4. Andrea Burgei (Kal) 20:28.98, 5. Ally Heath (SH) 20:39.69, 6. Lily Montgomery (CG) 20:42.25, 7. Audrey Alig (Col) 20:45.63, 9. Josie Bruns (ML) 20:52.96, 10. Sarah Kamphaus (CG) 20:57.61, 11. Keira Breese (Lin) 21:09.98, 12. Kendall Hoffman (Lin) 21:19.55, 13. Kassidy Hammons (Lin) 21:23.97, 14. Molly Bruns (ML) 21:24.12, 15. Mya Knapke (SH) 21:31.13, 16. Breann Mathewson (Col) 21:39.28, 17. Grace Morman (CG) 21:58.04, 18. Abigail Dulebohn (W-G) 22:04.58, 19. Heidi Franck (SH) 22:09.10, 20. Kendall Niekamp (ML) 22:10.80, 22. Elise Schwieterman (Col) 22:11.85, 23. Catherine Post (SH) 22:12.44, 24. Elyssa Renner (Lin) 22:12.61, 25. Erica Kahle (Kal) 22:26.40.
Minster girls dominate
The Minster girls’ team nearly recorded a perfect score Saturday, en route to winning Saturday’s Division III, District 1 team title at Columbus Grove.
Minster recorded 19 points Saturday. A perfect score is 15 points. In the Division III, District 1 girls’ race, the top four teams, along with the top 16 individual placers qualified for Tiffin. Fort Recovery (78), Parkway (83) and Delphos St. John’s (144) rounded out the top four teams.
Minster placed its five scorers in the top seven spots on Saturday.
At the finish line, Minster’s Chaney Cedarleaf (19:16.63), Margaret Hemmelgarn (19:16.63) and Maria Niekamp (19:16.66) finished one-two-three, respectively. Teammates Annie Hemmelgarn (sixth, 19:29.25) and Morgan Ketner (seventh, 19:54.58) were close behind.
Longtime Minster girls’ head coach Jessie Magoto said her team is focusing on the details.
“Really, right now, the focus is just going one week at a time, and doing certain things that can make you stronger,” Magoto said. “For them, one of the greatest benefits is they have each other. … They feed off each other. And really what happened (on Saturday) is Annie (Hemmelgarn), our No. 4 runner, fed off them (Minster’s top three runners). She had a really good race.”
Other Lima area runners who qualified individually for next weekend’s regional meet at Tiffin were Miller City’s Andrea Pfau (fifth, 19:24.49), Pandora-Gilboa’s Savannah Knueven (11th, 20:38.10) and New Knoxville’s Ariyah Pfenning (15th, 20:45).
Results
at Columbus Grove
Team Scores: 1. Minster 19, 2. Ft. Recovery 78, 3. Parkway 83, 4. Delphos St. John’s 144, 5. New Bremen 148, 6. Miller City 172, 7. Crestview 175, 8. Bluffton 206, 9. Pandora-Gilboa 236, 10. Swanton 246.
Race Winner/Area Finishers in the Top 25:
1. Chaney Cedarleaf (Min) 19:16.63, 2. Margaret Hemmelgarn (Min) 19:16.63, 3. Maria Niekamp (Min) 19:16.66, 4. Natalie Brunswick (FR) 19:22.08, 5. Andrea Pfau (MC) 19:24.49, 6. Annie Hemmelgarn (Min) 19:29.25, 7. Morgan Ketner (Min) 19:54.58, 8. Taylor Muhlenkamp (Pa) 20:14.81, 9. Paige Williamson (Pa) 20:15.45, 10. Riley Hagins (Min) 20:29.08, 11. Savannah Knueven (P-G) 20:38.10, 12. Ellie Will (FR) 20:43.60, 13. Joelle Kaup (FR) 20:44.48, 14. Cady Donaldson (DSJ) 20:44.48, 15. Ariyah Pfenning (NK) 20:45.00, 16. Ava Stammen (Min) 20:50.66, 17. Christina Tong (Pa) 20:53.91, 18. Anna Lammers (MC) 21:10.23, 19. June Essinger (Bl) 21:17.38, 20. MacKenzie Harting (Crest) 21:24.69, 21. Anna Gardner (Crest) 21:25.12, 23. Anna Roessner (FR) 21:36.07, 24. Chloe Homan (NB) 21:38.92, 25. Alexis Berry (Pa) 21:40.21.
Lincolnview girls run away with crown
In the Division III, District 2 girls’ race, Lincolnview won the team title, outscoring its nearest competitor St. Henry, 39-65. Columbus Grove notched the third and final qualifying team spot with 100 points.
In the Division III, District 2 girls’ race, the top three teams, and the top 12 individuals advanced to Tiffin.
Lincolnview’s Brynleigh Moody won Saturday’s race in a school-record time of 19:04.68. Teammate Ava Milligan was a distant second (20:11.61).
Moody, a Division III state qualifier last year as a freshman, was relieved to finally break the school record.
“It’s easier now, because I was worrying about that (breaking school record) the last couple weeks,” Moody said with a grin. “Now, all I have to worry about is surviving and advancing.”
Lincolnview placed its five scorers in the top 13 overall spots.
Behind Moody and Milligan were teammates Keira Breese (11th, 21:09.98), Kendall Hoffman (12th, 21:19.55) and Kassidy Hammons (13th, 21:23.87).
“Obviously, she wanted to break that (school record),” coach Langdon said about Moody’s new school record. “It’s good that it is now behind her. Now, it’s more of a focus on position and place.
“I’m proud of her because she was by herself – and that’s tough to do. She was able to run a very good race.”
Other Lima area Division III, District 2 runners that advanced as individuals to Tiffin included Kalida’s Andrea Burgei (fourth, 20:28.98), Coldwater’s Audrey Alig (seventh, 20:45.63), Paulding’s Abby Elkins (eighth, 20:50.32), and Marion Local’s Josie Bruns (ninth, 20:52.96).
Results
Team Scores: 1. Lincolnview 39, 2. St. Henry 65, 3. Columbus Grove 100, 4. Marion Local 107, 5. Coldwater 119, 6. Waynesfield-Goshen 165, 7. Kalida 170, 8. Wayne Trace 195, 9. Paulding 217.
Race Winner/Area Finishers in the Top 25:
1. Brynleigh Moody (Lin) 19:04.68, 2. Ava Milligan (Lin) 20:11.61, 3. Rileigh Baumer (SH) 20:20.40, 4. Andrea Burgei (Kal) 20:28.98, 5. Ally Heath (SH) 20:39.69, 6. Lily Montgomery (CG) 20:42.25, 7. Audrey Alig (Col) 20:45.63, 9. Josie Bruns (ML) 20:52.96, 10. Sarah Kamphaus (CG) 20:57.61, 11. Keira Breese (Lin) 21:09.98, 12. Kendall Hoffman (Lin) 21:19.55, 13. Kassidy Hammons (Lin) 21:23.97, 14. Molly Bruns (ML) 21:24.12, 15. Mya Knapke (SH) 21:31.13, 16. Breann Mathewson (Col) 21:39.28, 17. Grace Morman (CG) 21:58.04, 18. Abigail Dulebohn (W-G) 22:04.58, 19. Heidi Franck (SH) 22:09.10, 20. Kendall Niekamp (ML) 22:10.80, 22. Elise Schwieterman (Col) 22:11.85, 23. Catherine Post (SH) 22:12.44, 24. Elyssa Renner (Lin) 22:12.61, 25. Erica Kahle (Kal) 22:26.40.
O-G girls win 2nd consecutive district title
Saturday’s girls’ Division II race quickly became a one-team race as Ottawa-Glandorf ran away for the district title.
O-G scored 32 points, compared to second-place Kenton’s 82 points. Bryan was the third and final regional qualifying team on Saturday with 84 points.
Also, the top 12 placers in the girls’ race qualified for next Saturday’s regional at Tiffin.
Bryan’s Kate Thormeier was never challenged Saturday, winning the race in 18:20.54.
Anna Buddelmeyer led the way for O-G with a second-place finish (18:50.86). Teammate Madelyn Hovest came in third (18:53.99).
“I thought it was going to be a PR when I came in,” Buddelmeyer said. “But I thought it was a really good race. I tried to focus on my kick. Normally, I kind of give up on the last 400 (meters). But I really focused on that today.”
The rest of O-G’s scorers behind Buddelmeyer and Hovest on Saturday were Corinne Closson (seventh, 19:25.60), Liana Fortman (ninth, 19:53.56) and Brea Recker (11th, 20:17.38).
“Anna (Buddelmeyer) did amazing today,” O-G head coach Holly Flueckiger said. “She has a lot of good left in her. They (Buddelmeyer and Hovest) complement each other. They just push each other; and the same with the rest of the team. The way that we finished, was amazing.”
Celina’s Jennalee Dameron (fifth, 19:09.80) qualified as an individual.
Results
Team Scores: 1. Ottawa-Glandorf 32, 2. Kenton 82, 3. Bryan 84, 4. Napoleon 109, 5. Celina 152, 6. Defiance 152, 7. Van Wert 153, 8. Wauseon 197, 9. St. Marys 199.
Race Winner/Area Finishers in the Top 25:
1. Nate Thormeier 18:20.54, 2. Anna Buddelmeyer (O-G) 18:50.86, 3. Madelyn Hovest (O-G) 18:53.99, 5. Jennalee Dameron (Cel) 19:09.80, 6. Addi Manns (Ken) 19:10.22, 7. Corinne Closson (O-G) 19:25.60, 8. Leah Harder (Ken) 19:47.58, 9. Liana Fortman (O-G) 19:53.56, 10. Marissa Ledley (Ken) 20:16.55, 11. Brea Recker (O-G) 20:17.38, 13. Emily Durham (E) 20:44.58, 14. Morgan Maag (O-G) 20:46.24, 15. Delaney Buxton (Ken) 20:49.75, 18. Rose Turnwald (O-G) 21:11.13, 19. Alyssa Knittle (VW) 21:15.24, 21. Camila Anderson (SM) 21:32.93, 22. Kyla Fallis (Ba) 21:39.06, 24. Kayla Dancs (E) 21:44.48.
O-G’s Rosengarten wins D-II race
O-G’s Ty Rosengarten outkicked Van Wert’s Owen Scott down the stretch Saturday to win the Division II boys’ race in a school-record time of 15:47.29. Scott finished in 15:49.99. Bryan’s Xander Fackler was third (15:54.88).
“I took the lead before we got on the track (final 300 meters),” Rosengarten said. “Then Owen passed me again. I just told myself, ‘I’m just going to sit on him for a while on the track, and I’m going to pass him on the track.’ … That’s what I happened to do.”
Rosengarten said he has been focused this season on peaking at the right time.
“I’ve been consistent throughout my training. I’ve been consistent every race. Week by week, we’re dropping (the workload at practice) a little bit, so that we can peak at the right time,” Rosengarten said.
Added Flueckiger, “Ty did amazing. I was so proud of him. He just kicked it at the end. I knew he would. I had no doubts. I’m so proud of him. I can’t say enough.”
In the Division II boys’ race Saturday, the top four teams, along with the 16 top individuals advanced to next Saturday’s regional meet at Tiffin.
Bryan won the Division II boys’ district title Saturday with 61 points. Van Wert was a close second (69), while Defiance (119) and Celina (123) rounded out the top four teams.
Other area Division II boys who qualified as individuals Saturday included Bath’s Jacob Wireman (sixth, 16:34.91) and Everett Bensman (ninth, 16:54.41), Coldwater’s Mason Ayers (fifth, 16:34.22), and St. Marys’ Gavin Luebke (16th, 17:15.57).
Results
at Columbus Grove
Team Scores: 1. Bryan 61, 2. Van Wert 69, 3. Defiance 119, 4. Celina 123, 5. Ottawa-Glandorf 129, 6. Wauseon 140, 7. St. Marys 190, 8. Bath 192, 9. Coldwater 198, 10. Napoleon 254, 11. Kenton 254.
Race Winner/Area Finishers in the Top 25: 1.
Ty Rosengarten (O-G) 15:47.29, 2. Owen Scott (VW) 15:49.99, 4. Colin Buening (Cel) 16:09.51, 5. Mason Ayers (Col) 16:34.22, 6. Jacob Wireman (Ba) 16:34.22, 9. Everett Bensman (Ba) 16:54.41, 10. Kaleb Dameron (Cel) 16:54.57, 11. John Kramer (VW) 16:57.26, 13. Andrew Laudick (VW) 17:06.45, 16. Gavin Luebke (SM) 17:15.57, 17. Kaden (Cel) 17:15.66, 20. Josh Schoen (Col) 17:30.70, 21. Harrison Sloan (VW) 17:32.06, 22. Rylan Miller (VW) 17:34.77, 23. Jordan Croy (O-G) 17:35.29, 25. Brandon Frey (O-G) 17:40.82.
Division II at Owens
FINDLAY — The Shawnee girls advanced to regionals with a fifth place at Owens Community College.
The Indians (116 points) finished behind Lexington (28), Eastwood (58), Norwalk (76) and Liberty-Benton (102).
Jenna Stump led Shawnee with a seventh-place finish in 19:50.45. Teammate Tayma Jmiai was 22nd in 21:49.64. Lexington’s Brailey Slone was the race winner in 19:08.38.
Division I
FINDLAY — The Shawnee boys qualified for regionals with a third place at Owens Community College.
Toledo St. Francis (35 points) and Lexington (58) finished ahead of the Indians (109). Wapakoneta (176) was sixth.
Noah Williams led Shawnee with a third place in 15:58.9. Teammate Carter Cleaves was 16th in 16:40.58. Wapak’s Axton Fosnaugh was among the individual regional qualifiers with a ninth place in 16:23.86.
No area girls teams advanced with Wapakoneta (168) and Lima Senior (238) seventh and eighth respectively.
Wapakoneta’s Kenzie Schneider advanced individually with a fourth place in 20:12.64 behind race winner Corinne Croy from Columbian who won with a time of 19:32.35.
Results
at Owens Community College (Findlay)
Boys
Team Scores: 1. Toledo St. Francis 35, 2. Lexington 58, 3. Shawnee 109, 4. Findlay 126, 5. Ashland 129, 6. Wapakoneta 168, 7. Norwalk 176, 8. Fremont Ross 193, 9. Columbian 236, 10. Mad. Comprehensive 293.
Race Winner/Area Finishers in the Top 25: 1. Sam Arquette (TSF) 15:47.68, 3. Noah Williams (Sh) 15:58.90, 9. Axton Fosnaugh (Wap) 16:23.86, 16. Carter Cleaves (Sh) 16:40.58.
Girls
Team Scores: 1. Columbian 49, 2. St. Ursula Academy 63, 3. Findlay 67, 4. Ashland 111, 5. Fremont Ross 120, 6. Mad. Comprehensive 148, 7. Wapakoneta 168, 8. Lima Senior 238.
Race Winner/Area Finishers in the Top 25: 1. Corinne Croy (Col) 19:32.35, 4. Kenzie Schneider (Wap) 20:12.64.
Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
