2023 Boys Track Overview Capsules

Rob McCurdy, Marion Star
·11 min read

Cardington Pirates

  • Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

  • Tournament Division: III

  • Comment: The Cardington boys track program did not respond to repeated requests for preseason information.

Elgin's Ethan Marshall, left and Sage Brewer run the boys 1600 meters during the Marion County Meet at River Valley last year.
Elgin's Ethan Marshall, left and Sage Brewer run the boys 1600 meters during the Marion County Meet at River Valley last year.

Elgin Comets

  • Conference: Northwest Central Conference.

  • Tournament Division: III.

  • Coach: Jeff Ferrell (11th season).

  • Assistant Coaches: Tracy Hix, Maddie Gantz.

  • Roster: Kolby Wasserbeck (Sr., letter, middle distance), Ethan Marshall (Sr., letter, distance, high jump), Sage Brewer (Sr., letter, middle distance, discus), Gabe Freshour (Sr., letter, disc, shot put, sprints), Isaac Dillon (Sr., letter, HJ, middle distance, sprints), Kaine Krawczyk (Sr., sprints), Devan Welch (Sr., sprints), Ronald Newman (Jr., long jump, sprints), Kaden Thomas (So., letter, sprints), Karson Thomas (So., sprints), Kolby Newman (Fr., sprints LJ), Wingate Carey (Fr., sprints, pole vault), Aiden Cervantes (Fr., sprints, PV), David Colby (Fr., distance), Gavin Conley (Fr., throws), Riley Dale (Fr., throws), Zane Darling (Fr., throws), Kyran Doss (Fr., throws), Isiah Fletcher (Fr., throws), Garret Lowry (Fr., throws, LJ), Keaton Polley (Fr., throws), Nate Freshour (Fr., HJ, hurdles, sprints).

  • Notes: A good group of distance runners will lead the team ... The Comets will be strong in the field with seniors leading in the high jump, discus and shot put ... They have 23 on the roster with 12 freshmen and only one junior and two sophomores ... Elgin will struggle to field sprint relay groups .... They graduated Cy Starcher who was a state runner-up in the boys 100 and third in the state in the boys 200 in Division III ... Also gone are Nate Grim, David Hawkins, Tommy Keirns and Donavan Waddell, plus two others who decided not to compete this spring.

  • Comment: "Our lack of track experience will have to develop quickly," Ferrell said.

Highland's Joel Roberts leaps during the boys high jump during a home meet last spring.
Highland's Joel Roberts leaps during the boys high jump during a home meet last spring.

Highland Scots

  • Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

  • Tournament Division: II.

  • Coach: Eric Myers (third season).

  • Assistant Coaches: Chip Wendt (hurdles, blocks, girls head coach), Barry Myers (throws), Denny West (distance), Jeanie Styer (pole vault), Satchel Denton, Camryn Taylor.

  • Roster: Corban Benedict (Sr., letter, middle distance), Hunter Bolton (Sr., letter, distance), Gavin DeBord (Sr., letter, sprints, HJ), Grath Garee (Sr., letter, distance), Gavin Hankins (Sr., letter, sprints), Owen Stillwell (Sr., letter, sprints), Landon Pedigo (Sr., throws), Joel Roberts (Sr., letter, distance), Matthew Scarberry (Sr., letter, sprints), Nick Smith (Sr., letter, throws), Cody Thomas (Sr., middle distance), Dylan Thomas (Sr., middle distance), Brendan Fox (Jr., throws), Austin Grandstaff (Jr., letter, distance, PV), Gabe Johnson (Jr., sprints), Quentin Miller (Jr., throws), Manuel Parsley (Jr., letter, throws), Hayden Peck (Jr., sprints), Zane Sheets (Jr., letter, middle distance), Darren Styer (Jr., letter, middle distance, PV), Gavin Van Winkle (Jr., sprints), Jonah Allard (So.), Aiden Bateson (So.), Justin Berthold (So.), Gunnar Smith (So.), Noah Thomas (So.), Brayden Benedict (So, letter, sprints), Malin Fichtner (So., sprints), Bryan Mullins (So., throws), Toby Rogers (So., letter, hurdles, sprints), Kieran Taylor (So., letter, PV), Caden Barsic (Fr.), Archer Dill (Fr.), Anthony Green (Fr.), Chase Jordan (Fr.), Alex Marquez (Fr.), Gabe Marquez (Fr.), Matthew Miller (Fr.), Henry Spence (Fr.), Keegan Tackett (Fr.), James Walker (Fr.), William Walker (Fr.), Alex White (Fr.), Owen Winkelfoos (Fr.).

  • Notes: With 48 members, the Scots have a big roster ... Sixteen of them are returning letter winners ... Highland will be led by its distance crew of Bolton, Benedict, Garee and Roberts as all are three-time letter winners ... Mason Duncan, Jay Melchiori and Caden Holtrey were all regional qualifiers and top five scorers on the team but graduated.

  • Comment: "We participate in a very competitive conference where finding points at the league meet can be very challenging," Myers said.

Marion Harding's Kade Sutherland, center, runs the boys 1600 during the 71st Marion Night Invitational last year in Harding Stadium.
Marion Harding's Kade Sutherland, center, runs the boys 1600 during the 71st Marion Night Invitational last year in Harding Stadium.

Marion Harding Presidents

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Tournament Division: I.

  • Coach: Jerome Bohanna (45th season in the program).

  • Key Returnees: Kade Sutherland (distance), Trinity Keith (sprints), Caden Jones (sprints), Saxon Sharp (throws), Juan Ruiz (sprints), Cameron Rayner (throws).

  • Notes: Keith and Jones enjoyed previous success on the track as all-league performers ... Sutherland is coming off a breakout cross country season ... Bohanna wants to see his athletes contend for MOAC titles in individual events and relays and advance to the regional and state meets ... The Presidents will try to repeat their MOAC team championship ... They must try to pick up the points lost to graduation from all-conference performers Hayden Bays, Brennin Beechum, Kaedan Faggs and Te'Sean Jefferson among others.

  • Comment: "We are loaded with tons of freshmen athletes," Bohanna said.

Mount Gilead's Aaron Gannon runs a leg of the boys 4x800-meter relay during last year's Division III state meet at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Mount Gilead's Aaron Gannon runs a leg of the boys 4x800-meter relay during last year's Division III state meet at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Mount Gilead Indians

  • Conference: KMAC.

  • Tournament Division: III.

  • Last Year: KMAC champs, D-III Central District champs, regional runners-up, 13 state qualifiers).

  • Coach: Lauren Huelsman (ninth season).

  • Assistant Coaches: Jonah Barnett (sprints), Sabrina Bolha (LJ), Rachel Hatfield (PV), Jake Hayes (distance), Bob Henry (hurdles), Matt Scott (HJ), Melissa Shipman (throws), Brandon Strain (throws), John Bueschele (middle school), Hannah Crawshaw (MS), Jason Heacock (MS), Elle Hempstead (MS).

  • Roster: Will Baker (So., distance, letter, 2023 indoor state qualifier in 1600 and 3200, 2022 state qualifier in 3200), Chris Carpenter (So., throws, letter), Gavan Davis (So., hurdles, letter, 2022 state qualifier in 110 hurdles), Jonathan Miller (So., sprints, letter), Carson Mowery (So., throws, letter), Parker Bartlett (Jr., distance, letter, 2022 state qualifier in 3200), Luke Frazier (Jr., distance, PV, letter), Quade Harris (Jr., sprints, letter, 2022 state qualifier in sprint relays), Logan High (Jr., sprints, letter, 2022 state qualifier in sprint relays), Matthew Bland (Sr., sprints, LJ, letter, two-time state qualifier in relays), Aaron Gannon (Sr., distance, letter, 2022 state qualifier in4x800 relay), Cole Hershner (Sr., distance, letter), Owen High (Sr., sprints, HJ, letter, 2023 indoor state qualifier in HJ, 2022 state qualifier in 4x100), Abram Shonk (Sr., sprints, HJ, letter), Owen Hershner (Fr., distance, member of state champion cross country team), Griffin McClelland (Fr., throws), Gauge Shipman (Fr., throws), Sammy Wallis (Fr., sprints), Joey Baldwin (So., throws), Josh Burnaugh (So., PV), Gavan Keller (So., PV), Ceegan Moore (So., LJ), Collin Gabriel (Jr., sprints), Nathan Smith (Jr., distance, member of state champion cross country team), Ben Whitt (Sr., sprints, throws).

  • Notes: The Indians were hit hard by graduation with the loss of Garret Lamb-Hart, Michael Snopik, Seamus Walsh, Troy Likens, Isaiah Fisher, Bradley Butcher, Colson Chapman, Joel Conrad, Wyatt Harriman, Ethan Kemp, Mason Kidwell and Storm McGinniss ... Returnees like Logan and Owen High, Harris, Bland, Miller, Bartlett, Baker and Gannon will be leaned on to pick up where the grads left off ... The sprint group has state meet experience, and the distance crew is coming off a Division III state championship in cross country ... The throwers are talented but unproven ... East Knox, Fredericktown, Centerburg and Northmor will push the Indians at the KMAC and in the district.

  • Comment: "Creating the right lineup to win a KMAC team title is always the priority. Our 2023 team is an exciting group to coach with a lot of diverse possibilities," Huelsman said.

Northmor Golden Knights

  • Conference: KMAC.

  • Tournament Division: III.

  • Last Year: Fifth in KMAC

  • Coach: Kevin Ruhl.

  • Assistant Coaches: Dee Yunker, Mark Hunter, Todd Miracle.

  • Roster: Lucas Weaver (Sr., letter, distance, regional qualifier, coming back from broken leg suffered in cross country regional this fall), Connor Radojcsics (Sr., letter, middle distance, PV), Ryan Lehman (Jr., letter, distance, three-time state qualifier in cross country), Ben Szelewski (Sr., throws, letter), A,J. Benarth (Jr., throws, letter), Ryan Lowry (So., throws, letter), Vance Johnson (So., throws, letter), Bo Landin (So., letter, sprints), Charlie Sipple (So., letter, sprints), Griffin Healea (Jr., distance), Conner Stockdale (Fr., jumps, sprints, junior high state qualifier in HJ), A.J. Bower (So., hurdles).

  • Notes: The Golden Knights graduated regional qualifying thrower Duston Sanders, top hurdler Gavin Miller and top discus thrower Jordan Welch ... The team will be strong in the distance events and pole vault, and the distance crew will lead the team with their experience and talent ... They lack depth in the sprint events so relays will rely on a lot of underclassmen ... They have young throwers, too ... Of the 27 athletes on the roster, 22 are freshmen or sophomores.

  • Comment: "Our goal will be to compete at a high level and do the best we can in the events that we are able to fill," Ruhl said. "These kids that we have are committed to getting better each week. We also hope to get several guys to the state meet with a chance to compete. I know that we can improve on our league placing from last year. How much improved remains to be answered."

North Union's Lincoln Harrah runs the boys 200 dash during the Division II regional at Lexington last year.
North Union's Lincoln Harrah runs the boys 200 dash during the Division II regional at Lexington last year.

North Union Wildcats

  • Conference: Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division.

  • Tournament Division: II.

  • Last Year: Fourth in Mad River, one regional qualifier.

  • Coach: Cole Krawczyk (fourth season).

  • Assistant Coaches: Penny Cunningham, Ivan Leavitt, Hailey Spriggs, Adam Brown, Sydney Bacon, Jerry SParks, Brad Cunningham, Andrea Stineman.

  • Roster: Liam Adams (Sr., throws), Levi Bard (Jr., distance), Eddie Blair (Fr., throws), Ben Bonnell (Fr., distance), Trey Bossaller (Sr., middle distance, letter, second-team CBC), Christian Cooley (Fr., middle distance), Wyatt Davis (So., jumps), Landry Dible (Fr., throws), Drue Duncan (Sr., throws), Tyler Fout (Sr., sprints, letter), Corbin Gaston (Sr., sprints), Lincoln Harrah (Sr., sprints, letter, first-team CBC, regional qualifier in 100 and 200), Ayden Hawkins (Jr., throws), Henry Hayward (Jr., PV, throws, letter), R.J. Hillyard (Fr., sprints), Owen Hoffer (Jr., throws), Trace Huff (Fr., sprints), Tyler Huff (Jr., distance, letter, first-team CBC), Jake Hughes (Fr., jumps), Colton Johnson (Fr., sprints), Cayden Lassiter (Sr., sprints, letter), Max Leavitt (Fr., distance), Noah Lewis (So., throws), Mitchell Marlette (Sr., distance), Ethan Miller (Fr., throws), Griffin Osborne (Fr., sprints), William Popovich (Sr., distance), Traven Reber (So., distance), Braylen Riffle (Fr., sprints), Everett Robinson (Jr., sprints), Griffin Salyer (Sr., throws, letter), Braeson Scowden (So., jumps), Carter Skaggs (Jr., sprints), Brock Smith (Fr., throws), Reese Spriggs (Fr., throws), Haz VanHoose (Fr., throws), Nick VanHoose (Fr., sprints), Cooper Walczak-Music (Fr., middle distance, jumps), Jacob Weigand (Fr., sprints, throws).

  • Notes: The Wildcats feature big numbers with a huge freshman class that had success in middle school ... They have retained a good number of upperclassmen, so depth is not an issue ... They have a lot of inexperienced track athletes who will learn on the fly ... The goal is to finish in the top two in the CBC and get some athletes to the regionals and state meet.

  • Comment: "I believe that we scheduled our meets in a way that will gain us the needed experience for us to be able to compete by the time we get to the CBC meet," Krawczyk said.

Pleasant's Nick Swartz runs in the boys 1600 during a past district track meet at Westerville South.
Pleasant's Nick Swartz runs in the boys 1600 during a past district track meet at Westerville South.

Pleasant Spartans

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Tournament Division: III.

  • Coach: Rich Nelson (eighth season).

  • Assistant Coaches: Clay Cheney, Beth Lichtenberger, Ed Brown.

  • Roster: Jonah Bowdle (Sr., distance, letter), Brookes Nelson (Sr., throws, letter), Joey Songer (Sr., throws, letter), Joey Bradac (Jr., throws, letter), Liam Curtis (Jr., distance, hurdles, letter), Stephen Howard (Jr., sprints), Makhai Hughes (Jr., sprints), Carter Mattix (Jr, sprints, letter), Ethan Nutter (Jr., PV, middle distance, letter), Landon O'Donnell (Jr., throws, middle distance, letter), Trenton Sparling (Jr., sprints, letter), Nick Swartz (Jr., distance, letter), Nathen Wansik (Jr., sprints, PV, letter), Hudson Warner (Jr., hurdles, LJ, regional qualifier 110 hurdles, letter), Michael Brown (So., throws, letter), Caleb Cameron (So., middle distance), Charles Holsinger (So., sprints), Will Lichtenberger (So., distance, letter), Elijah McGinniss (So., middle distance, letter), Elijah Miley (So. throws), Preston Napier (So., sprints), Caleb Young (So., throws), Andrew Blubaugh (Fr., sprints, jumps), Drayson Ford (Fr., throws), Ethan Hall (Fr., middle distance), Noah Jordan (Fr., throws), Connor McKinney (Fr., throws), Kaiden Osborne (Fr., throws), Chase Van Oosten (Fr., throws).

  • Notes: The Spartans have good numbers with 30 on the roster and 14 of them being upperclassmen ... They will be strong in the middle and distance races ... Warner is a regional qualifier in the 110 hurdles ... Pleasant will be in Division III for the boys.

  • Comment: "Being Division III will give us a better opportunity at qualifying more athletes to the regional and ultimately the state meet," Nelson said.

Ridgedale Rockets

  • Conference: NWCC.

  • Tournament Division: III.

  • Coach: Asch Tilley (fourth season).

  • Assistant Coach: Kevlynn Bails.

  • Roster: Ashton Fosnaugh (letter, sprints), Gage Gleespen (Letter, LJ, sprints), Brody Foltz (SP, sprints), Brogan Weston (middle distance), Landon Murphy (letter), LJ, sprints), Evan Ricketts (sprints, middle distance), Isaac Lust (distance).

  • Notes: The letter winners are good leaders who keep morale up ... They are a small team compared to others in the NWCC ... Former state qualifier Collin Stephens graduated.

  • Comment: "Our goals are to keep the team placing in every meet," Tilley said.

River Valley's Ethan Lyon competes in the boys shot put at the Division II regional meet in Lexington last year.
River Valley's Ethan Lyon competes in the boys shot put at the Division II regional meet in Lexington last year.

River Valley Vikings

  • Conference: MOAC.

  • Tournament Division: II.

  • Coach: Aric Smith (23rd season).

  • Assistant Coaches: Andy Wheeler, Bill Fegley, Mark Starrs, Kevin Keller.

  • Roster: Ian Burns (Fr., distance, hurdles), Logan Creps (Fr., sprints, jumps), Jackson Kloah (Fr., throws), Addison Babb (So., sprints, hurdles, jumps), Jaxon Caudill (So., sprints, LJ), Aris Thompson (So., distance), Brady Cookson (Jr., throws), Gave Douce (Jr., middle distance, MOAC champ in 800 in 2:01.92, regional qualifier in 800 and two relays), Xavier Hensel (Jr., sprints, jumps, regional qualifier in relay), Ethan Lyon (Jr., throws, regional qualifier in SP and disc, sixth in 2023 state indoor meet in SP in 53-10), Cooper Miller (Jr., PV, hurdles, district champ and state qualifier in PV, second in 2023 state indoor meet in PV in 14-6, top five at national indoor meet in Virginia ), Chase Osborne (Jr., distance), Jared Slone (Jr., throws, Noah Williams (Jr., distance), Eli Axline (Sr., throws), Grant Butler (Sr., jumps, sprints, district champ and state qualifier in HJ, regional qualifier in LJ and relay, fourth at 2023 state indoor meet in HJ at 6-2), Mason Miracle (Sr., sprints, jumps), Cayden Shidone (Sr., sprints, jumps).

  • Notes: The Vikings will be strong in the field events and in the sprints ... They lack depth at every spot ... They lost four regional qualifiers ― Ryan Blanton, Garrett Bright, Ky Emmerson and Conner Robbins ― and six others to graduation.

  • Comment: "The MOAC will be really competitive this season. Every team will have multiple outstanding individuals," Smith said.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: 2023 Boys Track Overview Capsules