Boys Cross Country Preview: Mount Gilead following up state runner-up season
MOUNT GILEAD — It's tough to top the season Mount Gilead's boys cross country team put together.
The squad won the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference championship, a Division III district crown and a regional title leading up to a state runner-up finish at Fortress Obetz in 2021.
It was the best run the boys program has ever enjoyed and that's saying something considering the success it has produced over the last 10 years.
Nevertheless, the current crop of runners are going to do their best in an encore season.
"Managing the stress of trying to win a state title is something that we have worked on over the past five years. The guys have a lot of the tools in their tool box for dealing with the pressure of elite level running, and we need to make sure that we are continuously living our core values day to day and let the results happen organically," Mount Gilead cross country coach Jake Hayes said.
Hayes certainly has some enviable pieces in which to work. He has by far the largest roster in the area with 23 boys, and four of them were part of the No. 2 finish in the state last fall.
"We return a strong group of boys with championship meet experience," Hayes said. "We have a very strong front-running pack of three guys and a dedicated pack of five or six guys not far behind."
Sophomore Will Baker, senior Reed Supplee and junior Parker Bartlett were all sub-17-minute runners a year ago and will look to improve on those times in 2022. Senior Cole Hershner also competed at state last year. Among the many names who could fill out the lineup are senior Aaron Gannon, junior Nathan Smith, junior Quade Harris and junior Luke Frazier.
"We have great pack running ability, and the guys have been working very hard this summer," the coach said.
Baker and Supplee were All-Ohioans last year, but 2021 leader and All-Ohioan Michael Snopik graduated along with nine others like Ethan Kemp, Ethan Honzo and Colson Chapman from that state squad.
"The guys have their sights set on the KMAC, district, regional and state championship trophies," Hayes said. "We are working on all 23 guys on the roster running personal bests, developing as people and enjoying working together towards a common goal."
The KMAC is traditionally one of the toughest small-school cross country leagues in the state and this year won't be any different. Fredericktown, Centerburg and East Knox will be in the mix with Mount Gilead and so will Northmor.
The Golden Knights went to state in 2020, and junior Ryan Lehman went back as an individual last year as a sub-17-minute runner. Senior Lucas Weaver, senior Connor Radojcsics and junior Bryce Cooper are experienced runners who will be joined by a talented freshman class.
"The guys have worked hard this summer to be ready for the season, and I expect them to compete for the top two team positions at every invitational that we attend," Northmor coach Kevin Ruhl said. "Hopefully we can put ourselves in with that group (of KMAC leaders) by the end of the season, if not before. We look forward to racing these top teams and seeing if we can get our times to go in the right direction."
Cardington is looking to improve its standing in the KMAC as it brings back five letter winners for an eight-man squad. Longtime Pirates coach Erik Kyrk said there is talent and potential in the group, but they need to grow and stay healthy during the season.
In Marion County, Pleasant brings back an interesting group that is coming off a Mid Ohio Athletic Conference runner-up finish and a regional berth. The Spartans lost two runners from that team in Mason Cluff and Zeke McNulty, but they are also dropping to Division III for the postseason.
Senior Jonah Bowdle and sophomore Will Lichtenberger are the top two returnees as sub-17-minute runners. Also back from the regional run are senior Ben Dunham and juniors' Liam Curtis and Nick Swartz. Caleb Cameron is a sophomore move-in from Texas who could be among the fastest on the team, while sophomore Elijah McGinnis and freshman Landon Severns round out the Spartans.
"We have a strong core of close-knit teammates who push each other to be better and have a lot of fun together," Pleasant coach Beth Lichtenberger said.
The Spartans want to stay healthy and reach their potential.
"We hope to compete for the MOAC title, qualify for regionals again and have a shot at state," Lichtenberger said.
Marion Harding finished third as a team in the MOAC meet last fall, but this year it will feature a new unit. Only junior Kade Sutherland and sophomore Brenden Morgan are back as the Presidents welcome six newcomers.
"We currently have no seniors on our team, which means our numbers can only go up when the middle school comes up next year," Harding coach Bob Peters said. "We have a lot of inexperienced runners who have never run before."
Regional qualifier Payne Ratliff graduated as well as four others.
More:2022 Boys Cross Country Preview Capsules
"We have a team goal this year for boys of all new personal records and Kade has a goal to get on Harding's Top 20 record board," Peters added.
Elgin will field six boys for coach Jeff Ferrell. Three are letter-winning seniors and another is a first-time senior. Two freshmen with middle school cross country experience join them.
"We are experienced and look to win the conference and advance from the district," Ferrell said.
Ridgedale has two freshmen — Isaac Lust and Brogan Weston — competing this fall for coach Amy Mazza, while River Valley will only have one runner in junior Chase Osborne for coach Aric Smith.
North Union will have an experienced squad with six letter winners back for new coach Penny Cunningham, a longtime former assistant for NU. Tyler Huff was a first-team runner as a sophomore last year in the Central Buckeye Conference, but second-teamer Casey Clark graduated.
Highland coach Rich Williams has a seasoned team as well with seniors' Hunter Bolton, Caleb Wetzel, Joel Roberts, Grath Garee and Corban Benedict leading the way. Roberts went to the regionals last year, and he and Bolton competed in the Division II state race in 2020.
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For capsules on all the area's teams, go to MarionStar.com.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Boys Cross Country: Mount Gilead following up state runner-up season
