Boys cross country: Previews for Bexley and St. Charles
We’ve announced our early season Super 12 boys cross country team and the early season Super 7 rankings of the top teams.
Now for a look at the teams from Bexley and St. Charles:
BEXLEY
•Coach: Eric Acton, 35th season
•Top athletes: Daniel Chluda, Drew De La Cruz, Dylan Horn, John Laing, Solomon McDow and Athanasius Young
•Key loss: Miller MacDonald
•2021 MSL-Ohio standings: Bexley (28), Grandview Heights (79), Buckeye Valley (83), Worthington Christian (97), Columbus Academy (104), Whitehall (175), Wellington (177)
•2021 postseason: Second at district, third at regional, 20th at state
•Outlook: The Lions return a large cast of runners from a team that reached the Division II state meet for a second consecutive year. That groups includes seniors Drew De La Cruz (70th, 16:51.2), junior Solomon McDow (99th, 17:11.2), senior John Laing (103rd, 17:14.5), juniors Athanasius Young (147th, 17:49.6) and Daniel Chluda (155th, 18:02.1) and sophomore Dylan Horn (177th, 18:59.0).
Trying to work their way into the lineup for Bexley — which has won three consecutive MSL-Ohio titles — are junior John Davies, sophomore Benjamin Montgomery and freshman Dante DeAtley Ellyson.
•Quotable: “These guys have been around each other for a while, and they’re jelling really well. I’m really happy with the chemistry of this group.” — Acton
ST. CHARLES
•Coach: Damien Brandon, 14th season
•Top athletes: Jack Bartlett, J.J. Robson Jr., Aidan Silva and Thomas Schmansky
•Key losses: Andrew Dunn, Daniel Ferguson, Will Ferris, Samuel Lawler and A.J. Liss
•2021 CCL standings: DeSales (29), Watterson (33), St. Charles (82), Hartley (123), Ready (129)
•2021 postseason: 15th at district
•Outlook: The Cardinals are a work in progress, with a large group of runners close to one another in time at the start of the season. Because of that parity, coach Damien Brandon said he wasn’t sure who would be in the lineup from week to week.
Junior Thomas Schmansky, who joins after being part of the track and field program, and senior Jack Bartlett are the top two runners.
After that, seniors Owen Galvin, Andy Lusky, Bobby McMillen and Aidan Silva, juniors Andy Fast and J.J. Robson Jr. and sophomore Grant Dine are among those competing for a spot in the lineup.
•Quotable: “Our top 10 runners are separated by only a minute and a half. The kids have bought in early and quickly. We’ve already seen massive improvements in their times and, if they continue to buy in, we’ll only get better.” — Brandon
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Boys cross country: Previews for Bexley and St. Charles
