Girls cross country: Previews for Berlin, Liberty, Olentangy and Orange
We’ve announced our early season Super 12 girls cross country team and the early season Super 7 rankings of the top teams.
Now for a look at the teams from Berlin, Liberty, Olentangy and Orange:
BERLIN
•Coach: Catherine Ubry, fifth season
•Top athletes: Gracie Dahlke, Grace Heitkamp and Ava Vaught
•Key losses: Ada Freeman and Ella Ziegler
•2021 OCC-Cardinal standings: Dublin Jerome (54), Thomas Worthington (66), Marysville (67), Berlin (74), Hilliard Darby (88), Olentangy (162)
•2021 postseason: Third at district, seventh at regional
•Outlook: Grace Heitkamp returns after becoming the program’s second participant at state and the first in Division I. The sophomore finished 35th in 18:56.4.
Also back are seniors Gracie Dahlke and Ava Vaught, with junior Bella Yandura and sophomore Ellie McKibben rounding out the top five.
Senior Katie Reinard and juniors Savannah Cornell, Megan Friece and Rose Ruggieri are others competing for time in the varsity lineup.
•Quotable: “We’re excited to have Grace back as well as Gracie and Ava as seniors. I think this year we have a good mix of talent, which is something we’ve had for a year or two.” — Ubry
—Scott Hennen
LIBERTY
•Coach: Jamie Gilbert, second season
•Top athletes: Elena Aldrink, Julia Bockenstette, Sadie Okonak and Madeline Pohmer
•Key losses: Sarah Gilbert, Katelyn McDonnell and Rachel Ziel
•2021 OCC-Central standings: Hilliard Davidson (37), Dublin Coffman (48), Olentangy Orange (83), Liberty (87), Upper Arlington (103), Hilliard Bradley (168)
•2021 postseason: Second at district, fifth at regional, 20th at state
•Outlook: Coach Jamie Gilbert already is excited about the potential of her team, which has dropped close to a minute off their times from a year ago when they placed 20th at the Division I state meet.
The Patriots opened by finishing third of 22 teams with 107 points at the Pickerington Classic on Aug. 27 at Pickerington North.
Junior Julia Bockenstette, who returns as Liberty’s top runner, finished seventh (19:36.38) of 448 runners at Pickerington. It was her second-best time behind the 19:07.9 she turned in at last season’s Dublin Jerome Celtic Clash .
She was followed at Pickerington by sophomore Madeline Pohmer (13th, 20:13.18), freshman Elena Aldrink (14th, 20:17.52), sophomore Hannah Spires (31st, 20:44.77), senior Sasha Stanfield (42nd, 21:00.22) and senior Avery Kruest (48th, 21:13.52).
Pohmer and Kruest both ran at state along with sophomore Sadie Okonak.
Juniors Makenna Overly and Isabelle Pohmer and freshman Katelyn Boettcher are others with a chance of moving into the top seven, according to Gilbert.
•Quotable: “We are, on average, about a minute ahead of last year for our pack. It’s one of those things where you know they work so hard all summer, when you finally get to see it pay off, it’s a lot of fun. We’re taking it one week at a time and trying to stay consistent with the training. (We’re) making small adjustments each week to try to keep improving.” — Gilbert
—Michael Rich
OLENTANGY
Coach: Dwight Dewese, 20th season
Top athletes: Olivia Gilreath and Lauren Petska
Key losses: Grace Holt and Sophia Pasquale
2021 OCC-Cardinal standings: Dublin Jerome (54), Thomas Worthington (66), Marysville (67), Berlin (74), Hilliard Darby (88), Olentangy (162)
2021 postseason: 11th at district
Outlook: Looking at his team entering his 20th season as coach, Dwight Dewese is flummoxed. He’s not sure how the Braves are going to perform this season.
Dewese saw an increase in participation this season, which is why the team is a mystery. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t like what he’s seen so far.
Sophomore Lauren Petska (40th, 21:46.96) led Olentangy at last year’s district meet. She led Olentangy to a 19th-place finish out of 22 teams at the Pickerington Classic on Aug. 27 at Pickerington North, finishing 46th out of 448 runners at 21:10.37.
Also scoring at North were senior Olivia Gilreath (86th, 22:21.29), sophomore Nahla Alin (142nd, 23:31.01), senior Camryn Cummings (156th, 23:42.77) and junior Melayna Prindle (163rd, 23:47.27).
Seniors Grace Brinkman, Anushka Maharana and Natalie Rudawsky also return from last season.
Quotable: “We’re kind of a mystery. We got a lot of new faces, (and) we have done a lot of work over the summer. I’m encouraged with what I saw, and I’m excited to see what transpires. Lauren Petska is probably No. 1. But after Lauren, it’s a free-for-all. Our numbers are finally back up over 40. We’ve been down in the low 30s ever since the split (with Berlin). The other thing that’s interesting is that we’ve picked up a bunch of juniors and seniors from other sports. That’s what’s making it a mystery. (I don’t know how) this is going to exactly come together.” – Dewese
–Michael Rich
ORANGE
•Coach: Rae Schuh, ninth season
•Top athletes: Brooke Chapman and Mairin O’Brien
•Key losses: Bella Homorody and Abby Schroff
•2021 OCC-Central standings: Hilliard Davidson (37), Dublin Coffman (48), Orange (83), Liberty (87), Upper Arlington (103), Hilliard Bradley (168)
•2021 postseason: Second at district, sixth at regional
•Outlook: The Pioneers return five runners from a lineup that missed qualifying to the Division I state meet by one point. They were sixth (179) at regional, finishing behind fifth-place Liberty (178). Junior Mairin O’Brien and freshman Brooke Chapman, had the best preseason times.
Also back are senior Kayla Sucharski, junior Livi Bayler and sophomores Lainey Garling and Sarah Griffioen. Seniors Shreya Arunjumar and Abby Wells are looking to work into the lineup as is sophomore Clea Case.
•Quotable: “The girls are working together really well. I’m excited to see how they will do with Brooke joining the front pack of varsity. We should have a good season as long as everyone stays healthy.” — coach Rae Schuh
—Scott Hennen
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Girls cross country: Previews for Berlin, Liberty, Olentangy and Orange
