HomeFeatured SportsWest Liberty-Salem boys pace area teams at OHSAA State Championships

West Liberty-Salem boys pace area teams at OHSAA State Championships

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West Liberty-Salem boys pace area teams at OHSAA State Championships

Area high school cross country runners competed in the 2026 OHSAA Cross Country State Championships Saturday, November 7, at Fortress Obetz.

Four local teams qualified for the state meet, including the Bellefontaine boys, West Liberty-Salem boys and girls, and Mechanicsburg girls. Individual qualifiers from the regional tournaments included Bellefontaine’s Grace Brown, Urbana’s Hazel Lightle, and Calvary Christian’s Adly Knox.

West Liberty-Salem’s boys turned in the area’s top team finish, placing fourth in Division III, while the Tigers’ girls finished 14th in Division IV. Bellefontaine’s boys placed 22nd in Division II, and Mechanicsburg’s girls finished 22nd in Division IV.

Division II Boys

Bellefontaine Chieftains – 22nd place (461 points)

Bellefontaine finished 22nd as a team in Division II. Oliver Grandstaff led the Chieftains with a 43rd-place finish in 16:13.0.

  • 43rd – Oliver Grandstaff – 16:13.0
  • 127th – Landon Gerwels – 17:00.8
  • 163rd – Brenden Murray – 17:21.4
  • 165th – Jake Moreland – 17:22.4
  • 170th – Will Myers – 17:26.0
  • 172nd – Jackson Maus – 17:27.6
  • 197th – Andrew Myers – 17:47.7

Ian Res of West Geauga won the individual championship in 15:22.8, while Bowling Green captured the team championship with 181 points, edging runner-up Lexington by one point.

Division III Boys

West Liberty-Salem Tigers – 4th place (232 points)

West Liberty-Salem finished fourth in Division III, earning its fourth consecutive top-four finish at the OHSAA state championships. The Tigers previously placed fourth in Division III in 2023, fourth in Division II in 2024, and second in Division III in 2025.

Asher Cole paced the Tigers with a 16th-place finish in 15:42.6, while Brayan Gullett also recorded a top-50 finish.

  • 16th – Asher Cole – 15:42.6
  • 43rd – Brayan Gullett – 16:23.2
  • 89th – Zeke Longshore – 17:02.2
  • 98th – Eric Hoover – 17:07.6
  • 144th – Zeke Lauck – 17:46.7
  • 159th – Zeke Sidders – 17:58.9
  • 171st – Gauge Lee – 18:05.4

asher cole wls cross country 11-07-26

Head coach Mike Louden expressed appreciation for the team’s hard work and growth throughout the season, while emphasizing the significance of another top-four state finish.

“I’m extremely grateful and appreciative to have coached these incredibly hardworking and enthusiastic young men this season. Watching all 18 guys grow and mature throughout the year has been a true pleasure. As for the state meet today—finishing fourth for a fourth consecutive year is an achievement these young men should be incredibly proud of! We want to wish our two senior members, Zac Carter and Zeke Sidders, all the best with their future plans. Thank you both for everything you’ve done for the Big Orange program!”

Brice Fuller of Fairless won the individual championship in 14:50.7. Woodridge claimed the team championship with 65 points, finishing 50 points ahead of Fairless.

Division III Girls

Bellefontaine Chieftains

Bellefontaine’s Grace Brown finished 34th in the Division III girls race with a time of 19:30.9.

  • 34th – Grace Brown – 19:30.9

Urbana Hillclimbers

Urbana’s Hazel Lightle placed 60th with a time of 19:57.4.

  • 60th – Hazel Lightle – 19:57.4

Gwen Huddle of Napoleon won the individual championship in 17:35.7, while Oakwood captured the team title with 119 points, six points ahead of runner-up Huron.

Division IV Boys

Calvary Christian Spartans

Calvary Christian’s Adly Knox finished 59th in the Division IV boys race with a time of 16:57.4.

  • 59th – Adly Knox – 16:57.4

Bennett Lehman of Ansonia won the individual championship in 15:30.7. Mount Gilead captured the team championship with 84 points, finishing 15 points ahead of runner-up Russia.

Division IV Girls

West Liberty-Salem Tigers – 14th place (334 points)

West Liberty-Salem finished 14th as a team in Division IV. Addi Wallen led the Tigers with a 52nd-place finish in 19:43.9, while Isla Leichty and Elin Leichty also finished inside the top 100.

  • 52nd – Addi Wallen – 19:43.9
  • 86th – Isla Leichty – 20:14.5
  • 93rd – Elin Leichty – 20:20.9
  • 146th – Hattie Jacobs – 21:23.0
  • 148th – Elia Matthews – 21:24.4
  • 160th – Charlee Albers – 21:52.7
  • 162nd – Olive Matthews – 21:53.4

Mechanicsburg Indians – 22nd place (492 points)

Mechanicsburg finished 22nd as a team. Elizabeth Shuryan paced the Indians with an 83rd-place finish in 20:13.8, followed by Reiner Schaadt in 98th.

  • 83rd – Elizabeth Shuryan – 20:13.8
  • 98th – Reiner Schaadt – 20:30.9
  • 136th – Blake Rausch – 21:14.6
  • 190th – Bailee Eyink – 23:09.5
  • 201st – Ayla Picklesimon – 23:56.8
  • 212th – Ally Dingey – 24:29.0

Natalie Nixon of Ottawa Hills won the individual championship in 17:34.0. Liberty Center captured the team championship with 112 points, finishing 33 points ahead of runner-up Minster.

Other State Champions

Several other state champions were crowned across the remaining divisions:

  • Division I Boys: Ryne Reynolds won the individual championship in 15:01.4, while Springboro won the team title with 107 points.

  • Division I Girls: Reese Galinger won the individual championship in 17:51.0, while Milford won the team title with 111 points.

  • Division II Girls: Julia Bocik of Sylvania Southview won the individual championship in 17:37.7, while Aurora captured the team title with 80 points.