Lady Lions claim Division II state cross country championship

By Carol McIntire

Editor

Minerva won its second consecutive Division II girls championship and its third in four years Saturday at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Cross Country State Championships.

The Lady Lions stood atop the podium in 2021, 2023 and again in 2024 in front of a large crowd at Fortress Obetz near Columbus, the site for the championships the last few years.

Minerva tallied 100 points to win the title, 10 points in front of Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown and 42 ahead of Athens, the team that beat the Lions at the Pickerington regional meet one week earlier. 

Twenty teams competed in the race along with 39 individuals to make a field of 178 runners. Other area teams included Salem and West Holmes.

“Ending the year as back-to-back state champions is one great feeling!” commented Coach Olivia Scott.  The Lions also won the Stark County Championship, EBC Championship, District Championship and the runnerup spot at the Regional meet.

 In a team packed with senior runners, junior Gabby Lupshu was the first to cross the finish line for the winners and earning All-Ohio honors with a 13th place finish in 18:31.13. Sophomore Makenzie Beavers placed 23rd (18:47.35), freshman Tateum Richard 42nd (19:08.51), senior Katie Ison 50th (19:10.98), senior Hannah Ison 60th (19:24.74), senior Kayla Crissman 68th (19:36.11) and Annabelle Crissman 111th (20:28.56).

Sophia Szoloski of Athens clocked a time of 17:39.61 to win the race. 

Scott was proud of the effort of all her runners. 

“Gabby ran a lifetime personal record and missed the school record by one second,” the coach said. Makenzie also had an All-Ohio finish with her fastest time of the season. She is the most consistent runner I have ever seen.” 

In her state debut, Tateum ran a lifetime personal record. 

Katie Ison ends her career with three state championships, as a two-time individual state qualifierand All-Ohio finisher. Hannah Ison ends her career with three state championships and is a three time individual state qualifier.

“Both Katie and Hannah ran solid races. You know when they toe the line they are going to give everything they have in them,” Scott commented.

Kayla Crissman ends her career with three state championships, one of six in school history as a four-time individual state qualifier. 

“She had her best race of the season with a season personal record,” Scott noted.

Annabelle Crissman ends her career with three state championships,and is a three-time individual qualifier.

“We are going to miss our four seniors more than they know.  They have accomplished so much in their four years as Lions and set the bar high for our younger runners,” Scott concluded.

Carrollton junior Kylie Ujcich competed as an individual, placing 78th with a time of 19:55.32.

“Kylie has been passionate about her PR and getting to state all season,” commented Carrollton Coach Nancy Boley. “ She worked hard and hit both of those goals this season. She’s just such a dedicated athlete, and we are lucky to have her as a team leader.”

Boley summed up the Warriors’ season by saying, “As a first year head coach, I got to work with a great group of kids and some great assistant coaches. This season was a lot of fun, and hopefully we can keep building next year!” 

Division III 

GIRLS RACE

Sandy Valley senior Casey Russell earned All-Ohio honors in the Division II girls race with a sixth-place finish (18:25.50). Teammate Evelyn Pfeffer placed 56th (19:39.61).

Division II 

boys race

Carrollton senior Ricky Sibila led the list of area runners, placing 43rd with a time of 16:00.27.

“Ricky ran his heart out in this race,” Carrollton Coach Boley commented. “Before the race, we talked about how he just needed to go out and leave it all on the course, and he did. His first mile was a 4:49, and even though his time wasn’t his PR, it was still a great time. He has grown into such a good runner over the last few years, and  he finally made it to the state meet. He’s also the third fastest Warrior in Carrollton history, and that is something to be proud of in the end. (Sibila ran 16 flat one other time this season.)

The Minerva boys, which qualified as a team to the state championships, was led by senior Grasyn Rettig in 52nd place (16:08.38). Junior Rowen Hoffee placed 74th (16:21.25) followed by senior Ryan Cassidy 122nd (16:51.27), junior Owen Yoder 127th (16:58.03), freshman Tyson Fetty 136th (17:08.03), sophomore Kaden Knappenberger 147th (17:27.39) and sophomore Fox Johnson 149th (17:31.38). There were 178 runners in the race.

Rettig ends his high school career as the only Minerva boy to qualify individually to the state meet all four years. He earned All-Ohio honors two of those years.

Cassidy wraps up his career as a four-time member of a state qualifying team. 

As a team, the Lions placed 17th in the field of 20 teams.

Andrew Walton of Fairfield Union won the race with a time of 15:09.25. The senior set the course record at Fortress Obetz last year with a time of 15:00.2.

“Our boys ran well. We have had some ups and downs this year, but  it’s always the goal to end the season at the state meet. These guys work hard all summer and fall,” Coach Olivia Scott said of the young team. “I am proud of them. We will miss Grasyn and Ryan so much. They have been a huge part of this team for the last four years and have helped mold our younger guys into the runners they are.”

The Lions ended the season with the team’s first league title in 24 years, won the District championship and placed third at the Regional meet.