Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Several local schools had representation in the Ohio High School Athletic Association state track tournament June 6-7 at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, highlighted by a third-place finish from the Oak Harbor boys team.
The Rocket men tallied 34 points, finishing third in the Division II event behind Brookville (42) and Glenville (40). It was the most points the program has scored at the state tournament, and it was their highest finish since the 1940 (16 points) and 1948 (16-1/6) squads came in second.
Oak Harbor’s Tyler Thompson, who is headed to the University of Findlay, wrapped up his historic career with a third place finish in the 200 meter (21.81) and a fifth place finish in the 100 meter (10.86).
He was also part of the 4x100 relay team that finished third (42.32) with Ayden Gaskalla, Zavier Hess and Wyatt Augsburger, as well as the sixth place 4x400 team (3:20.94) with Augsburger, Hess and Bodee Miller.
Miller established a new school record of 1:54.56 in the 800 meter, which earned him a sixth place finish, while Augsburger came in third in the 110 hurdles (14.18).
Braden Schultz also achieved a third place finish for the Rockets in the high jump at 6-05.00, while Gaskalla’s 14-00.00 landed him 12th in the pole vault.
EASTWOOD, GENOA, LAKE COMPETE IN D-II BOYS
The Eastwood and Genoa boys teams each had multiple individuals compete at the state level, while Lake’s Matthew Nietz represented his school.
Genoa’s Nathan Kesler finished eighth in both the 200 meter (22.31) and 400 meter (49.03). He also teamed with Adam Knight, Luke Schimmoeller and Sam Buehler on the 4x400 relay team that finished 17th in prelims at 3:31.37.
Coby Ralston rounded out Genoa’s participation with a 15th place finish in the high jump (6-00.00).
Nietz checked in 12th in the shot put (52-07.25).
Eastwood was highlighted by the all-senior 4x200 relay team of Jesse Poiry, Andre Lewis, Kevin Lewis and Dayquan Oliver, which finished in seventh place at 1:29.26.
Andre Lewis came in 10th in the high jump (6-03.00). Oliver finished just one spot shy of the finals in the 200 meter as his 22.04 time was 10th, while Poiry’s 40.86 in the 300 hurdles was 14th in prelims.
As a team, Genoa and Eastwood both finished tied for 61st with two points.
CHERRY, OAK HARBOR GIRLS FINISH 22ND
Olivia Cherry competed in three events to help lead Oak Harbor to 10 points and a 22nd place finish in the Division II girls competition.
Individually, Cherry broke her own school record with a third place finish in the 800 meter (2:12.85). She also joined Olivia May, Kendall Gaines and Hayley Fallgren for a fifth place finish (3:58.47) in the 4x400. It was the second best time in school history.
Then, in the 4x800, the group of Kennedy Slates, Gaines, Fallgren and Cherry finished 11th at 9:50.24.
Bella Lake and Addison Coutcher both finished just outside the top 10 in the pole vault competition.
GIBSONBURG, WOODMORE, STRITCH COMPETE IN D-III MEET
Gibsonburg’s McKenzie Montgomery was the lone female to compete among local schools in the Division III state meet. She did well by finishing fourth in the pole vault (11-08.00), lifting the Golden Bears to a 34th place finish as a team.
Cardinal Stritch’s King Wilson competed in the boys 100 meter and 200 meter races, finishing 18th in the 100 (11.45) and 10th in the 200 (50.01). He came within one spot of qualifying for the finals in the 200.
Woodmore’s Landon Rich checked in 16th in the prelims for the boys 100 meter at 11.34, while his classmate Drake Blausey finished 10th – one spot shy of the finals – in the 400 meter at 50.01.
Gibsonburg’s Anthony Caprara ran in the 3200 meter finals, finishing 11th at 9:53.59, while Grant Dawson competed in the high jump, but did not place.
GALLANT COMPETES IN SEATED DIVISION
Eastwood’s Jenna Gallant finished eighth in both the seated 100 meter and shot put competitions. She had a time of 34.58 in the 100 meter, and she had a 9-06.25 in the shot put.
