OBETZ − At about midway during Saturday’s OHSAA Division VI boys state cross country race, it was tight between two-time defending champion in Rittman’s Luke Snyder and Ansonia’s Bennett Lehman.
Snyder came into the 5K race looking to become the fourth boys runner in OHSAA history to win three consecutive cross country state titles − alongside Alan Scharsu of Austintown Fitch (1975-1977), George Nicholas of Dayton Meadowdale (1978-1980) and Vincent Fries of Attica Seneca East (two in 1995, 1997).
Snyder’s three-peat bid fell just short, as the senior came in second (15:24.05) behind Lehman (15:17.91).
Coming around the corner on the final turn before the finish line, Lehman was a couple of steps ahead of Snyder.
So, where did the separation come at during the race?
“The hills,” said Synder, after collecting his state runner-up medal. “He kind of blew up the hill. I took it steady and tried to come off it quick. It wasn’t fast enough. I think I ran as hard as I can. It just wasn’t what I wanted it to be.”
Watch enough of Snyder’s races over the last two years, and he usually runs away with them at some certain point. On Saturday, that wasn’t the case. Lehman stuck with him.
“I knew it would be close,” Snyder said. “With two miles to go, I knew someone would make a move. I think we did. I think I made a move. He just covered it. When he made a move, I wasn’t able to cover it.”
Disappointed he couldn’t close his career with a third straight state title, Snyder found comfort in his state runner-up finish.
“Yeah, it’s hard,” he said. “At the end of the day, God is still King. He’s on the throne. He still has a plan for my life. I trust that this is part of his plan. That’s what’s the most important part.”
On the Division III side, Norwayne senior Lillith Dreibelbis earned herself her first state medal in her fourth state meet, placing 21st (18:54.28). She was quite excited about it.
“I surprised myself a lot,” she said, who had a strong push at the end to get on the podium. “I started off a bit too fast but I needed that to be in front. I’ve done a lot of mileage this year. I’ve been trusting Coach Wingate a lot. I really have to give a lot of credit to her because even when I don’t trust myself, she always believes in me. Last night, she said, ‘You’re going to get All-Ohio. You just have to work for it.’ I’m very proud of myself.”
Orrvile senior Owen Lacy said he was shooting for a top 10 spot and he did even better, finishing in the top five with a fifth-place finish.
“I had a couple of guys I wanted to stick with and hang with. I was shooting for a top ten spot and I was able to get fifth. Very happy with that,” Lacy said. “15:30 was my time and that was my goal.”
This was Lacy’s second time around at the state meet, having went as a sophomore and missing last year as a junior. He said the second time feels a whole lot better.
“Second time around is so much better,” he said. “Just the amount of time that passed from then to now. It makes it all the more sweet.”
Running in his fourth and final state meet was Waynedale’s Jackson Varner, who earned his second All-Ohioan medal and third All-Ohioan honor overall.
“I’ve had a pretty consistent season, running the same times and it was enough to make it back down here to state,” said Varner. “I’m definitely happy with my placing. It’s a good way to end the season.”
OHSAA State Cross Country Results for Wayne/Holmes County runners
Division IV Boys Meet
Smithville’s Nigel Wenger – 14th (All-Ohioan medalist)
Dalton’s Holden Himes – 45th
Dalton’s Judah Hershberger – 65th
Dalton’s Cody Hofstetter – 82nd
Rittman’s Caleb Bolender – 86th
Rittman’s Bryen Valerio – 114th
Central Christian’s Logan Kister – 115th
Rittman’s Logan Chaplin – 139th
Rittman’s Gavin Bolender – 154th
Rittman’s Caleb Palcic – 175th
Rittman’s Wyatt Ramsier – 181st
Dalton’s Ezekiel Martinez – 195th
Dalton’s Malachi Steiner – 204th
Dalton Jacoby Zuercher – 210th
Dalton’s Ben Hostetler – 211th
Division IV Girls State Meet
Rittman’s Adyson Fosen – 14th
Rittman’s Brooke Bowlby – 28th
Waynedale’s Piper Polen – 39th
Smithville’s Maryn Erdman – 70th
Rittman’s Hannah Shipley – 73rd
Rittman’s Selah Amos – 80th
Hillsdale’s Kloe Smith – 82nd
Rittman’s Ryver Ramsier – 83rd
Rittman’s Hailey Pasterelle – 184th
Division III Boys State Meet
Waynedale’s Jaydon Varner – 56th
Waynedale’s Lucas Miller – 67th
Triway’s Brady Speicher – 77th
Triway’s Kaden Hilty – 82nd
Norwayne’s Romagn Wingate – 84th
Waynedale’s David Byler – 144th
Waynedale’s Wyatt Moore – 149th
Waynedale’s Noah Shaffer – 162nd
Waynedale’s Jack Holcomb – 184th
Division III Girls State Meet
West Holmes’ Iriel Mena – 49th
West Holmes’ Katherine Kaster – 55th
Norwayne Eilash Widmer – 88th
Norwayne’s Carrie Graham – 111th
Norwayne’s Grace Hulse – 112th
West Holmes’ Chelsie Cooper – 192nd
West Holmes’ Sophie Arnold – 200th
Norwayne’s Karis Marty – 201st
Norwayne’s Kaylyn Licht – 209th
West Holmes Serenity McClintock – 213th
Norwayne’s Noelle Wingate – 214th
jamessimpson@gannett.com
Twitter/X: @JamesSimpsonII
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Rittman’s Snyder goes state runner-up, five Wooster-area runners earn All-Ohio medals
Reporting by James Simpson II, Wooster Daily Record / The Daily Record
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