The
Cincinnati Enquirer By Dave
Schutte
Sunday, November 5, 2000
COLUMBUS:
The expression on Andy Wietmarschen's face told it all.
After finishing seventh in the Ohio Division I state cross country meet at Scioto
Downs, Wietmarschen turned to see who was behind him.
When Wietmarschen saw teammates Tim King and Ryan Busse, the St. Xavier senior
broke into tears, knowing the Bombers had won the Division I state championship
for the second time in three years.
More than 20 seconds earlier, LaSalle junior Allen Bader made it two titles in
a row for LaSalle runners by winning the Division I individual race in 15:20.
The Lancers finished second in the team standings.
Steve Padgett, who was the first to congratulate Bader, won the Division I
title for LaSalle last year.
“I was 42nd last year,” Bader said. “Today I went for the
lead and fought off a challenge after the first mile.”
The Bombers' top five runners combined for an average time of 16 minutes flat,
breaking the state record of 16:06 by Cleveland St. Ignatius in 1993.
St. Xavier's 66 points are the most by a Division I or Class AAA school since
1978, when Colerain had 48.
Wietmarschen also was a member of St. Xavier's 1998 team.
“The first state championship was special but this is even better,”
Wietmarschen said.
“We were second last year and after the meet, all of us vowed we would
come back and win it this year.”
King, who finished eighth, may have been the happiest Bombers runner. “Two years ago, I had a bad race
in the regional and didn't run for the state championship team,” King
said. “I always wanted to be part of a winning team, and today is
special.” After two miles,
King was 12th and Busse was 13th. But they passed four runners before crossing
the finish line. “I was 35th
last year in 16:23,” Busse said. “I was hurting at the end and all
I wanted to do was hold place.”
St. Xavier coach Larry Merkel said after looking at times from other regional
races, he thought his team could win the state title.
“We had the best three runners we've ever had, and that's why I was
confident,” Merkel said. “When I compared the regionals, we (the
Southwest) had the nine fastest times.”
This is the first time in the 72-year history of the state big-school meet that
Cincinnati teams have finished first and second.
The 16-year-old Bader took the lead at the start of the race and never trailed.
“I ran the first 800 meters faster than I wanted to,” Bader said.
“But at the mile, I was at 4:45, which is normal.”
LaSalle coach Frank Russo encouraged Bader to be more conservative in the race,
but to no avail.
“Allen is one of those runners who feels more comfortable out
front,” Russo said.
DyeStat Ohio
Many cross-country fans in Ohio would argue that the toughest prediction in
November had nothing to do with Gore or Bush. It had nothing to do with who
would reign on Pennsylvania Avenue. The question was, who was going to be the
King of North Bend Road? Was it Cincinnati St. Xavier, the top-ranked team in
Ohio and 20th in the nation? Or was it their rival neighbor Cincinnati LaSalle,
2nd in Ohio and 24th in the nation?
The teams met twice this year, first at the Greater Catholic League
Championships, and then again at the Southwest Ohio Regional Meet. The first time
St. X won in dominating fashion, with a 23-46 whirlwind victory over their
counterparts. Whispers in LaSalle's camp claimed they were not healthy, and one
runner even guaranteed victory at the Regional and State meets. LaSalle closed
the gap at the Regional meet, losing by only a 13-point (49-62) margin to St.
Xavier. It was obvious the Lancers were peaking at right time, but would it be
enough to best St. Xavier the third time around?
LaSalle junior Allen Bader was the clear favorite to win individually after
running a 4:15 mile as a sophomore. But Andy Wietmarschen, a senior from St.
Xavier, had other ideas. At the Greater Catholic League Championships
Wietmarschen took Bader within inches of being beaten for only the third time
this season (the first two were to Ritzenhein and J. Jefferson), barely losing
to Bader's 15:24 5k with a time of 15:25. At Regionals, under instructions from
his coaches, Wietmarschen ran for second in a cool 15:47 and Bader blew away
the field in 15:26. Could Wietmarschen climb the mountain? Or would Bader join
Steve Padgett as the second LaSalle runner in as many years to claim the
individual state championship?
Conditions could not have been better. The sun was out, the temperature was in
the mid-50's, with little to no wind blowing across the short, green grass.
LaSalle marched to the starting line glistening in their red warm-ups the
challenger entering the ring first. And then came the roar that was St.
Xavier's entourage. Nearly one hundred crazed, shirtless students, painted in
the Xavier blue and white colors, along with many more alumni and fans erupted
with cheering at the emergence of St. Xavier. They marched to the starting line
seven across; wearing sleek black warm-ups with blue trim the heavyweight
champions of Ohio. The contenders got their final instructions, LaSalle
stripped down to their white uniforms with red trim while St. X sported blue
uniforms with white trim. Round 3 in the battle of North Bend Road was about to
begin, "Let's get ready to RUMBLE!"
Bader roared from the gun, grabbing the lead by the 400m mark, and blazing
through the mile in well under 4:45. Wietmarschen was close behind, keeping up
with the pace along with several other runners. Team wise, the end of the first
mile was too close to tell who was ahead, but certainly St. Xavier and LaSalle
were in position to take the crown.
By the two-mile the champions had asserted themselves. Bader refused to let up,
and pulled away from the rest of the field. He crossed the finish line in a
blistering 15:21, establishing himself as a favorite to run in Orlando later
this year. LaSalle followed Bader, scoring a stellar 99 points. As a rule of
thumb scoring 100 points or less in the boys division 1 race will win a team a
state championship.
Unfortunately for corporate coach Frank Russo and the rest of LaSalle, this was
not just any year. This was the year of St. Xavier. Scoring an extraordinary 66
points, the lowest in the states 5,000-meter history, St. X established
themselves as the greatest team ever in Ohio. Their average 5k time of 16:00
broke the old state record of 16:06 held by Cleveland St. Ignatius. These
staggering statistics, along with the mention that St. Xavier's top 3 runners
were under 15:47, leaves little debate that they are the 3rd best team in the
Midwest (behind Rockford and Novi) and definitely a top 10 team nationally. The
dynasty that has had a state-qualifier 14 years in a row, with championships in
1998 and 2000, along with a runner-up in 1999, can be credited largely to the coaching
staff of Larry Merkel, Mike Dehring, Dave Eby, Dougbo Pelzel, Steve Rasso, and
Gil Wendling among others.
Certainly many congratulations to Allen Bader and LaSalle, who undoubtedly
would be team champions almost anywhere else and are certainly worthy of a high
national ranking. And as for St. Xavier's Magnificent 7: Andy Wietmarschen, Tim
King, Ryan Busse, Nick King, Ben Wietmarschen, Jeremy Mosher and Tommy Balmat,
who raced to the medal stand and into the records books this past Saturday, you
have the distinction of being members of the greatest team Ohio has ever seen.
Individual Results
|
1 |
15:21 |
Allen Bader |
11 |
CINCINNATI LASALLE |
|
2 |
15:33 |
Wesley Smith |
10 |
HUDSON |
|
3 |
15:35 |
Steve Vilt |
11 |
Brunswick HS |
|
4 |
15:37 |
Patrick Mouser |
11 |
DEFIANCE HS |
|
5 |
15:38 |
Brent DesRoches |
11 |
Clayton Northmont |
|
6 |
15:39 |
Jamie Stahler |
12 |
Canton McKinley |
|
7 |
15:42 |
Andy
Wietmarschen |
12 |
CINCINNATI ST
XAVIER |
|
8 |
15:46 |
Tim King |
12 |
CINCINNATI ST
XAVIER |
|
9 |
15:47 |
Ryan Busse |
12 |
CINCINNATI ST
XAVIER |
|
10 |
15:49 |
Leo Kormanik |
12 |
Akron Ellet |
|
11 |
15:50 |
Adam Cooley |
11 |
Dover |
|
12 |
15:51 |
Jesse Rhodenbaugh |
12 |
Talawanda |
|
13 |
15:53 |
Tony Mance |
12 |
Sylvania Southview |
|
14 |
15:54 |
Aaron Arlinghaus |
10 |
North Olmsted HS |
|
15 |
15:55 |
Patrick Rischmann |
12 |
CINCINNATI LASALLE |
|
16 |
15:57 |
Christopher Basinger |
12 |
PICKERINGTON |
|
17 |
15:58 |
Kellen Stephens |
12 |
DEFIANCE HS |
|
18 |
15:58 |
Todd Moyers |
12 |
Mentor |
|
19 |
15:59 |
Nick Westerman |
12 |
CINCINNATI ELDER |
|
20 |
16:00 |
Andy Bittner |
11 |
LODI CLOVERLEAF |
|
21 |
16:01 |
Parker Daniel |
12 |
Dublin Scioto |
|
22 |
16:03 |
Glenn Collins |
10 |
NORTH CANTON HOOVER |
|
23 |
16:04 |
Tom Gallagher |
11 |
Cincinnati Sycamore |
|
24 |
16:04 |
Brian Roberts |
12 |
FINDLAY HS |
|
25 |
16:05 |
Eric Rudowicz |
11 |
STRONGSVILLE HS |
|
26 |
16:05 |
Taylor Garvin |
11 |
Kings Mill Kings |
|
27 |
16:05 |
John Dixon |
10 |
Fairfield |
|
28 |
16:06 |
Mike Frey |
11 |
Tldo St Frncis DeSal |
|
29 |
16:06 |
Joseph McKinney |
11 |
HILLIARD DAVIDSON |
|
30 |
16:07 |
Jon Ogline |
11 |
Alliance |
|
31 |
16:07 |
Chris Paulett |
12 |
Richfield Revere |
|
32 |
16:08 |
Brandon Fluke |
12 |
NORTH CANTON HOOVER |
|
33 |
16:08 |
Austin Schiele |
11 |
HUDSON |
|
34 |
16:09 |
K. Garrett Grogan |
11 |
CINCINNATI LASALLE |
|
35 |
16:13 |
Jason Linton |
12 |
VINCENT WARREN |
|
36 |
16:14 |
Jared Lowry |
12 |
NORTH CANTON HOOVER |
|
37 |
16:16 |
Jason Koralewski |
12 |
Columbus St Charles |
|
38 |
16:16 |
Brad Neumann |
10 |
Cincinnati Moeller |
|
39 |
16:17 |
Eric Mayhaus |
10 |
CINCINNATI LASALLE |
|
40 |
16:18 |
Nick King |
12 |
CINCINNATI ST
XAVIER |
|
41 |
16:19 |
Mike Zak |
12 |
Massillon Perry |
|
42 |
16:21 |
Derrick Iannamorel |
12 |
CANTON GLENOAK |
|
43 |
16:22 |
Brett Willi |
12 |
DUBLIN COFFMAN |
|
44 |
16:23 |
Greg Howard |
12 |
CANTON GLENOAK |
|
45 |
16:23 |
Alexander Bailey |
10 |
HILLIARD DAVIDSON |
|
46 |
16:25 |
Mike Smith |
12 |
Toledo Start HS |
|
47 |
16:25 |
Chris Gobbell |
11 |
Springfield HS |
|
48 |
16:26 |
Jay Harpp |
12 |
Mayfield |
|
49 |
16:27 |
Rob Cohen |
11 |
CINCINNATI ELDER |
|
50 |
16:27 |
Adam Bernal |
12 |
FINDLAY HS |
|
51 |
16:28 |
Ben Wietmarschen |
11 |
CINCINNATI ST
XAVIER |
|
52 |
16:28 |
Josh Conkle |
12 |
Mt Vernon |
|
53 |
16:29 |
Jeremy Framstad |
11 |
Fremont Ross HS |
|
54 |
16:30 |
Tom Albani |
11 |
Youngstown Boardman |
|
55 |
16:31 |
Trent Montgomery |
12 |
Lewis Cntr Olentangy |
|
56 |
16:32 |
Bob Allensworth |
11 |
NORTH CANTON HOOVER |
|
57 |
16:33 |
Chris Kollar |
10 |
STRONGSVILLE HS |
|
58 |
16:34 |
David Waclawski |
11 |
Gahanna Lincoln |
|
59 |
16:35 |
Christian Nichols |
10 |
HILLIARD DAVIDSON |
|
60 |
16:36 |
Bob Wayner |
12 |
Cincinnati Oak Hills |
|
61 |
16:36 |
Mike Fernbach |
10 |
ST IGNATIUS HS |
|
62 |
16:36 |
Ryan Spellman |
10 |
HILLIARD DAVIDSON |
|
63 |
16:37 |
Keith Mikes |
12 |
Whths Anthony Wayne |
|
64 |
16:37 |
Chris Emnett |
12 |
CENTERVILLE |
|
65 |
16:38 |
Mike Richardson |
10 |
PICKERINGTON |
|
66 |
16:38 |
Gary Bowman |
9 |
Cuyahoga Falls |
|
67 |
16:38 |
Brent Frissora |
11 |
Perrysburg HS |
|
68 |
16:39 |
Keith Exel |
12 |
Ptskla Watkins Memrl |
|
69 |
16:39 |
Mike Keller |
11 |
HUDSON |
|
70 |
16:40 |
Wayne Lovely |
12 |
CENTERVILLE |
|
71 |
16:40 |
Alex Herald |
11 |
NORTH CANTON HOOVER |
|
72 |
16:41 |
Jeremy Mosher |
11 |
CINCINNATI ST
XAVIER |
|
73 |
16:41 |
Mike Synk |
12 |
STRONGSVILLE HS |
|
74 |
16:41 |
Patrick Kendall |
12 |
CINCINNATI ELDER |
|
75 |
16:42 |
Joey Hague |
1 |
DUBLIN COFFMAN |
|
76 |
16:44 |
Tommy Byers |
10 |
DUBLIN COFFMAN |
|
77 |
16:46 |
Jason Gurney |
11 |
Tiffin Columbian |
|
78 |
16:46 |
Rohan Patil |
11 |
HUDSON |
|
79 |
16:46 |
Brandon Inboden |
10 |
CANTON GLENOAK |
|
80 |
16:48 |
John Bolden |
12 |
VINCENT WARREN |
|
81 |
16:48 |
Eric Contreras |
10 |
CENTERVILLE |
|
82 |
16:49 |
Kurt Wittenauer |
11 |
LODI CLOVERLEAF |
|
83 |
16:49 |
Alan Burkitt |
10 |
HILLIARD DAVIDSON |
|
84 |
16:49 |
Ryan Higgs |
12 |
FINDLAY HS |
|
85 |
16:50 |
Kevin Wright |
10 |
CINCINNATI LASALLE |
|
86 |
16:50 |
Kevin Dinarda |
11 |
NORTH CANTON HOOVER |
|
87 |
16:51 |
Wes Lewis |
12 |
Reynoldsburg |
|
88 |
16:51 |
Tommy Balmat |
9 |
CINCINNATI ST
XAVIER |
|
89 |
16:51 |
Jarrod Predina |
11 |
ST IGNATIUS HS |
|
90 |
16:52 |
Mike Watson |
10 |
Euclid |
|
91 |
16:53 |
Jeff Briggs |
11 |
STRONGSVILLE HS |
|
92 |
16:54 |
Stephen Zitkovic |
11 |
FINDLAY HS |
|
93 |
16:55 |
Marc Sylvester |
12 |
ST IGNATIUS HS |
|
94 |
16:57 |
Zac Mach |
11 |
DEFIANCE HS |
|
95 |
16:58 |
Zac Altenau |
11 |
CINCINNATI LASALLE |
|
96 |
16:58 |
Matt Mitchell |
11 |
CENTERVILLE |
|
97 |
16:58 |
Jack Bridenbaugh |
11 |
DEFIANCE HS |
|
98 |
16:59 |
Paul Staudigel |
11 |
CINCINNATI ELDER |
|
99 |
16:59 |
Charlie Straka |
10 |
HUDSON |
|
100 |
17:00 |
Ed Horning |
11 |
CANTON GLENOAK |
|
101 |
17:00 |
Ross Righter |
11 |
HILLIARD DAVIDSON |
|
102 |
17:01 |
Troy Lovely |
11 |
CENTERVILLE |
|
103 |
17:01 |
Scott Gillespie |
11 |
PICKERINGTON |
|
104 |
17:04 |
Ryan Cashdollar |
11 |
CENTERVILLE |
|
105 |
17:05 |
Mike Bridenbaugh |
10 |
DEFIANCE HS |
|
106 |
17:07 |
Michael Lossick |
11 |
HILLIARD DAVIDSON |
|
107 |
17:08 |
Lyle Sulfridge |
11 |
VINCENT WARREN |
|
108 |
17:09 |
Morgan Russell |
12 |
LODI CLOVERLEAF |
|
109 |
17:09 |
Sean Ernst |
12 |
CINCINNATI ELDER |
|
110 |
17:10 |
Kurtis Smith |
12 |
CINCINNATI ELDER |
|
111 |
17:10 |
Casey Clark |
11 |
CENTERVILLE |
|
112 |
17:11 |
Casey Kehnast |
11 |
DEFIANCE HS |
|
113 |
17:13 |
Ryan Mandell |
12 |
PICKERINGTON |
|
114 |
17:13 |
David Molina |
12 |
ST IGNATIUS HS |
|
115 |
17:14 |
Jarrod Coffman |
12 |
VINCENT WARREN |
|
116 |
17:15 |
Steve Niemira |
12 |
STRONGSVILLE HS |
|
117 |
17:15 |
Justin Hamilton |
9 |
VINCENT WARREN |
|
118 |
17:16 |
Adam Moneyhon |
11 |
DUBLIN COFFMAN |
|
119 |
17:16 |
Matt Cooper |
11 |
DUBLIN COFFMAN |
|
120 |
17:16 |
Tommy Noyes |
10 |
CANTON HOOVER |
|
121 |
17:16 |
Derick Lawrence |
10 |
CINCINNATI ELDER |
|
122 |
17:17 |
Ryan Hewit |
11 |
LODI CLOVERLEAF |
|
123 |
17:23 |
Brett Fowler |
12 |
HUDSON |
|
124 |
17:28 |
Ben Meeker |
12 |
STRONGSVILLE HS |
|
125 |
17:29 |
Lewis Butler |
10 |
DEFIANCE HS |
|
126 |
17:29 |
Chad Kritzberger |
11 |
HUDSON |
|
127 |
17:30 |
Tom Chester |
9 |
FINDLAY HS |
|
128 |
17:30 |
Brandon Halm |
12 |
STRONGSVILLE HS |
|
129 |
17:31 |
Eric Sylvester |
10 |
ST IGNATIUS HS |
|
130 |
17:31 |
Bryan Dixon |
12 |
CANTON GLENOAK |
|
131 |
17:31 |
Todd Morell |
12 |
New Philadelphia |
|
132 |
17:32 |
Trevor Cessna |
10 |
PICKERINGTON |
|
133 |
17:33 |
Kyle Metzger |
12 |
PICKERINGTON |
|
134 |
17:36 |
Ben Miller |
11 |
CANTON GLENOAK |
|
135 |
17:40 |
Mike Rogers |
10 |
ST IGNATIUS HS |
|
136 |
17:46 |
Dave Smucker |
11 |
LODI CLOVERLEAF |
|
137 |
17:47 |
Jeremy Paul |
12 |
LODI CLOVERLEAF |
|
138 |
17:51 |
Jon Roth |
12 |
CANTON GLENOAK |
|
139 |
17:55 |
Matt Peterman |
11 |
PICKERINGTON |
|
140 |
14:57 |
Adam Pruss |
9 |
DUBLIN COFFMAN |
|
141 |
17:58 |
Neal Carter |
12 |
DUBLIN COFFMAN |
|
142 |
18:07 |
Andrew Wesel |
10 |
VINCENT WARREN |
|
143 |
18:16 |
Luke Cramer |
10 |
FINDLAY HS |
|
144 |
18:16 |
Paul Calardo |
9 |
CINCINNATI LASALLE |
|
145 |
18:18 |
Sean Rooney |
12 |
FINDLAY HS |
|
146 |
18:38 |
Tony Blevins |
9 |
VINCENT WARREN |
|
147 |
19:11 |
Dan Carroll |
10 |
ST IGNATIUS HS |
|
148 |
19:15 |
Ryan Hutson |
10 |
LODI CLOVERLEAF |
|
1 |
Cincinnati St. Xavier |
4 |
5 |
6 |
22 |
29 |
40 |
54 |
66 |
|
2 |
Cincinnati LaSalle |
1 |
7 |
18 |
21 |
52 |
60 |
108 |
99 |
|
3 |
North Canton Hoover |
12 |
16 |
20 |
30 |
39 |
53 |
|
117 |
|
4 |
Hilliard Davidson |
15 |
26 |
32 |
34 |
50 |
66 |
71 |
157 |
|
5 |
Hudson |
2 |
17 |
37 |
45 |
64 |
88 |
91 |
165 |
|
6 |
Defiance |
3 |
9 |
59 |
62 |
70 |
77 |
90 |
203 |
|
7 |
Cincinnati Elder |
10 |
27 |
42 |
63 |
74 |
75 |
86 |
216 |
|
8 |
Strongsville |
14 |
31 |
41 |
56 |
81 |
89 |
93 |
223 |
|
9 |
Findlay |
13 |
28 |
51 |
57 |
92 |
107 |
109 |
241 |
|
10 |
Centerville |
35 |
38 |
48 |
61 |
67 |
69 |
76 |
249 |
|
11 |
Canton Glenoak |
23 |
25 |
46 |
65 |
95 |
98 |
102 |
254 |
|
12 |
Dublin Coffman |
24 |
43 |
44 |
83 |
84 |
104 |
105 |
278 |
|
13 |
Pickerington |
8 |
36 |
68 |
78 |
96 |
97 |
103 |
286 |
|
14 |
Vincent Warren |
19 |
47 |
72 |
80 |
82 |
106 |
110 |
300 |
|
15 |
St. Ignatius |
33 |
55 |
58 |
79 |
94 |
99 |
111 |
319 |
|
16 |
Lodi Cloverleaf |
11 |
49 |
73 |
87 |
100 |
101 |
112 |
320 |