XC Freshman at the OHSAA State Meet?
2014 OhioMileSplit Update!
In August of 2011 we posted an article on "How Freshman Funners Fare at the Varsity Level", in particular, at the OHSAA Cross Country Championships. We looked at freshman stats for the years from 2008 to 2010. Statistically, at the State XC Meet, less than 10% of the boys are freshman and approximately 20% of the girls. Why do we not see more freshman? There may not be a simple answer, but the statistics do continue to indicate that there is a definite maturation that takes place; physically, mentally and in experience, and that there is even a more distinct difference between the boys and the girls as they transition from the Middle School to the High School level in all three divisions, in particular, at the OHSAA Cross Country Championships.
In the years 2008 through 2010, in all six divisions, no freshman were atop the podium. In fact, there were no freshman winners in 2006 or 2007 as well. That changed however in 2011 with Brittany Atkinson of Liberty Center winning the D3 Girl’s Championship. Atkinson would finish 2nd to Coldwater Sophomore Sarah Kanney in the 2012 Championship. 
Kanney was 9th in her debut as a freshman in 2011. In 2012, Mary Kate Vaughn of Oakwood won the D2 Girl’s Championship, finishing just ahead of another 9th grader, Rachel Iacofano of 
Akron SVSM. In 2013, Atkinson returned to the top spot in D3 besting Kanney who ran 2nd. During those years no freshman boys won in any of the Divisions. In fact, in all three of the boy’s divisions, during the years 2011-2013, the highest placing freshman boy was Tyler Polman of Independence who ran to a 6th place in 2013 in the D3 Race.
Following is a look at some of the freshman statistics in the OHSAA Cross Country Championships from 2011 through 2013.
2011
Total Runners All Divisions: 905 Runners. 153 Freshman. (16.9%)
D1 Boys: 154 Runners. 8 Freshman. (5.2%) Highest finisher: 44th (David St. John of Toledo St. Francis).
D2 Boys: 146 Runners. 20 Freshman. (13.7%) Highest finisher: 25th (Connor Holiday of Van Wert)
D3 Boys: 149 Runners. 28 freshman. (18.9%) Highest finisher: 34th (John Wenning of Coldwater)
D1 Girls: 152 Runners. 33 Freshman. (21.7%) Highest finisher: 13th (Leah Wallace of Reynoldsburg).
D2 Girls: 154 Runners. 36 Freshman. (23.4%) Highest finisher: 2nd (Sammy Bockhoven of Cuy. Falls CVCA).
D3 Girls: 150 Runners. 42 Freshman. (28%) Highest finisher: 1st (Brittany Atkinson of Liberty Center).
2012
Total Runners All Divisions: 877 Runners. 129 Freshman. (14.7%)
D1 Boys: 148 Runners. 7 Freshman. (4.7%) Highest finisher: 56th (Luke Wagner of St. Ignatius).
D2 Boys: 150 Runners. 2 Freshman. (6%) Highest finisher: 56th (Joe Bistritz Of Chagrin Falls).
D3 Boys: 143 Runners. 19 Freshman. (13.3%) Highest finisher: 32nd (Jacob Long of Cardington-Lincoln).
D1 Girls: 150 Runners. 29 Freshman. (19.3%) Highest finisher: 13th (Megan Murphy of Dublin Coffman).
D2 Girls: 145 Runners. 30 Freshman. (20.7%) Highest finisher: 1st (Mary Kate Vaughn of Oadkwood).
D3 Girls: 141 Runners. 35 Freshman. (24.9%) Highest finisher: 10th (Rachel Wentworth of Garaway).
2013
Total Runners All Divisions: 872 Runners. 132 Freshman. (15.4%)
D1 Boys: 145 Runners. 7 Freshman. (4.8%) Highest finisher: 26th (Ben Evert of Beavercreek).
D2 Boys: 149 Runners. 14 Freshman. (9.4%) Highest finisher: 42nd (Vinny DeFelice of West Holmes).
D3 Boys: 146 Runners. 21 Freshman. (14.4%) Highest finisher: 6th (Tyler Polman of Independence).
D1 Girls: 154 Runners. 33 Freshman. (21.4%) Highest finisher: 9th (Emma Byant of Vandalia-Butler).
D2 Girls: 139 Runners. 23 Freshman. (16.5%) Highest finisher: 11th (Maddie Dunlap of Carrollton).
D3 Girls: 142 Runners. 34 Freshman. (23.9%) Highest finisher: 11th (Dana Zaccardelli of Independence).
2008 - 2013 Average Percentage of Freshman by Division at the OHSAA Championships
D1 Boys: 3.86%
D2 Boys: 8.78%
D3 Boys: 12.72%
Combined: 8.45%
D1 Girls: 18.75%
D2 Girls: 22.23%
D3 Girls: 20.90%
Combined: 20.63%
How did our 2013 State Champions perform as freshman and in subsequent appearances?
D1 Boys
Mark Hadley SR Boardman
2013: 1st 15:10.63
2012: 6th 15:29.74
2011: 5th 15:31.48
2010:
D2 Boys
Matt Bromley SR Sheridan
2013: 1st 16:04.58
2012: 3rd 15:49.94
2011: 10th 15:26.33
2010:
D3 Boys
Bobby Johnson SR McDonald
2013: 1st 15:45.48
2012: 5th 15:39.45
2011: 23rd 16:28.69
2010:
D1 Girls
Annie Heffernan JR St. Ursula
2013: 1st 18:13.90
2012: 3rd 17:45.07
2011:
D2 Girls
Taylor Vernot SO Wauseon
2013: 1st 18:04.40
2012: 12th 18:49.17
2011:
D3 Girls
Brittany Atkinson JR Liberty Center
2013: 1st 18:31.45
2012: 2nd 18:06.67
2011: 1st 18:27.51
CONCLUSION
One would have to conclude that in general, while our freshman boys and girls can compete and even win, it appears that statistically, it is very difficult for them to get to State and atop the podium at the State level. For the boys, it appears to be more difficult, with an average for all three divisions over the six year period to be only 8.45% of freshman running at the Championships and no freshman boys winning. For the girls, the percentage rises to 20.63% getting to run at the State Meet. During the six year period, two girls have won, but have not won in back to back years. It appears, as concluded in the 2011 article, that for the boys, the freshman runners generally do not have the physical strength, maturity and experience to run with the upper classman. For the girls, maturity is at a younger age and we see more freshman girls running at State, however, few have the mental strength and maturity that comes with experience to get them to the top of the podium