GIRLS INDIVIDUAL PREVIEW
Sr. Kyleigh Edwards of Fairfield Christian Academy is undefeated in D3 competition this season. She was 3rd last year. she will have lots of competition, but this may be her year to take the top spot on the podium at State. (photo M. Stonecipher)
D3 GIRLS STATE RANKINGS
Peebles So. Jenny Seas has the fastest D3 girl's time in the State. Last weekend however, she was 2nd at Pickerington to #3 Sr. Kyleigh Edwards of Fairfield Christian Academy. Jr. Emily Sreenan of Lima Central Catholic holds the D3 girl's #2 ranking and she was dominant in the Tiffin Regional winning by just over 28 seconds over #9 Sr. Morgan Dembowski of Toledo Christian. At Youngstown, #12 Jr. Grace Stiemle won, beating #5 Sr. Ashleigh Rowley of Western Reserve-BC. The #5 D3 Fr. girl, Addie Engle of Spr. Catholic Central won at Troy over Jr. Karmen Knepp of Bradford. Knepp is ranked D3 #19.
Who will win at State? Can the So. Seas redeem herself and run true to her #1 ranking? This however, should be one of the most competitive races of the day and one has to think that it will come down to the last 500 between Emily Sreenan and Kyleigh Edwards. My nod has to go with Edwards for the top spot based upon her 3rd place finish at State last year. Don't count out Minster Fr. Emma Watcke, she and Addie Engle however, will both have to deal with their emotions and experience at the State level. Watch for Sr. Kalee Soenhlen of Aquinas to be up near the top. She was 2nd last year, has experience and knows how to win.
GIRLS TEAM PREVIEW
The St. Thomas Aquinas girls are the #2 ranked D3 girls team in the State. They are the defending Team champions. Will their experience be enough to defend this year? (photo Christian Lisle)
Ohio XC Team Rankings Week 10
OATCCC Team Rankings Week 10 Pre-State Poll
The Minster girls have the #1 D3 girl's team ranking in the State. They are young, have been dominant all year and won the Tiffin Region scoring just 41 points, going 1+2+4+16+18 (20+24). Minster is led by Fr. Emma Watcke. Behind Watcke are: So. Kaitlynn Albers, Sr. Morgan Pohl, Fr. Gwendolyn Meiring and Fr. Mackenzie Bohman. Teir #6 & 7 runners are Jr. Cassie Francis and So. Madeline Magoto. To win however, they will have to deal with the State experience of the defending champion, Aquinas girls: Sr. Kalee Soehnlen, Sr. Kacee Soehnlen, So. Hannah Ohman, Jr. Hannah Soehnlen and Fr. Ryley Kling. Six and seven for Aquinas are: Jr. Natalie Vinci and So. Quinn Lamp.
Aquinas handled #3 Gilmour Academy at the Youngstown Regional, as well as #5 Berkshire. Minster easily handled #4 Pettisville at Tiffin. #6 Tuscarawas Valley won at Pickerington and #11 Covington and #14 Ft. Loramie battled at Troy, with Covington taking the 84 to 85 point win.
Who will win at State. It comes down to a choice between defending Team Champion St. Thomas Aquinas and Minster. Do you go with the experience of Aquinas at State vs the young inexperience of the Minster girls at the State level. Both teams are well coached, but one has to go with the Minster youth this year as they have a season of experience and have been running well. #3 will go to Gilmour and the other top five spots will be a battle between Berkshire, Tuscawaras Valley, Covington and Ft. Loramie.