As cross country racing gets underway all across the state, let's take a look at which teams and individuals appear best poised to make a splash -- both regionally and at the state level -- across the northwestern corner of the state.
Blanchard Valley Conference
With Liberty-Benton departing the conference, the BVC will be a wide open race on both the boys and girls side for the title and runner-up positions. Elmwood was runner-up a season ago on the boys side and return five of their top seven. Kolten Evans of Riverdale is the top returner and was conference runner-up last season. On the girls side, Elmwood took the title a year ago and return their entire top five, including conference champion Janessa Childress.
Buckeye Border Conference
Holgate took the title last season on the boys side but have lost their top two runners to graduation. That leaves the door open for runners-up Fayette, who returns their entire top five, and third place Pettisville, who returns their entire team but one. The top three finishers from a year ago are back in Ethan Lee of Fayette and Alex Galvin and Tyler Wilburn of Pettisville. On the girls side, Emily Suydam of Hilltop is the top returner after finishing runner-up a season ago. The team race will be wide open as very few seniors were lost to graduation.
Firelands Conference
Norwalk St. Paul appears to be in the drivers seat on the girls side -- they were runners-up a year ago and return their entire top five. Hailey Crockett of New London is the top returner after finishing third last season. Ashland Crestview, Mapleton and New London will all be vying for top honors on the boys side. All three schools dominated a season ago and lost few runners to graduation. Eight of the top ten runners in the conference return.
Green Meadows Conference
Tinora won the conference on the boys side last season going away, and they return four of their top five. On the girls side, defending champion Autumn Becker of Fairview is back for her senior campaign. Hicksville were runners-up last season and return their entire top five.
Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference
The boys side will be wide open this season after most of the top runners were lost to graduation. The top returner is Andrew Tackett of Marion Harding who claimed fourth place a year ago. Shelby took the girls crown last season and return their entire top five, meanwhile defending champion Katrina Neal will be back as a senior for Clear Fork.
Midwest Athletic Conference
Versailles took the boys crown a year ago but lost three of their top five to graduation. Meanwhile runners-up St. Henry brings back their entire top five. Defending champion Jackson Spitzer will be back for Versailles. On the girls side, Minster, Coldwater and Versailles were all within five points of each other a season ago. Out of all three teams' top fives, only one was lost to graduation. The top returner is Claire Bohman of Minster who is the defending champion.
Northern Buckeye Conference
Genoa were the boys champions going away last season but return just four of the their top seven, while runners-up Eastwood return four of their top five. Last season's runner-up Chase Cooper of Genoa is the top returning boy. Maumee took the girls title convincingly a season ago and return four of their top five, including top returner Arriana Dugan who was second last year.
Northern Lakes League
The Buckeye Division lost a lot of heavy hitters on the boys side but still return plenty of talent. Russell Stine IV of Findlay is the top returner after finishing fourth a year ago. The team race will be wide open after the top teams lost a sizeable amount to graduation. On the girls side, Perrysburg still looks to be the favorite as they return five of their top seven, including top returner Alexis Schultz who was runner-up a season ago.
In the Cardinal Division, all six teams have a shot at the girls title. Fremont Ross and Bowling Green return their entire top five, while Southview returns four of their top five. Gwen Huddle of Napoleon is the defending champion and top returner. On the boys side, Bowling Green ran away with the title last season but lose three of their top seven, however they still have defending champion Sam Wiles. Meanwhile Fremont Ross and Southview return nearly their entire starting seven. And don't forget about Liberty-Benton, who are joining the conference this season.
Northern Ohio Conference
The first year of the new conference will bring their championships to Hedges-Boyer Park in Tiffin.
In the Bay Division, Mason Leber of Edison is the top returner on the boys side and leads the Chargers as one of the top teams, along with Huron and Bellevue. On the girls side, Huron returns their entire top five, including top returner Rylie Towns. Bellevue looks to contend with four of their top five returning.
In the Lake Division, Joel Smelcer of Perkins is the top returning boy by over a minute and a half. Tiffin Columbian and Norwalk were the top two teams a season ago and bring back the most athletes. On the girls side, Norwalk and Tiffin Columbian return nearly all of their top seven with Saige Konik of Norwalk being the top returner.
Northern 10 Athletic Conference
The Northern 10 has added six new schools in Tiffin Calvert, Hopewell-Loudon, Lucas, New Riegel, Old Fort and Willard. Ian Bloom of Hopewell-Loudon is the top returner on the boys side and Aubrey Ritzler of Seneca East is the top returner on the girls side. Both boys and girls titles will be up for grabs between all of the fourteen schools.
Northwest Central Conference
Elliot Weston of Ridgedale is the top returning boy after finishing runner-up a season ago. Hardin Northern took the title last season but lost three of their top five, leaving the title this season up for grabs. Defending champion North Baltimore returns four of their top five on the girls side, including defending champion Ady Reynolds.
Northwest Conference
Emily Heth of Convoy Crestview is top returning girl after finishing second a year ago. The team title is wide open as the top teams a year ago lost a lot to graduation. Convoy Crestview won the title a year ago and return four of their top five, including top returner Derek Young.
Northwest Ohio Athletic League
Bryan took the boys title a year ago and return four of their top five, including top returner John Deitemeyer. Colbie Strayer of Liberty Center is the top returning girl after finishing fourth a year ago. The Tigers took the title last year and return their entire top five, as does runner-up Archbold.
Sandusky Bay Conference
The new look Sandusky Bay Conference has a considerable returning cast. Cole Zang of Margaretta is the top returning boy. The Polar Bears will battle with Ottawa Hills on both the boys and girls side for the title. The Green Bears have top returner Natalie Nixon who will be a junior.
Toledo Area Athletic Conference
Isabella Stueve of Maumee Valley Country Day is the top returner after finishing runner-up a season ago. The Eagles also have the top returning boy in Charlie Harris and are the top returning team.
Toledo City League
The City League boys title was taken by Rogers a year ago and they look to defend their title as they return five of their top seven, including top returner Xavier Williams. Scott nipped Rogers by a single point last season on the girls side, but lose two of their top five while the Rams return five of their top seven. Summer Zmuda of Bowsher is the top returning girl.
Western Buckeye League
Defiance is the top returning team on the boys side. The Bulldogs return five of their top seven after taking runner-up to Celina a year ago. Wade Manns of Kenton is the top returning boy after taking bronze last season. On the girls side, Elle Miesse of Celina is top returning girl, she was third last season. Van Wert, Ottawa-Glandorf and Celina will be vying for the title. Only one out of the top five returners for those schools graduated.