BOARDMAN - Two years ago Wyatt Hartman had mixed feelings.
As a sophomore, he was glad to be heading to the state cross country tournament.
On the other hand, his mood quickly dampened when he found out his Maplewood teammates wouldn't be going with him.
Article Photos
Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo
Maplewood’s Solomon Yoder, left, tries to stay ahead of Lima Central Catholic’s Scott Willeke (61) during Saturday’s Division III?regional meet at Boardman High School.
It was the end of era - 20 straight years the Rockets advanced to state. Maplewood couldn't make it 21 straight and continue the state's longest streak in its sport.
"I would much rather go as a team," Hartman said. "It's amazing the team dynamic you have. It's so exciting.
"I was by myself. It's just not the same. Even in track, when you go by yourself, it's exciting, but there's something when you're surrounded by your best friends and knowing you're all working together and all pushing toward that goal. To have you all come together, it's so exciting."
Fact Box
Division II regional
at Boardman High School
Top four teams and top 16
individuals advance to state
TEAM SCORES: 1. Marlington 85, 2. Perry 147, 3. Claymont 161, 4. NDCL 163, 5. Lakeview 166, 6. Chagrin Falls 192, 7. Fairless 203, 8. Sandy Valley 204, 9. Tuslaw 221, 10. Carrollton 225, 11. Edgewood 240, 12. Jefferson 249, 13. Indian Creek 267, 14. Southeast 286, 15. West Branch 320, 16. Pymatuning Valley 377.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 1. Drake Lohnes (WB) 16:37.97, 2. Nate Boyer (EL) 16:38.01, 3. Colin Eggleston (Mar) 16:39.10, 4. Ty Raybuck (Mar) 16:40.86, 5. Steve Frandanisa (NDCL) 16:42.79, 6. Josh Laney (Fai) 16:52.34, 7. Ben Lehotay (SV) 16:55.30, 8. Eric Harris (Lak) 16:55.58, 9. Joe Bistritz (CF) 16:55.83, 10. Aaran Gessic (Per) 16:56.29, 11. Jonathon Richmond (Lib) 16:57.57, 12. Michael Beebe (NDCL) 16:59.77, 13. John Brown (Car) 17:05.75, 14. Blake Babcock (CCC) 17:10.26, 15. Chris Lemay (Edg) 17:16.16, 16. Jakob Weisblat (US) 17:16.60, 17. Matt Wallace (Mar) 17:22.22, 18. Austin Wolford (Car) 17:23.16, 19. Dustin Gilbert (Per) 17:23.46, 20. Derryn Tomsic (Edg) 17:24.09.
Division III regional
at Boardman High School
Top four teams and top 16
individuals advance to state
TEAM SCORES: 1. Maplewood 72, 2. McDonald 83, 3. New London 110, 4. Independence 134, 5. Gilmour Academy 135, 6. St. Thomas Aquinas 177, 7. Archbold 195, 8. Ash. Crestview 241, 9. Smithville 241, 10. Mapleton 247, 11. Lima C.C. 268, 12. Bucyrus 283, 13. New Bremen 296, 14. Rootstown 311, 15. Ayersville 345, 16. Mohawk 424.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 1. Cory Glines (STA) 15:51.55, 2. Kyle Polman (Ind) 15:54.60, 3. Bobby Johnson (McD) 16:06.17, 4. Patrick Kunkel (McD) 16:11.39, 5. Tim Nichols (SR) 16:15.29, 6. Jonathan Albaugh (NL) 16:21.79, 7. Wyatt Hartman (Map) 16:28.85, 8. Shane Berger (WSN) 16:45.16, 9. Ryan Kuzilla (Ind) 16:49.82, 10. Solomon Yoder (Map) 16:49.89, 11. Jim Weaverling (Smi) 16:52.21, 12. Scott Willeke (LCC) 16:53.99, 13. John Brett (GA) 16:55.65, 14. Noah Cook (Maplet) 16:55.87, 15. Dakota Frost (Hic) 16:55.91, 16. Adam Berry (Haw) 16:57.92, 17. Bryce Tinsman (Arc) 16:59.30, 18. Tristan Dahmen (Map) 17:00.69, 19. Alexander Clapacs (GA) 17:03.03, 20. Derek Morrison (Map) 17:06.58.
Fast forward two years and one state appearance last season, it seems Maplewood's boys cross country team has regained its mojo. The Rockets, who have won their fair share of meets this season, captured their first Division III regional title since 2005 - holding off McDonald at the Boardman High School course, 72-83. Maplewood is the top-ranked team in the state, according to the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches state poll, while McDonald is second.
"That's a huge reason they're at where they are right now because they hit a goal they wanted," Maplewood coach Dave Deeter said.
"They're not going to let that happen to them. They really wanted to make it back to state this year after making it last year and getting that taste.
"Because of that, they came out and worked harder than they did last year. You can see the results where they're at."
New London was third (110) and Independence held off Gilmour Academy for fourth, 134-135. The Blue Devils held off the Lancers thanks to their fifth runner getting one place higher than Gilmour Academy's fifth runner.
Hartman took seventh, Solomon Yoder was 10th, Tristan Dahmen was 18th, Derrick Morrison took 20th and Mike Dahmen was 39th.
Deeter said the top five kept their focus on pack running.
"They found people to run with when they were a little bit behind or a little bit ahead," Deeter said.
McDonald, on the other hand, was paced by its normal top two - Bobby Johnson and Patrick Kunkel, who took third and fourth, respectively, on a course that was wet from Saturday's downpour.
"The course was nice, it wasn't that wet or anything," Johnson said. "It wasn't that bad of weather. It felt good."
The rest of McDonald's top five were Tyler Smith was (30th), Alan Coviello (31st) and Zach Hawout (45th).
St. Thomas Aquinas' Cory Glines won the race, while Independence's Kyle Polman was second - both finishing in less than 16 minutes. Incidentally, the pair finished 1-2 at the mid-September Spartan Invitational at the Boardman course.
South Range's Tim Nichols was fifth.
The top four teams and top 16 runners in each race advance to Saturday's state meet at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.
Mineral Ridge's Logan Smith took 23rd, while Badger's Owen Reeher was 33rd.
As for Maplewood, it is happy its team is making it back to state for the second straight season.
"We have a big task ahead of us," Deeter said. "There are about four or five teams that could pull it off next week."
