The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Avon girls claim SWC title, Amherst’s Hill dominates
Westlake’s Francesconi repeats as a champion 20:03.2 and preps for the postseason
The Avon girls had more than their conference rivals to worry about Oct. 13 at Lorain County Community College for the Southwestern Conference Championship meet.
Conditions were muddy and cold for the runners, but the Eagles won their first Southwestern Conference Championship since 2015, scoring 45 points. Avon Lake (54) was second, and Amherst (92) third.
Avon was powered by senior Jules Frombach taking second (20:34.8) behind Westlake champion Erica Francesconi (20:03.2). Avon freshman Jane Roach placed seventh (21:13.9), sophomore Meadow Smith was ninth (21:20.8), Abby Sidloski took 12th (21:50.0) and Shanna Koehler was 15th (21:56.7).
The muddy course was the worst it has been at the LCCC in a while.
“When I woke this morning and saw how cold and how much rain there was, I was a little scared at what was going to happen,” Frombach said. “But I always think our team runs way better in the cold. Once we figured out we can go by place and not so much time and stay mentally tough then we can really push through.”
It was Frombach’s final conference race.
“It feels amazing,” she added. “Especially with it being our senior year. We always say that we always want to look up in our gym at the banners, and we always want to get a number on the banner. So it’s really cool to know that our senior year, we’ve got a number on it.”
Francesconi repeated as champion, helping the Demons take fifth (107).
She wasn’t too concerned with her time as she preps for the postseason.
“The whole goal of the race was just to get out and feel the race,” Francesconi said. “I wasn’t worried about who was behind me or in front, just feeling it out for next week. This whole season has been about my health and getting back into running from what happened at regional last season (suffered a concussion). Today was all for the team.”
Boys
Amherst senior Josh Hill repeated as conference champion (16:45.5) to help the Comets take third (79) and Olmsted Falls senior Joe Backus was second (17:18.1).
Hill has had a rocky season, missing the first two meets of the year with patellar tendinitis on his left leg, suffered a concussion at the Midwest Meet of Champions after colliding with another runner and this past week got poison ivy on the back of his leg.
“I took four days off after my concussion and then gradually worked my way up where I was,” Hill said. “This week has been one of the toughest weeks of the season and my legs are a little tired, but I used this as a workout to see where I’m at in the season. All the injuries I’ve had is a big setback.”
But this is his final hurrah and hopes to finish strong.
“I want to make the season the best I can,” Hill said. “It’s my senior year and I’ve faced a lot of adversity, but it’s made me stronger and it made realized how much I love the sport.”
Avon finished as the highest local team taking second (75) behind Lakewood (74).
The Eagles were led by Jett Wieber placing sixth (17:32.4) and Luke Gardner taking eighth (17:46.2).
“I enjoyed the course, good performance from our team,” Gardner said. “We want to make it as far as possible. I want to catch up to the guys that beat me today for sure and go in to districts and regionals with a positive attitude.”
“This week has been one of the toughest weeks of the season and my legs are a little tired, but I used this as a workout to see where I’m at in the season. All the injuries I’ve had is a big setback.” Amherst’s Josh Hill