Shelby XC teams aiming for podium
Daily Globe Sports Editor
Getting to state as a team is old hat for the Shelby boys cross country program.
For the Lady Whippets it’s only the second time to have happened in program history.
Going into Saturday’s Division II State meet at Fortress Obetz, both teams have a similar goal — reach the podium (top eight).
The SHS boys have qualified as a team four of the last five years with a best of third in 2018. The only year in their latest run the red and gray did not advance as a team was 2019 and that was when standout Caleb Brown went on to win the race.
Shelby’s 2021 girls have matched the 2009 squad as a state qualifier, but coach Steve Clark says there’s work to be done with this group.
Since a regional run in 2020, getting to state was a priority, stressed Clark.
“It’s been the goal since regional of last year. We’ve been planning to go back to regional and take the next step. We’ve done it! Now the expectation is go big or go home. We’re hoping to land in the middle of the top eight and get on that podium,” said Clark.
Likewise, getting to state was on the radar for the boys too, noted coach Chris Zuercher.
“It was the plan, but it wasn’t easy,” said Zuercher.
After packing the regular season resume with a number of first place finishes, capped by the fifth consecutive conference title, the Whippets finished second at the district and were denied a fifth straight championship.
SHS was faced with some adversity in the regional meet to which Zuercher said “we had some rough situations.
“The great thing is the guys pulled through and if it wasn’t as good a team as it is, we would not have made state.”
Huck Finnegan, who has swapped the role as lead runner for Shelby with Mason Hendrickson, had a brutal final 1,000 meters, noted his coach.
“For Huck to have happen to him and get through, I didn’t know if he was going to finish. He gutted himself out. To be honest, he’s the reason we made it. If he doesn’t finish, we’re at home this week,” said Zuercher.
Going into Saturday, Clark said the girls are focused on equaling the 2009 team which placed seventh and had an average time of
it to 20:40 as a team.
“These girls would love to match that. That would put us in the talk, the conversation, for being one of the cross country teams for Shelby.
“We look at the names. We look at the Molly Reams, Megan Boggs, Chloe Lattimers, Erica Bettacs, Rachel Dannemillers, Grace Gossers and Haley Lykins. That’s who we’re chasing. We’re saying let’s get our team average to be their team average. They beat them at district, nearly matched them at regional and state will be the tale of the tape for this group,” said
Clark.
The boys are aiming to finish in the top five.
“Realistically, six teams can go top three, top two. We need to have the perfect day and have a little luck. I feel we’re one of those teams in that consideration. We haven’t put it together the last two weeks. We’re due. The guys are ready and they’re loose.
“There’s no pressure anymore. There’s been some pressure because these guys have really wanted to get to state. They’ve seen the guys in front of them doing it,” said Zuercher.
Junior Kayla Gonzales leads the Shelby girls and is no stranger to the state meet, having qualified as an individual during her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Gonzales is also the school record holder with a time of 18:38 that she set at the district meet two weeks ago.
When asked if there have been any surprises this year for the girls, Clark said “not so much surprises as filling the void when the void needs filled.”
Freshman Emma Montgomery has stepped up for the Whippets and her coach says “her background is swimming and she knows how to race.
She’s raced a few times and is solid.”
As for others, Clark said “Reyna Hoffman has been consistent all year. I can’t say enough good things about Abby Vogt and she’s been running great. Kailyn Schwall, Channon Cundiff and Aleigha Thauvette are all on top of their game.”
Clark then said if there was a surprise, it would be Cundiff.
“Channon has been our surprise. She ran last year as our No. 7 and pulled up to be our No. 4,” said Clark.
Hendrickson and Finnegan are looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish Saturday. Both were at state in 2020 along with Luke Dininger and Marshall Moore as the red and gray placed 13th as a team.
“Mason had a rough race last year at state and was in the 18:30s and he’s just on fire this year. Huck had a good race last year. Our top two are looking forward to seeing what they can do,” said Zuercher.
Boosting the Whippets are Tyson Hicks, Moore and Dininger.
“Between Marshall, who had a big race, Tyson, who had a big race two weeks ago, and Dininger have all been solid,” said Zuercher.
Rounding out the lineup for SHS will be Caleb Vogt and Indy Mayer.
The surprise in the group, according to the coach, has been Hicks. He had been out of cross country a couple seasons and returned for his senior year.
“Tyson’s a guy I didn’t have penciled where he is. He’s exceeded all expectations and raced so strong for us. He’s a big part of why we are the team we are,” lauded Zuercher.
The girls will race at 12 noon and the boys have a 1 p.m. start.
Tickets for the meet are $10 for students and $13 for adults. All tickets must be purchased online at www.ohsaa. org/tickets.