Minerva girls fourth at state cross country meet, boys finish sixth

Success fosters high expectations, and nowhere is that more evident than at Minerva, home of the two-time defending Div. II state champion in girls cross country.

Moving to Div. III due to OHSAA realignment of some sports, the Lions hoped to contend for another title, and not the girls’ squad. The boys’ team had a blend of senior experience and youthful talent that enabled the Lions to capture their first regional championship.

When the dust settled at Fortress Obetz near Columbus Nov. 1, neither team possessed a title. Still, both teams poured every ounce of grit and determination into their performances as the Lady Lions missed out on the podium by a handful of points, and the boys’ team notched its best finish in 21 years.

Minerva head coach Olivia Scott was understandably proud of her teams’ achievements

“Finishing the day with a fourth-place finish and a sixth-place finish is an awesome accomplishment,” said Scott. “Two top-10 finishes make for a very exciting day — especially since we went in ranked right around those spots in the coaches’ poll.”

On the girls’ side, Minerva placed fourth with 192 points, just four behind Tusky Valley, the team that edged the Lions at the regional meet the week before. Oakwood, which placed all five of its scoring runners in the top 25 was crowned champion with 71 points, while Huron claimed second place with 110. For the boys, the Lions missed out on a fifth by five points, settling for sixth with 223 points. Peninsula Woodridge won the title with 65 points, well ahead of West Liberty Salem (162).

Tateum Richard led the charge for the Lady Lions, placing 13th in a time of 18:45.62.

“Tateum ran an excellent race, moving up each mile and closing with an incredible kick to pass several runners at the finish,” said Scott. “She’s only a sophomore and so talented. She’s going to keep impressing us in the seasons to come.”

Makenzie Beavers was next up, clocking in at 19:03.94, good for 31st place, followed by the pack of freshman Charlie Galley (19:52.34) in 60th and Addison Keyser (19:54.10) in 62nd. Freshman Chloe Carson capped the scoring for the Lions with her 141st place finish in 21:10.16.

“Makenzie ran a solid race and finishes the season as second team All-Ohio,” said Scott. “She’s had an amazing junior season, and we can’t wait for one more year with her. Addison and Charlie ran most of the race together and did an excellent job for their first showing at Obetz. And Chloe capped off her day with a personal record – big things are definitely ahead for her.”

Expect this young group of runners to work its way back onto the podium next year.

For the boys, Rowen Hoffee (16:14.58) spearheaded a pack that included Owen Yoder (16:18.95) and sophomore Tyson Fetty (16:19.22) as Minerva took the 31st, 33rd, and 34th spots.

“Our boys’ team was led by seniors Rowen and Owen, who have given so much to this program through their leadership and example,” said Scott. “While we hoped to land on the podium, we came up just short, still making second team All-Ohio. Joining them was sophomore Tyson Fetty, who also made second team All-Ohio after an amazing season.”

Coming in 61st place was freshman Anderson Scott (16:37.56), while Fox Johnson rounded out the scoring in 17:29.27, good for 146th place. Right on his tail was fellow junior Brady First in 148th.

“Anderson battled through illness during the postseason but still helped his team capture a regional championship and a state qualification,” said Scott. “Fox and Brady both had outstanding seasons and have shown tremendous growth as runners. We’re excited to have one more year with those guys.”

Volleyball

The Stark County Volleyball Awards were presented recently, and Minerva, which came on strong as the season progressed, was well-represented in Division IV. The Lions rode an impressive winning streak into the postseason as they rang up seven consecutive wins before falling in the Div. IV East 2 district semifinals.

Leading the list of honorees for Minerva is Defensive Player of the Year Becca Jackson. The senior defensive specialist/outside hitter led the Lions in digs with 367 and was second in kills (289), receptions (305), serving aces (48), and hitting percentage (0/213).

Ayla Shellenbarger was the lone representative on the first team, as the setter/outside hitter led Minerva in kills with 345, as well as hitting percentage (0.258) and serving aces (66). The junior was also second in digs with 319.

Junior Jenna Dowell (DS) and sophomore Addy Kocher (S) were named to the Second Team; Dowell led the Lions in receptions with 405, while Kocher distributed 591 assists. Junior middle hitter Adrianna Kashdan, who paced Minerva with 34 blocks, also received Honorable Mention recognition.