Claymont junior earns third in Division III cross country; Indian Valley, Claymont and Newcomerstown volleyball squads notch key IVC results in a busy week of league play
This past weekend at the Boardman Spartan Invitational, one of the biggest midseason events in this part of Ohio each year several area schools were represented. The locals’ day was highlighted by Claymont junior Kali Wallace, who turned in a third-place performance in the Division III girls race.
Claymont’s boys squad finished 19th in a 31-team field in the Division II race, won by powerhouse Woodridge. The team was paced by Braxton Myers’ 56th-place finish. Next was sophomore Tucker Armstrong, who came in 97th. He was followed by sophomore Hunter Messer (106th), and juniors Waylen Peterson (124th) and Rocco Scalambrino (131st). A total of 214 runners competed in that race.
Wallace had a stellar day as Claymont’s girls placed 11th among 25 teams in Division III, a race won by defending state champ Minerva. Wallace placed third overall as the Mustangs had a good day as a group. Wallace was about 44 seconds off the pace of race winner Alanna Williams of Martins Ferry, but well ahead of the fourth-place finisher. Also checking in for Claymont were senior Grace McPherson (29th), freshman Emma McPherson (54th), and juniors Heidi Johnson (92nd) and Melody Parrish (155th). There were 170 finishers in the race.
Indian Valley’s girls turned in a ninth-place team finish in Division III. The Braves were led by freshman Rowan Harshey’s 12th-place finish. Sophomore Blaire Harshey finished 44th. Others scoring for the Braves were freshmen Bailey Herbert (67th) and Sam Wales (80th) and junior Sadie Holbrook (89th).
For Indian Valley’s boys, junior Nolan Patacca placed 27th in Division III and sophomore Ayden Colaner checked in 165th. They were the Braves’ only runners.
Volleyball
Claymont split a pair of matches in Inter-Valley Conference South competition, beating Tusky Valley 3-1 on the road on Sept. 9 before falling in five sets to Tucky Valley at home two days later. Against Tusky Valley the Mustangs won 25-17, 19-25, 25-14, 26-14 behind 12 kills from senior Lily Riker and 10 from senior Kenahdee Searcy. Riker also had six aces. Senior Ava Edwards paced Claymont with 21 digs and sophomore Elah Davis had 18 assists. The loss to Sandy Valley was hear-breaking, as four of five sets went beyond the target score, including the last one, won 17-15 by Sandy Valley. Two sets finished with 28-26 counts, another at 26-24. Davis led the Mustangs with 13 kills. Riker had seven aces. Edwards had 35 digs in a balanced defensive effort that saw McMorrow add 21 digs, Davis 19, senior Jill Poletti 17 and senior Kendyl Wallace 15. The Mustangs entered the week 8-6 overall, 3-3 in the South, which left them in fourth place.
A pair of wins moved Indian Valley to 8-4 overall, 4-1 in the IVC South, keeping pace with Hiland atop the standings. The teams will play for the second time Sept. 30 at Hiland, which beat the Braves earlier this season. Indian Valley’s first win this week was a four-setter at Ridgewood, the Braves prevailing 20-25, 25-15, 25-20, 28-26. Junior Lily Lewis led a balanced attack with 14 kills. Junior Reese Polen added 12 and freshman Rylee Brown had 11. Junior Gionna Miles led with four aces and 30 digs. Polen added 24 digs. Junior Brooklyn Abbuhl led with 37 assists. Indian Valley’s other win this week was a 25-25, 25-17, 25-20 win over Garaway.
Newcomerstown split matches with Malvern and Strasburg-Franklin, both on the road and both in conference play. In a 25-16, 25-14, 19-25, 28-26 win over Malvern, the Trojans were led by junior Briley Little’s 16 kills and three blocks. Five Trojans hit double digits in digs, led by sophomore Diane Raber’s 18. Seniors Kenley Hayes and Makayla McConnell added 15 and 14, respectively. Senior Maggie Collins had 35 assists. Against Strasburg the Trojans fell 25-7, 25-18, 25-15. Senior Maddie Kellish led Newcomerstown with seven kills and 12 digs. Raber also had a dozen digs.
