Triway’s boys cross country team is trying to merely not get
lost in the shuffle this year. Truth be told, though, it’s a pretty easy
shuffle to get lost in.
Competing in Wayne County, the Titans could be all sorts of
good this year and be just another team. Rittman and Dalton are especially
strong.
“I’ve been around Wayne County track and cross country for
44 years, and this coming season will be incredibly high-quality and will set a
new standard for the county,” Titans coach Matt Wood said. “Virtually every
school has good athletes, and some of the best in the state reside here on both
the boys and girls sides.”
In the Principals Athletic Conference, it starts with
Fairless, which last year finished ninth in the state in Division II. Canton
South’s lone state qualifier was a freshman and should be heard from. The rest
of the league’s teams are sprinkled with talent.
“The
PAC-7 Conference will be at an
all-time high for quality and depth,” Woods said. “We have multiple all-state
performers from various teams. Our
conference will be on par with the regional meet up front.”
The Titans finished seventh in the seven-team PAC last year but
were significantly hampered when their Nos. 2 and 3 runners were sidelined for
disciplinary reasons.
Gone from the 2024 squad is Josiah Styer, the team’s lone
senior a year ago. That means plenty of experience returns. Juniors Zade
Fletcher, Kaden Hilty and Brady Speicher are returning letter-winners. Their
classmates Talos Hasskew and Gabe Shilling give them some more experienced
depth.
Seniors Seth McTheny and Anthony Sidle will provide
leadership. Sophomore Parker Daughter returns with experience while Liam
Brink, Lincoln Raber and Braxton White will look to make their marks as
freshmen.
“I expect
our No. 1 to be Kaden Hilty, who was a regional qualifier in the 800
during track, but he will have close company from Brady Speicher and good
support from Zade Fletcher,” Woods said. “Braxton White and Liam Brink should
round out our top five. Six, seven and beyond is wide-open.”
Triway girls cross country
When Triway cross country coach Matt Woods sizes up his
girls team, he sees one thing sorely lacking: size.
Not among individuals but in the number of them. Last year,
when at full strength, the Titans were among the best teams in an area loaded
with good ones. The “when,” though, was the struggle.
“Last year it took the entire season to get everyone healthy
enough to have a scoring team, but we hope that will not be the case this
year,” Woods said.
The Titans’ top runner Ella Wigal, who finished eighth in
the PAC meet and 17th in the Lorain District, has graduated along
with Reese Crilow, Triway’s No. 3 in the conference race.
Lucy Acker was the Titans’ No. 2 down the stretch as a
sophomore. Current senior Loretta Johnson was just behind her.
That was it, unfortunately, just four runners in a
five-person sport. With a good fifth runner, it’s possible the Titans could
have finished in the top three in the conference; with a great fifth runner,
maybe Triway could have won.
To wit, at the Lorain District meet, then-sophomore Martha
Johnson returned to finish as Triway’s No. 2, and the Titans finished fifth in
the 14-team field to secure a trip to the Boardman Regional. Johnson finished
31st overall in the district race to steer Triway to Youngstown for
one more week of competition.
With a solid showing at Boardman, the Titans finished 11th
among 15 teams, falling short of a trip to the state meet but showing that with
a full deck they can play with anyone.
“Depth
and numbers will be an issue,” Woods said of his 2025 squad. “We’ve had some girls who have had lingering
injuries and been unable to train adequately; therefore, the early performances
will reflect that.”
The tough part for an injury-riddled bunch like the Titans
is the cross country season is relatively short. The first meets are barely two
months from the state final. Athletes not healthy on opening day have little
time to get there afterward.
If healthy, Woods likes his team’s chances.
“We have a good mix of experience and maturity, which, if we
can keep people healthy and get them fit, should serve us well,” he said.
Others the Titans hope to count on this year include junior
Hanna Lamp and sophomore Elena Plesinger. All told, that gives Triway just five
runners, so their bodies all need to be able.
“We have the potential to finish in the top half of the
conference,” Woods said. “A lot will depend on keeping people healthy, which is
much easier said than done.”
