Bulldogs boys sweeps foes, prepare for PTC meet

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by Steve Batko

Correspondent

Half of the deal is done for the Woodridge High boys track squad.

On May 6, the Bulldogs finished the Portage Trail Conference schedule in perfect fashion as they knocked off previously undefeated James A. Garfield 71-57 and host East Canton 103-33.

This completes half of the PTC County Division title race as the other 50-percent will come from the PTC Championships, set for May 15 and May 17.

Semifinal action is set for May 15 at 4 p.m. at East Canton while the finals are set for Ravenna Stadium at 10 a.m. on May 17.

Woodridge will be looking to avenge last year's 3.5-point loss to Streetsboro. The G-Men and Streetsboro will be the top challengers. The boys have won the league championship only once in school history.

"The kids are pretty excited for the league championships and our health is pretty good," said boys co-coach Jim Swetter. "There are some tough teams, but we just need to finish (for the title)."

Paced by its nationally-ranked cross country team members, the Bulldogs' distance crew will score points in bunches.

Leaders include seniors Brian Himelright, Tony Marette, and Matt Weiss; plus juniors Joe White and Mike Rhodes. Senior Jack Monegan could also help the distance teams.

"Our distance corps has been running very well and we're pushing for the league title, that's our perspective," said Swetter. "We also have some exciting young athletes, but our sprint team should also score."

According to Swetter, the sprints are headed by seniors Keenan Mussey and Dan Conner.

Final results of the May 9 Jackson Twilight Invitational were not available as of press time.

The Bulldogs distance team swept every race at East Canton and led the way to victory. Woodridge also captured the team crown in the May 3 Cortland Lakeview Invitational that included 14 teams. It was the 12th annual meet as the Bulldogs won easily 103.66-75 over Pymatuning Valley and McDonald (72).

Crowns were nailed down by the 3,200-meter relay (8:26.43) and the 800-meter relay (1:34).

Comprising the 3,200 relay was Conner, Weiss, freshman Jacob Onifer, and Marette. Conner also led off the 800 cast that had sophomore Brandyn Peters, sophomore Adam Wagner and Mussey.

A strong runner up finish was turned in by the 400 relay (45.48) of freshman Sebastian Dodds, Kelly, Mussey, and Wagner.

Swetter's hurdles team also fared well. Placing second and third in the 300 hurdles was Conner (43.47) and sophomore Justin Fawley (43.50). Fawley was third in the 110 high hurdles with a clocking of 16.82 seconds. Fawley and sophomore Nick Barracato ran 2-3 in the high jump as they cleared 5-feet-6.

Peters ran third in the 400 (54.08) as did Himelright in the 800 (2:02.56) and White, in the 3200 (9:48.46).

Running fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 200-meter dash was Mussey (24.58) and Kelly (24.84). Rhodes had a strong fourth in the 1600 (4:38.80).

E-mail: stowsports@recordpub.com

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