Fallsnewspress.com - Five straight? Woodridge cross country wants it

by Steve Batko

Correspondent

In a perfect world, it would never end.

Jeff Howard's boys and girls cross country teams are rewriting Ohio's record books.

For the fifth consecutive year, Woodridge sent two teams to the state championships while the boys juggernaut continues with an Ohio record fourth straight state championship in Division II

While it's possible that an unprecedented fifth consecutive title could be on the horizon for the division II boys, the promise of the Lady Bulldogs could be just as intense.

As Howard and his athletes embark on another special season in the Aug. 28 opener at the Billy Goat Challenge in McDonald, the locals have some lofty goals.

The boys will be gunning for its seventh straight team state berth, while the girls are looking at six years in a row. The first league meet is set for Sept. 7 in the Portage Trail Conference Super Dual at Woodridge Middle School. Both teams were 7-0 last year and 5-0 in PTC Meets.

"If healthy, the 2010 Bulldog boys could be as good as any team we have had," said Howard, who enters his 13th year as head coach and 17th overall. He is again assisted by coach Susan Morgan.

"We have great experience with the return of six of the seven runners that won the school's state record fourth consecutive championship last year," said Howard.

Boys team loaded again

There's no doubt the Bulldogs boys have the top senior class in Ohio.

Kyle Cochrun finished 12th in the state meet and has shined in track in the 1,600-meter race (seventh).

Vibushan Sivakumaran, who ran 18th in Ohio last year plus was third in the 800 in track, is experienced as they come.

Then there is Jimmy Charles. He placed 29th in states and was fifth in Ohio in the 3,200 in track.

Jacob Onifer will dent the lineup as a senior as he was 56th in the state while Nate Volchko is another senior who will contribute after posting a 4:48 in the spring track campaign in the 1600.

"We have a great senior class," said Howard. "Cochrun, Sivakumaran, Charles, and Onifer should lead as a very strong senior group."

Other seniors are Jacob Pastva, Steve Hall and Tyler McHale. Pastva gained special mention honors in the league.

Junior Drake Sulzer will likely bid for the third or fourth spot after finishing 40th in the state meet.

Two more returnees will be bidding for spots in the lineup -- junior Jared Cottrill and sophomore Matt Wojcik.

Wojcik was the seventh man at the 2009 state championships while Cottrill was the alternate. Throw in newcomers like Volchko and freshmen John Harry and Tim Faiken and the Dawgs are loaded again.

Other key members are juniors Austin Barnhart, Steve Petrak, Nick Weiner, Taylor Rinella, Jared Bailey, Jimmy McCann and Brandon Montecalvo. Sophomores Steven Frederick and Pat Dickinson are two others to watch.

"Sulzer was a star in middle school and continues to develop," said the coach of his team's depth. "The boys will have almost 40 young men on the roster."

Girls team looking to reach new heights

The Lady Bulldogs placed 10th in Ohio and will surely move up this year after going third in regionals and second at districts.

Four runners return from that state squad -- seniors Maria Moore, Miranda Stockton, and Alyssa Whiddon along with junior Angelina Moore.

This could be one of Howard's strongest senior classes for the girls as Morgan Willis may be the best newcomer in the area.

Willis is a star track performer who was fourth in Ohio and is only the second Woodridge runner ever to break the 5-minute mark in the 1,600-meter race.

"I think the addition of Morgan Willis to the squad should give the Dawgs one of the best 1-2 punches in Ohio with Maria," said Howard.

Moore was 11th in Ohio in 2009 and will be one of the state's premiere runners.

Stockton was the fifth girl on last year's state unit while Whiddon was sixth and Angelina Moore was seventh.

More strength comes from returning seniors Emelie Moeller and Katie Allaman. Other seniors are Miranda Ayers and Sarah Bouplon.

Another bright newcomer is freshman Madison Spreitzer, who ran fourth overall in the PTC Middle School Championships. Classmates Allyson Dryer and Katrina Folk also will help.

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