by Steve Batko
Correspondent
For the fifth consecutive year, Woodridge sent two teams to the Division II state cross country championships. The boys squad was seeking an unprecedented fourth straight state championship.
The Bulldogs were set to compete in the Division II state championships Nov. 7 at Scioto Downs in Columbus. Results from states weren't available as of press time.
Bulldogs coach Jeff Howard felt his boys squad was up to the challenge -- and the season long pressure coming into the meet. Crowds of over 10,000 people were expected.
"Large crowds will make the state championships another pit of pressure that our Dawgs will rise through again," said Howard, prior to the states.
Woodridge joined Sandusky Perkins (1987-89) as the only Division II boys schools to win three straight cross country championships last season
The Bulldog boys fought through the mud and blustery weather conditions to nail its fifth straight regional championship Oct. 31 in the Youngstown Boardman division II Region 5 regional meet.
Howard's girls' unit finished third in a loaded Boardman regional and were expected to finish strong at states as well.
As 193 schools competed at the division II level again this fall, Woodridge again was the top-ranked boys team in Ohio.
"Our Bulldogs continue to perform under tremendous pressure in large venues this season, and regionals was no different," said Howard. "Congratulations to our boys and girls that advanced to the state championships."
This is the sixth state berth in a row for the boys and fifth consecutive trip for the Lady Bulldogs.
"It was great that the boys were led by (junior) Jimmy Charles for the first time this fall, and he finished third in the regional," Howard said.
Charles was quickly followed by junior standouts Vibushan Sivakumaran and Kyle Cochrun. Drake Sulzer, Jacob Onifer, Matt Wojcik, and senior Nathan Mercer rounded out the varsity team for the 3-time state champions.
Junior Maria Moore paced the girls to a third place.
Moore teamed with senior Becca Howdyshell, junior Miranda Stockton, junior Alyssa Whiddon, senior Sarah Dickinson, sophomore Angelina Moore, and senior Tiffany Onifer to punch their ticket back to Scioto Downs.
"I thought the girls did a great job against state favorites St Vincent-St Mary and CVCA," said Howard.
The boys won the regional crown with 50 points, easily outdistancing St. Vincent-St. Mary (103), CVCA (118) and Archbishop Hoban (131).
Charles, who has recovered from a stress fracture, ran a strong third place with a clocking of 17:55.31. The only runners to beat Charles were two-time district champion Greg Jantzen (17:31.96) of University School and Crestwood's Brandan McGee (17:41.51).
Running fifth was Sivakumaran, who was timed at 18:02.52 as he nipped Cochrun (sixth), who had a time of 18:02.64.
Sophomore Drake Sulzer ran well as he was 22nd overall with a clocking of 18:39.50 while junior Jacob Onifer ran 25th (18:46.39). Onifer was 57th last year.
Wojcik, just a freshman, excelled at Boardman as he was 33rd (18:59.77) while Mercer was 66th with a clocking of 19:41.29.
The Lady Bulldogs (109) were ousted by state powers St. V (57) and CVCA (73) in a strong regional that also included Perry, Notre Dame Cathedral Latin and Chagrin Falls.
Moore placed 11th overall with a clocking of 20:51.94 while Howdyshell was 21st with a time of 21:39.50.
Last fall, Stockton was 69th at regionals and this year she was 29th with a time of 22:05.05, edging Whiddon (30th), who had a clocking of 22:05.96.
Dickinson ran 36th (22:16.75), Angelina Moore was 68th (23:04.47), and Tiffany Onifer was 71st (23:13.17).
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