By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

High school boys cross country preview capsules for the 2022 season.

Editor’s Note: Missing schools have not submitted their information to Portage Sports at this time.

CRESTWOOD RED DEVILS

Head Coach: Jim Schweickert, 12th year.

2021 Recap: 4th place Chagrin Valley Conference.

Returning Lettermen (6): Augie Schweickert, soph.; Josh Delaney, jr.; Kevin Vechery, soph.; Michael Fergus, jr.; Cadyn Wurm, soph.

Lettermen Lost (2): Robert Greenwood, Drake Renneker.

General Outlook: “We are still a young team, but with more depth,” Crestwood head coach Jim Schweickert said. “Numbers are up a little over last year, and we have added a couple of guys who will contribute to the strength of the team. We hope we can move up in the standings this year.”

Reason to be Optimistic: “The core of our team is back and will be for another year as well. They are a tight-knit group, who did the work in the summer and have team goals in mind.”

Something Interesting: Henry Hoover, who has transferred to Crestwood, was at National Guard training all summer.
Notable Runners: Crestwood’s top-three returning runners were all Second Team All-Chagrin  Valley Conference last year.

“This creates a good core for the team. Our one transfer outran all of them last year at the league meet, so he should fit in very well with the group.”

KENT ROOSEVELT ROUGH RIDERS

Head Coach: Matt Pazderak, 1st year.

Coaching Staff: Kaylie Weigel, Ken Claypoole.

2021 Recap: 7th in Suburban League American Division.

Returning Lettermen (4): Gideon Kaine, sr.; Duncan Bryk, sr.; Diego Coutino Granados, soph.; Alex Simms, soph.

Lettermen Lost (3): Luke Jenkins, Jacob Soyars, Luke Schmidt.

General Outlook: “We have had a core group from our team training consistently through June and July, building fitness and camaraderie.”

Head coach Pazderak expects Kaine, Starzyk, Granados, Simms and Carter Slack to all provide solid seasons for the Rough Riders.

MOGADORE WILDCATS

Head Coach: Diana Morris, 2nd year.

Coaching Staff: Job Christiansen.

Returning Lettermen (6) — Alejandro Navarrete, sr.; Daniel Carter, sr.; Aidan Roman, sr.; Nate Archibald, sr.; Jon Cumberledge, sr.; Jude Leeser, soph.

General Outlook: “We are incredibly excited about the season,” Mogadore coach Diana Morris said. “We have been building up over the last several years and they are coming in stronger than ever. Both our girls and boys teams have worked incredibly hard through summer conditioning and practices.”

Something Interesting: The Mogadore roster features two sets of twins and four more sets of siblings.

RAVENNA RAVENS

Head Coach: Ashley Williams, 5th year.

Coaching Staff: Tori Obenrader, Emma Lunardi.

2021 Recap: Did not have enough for team scores.

Returning Lettermen (3): Ben Rainone, sr.; Cory Cole, sr.; Tyler McCullough, sr.

Lettermen Lost (1): Zack Myers.

General Outlook: “We should have enough runners to have a team score, which will be exciting for the guys.”

Ben Rainone, who also plays soccer, has “grown as a runner and looks to be a top runner for us,” according to Williams.

“Seniors Cory Cole and Tyler McCullogh will be running for their second year and have already shown great improvements.”

Ravenna welcomes newcomers Dakota Bishop and Ruben Simmons.

Reason to be Optimistic: “We have a great group of leaders on our team. Several of our runners have been running together since middle school and have shown continual improvement. They work hard at practice every day and are great role models for the younger runners.”

ROOTSTOWN ROVERS

Head Coach: Larry Bailey, 40th year; 293-150 career record.

Coaching Staff: Kyle Rodstrom.

2021 Recap: 2-3 overall record, 2-1 Portage Trail Conference; 15th at Division II district.

Returning Lettermen (7): Caleb Cutright, sr.; Aiden Rodstrom, jr.; Derek Schindler, jr.; Luke Flowers, soph.; Dylan Wilfong, soph.; Jack Mitchell, soph.; Nathan Lee, soph.

Lettermen Lost (1): Ethan Sisley.

General Outlook: “Both our boys and girls should be contenders for the PTC title,” Rootstown head coach Larry Bailey said. “The Mogadore boys are strong. We may not be able to beat them, but we will push them.”

Reason to be Optimistic: “Even though we were young last year, we were competitive.”

The Rovers return All-Portage Trail Conference runner Caleb Cutright, who won the 1,600 and 3,200 meters last year in track.

Aiden Rodstrom is a proven runner, who runs his “best races in the big meets,” according to Bailey.

Dylan Wilfong is greatly improved and Bailey said he thinks he may surprise people this season.

Luke Flowers, Jack Mitchell and Nathan Lee finished 2021 on an upswing.

Meanwhile, newcomer Eric Baughman could be a top-five runner for the Rovers.

Incoming freshmen Jacob Sturm (two-time 1,600-meter middle school champion), along with Wyatt Sheila and Brady Brown all could find time in the varsity’s top seven.

Something Interesting: Assistant coach Kyle Rodstrom’s wife, Kim (Terrell), was a two-time MVP for Rootstown in the mid-1990’s.

SOUTHEAST PIRATES

Head Coach: Monica Kiskadden, 2nd year.

Coaching Staff: Julia Dillon, Kelli Simmons.

Lettermen Lost (3): Logan Mackey, Chase Osborne, Owen Martin.

General Outlook: Mackey was the PTC’s Runner of the Year last season, but Kiskadden is optimistic that the team will rebound with leader Carter Evans, who was First Team All-PTC last year.

Joining Evans as important returners are medal winners Deian Longgood and Brice Schoenbaechler.

Southeast also welcomes in a big freshman class, including Dylan Evans, Logan Bruderly, Pryce Sampson and Braydon Rader.

Reason to be Optimistic: “What I love about this team is their camaraderie and work ethic,” Kiskadden said. “This was the best summer workout attendance we have seen. Cross country is not always an easy sport to sell, but with kids who run, parents who run and coaches who have been cross country runners and still run, shows the beauty of a sport where team support can get each runner across the finish line.”

Something Interesting: Newcomer Christian Schoblocher is a Young Marine, who “has the discipline and determination” to run with Evans, according to Kiskadden.

Also, coach Kiskadden had spinal surgery five years ago.

“I thought I would never get the chance to enjoy running again, but coaching cross country has slowly brought me back. I owe so much to these amazing kids.”

STREETSBORO ROCKETS

Head Coach: Jon Hannan, 4th year at high school; 9th overall, including middle school; 222-201 career record.

Coaching Staff: Angela Novotny.

2021 Recap: 6th in Metro Athletic Conference; 12th at Division II District.

Returning Lettermen (5): Zach Vales, sr.; Erik Wood, sr.; Mike Rogowski, sr.; Kevin Murphey, sr.; Charles Ivory, soph.

Lettermen Lost (4): Ray Sims, Elijah Landres, Steve Michniak, Alex Basinger.

General Outlook: “I believe the boys and girls teams have a lot to look forward to this year,” Streetsboro head coach Jon Hannan said. “We have put in a lot of miles this summer and have a loaded meet schedule that should show what our team can do against good competition.”

The team returns Zach Vales, who qualified for the regional tournament for the third consecutive year after placing 21st at district.

Vales earned Second Team All-MAC and qualified for the state championship in 2020.

Reason to be Optimistic: “We are led by a strong senior class.”

The Rockets also feature a lot of new faces in junior Mario Puleo, junior Eric Tiller, sophomore Tim Harkleroad and sophomore Hayden Brown.

The group joins top-four returners of Vales, Erik Wood, Kevin Murphey and Charles Ivory.

“The boys, although heavy at the senior level, have a lot of youth that will get valuable time this year. This is also the biggest boys team in recent history with 18.”

Something Interesting: The Rockets will include plenty of familiar faces this year.

Coach Hannan is a twin and his brother Pete is an assistant coach at Walsh Jesuit.

Freshmen Madi and Claire Campbell are twins, while freshman Bri Hushion has a twin brother that plays football. Juniors Cara, Eric and Garrett Tiller are triplets and all three run cross country for Streetsboro.

Something else interesting is that Vales became the first boys cross country runner in school history to qualify for the regional tournament three times.

WATERLOO VIKINGS

Head Coach: Steve McDaniel, 35th year.

General Outlook: First-year runner Jeremiah Willis, a sophomore is the only high school boys cross country runner for Waterloo.

“He has shown a lot of promise early on. We look forward to seeing how he matures as a runner,” Waterloo head coach Steve McDaniel said.