Girls track preview: State runner-up Riley Evans has top of the podium on her mind

Cloverleaf junior Riley Evans is the reigning Gazette MVP in girls track. She also was the leading scorer in Medina County soccer this fall and is being courted by colleges in both sports. While her future contains a plethora of possibilities, Evans' short-term goal is to become the first state champion in school history. Evans finished second in the 400-meter dash at the 2022 Division I state meet, matching the best placement by the Colts at the annual event. Jennifer Foster was the runner-up in the pole vault in 2011. Senior Alyssa Stoner also reached the podium for Cloverleaf in the 3,200, joining Evans as the school's first D-I placers in nine years. Brunswick District and Greater Cleveland Conference Meet champion Medina won the state title in the 4x800, finished sixth in the 4x200 and had senior Kayla Joyner place seventh in the shot put. Junior Mia Heine is the Bees' lone returnee from the 3,200 relay, while senior Kayla Perfect and junior Paige Nosse are back from the 800 relay. Junior Lauren Dawson medaled in the 100 hurdles two years ago. Black River Coach: Courtney Dieter (5th season). Last season: 18th at Norwayne Division III District, sixth at Lorain County League Meet. Key letterwinner lost: Riley Kubitz (HM All-Gazette). Athletes to watch: Teddi Vonderau (sr., mid-distance, pole vault), Cassie Stroud (sr., distance), Zoey Bungard (jr., sprints, pole vault), Paige Kaltenbaugh (jr., mid-distance, throws), Olivia Todd (jr., hurdles, sprints), Meagan Cross (jr., throws), Elizabeth Gilmore (so., throws), Joan Lamb (so., hurdles, sprints, jumps), Olivia Szmania (so., distance), Molly Johnson (fr., hurdles), Morgan Kubitz (fr., hurdles, sprints). Noteworthy: The Pirates will be competing in every event with Vonderau, Bungard and Morgan Kubitz adding the pole vault. Kubitz is a starter for the school's volleyball and basketball teams. l Stroud and Vonderau are three-year letterwinners and the only seniors on the 23-girl roster. Brunswick Coach: Matt Sofranko (4th season). Last season: Fifth at Findlay Division I Regional, third at Brunswick District, fourth at Greater Cleveland Conference Meet. Key letterwinners lost: Maddy Wyatt (All-Gazette), Calista Bobula (All-Gazette), Leah Hoover (HM All-Gazette). Athletes to watch: Mackenzie Hershbine (HM All-Gazette, jr., sprints), Olivia Komperda (so., sprints, HM All-Gazette), Lili Kotar (sr., hurdles, pole vault), Teodora Iovi (sr., distance), Bridget Daly (sr., throws), Alaina Goodhart (sr., sprints, jumps), Emma Bradbury (jr., distance), Ciara May (jr., hurdles), Lauren Mullally (jr., sprints), Amber Kemmann (so., distance, relays), Taylor Tully (so., sprints), Marissa Miller (fr., sprints), Zaria Roberts (fr., jumps), Kya Swann (fr., throws). Noteworthy: Kotar is one of four gymnasts in county history to compete at the state team meet four years in a row, scoring a career-high 36.35 in the all-around earlier this month. l Hershbine, Komperda, Iovi and Bradbury were state qualifiers as part of relays. Buckeye Coach: Mike Flerchinger (4th season). Last season: 12th at Brunswick Division I District, seventh at Great Lakes Conference Meet. Key letterwinners lost: None. Athletes to watch: Isyss Ellis (HM All-Gazette, jr., hurdles, sprints, jumps), Sara Rak (sr., sprints, pole vault), Autumn Springston (sr., throws), Audrey Graham (sr., distance), Sandra Dolata (sr., distance), Lindsay Swartz-Fitzgerald (jr., sprints), Alyssa Bengough (so., throws), Sarah Lowe (so., sprints, jumps), Emma Bostic (fr., sprints, jumps), Nico Anzevino (fr., sprints, jumps), Julia King (fr., sprints). Noteworthy: Swartz-Fitzgerald underwent two hip surgeries during the offseason, but has rehabbed relentlessly and will be a fixture on the sprint relays for the third year in a row. l Ellis won the GLC Meet title in the high jump and Rak is the defending pole vault champ. Cloverleaf Coach: Garth Gucker (9th season). Last season: Tied for 24th at Division II state meet, tied for 11th at Findlay Regional, fifth at Brunswick District, Metro Athletic Conference Meet champions. Key letterwinners lost: Ashley Sigmon (All-Gazette), Paige Munchick (HM All-Gazette). Athletes to watch: Riley Evans (Gazette MVP, jr., sprints), Alyssa Stoner (All-Gazette, sr., distance), Julia Armogida (sr., sprints), Emma Malikowski (sr., jumps), Reese Barnett (jr., sprints), Karoline Kreider (jr., throws), Brooke Gucker (jr., distance), Kierston Campbell (so., sprints, jumps), Presly McConnell (so., throws), Emma Hibler (so., mid-distance), Sarah Kelly (so., sprints), Callee Gibson (so., sprints). Noteworthy: The Colts are the two-time defending MAC champions — the only league crowns in school history — with Evans winning two titles apiece in the 100, 200, 400 and 4x200. l Volleyball setter Barnett ranked fifth in the county in aces and was ninth in assists. Highland Coach: Paul Lushes (26th season). Last season: Tied for 17th at Findlay Division I Regional, fourth at Brunswick District, second at Suburban League American Conference Meet. Key letterwinners lost: Maddie Miller (HM All-Gazette), Ellen Fuller (HM All-Gazette). Athletes to watch: Sierra Podolan (All-Gazette, jr., throws), Maya Piechowiak (All-Gazette, jr., sprints, jumps), Sophia Scavuzzo (HM All-Gazette, jr., sprints), Alexis Filote (sr., sprints), Kelsey Sheridan (sr., distance), Natalee Studd (sr., sprints), Maddie Horton (jr., sprints), Jillie Clark (so., hurdles, mid-distance), Wren Marquis (so, sprints), Delaney Miller (so., hurdles, jumps), Jordan Miller (so., throws), Lilly Gozzard (so., hurdles, jumps). Noteworthy: Podolan set the school record of 40 feet, 6 inches in the shot put and was a state qualifier as a sophomore. She won the event at the Findlay Regional and Brunswick District. l Scavuzzo finished first in the 400 at the SL American Conference Meet. Medina Coach: Scott VanFleet (30th season). Last season: Tied for 13th at state Division I meet, second at Findlay Regional, Brunswick District champions, Greater Cleveland Conference champions. Key letterwinners lost: Rachel Smith (All-Gazette), Jenna Razavi (All-Gazette), Hannah Neiger (All-Gazette), Kayla Kutcel (HM All-Gazette). Athletes to watch: Colleen Johnson (All-Gazette, sr., pole vault), Mia Heine (All-Gazette, jr., mid-distance), Lauren Dawson (All-Gazette, jr., hurdles), Kayla Joyner (HM All-Gazette, sr., throws), Kayla Perfect (HM All-Gazette, sr., sprints), Paige Nosse (jr., sprints, HM All-Gazette), Cara Razavi (sr., distance), Macy Maxworthy (sr., jumps), Emily Piehler (jr., sprints), Ruth Schmeller (jr., distance), Kylie Casal (so., sprints), Haley Black (so., distance). Noteworthy: The Bees completed their historic, undefeated regular season by winning the 2022 GCC Meet at Strongsville by a whopping 60 points over runner-up Solon. l Smith (Miami of Ohio), Razavi (Ohio University) and Neiger (Mount Union) are running in college. Wadsworth Coach: John Burton (29th season). Last season: Tied for 23rd at Findlay Division I Regional, seventh at Brunswick District, fourth at Suburban League National Conference Meet. Key letterwinner lost: Celia Lambert (HM All-Gazette). Athletes to watch: Ellie Zuro (sr., sprints, All-Gazette), Addie Beck (HM All-Gazette, sr., pole vault), Kailyn Biecker (HM All-Gazette, jr., distance), Emily Hall (sr., sprints), Evie Silliman (sr., throws), Sydney Smith (sr., throws), Daelyne Lamonica (sr., sprints), Hailey Harris (jr., jumps), Emily Nagel (jr., distance), Ollie Smith (so., mid-distance), Cece Craig (so., sprints), Jacquelyn Manion (so., sprints), Jessica Stoops (fr., sprints). Noteworthy: Zuro qualified for state in the 300 hurdles after reaching the Findlay Regional in the maximum four events. l Biecker, Ollie Smith and Nagel were part of the 4x800 that competed at regionals. Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com. Follow him @BrianDulik on Twitter.