Boys cross country preview: State talent abounds at area schools

Medina County boys cross country teams are looking to build off another strong season in 2023. Medina and Black River are looking to repeat as Greater Cleveland Conference and Lorain County League champions and return to the state meet. The Bees and Pirates were joined at state by Brunswick's Santino Diligente and Cloverleaf's Caleb Neville, who will be looking to lead the Blue Devils and Colts to Fortress Obetz. Black River and Wadsworth will be coached by Steve Rhein and Nathan Colwell, who were assistants last season. The Grizzlies, Buckeye, Highland and Medina Christian Academy have all worked to take things to the next level. Here's a closer look at the county's eight teams: Black River Coach: Steve Rhein (1st season) Last season: 1st Lorain County League, 1st Lorain County Community College Division III District, 4th Boardman Regional, 13th state meet. Key letterwinner lost: Dillon Royster (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Nicholas Obarski (sr.), Lucas Olive (jr.), Noah Orgel (jr.), Kyle Vonderau (jr.), Colby Manges (jr.), Connor Rhein (so.), Logan Rhein (so.), Lincoln Combs (so.), Brock Martin (so.). Newcomers: Grazio Mitchell (so.). Noteworthy: The Pirates are looking to win the LCL for a third consecutive year and reach the Division III state tournament for a fourth year in a row. Three of last year's top seven runners back. l Rhein was the varsity assistant and middle school head coach last season under Patrick Brean, who is now coaching middle school at Ashland. Brunswick Coach: Kerry Hunter (38th season) Last season: 3rd Greater Cleveland Conference, 4th Loran County Community College D-I District, 18th Boardman Regional, Santino Diligente 96th individually at state meet. Key letterwinner lost: Max Makara (All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Santino Diligente (All-Gazette, sr.), Luca Brusco (sr.), Anthony Petitto (sr.), Ryan Hershbine (jr.), Corbin Klein (jr.), Tommy Strippy (jr.). Newcomers: Brady Joyce (sr.), Lleyton Klein (fr.). Noteworthy: The Blue Devils graduated three of last year's seven runners who competed at regionals. l Diligente qualified for the state meet for the first time last season. Buckeye Coach: Renee Harden (9th season) Last season: 6th Great Lakes Conference, 15th Lorain County Community College Division I District. Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Nate Rieth (sr.), Luke Abbott (sr.), Owen Szucs (sr.), Brady Salazar (jr.), Nolan Rieth (so.), Ben Naso (so.), Paul Abbott (so.). Newcomers: Dmitry Pshonyak (so.), Gavin Waibel (so.), Cooper Kay (fr.). Noteworthy: The Bucks have 15 runners, including seven returning letterwinners, and Harden expects them to be much improved this season as long as Buckeye stays healthy. l Rieth (17:12.81) was ninth and Salazar (17:19.63) 11th at the Keystone Icebreaker on Monday. Cloverleaf Coach: Garth Gucker (14th season) Last season: 4th Metro Athletic Conference, 8th Lorain County Community College D-II District, Caleb Neville 20th and Gavin Forbes 83rd individually at Boardman Regional, Neville 27th at state meet. Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Caleb Neville (HM All-Gazette, jr.), Gavin Forbes (HM All-Gazette, jr.), Josh Bowman (sr.), Landon Southam (sr.), Reed Kilgore (so.), Matthew Jenkins (so.), Noah Mion (so.). Newcomers: Austin McNeal (jr.), Mason Clapp (so.), Antonio Ortega (so.), Clay Gucker (fr.). Noteworthy: Neville (16:28.75) placed second and Forbes (16:50.49) was fifth to lead the Colts to finish second at the Keystone Icebreaker on Monday. l Neville is the top returning state meet finisher after taking 27th in D-II in 16:19.5. Highland Coach: Andrew Lynden (9th season) Last season: 4th Suburban League American Conference, 10th Lorain County Community College Division I District, Ty Sgambati 57th and Owen Scranton 103rd individually at Boardman Regional. Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Ty Sgambati (All-Gazette, sr.), Oren Scranton (HM All-Gazette, sr.), Ryder Donaldson (sr.), Matt Rini (sr.), Nate Boyce (so.), Chase Oberhaus (so.), Colton Klein (so.) Newcomers: Ben Boggs (jr.), Daniel Seeley (so.), John Hildenbrand (fr.), Andrew Welch (fr.), Noteworthy: Sgambati, who placed ninth at the OHSAA Preseason Invitational at Fortress Obetz, has the top returning time from last season at 15:58.5. l Hildenbrand (17:47.19) scored for the Hornets at the preseason invitational. Medina Coach: Brian Dudek (4th season) Last season: 1st Greater Cleveland Conference, 3rd Lorain County Community College D-I District, 7th Boardman Regional, 6th state meet. Key letterwinners lost: Jake Sebaugh (Gazette MVP), Andrew Bugner (All-Gazette), Emerson Lindsley (HM All-Gazette), Nick Colosimo (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Braighden Sullivan (All-Gazette, sr.), Andrew Mosack (HM All-Gazette, sr.), Varun Rodrigues (sr.), Noah Smith (sr.), Brooks Robison (sr.), Carson Meagher (sr.), Josiah Gehman (sr.), Max Dudley (sr.), Joey D'Aurelio (jr.), Nate Fischer (jr.), Liam Meade (jr.), Logan Jones (jr.). Newcomers: Ashton Scheetz (so.), Trent Schirmer (so.). Noteworthy: Led by MVP Sebaugh, the Bees need to replace two All-Gazette and two honorable mention selections from last year's team that finished sixth at the D-I state meet. l Sullivan took 77th at state last season and is Medina's top returner from that race. Medina Christian Academy Coach: Kelly Zelenka (3rd season) Last season: 3rd Lake Effect Conference, Austin Hedges 77th, Logan Theis 90th, Simeon Cambouris 92nd and Rohan Dhruv 96th at Lorain County Community College Division III District. Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Simeon Cambouris (sr.), Austin Hedges (sr.), Rohan Dhruv (sr.), Logan Theis (jr.). Newcomers: Nick Danczak (so.), Isaac Calvert (fr.), Jacob Moore (fr.), Eli Auld (fr.), Grayson Bolen (fr.), Max Zelenka (fr.). Noteworthy: The Knights will be able to field a team score this season after going from four runners last season to 10 this year. l Danczak competed for Open Door Christian Academy in Elyria last season. Wadsworth Coach: Nathan Colwell (1st season) Last season: 6th Suburban League National Conference, 16th GlenOak D-I District, Ty Racin 126th individually at Boardman Regional. Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Ty Racin (All-Gazette, jr.), Will Kellner (sr.), Trystan Pitts (sr.), Ryan Poling (sr.), Jaden Schmidt (so.). Newcomers: Eli Loveless (jr.), Eddie Gill (jr.), Jimmy O'Connell (so.) , Declan King (fr.), Landon Myers (fr.), Carter Myers (fr.), Cody Severson (fr.). Noteworthy: Racin was the Grizzlies' first regional qualifier since 2020. l An assistant last year, Colwell takes over for Zach Humrichouser, who remains the girls cross country coach. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.