Gazette MVP: Maggie Gerschutz breaks records for Wadsworth, but focuses on team success

Junior Maggie Gerschutz helped the Wadsworth girls cross country team write a thrilling chapter to the program's story. It was fitting that it came in the Grizzlies' 50th season, which was all about history. The reigning Gazette MVP broke the school record at Dublin Jerome's Celtic Clash, taking fifth in 18:02.09. She helped Wadsworth win the Wooster Invitational, Medina's Milt Place Festival, the Suburban League National Conference Meet and the GlenOak Division II District before taking 10th at the state meet to earn All-Ohio and lead Wadsworth to fourth place as a team. All those accomplishments made Gerschutz a shoo-in to win her second straight Gazette MVP award, but on-course accomplishments are far from the only thing that make the junior exceptional. "Really what stands out the most to me about her is that she really cares about the success that her teammates are having," Wadsworth coach Zach Humrichouser said. "When we were down in Dublin, based on her interactions with teammates you'd have no idea she just broke a school record. She was really focused on how well her teammates were racing and supporting them. "Maggie is one of the best runners in the state of Ohio, but she really has an interest in her teammates, which I think makes her stand out above a lot of other girls." It's those teammates that make Gerschutz love the sport as much as she does and continue to push herself to be better. "I love my team," she said. "Every day we practice together and it forms such a bond that you don't really have with anybody else. I've really gotten to know them over these years, and getting to see all of our hard work pay off with them is my favorite part." The hard work certainly paid off for Gerschutz this season. After finishing 11th at the Painesville Riverside Kickoff in 19:10.96, Gerschutz placed no worse than fifth in only one race, the Trinity Valkyrie Invitational in Louisville, Ky. (14th), prior to earning All-Ohio at the state meet (18:25.53). That finish continued a climb up the leaderboard for Gerschutz, who placed 72nd in D-I as a freshman and 32nd in D-I as a sophomore before the Grizzlies made the move to D-II this season. Wadsworth also climbed the leaderboard, taking fourth after finishing fifth in 2023 and eighth in 2024. "From the beginning of the year, our goal had been to make it to state for the third time in a row," Gerschutz said. "That's amazing and I'm so glad that I got to be a part of that with my team. "It's been our goal to get fourth so we could get a banner in the gym. I'm super proud that we could finish the season on such a strong note." Gerschutz's efforts were critical to the team's success at state, where her meticulous preparation for races was most apparent. Humrichouser called her a student of the sport, always looking to absorb information. Armed with her game plan, Gerschutz went out and executed. "Going into the state meet, we said that top 10 was a goal (for her)," Humrichouser said. "She knew what she needed to do because she wanted all the answers ahead of time. When she took the test on Saturday, she was extremely prepared. "It's exciting that she's got one more season and one more crack to climb up that podium." Humrichouser's guidance is something Gerschutz is grateful to have. "He's really helped me with my training," she said. "He's kept me healthy and consistently training all year. I don't think I could accomplish what I have if he didn't have the confidence that he has in me. He's helped me every step of the way." Prior to the state meet, the greatest thrill of the season for Gerschutz was breaking the school record at the Celtic Clash. It was a night race, which Gerschutz said helped make the course faster as it got cooler. It was also a fun night as she and her teammates helped each other put on face paint to get ready for the race. She hadn't seen the full course before running, but was helped by what she called a "super flat" course. "I ran really well," Gerschutz said. "It was a really fun race and to celebrate that night with my teammates was a stand-out moment in the season." In addition to that result, Gerschutz was runner-up at Ashland, the Milt Place Festival, the SL National and GlenOak. She was third at Wooster and the Boardman Regional. In each case it was Gerschutz's ability to push harder and run faster in the second half of the race than most of her competitors. "I would say her greatest strength is her endurance," Humrichouser said. "She's able in the second half of races to really do a great job of moving up. She's racing against a lot of talented girls and she's able to work that second half to maintain the pace that was established or take over the race there." Gerschutz shows no signs of slowing down with one more season to go and a very simple goal in mind. "I think it would be great if we could go to state one more time so that I could go all four years," Gerschutz said. "I want to keep growing as a teammate and leave a legacy that I'm more than just a runner with good outcomes. I'm also helping others become the best runner and person that they can be." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.