Boys track preview: Brunswick's Ryder Kern tops list of returning runners

Brunswick sprinter Ryder Kern, who qualified for two event finals at the 2025 Division I state meet, tops the list of returning talent in Medina County boys track and field. Kern was one of three local athletes to advance to state in the maximum four events, placing 12th as part of the 4x400-meter relay and 16th in the 100. Fellow seniors Kai Piskach and Noah Surovey also are back from the former. The list of other returnees from state is short, as the only county athletes to reach the awards podium — Gazette MVP Ty Sgambati of Highland and Dion Sams Jr. of Buckeye — are now in college. Medina sprinter and two-time qualifier Jackson Riffle and Black River distance specialist Connor Rhein look to head back to Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus. Among the leading candidates to advance beyond regionals for the initial time are Brunswick sprinter/thrower Eli Nichols, Wadsworth pole vaulter Alex Valentine and Grizzlies sprinter Calix Lemp. All three reached the podium at the state indoor meet this winter. The expansion to five divisions by the OHSAA will see local squads compete at each level in the postseason. Brunswick, Medina and Wadsworth remain D-I, Buckeye and Highland are D-II, Cloverleaf is D-III, Black River shifts to D-IV and Medina Christian moves to D-V. Black River Coach: Aaron Munyan (2nd season). Last season: 5th at Lorain County League Meet, 9th at Cuyahoga Heights Division III District, T-39th at North Royalton Regional. Key letterwinners lost: None. Athletes to watch: Connor Rhein (HM All-Gazette, jr., distance), Kyle Vonderau (sr., hurdles, jumps), Lucas Olive (sr., distance), Austin Pamer (sr., sprints, jumps), Noah Orgel (sr., mid-distance), Lincoln Combs (jr., throws), Hunter Varney (so., sprints), Archer Combs (fr., distance). Noteworthy: Rhein made his state debut in the 3,200 in D-III, finishing 18th. Additionally, he was part of the Pirates' regional-qualifying 4x800 with Orgel, Vonderau and Olive. Brunswick Coach: Owen Coughlin (8th season). Last season: 3rd at Greater Cleveland Conference Meet, Brunswick Division I District champion, 12th at Port Clinton Regional. Key letterwinners lost: Collin Kavulic (All-Gazette), Santino Diligente (All-Gazette). Athletes to watch: Ryder Kern (All-Gazette, sr., sprints, jumps), Eli Nichols (All-Gazette, sr., sprints, throws), Kainoa Piskach (HM All-Gazette, sr., sprints, hurdles), Noah Surovey (sr., sprints), Ryan Hershbine (sr., mid-distance), Tommy Strippy (sr., mid-distance), Dennis Goodhart (sr., hurdles, jumps), Noah Jarold (sr., distance), Brayden Belloma (jr., hurdles, pole vault), Siddarth Ranganathan (jr., jumps), Jacob Sepesy (so., sprints), Lleyton Klein (so., distance), Tyler Tully (fr., jumps). Noteworthy: Nichols finished fourth in the weight throw and seventh in the shot put at the D-I state indoor meet. He was a 2025 regional participant in the shot put and 4x100. Buckeye Coach: Mike Flerchinger (7th season). Last season: Cleveland West Conference Meet champion, 2nd at Bedford Division I District, 14th at Austintown Fitch Regional, T-45th at state meet. Key letterwinner lost: Dion Sams Jr. (All-Gazette). Athletes to watch: Brayden Bonnett (HM All-Gazette, sr., sprints, jumps), Brady Salazar (HM All-Gazette, sr., mid-distance), Caden Fike (sr., pole vault), Jake Bally-Freiberg (sr., throws), Dimitry Pshonyak (jr., distance), Eddie Hondroudakis (jr., sprints, jumps), Nolan Rieth (jr., distance), Brayden Sopko (jr., sprints), Gavin Waibel (jr., distance), Liam Phillips (jr., sprints), Denis Shevchenko (so., throws), Joe Stahl (fr., distance). Noteworthy: Flerchinger is very optimistic about his endurance crew, featuring Salazar and Pshonyak, calling it "one of the best distance groups we've had in a long time at Buckeye." Cloverleaf Coach: Garth Gucker (12th season). Last season: 5th at Metro Athletic Conference Meet, 9th at Orrville Division II District, T-37th at Austintown Fitch Regional. Key letterwinner lost: Clay Combs (All-Gazette). Athletes to watch: Caleb Neville (sr., distance), Gavin Forbes (sr., distance), Ethan Gray (sr., sprints), Matthew Jenkins (jr., distance), Noah Mion (jr., distance), Elliot Jordan (so., sprints, jumps), Grady Pamer (so., sprints, jumps), Jake Schaefer (so., throws). Noteworthy: Forbes posted the sixth-fastest 3,200 time in the county last year at 9:54.97. Gray ranked ninth in the 400, one spot ahead of Isaac Smith, who is now playing baseball, and Jordan was 10th in the long jump. Highland Coach: Devan Lippincott (5th season). Last season: 4th at Suburban League American Conference Meet, 9th at Brunswick Division I District, T-21st at Port Clinton Regional, T-71st at state meet. Key letterwinner lost: Ty Sgambati (Gazette MVP). Athletes to watch: Dylan Lazar (sr., sprints), Chris Metzger (sr., sprints), Landon Kuzma (sr., sprints, jumps), Spencer Marquis (sr., throws), Owen Rapp (sr., sprints, jumps), Cooper Zielinski (sr., sprints), Braden Gryskiewicz (sr., distance), Vincent Mancuso (jr., sprints, jumps), Colton Klein (jr., distance), Evan Foust (jr., sprints), Ben Radigan (jr., sprints), Andrew Bossart (jr., distance), Chase Oberhaus (jr., distance), Charlie Charvat (jr., sprints), John Hildenbrand (so., distance), Andrew Welch (so., distance), Jacob Oblander (fr., distance). Noteworthy: Klein is the only athlete with any regional experience, running on the Hornets' sixth-place 4x800 as a sophomore. He also was the SL American Meet runner-up in the 3,200. Medina Coach: Tobin Stepsis (12th season). Last season: 2nd at Greater Cleveland Conference Meet, 2nd at Brunswick Division I District, T-7th at Port Clinton Regional. Key letterwinners lost: Garrett Shook (All-Gazette), Tallen Hulvey (All-Gazette), Dylan Forster (All-Gazette), Chase Sisia (HM All-Gazette), Camden Sokolowski (HM All-Gazette), Noah Smith (HM All-Gazette). Athletes to watch: Jackson Riffle (All-Gazette, sr., sprints, jumps), Evan Browne (HM All-Gazette, sr., sprints), Liam Meade (HM All-Gazette, sr., mid-distance), Owen Stepsis (sr., pole vault, sprints), Nate Fischer (sr., mid-distance), Riley Dworznik (sr., distance), Joey D'Aurelio (sr., distance), Peyton Davis (sr., mid-distance), Roland Jackson (sr., throws), Logan Jones (sr., distance), Sydney Lloyd (sr., sprints), Carson Henning (sr., mid-distance), Gage Palinchik (jr., throws), Adam Gabel (jr., sprints), Bishop Burch (jr., jumps, sprints), Connor Brink (so., throws). Noteworthy: Two-time All-Gazette choice Riffle is the active county leader with six regional berths, competing at Port Clinton as a sophomore and junior in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400. Medina Christian Coach: Jennifer Willman (1st season). Last season: Did not score at Cuyahoga Heights Division III District. Key letterwinners lost: None. Athletes to watch: Logan Theis (sr., distance), Eli Auld (so., sprints), Jonathan Gibson (so., sprints), Miles Webber (so., sprints), Isaac Calvert (so., mid-distance). Noteworthy: Theis finished 13th in the 1,600 final at districts. Auld, Webber and Calvert also competed in individual events at Cuyahoga Heights. Wadsworth Coach: Chris Beery (19th season). Last season: 5th at Suburban League National Conference Meet, 7th at Brunswick Division I District, T-38th at Port Clinton Regional. Key letterwinner lost: Quincy Wade (HM All-Gazette). Athletes to watch: Alex Valentine (All-Gazette, jr., pole vault, sprints), Calix Lemp (HM All-Gazette, sr., sprints), Lincoln Reeling (HM All-Gazette, sr., throws), Cooper Gray (sr., sprints), Brayden Murphy (sr., jumps), Gavin Madigan (sr., sprints, jumps), Evan Lilly (sr., throws), Dominic Jackson (sr., sprints), Lucas McDermitt (jr., sprints), Jimmy O'Connell (jr., hurdles), Landon Lanham (so., distance). Noteworthy: Lemp was the state runner-up in the indoor 60 in 6.87 seconds, and Valentine finished fifth in the pole vault, clearing 14 feet. Both were held at Spire Institute in Geneva. Contact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette.com. Follow @BrianDulik on X.