Simply put, it was quite a district week for local athletes. A host of individuals took home district championships, while Norwayne's boys and girls teams walked away team trophies.
Standing in the way of area standouts, however, are a handful of loaded regional meets that will put that talent to the test.
If history is any indication, they're more than ready for the challenge.
Here's a look at the regional meets involving area athletes:
WHEN: Wednesday (field 5 p.m., running 6 p.m.), Friday (field 5 p.m., running 6 p.m.)
WHERE: Austintown Fitch High School (4560 Falcon Drive, Youngstown).
AREA QUALIFIERS: Wooster — Ashton Dunlap (sr., 3,200), Grahm Dixon (sr., shot put), Marion Dix (sr., 800, 4x4, 4x8), Olivia Fox (sr., 300 hurdles), Sydney Older (so., 4x4), Lauren Anderson (sr., 4x4), Mattie Dunlap (so., 4x4, 4x8), Audrey Miller (jr., 4x8), Rachel Cornelius (sr., 4x8), Grace Kostohryz (so., shot put).
BOYS PREVIEW: Dixon will be out for another record-setting weekend as he makes his regional debut in Friday's shot-put competition. The senior hit the 50-foot mark in his runner-up finish at the North Canton District, recording a personal-record toss of 50-feet-1, and is one of seven competitors coming in with a 50-plus mark to their credit. Solon's Markell Green headlines the field after his push of 60-3½ in the same ring at Austintown a week ago. Dunlap is the other individual competing at the regionals for the Generals and posted a career-best effort in the 3,200 last weekend. He clocked a 9:36.85 in the 3,200-meter run final at districts and will look to get another PR time as he chases the likes of Louisville's Bobby Ganser (9:22.49) and GlenOak's Thomas Rice (9:25.01).
GIRLS PREVIEW: The Generals' 4x800 relay team put together its best time of the season last weekend to advance. With five teams below 9:50 coming into the regional, however, the grouping of Dix, Dunlap, Miller and Cornelius will look to put together another low run to contend with one of the toughest fields in the state. Hudson comes in with a blistering-fast 9:33.23. Dix will be busy as she is also slated to compete with Wooster's 4x4 unit and in the open 800. Kostohryz is hitting her stride at just the right time as the sophomore had posted back-to-back PRs in recent weeks. The underclassman, who had a career-best 35-4¼ last week at North Canton, will be out for another record-breaking day as she looks to contend with a field that has a pair of 40-foot throwers in Madelyn Moretti of Madison and Courtney Clark of Howland. Fox is the other individual competing for the Generals in the 300 hurdles.
AT STAKE: Top four individuals and relay teams advance to the OHSAA State Championships, June 3-4. A pair of at-large bids are also up for grabs for fifth- and sixth-place finishers from the four regionals based on the top overall marks.
WHEN: Thursday (field 5 p.m., running 6 p.m.), Saturday (field 11 a.m., running 12 p.m.).
WHERE: Austintown Fitch High School (4560 Falcon Drive, Youngstown).
AREA QUALIFIERS: Chippewa — Owen Riggenbach (jr., 4x8), Brayden Braswell (so., 4x8), Joshua Hennis (so., 4x8), Stephan Laubli (sr., 4x8), Cooper Bryant (jr., pole vault), Abby Blaz (jr., 100, 4x1, 4x2), Naomi Wertz (sr., 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x1, 4x2), Tristan Nash (jr., 4x1, 4x2, long jump), Jenna Sheridan (sr., 4x1), Abby Henegar (jr., 4x2), Izzy Lattea (so., pole vault), Jaclyn Jundzilo (jr., shot put); Northwestern — Weston Arthur (sr., 400, 4x1, 4x4), Collin Good (jr., 4x1, 4x4), Buddy Rowe (sr., 4x1), Nolan Hartsel (jr., 4x1, 4x4, pole vault), Jacob Wakefield (jr., 4x4, high jump); Norwayne — Lacy Hess (jr., 200, 400, 4x2, 4x4), Jaylee Wingate (jr., 800, 1,600, 4x4), Annabel Stanley (jr., 1,600, 3,200), Elise Uhler (sr., 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x1, 4x4), Sydney Emler (so., 4x1, 4x2), Ellen Henslee (jr., 4x1, 4x2, 4x4), Shelby Vaughn (so., 4x1, 4x2), Andrea Maibach (sr., high jump), Kendra Berger (fr., pole vault), Allison Morlock (jr., shot put, discus), Grace Sparks (sr., shot put); Orrville — Bryan Cruz (jr., 1,600), Josh Rittgers (jr., 3,200), Calvin Speicher (jr., 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x1, high jump), Jordan Ramos (fr., 4x1), Trevor Bunsey (sr., 4x1), Connor Petrus (fr., 4x1), Dominic Goodard (sr., pole vault), Jacob Wells (sr., pole vault); Triway — Cameron Soss (sr., 100, 200), Hayden Smith (sr., shot put), Ella Wigal (fr., 3,200), Ellie Golias (fr., 4x1, 4x2), Addison Hudson (fr., 4x1, 4x2), Kalie Campbell (jr., 4x1, 4x2, long jump), Kelsie Himes (sr., 4x1, high jump), Ava Golias (fr., 4x2), Maddie Kline (sr., discus); Tuslaw — Joe Joe Rolko (sr., 800), Hunter Makowski (jr., shot put), Ashley Eberhardt (so., 400, 4x4), Malena Cybak (sr., 800, 1,600, 4x4), Rylee Stookey (jr., 4x4), Georgia Huffman (fr., 4x4); Waynedale — Jonathan Varner (sr., 3,200, 4x8), Jeremy Reber (so., 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Caden Schmeltzer (fr., 4x8), Peyton Lemon (sr., 4x8), Conner Reich (so., 4x8), Brant Herman (jr., shot put, discus).
BOYS PREVIEW: A week ago, Varner was all by himself as he finished the 3,200 at the Orrville District. This week, however, the Waynedale senior is expected to have company. It will be a bit of deja vu for Varner, who was a winner the last time he stepped on the track at Austintown, taking the Optimist Meet title by 0.07 seconds. The man he beat, Marlington's Noah Graham, will be there again on Saturday, as well as another Marlington runner, Nash Minor, who crossed 0.06 seconds after Graham. In all, the regional has six runners that come in with sub-9:40 runs this season. Northwestern high jumper Wakefield also returns to a place where he has fond memories as he was a state qualifier from the region last season and is two weeks removed from his personal-record leap of 6-4. Soss also is out for a return state trip and will get a rematch with Keystone speedster Ryne Shackelford in the 100 and 200. In the field, Goodard has cleared 13 feet this spring in the pole vault, fifth-best out of the competitors slated to compete this weekend, while Waynedale's Herman has the sixth-best mark in the shot. Another event to watch is the 110 hurdles as Orrville's Speicher and Waynedale's Reber have the sixth- and ninth-fastest times form the season. Wells also is in the mix in the pole vault.
GIRLS PREVIEW: Back-to-back weeks of matching her personal record in the long jump has Triway's Campbell coming in with a lot of momentum. The junior, who has cleared 17-3¾ twice this season, should be in the mix for the regional crown with Brookside's Heaven Vanzant — the Orrville District champ last weekend — and Chippewa's Nash, who has been downright impressive in her last two meets. Campbell's Himes is also among the top competitors in the high jump. The action on the track, however, will almost certainly be dominated by Wingate. The Norwayne junior's historic season continued with a pair of individual district wins in the 800 and 1,600 last week. That 800 final will once again be a good one, with Wingate squaring off with Tuslaw's Cybak for the second straight week. Add Woodridge's Izzy Best to the mix and it should a fun one. Both Wingate and Cybak are looking to make state trips in both the 800 and 1,600. Sparks, a state qualifier last season, has the third-best mark in the shot put, with teammate Morlock right behind in fourth. Morlock and Triway's Kline also among the leaders in the discus, with the sixth- and eighth-best mark, respectively. Hess has the fifth-fastest 400 time on the season, after breaking the 60-second mark this past week, while the Bobcats 4x1 (fourth), 4x4 (sixth) and 4x2 (seventh) are all looking for state berths.
AT STAKE: Top four individuals and relay teams advance to the OHSAA State Championships, June 3-4. A pair of at-large bids are also up for grabs for fifth- and sixth-place finishers from the four regionals, based on the top overall marks.
WHEN: Thursday (field 5 p.m., running 6:30 p.m.), Saturday (field 11:30 a.m., running 1 p.m.)
WHERE: Herrnstein Field & Bobo Track (409 Stacey Road, Chillicothe)
AREA QUALIFIERS: West Holmes — Zeke Galbraith (jr., 1,600, 3,200), Kyle Maltarich (so., high jump, 4x1), Zander Shultz (jr., high jump, 4x1), Zach Snow (sr., pole vault), Macin Miller (fr., pole vault), Brock Zimmerly (sr., discus, shot put), Logan Zollars (fr., 4x1), Sawyer Pritt (sr., 4x1), Jasmine Giauque (jr., 100, 200), Noelle Smith (fr., 800, 4x8), Lexy Starner (fr., 3,200, 4x8), Cierra Miller (jr., 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Brenna Myers (jr., 4x8), Carolyn Miller (jr., 4x8), Laney Duff (jr., high jump), Casey Ogi (fr., pole vault), Clara Marmiesse-Gonzalez (jr., pole vault), Amy Hughes (sr., discus, shot put), Zoe Norris (jr., shot put).
BOYS PREVIEW: Both Maltarich and Shultz have been one-two all season long in the high jump. The West Holmes tandem will both look to earn a trip to state as they come among the top heights coming into Saturday's competition. Maltarich, who cleared a career-best 6-3 earlier this season to win the Triway Invitational, is tied for the third-best mark behind Portsmouth's Dariyonne Bryant (6-5) and Zane Trace's Lucas Ray (6-4). Shultz is among a slew of competitors who have cleared 6-2 this spring. Zimmerly qualified in both throws, but his season-best throw of 159-10 at last weekend's district, puts him in a solid position to grab one of the four automatic state berths up for grabs. With two guys about 180-feet this season — Colt Sechrest of Bellaire and Alan Austin Piketon — it will be an intense showdown for third and fourth. Galbraith also is a two-event regional qualifier, with the 3,200 being his best shot at a state position. The junior clocked a 9:56.90 earlier this month at the OCC Championships, one of 10 runners to break 10 minutes this year. Zach Snow also has an outside chance of advancing in the pole vault.
GIRLS PREVIEW: A regional qualifier last season, Giauque knows a thing or two about running against the best of the best. And after just missing out on a state berth by 0.58 seconds in the 200, the junior is eager for her second chance. Giauque season-best time of 26.44, set earlier this season at Triway, has her with the fifth-fastest time coming in, with Steubenville's Sabria Jones (25.83) and Morgan's Josie Knierim (25.89) expected to lead the pack. The discus final on Saturday will be one to watch as Hughes, fresh off of her personal-record mark of 119-11 to win the district last week, will go toe-to-toe with Lily Barnes of McClain — a returning state qualifier who has broken 120-feet this season. Both Smith and Starner are in the mix to push for one of the state berths in the 800 and 3,200, respectively, while Hughes and Norris could earn a spot on the podium in the shot.
AT STAKE: Top four individuals and relay teams advance to the OHSAA State Championships, June 3-4. A pair of at-large bids are also up for grabs for fifth- and sixth-place finishers from the four regionals, based on the top overall marks.
WHEN: Wednesday (field 4:30 p.m., running 6 p.m.), Friday (field 4:30 p.m, running 6 p.m.)
WHERE: Perry High School (3737 13th Street SW, Massillon)
AREA QUALIFIERS: Dalton —Colin Pearson (so, 4x2), Sam Tomlinson (fr., 4x2, 4x1), Max Zoldak (sr., 4x2, 4x1), Jaiden Malone (sr., 4x2, 4x1), Adam Marthey (sr., 4x1), Adam Soehnlen (so., 300 hurdles), Quentin Lehman (jr., discus), Lauren Clos (jr., 100, 4x1, 200, 4x4), Brianna Chenevey (jr., 100, 4x1, 200, 4x4), Courtney Weaver (so., 4x1), Macy Seeman (so, 4x1), Molly Soehnlen (sr., 4x4), Addesa Miller (so., 4x4), Vivi Cesar (jr., high jump); Hiland — Colton Hershey (sr., 4x8, 4x4), George Malicky (so., 4x8), Corban Miller (so., 4x8), Gabriel Chupp (so, 4x8, 4x2, 4x1, 4x4), Kendrick Wilson (jr., 100, 4x2, 4x1), Micah Kuhns (sr., 4x2, 4x1, 200, 4x4), Adam Miller (so., 4x2, 4x1, 4x4); Loudonville — Dylan Fenton (jr., high jump), Tess Shultz (fr., 4x8, 1,600), Kadee Vranekovic (jr., 4x8), Sydney Polen (jr., 4x8, 4x2, long jump), Catlyn Kauffman (sr., 4x8), Kenzie Cutlip (jr., 4x2), Corri Vermilya (so., 4x2, 300 hurdles), Anna Templeman (jr., 4x2); Northwestern — Jule Stoller (fr., high jump), Emily Thompson (fr., shot put, discus), Chase Amlotte (sr., discus); Norwayne — Connor Preattle (fr., 110 hurdles), Brady Lendon (jr., 100, 4x2, 4x1), Roman Portis (jr., 4x2, 4x1, 200), Isaiah Portis (sr., 4x2, 4x1, long jump), Mason Booth (sr., 4x2, 400), Nic Graham (sr., 4x1, pole vault, long jump), Caleb Erhard (jr., pole vault), Colby Morlock (sr., discus, shot put), Dillon Morlock (so., discus, shot put); Orrville — Ainsley Hamsher (sr., 100 hurdles, pole vault), Catrina Race (so., pole vault); Rittman — Paul Werle (sr., 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Evan Rastorfer (so., long jump, high jump), Tyler Thompson (jr., shot put), Skylar Wagner (fr., 4x8), Merrick Gibson (fr., 4x8, 1,600, 800), Caroline Kennel (jr., 4x8), Pyper Gibson (jr., 4x8, 1,600, 800, 3,200); Smithville — Brock Lengacher (sr., discus, shot put), Sydney Shane (sr., 4x2), Claire Haas (fr., 4x2, 400, 4x4), Abby Hartzler (jr., 4x2, 4x4, high jump), Maddy Lengacher (so., 4x2, 400, 4x4), Cadence Amstutz (so., 4x4); Waynedale — Alyce Yoder (sr., 4x8), Sydney Reber (jr., 4x8), Kylee Gray (sr., 4x8, 3,200), Clara Sundberg (so., 4x8), Skye Morris (so., 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Faith Garrod (jr., shot put).
BOYS PREVIEW: When it comes to area athletes in this region, it's all strength. A week removed from three area athletes posting 60-foot-plus marks in the shot put, and sweeping all four regional berths in both the shot put and discus from the Norwayne District, local throwers are ready for another strong week. Rittman's Thompson led that shot put competition, thanks to a personal-best 63-4¾, with Norwayne's Colby Morlock and Dillon Morlock right behind. All three are expected to vie for the four automatic state berths. McDonald's Ryan Henry comes in as the leader after a 66-11½ toss earlier this month. Look for the Morlock brothers to control things in the discus, with older brother Colby's personal-record 185-2 a little over 3 feet better than Henry's best. Lengacher is in the top 10 for both throwing events as well. Isaiah Portis has the regional's top mark in the long jump after his 21-1½ at the WCAL meet two weeks ago, but Valen Krzyston of Wellsville is also a 21-footer. Rastorfer's career-best leap of 6-4¼ has him second to Shadyside's Wyatt Reiman (6-6). The sophomore also has the sixth-best long jump mark. Erhard is tied for third overall coming into Wednesday's pole vault. On the track, Norwayne's 4x1 and 4x2 have the third-fastest times, with Roman Portis and Booth nearing the top of the 200 and 400 rankings, respectively. Rittman's Werle and Dalton's Soehnlen are within a second of each other in the 300-meter event as both look to make their first trip to state. Werle also has the sixth-best time in the 110 hurdles.
GIRLS PREVIEW: Hamsher comes in undefeated on the season in the pole vault and, once again, comes in as the favorite to this week's regional. The All-Ohioan has gone two-feet higher than any competitor in the regional field, with Newcomerstown's Caitlin Green as the closest with a season-best mark of 10-7. Rice will look to better her career-best mark of 10 feet she set at last week's district, where she was runner-up to Hamsher. Also in the field, Hartzler has the top height in the high jump. The junior, who cleared a school-record 5-4½ earlier this month, will be pushed, however, with Grand Valley's Maggie Waldo and Cardina's Karalyn Rutkowski right behind. Rittman's Gibson will look to make a return trip to state and will take part in four events on the week. The junior runner has the fastest 800 time, clocking a 2:19.69 in her district win last week, while she's currently second in both the 1,600 and 3,200 to Maplewood standout Caleigh Richards. Merrick Gibson also is in the top 10 for the 800 and 1,600, with Waynedale's Gray having the fifth-fastest 3,200 mark. Speaking of Gray, the senior has been a key anchor to a Golden Bears' 4x8 that ran another season-best time last week, crossing in 9:55.26. They trail just Mogadore (9:54.73), while both Loudonville and Rittman are right behind after all four teams had an impressive district race last week at Norwayne. Dalton speedsters Brianna Chenevey and Lauren Clos are among the leaders in the open 100 and 200, as well as helping the Bulldogs' 4x1 and 4x4 each to the third-best time coming in. In the 200, Chenevey's 25.52 and Clos' 25.75 last week have them second and third overall. Smithville's Hess and returning state qualifier Lengacher are also among the leaders in the 400. Northwestern's Thompson has looked anything but like a freshman this season and has the third-best mark in the shot. Look for Loudonville's Polen to also be in the mix for a state berth in the long jump.
AT STAKE: Top four individuals and relay teams advance to the OHSAA State Championships, June 3-4. A pair of at-large bids are also up for grabs for fifth- and sixth-place finishers from the four regionals, based on the top overall marks.