VW boys, Foster, Grandstaff head to state

Andi Foster paces herself during the Division II girls’ regional cross country race at Tiffin. (Monica Campbell for the Van Wert independent)

TIFFIN — The Van Wert boys’ team and two individuals from Van Wert County teams will be competing at the state cross country meet this coming weekend.

The Cougar boys, led by Jared Fleming’s third place finish, in a time of 16:10, finished third overall, behind Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary and Peninsula Woodridge. Other Van Wert runners and their finishes, included freshman Connor Holiday, who finished 10th in a time of 16:41, and Kase Schalois, who was 23rd in a time of 16:58. The other top five runners for the Cougars were Connor Shaffer, who finished 61st in 17:43, and Nathan Stevens, who was 62nd in a time of 17:45.

The Van Wert girls finished eighth, out of the running for the state cross country meet, but Andi Foster’s individual eighth-place finish in 19:46 was good enough to qualify for the state meet.

Other Cougar girl finishers include Schealissa Williams, 43rd in 21:07; Jacey Eikenbary, 45th in 21:09; Kelsey Wagner, 47th in 21:10; and Sydney Riethman, 69th in 22:01.

Crestview’s Mycah Grandstaff also qualified for state as an individual with a 10th place finish in 16:54.

The Van Wert boys’ cross country team includes (from the left) Coach Brendon Moody, Luke Brubaker, Connor Shaffer, Jared Fleming, Kase Schalois, Nate Stevens, Connor Holliday, Nick Keber, Eric Easley, and Coach Kim Laudick. (Monica Campbell for the Van Wert independent)

POSTED: 10/31/11 at 5:15 am. FILED UNDER: Sports