COLUMBUS - Senior Marty Coolidge, junior Dan Kuhman and coach Chuck Lynch all wore the same look after Saturday’s Division II state cross country championships at Scioto Downs.

It was a look of “what if?”

Second-ranked Elyria Catholic came within five points of derailing three-time defending state champ Peninsula Woodridge, falling to the top-rated Bulldogs, 93-98.

“There’s nothing wrong with second,” Lynch said. “They did everything that they could do. We got the most out of our talent that we could get. We wanted to come here, race well and take what we could get. It was a good day and a great season.”

It was Elyria Catholic’s best finish at state since taking second in the 1983 Class AA meet. The Panthers were eighth (1984), ninth (2008), 10th (2001) and 11th (1999) in their last four state meet appearances.

“I really felt that they (the Panthers) were team to beat,” Woodridge coach Jeff Howard said. “They came after us and ran a great race. Our guys overran a little bit early. We had 30 points in the first half-mile. We went out way too fast. I really thought we were going to pay the price. We ran the first 200 meters way too fast. You can’t do that in this sport.

“We lucked out. We were fortunate to win after making such a major mistake. I think they held on because of their base work. Elyria Catholic ran an outstanding race. I tip my hat to them.”

Last year, Woodridge won the Division II title by only three points over top-ranked Tipp City Tippecanoe, 96-99.

Coolidge and Kuhman led Elyria Catholic with All-Ohio (top 25) performances. Coolidge was third (16:03.73) and Kuhman 16th (16:31.32), ninth in the team race, which factors out runners competing as individuals. It was Coolidge’s third straight All-Ohio finish.

“Five points is hard to believe,” Coolidge said. “It’s definitely not a bad race for us. We lost to a good team. I don’t know. Five points is hard to believe.”

Coolidge walked slowly and barefoot back to the team’s camp located on the outside perimeter of the track. He paid the price, just as he has throughout his career. Both sides of both his feet were bloodied from blisters.

“They’ve (his feet) been like this most of the season,” Coolidge said. “I’ve got three black toenails, too.”

Senior Bryce Steindl was 36th overall (22nd team) in 17:04.99. Junior Matt Wiehe was 37th overall (23rd team) in 17:05.03. Junior Ryan Lynch was 71st overall (40th team) in 17:40.05 as he rounded out the top five.

“Second place isn’t bad. It’s a big step for us,” Kuhman said. “My freshman year we were ninth at regionals. We were ninth at state last year. We were second this year. It’s looking good for next year that’s for sure.”

Hey, it’s natural for these guys to think big. It’s the Elyria Catholic tradition. The Panthers won state titles in 1973 and ‘74, then again in ‘77 and ‘78. Overall, EC has made 15 trips to state dating back to 1972.

“I did exactly what I wanted to do,” Kuhman said. “I wanted to go through the mile mark in the low 5s. When I came around the two-mile mark, I just wanted to take off on these hills (on the north loop). Everyone on the team has been working on hills all season. I reeled a lot of people in there, at least five to six runners.

“We worked for it. We knew we were going to be able to stay strong in the hills.”

A chip off the old block, Kuhman is the son of 1974 EC grad Tim Kuhman, who took fourth at state in both 1972 and ‘73.

“My dad’s a state champion,” Dan said. “Hopefully, I can get my name on one of those plaques, too.”

Tim knows all about what second place feels like. The 1972 Panthers were second at state.

“They’ll all ask themselves those (what-if) questions,” Tim said. “At the end of the day, I hope they come back and say, ‘I ran as hard as I could run today.’ As long as they can look themselves in the mirror and say that, obviously then they have no regrets.”

Woodridge, meanwhile, keeps winning states titles, including the tight ones.

“It’ll be an interesting ride home,” Chuck Lynch said. “It’s hard on the seniors. The guys that are back are already thinking about what they have to do about getting better. But we’re happy that we ran well today.”

Avon junior Tyler Kvach didn’t have quite the type of race he hoped for in Division II, but accepted the result (39th place, 17:06.42).

“The wind was horrible the first mile,” Kvach said. “I was 5:10 at the mile but only 10:50 at the two-mile. I wanted to crack the top 30, but some of these guys ran a great race.”

Avon Lake senior Matt Link was 30th in Division I in 16:33.09, missing All-Ohio honors by less than five seconds. Teammate Jimmy Adams was 75th (17:02.52). Sophomore Katy Link of Avon Lake, Matt’s sister, was 35th (19:30.39) in the Division I girls race.

“It really wasn’t what I hoped to do,” Matt said. “I wanted to be smart the first mile, but I went out too slow. I think we (Link and Adams) sat back too much. At 1.5 to two miles, I knew I had to do something. I took off and passed about 20 people the last mile.”

Five local runners earned All-Ohio honors to help Magnificat repeat as Division I girls champs.

Senior Madeline Chambers of Westlake was second (18:07.35), while seniors Clare (seventh, 18:43.31) and Abby Fisher (eighth, 18:44.22) of Avon, sophomore Abbie Marquard of Avon (20th, 19:11.58) and senior Erin Riley of Avon Lake (21st, 19:11.67) comprised the Streaks’ top five.

Their efforts helped Magnificat to not only win the state title, but set an all-time state girls tournament record of 28 points. The previous record of 35 was set in 1978 by Upper Arlington and tied 1979 by Chardon. No. 5-ranked Springboro was second with 137.

“We just kept our focus today,” Clare Fischer said. “We all have goals and things that we’re working towards. My goal today was simply to run with and work the race with my sister.”

Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or phheyse@aol.com.

Boys

Division I

1. St. Ignatius, 82; 2. St. Xavier, 118; 3. Sylvania Northview, 137; 4. Mason, 146; 5. Pickerington North, 147; 6. North Canton Glen Oak, 189; 7. Hudson, 195; 8. Louisville, 215; 9. Toledo Central Catholic, 221; 10. Cincinnati Elder, 228; 11. Medina, 235; 12. Mentor, 260; 13. Dublin Coffman, 318; 14. Reynoldsburg, 328; 15. New Albany, 348; 16. Cincinnati LaSalle, 348

• Top 5: Zach Willis (Mason), 15:45.11; 2. Connor Paez (Solon), 15:49.12; 3. Kyle Wheeler (Green), 15:55.07; 4. Dan Garleb (Pickerington North), 16:00.57; 5. Aaron Dinzeo (Sidney), 16:02.99

• Local runners: 30. Matt Link (Avon Lake), 16:33.09); 75. Jimmy Adams (Avon Lake), 17:02.52

Division II

1. Peninsula Woodridge, 93; 2. Elyria Catholic, 98; 3. St. Clairsville, 132; 4. Defiance, 150; 5. CVCA, 155; 6. Tipp City Tippecanoe, 167; 7. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 208; 8. Bay, 210; 9. St. Paris Graham, 239; 10. Rocky River, 249; 11. Akron Hoban, 259; 12. Dayton Oakwood, 273; 13. Granville, 304; 14. Chill. Unioto, 304; 15. Circleville, 304; 16. Sandy Valley, 356

• Top 5: 1. Mike Brajdic (Bay), 15:49.81; 2. Brad Liston (Circleville), 15:58.18; 3. Marty Coolidge (EC), 16:03.73; 4. Peter Hix (Dayton Oakwood), 16:07.89; 5. Branden McGee (Crestwood), 16:08.72.

• Other local runners: 16. Dan Kuhman (EC), 16:31.32; 36. Bryce Steindl (EC), 17:04.99; 37. Matt Wiehe (EC), 17:05.03; 39. Tyler Kvach (Avon), 17:06.42; 70. Ryan Lynch (EC), 17:40.05; 79. P.J. Foreman (EC), 17:48.88; 87. Greg Nagy (EC), 17:53.36

Girls

Division I

1. Magnificat, 28; 2. Springboro, 137; 3. North Canton Hoover, 142; 4. Brunswick, 179; 5. Brecksville, 183; 6. Sylvania Northview, 188; 7. Toledo Notre Dame, 196; 8. Mason, 207; 9. Dublin Scioto, 208; 10. Hudson, 260; 11. Cincinnati St. Ursula, 274; 12. Green, 277; 13. Kings Mills, 296; 14. Canal Winchester, 303; 15. Medina, 334; 16. Mentor, 342

• Top 5: 1. Meredith Wagner (Northview), 18:03.90; 2. Madeline Chambers (Magnificat/Westlake resident), 18:07.35; 3. Hannah Neczypor (North Royalton), 18:15.30; 4. Michelle Thomas (Cin. Glen Este), 18:19.82; 5. Allison Stillwell (Dresden Tri-Valley), 18:23.69

• Other local runners: 7. Clare Fischer (Magnificat/Avon resident), 18:43.31; 8. Abby Fischer (Magnificat/Avon resident), 18:44.22; 20. Abbie Marquard (Magnificat/Avon resident), 19:11.58; 21. Erin Riley (Magnificat/Avon Lake resident), 19:11.67; 35. Katy Link (Avon Lake), 19:30.91

Division II

1. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 98; 2. St. Clairsville, 105; 3. CVCA, 115; 4. Perry, 159; 5. Kettering Alter, 185; 6. Coldwater, 187; 7. Shelby, 207; 8. Springfield Greenon, 221; 9. Granville, 231; 10. Peninsula Woodridge, 231; 11. Rocky River, 231; 12. Van Wert, 236; 13. Dayton Carroll, 239; 14. Minerva, 268; 15. Bellbrook, 302; 16. Sunbury Big Walnut, 379

• Top 5: 1. Christina Blair (CVCA), 18:39.71; 2. Taylor Hatfield (Zane Trace), 18:49.28; 3. Katie Landwehr (Tipp City), 18:55.35; 4. Elizabeth Heinbach (Cin. Indian Hill), 19:00.04; 5. Abbie Clifford (Perry), 19:04.15

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