SE's Ritzler, Holmes lead local contingent at state meet

OBETZ – While it was the fifth state cross country meet at Fortress Obetz, it was the first time involving four divisions. That's exactly what started the state meet Saturday as three locals achieved All-Ohio status in the Division IV meet. The top finisher in the area was Seneca East freshman Aubrey Ritzler. She produced a 19th place finish in a time of 19:02.60, which was the second fastest time ever by a Seneca East freshman at the state meet. Brittany Stockmaster was a state runner-up her freshman season for the Tigers."It was definitely hard, but it was fun," Ritzler said as she earned all-Ohio status. "This was a goal for me at the beginning of the season that finally came true. It's a great feeling."Coach told me not to be in the top 3 (at the start), so I held back and didn't want to go out too fast because I didn't want to kill myself. So, I just kept that pace the whole race."SE coach Matt Schock added: "It's a big accomplishment to be down here and then to be an All-Ohioan in her freshman season … and I believe looking at the results she was the second fastest freshman in the entire race, but it's quite the accomplishment, but her and everyone on the whole team has worked for that. Being here was certainly special." Smithville's Kaitlyn Carr blazed the course and took the state title in a time of 17:29.19. Overall, Seneca East placed 19th as a team with 436 points, while Ottawa Hills won the championship with just 114 points.Avery Schwab was 134th (21:23.12) for SE, while Julia Enders placed 154th (21:52.44), Emma Voorhees came in 160th (22:00.77) and Lydia Ruffing crossed the line 165th (22:05.71). Jordyn Enders finished 195th (23:27.39)."Today was a compliment to the program … the first girls team to back here since 2010," Schock said. "Every one of the girls in the program played a part in that even the ones that graduated and moved on helped build the program brick by brick to return to the state meet. I'm grateful for everyone on the team from the first runner to the 17th runner on the team that helped us build that and get here. Today was a culmination of that and something they should be proud of."Also, in the D-IV girls race was Old Fort's Grace Tackett as she placed 117th (20:59.85) and Buckeye Central's Angela Figueroa who ended in 142nd (21:31.59).Flipping to the D-IV boys race, it was another Tiger that led the way as senior Nevin Holmes put together an outstanding performance to capture 27th overall (16:23.33) to earn All-Ohio status."For him to finish his career the way he did and for him battling injuries when he was younger … he didn't come out until his freshman year, but it was a process," SE coach Doug Mason said. "What helped was guys like Evan Schiefer and before him were Brycen (Lantz) and Leo (Schreiner), who kind of took him under their wing and he started copying what they did. This year he did everything they did in their careers and it all came together this season for him."He didn't realize how good he could be and even he said he could've done better, but he doesn't realize just how great he did today. Happy for him and hopefully the younger guys will model what he did and we can keep doing this."Holmes said he did want to get out quick, but not too fast. He ran how he wanted to, but wasn't quite satisfied with his finish."I wish I would've finished a little harder, but I'm not really sure what to think going into a race like this," Holmes said. "It was hard to move up, so I feel like my start was about right where I should've been. It's been a long process, but I'm happy."Elsewhere in the D-IV boys race was the Old Fort team as Cale Hull was named an All-Ohioan with his 33rd place finish in a time of 16:27.78. Dalton Hessick was 87th (17:08.99), Issac Gallagher added a 128th (17:38.27), Grant Miller ran in 169th (18:20.11), Colton Hoerig was 170th (18:20.98) and Aiden Dick came in 176th (18:28.56). Brock Hull crossed the finish line 187th (18:40.06).New Riegel's Cameron Hohman took 51st (16:45.42).Old Fort was 17th overall as a team with 391 points, while Convoy Crestview got the win over Columbus Grove 86-99.In the Division III girls meet, Upper Sandusky's Jocelyn Leightey finished 57th (19:50.05), Bellevue's Reese Meacham claimed 85th (20:13.24).In the boys D-III meet, Upper Sandusky's Carter Pohlman was 118th (17:10.14).