The new version of the “Cat Pack” is ready to make its mark in Union Township.
Experience, undaunted youth and depth will help show the way.
By Eddie Dwyer, with a Copyright from Halloween 2012 and until they ban the “Monster Mash.”
Ohio City – In the fall of 2009, Saint Ignatius ran the “perfect team race” (no Wildcat was among the top 10) en route to bringing home the Jesuit Preparatory School’s third state cross country championship.
Saint Ignatius, known as the "Cat Pack," captured back-to-back Ohio titles in 1993 and 1994.
After a third-place finish in 2010, the Wildcats challenged the OHSAA’s new state meet course in 2011 – National Trail Raceway near Hebron, Ohio in Licking County's Union Township – and finished a strong second to Dublin Coffman.
Dublin Coffman failed to qualify for this Saturday’s 84th Annual Boys State Cross Country Championships at National Trail Raceway, so that could open the door for Coach Mike Gallagher’s harriers, who have been flirting with dominance recently.
There is, however, another Jesuit school that is determined to run and slam the door on the rest of the field in Division I.
The St. Xavier Bombers, who also have won three state titles in cross country (1998, 2000 and 2003), are looking to make amends for their second-place finish to Saint Ignatius in 2009. Coach Mike Dehring’s Bombers qualified for the state meet with a performance at the Troy Regional that substantiated their top big-school ranking in Ohio. Saint Ignatius is ranked second in the state.
In running to a course-record 30 points at Troy, St. Xavier was led by Michael Hall who finished in second place with a time of 15:39. Jake Grabowski and Evan Stifel were third and fourth, respectively, in 15:49 and 15:52.
As for the Wildcats, who have been on an impressive10-win pace, they overcame the mud, the wind and the rain that greeted them at last weekend’s Tiffin Regional by taking first place with 42 points. Toledo St. Francis was second with 131 points.
Coach Gallagher watched four of his runners place in the top 15 at Tiffin, including a 2-3-4 finish by senior Joe Arquillo 16:04, senior Jack Miller 16:06 and freshman Luke Wagner 16:09. Senior Vince Bartram was 15th in 16:28 and senior Pat Scanlon 16:50, freshman Tim Trentel 16:56 and senior Dylan Lynch 17:03 also made major contributions to the dominant first-place score.
During the previous weekend’s Strongsville District, Arquillo 16:20, Miller 16:29 and Wagner 16:34 were also 2-3-4 as Saint Ignatius ran away – 24 points to 77 points for second-place Strongsville. Bartram 16:43 and Scanlon were 7th and 8th, respectively, and Trentel 17:01 and junior Elliot Thorkelson placed 13th and 14th.
Saturday’s boys Division I race is expected to begin at 12:30 p.m. Admission is $9. Here are some notes to get you up and running.
The National Trail Raceway is located about 30 minutes East of Columbus.
Coached by Frank Jancura, Saint Ignatius, behind the legendary “Cat Pack,” captured the 1993 Division I race and Bay (Division II) and Chagrin Falls (Division III) each finished second in the 65th boys state cross country championships at Scioto Downs.
The Wildcats, who dethroned two-time defending state champ Sylvania Southview, became the first Cleveland school to win the big-school race since St. Joseph in 1969 and the first team from Northeast Ohio to accomplish it since Mentor in 1985.
KELLY PUTS HIS NAME IN THE 'CATS' RECORD BOOKS
In November 1995, senior Patrick Kelly became the first Saint Ignatius runner to win an individual Ohio crown in cross country, as he took on the wind and cold temperatures, and a lively chase to the finish in the 67th running at Scioto Downs. Kelly was a certified member of the “Cat Pack.”
BEST OF THE BEST
After helping Saint Ignatius to back-to-back cross country championships in 1993 and '94, and bringing home the record individual title in his undefeated 1995 season, Patrick Kelly was selected as the top boy cross country competitor on The Plain Dealer's 1995 seven-county fall sports All-Star Team.