We express our congratulations to Coach Mike Gallagher '71 and the Saint Ignatius cross country program for garnering the top ranking in the state in the final voting by Ohio's coaches association and we wish the Wildcats nothing but the best in Saturday's state meet at the National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio.
The final poll definitely had a Jesuit flavor as Walsh Jesuit finished second in the voting and St. Xavier was third. Rounding out the top 10 were Mason, Olentangy Liberty, Medina, Hudson, Dublin Coffman, Hilliard Davidson and Solon.
Saturday will be a new venue for Ohio's elite boys and girls teams.
In August, the OHSAA Board of Directors unanimously voted to move the state meets to National Trail after a 26-year stint at Scioto Downs in Dublin, Ohio. During those 26 years at Scioto Downs, the cross country finals annually drew crowds in excess of 10,000. The Ohio state meet was the largest attended cross country event in the nation.
This year's 34th annual girls meet gets underway at 11:00 a.m. The 83rd annual boys meet will begin at 1:30 p.m., with Division III to be followed by Division II and Division I. The starting time for the Division I boys is approximately 3 p.m.
Tickets are $9 and can be purchased at National Trail Raceway gates on Saturday. The results will be posted at ohsaa.org following each race.
Saint Ignatius will be seeking its fourth state championship. The Wildcats, who finished third behind Louisville and Medina last year, won back-to-back state meets in 1993 and 1994.
Running "the perfect team race," Coach Gallagher's harriers also brought home the big-school state trophy in 2009.
There will definitely be a new team champion crowned in boys Division I, as 2010 champ Louisville failed to qualify this year.
Saint Ignatius is coming off an impressive first-place performance at the Tiffin Regional. With senior Mitch Baum (16:05.11) and junior Jack Miller (16:06.41) finishing fifth and sixth, respectively, the Wildcats outdistanced Medina, 69 to 121.
The 'Cats' overall time was 1:21:59.44, with an average of 16:23.89.
*JUST A REMINDER that Coach Mike McLaughlin's defending Division I state champion soccer team (19-1) will be facing the Wildcats from Mayfield (16-1-3) in Saturday's regional final at Rocky River High School. Action gets underway at 3 p.m.
"They're very good," said Coach McLaughlin of Mayfield, which is making its first regional-final appearance since 1989. "They have about 15 seniors who kind of grew up together and they have a couple of special kids who are dangerous."
Saint Ignatius will take a 14-game winning streak into Saturday's action and marks of four consecutive shutouts and 12 shutouts overall.
*JUST ANOTHER REMINDER that Coach Chuck Kyle's varsity football team will be making its 23rd playoff appearance in 24 seasons when the 'Cats (8-2) take on Boardman (7-3) Saturday night at 7 in Parma's Byers Field. For a preview on the game see the corner's story below that was posted Wednesday evening.
*FORMER WORLD CHAMPION WRESTLER AND THREE-TIME SUPER BOWL CHAMPION STEPHEN NEAL WILL PRESENT A WRESTLING CLINIC AT SAINT IGNATIUS' SULLIVAN GYMNASIUM ON SUNDAY FROM 1 P.M. UNTIL 3:30 P.M.
THE CLINIC IS OPEN TO WRESTLERS FROM FOURTH THROUGH THE 12 GRADE AND THERE WILL BE A $20 PARTICIPATION FEE PAYABLE WITH YOUR REGISTRATION ON SUNDAY.