The fall sports season is quickly approaching and next up, we’ll take a look at the Chagrin Valley Conference’s top returning boys’ cross country runners.
Last fall, CVC teams competed in just two divisions, but with the addition of Conneaut, Jefferson, and Madison, a third division was added.
Leading the pack are a handful of returning state qualifiers.
Hawken and West Geauga both qualified for the state meet as a team with the Hawks returning seven runners with state meet experience and the Wolverines featuring three returning runners who competed at the state championships.
Hawken’s returning state qualifiers include Parker Carrus, Sam Cohen, Nick Garcia-Whitko, Jeremy Hofius, Chase Levey, Logan Miller, and Tommy Mooney. West Geauga’s returning state qualifiers are Matthew Dienes, Adam Fousek, and Thomas Hensley.
Jefferson’s Steven Sly also qualified for the state meet, but he has since graduated.
CHAGRIN DIVISION
The new-look Chagrin Division includes Beachwood, Chagrin Falls, Crestwood, Harvey, Hawken, Lutheran West, Orange, and Wickliffe.
West Geauga is the reigning Chagrin Division champion but has been moved to the Lake Division for the 2023 season.
Hawken returns six runners who finished among the top 20 at last year’s CVC championships including Garcia-Whitko (2nd, 16:11), Cohen (5th, 16:33), Mooney (7th, 16:40), Carrus (9th, 16:46), Miller (15th, 17:26), and Levey (20th, 17:44).
Orange has four top 20 returners in Brandon Gent (12th, 17:09), Chris Utech (13th, 17:14), Nicolas Bustamante (17th, 17:36), and Ishan Bhatt (18th, 17:41).
Beachwood’s Max Kuenzler also finished among the top 20 at the 2022 CVC Championships as he placed 19th in 17:43.
Crestwood moved up to the Chagrin Division after winning the Valley Division title last season.
The Red Devils return four runners who placed among the top 20 at the CVC meet including Augie Schweikert, who placed third in the Valley Division with a time of 17:49, Kevin Vechery, who was eighth in 18:04, Han Sebold, who placed 14th in 18:36, and Grayson Sanwald, who finished 17th in 19:04. Austin Wurm finished just outside the top 20 as he was 23rd with a time of 19:30.
Lutheran West returns just one runner who placed among the top 20 in the Valley Division last fall. Thomas Bill finished 18th in 19:06.
Wickliffe’s top returning runners are Dominic Borsich, who placed ninth in the Valley Division last fall with a time of 18:12, and Jacob Peklay, who finished 27th, in 19:37.
LAKE DIVISION
The newly formed Lake Division includes Conneaut, Edgewood, Geneva, Jefferson, Lakeside, Madison, Perry, and West Geauga.
West Geauga returns one top 20 runner from its 2022 CVC Chagrin Division championship team. Daniel Kearns won the CVC meet as an individual last fall, but he has since graduated, leaving Dienes to lead the Wolverines this fall. He placed fourth in the Chagrin Division last fall with a time of 16:29.
Geneva also competed in the Chagrin Division last fall. Donald Shymske led the Eagles with a 16th-place finish in 17:35. Luke McKinney placed 23rd (17:58) and Owen Pfeifer was 35th (18:39).
Lakeside’s top returning runner is Wyatt Hamilton, who placed 50th in the Chagrin Division with a time of 19:55.
Edgewood graduated its top runner in Granison Hill, who placed sixth in the Chagrin Division. Braylon Wetherbee returns to lead the Warriors after finishing 29th at the CVC championships with a time of 18:15.
Perry finished eighth in the Chagrin Division last season, but with six returning runners who placed among the top 50, the Pirates could move up in the standings this fall. Vance Vojack placed 28th last season with a time of 18:12 and Nicolai Nagy was 31st in 18:20.
Conneaut, Jefferson, and Madison are new to the CVC after previously competing in Pennsylvania’s District 10, the Northeast 8 Athletic Conference, and the Western Reserve Conference, respectively.
Conneaut’s top returning runner is J.R. Hutchinson, who placed 77th in the Division II Madison District meet last fall with a time of 19:34. Teammate Hamilton Spero was close behind as he placed 84th in 19:44.
Jefferson lost its lone state qualifier to graduation, but the Falcons return Ben Phillips, who placed 56th at the Madison District with a time of 18:54, and Luke Sly, who was 75th at the district meet in 19:26.
Madison returns a pair of runners who placed among the top 30 at the Division I Madison District. Alex Kollhoff placed 24th in 17:15 and Izaiah Siler finished 28th in 17:22.
VALLEY DIVISION
The Valley Division includes Berkshire, Cardinal, Cuyahoga Heights, Grand Valley, Independence, Kirtland, Richmond Heights, and Trinity.
Independence finished second to Crestwood at last fall’s league meet and the Blue Devils return four runners who placed among the top 30 at the conference championships.
Leading the way is James Kitagawa, who finished 12th in 18:34. Brian Angyal (15th, 18:56), Nathan Lu (29th, 19:43), and Carter Peters (30th, 19:49) provide the Blue Devils with depth.
Cuyahoga’ Heights returns two top 10 runners from last season including Valley Division runner-up Bradyn Rusch, who finished the CVC meet in 17:23. Caden Buccier placed 10th in 18:16.
Cardinal’s Samuel Gdovichin made quite an impact as a freshman when he placed sixth with a time of 18:01. Oliver Kumher placed 21st in 19:15.
Kirtland’s top returning runner is Ben Sherman, who placed 11th in 18:30.
Grand Valley returns a pair of top 35 runners in Ethan Hughes (16th, 19:00) and Ben Cozad (34th, 20:00).
Berkshire has four top 35 runners returning in Quinlan Sirl (19th, 19:07), Isaac Burden (24th, 19:32), Colin Hughes (28th, 19:40), and Max Myers (32nd, 19:58).
Richmond Heights returns two of its four runners from last season. Michael McWilliams led the Spartans at the CVC meet with a time of 22:06 and Darius Munford finished in 24:01.
Trinity has just one returning runner from last year’s CVC meet. Chandler Aitkin finished in 22:59.
