Sunday, October 14, 2001
High School Insider
La Salle, St. Xavier boys will race to the finish
By Tom Groeschen
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LaSalle is rated No.2 in the nation in boys cross country, but St.Xavier is ranked No.1 in Ohio, which proves one thing. Nothing.
Nothing, other than the polls can generate lots of, ahem, fun discussion.
“Coming into the season, LaSalle was the consensus for No.1,” St.X coach Larry Merkel said. “That was justifiably so. Not very much was said about us, but I think we've surpassed expectations.”
In 2000, St.X won the Division I state title and LaSalle was runner-up.
LaSalle, led by defending state champion Allen Bader, was rated No.1 in the nation earlier this year by The Harrier running magazine. The Lancers are now No.2 in that poll, having gained attention by running well in some national meets. They remain a favorite for the Ohio state title.
But so does St.X. The Bombers have risen to No.1 in both the state and area polls, with coaches apparently sold on St.X's depth.
LaSalle is ranked No.2 in the area and No.3 in the state.
Ben Wietmarschen, Jeremy Mosher and Tommy Balmat are back from last year's St.X state champs. Kyle Kowalski and Josh Walters also have been strong in this year's lineup, Merkel said.
LaSalle's Bader, who has run a 15:17 this year, is favored to repeat as state champion. The Lancers also have Eric Mayhaus and Garrett Grogan ranked among the city's top 10 runners.
LaSalle won the Greater Catholic League meet Saturday, but coaches don't always show their hands this early. The real test begins at the district meet Saturday, followed by regionals Oct.27 and the state meet Nov.3 in Columbus.
“Our ultimate goal,” LaSalle coach Frank Russo said, “is to be there at the end of the year.”
NEW DAY: Summit Country Day football coach Ty Copeland and boys soccer coach Scott Cagle are not exactly from Central Casting.
“Both of them work in the technology department at our school,” Summit athletic director Terry McConnell said. “Every one of our teachers has their own laptop computer, and when they have a problem, these guys help them. They essentially teach our teachers.”
Copeland and Cagle are relatively young, little more than a decade out of high school.
“You picture coaches also being a phys-ed or history teacher, which is the norm,” McConnell said. “It shows how times are changing.”
IT HAPPENS: Wyoming football fans wonder why their team fell several places (to 11th) in the weekly Associated Press Division IV state poll, despite beating Indian Hill 27-0 last week.
Here's what happened: The AP in Columbus somehow received the wrong score, erroneously reporting Indian Hill had won 27-0. By the time the error was discovered, most statewide AP poll votes had been tabulated for the week.
“We heard what happened,” Wyoming AD Jim Barre said. “They told us they'd get the polls fixed this week.”
The mistake does not affect Wyoming's computer playoff points, which determine postseason teams. The Harbin computer received the correct score.
GOOD SCOUTS: A follow-up to a recent story we did on scouting services: Another local service, athletes-on-line.com, offers a free service for athletes, parents and colleges.
The organization, which helps students find financial aid and scholarship opportunities for college, is headed by Greg Hansen and Jon Bernier out of Northern Kentucky. For info call Hansen (859-746-1059) or Bernier (859-384-1218) or visit athletes-on-line.com.
COACHES NEEDED:
Withrow: Girls varsity fast-pitch softball. Call AD Ted Kiep, 533-5704.
Clark Montessori: High school swimming, assistant wrestling, varsity/JV cheerleaders. Call AD Tom Donnelly, 533-7380.
Sycamore: Varsity assistant swimming (boys and girls). Call AD Jim Stoll, 489-0405 ext. 368.
Contact Tom Groeschen at 768-8450; fax: 768-8550; e-mail: tgroeschen@enquirer.com.
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