Athletics: Ottawa-Glandorf wins WBL meet

BATH TOWNSHIP – Winning can be contagious.

Heading into Friday’s Western Buckeye League track and field final at Bath High School, the Ottawa-Glandorf boys team knew it had to step up its efforts if a WBL team title was within its reach.

The Ottawa-Glandorf women’s team entered Friday’s final as the top seed in almost every event.

On Friday night, the second and final day of the WBL Championships, the OG men’s team rose to the occasion on the track, en route to winning the team title over Shawnee, 112-99.50. Celina finished third (72), while Bath (48) and Van Wert (48) tied for fourth among the 10 teams.

On the girls’ side, OG left no doubt as the Titans scored 128 points, compared to 82 points for Bath. Celina (63.50) and Van Wert (59) round out the top four teams.

This was the OG girls’ third consecutive WBL team title.

For the Bath women’s team, it was the best WBL championship result in school history.

Ty Rosengarten of Ottawa-Glandorf fueled his team on Friday, winning the 1,600 and 800 in thrilling fashion.

In the 1,600m, Rosengarten pulled ahead of the field and crossed the finish line in 4 minutes, 22.51 seconds. Owen Scott of Van Wert was second in 4:24.03. Shawnee’s Noah Williams, who was in contention for the majority of the race, finished a close third (4:25.11).

Later in the 800m, Rosengarten broke away from the pack for a winning time of 1:58.04. Van Wert’s Rylan Miller was second (1:59.88).

“Noah Williams is a great runner,” Rosengarten said. “I was just preparing for his kick (in the 1,600m) because he’s also a kicker. It went very well.

OG boys head coach Brian Heebsh said his leaders stepped up their efforts Friday.

“Our emotional leader is Ty Rosengarten. He’s just a great competitor. He does everything the right way – in season and out of season. He was aided by a strong group of junior and senior leaders to raise the bar. We just started to get some momentum (Friday),” Heebsh said.

“Another guy, Dane Duling, who was a little injured last Friday night, came back and finished second in the 110 (110 meter hurdles) and first in the 300 (hurdles). He (Duling) was on both relay teams (400 relay, 800 relay) that won the WBL, so (he got) three firsts and one second. Ty Rosengarten also had three firsts and a second. So those two guys, along with a few other guys, showed great leadership. The guys started to follow suit and intervened. Once the momentum got going, it started to snowball.

Rosengarten was also on the 1,600 relay (Masen Vogt, Isaac Macke, Ethan Metzger, Rosengarten) which finished second (3:27.19).

On Wednesday, the OG boys 3,200m relays (Masen Vogt, Ethan Metzger, Isaac Macke, Rosengarten) won in 8:08.96.

For the OG girls, Wednesday and Friday were banner days.

“I think we scored points in 15 of the 17 events. Some girls really stepped up,” said OG girls head coach Matt Burwell. “Our relays were truly exceptional. The par-eight four (3,200-yard relay; Madelyn Hovest, Liana Fortman, Corinne Closson, Anna Buddelmeyer; first, 9:28.97) broke the WBL record on Wednesday. The four by one (400 relay; Savannah Recker, Alivia Grothause, Delaney Duling, Averie Fox; first, 49.00) and four by two (800 relay; Laney Hedrick, Savannah Recker, Alivia Grothause, Averie Fox; first, 1: 43.72) broke it (WBL competition record) on Wednesday, then broke it again today. The girls broke the school record in the four-on-one (400 relay). They just missed it in the par four (800 relay). And the four by four (1,600 relay; Brea Recker, Averie Fox, Emma Heringhaus, Corinne Closson; second, 4:03.69) lost almost three seconds of its PR today.

“In the field events, Savannah Recker took first place (long jump; 16 feet 10.5 inches). Gracie Lammers (third in long jump, 15-11.5) had a PR of about eight inches today and finished third. Everything went well. The girls came to compete. I gave them one goal today: “Go out, compete and see what happens.” They really took it to heart and did really well. I know we are hungry. I know we’re going to celebrate, but on Monday we’re going to get ready for the (Division II) district meet (Wednesday and Friday at Defiance High School).

In Friday’s girls 800m final, it was a double for OG.

OG freshman Liana Fortman edged out teammate Corinne Closson for the win. Fortman’s winning time was 2:18.66, while Closson crossed the finish line in 2:18.87.

OG’s depth in the 800 is starting to pay huge dividends.

“It really helps to push each other in practice,” Fortman said. “You just know we’re going to get better every day.” So we have that competition in competitions and in training.

OG’s Emma Hoffman won the discus Wednesday (133-3) and was second in the shot put Friday (37-0.5). Claire Foust from Bath won the shot put (38-0).

Walsh and Cole stand out on track for Bath

Bath’s Tatum Walsh won Friday’s 400 (57.93), was third in the 100 (12.41), third in the 200 (25.59) and anchored the winning relay in the 1,600 (Hailey Hale, Isabella Bartlett, Gwyneth Foust, Walsh; 4:03.37). OG’s 1,600m relay finished second in Friday’s final (4:03.69).

“We were ready to fight with OG. … We knew it,” Walsh said of Friday’s 1,600 relay final. “It’s so much fun to win with the team. This team (1,600 relays), I love them all. We have a freshman, a sophomore, a junior and I’m a senior. So it’s a really cool mix. It’s a really fun dynamic.

Ethan Cole of Bath won the 200 (22.58), placed third in the 300 hurdles (39.73) and fourth in the 110 hurdles (15.33).

“Last year I didn’t really run the 400 or the 200. I was mainly a four-by-two (800 relay) guy and a four-by-one (400 relay) guy,” Cole said. “I won three and finished second in the 110 hurdles last year at the WBL. So it was a change to go to the four by four (1600m relay) and a single 200m back-to-back. It’s been a lot of fun though.

Shawnee shines in field events

On Wednesday, Shawnee’s Akyus Richardson won the shot put with a mark of 58-8.25. Friday evening, he placed second in the discus (146-07).

Last season as a sophomore, Richardson placed seventh in the shot put at the Division I track and field meet.

On Wednesday, Richardson fouled a throw that traveled more than 60 feet.

“It was a very satisfying day. … I’m back,” Richardson said with a smile. “I’m back to where I was a few weeks ago. I know what I can improve, things I can fix, and things I can change.

“The last two years haven’t been very good when it comes to shot put in the WBL. Last year, I fouled on all three of my shots. The year before, I hadn’t even gone to college. So to come back here and get a big win like I did, I’m really happy about it.

Also Wednesday, Shawnee’s Joel Stirn won the long jump with a mark of 22 feet, 3 inches. OG’s Gavin Morman was second (21-1 ½).

Stump scores big for Shawnee

Shawnee’s Jenna Stump won the 1,600 (5:20.69) and was second in the 3,200 Friday (11:58.69). Kenton’s Addi Manns won the 3,200 (11:49.92), while OG’s Madelyn Hovest was third (11:59.12).

“I was hoping to finish first in both events,” Stump said. “With the mile (1,600), I had a mental plan. I was going to stay with the first girl and then try to pass her at the end.

**Complete results from the Western Buckeye League championships are at milesplit.oh