The LHS Boys’ Cross Country Team took 3rd place at the OHSAA District Championship this past Saturday, October 22, at Lorain County Community College. By placing in the top 5 overall, the Rangers advanced to next week’s OHSAA Regional Championship. The meet included all 10 teams of the Southwest Conference, plus Benedictine, Elyria, John Marshall, Lorain, Max Hayes, St. Edward, and Strongsville.

St. Edward won the meet with 59 points, edging out 2nd place Strongsville by a 1 point, who scored 60 points. Leading the Rangers was Senior Henry Bish, who finished 6th place with a time of 16:56.08. Also scoring for the Rangers were Junior Joe Burtzlaff (21st place, 17:36.90), Junior Evan Budzar (23rd place, 17:42.52), Senior Gunnar Stockman (29th place, 17:55.0), and Senior Ty’Saun Blevins (35th place, 18:03.83). Josh Hill of Amherst won the race with a time of 16:35.90. Strongsville’s Brian Wyler took 2nd place overall with a time of 16:38.06.

Behind St. Edward (59 points) and Strongsville (60 points), Lakewood took 3rd place with 114 points. Avon Lake finished 4th place with a 120 points and Amherst and Avon tied for 5th place with 146 points each. In cross country, the score of the 6th person on each team acts as the tiebreaker if necessary. Amherst won the tiebreaker over Avon, advancing them to the Regional Championship. Amherst’s 6th person, Gabe DelValle, finished in 59th place and Avon’s 6th person, Michael Rennette, finished in 69th place.

The Rangers compete at the OHSAA Regional Championship on Saturday, October 29. The meet takes place at Boardman High School, where the top 8 teams and top 32 individuals advance to the OHSAA State Championship. The Boys Division 1 race starts at 12:30, and features several state contending teams including: Solon, St. Ignatius, Medina, Wadsworth, and Louisville.