WEST UNION - For the first time in school history, the Williamstown cross country teams swept the Little Kanawha Conference championships.
However, the individual victors during Thursday's race at Doddridge County Park were the expected winners in senior Maggie Drazba of St. Marys and Ritchie County junior Johnny Hogue.
The Yellowjacket boys of head coach Larry Cassady, though, had to rely on the effort of their sixth best finisher in order to claim the crown. Both WHS and the host Bulldogs concluded the race with 66 points apiece, but the tiebreaker went down to which team had the best sixth man and that ended up going to the 'Jackets thanks to Ryder Deem, who finished 25th overall and was just one spot off from being second team all-LKC.
Article Photos
Johnny Hogue
Ritchie County
"This started in June," said Cassady, whose team was led by Chandler Antill (10th, 19:02), Blake Williams (12th, 19:16), Austin Hall (17th, 19:44), Ethan Collins (19th, 19:50) and Dylan Stansberry (20th, 19:54).
"That first week of June we mapped out a plan and we've been following it to the 'T' and it paid off today. We're hoping to keep this momentum going."
Hogue finished in 16:52 to lead the pack and was almost six seconds faster than LKC runner-up Caleb Moore of Doddridge County. The Bulldogs also had first team all-LKC runners thanks to Matt Zorn (4th, 17:56) and Keith Britton (6th, 18:35) as Ian Spencer finished 30th and Caleb Ferguson 35th.
Fact Box
2012 Little Kanawha Conference
Meet at Doddridge County Park
GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Williamstown 49, St. Marys 56, Ravenswood 63, Braxton County 96, Ritchie County 106, Doddridge County 162, Tyler Consolidated 181, Wirt County 184, Gilmer County 242
First team all-LKC: 1. Maggie Drazba (SM) 19:16; 2. Hailey Miller (RW) 21:24; 3. Cami Mossor (WT) 21:58; 4. Taylor Treadway (RW) 22:22; 5. Kirsten Gateless (BC) 22:35; 6. Emily Strickler (SM) 22:48; 7. Kate Golinsky (BC) 22:49; 8. Andrea Chidester (WT) 22:54; 9. Allie Robinson (WT) 22:55; 10. Amanda Davis (RC) 23:02; 11. Shealee Mossor (WT) 23:07; 12. Amber Watson (TC) 23:11
Second team all-LKC: 13. Hannah Murray (RW) 23:24; 14. Olivia Taylor (SM) 23:30; 15. Alex Gorrell (SM) 23:46; 16. Chelsey Randolph (DC) 23:50; 17. Olivia Vanoy (RC) 23:52; 18. Sarah Settle (WT) 23:54; 19. Emma Ehle (WT) 24:02; 20. Katie Billeter (SM) 24:11; 21. Taylor Love (RW) 24:15; 22. Taylor Hammond (RC) 24:16; 23. Mariah Currey (RW) 24:16; 24. Kaitlyn Fulks (WT) 24:25
Other finishers
25. Taylor Mace (RC) 24:50; 26. Anne Golinsky (BC) 25:03; 27. Katie Bonnell (DC) 25:07; 28. Grace Skidmore (BC) 25:08; 29. Chynna Maze (SM) 25:17; 30. Sarah Skidmore (BC) 25:27; 31. Charlotte Gray (WT) 25:34; 32. Kristen Robinson (WC) 25:48; 33. Rebecca Cokeley (RC) 25:59; 34. Larissa Hayman (RW) 26:08; 35. Mary Kerby (WC) 26:14; 36. Justice Ingram (DC) 26:28; 37. Marisa Gogan (TC) 26:32; 38. Kelly Rice (TC) 26:45; 39. Morgan Litton (WC) 26:50; 40. Joanna Bonnell (DC) 26:57; 41. Emily Pelfrey (WC) 27:04; 42. Kalleigh Knicely (WC) 27:09; 43. Sara Fetty (SM) 27:15; 44. Giovanna Pennesi (Roane) 27:35; 45. Taylor Norman (Roane) 27:52
46. Megan Talbott (South Harrison) 27:55; 47. Jessie Jones (GC) 28:07; 48. Lindsay Gregory (GC) 28:07; 49. Rachel Casteel (DC) 28:14; 50. Renee Fisher (Roane) 28:33; 51. Jaccie Haugh (RC) 28:53; 52. Becky Bolin (TC) 28:57; 53. Josie Hayman (RW) 29:16; 54. Hannah Phillips (TC) 29:18; 55. Hannah Roberts (GC) 29:51; 56. Darryan Ward (SH) 29:53; 57. Michaela Gumm (GC) 30:08; 58. Brianna Mefford (WT) 30:25; 59. Tierra Leggett (DC) 30:28; 60. Maren Schroder (RC) 30:31; 61. Tara Evans (GC) 30:41; 62. Lexie McMillan (WC) 30:53; 63. Miranda Britton (RC) 31:25; 64. Stephanie Wright (TC) 31:32; 65. Laura Jochum (TC) 32:41; 66. Damara Winfrey (TC) 36:20; 67. Kellsi Anderson (TC) 38:29
BOYS TEAM SCORES: Williamstown 66*, Doddridge County 66, St. Marys 76, Ritchie County 88, Ravenswood 91, Wirt County 109
First team all-LKC: 1. Johnny Hogue (RC) 16:52; 2. Caleb Moore (DC) 16:58; 3. Jordan Whitehair (SM) 17:24; 4. Matt Zorn (DC) 17:56; 5. Glenn McMillan (WC) 18:22; 6. Keith Britton (DC) 18:35; 7. Caleb Pell (Roane) 18:35; 8. Caleb Shiery (Roane) 18:56; 9. Luke Sadecky (RW) 18:59; 10. Chandler Antill (WT) 19:02; 11. Newt Cottrill (SM) 19:10; 12. Blake Williams (WT) 19:16
Second team all-LKC: 13. Daniel Cooper (RC) 19:19; 14. Will Schindler (RW) 19:34; 15. Trevor Cottrill (SM) 19:36; 16. Chase Jarrell (RW) 19:41; 17. Austin Hall (WT) 19:44; 18. Levi Gordon (Calhoun) 19:49; 19. Ethan Collins (WT) 19:50; 20. Dylan Stansberry (WT) 19:54; 21. Kevin Hill (BC) 19:55; 22. Jeremy Kerby (WC) 19:58; 23. Hagan Root (WC) 20:00; 24. Jon Hayman (RW) 20:01
Other finishers
25. Ryder Deem (WT) 20:02; 26. Hunter Deem (RC) 20:07; 27. Jayson Lockhart (WT) 20:10; 28. Jacob Hively (WT) 20:18; 29. Michael Houser (SM) 20:20; 30. Ian Spencer (DC) 20:34; 31. Bradley Leggett (RC) 20:39; 32. Alec McIntosh (WT) 20:42; 33. Derek Carpenter (SM) 20:45; 34. Andy Cottrille (RC) 20:47; 35. Caleb Ferguson (DC) 20:51; 36. Jonathon Hicks (WT) 20:53; 37. Ryan Rebert (DC) 20:55; 38. Mark Freeland (RC) 21:00; 39. Jack Folwell (WT) 21:01; 40. Ryan Dalrymple (TC) 21:03; 41. Lane Eddy (DC) 21:12; 42. Caleb Thaxton (DC) 21:16; 43. Troy Fisher (Roane) 21:18; 44. Austin Cottrell (WC) 21:22; 45. Chris Berman (WT) 21:24; 46. Brady Ohrn (WC) 21:26
47. Andrew Davis (RC) 21:29; 48. Brendan Miller (SM) 21:30; 49. Cody Wolfe (SM) 21:37; 50. William Baker (Calhoun) 21:54; 51. Jon Watkins (RW) 22:01; 52. Andrew Bondi (WT) 22:14; 53. Aaron Bush (WT) 22:16; 54. Shane Robinson (WC) 22:23; 55. Dakota Prevatte (GC) 22:57; 56. DJ Lynch (WC) 22:58; 57. Jonathan Mason (RC) 23:20; 58. Kyle Fleming (WT) 23:45; 59. Marcus Pena (Roane) 24:10; 60. Ryan Graham (SH) 24:40; 61. Keith Long (BC) 24:49; 62. Justin Talbott (SH) 25:10; 63. Isaac Sprouse (GC) 26:38; 64. Tyler Wanstreet (GC) 26:45; 65. Pedro Ramiraz (WT) 27:11; 66. Brad Tallman (WC) 27:45; 67. Luke Sheldon (CC) 28:25; 68. Andrew Benson (WT) 28:30; 69. Tyler Pratt (TC) 30:13; 70. Aidan Davis (RC) 30:21 71. Michael Fulks (CC) 33:33
* Denotes Williamstown won LKC title on tiebreaker because of better sixth man finish.
"I knew it was going to be close," added Cassady, who gave all the credit to his runners along with WHS girls coach Dawn Settle and middle school coach Jill Bryant. "All year long it's been a battle."
St. Marys, which was led by Jordan Whitehair (3rd, 17:24) and Newt Cottrill (11th, 19:10), finished third in the boys race with 76 points. Ritchie County (88), Ravenswood (91) and Wirt County (109) rounded out the team scoring.
"I felt pretty good. I wanted to break 17 (minutes)," Hogue stated. "That was my goal. I'm only the fourth person to do it ever on this course."
Wirt County's Glen McMillan (5th, 18:22), Roane County teammates Caleb Pell (7th, 18:35) and Caleb Shiery (8th, 18:56) along with Ravenswood's Luke Sadecky (9th, 18:59) also picked up first team all-LKC honors for placing in the top 12.
The Williamstown girls ran a more than solid race as the Yellowjackets comprised a third of the all-LKC squad. Cami Mossor's effort of 21 minutes and 58 seconds was good for third. She finished 34 seconds behind runner-up Hailey Miller of Ravenswood while Drazba cruised to the victory with an effort of 19 minutes and 16 seconds. It was the fourth LKC title for Drazba, who is the first runner to ever accomplish that feat.
"I was happy with my time. It was a good race I think," said Drazba, who noted she's not really close to deciding where she wants to run at in college.
"I wasn't going after a time, just going for a good run and trying to get the win. It's kind of sad in a way it will be my last (LKC) race, but I'm looking forward to many years in the future."
Coach Settle's Yellowjackets finished with a 49-56 triumph versus St. Marys, which finished seven points ahead of third-place Ravenswood. Braxton County (96) and Ritchie County (106) rounded out the top five while Doddridge County (162), Tyler Consolidated (181), Wirt County (184) and Gilmer County (242) followed.
Williamstown last won the LKC girls team title in 1995 and Thursday's victory was aided by Mossor being joined on the first team all-LKC squad by Andrea Chidester (8th, 22:54), Allie Robinson (9th, 22:55) and Shealee Mossor (11th, 23:07). Sophomore Sarah Settle (18th, 23:54) was Williamstown's fifth finisher.
"It's real sweet to sweep it," said an emotional coach Settle after the awards ceremony. "The girls have worked hard and it's paid off as a team."
The only other Blue Devil girl to earn first team all-LKC was Emily Strickler (6th, 22:48). St. Marys' team scoring also included Olivia Taylor (14th, 23:30), Alex Gorrell (15th, 23:46) and Katie Billeter (20th, 24:11).
Ravenswood's Taylor Treadway (4th, 22:22), Braxton County teammates Kirsten Gateless (5th, 22:35) and Kate Golinsky (7th, 22:49) as well as Ritchie County's Amanda Davis (10th, 23:02) and Tyler Consolidated's Amber Watson (12th, 23:11) picked up first team all-LKC accolades.
