Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland High School (LHS) Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Teams are re-writing school history one broken record at a time!
In addition to being the 2021-2021 Eastern Cincinnati Conference (ECC) Champs, last Saturday at Troy High School the LHS Women’s Cross Country Team captured the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division 1 Regional Title with a score of 69 for the first time ever in Tiger history. This qualified the entire team to compete in the OHSAA State Division 1 Women’s Championship set to go down this Saturday at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park at 3 PM. This will be the Women’s 3rd trip to State as a team since the conception of the cross country program (2007, 2019, and 2021).
Senior Jesse Gibbins took the top time at Regionals for the Tigers placing 4th with a time of 19:15.7. To see the official results from the OHSAA Regional Division 1 Women’s 5k click here.
Earlier this season the LHS Women’s Cross Country Team broke another school record at the Loveland Sunset Invitational having 5 women in the same race run under 19 minutes! That race and the OHSAA District Division 1 Women’s 5k put 5 Tigers in the top 8 in the ECC for their individual 5k times.
The LHS Men’s Cross Country Team has also made a name for themselves this year grabbing their first ECC title in 15 years! Building off that history-changing title, the Men collected a 4th place finish with a score of 143 at the OHSAA Division 1 Regional Men’s Championships, allowing them to qualify as a team for the State Tournament. With that accomplishment, the LHS Cross Country Teams again broke a school record, as it is the first time ever in LHS history that both Cross Country squads qualified for the State Tournament in the same year! This will also be the Men’s 3rd trip to the State Tournament as a team (1971, 2020, and 2021).
Senior Ryan Chevalier was the top finisher for the Tigers at the Regional Tournament race finishing in 15th place with a time of 17:12.8. To see the official results from the OHSAA Regional Division 1 Men’s 5k click here.
After all of the impressive running by the Men, 4 Tigers are in the top 9 in the ECC for their individual 5k times.
The Men’s Cross Country Team is in 7th place in the State of Ohio per the OATCCC poll.
Before both Tiger teams head off to Fortress Obetz on Saturday in Columbus for the OHSAA Division 1 State Cross Country Championships, here at Loveland Magazine we decided to take a trip to LHS to chat with both history-changing teams! We are so proud of both teams and thought it was necessary to showcase all their accomplishments to the community so that we could all root them on before the big race!
Introducing the LHS Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Team, brought to you by Loveland Magazine TV! Click below to watch the exclusive interview now!
The following athletes are in the video interview: Ryan Chevalier, Cayden Dyer, Grant Hanson, Nick Huff, Sam Neiger, Alex Saletta, Brady Steiner, JP Tew, Ally Colegate, Madison Conatser, Lauren Gard, Jessie Gibbins, Sarah Madix, Emmy Sager, and Maaike Snider.
(Photos taken by Loveland XC, Loveland Athletic Department, and Cassie Mattia.)
Both the Women’s and Men’s Cross Country Teams will be celebrated tomorrow at 10:35 AMat LHS! The High School asks that youhave your class step into the hallway, outside of your classroom for the send-off parade. The Cross Country athletes, coaches, and the drumline will come to every floor beginning promptly at 10:35 AM.
If you would like to show your support for the LHS Cross Country Teams on Saturday in Columbus at Fortress Obetz and Memorial Park click here to purchase tickets. Students can purchase tickets for $10 while General Admission tickets are $13. Division 1 Women will race at 3 PM and the Men will race at 4 PM.
For more of your latest local sports updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
Alex Saletta (alternate), Brady Steiner, Sam Neiger, Grant Hanson, Cayden Dyer, Emmy Sager, AJ Stutz, Colin Beran, Alex Salatin (alternate), and Ryan Chevalier
by David Miller
Loveland, Ohio – It is a contribution of many factors that sends Loveland High School Cross Country runners to compete in the Ohio State Championship finals. The culture of running in Loveland that began decades ago when Loveland became the mecca of road running for enthusiasts from all over the Tri-State when Loveland became the first trailhead of the Little Miami Scenic Trail. Known forever around these parts as the Loveland Bike Trail. It’s in no small part attributable to excellent coaches over the years that are highly respected throughout Ohio. No doubt, parents who are raising these young men and women. No doubt the culture of running that begins in early grades within the school system with their after-school running clubs. No doubt the numerous road races held in Historic Downtown and along the Loveland Bike Trail. It’s the high school and middle school athletic departments teaching those in their care the right attitude and balance between competition and academic studies as well as hiring the right coaches.
Thus, LHS sent off the Men’s team and one Woman runner this morning to compete tomorrow at Fortress Obetz in Obetz, Ohio; to participate in the purest of athletic pursuits of running a 5K the fastest.
No fancy equipment is required. Of course, they will be running in some pretty expensive shoes, but New Balance and Nike aren’t going to determine the outcome tomorrow. It will be thousands of miles of practice that came before. It will be what’s in the runners’ heads tomorrow. It will be what has been in their head for many years; honing their technique, learning what to eat and not to eat, before, after, and in-between. It will be the endless days coping with injuries and resting injured muscles and shins when every constant thought is a painfully, agonizing crave too quickly returning to the pavement to get that next fix of adrenaline and endorphin. It’s the personal self-discipline to balance what the right and left brain are arguing about. It’s a well-developed skill of resolve to know how many or how few miles to put in the days leading to the next starter’s gun.
An hour before heading to the crowded starting line will be years of muscle memory kicking in knowing how much to run for a warm-up.
Round or flat laces and how tight to tie them.
Going to the State Final has been many years of lacing up and heading out the door when your mind plays a tug of war between a daily run or putting it off until tomorrow when you have a running buddy.
Here are photos of the LHS runners who did all that – and more – and photos from their school when they left this morning escorted through town by the Loveland Police Department. They also went by the Loveland Primary and Elementary School campus and were cheered by future Tiger runners.
This won’t be the last race they ever run, as every time they head out the door in the future they will still have an imaginary or real finish line ahead. Most have already developed something they will never get out of their system and will become life-long runners. They will never have to find a court or field, or someone to compete against, no one to throw the ball to… they will always have the road just outside their front door. The suburban street. The friendly community trail. A high school or college track. The inter-city block. The rural road. Just themselves and their shoes.
Loveland, Ohio – As high school sports across Ohio begin to enter back into in-person practicing and competitions Fall sports teams are beginning to release their 2020 competition schedules including LHS’s Cross Country Team.
On Wednesday, LHS’s Cross Country Twitter page released its 2020 Cross Country schedule, describing it as “very fun and challenging!”
Be sure to come out and support the Tigers beginning August 15th at the OHSAA Season-Opener at Fortress Obetz, a multi-purpose sports, and entertainment complex in Obetz, Ohio. The bleacher system alone holds 6,500 people and the standing room holds near 20,000 people. Fortress Obetz opened in 2017 and was the former site of Columbus Motor Speedway.
Fortress Obetz, a 50-acre multi-purpose complex on the Southeast side of Columbus, committed to hosting the OHSAA Cross Country Championships for the next five years.
by Cassie Mattia
Columbus, Ohio – Over the past several weeks many Ohio High School athletes and coaches have been awaiting updates on when they can start up team instruction and competitions again. Last week OHSAA provided several updates on both future competitions and the no-contact ban for Ohio’s High Schools giving hope to many dedicated coaches and athletes across the state.
Loveland High School Athletic Director Brian Conaster said that he received the up-date from OHSAA but is proceeding cautiously before making decisions or announcements to his coaches and athletes. “I am waiting for more clarification and guidance from the OHSAA and other state and local bodies later this week. Once I have this, I can then make a more informed statement,” he said.
New venue for State CC Championships
Fortress Obetz is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex in Obetz, Ohio. Its bleacher system holds 6,500 people. Including standing room for events such as concerts, Fortress Obetz can hold nearly 20,000 people. It opened in 2017 on the site of the former Columbus Motor Speedway. Google image of Fortress Obetz
On April 29th, OHSAA announced that Fortress Obetz, a 50-acre multi-purpose complex on the Southeast side of Columbus, committed to hosting the OHSAA Cross Country Championships for the next five years. Last Wednesday, Director of Communications, Tim Stried sent out a press release describing the Fortress Obetz facility.
“The Ohio High School Athletic Association cross country state championships are moving to Fortress Obetz, a 50-acre multi-purpose sports complex with a 6,500-seat grandstand located in Obetz on the southeast side of Columbus, OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass announced Wednesday.
Fortress Obetz opened in 2017 on the former site of the Columbus Motor Speedway. The racing that will now take place there in early November represents one of the largest high school cross country events in the country, with more than 11,000 fans.
Jerry Snodgrass gives the State Champion Div. I Women’s Soccer trophy to Loveland in this 2017 Loveland Magazine file photo
Of significance, much of the course will be visible from the 6,500-seat grandstands, which will lead to a greater experience for fans and participants.
‘We can’t wait for our student-athletes and Ohio’s entire cross country community to experience the state championships at Fortress Obetz,’ said Snodgrass. ‘This facility is so impressive, from the course layout for the competitors to be more spectator-friendly for the fans and we are thrilled to sign a five-year agreement. We would like to thank National Trail Raceway for hosting the state championships for the last nine years and doing an outstanding job as our host.’
Fortress Obetz was built to host sporting events, concerts, festivals, and more. It was the home of the Ohio Machine professional lacrosse team from 2017-19. The facility has five video boards, concessions, restrooms, and a huge parking lot.
‘The Village of Obetz is extremely proud and excited to partner with the OHSAA,’ said Steve Adams, National Director of Athletic Operations and Facilities Promotion. ‘We feel our Memorial Park and the Fortress is perfectly suited for the OHSAA Cross Country State Tournament. We have created a safe and challenging course for the runners and kept the spectator experience in mind as well.’
The grandstand includes 1,100 flip-down seats, 2,000 bench-back seats, and 3,400 bleacher seats.
OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass
Scioto Downs, located just south of Columbus, hosted the OHSAA cross country state championships from 1985 through 2010 before the facility added a casino. National Trail Raceway in Hebron, 20 miles east of Columbus, hosted the state championships from 2011 through 2019.”
#howicompete campaign
On May 5th, OHSAA released that they would be launching a campaign in collaboration with Allied Organizations called #howicompete. This campaign is meant to encourage student-athletes to train on their own at home while school facilities are closed. The #howicompete campaign will collect and promote messages and videos posted by OHSAA members, media, and allied organizations in hopes that both the messages and videos will inspire athletes to train as hard as they can during the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic. The press release below from OHSAA goes more in-depth as to what the #howicompete campaign is and how it will benefit student-athletes.
“With school facilities shuttered, student-athletes are not permitted to gather together, therefore the #howicompete campaign encourages training on their own at home and with instructions sent electronically by their school coaches.
Student-athletes and teams are encouraged to set goals and compete against themselves and others while complying with social distancing guidelines. Content will be promoted through the OHSAA’s social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) on its handle @OHSAASports.
‘The health and safety of all Ohioans is our top priority, but we also want student-athletes to stay focused and motivated to pick up where they left off when school sports return,’ said OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass. ‘There are so many things that kids can do on their own or with their parents and siblings. Especially something like running and walking, which is a habit that can stay with them for a long time and keep them healthy as adults.’
Organizations such as the Ohio high school coaches associations, Ohio Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (OIAAA), and many more are asked to help encourage and promote content from student-athletes and tag the OHSAA using #howicompete. The OHSAA is also excited to share this campaign in support of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, which is encouraging stories from competitors whose resilience is helping them Live Forward during this unprecedented health crisis.”
UD to host OHSAA women’s basketball tournaments
The recently renovated University of Dayton Arena.
On May 12th, OHSAA made the announcement that the Ohio High School Women’s Basketball State Tournament would be hosted at the recently renovated University of Dayton for the next three years. In the past, UD has not only hosted 125 NCAA Basketball Tournament games but the state of the art facility has also been the home court for March Madness more than any other athletic facility in the country! The Arena itself can seat up to 13,000 fans. OHSAA’s Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass expressed his excitement for the UD venue in the press release below.
“We are very excited to sign a three-year agreement for our member schools to experience UD Arena,’ Snodgrass said. ‘Southwest Ohio loves and supports basketball and the people at the University of Dayton have made it clear that they really want this state tournament on their campus. We believe that we have found a great home for the Women’s basketball state tournament.’
Photo by the University of Dayton
UD Arena recently completed a transformation project that was the largest construction effort in the University’s history. It is regarded as one of the nation’s premier basketball facilities to go along with fan support that consistently ranks among the best in college basketball.
‘We’re very proud that the OHSAA has entrusted us to host the women’s basketball state tournament at the University of Dayton Arena for the next three years,’ said Scott DeBolt, Senior Associate Athletics Director at the University of Dayton and Executive Director of UD Arena. ‘The same ingredients that make UD Arena the ideal place for the NCAA First Four – community support and excitement for the game of basketball, our facilities, staff, and tournament hosting experience – will help create lifelong memories for the young women who come to Dayton to play in the state tournament and their school communities.’
In the 45 years of the OHSAA girls basketball state tournament, it has been hosted at The Ohio State University 44 times (all but 1986 when it was hosted at the University of Akron). However, there are now a limited number of dates available to use OSU’s Jerome Schottenstein Center or St. John Arena in March.
The 2021 girls basketball state tournament is scheduled for March 11-13. The 2021 OHSAA boys basketball state tournament will be played at St. John Arena March 18-20. There is currently no host site in place for the men’s basketball state tournament in 2022.”
Loveland Magazine readers stay tuned for more of the latest 411 for both Loveland and Ohio sports!
![[Photos] LHS XC headed to State Finals this morning](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/c.c.-to-state.jpg)
by Cassie Mattia
by Cassie Mattia
“With school facilities shuttered, student-athletes are not permitted to gather together, therefore the #howicompete campaign encourages training on their own at home and with instructions sent electronically by their school coaches.
