PDT Sports Writer

MCDERMOTT - Cross country and Wheelersburg seem to be a perfect fit.

The Pirates continued their proficiency in the sport on Wednesday at the SOC Championship at Northwest High School, sweeping both team victories. The win is the third straight for the boys, and the second straight for the girls.

“We started the season with the goal of getting to the state (meet),” said Pirates coach Gary Johnson. “We missed going to the state last year by two places. We were sixth in the regional and the top four go, so the boys had a real goal to go to the state. And, the girls are getting fair representation now, so their goal is to get to the regional and maybe an individual or two to the state, so both teams have been real goal-oriented groups.”

In the boys race, Wheelersburg won with 27 points. Leading the way was Jacob Ruggles, who won in a time of 16:50. Notre Dame's Justin Kammler finished second in 17:20. The Pirates' Andrew Easter, Adam Parlin and Derek Massie also finished in the top seven, good for First Team All-SOC honors.

Eli Gerlach was the fifth Wheelersburg runner to finish in the top 11, earning a spot Second Team All-SOC squad. After the race, Ruggles said getting a final opportunity to win the conference crown provided motivation.

“I wanted to run this race like it was my last,” he said. “I would like to thank God for the beautiful running weather that he has given us, and for keeping the health up on the team and the coach. I can't really explain the 16:50. It feels great to break 17 minutes, because I have never done that.”

In the girls race, Sarah Ruggles and Taylor Ross finished second and sixth, respectively, earning First Team honors. Kailyn Smith finished eighth and Amy O'Brien finished 11th for a spot on the Second Team. Johnson was pleased with his team's overall performance.

“The girls just did a super job,” he said. “Amy O'Brien hasn't been feeling well, but she still comes out here and gets Second Team All-SOC. Taylor Ross and Kailyn Smith stepped up and did a nice job, as did Chelsea Swick, our No. 5 runner. (And) I just can't say enough about Sarah Ruggles. She took off like a house on fire, and just went from beginning to end.”

Winning the girls race was South Webster's Kayla Cook in a time of 19:42. For most of the season, Cook was paired up against male runners in races, and that experience helped her pull away for the victory in just her sophomore season. She finished second last year.

“It helped to just have the momentum to keep up with the boys,” she said. “Then, when I got into the girls race, it just made me want push more and try to beat the girls.”



JOSH HICKLE can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 241.

SOC Championships

Boys

Team Results

1. Wheelersburg 27

2. Waverly 101

3. South Webster 105

4. Eastern Pike 110

5. Minford 126

6. Western Pike 139

7. Oak Hill 167

8. Northwest 178

9. Notre Dame 181

Individual Results (Nos. 1-7 First Team All-SOC, Nos. 8-14 Second Team All-SOC)

1. Jacob Ruggles (WB) 16:50

2. Justin Kammler (ND) 17:20

3. Andrew Easter (WB) 17:31

4. Nic Cartee (SW) 17:33

5. Adam Parlin (WB) 17:33

6. Jordan Selbee (EP) 17:37

7. Derek Massie (WB) 17:54

8. Jordan Strickland (OH) 18:09

9. Brandon Brown (WA) 18:13

10. Drew Wolford (WP) 18:17

11. Eli Gerlach (WB) 18:18

12. Zach LaJoye (NW) 18:20

13. Miguel Rosario (WP) 18:25

14. Aarick Wiseman (SW) 18:26

Girls

Team Results

1. Wheelersburg 36

2. Notre Dame 61

3. Northwest 82

4. Minford 84

5. Valley 108

6. Oak Hill 130

Individual Results

1. Kayla Cook (SW) 19:42

2. Sarah Ruggles (WB) 20:02

3. Sarah Appleton (ND) 20:14

4. Rachel Appleton (ND) 21:40

5. Emillie Mills (NW) 21:58

6. Taylor Ross (WB) 22:09

7. Tabitha Johnson (VA) 22:09

8. Kailyn Smith (WB) 22:21

9. Hannah Blackburn (MI) 22:34

10. Charissa Spencer (WA) 22:43

11. Amy O'Brien (WB) 22:45

12. Amber Roffe (MI) 22:47

13. Kristianna Johnson (OH) 22:48

14. Rachel Shumway (NW) 23:02