Boys Cross Country

Avon High School sophomore Nick Thompson was named the 2024 Southwestern Conference Boys Cross Country Most Valuable Runner following the conclusion of the SWC Boys Cross Country season.

Avon High School Head Coach Matt Nortz was selected 2024 SWC Coach of the Year.

The top eight runners at the SWC Championship earned first team honors while the next eight finishers garnered second team recognition. Each school also gets two honorable mention.

2024 SWC MVP
Nick Thompson, Avon

2024 SWC Coach of the Year
Matt Nortz, Avon

2024 All-SWC First Team
Nick Thompson, Avon
Gavin Smith, Elyria
Matthew Walker, Amherst Steele
Ben Susi, Amherst Steele
Franco Gallo, Avon
Asa Nicely, Amherst Steele
Jacob Michalak, Amherst Steele
Cooper Tanski, Avon

2024 All-SWC Second Team
Jared Keressi, Avon
Jose Alvelo, Avon
Ian Fababe, Avon Lake
Gabe Johnson, Avon Lake
Hayden Coughanour, Olmsted Falls
Lincoln Bouman, North Ridgeville
Niko Koutouras, Avon Lake
Matthew Lochbihler, Avon

2024 All-SWC Honorable Mention
Eli Nicely, Amherst Steele
Logan Pitcock, Amherst Steele
Owen Burns, Avon
Dominic Gallo, Avon
Isaac Gomes, Avon Lake
Nate Grieger, Avon Lake
Matt Herbert, Berea-Midpark
Alex Serban, Berea-Midpark
Gage Hopkins, Elyria
Robert Krasienko, Elyria
Lucas Edgell, Midview
Samuel Estes, Midview
Jacob Reed, North Ridgeville
Chris Stovieck, North Ridgeville
Mike Delap, Olmsted Falls
Brady Mackert, Olmsted Falls

ELYRIA, Ohio – Avon High School used its depth to win the 2024 Southwestern Conference Boys Cross Country Championship Saturday (October 12) on the campus of Lorain County Community College. [Complete Results]

Eagle sophomore Nick Thompson won the 5,000 meter championship with a time of 16:43.72, and four of his teammates finished in the top 10 to hold off second place Amherst Steele High School.

Senior Franco Gallo (17:11.45) placed fifth, senior Cooper Tanski (17:21.31) took 8th, sophomore Jared Keressi (17:29.73) placed 9th and junior Jose Alvelo (17:29.75) finished 10th to help Avon compile a league-best 33 points.

Amherst had four runners finish in the top 7 to earn 46 points. Junior Matthew Walker (17:09.00) placed third and senior Ben Susi (17:09.78) took fourth, while junior Asa Nicely (6th place) and senior Jacob Michalak (7th place) both crossed the line in 17:11.46.

Elyria High School senior Gavin  Smith was the individual runner-up. He finished the race in 17:02.04.

Team Results
1. Avon – 33
2. Amherst – 46
3. Avon Lake – 94
4. North Ridgeville – 108
5. Olmsted Falls – 116
6. Berea-Midpark – 150
7. Elyria – 157
8. Midview – 198

The Southwestern Conference released its Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week for September 23-28 this evening. Below is this week’s honoree:

Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Matthew Walker
Amherst Steele
Junior

Matthew placed second out of 104 runners at the Vermilion Invitational with a time of 16:58. He led the Comets to a first place finish out of 12 teams.

The Southwestern Conference released its Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week for September 16-21 this evening. Below is this week’s honoree:

Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Nick Thompson
Avon
Sophomore

Nick placed 30th out of 256 Varsity racers at the Strongsville Invitational Saturday. He navigated his way to a personal record time of 16:49.90 and led his Avon Eagles team to a 10th place finish out of 32 teams.

The Southwestern Conference released its Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week for September 2-7 this afternoon. Below is this week’s honoree:

Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Gavin Smith
Elyria
Junior

Gavin ran a 16:54 to finish runner-up at the Buckeye Invitational.

The Southwestern Conference released its Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week for August 26-31 this evening. Below is this week’s honoree:

Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Lucas Roberts
Berea-Midpark
Junior

Lucas ran an 18:04, just seconds off of his season best, at the Mentor Cardinal Classic.

The Southwestern Conference released its Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week for August 19-24 this evening. Below is this week’s honoree:

Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Ben Susi
Amherst Steele
Senior

Ben placed 6th out of 61 runners at the Bay Invitational with a time of 17:00.8 to lead the Comets to a third place finish out of 7 teams.

Other Notable Performances:

Lucas Roberts (Jr.), Berea-Midpark
Ran a 5:48 minute per mile for an 18:02 finish in the Berea-Midpark Invitational.

Amherst Steele High School senior Ty Perez was named the 2023 Southwestern Conference Boys Cross Country Most Valuable Runner following the conclusion of the SWC Boys Cross Country season. Perez, who also won the award in 2020 and 2022, is the league’s first three-time champion in boys cross country.

Amherst Steele High School Head Coach Rob Glatz was selected 2023 SWC Coach of the Year.

The top eight runners at the SWC Championship earned first team honors while the next eight finishers garnered second team recognition. Each school also gets two honorable mention.

2023 SWC MVP
Ty Perez, Amherst Steele

2023 SWC Coach of the Year
Rob Glatz, Amherst Steele

2023 All-SWC First Team
Ty Perez, Amherst Steele
Luke Bowlsby, Amherst Steele
Jared Robinson, Midview
Dylan Robinson, Midview
Henry Isaacs, Amherst Steele
Lucas Edgell, Midview
Franco Gallo, Avon
Zane Rhoads, Amherst Steele

2023 All-SWC Second Team
Ben Susi, Amherst Steele
Jacob Michalak, Amherst Steele
Zachary Janus, Midivew
Cooper Tanski, Avon
Nick Thompson, Avon
Lincoln Bouman, North Ridgeville
Matthew Walker, Amherst Steele
Samuel Weiler, Avon

2023 All-SWC Honorable Mention
Asa Nicely, Amherst Steele
Devin Ramirez, Amherst Steele
Jose Alvelo, Avon
Sam Arnold, Avon
Gabe Johnson, Avon Lake
Kevin Kotyk Avon Lake
Johnny Habre, Berea-Midpark
Lucas Roberts, Berea-Midpark
Owen Thornsbury, Elyria
Luke Runion, Elyria
Reuben Greenly, Midview
Brayden Newton, Midview
Chris Stovieck, North Ridgeville
Quinn Vrba, North Ridgeville
Liam Kuri, Olmsted Falls
Jack Phillips, Olmsted Falls

The Southwestern Conference released its Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week for October 9-14 this afternoon. Below is this week’s honoree:

Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Week
Luke Bowlsby
Amherst Steele
Senior

Luke placed second in the SWC Cross Country Championship with a time of 16:09 to lead the Comets to their second SWC Championship in a row.

ELYRIA, Ohio – Amherst Steele High School, fueled by the top two finishers for the second straight season, captured the 2023 Southwestern Conference Boys Cross Country Championship Saturday (October 14) on the campus of Lorain County Community College. [Complete Results]

Comet senior Ty Perez won the 5,000 meter championship for a record third time in his career. The 2020, 2022 and 2023 champion and 2021 runner-up finished with a time of 16:06.17.  Classmate Luke Bowlsby, the 2021 champion, finished right behind Perez for a second straight season with a time of 16:08.16.

Senior Henry Isaacs (17:15.42), freshmen Zane Rhoads (17:23.47) and junior Ben Susi (17:27.68) finished 5th and 8th and 9th, respectively, to help Amherst compile a league-best 25 points.

Midview High School had four runners finish in the top 11 to hold off Avon high School for second place again in 2023. Last year, the Middies defeated the Eagles by one point (72-73). This season, they captured runner-up by two points (63-65). Olmsted Falls High School placed fourth.

Midview senior twins Jared Robinson (16:51.51) and Dylan Robinson (17:14.34) finished third and fourth overall, while Middie junior Lucas Edgell (6th / 17:18.08), Avon junior Franco Gallo (7th / 17:19.43) and Amherst junior Jacob Michalak (10th / 17:28.68) rounded out the top 10.

Team Results
1. Amherst Steele – 25
2. Midview – 63
3. Avon – 65
4. Olmsted Falls – 128
5. Avon Lake – 133
6. North Ridgeville – 159
7. Berea-Midpark – 161
8. Elyria – 251