<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3u05A9_1GxO1uEz00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3u05A9_1GxO1uEz00" width="593" height="245" ></figure>OBETZ, OH – McDonald sophomore Owen Cappuzello delivered a podium-worthy performance, finishing third in the state, while Grand Valley’s Sam Steimle and Maplewood’s Micah Sparks joined him with All-Ohio honors at the OHSAA Division IV Boys Cross Country State Championships.Cappuzzello led an impressive group of area runners with a blistering time of 15:38.00, finishing just 7.3 seconds behind individual state champion Bennett Lehman of Ansonia. The Blue Devils standout was also just three-tenths of a second behind runner-up Stephen Wojtowicz of Legacy Christian in one of the closest finishes near the top of the leaderboard.Grand Valley senior Sam Steimle placed 10th in 16:05.90, while Maplewood junior Micah Sparks followed in 11th with a time of 16:08.60, giving the YSN coverage area three runners among the top 11 finishers in Division IV.Maplewood also represented the area in the team competition, finishing eighth overall with 260 points against a loaded 24-team field.CAPPUZZELLO SHINES WITH THIRD-PLACE FINISHMcDonald’s Owen Cappuzzello saved one of his finest performances for the biggest stage of his sophomore season.Competing against Ohio’s top Division IV distance runners, Cappuzello crossed the finish line in 15:38.00 to earn third place and first-team All-Ohio recognition.The Blue Devils standout was locked in a tight battle near the front of the field, finishing just 0.3 seconds behind Legacy Christian senior Stephen Wojtowicz, who claimed runner-up honors in 15:37.70.Cappuzzello also held off Russia sophomore Paxson Bixler, who finished fourth in 15:39.00, by a single second.With two seasons of high school cross country remaining, Cappuzello has already established himself among the state’s elite distance runners and will enter next season as one of the top returning competitors in Division IV.STEIMLE CAPS GRAND VALLEY CAREER WITH TOP-TEN FINISHGrand Valley senior Sam Steimle delivered an outstanding performance in his final high school cross country race, finishing 10th overall in 16:05.90.Steimle’s top-ten finish earned him first-team All-Ohio honors and provided a fitting conclusion to his senior campaign.The Mustangs standout was one of just 11 runners in the Division IV championship field to finish under 16:10, showcasing his ability to compete with the best distance runners in Ohio.His performance marked one of the area’s top individual accomplishments of the state championship meet.SPARKS LEADS MAPLEWOOD TO TOP-EIGHT TEAM FINISHMaplewood junior Micah Sparks turned in an outstanding individual performance while helping the Rockets secure an eighth-place finish in the team standings.Sparks crossed the line in 16:08.60, finishing 11th overall and earning first-team All-Ohio honors.The Rockets standout finished just 2.7 seconds behind Grand Valley’s Sam Steimle, giving the area back-to-back finishers inside the top 11.Behind Sparks, Maplewood received contributions throughout its seven-runner lineup to finish eighth with 260 points.Senior Ethan Nevinski placed 89th in 17:13.10, followed by senior Brody Orr in 102nd at 17:21.80.Sophomore Nick Blair finished 111th with a time of 17:27.40, while junior Tyler McPeak followed in 118th at 17:32.60.Junior Josh Suba placed 120th in 17:33.60, and sophomore Logan Pappas rounded out the Rockets’ lineup with a 155th-place finish in 18:00.50.Maplewood’s eighth-place finish came against 24 of the state’s best Division IV teams, with the Rockets finishing ahead of Independence, St. Henry and 14 other qualifying programs.With Sparks, Blair, McPeak, Suba and Pappas all returning next season, Maplewood will have a strong foundation to build upon following another successful state championship appearance.FIELDHOUSE IMPRESSES IN FRESHMAN STATE DEBUTSouth Range freshman Ryan Fieldhouse made an immediate impact on the state championship stage, finishing 29th overall with a time of 16:32.30.Fieldhouse was one of the area’s highest-finishing underclassmen, placing among the top 30 runners in Division IV during his first high school cross country season.The Raiders standout finished less than a minute behind the individual state champion and gained valuable experience against Ohio’s best competition.With three seasons remaining, Fieldhouse has positioned himself as one of the area’s promising young distance runners.COON LEADS LOWELLVILLE WITH TOP-35 FINISHLowellville freshman Jesse Coon turned in another impressive performance, finishing 35th overall in 16:35.10.Coon’s strong state championship debut placed him just 2.8 seconds behind South Range’s Ryan Fieldhouse, giving the area two freshmen among the top 35 finishers.Lowellville junior Jayden Coon also represented the Rockets, finishing 128th with a time of 17:38.80.The duo’s state championship appearances provided a strong finish to Lowellville’s cross country season, with both runners returning next year.GARLAND, SMITH REPRESENT AREA AT STATEMineral Ridge sophomore Bryce Garland delivered a solid performance for the Rams, finishing 53rd overall with a time of 16:50.90.Garland broke the 17-minute barrier while competing against the state’s top Division IV runners, gaining valuable experience heading into the final two seasons of his high school career.Badger senior Austin Smith closed out his high school cross country career with a 133rd-place finish in 17:43.70.Smith’s appearance on the state championship stage capped a successful senior campaign and gave the Braves representation among Ohio’s elite Division IV competitors.LEHMAN WINS INDIVIDUAL TITLE, MOUNT GILEAD CLAIMS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPAnsonia senior Bennett Lehman captured the Division IV individual state championship with a winning time of 15:30.70.Legacy Christian senior Stephen Wojtowicz finished runner-up in 15:37.70, followed closely by McDonald’s Owen Cappuzello in third at 15:38.00.Russia sophomore Paxson Bixler claimed fourth in 15:39.00, while Convoy Crestview junior Derek Young rounded out the top five in 15:45.70.In the team competition, Mount Gilead claimed the Division IV state championship with 84 points, finishing ahead of runner-up Russia, which totaled 99.Botkins placed third with 155 points, followed by Legacy Christian in fourth with 158 and Tinora in fifth with 214.Convoy Crestview finished sixth with 231 points, Cedarville took seventh with 241, and Maplewood secured eighth with 260.The Rockets finished just 19 points behind Cedarville and eight ahead of both Independence and St. Henry, which tied with 268 points.With Cappuzello, Steimle and Sparks all earning first-team All-Ohio honors, along with Maplewood’s top-eight team finish and strong performances from several young runners, the Division IV state championship provided plenty of reasons for area cross country fans to celebrate.AREA DIVISION IV STATE RESULTSMaplewood – 8th Place, 260 Points<ul><li>Micah Sparks (Jr.) – 11th, 16:08.60</li><li>Ethan Nevinski (Sr.) – 89th, 17:13.10</li><li>Brody Orr (Sr.) – 102nd, 17:21.80</li><li>Nick Blair (So.) – 111th, 17:27.40</li><li>Tyler McPeak (Jr.) – 118th, 17:32.60</li><li>Josh Suba (Jr.) – 120th, 17:33.60</li><li>Logan Pappas (So.) – 155th, 18:00.50</li></ul>Individual Qualifiers <ul><li>McDonald – Owen Cappuzello (So.), 3rd, 15:38.00</li><li>Grand Valley – Sam Steimle (Sr.), 10th, 16:05.90</li><li>South Range – Ryan Fieldhouse (Fr.), 29th, 16:32.30</li><li>Lowellville – Jesse Coon (Fr.), 35th, 16:35.10</li><li>Mineral Ridge – Bryce Garland (So.), 53rd, 16:50.90</li><li>Lowellville – Jayden Coon (Jr.), 128th, 17:38.80</li><li>Badger – Austin Smith (Sr.), 133rd, 17:43.70</li></ul>DIVISION IV INDIVIDUAL TOP FIVE <ol><li>Bennett Lehman, Ansonia (Sr.) – 15:30.70</li><li>Stephen Wojtowicz, Legacy Christian (Sr.) – 15:37.70</li><li>Owen Cappuzello, McDonald (So.) – 15:38.00</li><li>Paxson Bixler, Russia (So.) – 15:39.00</li><li>Derek Young, Convoy Crestview (Jr.) – 15:45.70</li></ol>DIVISION IV TEAM STANDINGS <ol><li>Mount Gilead – 84</li><li>Russia – 99</li><li>Botkins – 155</li><li>Legacy Christian – 158</li><li>Tinora – 214</li><li>Convoy Crestview – 231</li><li>Cedarville – 241</li><li>Maplewood – 260</li><li>Independence – 268</li><li>St. Henry – 268</li><li>New Bremen – 292</li><li>Columbus Grove – 336</li><li>Seneca East – 360</li><li>Lehman Catholic – 372</li><li>Lake Center Christian – 385</li><li>Sherwood Fairview – 392</li><li>Shenandoah – 400</li><li>Black River – 466</li><li>Kidron Central Christian – 475</li><li>South Webster – 521</li><li>Hicksville – 523</li><li>Northmor – 540</li><li>Grandview Heights – 559</li><li>Racine Southern – 610</li></ol></div></body>

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OBETZ, OH – McDonald sophomore Owen Cappuzello delivered a podium-worthy performance, finishing third in the state, while Grand Valley’s Sam Steimle and Maplewood’s Micah Sparks joined him with All-Ohio honors at the OHSAA Division IV Boys Cross Country State Championships. Cappuzzello led an impressive group of area...

CAPPUZZELLO FINISHES THIRD AT STATE

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OBETZ, OH – McDonald sophomore Owen Cappuzello delivered a podium-worthy performance, finishing third in the state, while Grand Valley’s Sam Steimle and Ma

CAPPUZZELLO FINISHES THIRD AT STATE

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