Bees not fast, but succeed anyway
Girls track squad lacks sprinters, not points
Medina’s girls track team has enough talent and depth to compete for a conference championship – and perhaps much more. Photo by TODD STUMPF
Medina’s girls track team continues to be one of the state’s best, a distinction the Bees have enjoyed most years in the last couple decades. Somewhat remarkably, they’ve done it throughout that time without much speed.
“Kids who can run a long time but not very fast? I’ve got a lot of those,” veteran Medina coach Scott Van Fleet mused. “I’ve got a lot of depth.”
Truth be told, Medina is pretty loaded up and down its roster, other than in the sprints. That may not be enough for the Bees to win a Greater Cleveland Conference championship – though, they’ll contend. It should be enough, though, to have a strong presence at state again.
Last season, the Bees only sent two athletes to the state meet, but both are back. Senior thrower Carolyn Wilder placed at state in both the discus and shot put and there’s no reason to think she won’t do that again.
Wilder won the discus and shot put at the Jaguar Invitational early in the season. She won the shot put at the Medina Relays. She was named Girls Field MVP at the Second Sole Elite Meet at GlenOak, winning both events.
Cullings has just gotten stronger throughout her career and leads a strong distance group, which should score well in all meets. She and Wilder lead a senior class that includes Riley Braun (sprints, jumps), Jessica Wolf (distance), Amber Wehrmeyer (distance), Caitlyn Kasper (distance), Kati Kumhall (hurdles), Sydney Wagner (sprints), Kathryn Cassidy (sprints) and Allie Gibson (sprints).
The junior class adds nicely to Medina’s depth. Marlaina Kurt (distance), Veronica Takacs (distance), Taylor White (distance), Emma Clardy (hurdles), Crosbee Lisser (sprints, hurdles) and Elizabeth Judy (distance) all have been heard from early.
The sophomore class features a good bit of experience already. Madison Luthy (hurdles, jumps), Tori DeLappi (throws), Savannah Cole (distance), Claire Schmeller (distance), Bella Stein (sprints), Alli Panko (sprints), Katie Smith (sprints), Angela Jaycox (sprints), Claire Schmeller (distance), Maddie Miller (distance) and Angela Dobson (sprints, distance) can all be factors.
Van Fleet is excited about his freshman group, which includes distance standouts Juliette Keller, Olivia Roberts, Jessica Campbell and Ava Tenaglia, all of whom will fight for spots in the lineup.
“Ava is going to be very good in the 400 and 800, maybe even the mile,” Van Fleet said.
Other freshman who could score this season are Anna Darrell (jumps), Maddie Clouse (jumps), Nicole Buckland (throws), Grace Mackey (distance), Meghan Wuersig (sprints), Haley Anspach (sprints, jumps), Mary Beth Blakemore (sprints), Abby Smith (hurdles) and Alex Newman (jumps),
Early on this season, the Bees won the Jaguar Invitational at Fairview, edging Brunswick for the title. They won the Medina Relays. They won the Second Sole Elite Meet at GlenOak, which featured a field worth of a regional meet. Last weekend, in a possible GCC preview, Medina came in third behind Brunswick and Strongsville. Solon finished sixth.
With Cullings back and Keller looking like a state-level runner, couple them with Wilder and the Bees could find themselves pretty high in the team standings at the state meet.
“Once you get past the top five (teams), you only need about 15, 16 points,” Van Fleet said.
“Kids who can run a long time but not very fast? I’ve got a lot of those,” veteran Medina coach Scott Van Fleet mused. “I’ve got a lot of depth.”
Truth be told, Medina is pretty loaded up and down its roster, other than in the sprints. That may not be enough for the Bees to win a Greater Cleveland Conference championship – though, they’ll contend. It should be enough, though, to have a strong presence at state again.
Last season, the Bees only sent two athletes to the state meet, but both are back. Senior thrower Carolyn Wilder placed at state in both the discus and shot put and there’s no reason to think she won’t do that again.
Wilder won the discus and shot put at the Jaguar Invitational early in the season. She won the shot put at the Medina Relays. She was named Girls Field MVP at the Second Sole Elite Meet at GlenOak, winning both events.
Cullings has just gotten stronger throughout her career and leads a strong distance group, which should score well in all meets. She and Wilder lead a senior class that includes Riley Braun (sprints, jumps), Jessica Wolf (distance), Amber Wehrmeyer (distance), Caitlyn Kasper (distance), Kati Kumhall (hurdles), Sydney Wagner (sprints), Kathryn Cassidy (sprints) and Allie Gibson (sprints).
The junior class adds nicely to Medina’s depth. Marlaina Kurt (distance), Veronica Takacs (distance), Taylor White (distance), Emma Clardy (hurdles), Crosbee Lisser (sprints, hurdles) and Elizabeth Judy (distance) all have been heard from early.
The sophomore class features a good bit of experience already. Madison Luthy (hurdles, jumps), Tori DeLappi (throws), Savannah Cole (distance), Claire Schmeller (distance), Bella Stein (sprints), Alli Panko (sprints), Katie Smith (sprints), Angela Jaycox (sprints), Claire Schmeller (distance), Maddie Miller (distance) and Angela Dobson (sprints, distance) can all be factors.
Van Fleet is excited about his freshman group, which includes distance standouts Juliette Keller, Olivia Roberts, Jessica Campbell and Ava Tenaglia, all of whom will fight for spots in the lineup.
“Ava is going to be very good in the 400 and 800, maybe even the mile,” Van Fleet said.
Other freshman who could score this season are Anna Darrell (jumps), Maddie Clouse (jumps), Nicole Buckland (throws), Grace Mackey (distance), Meghan Wuersig (sprints), Haley Anspach (sprints, jumps), Mary Beth Blakemore (sprints), Abby Smith (hurdles) and Alex Newman (jumps),
Early on this season, the Bees won the Jaguar Invitational at Fairview, edging Brunswick for the title. They won the Medina Relays. They won the Second Sole Elite Meet at GlenOak, which featured a field worth of a regional meet. Last weekend, in a possible GCC preview, Medina came in third behind Brunswick and Strongsville. Solon finished sixth.
With Cullings back and Keller looking like a state-level runner, couple them with Wilder and the Bees could find themselves pretty high in the team standings at the state meet.
“Once you get past the top five (teams), you only need about 15, 16 points,” Van Fleet said.