To become the regional champions in the Youngstown regional is a distinction coach Rod O’Donnell doesn’t take lightly.

 

“It’s always an honor to win this meet,” O’Donnell said. “It’s always a great meet with great coaches and teams.”

 

The Explorers were led by senior Tim McConnell who finished fourth and sophomore Nolan Reilly who finished 10th. McConnell ran the muddy course in a time of 17:41.92, and Reilly finished in 17:59.58.

 

O’Donnell knows that now the state meet is an entirely different challenge.

 

“The state meet is a whole new ballgame. The mental approach is different for every team that makes it,” O’Donnell said. “We need to not be satisfied and stay hungry for one more week.”

 

While the Explorers are the only team that will be experiencing the state meet, four individuals from the area qualified to travel to Columbus next Saturday. That group was led by the individual meet winner Kyle Wheeler.

 

The Green senior finished first with a time of 17:13.68. A time that ironically is Wheeler’s slowest of the year. The Bulldog was slowed down, like everyone by a saturated muddy course that was made worse throughout the day, and was at its worst for the last race of day, the boys Division I championship.

 

“It was my slowest time of the year and I knew it was going to be hard,” Wheeler said. “There’s a lot of competition here.”

 

Joining Wheeler as individual qualifiers are teammate Dylan Papp, Revere’s Josh Sabo and Copley’s Nick Pupino, Sabo finished the race in fourth place with a time of 17:29.58 and Papp placed seventh with a time of 17:44.51. Pupino placed 15th in 18:05.95.

 

Although his team failed to qualify, Green coach Shawn Thomas was pleased with Wheeler’s and Papp's individual accolades. The Bulldogs were fourth as a team at the 2008 OHSAA meet.

 

“I’m thrilled with both,” Thomas said. “Kyle gets stronger every week and Dylan ran a good race. He continues to run with the leaders.”