Granville High School Cross Country team completed the post-season awards ceremony Nov. 16 for over 100 team members in grades 7-12. Congratulations!
Head Coach Chrisi Rogerson was voted Central District Girls Coach of the Year and Licking County League Girls Coach of the Year. This is her third time winning each of these awards in her third season as head coach.
The girls high school team finished 5th in the state of the 214 Division II teams in Ohio. They were regional champions for the third consecutive season, district champions for the 8th consecutive year in Division II, and won their 9th consecutive conference championship with the last four being the Licking County League. Their regional championship was the third consecutive and 4th in program history with the other coming in 2010. This season marked the girl’s 8th consecutive season of finishing in the top 10 teams in the state of Ohio. Throughout the season, the girl’s varsity team defeated 136 teams and lost to 14.
The boy's team finished 16th place at the Division II state championship. Leading to the state championship the boys finished fourth at the regional level, and won the district title, their 6th in the past 8 seasons. They were also Licking County League runners-up. They have been conference champions 6 of the past 8 years. The boy’s varsity team defeated 113 teams throughout the season and lost to 42.
For the boys Senior Jonny Lukins was named Most Valuable athlete by his teammates. Lukins earned first team All-Ohio honors by virtue of his 16th place finish at the state championship. In the process of the season, Lukins covered the 5000 meter distance in 15:51, the number 2 time in GHS history. Senior Thomas Patton, Junior Jack McGonagle, and Sophomore Jack Burczak earned Academic All-Ohio by possessing a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and participating in the state championship. Junior Dustin Braden was voted the Outstanding Sportsmanship award for his leadership and guidance throughout the season, the third time he has won this honor in his career. Braden also served as Team Captain. Junior Ethan Cheney earned the Most Improved award by dropping his best time from 18:06 in 2015 to 17:06 this season and contributing as a varsity top-seven team member throughout the season. Earning All-Central District honors were Lukins, Patton, Cheney, and Junior Jack Saigh. Lukins earned first team All-Licking County League. Burczak earned second team LCC honors and Patton, Saigh and Cheney were LCC honorable mention recipients. Joining the Granville High School All-time top 25 list were Lukins (2nd in 15:51), McGonagle (17th in 16:39) and Patton (23rd in 16:55).
For the girls’ team, senior Kylee McFarland was voted Most Valuable athlete by her teammates primarily for finishing as the top Granville runner in every meet but one throughout the season. Sophomore and first year cross-country team member Alyssa Christian earned first team All-Ohio honors for her 23rd place finish at the Ohio State Championship. McFarland, Christian, junior Rosie Lamb, and freshman Reilly Zink earned All-Region honors. Joining McFarland, Zink, Christian, and Lamb were senior Destiny Braden and junior Riley Bruck on the All-Central District team. McFarland was voted Licking County League Athlete of the Year on the basis of winning the individual title at the championship meet.
Sophomore Alyssa Christian was voted Most Improved Athlete by improving her best time from 20:29 to 19:01 over the course of the season and even though she shared time with the soccer team, earned All-Ohio honors.
Senior Madeline Walker was voted the Outstanding Sportsmanship by her teammates for her constant support for all teammates and senior Destiny Braden served as Team Captain and was an outstanding leader throughout the season.
Earning Academic All-Ohio were Braden, Bruck, Lamb, and Christian. An athlete must carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher and qualify to the state championship to earn Academic All-Ohio status. Freshmen are not eligible for this award.
McFarland joined the Granville High School All-time top 25 list with a time of 18:25 (3rd in GHS history) and also established a GHS Junior class Record. Others joining the coveted list were: Lamb (18:58 – 7th), Zink (18:59 – 8th), Christian (19:01 – 9th), Braden (19:33 – 15th), and Bruck (19:45 – 17th).