JENN WENHOLD

JENN WENHOLD
School: McDonald
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: First girl in school history to win four straight county titles; was district champion, regional runner-up and placed fourth at state meet.
Positive influence: My coaches and my teammates. They were always pushing me at practices and kept me going in the right direction.
Best memory: Winning the regional meet as a team. Going into that race, we weren't planning on winning it. We were just hoping to be in those top spots, but I guess all the hard work paid off.
SAMANTHA BONAR
School: Badger
Grade: Freshman
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed second at Girard and Grand Valley Invitationals, placed sixth at district meet and Sim Earich Inv., placed 11th at regional meet.
Positive influence: My coach, Carrie Albert, for always pushing me to do my best and giving me tons of strength and support. And my parents, for always being there to cheer me on and supporting me not only throughout the season, but through everything thick and thin. Without them and the courage they provided me with, my success would not have been possible.
Best memory: Qualifying for state, even though our team thought we hadn't made it, and having tears of sorrow turn into tears of joy. Winning the Trumbull Athletic Conference was also an amazing experience, as well as winning Sim Earich.
Surprised to learn: I almost quit after my first race in seventh grade because I thought I didn't like the sport. But it quickly became one of my favorite sports.
NICOLE BOOTH
School: McDonald
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Qualified for state meet all four years as an individual and a team, scholar athlete, placed in top 15 at all four regional meets.
Positive influence: My coach, Diane Krumpak. Even in the hard times this season, she picked me up. I really appreciated all her support and her caring attitude for my last year.
Best memory: Winning the regional title for the second straight year and being in the top 15 for the fourth straight year.
Surprised to learn: I am fourth on McDonald's list of top 20 women's cross country runners.
MEGAN CINGCADE
School: West Branch
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: First team all-Northeastern Buckeye Conference, placed second at Dover Inv., ran personal best 19:18 to win district title, regional runner-up, placed 33rd at state meet.
Positive influence: My dad has always been my No. 1 fan. He has always supported every decision I made during the season. He's been the first person to tell me he's proud of me no matter what I do. He has made the four years I've run an awesome experience.
Best memory: When our coaches took us to Tappan Lake for a week before the season. We just all grew so close through that week. I got the opportunity to make my very best friends there and I will never forget the great times and the awesome running trails there.
Surprised to learn: I've actually gone through a lot of injuries throughout my running years. I've been unable to run track the last two years because of injuries.
MONICA CUEVAS
School: Boardman
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Ran a personal-best 20:30 at the Suburban League championship -- the 11th fastest time in school history, placed ninth at district meet, named first team all-Steel Valley Conference and first team all-county.
Positive influence: Jesus. Who else? Also, coach Denise Gorski and Monica Gary and any other college coach who convinced me to run this year. Coach, that talk we had under the shade of that tree made all the difference. And especially, coach [Pam] Kimmel, who dealt with my negativity and helped me to appreciate cross country.
Best memory: When my running buddies and I would bypass part of our long runs to get food at our friend's grandmother's house. Also, the few times we bought chips on the Boardman Park runs. (Oops, did I just say that?) Come on, a runner has to relax once in awhile!
Surprised to learn: I rooted for Michigan at the Ohio State-Michigan game.
LISA DAVIES
School: West Branch
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Northeastern Buckeye Conference MVP. Placed first at Marlington, Spartan, Dover, Chick Fillet (W.Va.), Suburban League Invitationals. Placed ninth at state meet.
Positive influence: All of my teammates. We all work hard and encourage each other in practice. It is a special bond that we share because we feel each other's pain and can directly relate to each other. Above all, my teammates make me laugh and are optimistic in every situation.
Best memory: Traveling with my team to West Virginia for a meet. We got to spend the night in a hotel room and run a course none of us had seen before. The race was fast, the course was nice and the atmosphere was wonderful.
Surprised to learn: I like to run through cow pastures and cornfields.
BRITTANY DURKIN
School: Boardman
Grade: Junior
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed first at Steel Valley Conference, County and East Palestine meets, earned first team all-Suburban League honors, regional qualifier.
Positive influence: My dad and my brother -- they both motivate me and encourage me. Their work ethic rubbed off on me.
Best memory: Winning the SVC and running my best time of the season at that meet.
RAINA KEPPLER
School: Southeast
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Finished first at Sim Earich Inv., second at Portage County League meet, third at district meet, fifth at regional meet and 14th at state.
Positive influence: My coaches, Bob and Becky Dunn, have had such a positive influence in my life. They've always believed that I could be one of the top runners in the state. They'd tell me, "Before you graduate, you'll be all-Ohio. I just know it." They have been so supportive and made me believe in myself, especially at times when I wasn't very positive. They're like my second parents and I just love them to death.
Best memory: My last meet (at state). My goal was to get all-Ohio honors and get on the podium and it all happened. It was a dream come true. A lot of my friends made the trip down to watch and support me and it was so awesome. One of my friends even skipped her ACT test to come and watch. It was an experience I'll always remember.
Surprised to learn: I didn't even plan to run cross country until my coach called me after my eighth grade year. I thought to myself, I'll just try it and join to stay in shape for track. I didn't take it too serious my first two years. But my junior year I won the league meet and made it to state and really started to take it serious. I love the sport.
MARY SIVULICH
School: Hubbard
Grade: Junior
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed first at Trumbull Athletic Conference meet, Boardman Invitational (Div. II open race), Niles Inv., placed second at Trumbull County meet, broke Champion course record; placed sixth at district meet.
Positive influence: Since I ran without a team all season, the girls from other teams were all very supportive of me, telling me that I had a lot of courage and always wishing me good luck, even though they were competing against me. Without all of them, I don't know what I would have done except be very lonely at the starting line. Thanks to them, I wasn't.
Best memory: When my coach, Lora Merritt, told me I was actually allowed to run cross country this year. In the past, my athletic director wouldn't let me run as an individual since there isn't enough interest to form a team at my school.
Surprised to learn: The only reason I began running was because my parents wouldn't let me play sports until I got to the eighth grade. By that time, track was the only sport everyone in my grade had not played for five years. So I decided to give distance running a try, since I knew I wasn't very fast.
JESS WENHOLD
School: McDonald
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed first at Suburban League championships, third at district meet, fifth at regional meet, 11th at state meet.
Positive influence: My coach, Diane Krumpak, has always been a big influence in my athletic career. She always told me to think positive.
Best memory: Running at mini-camps. We had so much fun and the whole team got to bond with each other. It was a very fun experience.
VAL ZAJAC
School: Mooney
Grade: Senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Qualified for state meet all four years, finishing 28th this season, placed second at SVC meet, selected to all-county, all-district, all-region and all-Suburban League teams, holds top 10 times in school history.
Positive influence: My coach, Adrian Mangino. He has supported me the last four years and always knew what to say to give me confidence before races. I wouldn't have had the running career I've had without him. As far as running, there's no one I believe in more.
Best memory: Running at the state meet.
Surprised to learn: I plan to continue running in college and someday hope to run marathons.
COACH OF THE YEAR
DIANE KRUMPAK
School: McDonald
Statistics/accomplishments: McDonald placed first at the Inter-County League, Trumbull County, district and regional meets and finished third at state.
Positive influence: My husband, Bill. He is a wonderful listener and always encourages me. My family, especially my parents, who instilled positive values such as a strong work ethic and discipline. And many area coaches -- our area is blessed with many outstanding coaches who are supportive of one another and the area athletes.
Best memory: Our first week of practice was a team camp and it laid the basis for our work ethic and provided time for the team to focus on our goals with great training runs and fun team activities.