Sunday, October 27, 2002
Jenn Wenhold led the Blue Devils to third place in the Division III state meet.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- Jenn Wenhold's hand had an ink drawing of a smilee face -- complete with a tongue sticking out and an eye winking -- next to an arrow pointing forward.
"Our coach [Diane Krumpak] has us draw them on each other's hands so that we'd look at it and think happy thoughts," Wenhold, a senior at McDonald, said. "And the arrow is to remind us to keep looking up."
Ah, the power of positive thinking.
Leader of the pack
Wenhold finished fourth in Division III -- her fourth straight all-Ohio showing -- to lead the Blue Devils to a somewhat surprising, and definitely gratifying, third place showing at Saturday's state meet at Scioto Downs.
"We're just thrilled," Krumpak said. "We came in hoping to get top five or top seven and we figured third was the best we could do. We're very proud to be third."
As expected, Fort Loramie and Minster finished 1-2, but the Blue Devils edged Hopewell Loudon by two points (142-144) to finish third for the second time in three years. McDonald finished sixth last year.
"The girls were jumping up and down when they heard," Krumpak said with a smile.
Wenhold's twin sister, Jess, placed 10th and senior Nicole Booth finished 50th. Jenn Wenhold finished sixth as a freshman and a sophomore, and fifth last year.
"I'm just happy to place so high my senior year," Jenn Wenhold, who is leaning toward attending Toledo next fall, said. "I have a lot of really great teammates. I don't think cross country will be the same in college."
Freshman Samantha Bonar placed 75th to lead Badger to a 10th-place finish.
Division II
West Branch senior Lisa Davies earned all-Ohio honors for the third straight year by placing ninth in the Division II race. Davies placed fourth as a sophomore -- her first year of cross country -- and 10th last season.
"My time was slower than last year, but my place was higher and on a day like today, that's what you like to do," Davies said. "I kept thinking, 'God will make me strong. I just have to keep moving.' "
Her teammate, Megan Cingcade, placed 33rd. And despite three excellent showings at the state meet, Davies said it's her relationship with her teammates that has meant the most to her.
"I just love them all so much," Davies said. "We'd make up songs and cheers when we were running. My best memories are with them. It's never going to be the same again."
Southeast senior Raina Keppler placed 14th to earn all-Ohio honors. The top 25 individuals make all-Ohio and the top 15 earn a spot on the podium.
Mooney senior Val Zajac finished her stellar career by finishing 28th. Zajac qualified for the state meet all four years of high school.
scalzo@vindy.com