Runners reflect on season's accomplishments

LUKE MCCLUGGAGE
School/grade: Jackson-Milton, senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed first at Maplewood, Spartan, Western Reserve and Lordstown Invitationals; placed first at Mahoning County, Inter-County League, Sim Earich and Suburban League meets; placed first at district and regional meets; selected as one of top 10 seniors in Ohio, placing 28th at the Mideast Meet of Champions with a personal-best time of 15:58.
Positive influence: My coach, Ron, who helped me go from running 18:00 as a sophomore to sub-16:00 as a senior. My parents, for supporting me no matter what I do. And my friends, Brandon and Ross, for talking me up and supporting me at state.
Best memory: When Maplewood's coach, Ted Rupe, told me that I made the Mideast team. It was a great feeling to make up for my state race.
Surprised to learn: I like to sing. And I'm looking for a girlfriend.
BOB CALDWELL
School/grade: Girard, senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed first at Trumbull Athletic Conference meet, second at district meet, fifth at regional meet and 15th at state meet. First team all-Ohio.
Positive influence: Coach Spano and Coach Gorby. They made me believe I could be one of the best in the state and helped me keep a positive attitude.
Best memory: Being able to stand on the podium in front of everyone at the state meet in Columbus.
Surprised to learn: I have a 3.3 grade point average and I am ranked in the top 50 in my class. I am also a drummer in the marching and concert bands and I am an active member in our church youth group.
COLIN DURINA
School/grade: Mooney, sophomore.
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed first at East Palestine, Niles and district meets; placed fourth at regional meet and seventh at state meet. All-Suburban League, all-Mahoning County, all-Diocesan and all-Ohio; academic all-Ohio.
Positive influence: My family; my coaches Mr. Mangino, Mr. Zajac and Mr. Hughes; my first cross-country coaches in junior high who got me started; my team and everyone else who has given me support. My coaches for training me the best they could. My team for pushing me all season and being my friends and my family for being there whenever I need them. Everyone helped me set goals and how to find the inner strength and passion to achieve those goals.
Best memory: Running at the state meet for the first time was unbelievable. Looking at the crowd was just awesome. There were thousands of people cheering. Once the race was over I heard that our team was state runner-up. That was the best thing that could have happened that day. I'm stoked (can't wait) for next season!
Surprised to learn: After high school I would like to attend Arizona State University to be a Sun Devil and go surfing in California during spring break.
RYAN GILANYI
School/grade: Southington, sophomore
Statistics/accomplishments: State qualifier finishing 46th. First team all Northeastern Athletic Conference. Ran a personal best time of 16:58 at the district meet.
Positive influence: Coach Chip Habosky. He knows what it takes to be the best because he was a two-time state qualifier in both track and cross-country while in high school.
Best memory: Qualifying for the state meet by finishing 11th at regionals.
Surprised to learn: I have watched the Steve Prefontaine movie 15-20 times and still can't see it enough!
PATRICK GORBY
School/grade: Salem, freshman
Statistics/accomplishments: County and Metro Athletic Conference champion (breaking the course record); second-team all-Ohio; finished 22nd at state meet.
Positive influence: Coach Michael Almond, because he taught me a lot about running and training. He helped me to have more confidence in myself and not to be afraid to push myself and never give up.
Best memory: Qualifying for the state meet as a freshman and then making second-team all-Ohio. It was a dream come true.
Surprised to learn: This is only my second year running cross country. My personal best time was 16:51.
JOE KUNKEL
School/grade: McDonald, senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Helped team place first at Tiffin Invitational, Boardman Invitational, Suburban League championships and district meet championship; runner-up at Suburban League meet; placed third at Tiffin Invitational and fifth at state meet, leading team to a runner-up finish; first team all-Ohio; academic all-Ohio.
Positive influence: Coaches Rupe and Domitrovich. Without them, I wouldn't be anything as a runner. They have motivated and trained me in everything I have done the past four years of my life. I couldn't imagine a better tandem of coaches to run for. It has really been an honor to train and run under these guys.
Best memory: Stepping on the podium as the fifth-place finisher at state. And finding out we still managed to get second as a team despite our disappointing performance at state.
Surprised to learn: Blue is still my boy.
PAUL MOSER
School/grade: Maplewood, senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Academic all-Ohio; co-captain of state championship team; helped lead Rockets to Northeast Conference title and runner-up finish at Trumbull County meet.
Positive influence: Our two freshmen, Andy Arnio and Andy Morgan. They proved to me their love for the sport and desire to be part of the team. The torch has been passed.
Best memory: Seeing our team come together more and more every meet. By the end of the season, we were ready to become state champions and defend our trophy.
Surprised to learn: I am a three-time academic all-Ohioan and I'm tied for first in my class.
DAN NEMERGUT
School/grade: South Range, junior
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed second at ICL, Mahoning County, district, regional and state meets; first team all-Ohio, academic all-Ohio.
Positive influence: My coach and father, Jack Nemergut. Although I wasn't pushed to the extreme by him, he believes in me and is my No. 1 supporter.
Best memory: Finding our team mascot "Tips," a small wooden spear with a plastic tip and a red ribbon.
Surprised to learn: I always thought I would play soccer through high school and college. I never would have imagined running. I used to think it was boring. But now I've learned that I can entertain myself during the run.
CRAIG RUPE
School/grade: Maplewood, senior
Statistics/accomplishments: First team all-Ohioan for two-time state champions; academic all-Ohio; placed first at Maplewood's Suburban League meet; first team all-NAC; placed fifth at Maplewood Inv. and district meet; placed fourth at Sim Earich Inv.
Positive influence: Throughout my four years at Maplewood, my team has been a positive influence because we encourage each other to work harder. Because of the success of my team, I know that I must perform the best that I can or else I will not be helping my team at all.
Best memory: Achieving my preseason goal of making all-Ohio at the state meet. Not only did I get all-Ohio, but I also made it on the podium by making first team. We also won the state title, scoring the second-fewest points ever.
Surprised to learn: I am also a varsity letterman in track, basketball and baseball, I have a 3.85 grade point average and I am in National Honor Society.
JEFF SARCHIONE
School/grade: West Branch, senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Academic all-Ohioan; state qualifier; placed 18th at regional meet and 23rd at Boardman Inv.
Positive influence: My coach, Kevin Buckley. He is there for me every practice. I used to struggle from eighth grade through my sophomore year. Instead of just helping our best runners, he was always there.
Best memory: After the regional meet when I was talking to the reporters and basically throwing up all over the place. But it was the greatest feeling ever. It was the feeling that I've finally made it. Finally my hard work paid off. Even though physically I wasn't doing well, mentally and emotionally I was firing on all eight cylinders.
Surprised to learn: I was the first male in school history to qualify for the state meet in cross country. I'm valedictorian of my class and I'm a pilot out of Salem Airpark.
COACH OF THE YEAR
ADRIAN MANGINO
School: Mooney, 13 years.
Statistics/accomplishments: Team finished second in Division II at state meet; placed first at Mahoning County, Steel Valley Conference and Youngstown Diocesan meets; finished 25-2 in Suburban League competition; Suburban League South Division champions.
Positive influence: Coaching at Mooney, one cannot help but be influenced by Don Bucci. His philosophy of hard work, keeping it simple and striving to improve from week to week has been a tremendous influence on my coaching philosophy.
Best memory: Watching our young men as their tears of disappointment at the regional meet turned into tears of joy as they stood on the podium in Columbus.
Surprised to learn: I like to ride motorcycles and have ridden across the country.
BRITTANY DURKIN
School/grade: Boardman, senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Federal League champion; Federal League runner of the year; Suburban League champion; county champion; state qualifier; East Palestine champion.
Positive influence: My parents. They encourage and support me as much as possible. I am very lucky to have them.
Best memory: Winning the Federal League championship. It was big because it was our first year in the league. I came back and won in the last 100 meters with the entire crowd cheering. It was the best feeling.
SAMANTHA BONAR
School/grade: Badger, sophomore
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed first at Trumbull County meet, second at Northeast Conference meet, second at Sim Earich, third at district, eighth at regional and 32nd at state.
Positive influence: My family, for all their support and encouragement. My coach, Carrie Albert, who has been the perfect role model for a cross country runner. And my team, because without their hard work and determination, making it to state would not have been possible.
Best memory: Running at the Tiffin Carnival, running at regionals -- where I qualified for state -- and spending one of the best weekends I've ever had down at state with teammates Liz and Kristin, my coach and my family.
Surprised to learn: I'm exceptionally superstitious the night before a meet. I like I to try to keep the same routine.
LINDSAY BRICKNER
School/grade: Lisbon, senior
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed first at Columbiana County, Tri-County League and Sim Earich meets; undefeated in Suburban League competition; TCL all-academic qualifier.
Positive influence: My father. He has helped in my training and has been very supportive. He has been at all of my meets and assisted with my coaching.
Best memory: Winning the Sim Earich Invitational. I was injured and never really expected to win. It was my first invitational win.
Surprised to learn: I also enjoy playing piano, participating in school and community plays and volunteering with handicapped children.
DEIRDRE CLARY
School/grade: Salem, sophomore
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed first at Metro Athletic Conference, Columbiana County and district meets; team MVP; placed ninth at state meet to earn all-Ohio honors.
Positive influence: Coach Mike Almond. His love for the sport of cross country is contagious. He has not only taught me how to compete, but also how to live a runner's lifestyle.
Best memory: Having both teams take the district meet and coming back into the stadium and seeing all the fans for the last 500 meters of the race at the state meet.
JESSICA MOORE
School/grade: Boardman, junior
Statistics/accomplishments: Placed first at Suburban League meet at Columbiana; third at Clipper Invitational, Suburban League Championship and Mahoning County Championship; placed 13th at Federal League meet and 20th at Spartan Invitational; placed eighth at district meet.
Positive influence: My dad has always put God first in his life and taught me so much by example. At the same time, he has always taught me to work as hard as possible in sports and to strive for success in them.
Best memory: Qualifying for regionals and knowing that I had run my personal best time of the season [at the district].
Surprised to learn: I spent 41/2 years in Africa as a missionary kid. I would love to go back.
COLLEEN MORAN
School/grade: Poland, junior
Statistics/accomplishments: First team all-Metro Athletic Conference; placed first at Salem Early Bird Invitational and Madison Invitational; regional and state qualifier.
Positive influence: One of my coaches, Michelle Wardle. She is such an accomplished runner, but the thing I admire most about her is that she's a lifelong runner. She's the type of person who will still be running when she's 85 and I hope to follow in her footsteps. I could have never had the season I did without her there every step of the way.
Best memory: Making it to the regional meet as a team as well as finishing first at the Madison and East Palestine Invitationals.
Surprised to learn: I'm a captain on my soccer team and we won the Division II district championship the same day as the regional meet.
ERIN MURPHY
School/grade: Salem, freshman
Statistics/accomplishments: All-county and all-MAC; state qualifier.
Positive influence: My mother, because she was an excellent track runner all through high school. She injured her knee and has had multiple surgeries on them. Now she has RSD, which is a very disabling disease, but she never gives up and keeps on encouraging me to never give up and to try harder.
Best memory: At Camp Wakonda with the cross country team we all grew together and now are all like family. The last night we had an attack on both cabins with water balloons, hoses, shaving cream, and flour!
Surprised to learn: Last track season I had a terrible ankle sprain where I tore all of the ligaments in my ankle. I wore a cast for six months and then had physical therapy for four months. By the time June came around I wasn't sure I could even run. Then I suffered severe shin splints at the beginning of the season and trained in the pool and on the bicycle for a few weeks. It was a very slow start to the season.
ASHLEIGH TONDO
School/grade: McDonald, sophomore
Statistics/accomplishments: First team all-Trumbull County and Inter-County League; placed second at Trumbull County and ICL meets; regional and state qualifier.
Positive influence: My parents, because they're always encouraging me and giving me advice.
Best memory: At the regional meet, looking at the board and finding out we made it to state.
Surprised to learn: I played soccer for eight years then started running two years ago. My favorite runner is Sunni Olding from Minster.
TIFFANY WALSH
School/year: Ursuline, junior
Statistics/accomplishments: All-Suburban League; All-Mahoning County; All-Diocese; Steel Valley Conference champion; regional qualifier.
Positive influence: My coaches, Mr. Stroia and Mr. Miller, who are always pushing me to be my best, and my parents who support me in everything I do.
Best memory: At the Sim Earich race, I was almost at the finish line when I fell over a tree root, but I still got first place. The district meet was the next week at the same course, so I had to walk the whole course looking for any more roots.
Surprised to learn: Before this summer, I never ran three whole miles in a row. At our first race, I was just hoping I wouldn't come in last and I ended up getting second.