DIV. III STATE CROSS COUNTRY Dreams come true for McDonald team

Dan Nemergut of South Range won the individual crown.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- They may have ended their careers on top of the podium, but the journey started earlier, when they were mere middle school kids, jogging on the outskirts of town, running past the sign advertising McDonald's 1999 state championship team.
As they passed, they curled their fists and pounded on the metal, dreaming of the day when their chance would come.
"It just became a tradition," said Blue Devil senior Jason Witkoski.
These four seniors -- Witkoski, Aaron Thornton, Anthony Puntel and Matt McNicholas -- had six years to prepare for Saturday, and when their dream finally came true, they weren't ready. As they stood atop the medal stand at Scioto Downs, they all grabbed a piece of the trophy, hoisted it and ... Pop!
A piece fell off, the trophy nearly hit the ground and Puntel just smiled and shook his head. A few feet away, an assistant coach for Middlefield Cardinal grabbed the runner-up trophy, looked up at the Blue Devils and yelled, "Ours isn't broken. You can trade with us."
No chance. After two straight runner-up finishes to rival Maplewood, the Division III state cross country title was theirs. Again. For the third time in five years. For the fourth time in school history.
Basking in victory
The four seniors -- along with sophomores Joe Copploe and Taylor Sowers and freshman Thomas Holland -- took their victory lap holding the trophy, laughing and joking with each other.
No way were they going to let this go.
"We've been on a heckuva ride the past six years," said McDonald coach Chris Rupe, whose team has finished first or second every year since 1999. "It's been real fun, that's for sure."
Of course, it's wasn't that simple. Because of a computer malfunction, the Blue Devils didn't hear the results until four hours after the race ended.
"I wish we would have known sooner," said Copploe. "But it was worth it."
South Range senior Dan Nemergut didn't have to wait quite as long to find out his result. After he placed second at last year's state meet, his father and coach, Jack Nemergut, gave him a hug and whispered in his ear, "Next year, we'll win it."
When he reached the 2-mile mark in Saturday's race, Nemergut was in fifth. His dad smiled. His prediction was going to come true.
"That's when I knew he had it," Jack Nemergut said. "He's got a great third mile. Once he got close to them, it was over."
Down the stretch
Dan, however, wasn't so sure. He came down the final stretch in front of Mogadore senior Kevin Somerville -- who had beaten him at last week's regional meet -- and didn't know how close he was.
"I was running really scared," he said. "I don't remember most of it. I was pretty much dead."
What did he think as he crossed the finish line?
"I just said, 'Thank God it's over,' " he said. "I couldn't feel anything. I had drool coming out of my mouth, I couldn't feel my legs."
Nemergut was the first area cross country runner to win an individual title since McDonald's Stuart Henderson did it in 1989. He's also the second Nemergut to win a state championship -- his older sister, Kim, won the 1600-meter track title as a junior in 2000.
"I can't explain it," Jack Nemergut said. "Dan steps it up when he has to. Just like his sister did."
After the race, he was asked what he would do to celebrate. He didn't even need to think about it.
"I'm going to take a few weeks off," he said. "I don't even want to think about running right now."
scalzo@vindy.com