Galion Middle School cross country team brings home the hardware

The Galion High School Cross Country program has a well-documented history of success. Now, that success has extended to the Middle School Cross Country programs in the way of state championships.

The Galion Middle Schools Boys and Girls Cross Country teams competed in the Ohio Athletic Committee (OAC) State Cross Country Championships at BGSU-Firelands Oct. 26. The boys team brought home a state championship trophy, and the girls brought home a state runners-up plaque.

“Competing at the State Meet provides the students with the opportunity to compete against schools that we might not see in the regular season,” Middle School Cross Country coach Cindy Conner said. “Our student-athletes not only brought team championship hardware to Galion, but several earned All-Ohio honors as well.”

A total of 91 runners competed in the championship meet. Three Galion runners earned First Team All-Ohio honors. These students included:
• Braxton Tate – 7th grade (3rd place overall-Boys)
• Carter Davis – 8th grade (8th place overall-Boys)
• Kyle Bauer – 8th grade (9th place overall-Boys)

“This was a great way to end the season,” Conner said. “The runners have worked hard and wanted one more chance to show what they could do. Many talented 8th grade runners will move to the high school program next year, and I am excited to see what they can accomplish at the next level.”

This marks the second consecutive year a Galion Middle School Cross Country team has won an OAC state championship. Last year, it was the girls team who brought home the trophy for best team in the state.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, and the entire Galion City School District, I want to congratulate Coach Conner and her boys and girls teams on an outstanding season,” Superintendent Mark Stefanik said. “I am extremely proud of these students for many reasons, not least of which is their championship performance. The accomplishments of these young people should serve as proof to all our students that great things can happen when you work hard, stay focused on the goal and work together as a team.”