Willows, Althauser lead BVC athletes to state meet

Karis Willow won't have too much time to think about things down in Columbus Friday. The senior Liberty-Benton high jumper, who was fifth in the event last season and eighth as a sophomore, returns Friday to take a shot at a championship. Willow – and the other Division II high jumpers – are scheduled to go at 9:30 a.m. Friday. She cleared 5-4 at Jesse Owens Stadium last year. Brooklyn's Jenna Young, who won the meet a year ago by clearing 5-7, will be back in Columbus as well. "I expect Karis to go out and compete like she always does," said L-B coach Paul Gladden, "and if she is engaged from start to finish, she will compete to be an All-Ohioan for the third time." Willow cleared 5-5 last week at the Lexington regional. This weekend will be a family affair for the Willows. Karis' younger brother – Arlington freshman Calvin Willow – won a Division III regional championship in the high jump at Fostoria. Calvin cleared 6-6 to claim the regional crown. He comes into the state meet with the best height – by two inches – of any of the competitors. Aside from Karis Willow, Liberty-Benton's has one other entry in the girls Division II meet: The 4x800 team of Madi Gaerke, Emma Garmatter, Riley Irwin and Kylie Recker. That squad placed fourth at the regionals last week. The same four girls qualified for state a year ago in the same event, placing 15th. "Our girls 4x8 is seeded right in the middle of the pack going into it, but I expect (it) to show up focused and ready to compete," Gladden said. The other entries from the Blanchard Valley Conference in the girls meets come from Riverdale. Falcons' senior Auhdra Myers will be competing in the Division III 100 and long jump. Riverdale junior Kendel Rall will be running in the 300 hurdles. Rall and Myers each qualified for state last year, placing twice as part of Riverdale's 4x100 and 4x200 relays. On the boys side in the Division II meet, Liberty-Benton will have two athletes competing in the 110 hurdles. Cason Doolittle and Owen Wilkins will each be running in the 110 high hurdles. Doolittle will also be taking part in the 400, with Wilkins coming back for the 300 hurdles. Stefan Kolan – who won the pole vault at the Lexington regional – will be taking part in that event. Doolittle and Wilkins will each be in the first heat of the 110 hurdles Friday. Wilkins has the fourth-best time in the heat. "Doolittle and Wilkins both are capable of making it on the podium in the 110 hurdles, as well as the 400 meters and 300 hurdles," Gladden said. "Both of them have had outstanding seasons, and I'm ecstatic (for) both of them." Kolan -- who qualified for state a year ago -- comes in having cleared 14 feet in the pole vault. The best height among the competitors is Perry's Brayden Richards, who cleared 15-6 in the Youngstown regional last week. The state tournament won't be a new thing for Kolan, which Gladden said is a good thing "We talked to (Kolan) about using that experience to his advantage this week," Gladden said. "If he does, great things will happen." The other BVC boys athletes in Columbus Friday are competing in Division III. The list starts with McComb's Braxton Althauser, a junior who has reached state in three events. The BVC's Most Valuable Athlete, Althauser will be competing in the long jump and the 100. He also will team with Payton Baldridge, Camden Glaser and Andrew Swisher in the 4x100. Swisher, Glaser and Althauser were all part of McComb's 4x100 team that reached state last year, and placed 12th. The three also placed 12th at state in last year's 4x200. Althauser will be joined by two other area athletes in the long jump: Vanlue's JR Snook and Hopewell-Loudon's Evan Kreais. Of the three, Althauser comes in with the best regional distance: 22-1 ¾. Only two others in the event registered a better distance. Althauser is coming off a district and regional title in the long jump. "He'll need to hit a good one to make the podium; there are some really good jumpers (at state)," said McComb boys track coach Kris Alge. Althauser is tied for the seventh-best time in his heat in the 100. McComb's 4x100 team has the fifth best time in its heat. "Very excited for the 4x1," Alge said. "Just need to get it around the track." In the 110 hurdles, the Panthers' Peter Vance comes with the ninth-best time in the heat. "Very excited for Pete to get to state," Alge said. "Great kid, great work ethic." In the pole vault, Pandora-Gilboa's Andrew Suter comes in as one of the favorites. He defeated Mohawk's Zaiden Fry in last week's regional. Fry is the two-time state champion. Each cleared 14 feet last week, but Suter did it in fewer tries. Van Buren has one entry in the meet: The 4x400 team of Luke Brown, Nathan Curry, Michael Huffman and Mason ThorlaLopez. The squad finished fourth at the Fostoria regional.