FHS cross country squads showing potential

FINDLAY – When it comes to things like depth and experience, Mark Gleason has seen a lot of ebb and flow of his rosters during his 33 years as the coach of the Findlay High boys and girls cross country programs.This season will be no different.Findlay's boys and girls cross country rosters numbered 18 runners each last season. That's where the comparison ends.Findlay's boys team graduated only two runners and returns a big senior group this season. Findlay's girls team graduated seven runners and has just one senior on the 2025 roster.One constant for Gleason's teams, though, has been consistency, and there's enough quality runners on both teams to keep that going."We only have nine girls, which is the smallest team I can ever remember in my years here," Gleason said."But we have four letter winners back and a couple of nice freshmen, so we're going to build around that."The boys team, we're a little more solid top to bottom. You look at our top four, I think they can probably compete with just about anybody in Northwest Ohio."Gleason's biggest loss from the boys team was Adrian Stechschulte, a two-time state qualifier for the Trojans. Stechschulte ran the school's second fastest 5,000-meter time (15:18.00), was third overall in the Northern Lakes League meet, and won the Division I district individual race (16:25.03) in leading Findlay to the district title. Phil Tran, who was fourth in the district meet, also graduated.Three returning FHS runners were top-five placers, though, as the Trojans, with 35 points, outdistanced Ashland (49) and Lima Shawnee (86) in winning the district championship and earning a spot in the regional.Adrian Stechschulte's younger brother Camden, as a freshman, was second in the district meet (17:01.27). Two returning seniors, Lucas Parnell (17:21.71) and Andrew Custer (18:41.67), were fifth and 23rd respectively.Gleason likes the potential he's seen so far."These guys have really bought into the program," he said."They watched Adrian and how he did things, how he worked at everything and they've put themselves in a position to really step up this year."We're looking at the numbers and running the times and if we can stay healthy – and that's the key, staying healthy – I think we have a great chance of qualifying for the state meet this year. They have that opportunity, and I think that's a great goal."Findlay's girls team in 2024 was second to a powerhouse Perrysburg program in the NLL meet and also qualified for the Division I regional.Graduation cost the program a number of multi-year veterans, including Amber Bihn, Lindasy Clarke, Audrey Kasselmann and Lilly Zaciewski. Bihn and Clarke were both top-30 placers in the NLL meet.Findlay's top runner in the district meet, Natalie Gutman, returns this season, but is the lone senior on the FHS roster. Three other NLL and district placers are back as well, including juniors Abanna Dotson and Kayla Moyer and sophomore Gabby Brankamp. BOYS CROSS COUNTRY ROSTERSENIORS: Andrew Bernath, Andrew Custer, Lucas Parnell, Townsend Rader, Kaeden Robertson, Tyler Strabley, Quinn Tiell, Blake Wannemacher. JUNIORS: Zach Barnhart, Corban Johnson, Troy Palte, Russell Stine IV. SOPHOMORES: Evan Blair, Drake Cortez, Cole Hermiller, Cam Stechschulte. FRESHMEN: Graham Berquist, Owen Hassan, Teague Perkins, Michael Sellars, Jr., Dexter Stripe, Malik Wade. GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY ROSTERSENIORS: Natalie Gutman. JUNIORS: Abanna Dotson, Megan Guthrie, Kayla Moyer. SOPHOMORES: Adalyn Andrews, Katherine Barnhart, Gabby Brankamp. FRESHMEN: Isla Crim, Raia Koomen. CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDUILEAug. 23 – Norm Bray Invitational, FremeontAug. 30 – Columbus Grove InvitationalSept. 6 – Stars & Stripes Meet, at Seneca EastSept. 20 – at Owens Community CollegeOct. 4 – at Marion Harding InvitationalOct. 11 – NLL Championship, at FremontOct. 18 – District Meet at Owens Community College