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DyeStat Ohio
OH State Meet Preview
Cincinnati powers St. Xavier & LaSalle class for 3rd and final time
from an Ohio correspondent
THE ROAD TO THE OHIO STATE CHAMPION IS CALLED NORTHBEND� ST. XAVIER VS. LASALLE
It is a crisp Monday afternoon, just days before the cross-country state championships. The 11th ranked team in the nation cruises on an easy 5-mile run, traveling east on a street. At the same time, the top-ranked team in the state, also ranked nationally, cruises down the same street, heading west to cover 5 miles. At the halfway point, the rivals meet. At once the casual chatter stops. Faces turn stone cold, and the only noise is that of cars racing past. The two teams, tops in their league, city, state, and arguably the Midwest, cross paths, without even looking in the other's direction. The suspense couldn't be cut with a chainsaw.
That kind of drama can only be found in Hollywood right? Wrong. Check out Northbend Road in Cincinnati, Ohio, home of US #24 Cincinnati LaSalle, second in the city and state only to another nationally-ranked team that resides less than 5 miles away� on the same road: US#20 Cincinnati St. Xavier.
To call this storied rivalry intense might qualify as the understatement of the year. For years these titanic programs have clashed, combining to win numerous individual and team state championships. Pride is the fuel that makes the fire of this rivalry burn deep. Hundreds of students, parents, alumni, and fans, decked out in the red of LaSalle or the blue of St. Xavier, flock to cheer on these superpowers.
And perhaps this year the rivalry has reached its peak: Never before have these teams been ranked nationally at the end of the season. Never before have the teams gone into the state meet ranked 1-2. And never before have these two teams showcased the top two individuals in the state: junior Allen Bader of LaSalle and senior Andy Wietmarschen of St. Xavier.
Don't be surprised if you see both of these guys at Footlocker Nationals this December. Far and away the two best individuals in Ohio, Bader and Wietmarschen staged an epic battle in their first meeting at the Greater Catholic League Championships a few weeks back, with Bader covering the 5,000m course in 15:24 barely edging Wietmarschen (15:25).
Bader is the latest of many LaSalle superstars, which includes Steve Padgett (10th at Footlocker last year, 8:54 2mile at Golden West). To look at him is to see a star. Sporting sunglasses and a strong build, Bader possesses a rare combination of speed (a 4:15 miler as a sophomore) and endurance. His counterpart is a throwback of sorts. A soft-spoken and humble young man, Andy Wietmarschen's blue-collar demeanor would never lead you to believe that he is one of the best runners in the Midwest. His greatest strength is neither his speed nor his endurance, but his burning desire and courage.
St. Xavier and LaSalle have met only twice this year, with St. Xavier claiming victory both times. In their first meet, several weeks ago at the Greater Catholic Championships, St. X dominated, placing 5 in the top 8 with times of 15:25, 15:57, 15:58, 16:11 and 16:17, on the way to a 23-46 rout of LaSalle. Last Saturday at the Regional Championships LaSalle cut the margin, losing only by 13 points by scoring 62. "We ran well and really improved the last two weeks," commented LaSalle corporate coach Frank Russo. St. Xavier seemed pleased as well: "We ran controlled today. Scoring 49 points is especially great because it is the number of a former football player here who had the heart of a champion and has really inspired our team," commented one of the runners.
So who is the best team in Ohio? Who is the best individual? One thing seems certain, the answers can be found on Northbend Road. You can throw rankings, previous results, and hype right out the window this Saturday at 12:35 pm when St. Xavier and LaSalle travel two hours north to Columbus, Ohio to settle the issue once and for all: Who is the King of the Road?
Scotty Cotter
