ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- Rocky River's double-barrel five-peat came to an end this week around the oval at Rocky River Stadium. The Pirates, who had won each of the Great Lakes Conference's five championships on both the boys' and girls' sides since the league was launched in 2015-16, posted solid performances but took third (boys) and second (girls) in the 2022 GLC title meet held Tuesday and Thursday at Rocky River Stadium. [
results]
The Pirate boys won two events (4x800-meter relay, 3,2000-meter run) and earned eight other podium finishes in logging a team total of 92 points. The River girls registered four victories (100-meter hurdles, 3,200, long jump, shot put) among 18 top-3 finishes. They tallied 156.25, which came up short by just 10.5 points in a quest to defend their 2021 title.
The Rocky River quartet of Luke Dorenkott, Guillaume Carroll, Grant Preto, and Majid Abuaun won the 4x8 with a time of 8:07.29. River's other 10-pointer was notched by Greg Ganor, who crossed the wire 26 one-hundredths ahead of runner-up Michael Muccio (Westlake) in the 3,200. Ruairi Zuercher was a click behind that pair in third. Ganor earned silver in the 1,600-meter run.
Other podium trips for the boys were logged by Owen Kleckner (third place, 110-meter hurdles), Abuaun (second place, 800), Dorenkott (third place, 800), Alan Ritvo (third, pole vault), and the 4x400 foursome (third place) of Braden Devorace, Isaac Linville, Preto, and Ethan Hazra.
The girls wins were earned by Morgyn Cruz twice over (long jump, 100-meter hurdles), Brianna Chaves (3,200), and Doris Kale (shot put). The Pirates placed in all four relays. Sam Coleman was in on two of those while also taking second in both the 800 and 1,600. Podium trips were also earned by Taylor Byall (third in the 400-meter dash), Caroline Sidoti (second, high jump), Maeve Kelly (third, pole vault), and Madie Shoaf (third, discus).
In addition to Coleman, Mary Sollars, Sarah Saad, Keira Arnold, and Byall also figured in multiple top-3s in relays.
New GLC-member Westlake swept the GLC meet, slipping by the Pirates by a slim margin on the girls' side and earning a convincing 44-point win (over fellow new-member North Olmsted) on the boys'.
CANNON FIRE ...
NEW MARKS: Greg Ganor's winning time in the 3,200 (9:48.02)set a new GLC meet record. Morgyn Cruz' leap in the long jump (17-11.00) set a new Rocky River record.
CRUZ CONTROL: Versatile sophomore Morgyn Cruz was responsible for 23.5 points in the 2022 GLC Championships. She has scored 41.5 points over the last two GLC meets.
ON DECK: Rocky River will compete against 15 other boys' programs and 13 other girls' in a DI district meet hosted by Amherst Steele High School May 18 and 20.
by Skip Snow