2024 OATCC Polls

Woodridge Boys handled the LCCC District well. Bay was without a top 3 runner but put him in and it's still a 30 point win. CVCA has come along nicely.

Those lovable Bulldogs of Woodridge are Junior and Freshman dominant. One senior and one sophomore. They might just be able to scrape together a solid team next year. Bless their hearts.

Woody, Bay, CVCA and Rocky River are legit. Norwayne and Cloverleaf showed well I thought. Really shows how important 4&5 are.

Woodridge was under 30 seconds 1-5 and CVCA was 16! That is going to make it very difficult on Bay next week.
 
A 7 team Regional is so bizzare, especially compared to the other 3 D1 Regions.
If I remember correctly for a couple of years the Girls D1 race only had 6 teams (could have even been 5 teams) and all teams were in one race at district and then just raced again with less teams at regional meet. It was strange to watch the huge D3 races at Tiffin and then watch the small D1 races.
 
The race will have 4 from Leaders Farm and 3 from Findlay with top 2 teams go to state. So 4 teams from Leaders will be racing for 2 spots.
So, really no difference no matter how they split up the teams, just different 5,6,7 possibly. Top teams got a good look at each other. Not a bad thing.
 
So, really no difference no matter how they split up the teams, just different 5,6,7 possibly. Top teams got a good look at each other. Not a bad thing.
Well, in the end game-yes.

For integrity of the sport, not at all.

I have no skin in the game in terms of teams that didn’t advance; but I care about what’s fair. I knew it could’ve been corrected in August -but zero regards were given.

I do take pride in the northwest region and want there to be a good representation at our regional meet.

Instead , it’ll be an embarrassment and light years behind other locations
 
Well, in the end game-yes.

For integrity of the sport, not at all.

I have no skin in the game in terms of teams that didn’t advance; but I care about what’s fair. I knew it could’ve been corrected in August -but zero regards were given.

I do take pride in the northwest region and want there to be a good representation at our regional meet.

Instead , it’ll be an embarrassment and light years behind other locations
So, you are saying that for integrity, the Districts be manipulated after the season starts or as a result of how teams are doing. How was the districts originally set up? If it is random or Geographically or really any way, it should stay that way. I think there would be less integrity to change it because of how the season progresses. Unless, there is a seeding process like some do.

In the NE, you have the same situation but with many more teams.

All the NW teams had their chance and that is fair IMO. I personally would run one District and eliminate no one, then run again at Regional. The main fairness or non fairness would be individuals. That is where my concern would be, not teams.

I might be wrong, but I don't think this is that big a deal...except for individuals perhaps.
 
So, you are saying that for integrity, the Districts be manipulated after the season starts or as a result of how teams are doing. How was the districts originally set up? If it is random or Geographically or really any way, it should stay that way. I think there would be less integrity to change it because of how the season progresses. Unless, there is a seeding process like some do.

In the NE, you have the same situation but with many more teams.

All the NW teams had their chance and that is fair IMO. I personally would run one District and eliminate no one, then run again at Regional. The main fairness or non fairness would be individuals. That is where my concern would be, not teams.

I might be wrong, but I don't think this is that big a deal...except for individuals perhaps.
This imbalance has been around for years (identified before this season started) since they added a 2nd D1 district site. For a very long time before all NW D1 ran at one site and there was a seeding process to divide the teams into 2 mostly even races. IMO it is unfair if the 5 and 6 best teams don't get a chance to race for state when it should be the best 7 teams racing for state.

From an individual standpoint a kid from Findlay race ran a 18:11 to qualify to regional meet. There was 53 kids at Leaders that ran faster and 37 were left out from qualifying individually to state. (33 kids went faster at Leaders than the runner-up did at Findlay race). I have been at both courses and both completely flat and on non-windy days like today I would say Findlay is a slightly faster course.

Edit to add I also have no skin in the game just looking at it from a fan perspective.
 
This imbalance has been around for years (identified before this season started) since they added a 2nd D1 district site. For a very long time before all NW D1 ran at one site and there was a seeding process to divide the teams into 2 mostly even races. IMO it is unfair if the 5 and 6 best teams don't get a chance to race for state when it should be the best 7 teams racing for state.

From an individual standpoint a kid from Findlay race ran a 18:11 to qualify to regional meet. There was 53 kids at Leaders that ran faster and 37 were left out from qualifying individually to state. (33 kids went faster at Leaders than the runner-up did at Findlay race). I have been at both courses and both completely flat and on non-windy days like today I would say Findlay is a slightly faster course.

Edit to add I also have no skin in the game just looking at it from a fan perspective.
Seems like the simplest solution would be to return to the seeding format. More Districts should do this. It’s consistent with other OHSAA sports; Regions are geographical but the road to get there is balanced by seeds.
 
This imbalance has been around for years (identified before this season started) since they added a 2nd D1 district site. For a very long time before all NW D1 ran at one site and there was a seeding process to divide the teams into 2 mostly even races. IMO it is unfair if the 5 and 6 best teams don't get a chance to race for state when it should be the best 7 teams racing for state.

From an individual standpoint a kid from Findlay race ran a 18:11 to qualify to regional meet. There was 53 kids at Leaders that ran faster and 37 were left out from qualifying individually to state. (33 kids went faster at Leaders than the runner-up did at Findlay race). I have been at both courses and both completely flat and on non-windy days like today I would say Findlay is a slightly faster course.

Edit to add I also have no skin in the game just looking at it from a fan perspective.
I haven't looked at it closely, but I suspect that the assignments have to do with girls teams and D1/D2 etc. They can do seeding, but when you have single gender schools and schools that have boys and girls in different divisions, it makes it much harder to "balance" things. Doesn't one of the districts only have D1 and D3 and the other all 3 divisions? It's easy when we only look at 1 gender and 1 Division, but there is more to it than that. I can almost guarantee that it makes more sense when all things are considered. Girls and boys, Divisions, single gender schools.

Too much focus on just D1 boys. There has to be more to it.
 
I haven't looked at it closely, but I suspect that the assignments have to do with girls teams and D1/D2 etc. They can do seeding, but when you have single gender schools and schools that have boys and girls in different divisions, it makes it much harder to "balance" things. Doesn't one of the districts only have D1 and D3 and the other all 3 divisions? It's easy when we only look at 1 gender and 1 Division, but there is more to it than that. I can almost guarantee that it makes more sense when all things are considered. Girls and boys, Divisions, single gender schools.

Too much focus on just D1 boys. There has to be more to it.
Good point on the girls and boys being in different divisions since Leaders doesn't have a D2 race. There was 3 of them. There are simple ways to get around that or just go back to all D1 at one location like was done for many years before they added the 2nd location a few years ago. Adding the 2nd site and moving 1/2 the teams out of Findlay didn't significantly shorten the drive for any team.
 
Good point on the girls and boys being in different divisions since Leaders doesn't have a D2 race. There was 3 of them. There are simple ways to get around that or just go back to all D1 at one location like was done for many years before they added the 2nd location a few years ago. Adding the 2nd site and moving 1/2 the teams out of Findlay didn't significantly shorten the drive for any team.
So, just one. NW District site for all divisions, or one site with only D3 and the rest at the other site? D3 is the strength of NW. Have to be careful not to make more issues than are solved.
 
So, just one. NW District site for all divisions, or one site with only D3 and the rest at the other site? D3 is the strength of NW. Have to be careful not to make more issues than are solved.
Just 1 D1 site which is what was done for a very long time and never had any issues. If NW district still wants to have a site with just D3 that is fine because as you said there is a ton of D3 schools in NWO. NWO having so few D1 schools does cause issues for many sports come tournament time.

If XC gets a 4th division this issue will go away as there will not be enough D1 schools to have two district races. Of course that would lead to no D1 race at Tiffin regional unless they go back to shipping Cleveland area teams to the site.
 
Just 1 D1 site which is what was done for a very long time and never had any issues. If NW district still wants to have a site with just D3 that is fine because as you said there is a ton of D3 schools in NWO. NWO having so few D1 schools does cause issues for many sports come tournament time.

If XC gets a 4th division this issue will go away as there will not be enough D1 schools to have two district races. Of course that would lead to no D1 race at Tiffin regional unless they go back to shipping Cleveland area teams to the site.
I disagree that they never had any issues. I might be wrong, but part of the big push to unbalance the Regionals (Which I agree with and have always thought was the best way to go) was because NW teams were being split up and one Gender going one place and one another. It might not have seemed like a problem for D1, but it was for D2 and D3. There was also the issue of NE D1 and D2 teams taking nearly all of the team and individual spots. I remember one of the years where they sent the Goodyear District to Tiffin and NW got only the last 2 individuals out in D2. I think things are much better now.
 
I disagree that they never had any issues. I might be wrong, but part of the big push to unbalance the Regionals (Which I agree with and have always thought was the best way to go) was because NW teams were being split up and one Gender going one place and one another. It might not have seemed like a problem for D1, but it was for D2 and D3. There was also the issue of NE D1 and D2 teams taking nearly all of the team and individual spots. I remember one of the years where they sent the Goodyear District to Tiffin and NW got only the last 2 individuals out in D2. I think things are much better now.
Yes there was issues at the region level with Cleveland teams dominating Tiffin but this is a district issue. Simple solution is go back to way it was and all D1 go to one site (Findlay) and seed the teams if girls team is D2 the girls also go to Findlay and race in the D2 race.

Side discussion. If go to 4 divisions, I don't see anyway the NW isn't combined with NE like they are doing in all "team" sports right now.

Good discussion. I don't expect any changes and Findlay will be just as bad next year but moving on to regional meets.
 
Woodridge, CVCA, Rocky River and Bay aren't that bad. No shame losing to them.
it might not be too shabby, but Lorain isn't helping in the boys race. I think only 2 or 3 of the D1 teams at Lorain would have made it out of the D2 race there
However, the D1 schools that are in the Lorain District are rather large and really have no excuse for not being much better. Is CC just a phys Ed credit at these schools? By accident you would think they would be better.
 
Woodridge, CVCA, Rocky River and Bay aren't that bad. No shame losing to them.

However, the D1 schools that are in the Lorain District are rather large and really have no excuse for not being much better. Is CC just a phys Ed credit at these schools? By accident you would think they would be better.
Quite a few of the Lorain Co. schools have decent sized rosters and long tenured coaches, but the SWC has not had a top ranked boys team in a long, long time.
 
Quite a few of the Lorain Co. schools have decent sized rosters and long tenured coaches, but the SWC has not had a top ranked boys team in a long, long time.
Who knows. I see kids out there. Bodies that look like runners, but that is it. Berea-Midpark seems to have a lot of kids to put out on the course. I thought I counted 30+ boys on the team at a meet I saw them at. Seemed very content to be running against lower level competition. Schools much smaller. Again, out of 30+ kids, you would think by accident there would be 5 good dedicated runners. Berea-Midpark has a number 1 that barely makes top 5 at any of the D2 qualifying teams. Then I saw them at a JV meet Monday, so it's not like they are just packing it up and not caring. Coaches are taking time with all the kids. Where is the disconnect? Plenty of kids to field a team + Coaches that seem to at least put in the time and care. I find it hard to believe that in this day and age, the coaches don't have resources to find a good training plan. How is it they are scoring nearly 500 points at a weak District?
 
Ding ding ding. Round 2 Bay vs Woodridge. I'm going with Woodridge. This is the time of year Woody usually starts dropping. Can they catch Fairfield Union?
 
Ding ding ding. Round 2 Bay vs Woodridge. I'm going with Woodridge. This is the time of year Woody usually starts dropping. Can they catch Fairfield Union?
Bay has had trouble fielding a complete line up this season, about every other week. Which means this should be a good race for them. 2nd place Saturday for Bay
Since the Spartan Invite $oodridge has gained too much at 4 and 5 for Bay to beat them.
Fairfield Union might match Bay's top 3 guys and they might be better at 4 and 5 than $oodridge, so no I don't think they can catch FU
 
Woodridge boys and Girls ran strong at Boardman. Boys qualified to the state meet for the 21st consecutive year and the girls qualified for the 20th straight.

Boys hit another gear headed into the state meet. I didn't do all the math, but I think they would have won the D1 race. If not, it was close.

Woodridge and CVCA showed great depth 1-7 both boys and girls. The Woodridge boys put 4 in before second place CVCA.

LCCC district was by far the dominate district in D2.

Don't count the Woodridge boys out.


Rittman was impressive winning D3 boys and girls team titles.
 
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Wayne County Athletic League went 1-2 in the team standings for both D3 boys and girls at Boardman. Dalton boys also qualified to give the league 3 of the 4 team berths awarded in that race. The league had 3 other individuals qualify in the D3 girls race and 1 other individual qualify in the boys race.
 
Boys hit another gear headed into the state meet. I didn't do all the math, but I think they would have won the D1 race. If not, it was close.

A couple of points.

D1 NE region is very weak. It could be the worst in the history of the sport. Columbus and Troy should dominate at state. NE could all finish 10+ at the state meet in D1. No team had 5 under 17:00. MasJACK had a 2-minute spread from 1-5 and finished 2nd. MasJack was a regional runner up and they lost to St. X and Creek by 80 points at an earlier meet. Chardon qualified with a 17:47 man.
St. Iggies only finished with 6 and they were 4th overall. Was someone hurt?
Eli Ig is running very well and will contend for a state title.

Woodridge #5 is at 16:44 v. Hudson at 17:00+ is a huge difference maker.

The Woodridge system is awesome.

Your Woodridge bias is awesome.

The D2 state meet should be a battle.
 
A couple of points.

D1 NE region is very weak. It could be the worst in the history of the sport. Columbus and Troy should dominate at state. NE could all finish 10+ at the state meet in D1. No team had 5 under 17:00. MasJACK had a 2-minute spread from 1-5 and finished 2nd. MasJack was a regional runner up and they lost to St. X and Creek by 80 points at an earlier meet. Chardon qualified with a 17:47 man.
St. Iggies only finished with 6 and they were 4th overall. Was someone hurt?
Eli Ig is running very well and will contend for a state title.

Woodridge #5 is at 16:44 v. Hudson at 17:00+ is a huge difference maker.

The Woodridge system is awesome.

Your Woodridge bias is awesome.

The D2 state meet should be a battle.
I take it you're referring to Hot Summer Bash? MasJack's #2 didn't race that day. He's worth 45-50 pts. to their team score at that meet.
 
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