The Bowling Green boys and girls cross country teams swept Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division cross country championships at Bowling Green State University Saturday morning.

Amid the adverse weather conditions, the girls distanced themselves from Cardinal Division rival Sylvania Southview early in the race and never looked back. It is the girls first country country conference championship since 2006.

“The girls remained focused and determined all week,” 13th-year BG coach Pat Carney said. “We figured that Southview would be after us and the girls were pretty set on not allowing that to happen.

“The team also did not allow weather conditions to affect their mindset and they went to the starting line ready.”

Placing six girls in the all-league positions, the Bobcats only accumulated 32 points for the victory. Southview placed second with 68, followed by Napoleon with 72, Fremont Ross 95, Clay 136, and Springfield with 147.

NLL first team choices are junior Annie Oberlander, who finished third in 20:58, junior Shelby Janes, who finished fourth in 20:58, junior Natalie Neeson, who placed fifth in 21:01, and junior Averie Crawford, who was seventh in 21:18.

Second team selections are freshman Kate Scarletto-Scholl, who placed 13th in 21:59 and sophomore Emarie Headley, who placed 14th in 22:04. Freshman Maddie Evans placed 18th in 22:27.

“During the race the girls found each other and worked really well together,” Pat Carney said. “Coach Carney (assistant coach Lisa Carney) told them before the race that they needed to accomplish two things on that course — first, stay close to and work with your teammates.

“Second, get after those orange jerseys (Southview). This is exactly what they did. We are very proud of them and the work they have put in. The team is excited to enter the postseason.”

For Pat Carney, these are his first league championships as a head coach, but he has been involved with the program 23 years and as an assistant coach the Bobcats won five straight seasons from 2002-06 and were state champions in 2003, 2004, and 2005, and state runners-up in 2006.

Last year, the BG girls finished third in former eight-team NLL format, but Carney had eight letter winners returning. Besides those placing at the NLL meet, other key runners were juniors Ava Peper and Ava Kenryon, sophomore Lizzie Amspoker and freshmen Tess Chalin and Rylee Ruehl.

Oberlander and Crawford were both second team All-NLL last year and first team two years ago, Janes was third team two years ago, and Neeson was third team last year. This year with the split into Buckeye and Cardinal divisions, no third team was awarded.

Carney said the Bobcats’ “team bond is strong, the girls all work well together (and have a) strong desire to improve,” adding that they are “staying hungry against competition” and “keeping an eye on the bigger team picture.”

“This is a strong team that continued to improve throughout the season,” Carney said. “If the girls continue to push each other in practice, this will lead to pushing each other against other teams on race day. They are very coachable and excellent ambassadors for Bowling Green High School.”

The BG girls will compete in the Division I district championship race on Saturday, October 21 at Leaders Farms in Napoleon. Of the 12 teams in their race, the top four teams and top 16 individuals will advance to the regional competition on October 28 at Hedges Boyer park in Tiffin.

Behind Novinsky, BG boys follow suit

The BG boys cross country team won the inaugural NLL Cardinal Division title scoring 33 points to runner-up Southview’s 39.

Springfield was third with 97, followed by Fremont Ross with 103, Clay 127, and Napoleon at 137. The last NLL title for the BG boys was in 2020.

“Southview has been rapidly improving throughout the season and the boys knew that we were in their sights,” Carney said. “The boys remained confident from the start and held on for the victory.

“This boys team continues to perform at an elite level each weekend. The boys knew Southview would give a good fight today, and they did. The team continues to handle pressure and adversity as good as any team we have ever coached.

“They have lofty goals heading into the postseason and they will be ready to meet the challenge. We are still improving and have not put our best overall team race out there yet. This team works incredibly hard and all of the success they are having is a direct result of that hard work. They deserve this win.”

BG senior Aidan Novinsky was the NLL individual champion and a first team selection, finishing in 16:14. Also earning first team were junior Erek Kendrick, who placed third in 16:35, and sophomore Landon Fry, who placed fourth in 16:41.

Junior Sam Chalin finished in 17:29 to place 10th, good enough for second team. Freshman Sam Wiles placed 15th in 17:56, senior Garrett Bateson placed 16th in 18 minutes flat, and junior Ash Fleming placed 17th in 18:01.

“Aidan Novinsky has led this team all year and Erek and Landon have been right there with him each step of the way,” Carney said.

“Aidan ran with a sense of determination that it takes to be a league champion. He ran confident and in control — the way a veteran and experienced runner does.”

The boys will also compete in the Division I district Championship Race on Saturday, October 21 at Leaders Farms.

Of the 12 teams in their race, the top four teams and top 16 individuals will advance to the regional competition on October 28 at Hedges Boyer Park.