Otsego cross country runner Wesley Kellermeier on his way to winning a Northern Buckeye Conference individual championship and leading the Knights to the team title. (Nicholas Huenefeld | Sentinel-Tribune)
By Nicholas Huenefeld
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
OAK HARBOR — Wesley Kellermeier’s first-place finish highlighted a dominant performance from the Otsego boys cross country team on Saturday as the Knights claimed a fourth-consecutive title at the Northern Buckeye Conference Cross Country Championships at Oak Harbor High School.
“It’s awesome,” Kellermeier said of his team’s performance. “I never thought it would have happened, but we always push each other, try to get everybody to keep (setting personal records), cut down their times and get faster.”
The Knights were led by an all-senior top five, highlighted by Kellermeier, who avenged a second-place finish to Lake’s Micah Balsmeyer last year.
Nathan Strahm (3rd, 16:42.0), Ben Nusbaum (5th, 17:05.9), Jack Seeger (9th, 17:29.4) and Jacob Obringer (19th, 18:19.9) rounded out the Otsego senior class that had three finish in the top five.
“We knew Genoa was next closest, but we knew it wasn’t going to be real close compared to where they were compared to us,” Otsego head coach Brandon Fitch said. “I think we won by about 30 points at the (NBC) Jamboree the other day, but these guys just got four (league titles) in a row.
“We just did really well. We have big plans for the next couple weeks at districts, regionals and states.”
Kellermeier established his new personal record at 16:02.1, taking down Balsmeyer, last year’s champion who finished second despite also setting a new personal record.
Balsmeyer, who finished in 16:16.4, respects his friendly rivalry with Kellermeier.
“He’s a great competitor,” Balsmeyer said. “He’s awesome to run against. We’ve just kept improving every year. He popped a big PR, and I’m happy for him. It’s always fun running against him.
“I (set a new personal record) by close to 10 seconds, so I think (the day) was successful. I did what I was supposed to do, but Wes just excelled. He was the better runner today.”
And it’s mutual respect from Kellermeier.
“I knew I could win it,” he said. “I knew it would be tough, and I’d have to push myself to get to that goal. It feels good. Me and Micah, we’re good buddies. We go back and forth quite a bit, and we usually push each other to do our best every time.”
In the team standings, Otsego finished with 37 points, which was 31 points ahead of second-place Genoa. Eastwood (81) and Lake (101) finished third and fourth. Rossford came in seventh with 192.
Kellermeier enjoyed the change of pace in the course and weather at this year’s event in comparison to Genoa last year.
“This year was a lot less wet,” he said. “It poured last year. This course was also really, really fast, and I think that was an advantage this year in terms of getting a PR.
“I think we performed very well as a team. We knew coming in that we were the favorites to win it. I think we performed like we needed to and got it done.”
Eastwood’s third-place finish made for a “really great day” according to head coach Nathan Howard. His two seniors, Connor Carroll-Schramm (10th, 17:33.0) and John Stewart (13th, 17:47.1), both set personal records.
Sophomore Ben Buehler also set a new personal record, finishing eighth individually at 17:22.9.
“We had 10 runners and nine of them set new PRs,” Howard said. “Our kids came along really nice. This was a huge day, the best day of the year for them.”
Lake’s Luke Steep joined Balsmeyer in the top 10, finishing sixth in 17:11.6.
Another Flyer, Frank Swails III, checked in 12th in 17:46.2.
NBC Boys XC Championship Results
Team Results
1. Otsego – 37
2. Genoa – 68
3. Eastwood – 81
4. Lake – 101
5. Fostoria – 134
6. Maumee – 136
7. Rossford – 192
*Oak Harbor only competed individually.
Individual Results (Top 10)
1. Wesley Kellermeier (Otsego) – 16:02.1
2. Micah Balsmeyer (Lake) – 16:16.4
3. Nathan Strahm (Otsego) – 16:42.0
4. Gavin Witt (Oak Harbor) – 16:49.1
5. Ben Nusbaum (Otsego) – 17:05.9
6. Luke Steep (Lake) – 17:11.6
7. Chase Cooper (Genoa) – 17:18.6
8. Ben Buehler (Eastwood) – 17:22.9
9. Jack Seeger (Otsego) – 17:29.4
10. Connor Carroll-Schramm (Eastwood) – 17:33.0
