Girls track preview: Sprinters highlight county's deep talent

Medina County girls track and field teams have a simple message to speedsters throughout Northeast Ohio: Catch us if you can.Brunswick's Zaria Roberts and Kaila Peterson, Medina's Brooke Diello, Wadsworth's Hailey Otradovec and Jessica Stoops, and Cloverleaf's Kayla Shook all competed at the 2025 state meet in sprint events and appear to be even faster this season.Leadoff runner Roberts and anchor Peterson return from the Blue Devils' 4x400-meter relay that finished sixth in Division I, also qualifying to run at Jesse Owens Stadium in two additional events.Diello broke the county record in the 200 with a 24.51 in her state debut, while Otradovec, Stoops and Shook are multi-year relay participants at the Ohio championship meet.Three field event standouts also are aiming for a second straight trip to state. Pole vaulters Ellen Steppenbacker of Buckeye and Payten Shetterly of Cloverleaf and shot putter Kya Swann of Brunswick.As a result of the OHSAA expanding from three to five divisions in the sport, local schools will be spread out even more than usual.The Blue Devils and Bees remain in D-I, but the Grizzlies and Highland drop to D-II. The Bucks and Colts are in D-III, and Black River and Medina Christian have been assigned to D-V.Black RiverCoach: Aaron Munyan (2nd season)Last season: 4th at Lorain County League Meet, 10th at Cuyahoga Heights Division III District.Key letterwinner lost: Olivia Szmania (HM All-Gazette).Athletes to watch: Morgan Kubitz (sr., hurdles, sprints, jumps), Livy Fralick (jr., hurdles), Grace Racut (so., sprints), Hailee Moskal (so., sprints).Noteworthy: Kubitz, an experienced base and tumbler in cheerleading, will take her skills to the next level with the Ashland University stunt team. She is a four-sport athlete for the Pirates, also competing in volleyball, basketball and flag football.BrunswickCoach: Matt Sofranko (7th season)Last season: 1st Greater Cleveland Conference Meet, 1st Brunswick Division I District, 3rd at Port Clinton Regional, T-46th at state meet.Key letterwinners lost: Olivia Komperda (Gazette MVP), Autumn King (HM All-Gazette), Maggie Romano (HM All-Gazette).Athletes to watch: Zaria Roberts (All-Gazette, sr., sprints/jumps), Kya Swann (All-Gazette, sr., throws), Kalia Peterson (All-Gazette, so., sprints), Mackenzie Soeder (HM All-Gazette, sr., sprints/jumps), Natalie Tracy (sr., jumps), Elli Rahas (sr., pole vault), Reese Nolan (sr., distance), Olivia Petitto (sr., distance), Marissa Miller (sr., sprints).Noteworthy: Miami (Ohio) signee Roberts was the runner-up in the long jump at the state indoor meet, where Swann earned podium berths in both throwing events. l Komperda is now a member of the Youngstown State track team after running cross country at Kent State in the fall.BuckeyeCoach: Mike Flerchinger (7th season)Last season: 5th at Cleveland West Conference Meet, 6th at Bedford Division II District, T-27th at Lexington Regional.Key letterwinners lost: None.Athletes to watch: Ellen Steppenbacker (All-Gazette, jr., pole vault, sprints, throws), Emma Bostic (HM All-Gazette, sr., hurdles, sprints), Nico Anzevino (sr., sprints), Sophia Regiec (sr., distance), Julia King (sr., sprints, jumps), Kylee Kash (sr., sprints), Kerrigan Graves (sr., throws), Juju Lawrence (sr., throws), Leah Bengough (jr., pole vault), Avery Lewandowski (fr., sprints), Erin Salazar (fr., hurdles, sprints), Blakely Herman (fr., hurdles, sprints).Noteworthy: The Bucks are poised for a breakout season with their solid senior and promising freshman classes. Flerchinger points out that this is one of his most experienced teams. l Bostic, Anzevino, Lewandowski, Salazar and Herman spent the fall together on the volleyball team.CloverleafCoach: Garth Gucker (12th season)Last season: 2nd at Metro Athletic Conference Meet, 2nd at Orrville Division II District, T-9th Austintown Fitch Regional.Key letterwinners lost: Sarah Kelly (All-Gazette), Kierston Campbell (HM All-Gazette).Athletes to watch: Kayla Shook (All-Gazette, sr., sprints), Payten Shetterly (HM All-Gazette, sr., pole vault), Taylor Munchick (HM All-Gazette, so., sprints), Kiersyn Berry (jr., hurdles), Amelia Ryncarz (jr., throws), Sam Porter (jr., sprints), Abby Reinhardt (jr., sprints, jumps), Julia Reusch (so., hurdles), Lily Dluzynski (fr., distance), Adriana Akers (fr., sprints), Elise Mion (fr., distance), Leah Monhemius (fr., distance).Noteworthy: Shook is the only returning four-event regional qualifier in the county. She also is the active leader with seven career regional bids, one more than Otradovec and two ahead of Diello, Roberts, Stoops and Medina's Alexis Warnement. l Munchick, Shook and Kelly were members of both Colts' MAC champion sprint relays.HighlandCoach: Paul Lushes (29th season)Last season: 4th at Suburban League American Conference Meet, 4th at Brunswick Division I District, Finished T-34th at Port Clinton RegionalKey letterwinner lost: Delaney Miller (HM All-Gazette).Athletes to watch: Celia Pylypiak (HM All-Gazette, jr., hurdles), Ally Gryskiewicz (sr., sprints, jumps), Audrey Wendl (sr., throws), Katie Schuler (jr., distance), Jordyn Caples (jr., sprints), Audrey Whitling (jr., sprints), Anna Coleman (so., pole vault), Bria Riedy (so., sprints, pole vault).Noteworthy: Pylypiak won the SL American title in the 300 hurdles and finished second in the 100 hurdles. Coleman was the conference runner-up in the pole vault and advanced to regionals in the event. l Gryskiewicz earned All-Ohio honors in gymnastics, tying for ninth on the balance beam in her state debut as a senior.MedinaCoach: Phil Brewer (1st season of current tenure)Last season: 4th at Greater Cleveland Conference Meet, 5th at Brunswick Division I District, 10th at Port Clinton Regional.Key letterwinners lost: None.Athletes to watch: Brooke Diello (All-Gazette, sr., sprints), Alexis Warnement (HM All-Gazette, sr., distance), Michaela Gwinn (sr., sprints), Julia Dietrich (sr., distance), Ruby Lloyd (sr., hurdles, jumps), Mariana Cunningham (jr., sprints), Alanya Yanmaz (jr., distance), Julia Black (so., distance), Kalea Tagalicod (so., sprints), Esme Rodriguez (fr., sprints), Anna Carpenter (fr., sprints), Addison Joffre (fr., distance).Noteworthy: Gwinn, Cunningham and anchor Diello ran the final three legs on the 4x200 that finished 16th at state. Three weeks earlier, Diello claimed the GCC titles in the 100 and 200. l Warnement advanced out of districts in the 1,600 and 4x800. She is a three-time regional qualifier in the latter.Medina ChristianCoach: Jennifer Willman (1st season)Last season: Did not score at Cuyahoga Heights Division III District.Athletes to watch: Addi Wolf (jr.), Anna Gibson (jr.), Lainey Wood (fr.).Noteworthy: The Knights will compete at the Cuyahoga Heights Division V District in their second postseason appearance. l In the fall, Wolf is a middle hitter who led the volleyball team in total blocks.WadsworthCoach: John Burton (32nd season)Last season: 2nd at Suburban League National Conference Meet, 2nd at Brunswick Division I District, 4th at Port Clinton Regional.Key letterwinners lost: Cece Craig (All-Gazette), Avah Coviak (HM All-Gazette).Athletes to watch: Hailey Otradovec (All-Gazette, sr., sprints), Maggie Gerschutz (All-Gazette, jr., distance), Brooke Haude (All-Gazette, so., hurdles), Jessica Stoops (sr., sprints), Cami Ross (sr., distance), Ashley Valatka (jr., sprints), Grace Piepho (jr., distance), Kameron Chapman (jr., jumps), Ella Dolgowicz (so., distance), Natalie Buzard (so., distance), Bree Maxwell (so., sprints), Annaliese Pivato (fr., hurdles), Norma Cunningham (fr., jumps).Noteworthy: Otradovec and Stoops are the active co-leaders with five career state event berths, one ahead of Roberts. Three-year state qualifier Stoops was 12th in the 400 at the state indoor meet. l Valatka is currently sidelined with an injury, but it is not season endingContact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette.com. Follow him @BrianDulik on X.