The 2022 rendition of Bluffton Cross Country saw first-year Head Coach Connor Gulick lay down the groundwork for his program. With six returning women and seven returners on the men's side, Bluffton is ready to move into the upper echelon of the Heartland Conference after a pair of 7th place finishes in 2022.
Bluffton's men were led by 2022 sophomore Cole Kropka (New London) who ran a 27:00.5 and placed 22nd at the HCAC Championships. The 26:12.2 that he put up two weeks later at regionals propelled Kropka to 3rd all-time at Bluffton. Kropka's chief competitor, Ethan Ly (Celina), also put up a PR 27:32 in the 2022 finale, giving the Beavers a formidable one-two punch up front.
The men's side will also feature seniors Zach Boch (Lancaster) and Alex Montross (Perrysburg) along with junior Braeden Horn (Galion). Sophomores Aiden Brien (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) and Jarrod Roudebush (Coshocton) both showed significant improvement under the tutelage of Coach Gulick who is giving back to his alma mater after graduating in 2020. Junior Karter Tow, a graduate of Lincolnview High School and a transfer from Ohio State, looks to bolster Bluffton's men's team while pushing Kropka and Ly this season. Tow won the Star Spangled Spectacular Freedom 5K in Lima by nearly a minute on July 4!
Although the women struggled to stay healthy in 2022, they return their top six, including junior Basil Gates (Galion) who led the Beavers with a 24:20.7 at the NCAA Regionals. Senior Jenia Freewalt (Delphos St. John's) will also be closer to 100 percent after battling injuries the past two years. She secured a top 12 finish and with that HCAC All-Conference honors as a freshman when the conference championship was staged in March due to COVID-19. Freewalt is also outstanding in her role as the cross country and track field correspondent for Bluffton sports information!
Seniors Brooke Barnes (Ashland/Crestview) and Miranda Billman (Castalia/Margaretta) along with juniors Olivia Daugherty (Bradford) and Sammie Unger (Kenton) give the Beavers six experienced veterans on the women's side. Staying healthy will be the name of the game as Bluffton has the talent to go toe-to-toe with the upper half of the Heartland Conference.
Experience is abound for the Beavers with 13 returners, including four seniors and six juniors, on the roster this season. Bluffton will once again host the Beaver Dam Invite on Friday, Sept. 1. Following trips to Cedarville, OWU and Wilmington, the Beavers will head to Blue River for the 2023 Heartland Conference Championships.
-BEAVERS-