Ada track squad led by Sumner, Grose
By Cort Reynolds
The 2023 Ada High School track and field team features 36 athletes on the roster under the leadership of 10th-year head coach Tyler Craig.
A total of 22 boys and 14 girls make up the squad. Four seniors, 10 juniors, 11 sophomores and 11 freshmen comprise the roster.
Eleven male lettermen return to pair with five female letter winners and several promising newcomers.
"We have some strong middle distance relays with a chance to get to state," said coach Craig. "Our goal is to be the hardest-working team around. I firmly believe we have that.
“We have been blessed in having kids who will put in the work that is needed,” he added. “It is a good group.”
Speedy senior returnee Courtney Sumner paces the girls team returnees. She excels in the long jump, sprints and relay events.
The athletic Sumner finished second in the Northwest Conference 400-meter race last year, and crossed the finish line fifth in the league 200-meter event.
Sumner also took second in the district meet at Ada with a personal-best jump of 16-4. She came in 12th at the regional meet in the long jump.
After undergoing pre-season right wrist surgery, Sumner should be ready to go by April and participate in relays where she has to exchange the baton.
"We expect her to have an excellent year in the long jump and 400," Craig noted.
Long-limbed junior Mariah King is a top returnee in the hurdles and high jump. She finished sixth in the NWC high jump event at 4-4 last spring.
"Mariah is a good athlete and is a hard-working, good kid," he added. "She is really dedicated to the hurdles. She has a ton of potential and high expectations after last year.”
Powerful and speedy senior Kayleiana Cooper-Bolden is back as one of the team’s top sprinters and relay runners.
Junior Elsie Allen is expected to contribute well in the pole vault. Distance runner Jillian Hazelton and Ella Marshall also return as juniors.
Strong sophomore Kennedy Jones tops the returning throwers. She took eighth last spring in the NWC shot put at 27-9.5. Jones will also throw the discus. “She should have a good season,” said Craig.
Katelynn Metzger is the other sophomore on the girls roster.
Six promising freshmen join the squad. Jordyn Smith was the NWC girls junior high 400-meter champion last year as an eighth grader.
“Jordyn has real potential,” noted the coach.
Anna Conley, a 6-0 freshman, “has potential as a high jumper and thrower,” said Craig.
Freshmen Alyssa Nau and Lydia Demascio gained valuable endurance on the swim team in winter. The willowy Demascio is expected to be a middle distance runner.
Karlee Rockhill is new to track but “she should help us,” Craig offered. Ashley Hevlin has potential as a thrower.
The Ada girls ended up sixth at the nine-team conference meet in 2022. Spencerville unseated Columbus Grove, which finished second, as NWC girls champion.
Spencerville previously captured the girls league crown in 2013, the last time someone other than CG won it.
With the loss of three talented athletes expected to return, the Ada girls squad may be hard-pressed to finish as high in the league meet as last spring.
The deeper Bulldog boys have some good returning and new talent on their squad.
Chase Caldwell and Alex Dearth are the lone male seniors. Caldwell finished eighth at the NWC meet 400-meter race in 55.03 last spring.
Junior Julian Grose tops the returnees. He finished seventh at regionals in the 300 hurdles at 42.0. He was third in the 2022 NWC 300 hurdles, and crossed the line fourth in the 110 high hurdles.
“He is one of the top hurdlers in the area,” said Craig. “We also have three of our four runners back from the 4x400 regional relay team,” he noted. The quartet took 11th at the regional meet.
Grose, Caldwell and sophomore Trevor McGue return from that foursome.
Speedy junior Jackson Brown is also one of the top hurdlers in the league.
Junior Owen Arnett contributes in the long jump, sprints and relays. Junior Wyatt Green is a versatile athlete who performs solidly in the long jump, sprints and relays.
Fellow junior Mason Selover is an experienced middle distance runner.
Junior Aedyn Beckwith returns to run the 1500 and 4x 800 relay.
Speedy sophomore Logan Jolliff is “an explosive athlete,” said Craig. He is also expected to do well in the long jump and high jump events. Jolliff is a very good sprinter and relay sprinter.
“With a year under his belt, Logan should have a good year,” Craig offered.
Sophomore Ethan D’Souza is poised for a strong distance season after taking eighth in the NWC 3200 meters last spring. “He has really dedicated himself by running several miles a day in the off-season,” Craig said. “He looks very good and strong, and should have an excellent season.”
Sophomore Tucker Hazleton is expected to do the pole vault. McGue is a good athlete who competes in relays and the long jump.
Sophomore Landon Simon is a promising thrower in the shot put and discus events.
Freshman Slade Gossman is expected to be a contributor in the throwing events as well. Other promising freshmen include Jacob Henson (relays, long jump) and athletic Caleb Hickman.
Grove won the boys league crown again in 2022, followed by Bluffton.
"Grove is the boys favorite again in the NWC until someone can beat them," Craig noted. "My hope is that our kids place as high as possible in the league.
"We have a lot of new first-time kids with a lot of potential,” he continued. “I have high hopes for our 4x400 relay. We have a lot of young guys who can contribute.”
Ada is slated to open its 2023 track campaign March 28 at Indian Lake with USV.
The Bulldog home opener is April 3 vs. USV.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to host the annual 15-team Ada Invitational on Saturday, May 6.
The NWC meet is May 11/13 at Delphos Jefferson.
PHOTO CAPTION
The Ada varsity track and field team, from left, front: head coach Tyler Craig, Chase Caldwell, Courtney Sumner, KayleiAna Cooper-Bolden, Alex Dearth, assistant coach Terry Craig.
Row 2: Logan Jolliff, Trevor McGue, Kayleb Hickman, Jillian Hazelton, Elsie Allen, Dakota Gossman, Mason Selover.
Row 3: Karlie Rockhill, Ashley Hevlin, Wyatt Green, Kennedy Jones, Semone Mitchell, Tucker Hazelton.
Row 4: Alyssa Nau, Anna Conley, Braden Smith, Kaleb Couch, Katelynn Metzger, Ethan D'Souza, Owen Arnett.
Row 5: Ella Marshall, Slade Gossman, Ken Zheng, Jacob Henson, Jayden Shaffer, Jordyn Smith.
Back: Jackson Brown, Mariah King, Julian Grose, Lydia Demascio, Landon Simon, Aedyn Beckwith.
PHOTO CAPTION
The 16 returning Ada track letter winners.
