By Cort Reynolds
VAN WERT - The Ada boys cross country team finished seventh in the seven-team Northwest Conference championship meet at the Van Wert Reservoir Saturday morning.

Columbus Grove repeated as boys team champion with just 23 points. Lincolnview was second (45), followed by Crestview (86), Bluffton (105), Allen East (133), Paulding (143) and Ada (211).

Bulldog sophomore Riley Ferguson came in 67th in the field of 95 runners to register the top Ada showing. He covered the 3.1-mile course in a time of 22:13.8.

Senior teammate Hunter Wells ended up right behind him at 68th in 22:14.3.

Ada sophomore Seth Swaney finished 71st, followed by classmate Keegan Giddens at 87th. Freshman Connor Daugherty came in 90th and classmate Xander Wells finished 93rd.

The average Ada time was 24:03.06.

Sophomore Caleb Stechschulte of Columbus Grove won the individual league title in 17:17.2.

Sophomore Hunter Sidle posted the best Allen East finish by coming in 12th in 18:19.4.

Grove also won the five-team league girls title for the fourth straight season with 26 points. Crestview was second with 57, followed by Lincolnview (65), Spencerville (101) and Paulding (130).

Ada individual finishers:
Place Runner Time
67th Riley Ferguson 22:13.8
68th Hunter Wells 22:14.3
71st Seth Swaney 22:37.7
87th Keegan Giddens 26:04.2
90th Connor Daugherty 27:05.3
93rd Xander Wells 28:57.9

NWC team results:
1st Columbus Grove 23 points
2nd Lincolnview 45
3rd Crestview 86
4th Bluffton 105
5th Allen East 133
 Average: 20:02.36
6th Paulding 143
7th Ada 211
 Total Time: 2:00:15.30
 Average: 24:03.06

The Bulldogs run next in the Div. III district meet Saturday morning, October 19 at Columbus Grove. A total of 23 boys teams will compete in two races.

In the boys races, the top three teams and those individuals not on a qualifying team who finish in the top 12 positions of each race will advance to the regional meet in Tiffin Oct. 26.