When it comes to track, it’s always about who ran the fastest, jumped the highest or threw the shot or the discus the farthest. But sometimes there are stories, GREAT, INSPRATIONAL STORIES, that don’t have to do with who won.

For instance, I remember watching the local news in the fall, I think it was, and there was an amazing story about a young lady (she may have been from the Youngstown area), who was competing in the state high school cross country meet and was almost near the finish line. Then came a gruesome sight. She broke her leg on the course and fell to the ground.

But this young lady had the courage and fortitude to crawl and limp her way to the finish line, despite being in obvious pain.

It was a story of incredible self-will. This young lady needed medical help, but she didn’t want it. She was withering with pain but she wanted to finish that race, and if you watched the video, you couldn’t help but get a little emotional, knowing she was in a world of pain. But watching her will her way to that finish line, regardless of the pain she was experiencing, was breathtaking and moving.

The yound lady gave a great television interview a few days later and it was great to see she was doing well and was in good spirts. I think she even joked that all she was thinking about, when she went down, was that she wasn’t going to be able to dance at her sister’s wedding later that night.

I witnessed another incredible story, but it didn’t involve injury. A few years ago I was covering a regional track meet at Ravenna and the Copley girls were favored in this particular relay event. As the race began, Copley was right there, as expected. But during one of the exchanges, the baton was dropped and the team was out of the race.

The young lady who dropped the baton was devasted. I mean, I had never seen an athlete more distraught. What I found out later was that the young lady was only a sophomore and there were two seniors on that relay team. The sophomore felt she had blown it for the seniors because it was their last chance to make it to state.

She was on the infield of the track, as the race was still going, slumped over an emotional ball.

She just shuddered and shook as she cried.

Then, former Copley standout Carrie Dyer, who was a senior and on that relay team, ran to the young runner to comfort her.

Then the rest of the realy team followed.

To me, that was one of the most inspirational stories I had ever witnessed.

The sophomore was heartbroken. But she was heartbroken because she cared about her teammates and wanted to perform at her best so that it would help the seniors.

It didn’t happen. But when it didn’t happen, the seniors weren’t mad, bitter or upset. They showed support for their younger teammate because they loved her. And in the end, winning didn’t matter.

So, with that, I’m asking readers to post any inspirational stories you witnessed, in track or any other sport, that didn’t involve someone winning.

A story where someone overcame odds to get where they are. Or a story about teammates helping one another.

Those are the most compelling stories.

Wadsworth senior Brittani Peltz has committed to continue her track and field and academic careers at Xavier University.

Peltz won Division I district and Suburban League titles in the 400 and 800 and 1,600 relays.

Wadsworth seniors Dru Jones and Brian Solitario have committed to continue their baseball and academic careers.

Jones is headed to Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. and Solitario will go to Youngstown State University.

The 71st annual state wrestling tournament concluded with four area wrestlers winning a state title on Saturday night at the Value City Arena within the Jerome Schottenstein Center on the campus of the Ohio State University.

Please check out the print Akron Beacon Journal or the ohio.com website on the Internet for coverage about the state tournament that appeared from Thursday through Sunday.

Here is a quick synopsis:

Champions

Brunswick senior Richie Spicel won the Division I 140-pound state title and finished the season with a 43-0 record under the leadership of coach Mike Koshar. Spicel also won a state championship as a freshman in 2005 at 130 pounds.

Walsh Jesuit senior Chase Skonieczny won the Division II 135-pound title and finished the season at 44-2 under the guidance of coach Bill Barger.

Perry junior Seth Horner won the Division I 130-pound state title and finished the season at 40-4 under the leadership of coach Brent McBurney. Horner defeated Wadsworth sophomore Brad Squire (42-3) in the finals.

Aurora sophomore Ty Mitch won the Division II 103-pound state title and finished the season at 39-5 under the guidance of coach Dick Bliss. Mitch’s triumph came at the expense of Walsh Jesuit freshman Johnni DiJulius (48-5), who is also a close friend.

Runner’s-up

The area also featured eight wrestlers that placed second.

In Division I: Squire, Barberton senior Adam Cogar (47-1 at 215) and Perry juniors Sam White (37-3 at 112) and Nick Heflin (45-4 at 152).

In Division II: DiJulius and Highland junior Tyler Houska (39-6 at 215).

In Division III: Norwayne senior J.D. Smyers (44-2 at 171) and Triway senior Cory Akin (34-9 at 215) in Division III.

It should be noted that Squire and White were champions in 2007, a headline for the Sunday wrestling notebook was a little misleading regarding White.

A simply amazing kid

Hillsboro senior Dustin Carter’s qualification for the state wrestling tournament at 103 pounds caught the attention of many in Columbus.

A rare blood disorder at age 5 led to limb damage. Carter, a quadruple amputee, has built a powerful upper body. His arms end near his elbows, his legs above where knees would be. When he doesn’t wrestle, he uses prosthetic legs.

He was recognized before the semifinal round Friday and received a roaring, standing ovation that lasted over a minute. CBS interviewed him Thursday and filmed his first-round match, a victory.

Carter lost twice Friday, however, and finished the season 40-4.

Splendid Records

Richie Spicel concluded his Brunswick career as the school’s all-time leader in wins with 160. He said he is considering going to college and wrestling at Asland University, Ohio University and Gardner-Webb.

Chase Skonieczny, a Kent State recruit, concluded his career with a 166-26 record. The 166 wins are a school record at Walsh Jesuit.

Adam Cogar is headed to the University of Virginia to wrestle and study pre-med after compiling a 175-21 record under the leadership of coach Dave Mariola. He carries a 4.2 cumulative grade point average. The 175 wins are a school record at Barberton.

Johnni DiJulius’ 48 wins are the most in a single season at Walsh Jesuit.

Smooch, smooch

Walsh Jesuit coach Bill Barger planted a kiss on the forehead of Warriors senior Chase Skonieczny in the media room after the 135-pound wrestler won the Division II state title.

“I have been around it a lot and they are all special, especially for a kid that grinds it out,” Barger said.

Skonieczny, Walsh’s 39th state champion, jumped into the arms of assistant coaches Jeff Black and Clint Musser on the mat following his 5-0 victory in the finals.

“I have been coming down here since I was a little kid,” said the 18-year-old Skonieczny, who entered this season as a three-time state placer in high school and with a decorated resume as a youth and middle school wrestler. “It’s 15 years in the making. March 1st, it’s been my day all season. It’s been marked on my phone and on my calendar at home.”

Surprisingly explosive

Horner and Squire put together a very good match, that Horner ultimately won 4-2 in overtime.

“He’s very strategic,” Wadsworth coach John Gramuglia said of Horner. “He’s explosive and he’ll lull you to sleep. He is very hard to wrestle. You don’t expect the explosiveness and then boom he’s by you. He’s a heck of an athlete.”

Scarlet and Gray

Austintown Fitch senior Tony Jameson (145 pounds) became the 16th wrestler in the state tournament’s history to win four state titles.

Following Jameson’s victory he paraded around the mat with an Ohio State banner and received a loud ovation. Jameson, 4-2 this season and 168-6 in his career, is an OSU recruit.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Varsity Letters Player of the Game: Revere junior forward Emilee Vitez scored nine of her team’s 11 fourth-quarter points to carry the Minutemen (16-3, 11-2) to a crucial Suburban League victory on Wednesday night.

Vitez, who finished with a team-high 13 points, was able to break free from Green defenders several times in the fourth quarter, catch passes from her teammates and make wide-open layups.

“We had communication on the backside,” Vitez said. “We all knew that the backside wing was open from tape we were watching. It was just great how we all worked together in the fourth quarter.”

With the win, Revere moved into a tie with Wadsworth (14-5, 11-2) for first place in the league standings.

Revere will play Copley next Wednesday in the final Suburban League game of the season for both teams. If the Minutemen win, they will earn at least a share of their first league title since 1978.

Second place in the Suburban League regular-season standings was at stake Thursday when Highland and Barberton faced off in a dual meet.

Junior Tyler Houska, who normally wrestles in the 215-pound weight class moved up to heavyweight to face Barberton junior Lance Coher in the meet’s final match. Houska entered the match with a 24-4 record, and Coher was 28-4.

Despite Coher’s weight advantage, Houska pinned him in 4:27, lifting Highland to a 38-33 victory over Barberton (12-2, 5-2). With the win, Highland (8-1, 6-1) finished second in the regular-season league standings behind defending champion Wadsworth (8-1, 7-0), a 59-9 winner over Cloverleaf on Thursday.

Barberton coach Dave Mariola juggled his lineup, moving several of his wrestlers into weight classes they don’t typically compete in. The Magics forfeited matches at 112 and 152 to avoid encounters with Highland seniors and returning state qualifiers Bart Young and Steve Timoteo. There were four Barberton wrestlers whose weight classes were different than they were this past Saturday at the 21st annual Bill Dies Memorial Tournament at Firestone High School.

Mariola’s strategy almost paid off. The Magics led 33-32 heading into the final match, but Houska delivered to shatter their dreams of two consecutive wins over the Hornets.

“It was an exciting match for the fans,” Mariola said. “Everybody is talking about how there’s no good dual meets anymore. I think this was nice to have it come down to the wire. It’s good for the sport.”

Highland, which won the Dies Tournament in part because of another clutch victory from Houska, had two wrestlers in weight classes that they were not accustomed to.

“I know Dave (Mariola) was doing the same thing,” Highland coach Mark Savoia said. “We analyze who’s going to win where and how. You try to calculate it to the best of your advantage to where you know you’re going to win.

“I hate moving kids around because some kids have to sit, and some kids have to face a monster. But you have to sit and figure it out. If you don’t, you’re not a very good coach. It’s pretty tedious and you do take a lot of heat for it, but the end result is what counts.”

Click here for a story about Highland vs. Barberton.

LEW STAMP/Akron Beacon Journal

Barberton’s Tony Yoder controls Highland’s Jordan Brant during a match in the 125-pound weight class Thursday at Barberton High School. Yoder won the match by pinning Brant in 4:54, but the Hornets defeated the Magics 38-33 to earn second place in the Suburban League regular-season standings.

The upcoming Suburban League swimming meet looks like could be a nail-biter.

Just when the Copley boys swimming team appeared to be a clear favorite to win its second consecutive league title, the Green Bulldogs upset the Indians 86-84 on Wednesday.

In early January, the defending league champion Copley girls edged Wadsworth 86-84, indicating that the race to the league championship will also be tight on the girls side.

The Suburban League meet is scheduled for Feb. 1. It should be interesting.

Wadsworth sophomore Brad Squire still has a chance to become a four-time state champion, but his hopes of achieving that feat with an undefeated record have been shattered.

Perry junior Seth Horner gave Squire his first career high school loss last Saturday. After losing to Squire in early December in a title match at the Walsh Jesuit Ironman, Horner edged his rival by a 5-3 decision Saturday to win the championship in the 130-pound weight class at the eighth Mayfield Big 8 tournament.

“Seth kind of controlled that whole match and capitalized on Squire’s mistakes,” Perry coach Brent McBurney said. “He’s been the most disciplined he ever has been compared to the last two years. It’s made a difference and it paid off on Saturday.”

Horner’s win also helped the Panthers (298 points) edge the Grizzlies (290) in the final team standings.

“Wadsworth has a good program, but we kind of have something special going with them — we don’t like to get beat by those guys,” McBurney said. “It was good for our confidence as a team.”

Horner has finished third at the Division I state tournament in each of the past two seasons. His record is 24-3 this season.

Last season, Squire went 34-0 and became the first freshman in Wadsworth history to win a state title. He was 23-0 this season and 57-0 in his career before losing to Horner.

I have talked to several coaches and parents in the wrestling community who thought Squire could go undefeated in high school. As I’ve written on this blog before, I also believed he could finish his high school career with a perfect record. But his loss proves how difficult the competition is in Ohio.

Wadsworth sophomore Brad Squire captured the title in the 130-pound weight class Saturday to help the Grizzlies win the 48th annual North Canton Holiday Wrestling Invitational.

The Grizzlies finished first in the team standings with 186.5 points. Lake (160.5) placed second and University School (155) took third.

A week before, Wadsworth defeated their most dangerous league foes - Barberton and Highland - in a Suburban League quad meet. Two weeks ago, Squire, a defending Division I state champion, captured a championship at the Walsh Jesuit Ironman - one of the nation’s most prestigious high school wrestling tournaments.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Wadsworth’s early season success is that the Grizzlies are achieving their glorious run without a single senior on their roster.

Freshman Alfredo Gray (103) and sophomore Bart Randolph (171) placed second at the North Canton Holiday Wrestling Invitational. Junior Alex Gray (112) took third, and freshman Clay Wenger (119) and sophomore Ben Buzzelli (285) had fourth-place finishes. Sophomore Josh Otanicar and freshman Nate Ball wrestled each other at North Canton Hoover High School and finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 145-pound weight class.

“Our youth and middle school programs prepared these guys,” Wadsworth coach John Gramuglia said. “We’re just trying to polish them.”

If any young wrestler in Ohio is polished, it’s Squire. His career high school record is now 48-0. His victory at the Ironman proved to any doubters that he is not only one of the best high school wrestlers in Ohio, but he’s one of the best in the United States.

Squire appears to be capable of becoming the area’s first four-time state champion since Harry Lester of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy accomplished the feat with four state titles from 1998 to 2001.

Lester’s career high school record was 165-2. It will be interesting to see if Squire can come close to matching Lester’s amazing mark.

Click here for more about the North Canton Holiday Wrestling Invitational.

Wadsworth sophomore Brad Squire defeated Perry junior Seth Horner by an 8-4 decision to win the title in the 130-pound weight class at the 14th annual Walsh Jesuit Ironman.

Squire, who is a defending Division I state champion, is the first wrestler in Wadsworth history to win an Ironman title and the first area wrestler to win an Ironman championship since CVCA graduate John Weakley accomplished the feat in 2005.

Squire went 5-0 during the past two days in one of the nation’s most prestigious high school wrestling tournament. Squire’s career high school record is now 39-0.

Two other area wrestlers made it to the Ironman finals.

Perry junior Sam White, a defending Division I state champion, lost by a 5-0 decision, and Walsh Jesuit senior Chase Skonieczny, a Kent State University recruit, was eliminated by injury default. Skonieczny placed second at Ironman for two consecutive years.

Click here for the story.

LEW STAMP/Akron Beacon Journal

Perry senior Dan Genetin gets Wadsworth junior Danny Foore in a hold during the 14th annual Walsh Jesuit Ironman. Genetin won the match and went on to finish third in the 125-pound weight class.