Capital, Cardinal, and Central

With the postseason approaching, it's the perfect time for our conference previews. In this article, we'll dive into three divisions of the OCC on the boys' side, each brimming with high-level competition that we're eager to break down! 

OCC Capital

Predicted individual champion: Jeffery Kerns

Predicted team champions: Westerville North

Both our predicted team and individual champion hail from Westerville North High School, which comes as no surprise, given they are our top-ranked team. Despite not racing on the fastest courses this season, they have consistently performed at a high level in every meet. Even after losing last year’s state champion, Ben Gabelman, and another state qualifier, Michael Dellasanta, they are still aiming for a regional championship and a strong showing at states. Their current top runner, Jeffery Kerns, has been consistent all season and boasts a personal best of 15:40. He is joined by two teammates, Casey Carlos and Jordan Mazak, both of whom have run under 15:55 this season. Together, they are dubbed “The Big 3” by their teammates. Westerville North’s biggest challenge will come from Dublin Scioto, who have also had a strong season. Mckinley Norman, with a personal best of 15:41, has stepped into the number one role after the graduation of Weston Day and will look to challenge Jeffery and the Westerville North trio for the individual conference title. Michael Kinzer, after a breakout performance at the Berlin Bear Dash where he ran a near 20-second personal best of 15:51, is also a contender for the title. Worthington Kilbourne and Delaware Hayes will battle for third place, both featuring young rosters with hopes of regional qualification.

OCC Cardinal 

Predicted individual champion: Charlie Guerrera

Predicted team champions: Dublin Jerome

In what should be a runaway victory for both the individual and team titles in the OCC Cardinal division, we project Dublin Jerome senior Charlie Guerrera and his team to dominate. Guerrera has had an exceptional season, securing multiple individual wins and posting a personal best of 15:10, which should improve further in the postseason given his talent. After a slower start to the season, the rest of the Dublin Jerome boys made a statement at their home meet, The Celtic Clash, proving they are among the best teams in the state. With four runners boasting personal bests of 15:50 or faster, and two more under 16:10, they are a force to be reckoned with. The top non-Dublin Jerome contender is Thomas Worthington senior Mulu Ferguson, who, with a personal best of 15:40, will try to keep pace with Guerrera. The team runner-up race will be a close one, with Hilliard Darby, Thomas Worthington, and Marysville—all ranked within our top ten—vying for the spot. Also watch out for the pair of sophomore standouts, Hilliard Darby’s Logan Behm and Olentangy Berlin’s Vansh Sethi, who are poised to make an impact.

OCC Central 

Predicted individual champion: Matthew Schroff

Predicted team champions: Olentangy Orange

Continuing the trend of the last two divisions, both our predicted individual and team champions come from the same school: Matthew Schroff and Olentangy Orange. Schroff holds the fastest 5k personal best in the region this season, clocking a 15:08 at the Berlin Bear Dash, and will be looking to fend off tough competition for the individual regional title. On the team side, Olentangy Orange has also excelled, with two other runners posting times of 15:51 or faster, also positioning them as strong contenders for a regional title. However, to win their conference, they’ll face stiff competition from Olentangy Liberty, led by senior Zee Rabi, who has a personal best of 15:48, backed by a solid top five. While former powerhouses Hilliard Davidson and Dublin Coffman may not be as dominant as in years past, they still field strong teams. Dublin Coffman, in particular, has seen a recent surge in performance, led by senior Jacob Bolton, who holds the second-fastest personal best in the conference at 15:31 and will aim to challenge Schroff for the individual title.

Final Thoughts

As the postseason approaches, the competition in the OCC's Capital, Cardinal, and Central divisions promises to be fierce. Westerville North, Dublin Jerome, and Olentangy Orange are poised to dominate both the individual and team titles in their respective divisions, but strong challenges are expected from other top athletes and teams. With standout performances from runners like Jeffery Kerns, Charlie Guerrera, and Matthew Schroff, and deep team lineups pushing for regional success, these races will be thrilling to watch. The battle for conference supremacy is heating up, and we can't wait to see who rises to the occasion.

(Note: These previews do not include any results from the weekend of October 5th.)