BRR Boys Preseason XC Team Rankings 2025

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BRR Boys Preseason XC Team Rankings 2025

Disclaimer: With the announcement of expanded cross country divisions by the OHSAA, our coverage this year will include both Division 1 and Division 2. This change also brought an alteration to the postseason structure of cross country.

For Division 1 boys, district meets have been eliminated, creating a gap week where that competition once was. All teams in the region will now compete in one large “Super-Regional” meet. Seven teams will qualify for the state meet, along with the top 14 individuals whose teams did not qualify.

For Division 2 boys, district meets will remain. Thirteen total teams and 26 total individuals will advance to regionals, and from there, the top five teams and top 10 individuals whose teams did not qualify will move on to the state meet.

Division 1 Rankings:

Dublin Jerome: After falling just short of the regional title last season, Jerome enters this year as the favorite to win the region. While they lost last year’s regional champion, Charlie Guerrera, the Celtics return a very strong core, highlighted by a lethal trio of Ethan Ishida, Graham Tyler, and Lincoln Kelly, with Carter Hutchinson and Jenson Nagashima rounding out their top five. Keep an eye on their sixth and seventh returners, Peter Guerrera and Mathieu Ricchiuti, who will look to follow in the footsteps of their older brothers, now running at Syracuse.
Hilliard Darby: After steadily rebuilding their program over the past several years, Hilliard Darby is poised for a breakout season. Their duo of Logan Behm and Kole Hyer ranks among the best in the region following strong track campaigns. Behind them, Aidan Fisher, Cameron Burke, and Evan Ridgeway complete a balanced and competitive top five.
Westerville North: Last year’s regional champion lost several key contributors but still returns as one of the best teams in the region. Casey Carlos will lead the way, joined by Charlie Bosler and Gregory Kerns to form a new “Big Three” capable of defending their regional title. Breakout seasons from their fourth and fifth runners, Cam Gall and Holden Gray, will be crucial if North wants to remain among the state’s top programs.
Delaware Hayes: Another rising program is Delaware Hayes, which looks ready to take the next step from fringe regional qualifier to state-level contender. The Pacers are led by Tyler Stricker and Aidan Green, while Alex Boey, Jake Zahniser, and Jonah George provide depth to round out their top five.
New Albany: Looking to return to the state meet after a multi-year absence, New Albany will be led by sophomore standout Austin Benedict, the former freshman phenom. He’ll be backed by Lavon Wilborn, fresh off a breakout track season, along with a solid supporting cast of Ean Berberich, Connor Sammons, and Austin Pfiefer.
Gahanna Lincoln: The Lions will aim to carry last season’s momentum into a state-qualifying run. Their trio of Ben Jones, Beckett Anderson, and Liam Irvin keeps them firmly in the mix, while Ethan LaCross and Bryce Reynolds will play pivotal roles in solidifying the back end of their varsity squad.
Thomas Worthington: A team to watch closely this season and my pick for the final state qualifying spot is Thomas Worthington. They return a solid core of four in Wesley Nash, Rishi Jha, Owen Cunningham, and Fraser Kirk, and they also add one of the best freshman classes in the state, led by future star Calvin Watson.
Olentangy Orange: Sitting just outside the projected state bubble, Olentangy Orange boasts a formidable trio of Sahil Khandari, Sid Sivakumar, and Cowen Allender. Depth is their biggest concern, as their success may hinge on development from the back half of the lineup. If Coach Walters can work his magic and get breakout performances from his supporting runners, Orange could move safely into the state field.
Westerville Central: Another team just outside of the qualifying picture, Westerville Central may not be flashy, but they are steady and improving. Their junior duo of Alex Hohman and Andrew Gould both had breakout track seasons and will lead the way this fall. Behind them, Corbin Morrisey, Matt Nieman, Jacob Brown, and Gavin Anderson provide a solid supporting pack.
Pickerington North: Rounding out our top 10 is Pickerington North, led by presumptive regional champion Mick Temple. While the Panthers return only one other runner with a sub-17:00 personal best, their next six athletes after Temple have all broken 17:15. They remain a long shot to qualify for states, but if multiple runners make significant jumps, they could snag the final spot.

Division 2 Rankings:

Bishop Watterson: Both the girls’ and boys’ teams from Watterson take the top spots in Division 2. The boys’ squad is led by Jack Hangen, one of five runners in the region entering the season with a personal best under 16 minutes. Behind Hangen, Luke Hollis and Collin Ritter form a solid 2–3, while the rest of their varsity squad should provide enough support for Watterson to contend as one of the top D2 teams in the state.
Bexley: Though they were narrowly edged out by Watterson in our rankings, Bexley is not a team to overlook. With Everett Lynch and Owen Comes leading the charge, they have a strong chance at taking down Watterson for the regional title. Their biggest concern is depth, as their sixth and seventh runners currently average over 19 minutes.
Jonathan Alder: Built similarly to Bexley, Alder will rely on Lincoln Wilson and Mark Goode to score as few points as possible to stay in the title hunt. With their third and fourth runners returning with personal bests around 17:00, they’ll need their fifth man to step up significantly, as he is currently projected to finish 69th in the region.
Granville: Without a projected top-12 finisher, Granville will rely on a deep and balanced squad to qualify for states. They boast the tightest 1–5 split of any top team in the region, a strength they’ll look to capitalize on in the postseason.
Dublin Scioto: The Irish are newcomers to Division 2 and will look to make their mark right away. Led by Michael Kinzer, one of the best runners in the division, and a strong No. 2 in Jack Flanagan, they’ll count on breakout performances from the rest of their varsity team to secure the final state qualifying spot.
Big Walnut: Another new addition to Division 2, the Eagles sit just outside the qualifying picture. Austyn Fox is a strong low stick, but beyond him only one returning runner has broken 17:30. They do have solid depth, however, with their 3–7 runners all owning personal bests within 15 seconds of each other. A strong pack performance could put them in contention for the last state berth.
St. Francis DeSales: Fresh off a state qualification in Division 1 last year, the Stallions must overcome the loss of three sub-16 runners. Led by Lucas Steele and Ryan Paes, their main concern once again is depth, with their fifth runner projected to score 95 points. A return trip to states in a new division is still within reach, but it will require both a big jump from their fifth man and a strong overall team performance at regionals.