Mineral Ridge HS varsity cheerleader Ava Datchuk, 17, views her send-off sign she was making Thursday morning at the Post Office Pub for the nine Mineral Ridge athletes heading to Columbus for the State Track Meet...by R. Michael Semple

MINERAL RIDGE — Nine Mineral Ridge track athletes who will compete today and Saturday at the state track meet in Columbus got a rousing sound-off from cheerleaders, students, parents and the community on Thursday.

The nine athletes competing from the high school are Mitchell Bitner, Kate Cross, Jonny Culp, Thomas Holko, Ava Hulett, Kylee Molnar, Dom Pappagallo, Josiah Toth and Malayna Wilson. Dozens of other Mahoning Valley track and field athletes also will be competing at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at the Ohio State University.

RIGHT: Toni Wallace of Mineral Ridge, far right, and other supporters line state Route 46 as the bus carrying the school’s state qualifiers leaves for Columbus. Her son, Bradley Wallace, is an alternate at the state meet.