Staff photo / Dan Hiner Mineral Ridge senior Dominic Pappagallo runs the boys 3,200 during the MVAC Scarlet Tier Track and Field Championships.

NEW MIDDLETOWN – The Mineral Ridge boys track and field team gathered near the scorer’s tent, patiently awaiting the final team standings. After a short wait, the Rams got the final word and cheered as they went to pick up their trophy.

The Mineral Ridge boys track team won the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Scarlet Tier on Tuesday at Springfield High School, the boys’ first league title since 1998.

“It was not just our top athletes that had wonderful performances,’ Mineral Ridge boys coach Ron Toth said. “We had some fantastic performances out of some sophomores and freshmen today.

Mineral Ridge posted 129 points. McDonald was the runner-up with 119 points, Springfield had 88 for third and Western Reserve and Lowellville tied for fourth with 74.

On the girls’ side, McDonald pulled out a conference crown with 174 points. The Rams were second with 172, Springfield recorded 71 for third, Western Reserve had 65 for fifth and Campbell came in fifth with 42.

Jonathan Culp III won the boys shot put with a toss of 54-2 for the Rams. Field teammate Kaden Shaffer took the long jump with a 19-7.

Ridge senior Dominic Pappagallo set the meet record in the 3,200 with a 9:47.13, breaking his previous mark set in 2023 (9:57.75).

The team of Josiah Toth, Mitchell Bitner, Isaiah Cottrill and Pappagallo also set the meet record in the 4×800 relay with a time of 8:26.46.

“I’m so excited for (Pappagallo),” Ron Toth said. “He’s been a leader in his ferocity, and his competition has inspired his teammates. The distance kids had a great day today.”

BOYS

Lowellville’s Drew Modelski had a solid day. He set the meet record in the 200 (22.47 seconds), 100 (10.93) and 400 (48.09).

Springfield’s team of Isaac LaMorticella, Matt Wymer, Michael Tuscano and Aiden Appel won the 4×800 with a time of 3:27.24 to set the meet record. That same group set the meet record in the 4×200 with a 1:31.33. Dante Gentile added two more wins for the Tigers by running 41.1 in the 300 hurdles and a 15.93 in the 110-meter hurdles.

McDonald’s Carson Klase set the meet record with a 4:28.4 in the 1,600, and he ran 2:04.14 to claim the 800. Teammate Drew Zajack won the boys discus with an attempt of 156-5.

Jackson-Milton’s Ryen Romigh recorded a 6-2 in the high jump to win the event.

Western Reserve’s crew of Jack Darney, Dominic Ricciardi, Josh Klasic and Chris Pater won the 4×100 relay with a 45.1.

GIRLS

Everything came down to the 4×400 relay.

The Mineral Ridge and McDonald girls were tied going into the final event of the championships. But the Blue Devils’ team of Kylie Flere, Naomi Sheesley, Rita Domitrovich and Juliana Krumpak didn’t leave any room for doubt.

McDonald took the 4×400 with a time of 4:07.56. Mineral Ridge came in second with 4:20.83.

“(Flere and Sheesley) set the tone and the other two knew what they had to do to maintain,” McDonald girls coach Mary Domitrovich said. “After a long day, a hard day, – some were asked to do some different events – to come back in the (4×400) when the meet is deadlocked, that’s a special thing for those girls to come together and finish as strongly as they did.”

McDonald played a critical role in the Blue Devils’ win. She took first in the discus (130-9) and second in the shot put (36-10.5) for 18 points in the field events. Teammate Cierra Shiley won the shot put with a 39-9.5.

Fellow McDonald field athlete Halle Kuntz won the high jump as a freshman with a 4-10.

Blue Devil freshman Naomi Sheesley continued a strong rookie year with wins in the 800 (2:26.99) and the 1,600 (5:18.78. Flere also picked up a win in the 400 (1:01.18).

The Blue Devil 4×800 relay team of Brooke Bosheff, Selah Sheesley, Naomi Sheesley and Krumpak also won with a 10:39.97.

“It’s exciting to see the kids maturing and settling in certain events and using each other to encourage and help each other along,” Mary Domitrovich said. “Our seniors did wonderfully today, and really, everyone stepped up.”

Mineral Ridge senior Ava Hulett, the meet MVP, took the 200 (27.26), 100 (13.38) and the 300 hurdles (45.81) and set the meet record in the 100-meter hurdles (15.51). Ridge freshman Kylee Molnar ran 12:11.34 to win the 3,200.

Campbell’s squad of Kaiya Coleman, Shilese Deleone Lopez, Natalia Diaz ad Yaleiska Diaz ran 53.22 to win the 4×100, and the same team won the 4×200 with a 1:54.52. Yaleiska Diaz (14-8) also won the long jump.