Poland girls at state after near misses
BOARDMAN — Kim Grisdale closed her eyes as she was being interviewed.
The excitement overwhelmed the Poland girls cross country coach. Her team has been so close in the past two years to make it to state. This time there was no denying the Bulldogs’ distance runners. They are heading to state in Division II.
“Trying to think through the excitement,” Grisdale said. “It’s hard to calm myself down enough to say something that sounds sort of intelligent.”
Can’t blame her since her team was three points away two years ago and five points away last season.
“It’s such a family atmosphere,” Grisdale said. “They were racing for each other today. It’s a whole bunch of sisters and they feel like my daughters.”
Getting to run Saturday at National Trail Raceway in Hebron is an experience this girls team hasn’t had since 2012.
“It was heartbreaking the past few years, seeing my sisters, seeing us be so close,” junior Jackie Grisdale said. “It was heartbreaking. We came in confident, built up training. We got this. We have confidence. We wanted to run as one. I thought we did that today, closed the gaps and ran together.”
Her mother, Kim, puts on a brave face, showing she’s not nervous.
“At home, I could tell. I tell her, ‘You’ve got this. You’ve worked so hard to prepare us. We’re going to do it for you and for each other,'” Jackie Grisdale said.
Geno Gallo saw his team make it to state as well, the first time in school history the Bulldogs are heading to state with both the boys and girls teams.
“This region is the toughest in the state,” Gallow said. “To see the boys and girls get out there, it makes me really proud to be a Poland Bulldog.”
His younger brother, Tony, is excited to see his team advance.
“I would not be able to train if they were not here,” Tony said. “The way we train together, I was not at all surprised we made it. They are what inspires me. They are what keeps me going, honestly.”