But the Blue Devils completed the season with a little disappointment.

After leading the chase for the team title from the first field events on Friday until the last event of the meet on Saturday, McDonald came up just short of its third state championship.

The Blue Devils led second-place Minster 34-31 entering the 4×400-meter relay late Saturday afternoon.

Minster won the event in 3 minutes, 22.12 seconds and McDonald finished fifth (3:27.76). The result was Minster totaled 41 points and McDonald placed second with 39, well ahead of third-place Crestview (25).

Staff photo / Brad Emerine McDonald junior Ryan Henry won the Division III discus event on Saturday after finishing second in the shot put on Friday.

“Anything can happen at the state track meet and it usually does,” coach Lou Domitrovich said. “We had about 90 percent of everything go right and, in most years, that’s enough. This year it wasn’t.”

McDonald’s state titles were in 1999 and 2011.

“We had talent in sprints, distances and throws, and we had three relays get down here,” Domitrovich said. “It’s the type of well-balanced team you need to have just to contend for a team championship.

“Plus our senior leadership was dynamic. Those guys — Greg Dickson, Brody Rupe, Dom Schadl, Dom Carkido, Eli Street, Jacob Wolford — most of them have been around for a long time. That’s a cool thing also.”

McDonald actually felt it also had a chance to put up winning numbers last season, but COVID-19 curtailed those hopes.

Staff photo / Brad Emerine McDonald's Brody Rupe, right, makes his move in the 1600-meter run on Saturday.

“It’s been a while since we put a team out there that had this kind of talent,” Domitrovich said. “I was thinking about last year’s seniors. I saw a lot of them today cheering these guys on. For them to be here means a lot. They had their chance taken away and we had a good team last year. I’m so happy to see them here supporting these guys. I’m thrilled. I really am. We can walk out of here with our chins up.”

The proof of McDonald’s depth and balance is that the Blue Devils won just one event.

Junior Ryan Henry picked the right time to unleash a big throw in the discus. Although he entered the event with the top seed based on regional throws, he struggled early, reached the finals and let loose an effort of 170 feet, 2 inches.

“I was a little flustered before that throw,” Henry said. “I was fifth in my flight and sixth coming into the finals. I was just trying to climb the ladder. My coach (Mary Domitrovich) told me to visualize, close my eyes and think about positions and technique.

“I was just trying to relax and rip at the front. Everything stayed connected. It’s nice when you see your hard work pay off.”

His coaches couldn’t have been prouder of Henry, who was second in the shot put on Friday.

“Ryan was our 70th state champion and that says a lot about our program,” Lou Domitrovich said. “His first four throws weren’t where they needed to be and it’s tough to not allow that to sink into your subconscious. He didn’t.

“Then his fifth throw was literally out of this world. He’s so mature. He’s cool, calm and collected, like his family. I just shook his father’s hand and you couldn’t tell by his reaction whether he finished first or 16th. Ryan is a chip off the old block.”

Rupe placed third in the 1,600 (4:17.05) and Caleb Domitrovich was eighth in the 3,200 (10:04.45).

The 4×200 relay of Schadl, Nathan Gilligan, Carkido and Dickson was fifth (1:31.01) and that 4×400 group in the final event included Dickson, Rupe, Michael Woloschak and Brian Fisher.

Lou Domitrovich expects another good season next year.

“Every year, I say anything is possible as long as you stay humble and focus,” he said. “From humble beginnings come great things. That idea that we still train and practice on a cinder track is amazing. We are getting a new facility, which is exciting. But you have to continue to do things the right way.

“For example, we tried not to talk much about this (state title possibility) before today, because I want them focused on just doing their jobs. We needed to take care of business, so we didn’t talk about it. They did that all year. We lost twice this season, once to a Division I team in Austintown Fitch and the other was today. I’d say these young men have a lot to be proud about.”

The girls team scored 14 points to tie for 14th place. Senior Naomi Domitrovich was fourth in the 300 hurdles (45.16) and sixth in the 100 hurdles (15.46). Megan Hipple was fifth in the 3,200 (11:19) and Melinda Brown was seventh in the 100 (12.63).