It was a historic weekend for the West Liberty-Salem Big Orange Cross Country program, as both the boys’ and girls’ teams delivered standout performances at the OHSAA State Championships.

The WL-S boys, ranked #4 in the state heading into the meet, finished as Division III State Runner-Up, earning the program’s first podium finish since the 1970s ended with 4 straight state championships.

Head Coach Mike Louden commended the team’s heart and grit, saying, “We set the goal to podium and bring home hardware — and we did just that. This finish is for all Big Orange runners, past and present.”

Leading the way, Senior Caleb Larson placed 10th (15:39.60) and Sophomore Asher Cole 17th (15:47.35), both earning 1st Team All-Ohio honors. Senior Dylan King (39th, 16:23.62) and Sophomore Brayan Gullett (47th, 16:30.44) added 2nd Team All-Ohio finishes, with strong efforts from Garrett Wallen, Zeke Longshore, and Eric Hoover rounding out the team’s top-10 national-caliber finish.

With a season record of 169–14, the Big Orange ended their campaign 22–1 in postseason competition — a testament to their resilience, depth, and legacy of excellence.

Coach Louden added, “This is a day they’ll remember forever. These young men are the definition of togetherness and perseverance.”

The WL-S girls’ team also shined on the state stage, finishing 6th overall out of 24 teams in Division IV competition.

Malia Miller led the Lady Tigers with a 24th-place finish (19:10.96) and her third consecutive All-Ohio honor, followed by Addi Wallen (34th, 19:39.94), who earned 2nd Team All-Ohio. The rest of the scoring pack — Gwen McCullough, Isla Leichty, Elia Matthews, Mariska Smith, and Charlee Albers — helped secure the top-10 finish.

Coach Aaron Lauck praised the team’s effort and unity:

“We were hoping to finish in the top five, but I couldn’t be prouder of how they represented West Liberty-Salem — with hard work, sportsmanship, and heart.”

The day marked not just another impressive showing for the Big Orange program, but a reminder of what makes WL-S cross country special: legacy, leadership, and love for the sport.
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📸 Photo Credit: John Coffman