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In the opening meet of Turpin's regular season, the Spartan boys took home a well-earned second place finish at the Moeller Henry Jacquez Invite. Finishing second only to Elder, Turpin was able to upset the previously second-ranked Moeller Crusaders. The strong placing catapulted the Spartans to the #7 ranking in the Enquirer poll. Ryan Kiracofe won his first career race, beating out Moeller's Brad Meyer, left, for the title in 16:29.6. Sophomore Kyle Rewick proved that he was a force to be reckoned with as well, coming in fourth place with a time of 16:45.7. Jay Russell and Adam Baas put in solid efforts, coming in 20th and 21st, respectively. In the Open Race, sophomores Drew DiSabatino and Matt Petro were sources of optimism for the team's future, as they came in 8th and 9th, respectively. Freshman Zach Smith also ran well, coming in 5th in the Freshman Race with a time of 12:18.6 in the 2-mile.

LAKOTA CLASSIC

WEEK TWO

On a windy day at an otherwise fast Voice of America course, the Spartans clamored to a fourth place finish in the Lakota Classic in week two. The loss to Elder, Sycamore, and Lakota West dropped Turpin to #10 in the Enquirer poll. The team struggled as consistent #2 runner Kyle Rewick battled a virus and came in 15th place, in a time of 16:53. The Spartans were led by Ryan Kiracofe, who ran a then-career best time of 16:16, coming in 6th place. Brett Becker (right) began his emergence as a real contributor to the varsity team, coming in 37th place (17:47), just behind consistent junior Adam Baas (17:46), who also put in a great effort. Tim Boutelle rounded out the scoring, finishing 39th (17:50). Ben Wagner began his battle back from illness with a solid 18:17 effort in the open race, which earned him 13th place. Wagner was followed by Dan Ripley, whose 18:30 time was good enough for 16th. Drew DiSabatino, Matt Petro, Scott Gogolin, Matt Stuckey, Zach Smith, Derek Tucker, JD Emery, Rob Keenan, and Jake Wedig all had career-best days at Lakota, and DJ Kellerhouse, Keith Cox, and David Newman turned in personal-best two mile times in the Freshman Race.

MASON INVITATIONAL

WEEK THREE

Aside from the stirring resurgence of senior captain Tim Boutelle, the Mason Invitational could be called a collective low-point for the team this season. Turpin's 7th place loss, at the hands of Elder, Anderson, Loveland and others, dropped the team out of the Enquirer's top ten. Junior Ryan Kiracofe suffered losses to both cross-district foes Tommy Fyffe and Nick Pucillo, coming in a disappointing 6th place in 16:34. Steady sophomore Kyle Rewick finished a strong 9th, with a time of 16:43. The afore-mentioned senior captain Tim Boutelle recorded an encouraging time of 17:28, showing that he still was plenty capable of being a big contributor on the varsity squad. Ben Wagner led the reserves with a 12th place finish in 18:10. Personal bests were set by potential-filled freshmen Drew DiSabatino and Matt Petro, who came in with times of 18:33 and 19:03, respectively. DJ Kellerhouse, Jake Wedig, Matt Cook, and David Newman would later record career-bests in the Open "B" Race.

ALLIANCE INVITATIONAL

WEEK FOUR

Turpin's team struggles from the Mason Invite carried over into week four, as the Spartans had another disappointing finish, placing 9th out of 20 teams. The bright spot for the varsity squad was the debut of sophomore Ben Wagner, who came in third for the Spartans in a great time of 17:56, his first time under the 18-minute plateau. Ryan Kiracofe and Kyle Rewick finished in 9th and 19th, respectively. Despite the disappointing finish for the varsity team, several reserve runners had career days at Alliance. Junior Craig Rybolt finished 11th in a personal-best time of 18:24. Freshman Scott Gogolin aroused optimism for a bright future with a personal record, 19:34 performance. Junior Rob Keenan neared the 20-minute barrier, recording his best time to date, 20:07.

HARRISON INVITATIONAL

WEEK FIVE

The Spartans hung tough in week 5, finishing 3rd out of 21 teams at the Harrison Invitational. Ryan Kiracofe led the team with a school-record breaking, second-place finish of 16:12, losing only to Winton Woods' Michael Perry. Kyle Rewick finished a strong 5th, in 16:40. Tim Boutelle was under 18 minutes with a time of 17:56, and he was followed closely by Adam Baas (18:02), and Ben Wagner (18:09). Juniors Tyler Smith and Craig Rybolt finished 1-2 in the open race, Smith in a time of 18:05, a career-best. Times were fast across the board, as PR's were set in the open race by: Matt Petro, Scott Gogolin, Derek Tucker, Matt Stuckey, Zach Smith, Andrew Steller, JD Emery, Keith Cox, and Jake Wedig. The meet record of 16-2 improved the Spartans' overall record to 54-21.

ST. XAVIER INVITATIONAL

WEEK SIX

The 2005 St. Xavier Invitational was a meet whose accomplishments and efforts were shrouded in controversy, as the course was later found by meet officials to be 170 meters short. Although times were declared invalid, the Spartans still ran one of their most competitive meets of the season, finishing eighth and beating rival Anderson in a highly competitive race. Ryan Kiracofe's 3rd place effort (in a recorded time of 15:39, which was predicted by Coach Jim Gossett to be a 16:11 on a legitimate course), along with huge races from Kyle Rewick, Brett Becker, Tim Boutelle, and Adam Baas, was enough to lift Turpin to an upset of their previously 6th-ranked cross-district foes. In the Freshman Race, the Spartan team continued a fine tradition (where Turpin had won the last two individual championships with Ryan Kiracofe and Kyle Rewick), coming in 2nd place overall. The Freshman team was led by Matt Petro, who was barely nipped at the line for the victory, but whose second-place finish in 11:18 was great cause for optimism. Other contributors were Drew DiSabatino (5th place, 11:32), Scott Gogolin (10th place, 11:47), Matt Stuckey (13th place, 11:52), and Zach Smith (16th place, 11:54). Craig Rybolt, Evan Narburgh, Mike Rose, JD Emery, Jake Wedig, Rob Keenan, and DJ Kellerhouse had great races in the JV and Open competitions.

CENTERVILLE INVITATIONAL

WEEK SEVEN

After the great team effort at St. X in week six, the Spartans had a somewhat disappointing 10th place finish out of 15 teams at Centerville. In a race where the varsity team ran 9 runners instead of the customary 7, it was not the normal front-runners but the JV regulars who shined. Craig Rybolt scored for the team, coming in 5th for Turpin and 81st overall in a personal best 18:18. Freshmen Drew DiSabatino and Matt Petro made their varsity debuts ones to remember, as they finished in personal bests of 18:19 and 18:35, respectively. Turpin's front four consisted of Ryan Kiracofe (7th place, 16:28), Kyle Rewick (18th place, 16:46), Tim Boutelle (45th place, 17:26), and Adam Baas (71st place, 17:55). Scott Gogolin (left, forefront) had the race of his cross country career, turning in an incredible 18:40 effort in the open race, his best time ever. PR's were also run by Andrew Steller (above, far left), Zach Smith, Derek Tucker (above, middle), Matt Stuckey, Rob Keenan, Jake Wedig, and David Newman.

FAVC CHAMPIONSHIP

AT MASON'S CORWIN NIXON PARK

WEEK EIGHT

In a meet that foreshadowed the improbable success of the week to follow, the 2005 FAVC Championship sent a message to the Spartan team: they could compete, in any given race. Turpin's encouraging second place finish to the eventual state-qualifying Kings Knights was a team effort from top to bottom. Ryan Kiracofe finished second to Kings superstar Tommy Morgan, in a career-best and record-setting time of 16:03. Kyle Rewick was not far behind, finishing 4th in a PR of 16:31. Brett Becker, (along with Kiracofe and Rewick) would run his way into the All-FAVC First Team with his 6th place, PR, 16:58 effort. Becker became just the fourteenth runner in Turpin history to break the 17-minute barrier. Tim Boutelle (8th place, 17:23) and Adam Baas (10th place, PR 17:47) made the second team All-FAVC. Turpin finished a mere five points behind the perennial powerhouse Knights. In the Open race, the coming-out party continued for freshmen Drew DiSabatino (6th place, PR 18:07), Matt Petro (11th place, PR 18:23), and Scott Gogolin (13th place, PR 18:26). Just a few weeks later, Coach Jim Gossett would call this freshman class the best Turpin has had since the class of Matt Humke, Will Schwartz, and Michael Petro. Sophomore Dan Ripley (above) had the race of his life, coming in 12th place with a career-best time of 18:24. PR's were also turned in by Zach Smith (19:01), Rob Keenan (19:05), Mike Rose (19:37), JD Emery (19:43), Jake Wedig (19:46), recent transfer Rob DiMartino (19:51), Keith Cox (19:51), and David Newman (19:29).

DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP

AT LAKOTA EAST'S VOICE OF AMERICA PARK

WEEK NINE

On one of the finest days in the history of Turpin Boy's Cross Country, the Spartans finished fourth in the District Championship and advanced to the Regional Championship for the first time since 1998. The team was led by Ryan Kiracofe (9th place, 16:36) and Kyle Rewick (15th place, 16:47), who both would have qualified individually for the Regional Meet at Troy. The race was really won, however, by Turpin's 3, 4, and 5 runners. Brett Becker continued to show that he is one of the premier runners in Turpin history, finishing 26th with a time of 17:09. Tim Boutelle, who had been on Spartan teams that had been painstakingly close to making Regionals the last three years, ran a terrific race, coming in 37th place in 17:38. Right behind Boutelle was sophomore Ben Wagner, who was not even supposed to be on the team's Varsity squad for the District Race. On the previous Thursday night, Wagner had won the individual championship of the District JV Championships for grades 9 and 10. When given the option, Wagner chose to run again two days later in the Varsity Race. His choice turned out to be an excellent one, as his 38th place finish in 17:39 lifted the Spartans past Colerain and into the Regional Championship. Adam Baas was number 6 for Turpin, finishing 44th in 17:46. Jay Russell was 63rd in 18:53.

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

AT TROY, OHIO

WEEK TEN

In the final race for Turpin seniors Tim Boutelle, Jay Russell, and Brett Becker, the Spartan team was just happy to compete at Troy, in a running atmosphere as fine as any in the state. Turpin finished 12th overall out of 16 teams. The Regional Race at Troy was, however, the high point of the career of junior captain Ryan Kiracofe (second row, fourth from left), whose 12th place finish lifted him into the following week's State Championship in Columbus. With his 16:14, come-from-behind effort, (in which he was between 17th and 19th place for much of the race, when the top 16 finishers advanced) Kiracofe became the first Spartan male to advance to Columbus since former school-record holder Matt Meurer in 1999. Kyle Rewick, who must be considered a favorite to advance to State next year as an individual, finished 50th in the region, as only a sophomore. Brett Becker was 62nd overall in 17:05, Tim Boutelle was 90th in 17:36, and Adam Baas was 99th, in 17:49. Ben Wagner was not far behind, finishing 101st in 17:50, and senior speedster Jay Russell was 124th in 18:40.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

AT SCIOTO DOWNS IN COLUMBUS

WEEK ELEVEN

Junior Ryan Kiracofe's first trip to Scioto Downs was one in which he didn't quite meet the lofty goals that had been set by himself and Coach Jim Gossett, but the incredible competition and atmosphere of the State Meet were awe-inspiring. Kiracofe finished 39th overall, in a time of 16:28, just barely holding on to beat Anderson rival, friend and fellow individual qualifier Tommy Fyffe. The race was won by Chad Balyo of Springboro in a blazing time of 15:32, and the team title was taken by LaSalle. Gossett says that this year's postseason success for the Turpin teams should inspire optimism about the team's possibilities next year. Coach Gossett believes that Kiracofe can do much more damage in Columbus next year, and that then-junior Rewick will be accompanying him. The team as a whole, he says, should also not rule State an impossibility.

Thanks to the parents, athletes, and supporters of Turpin Cross Country who made this season one of the greatest in school history. Congratulations on a wonderful year!

CINCINNATI, OHIO

Last updated July 31, 2007
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