Luke Snyder Continues to Shine in Junior Year, Eyes Another Strong Finish at State Championships.
Rittman High School’s Luke Snyder has quickly become one of the top names in Ohio high school cross country, continuing his dominance into his junior season. Snyder, who clocked an impressive 15:23.1 at last year’s OHSAA Division 3 State Cross Country Championships, currently ranks 5th in Ohio this season, with a personal best of 14:55.4. His rapid progression has also earned him national recognition, sitting 44th among the best high school runners in the country.
Snyder opened his junior season strong, finishing first at the Keystone Icebreaker in 15:35.9 on August 19. Just a few days later, he improved his time to 15:17.2 at the Riverside Kickoff Classic NIGHT Invitational, demonstrating his consistency in high-pressure meets. At the Wooster Invitational on September 7, Snyder clocked 15:06.1, marking one of his fastest performances of the year and placing him firmly in the conversation of top competitors in Division 3.
On September 21, Snyder hit a new personal record at the Trinity/Valkyre Invitational, crossing the finish line in 14:55.4. This time solidified his place as one of Ohio’s elite runners, now ranked 5th overall in the state behind senior standouts like Alex Bruns of St. Xavier and Landon Kimmel of Tippecanoe. With each race, Snyder has proven that he can compete with the best not just in his division, but across all of Ohio.
As the season progresses, Snyder’s sights are set on the upcoming OHSAA State Championships, where he hopes to improve upon last year’s stellar performance. With times like these, Snyder is poised for another deep run and could very well challenge for the top spot. His ability to consistently shave seconds off his personal best makes him one of the most exciting athletes to watch this fall, both in Ohio and nationwide.
(Photo Credit MileSplit Ohio)
Rittman’s Artie Sonego is off to a hot start in his final season with the Rittman Indians. Through 3 games, Rittman has scored 100 points and allowed 42 points.
Sonego has been dominant, rushing for over 879 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 12 yards per carry.
Rittman will face 0-3 Waynedale on the road this upcoming Friday night. Last year, Waynedale spoiled Rittman’s comeback season with a 12-7 win at Rittman.
According to fantastic50.net, Rittman is favored to win by 3 points, with a 57% chance of victory on the road in Apple Creek this week.