<![CDATA[Born & Raced in West Liberty - News]]>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:01:17 -0400EditMySite<![CDATA[Longshore to Continue Pole Vault Career at UNC-Pembroke]]>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:27:13 GMThttps://www.bornandracedinwestliberty.com/news/longshore-to-continue-pole-vault-career-at-unc-pembrokeCongratulations to Tiger senior, Elise Longshore on continuing her pole vault career at UNC Pembroke. Elise has been instrumental in the Tigers team success during her high school career and recently earned All-Ohio honors at the OATCCC state indoor track and field meet. Elise is the daughter of John and Stacey Longshore.
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]]><![CDATA[POSTPONED: Tiger Time Trial Track Event]]>Sat, 21 Mar 2026 01:29:54 GMThttps://www.bornandracedinwestliberty.com/news/tiger-time-trial-track-event-open-to-all-wl-s-students-on-march-27-2026Due to inclement weather, this event will not happen on Friday, March 27th. The elementary events have been postponed until Wednesday, April 22nd.
​Join us for a fun night of Tiger Track and Field!  Open to all WL-S students.
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]]><![CDATA[Big Orange Boys to Be Recognized at Halftime of WL-S Basketball Game on Feb. 7]]>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 19:02:48 GMThttps://www.bornandracedinwestliberty.com/news/big-orange-boys-to-be-recognized-at-halftime-of-wl-s-basketball-game-on-feb-7​The D3 state runner-up Big Orange boys cross country team will be recognized and honored at Saturday’s boys basketball game with Graham between the JV and varsity games. Congratulations to Coach Mike Louden and his team.
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]]><![CDATA[Happy National Girls and Women in Sports Day!]]>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:16:26 GMThttps://www.bornandracedinwestliberty.com/news/happy-national-girls-and-women-in-sports-day​Celebrating our West Liberty-Salem athletes and coaches who represent our community with strength, determination, resilience and sportsmanship.  We see you and support you.
National Women & Girls in Sports Day
]]><![CDATA[Lauck Named 2025 Coach of the Year]]>Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:18:09 GMThttps://www.bornandracedinwestliberty.com/news/lauck-named-2025-coach-of-the-year​Congratulations Coach Aaron Lauck!
2025 Southwest District Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year
Coach Aaron Lauck
]]><![CDATA[Big Orange Boys Finish 2nd at State; Girls Claim 6th]]>Sun, 02 Nov 2025 02:30:34 GMThttps://www.bornandracedinwestliberty.com/news/big-orange-boys-finish-2nd-at-state-girls-claim-6thDIII State Runner-up!  Congratulations to Coach Mike Louden and the Big Orange boys team.

2025 All-Ohioans
]]><![CDATA[Big Orange Cross Country State Bound!]]>Sun, 26 Oct 2025 03:03:44 GMThttps://www.bornandracedinwestliberty.com/news/big-orange-cross-country-state-bound
2025 Cross Country State Championships | ohsaa Box Office
https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/ohsaa/L2VtYmVkL2V2ZW50LzM3Mzcw
]]><![CDATA[2025 Southwest Regional Race Info]]>Wed, 22 Oct 2025 17:04:51 GMThttps://www.bornandracedinwestliberty.com/news/2025-southwest-regional-race-info​Troy - D4, D3, D2, D1 - Cross Country - Saturday, Oct. 25th | ohsaa Box Office: https://events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/ohsaa/L2VtYmVkL2V2ZW50LzM1Mzk2
 
The Big Orange competes at the Southwest Regional Championships this Saturday at Troy with the girls racing at 10:00 a.m. and the boys at 12:30 p.m.  Tickets can only be purchased online.
]]><![CDATA[Big Weekend for Big Orange Cross Country]]>Mon, 20 Oct 2025 02:30:04 GMThttps://www.bornandracedinwestliberty.com/news/big-weekend-for-big-orange-cross-country
On Saturday, the Big Orange high school boys and girls teams captured District Titles!

​The Girls Big Orange Cross Country Team competed in the Division 4 Southwest District at Cedarville.

This is considered a super-district where 31 schools compete in one race. The top 15 teams qualify for the regional meet. Additionally, the top 30 individuals non-qualifying teams make regionals. The first and second place teams are districts champions while the third and fourth place team are district runners-up.
The girls finished first overall out of 17 teams. This the 9th straight Big Orange district title!
Team Scoring (top 6 shown)
1. WL-S 66 District Champion
2. Ft. Loramie 80 District Champion
3. Versailles 85 District Runner-Up
4. Cedarville 114 District Runner-Up
5. Newton 126
6. Anna 230

WL-S Individual Results (out of 143 finishers)
Malia Miller 6th (19:50.2)
Addi Wallen 9th (20:16.6)
Gwen McCullough 11th (20:32.9)
Isla Leichty 12th (20:39.2)
Elia Matthews 30th (21:26.3)
Mariska Smith 35th (21:45.4)
Charlee Albers 39th (21:57)
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Coach’s comments: I am proud of girls’ effort to secure the program’s 9th straight district title. They are ready to transition into the last part of the season where they should have their best races.

The West Liberty-Salem boys, #4 in this week's D3 OATCCC State Rankings, claimed their 4th straight District Title and the program's 19th overall. (West Liberty-Salem competes in a super district where the top 2 teams are District Champions and the 3rd and 4th place teams are District Runners-up.)

So. Asher Cole 16:04.2 (3rd)
Sr. Caleb Larson 16:21.4 (5th)
Sr. Dylan King 16:44.3 (9th)
So. Brayan Gullett 17:06.3 (17th)
Sr. Garrett Wallen 17:29.2 (23rd)
Fr. Eric Hoover 17:49.4 (30th)
So. Zeke Longshore 18:40.3 (52nd)

Team Standings (Top 10)
Oakwood 52
West Liberty-Salem 57
Versailles 75
Anna 157
Waynesville 170
Milton Union 205
Bethel 208
Urbana 251
Brookville 280
Arcanum 299
Total Teams: 21
Total Runners: 149
Meet Record: 19-1
Season Record: 131-10

"Winning a 4th straight District Title against a talented D3 field is an amazing accomplishment and one we're extremely proud of. This marks the first time since the 1973-79 teams to win at least four straight District Titles."

"I thought we had a mix bag of individual performances, however the team result always wins the day, and today was a perfect example of us not being perfect across the board, and yet still finding a way to win a team title. Garrett Wallen and Eric Hoover had outstanding performances in comparison to a vast majority of the field. Both Eric and Garrett improved on their pre race seeding by 13-16 spots! I'm extremely proud of all seven guys and the guts they ran with today."
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Next Race: D3 Southwest Regional @ Troy Stadium 12:30 PM Saturday October 25th.

The following day, on Sunday at the Fortress at Obetz, the Big Orange Middle School teams competed in the OHSAA State Race in a steady downpour, battling wind, rain and a muddy course.
The Big Orange girls team ran a fantastic team race and came away with a runner up finish and trophy🏆 What a great team effort and what a way to end our season. We came in second to a very good (D1) Beavercreek team. I hope you all know that we are so proud and so impressed with how you have improved and grown this season 🫶🏼
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Girls B Team Race 2nd out of 36 teams
Nika Matthews-10th 12:35 🏅
Elayna Hoover-20th 12:49 🏅
Lilly Woodruff-29th 12:59 🏅PR
Elin Leichty-34th 13:13
Iris Meister-53rd 13:38
Emily Finch-136th 14:55
Issabella Meyers-283rd 18:45 PR
295 Total Runners
The Big Orange boys team finished 4th out of 44 teams. This field was stacked with some very good big schools. We are proud of how we finished! It’s been a fun ride with many wins and so much growth! You are a special group of competitors with so much grit and heart! 🧡

Boys B Team Race 4th out of 44 Teams
Milo Matthews-14th 11:22🏅
Caizen Anders-28th 11:39 🏅
Zeke Lauck-34th 11:46
Chafer Matthews-69th 12:06.13
Liam Harrington-71st 12:06.53
Raylan Wulf-83rd 12:14
Harrison Sutherin-91st 12:20 PR
Walker Williams-185th 13:11 PR
Jacob Bahan-228th 13:41 PR
Wyatt Brooks-234th 13:47
366 Total Runners

Open Race Finishers:
Bryce Michael-110th 15:18
Jett Ziegler-121st 15:30
Malachi Titus-123rd 15:33
163 Total Runners
]]><![CDATA[53rd Annual Ohio Caverns Max Evans Memorial Invitational]]>Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:03:04 GMThttps://www.bornandracedinwestliberty.com/news/53rd-annual-ohio-caverns-max-evans-memorial-invitationalCome support the Big Orange program at the 53rd Annual Ohio Caverns Max Evans Memorial Invitational tomorrow morning (Saturday, September 20, 2025)!

SCHEDULE:
  • 7:45 a.m. Elementary Fun Run
    ​(There is no race entry fee, but participants must register at the main shelter house between 7:00-7:30 a.m.)
  • 8:15 a.m. HS Varsity Girls
  • 9:00 a.m. HS Varsity Boys
  • 9:40 a.m. HS JV Boys
  • 10:20 a.m. MS Girls
  • 10:50 a.m. MS Boys

We will be recognizing our Big Orange seniors after the last race.

Concessions and T-Shirts available.

A HUGE shout out to the Ohio Caverns team for allowing us to host this meet for the past 53 years!]]>