West Liberty-Salem continued its dominance in Ohio Heritage Conference cross country Saturday, sweeping the boys and girls team championships at Cedarville as both programs added another chapter to their storied histories.

The girls captured their 13th consecutive OHC championship, while the boys claimed their sixth straight league title and 16th in the past 18 seasons. The boys' championship also marked the 36th overall conference title in program history.

The Tigers' success extended beyond the varsity teams, as the West Liberty-Salem program celebrated a banner day with all four of its teams winning conference championships.

Competing in chilly temperatures and breezy conditions, the West Liberty-Salem girls delivered a strong team performance, finishing with 45 points to comfortably outpace runner-up Cedarville, which scored 83. Mechanicsburg placed third with 87 points, followed by Greenon (97) and Fairbanks (102) to round out the top five.

West Liberty-Salem's depth proved critical, with four runners finishing among the top 11 and earning all-conference recognition.

Junior Addi Wallen led the Tigers with a fourth-place finish among 62 competitors, crossing the line in 20:03.4 to earn first-team All-OHC honors. Junior Isla Leichty followed closely in fifth place at 20:10.5, also securing first-team recognition.

Freshman Elin Leichty added a top-10 finish, placing ninth in 20:50.6 to earn second-team All-OHC honors. Sophomore Elia Matthews completed the Tigers' top four with an 11th-place finish in 21:06.3, also landing on the second team.

Sophomore Charlee Albers turned in a season-best performance, finishing 16th in 21:47.4 to earn honorable mention all-conference honors. Senior Hattie Jacobs and junior Olive Matthews also received honorable mention recognition after finishing 25th and 26th, respectively, both recording times of 22:52.8.

Sophomore Mia Dooley placed 30th in 23:20.1, while freshman Emily Finch rounded out the West Liberty-Salem lineup with a 38th-place finish in 24:23.8.

The Tigers' latest title reflected the balance that has defined the program's sustained success, with four runners finishing in the top 11 and seven earning all-conference recognition.

The girls coach praised the team's ability to handle the challenging conditions while delivering when it mattered most.

“The girls took care of business Saturday, securing their 13th straight OHC title,” the coach said. “They showed toughness in chilly and breezy conditions. I was particularly impressed with Elia Matthews and Charlee Albers. They are improving at the right time as we enter into the postseason.”

The West Liberty-Salem boys entered the championship ranked No. 3 in the Division III Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches state poll and backed up that standing with a commanding performance.

The Tigers scored 26 points to claim the team title, finishing ahead of Cedarville, which placed second with 42 points. Fairbanks finished third with 130 points, followed by Triad (141) and Greeneview (153).

Junior Asher Cole led the way, winning the individual championship in 16:14.2 and earning OHC Runner of the Year honors. Junior Brayan Gullett followed in second place at 16:29.6, giving West Liberty-Salem the top two finishers in the field of 91 runners.

Junior Zeke Longshore placed fifth in 17:01.0, while sophomore Eric Hoover finished eighth in 17:13.9. Both earned first-team All-OHC recognition, giving the Tigers four first-team honorees.

Freshman Zeke Lauck finished 10th in 17:44.1 to earn second-team All-OHC honors. Junior Gauge Lee followed in 12th place at 17:46.9, while senior Zeke Sidders rounded out the Tigers' second-team selections with a 15th-place finish in 17:54.7. Sidders also recorded a personal record in his final OHC championship appearance.

West Liberty-Salem's depth continued beyond its top seven. Freshman Milo Matthews finished 22nd in 18:21.8, followed by freshman Liam Harrington in 26th at 18:39.6. Freshman Walker Williams placed 34th in 19:17.3, while junior Danny Erne finished 35th in 19:25.1.

Senior Zac Carter placed 47th in 20:22.3, followed by junior Isaiah Barth in 49th at 20:30.8 and freshman Raylan Wulf in 50th at 20:31.4. Freshmen Connor Watson, Chafer Matthews and Jude Roberts rounded out the lineup, finishing 65th, 68th and 87th, respectively.

The victory extended the boys' remarkable run of conference success to six consecutive championships and 16 titles in the past 18 seasons. The program's 36th overall OHC championship further underscored the Tigers' longstanding place among the conference's premier cross country programs.

Reflecting on the achievement, the boys coach credited the athletes, families and coaching staff who have helped sustain the program's success.

“It was another record-breaking day for the Big Orange Program with all four teams winning conference titles,” the coach said. “I'm extremely grateful for this program and all of the amazing runners, families, and coaches that continue to pour into this program year after year.”

The coach also highlighted the commitment of the entire boys roster and recognized the two seniors competing in their final OHC championship.

“I'm appreciative of all 18 of these young men and the energy and effort they bring each and every day all season long,” the coach said. “I'm especially proud of our two seniors Zeke Sidders and Zac Carter who competed in their final OHC Championship. I'm truly happy for our guys winning another conference title.”

With both varsity squads bringing home conference championships, West Liberty-Salem now shifts its focus to the postseason.

The girls will compete Saturday at the Division III district meet at Cedarville, while the boys are scheduled to race in the Division III Southwest District Championship at Cedarville on Oct. 24 at 12:15 p.m.

After another successful trip to the OHC championships, the Tigers will look to carry their momentum into district competition as they pursue their next postseason goals.