They proved they belonged among the best.

Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers’ Taylor Hacker and Fairland Dragons’ Joe Stewart ran well Saturday in the state cross country meet held at Scioto Downs in Columbus.

Hacker finished No. 70 among 149 runners in Division III with a time of 21:02.16. A total of five seconds separated places 65 to 70. Tammy Berger of Versailles ran an 18:47.94 time to win the meet.

Stewart had a 17:41.75 clocking to place No.74 among 146 runners. Less than one second separated places 72 to 75.

Michael Brajdic of Bay Village Bay was the winner with a 15:49.81 time.

Lutz ranks 20th

As Ohio knows, Ironton football coach Bob Lutz ranks first in the state with career wins at 363. But his current total has him climbing the list nationally.

Lutz is now 20th on the national all-time wins list and just one win from tying Howie Vogts who is the winningest coach in New York history. Vogts just completed his 57th season and was 3-6.

Lutz —10th among active coaches — is in his 40th season and shows no signs of slowing down. However, it is doubtful that he will last long enough to pass the all-time national leader John McKissick of Summerville, S.C. who has 573 win in 58 seasons. The 83-year old McKissick is still active.

Davis gets haircut

Chesapeake Panthers’ head football coach Phil Davis is waiting for his hair to grow a little longer.

Davis got a shorter haircut than usual last week before the student body courtesy of assistant coach Bryan “Cannonball” Wells. Davis told his players if they won their last two games he would get his head shaved.

The Panthers responded by upsetting Fairland 20-14 and then finished with a 50-8 win over South Point.

Davis said he didn’t mind the haircut.

“The way I see it, I didn’t lose the bet. We won both games,” said Davis.

—— Sinatra ——

Jim Walker is sports editor of The Ironton Tribune.