BETTSVILLE - The biggest cheer didn't come from a champion or even a runner-up.

New Riegel avenged what coach Dan Beisner felt were two sub-par previous weeks by nipping Hopewell-Loudon, 110-112, to take third Saturday in one of the Division III district races, sending the boisterous Blue Jackets to their first regional as a team in several years.

They'll be joined there by H-L, along with race runners-up Calvert and Old Fort.

All four had their positives, but New Riegel's team trip was a bit of retribution, according to Beisner.

"We ran poorly at Fostoria and were surprised at the MAL (third). It was a good motivator for this week," he said.

"Hopewell had beaten us last week at the MAL; it was a big surprise. They ran a great race last week. We knew we had to beat them, and Carey was right with us at the MAL," he said. "This is a big deal for our boys. Our No. 5 man, Jacob Welly, really stepped it up today to help out our top four runners."

Drew Arbogast's ninth (17:36.3) paced New Riegel, Daniel Arbogast ran 13th (17:44), Nathan Schalk claimed 17th (17:48), Ryan Schalk came in 31st (18:24.2) and Welly ended 45th (18:44).

Meanwhile, Calvert followed up last week's Midland Athletic League championship on the same course by capturing second by a 74-93 margin behind Liberty-Benton.

"This group of guys came up big. It's a boost for our program. It says a lot. The hard work and miles are paying off," coach Stuart Behm said.

"A couple stepped it up. Johnny Demith, we needed him today at the fifth spot and he delivered," he said.

As with last week's MAL race, Jamison Brickner was one of five runners in the front pack through the first half of the race. But unlike last week when he ended fourth, the senior captured second (16:38) Saturday to key Calvert's runner-up finish.

Liberty-Benton's Seth Butler (16:31) was the only runner to beat him.

"Butler was the 800 state champion, so I knew he was going to have a kick, but I felt good after the two-mile so I figured a pick it up," Brickner said.

Joe Brodman added a 10th (17:36.9), Taylor Gase took 12th (17:40), Mike Mullen came in 35th (18:27) and Demith finished 38th (18:35).

Hopewell-Loudon's Tyler Wise clocked in third (16:44) to spark the Chieftains, though he said the wind was as big a challenge as his competitors.

"Tough race, cold out here. I was able to draft behind Jamison [Brickner] that first time [on the stretch alongside the road], but that last time, that drained me even more than what I was. It played a factor, but, oh, well. It affected me just as bad as it affected everyone else," Wise said.

Martin Juarez (18:00) and Aaron Lucius (18:02) backed him by taking 21st and 22nd, Matt Painter ran 28th (18:20.5) and Robert Kniss claimed 42nd (18:37).

"They ran very well. I'm happy with how they ran. They all had good efforts," H-L coach Marie Coleman said. "It was close. I knew they'd have to run well.

"I knew they had run well," she said. "Our No. 5 was back a little, but his teammates were up a little and made up for that."

Three other area runners turned in top-16 times in the same race to advance to the regional. Lakota's Kyle Babcock (16:54.5) leaned past St. Wendelin's Mark Berton (16:54.8) for fourth, and Carey's Evan Wenner captured 16th (16:47).

Carey finished seventh (164) in the team standings, St. Wendelin took ninth (194) and Lakota ended 10th (199).

In the other race, Elmwood raced off to the title with 48 points, while Old Fort tripped up Gibsonburg 63-67 for second.

The key came from the Stockaders running their race and not trying to sprint to the front right away, Old Fort coach Tony Miller said.

"They ran their race. That's what I've been trying to get through [to them] and today they finally did that," he said. "They didn't run everybody else's race, they ran their race. That's what we've been working on all year and it finally paid off today."

Zach Alexander (17:06) and Jeremiah Ortiz (17:11) worked their way up to claim fourth and fifth for Old Fort. Jacob Ortiz added a 13th (17:41), Nathan Alexander claimed 19th (18:06) and Tom Gillmor finished 25th (18:26).

"They ran a good race. My top two both ran almost their best, and my No. 2 did run a PR by over 16 seconds; can't complain there. Jeremiah's twin brother (Jacob) PR'd, too. They put a nice race together after having not as great an MAL as they'd hoped for," Miller said. "I think this eases their concious a little bit."

Bettsville's Dominic King also qualified by taking 14th (17:48) to help the Bobcats end sixth (149).