By Cort Reynolds
VAN WERT - The Bluffton boys cross country squad finished ninth at the 12-team Van Wert Invitational Saturday morning.

Ottawa-Glandorf (61 points) edged out Shawnee (65) for the team title.

Lincolnview finished third with 79 points, followed by Parkway (119), Van Wert (123), Crestview (147), Elida (178), Ottoville (213), Bluffton (217), Paulding (251), Allen East (274) and Ada (350).

Freshman Erik Nygaard finished 28th in 18:52.8 to post the top Bluffton finish. Elijah Conley came in 35th with a time of 19:12.7.

Wyatt Lovell ended up 56th in 20:42.2. Isiaiah Conley was 68th in 21:02.4. Carter Dyar ran 80th in 21:50.9. Trey Boblitt finished 82nd in 22:00.2 as the fifth Pirate scorer.

Caleb McKenzie ran 22:33.5 to finish 93rd. Jonah Rehm was 107th in 23:14.8, and Carter Dailey was 124th in 24:46.6.

The Pirate harriers next compete at the Kalida Invitational Saturday morning, September 28.