Program History
The origins of the SMCC Cross Country program trace back to Ed Opfer, a 1977 graduate who became the school’s first-ever cross country runner. Unable to compete in other sports due to injury, Opfer chose to run cross country and in doing so initiated the program at St. Mary’s. His decision to establish a path for Panther distance running laid the foundation for what would later grow into one of Ohio’s most successful small-school programs.
The SMCC Girls Cross Country program reached the pinnacle of success in the late 1980s, winning four consecutive Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Championships in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990. This remarkable run places SMCC on the OHSAA’s official list of schools with consecutive state titles, and it firmly established the Lady Panthers as one of the premier programs in Ohio during that era. Their stretch of dominance remains one of the proudest accomplishments in school athletic history.
Much of this success can be credited to longtime head coach Larry Fox, who guided both the boys and girls programs from 1984 through 1997. Under his leadership, the girls’ teams compiled an outstanding 122–29 record, including a dominant 50–1 mark in dual meets. Along the way, they claimed 12 invitational titles, four Sandusky Bay Conference championships, and the historic four-year streak of state titles. Fox also built a strong boys’ program, which earned 89 dual meet victories and five SBC runner-up finishes. His coaching excellence was recognized in 1990 when he was named the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (OATCCC) Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Building on this tradition, Ron Leech has carried the program forward into the modern era. Entering his 30th season in 2025, Leech has served as head coach of both the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams at Sandusky Central Catholic while also mentoring junior high runners and distance athletes in track. Under his leadership, the Panthers have added five conference championships on both the boys’ and girls’ sides, along with five district titles for the boys and one district crown for the girls. Working alongside assistant coach Chris Mielke, Leech has consistently guided teams and individuals to the OHSAA State Championships throughout the 2000s and into the present day, ensuring that SMCC cross country remains a program defined by excellence, consistency, and tradition.
SMCC has traditionally competed as a member of the Sandusky Bay Conference, where generations of Panther runners have tested themselves against strong regional competition. From 2014–2016, the Panthers joined the Sandusky River League, which also sponsored cross country, before returning to their long-time home in the Sandusky Bay Conference, where they continue to compete today.
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