Considering the past 18 months, Ashwin Briggs probably can't be blamed for thinking he can reach any goal he decides to achieve.
The Pickerington High School North boys track and field runner has competed in four Division I state meets and a national meet during that time and committed to compete for the U.S. Naval Academy, and as the outdoor season progresses, Briggs is on pace to run 4 minutes, 10 seconds in the 1,600 meters, a mark he is certain would earn him a top-eight finish and a spot on the podium at the state meet in early June.
A third-place finish in the 1,600 (4:13.63) and an eighth-place finish in the 800 (1:58.15) in the indoor state meet March 3 in Geneva preceded a 13th-place finish in the 1,600 (4:15.59) in the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet March 11 in New York City.
"I was happy with a 4:13 indoor and that tells me I should be able to get to 4:10 (outdoor)," Briggs said.
"Outdoor, you can run faster because of a bigger track, you're better conditioned from running the whole season and you have better competition, too. It gives me motivation to run faster times, and we have great competition in our region. I think I will run faster because of that."
Briggs placed 14th in the 1,600 (4:22.66) last year at the outdoor state meet, a race in which a 4:10 would have placed him in the top six. Despite being hampered by a bone bruise in his left knee, he placed 14th at the state cross country meet last fall after finishing 51st as a junior.
Briggs largely has run relays this spring because of weather-related cancellations, including North's own Stingel Invitational on April 7. In the Fulton Relays on April 20 at Lancaster, he helped set school records in the 6,400 relay (17:52.49) with Matt Duvall, Harper Moore and Jake Prestileo and the distance medley relay (10:37.04) with Jaylen Jackson, Moore and Prestileo.
"His leadership role is tremendous. He pushes us all," Duvall said. "He pushes the pace and he's a great guy to follow behind. Harper and I can lead off him and help each other improve."
Panthers coach Dave Spring said Briggs' experience in prominent meets has increased his confidence and positively affected his demeanor.
"It's all about confidence," Spring said. "It's physical and also mental and his mind is where it needs to be. That comes with maturity and experience, so when you combine the gifts that he has physically with what's upstairs, he's got the whole package. ...
"The goal with him was to continue everything he did in the winter. With the weather we've had, we're in a streak of relay meets so he's been on relays for the most part (this season) and not competing in open races. That will change soon. Then we'll start gearing toward the postseason and his times will start to go down."
Briggs committed to Navy in late March and signed April 11.
"Last spring, I started looking into the academies. I looked into (the) Air Force (Academy), the Merchant Marine Academy and then Navy. My heart got set on Navy because of the opportunities you can get through their programs. I looked into it, went on some visits and I figured out that's where I want to go. Hopefully, I can become a pilot. It's a great academy. I got to meet the team. I loved them and the coach is awesome. I just worked hard to get that spot.
"It's one of the best paths you can take to be successful. It's a big commitment, but in the end, you get to serve your country."
Boys tennis team shares league title
The boys tennis team earned a share of its first OCC-Ohio Division championship since 2015 when it defeated Grove City 5-0 on April 19, although the Panthers are not sure whether it will be a two- or three-way tie.
North was 5-2 overall before playing Hilliard Bradley on April 24 and finished 4-1 in the league. The Panthers' only league loss was to two-time defending league champion Gahanna, 3-2 on April 10, but Pickerington Central beat the Lions 4-1 on April 19 to remain in contention for a share of the title.
Gahanna also finished 4-1 in OCC-Ohio play, while Central is 3-1 entering its league finale Friday, April 27, at Grove City.
North split two matches last week, losing to Thomas Worthington 4-1 on April 18 in the second round of the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Division I district tournament before defeating Reynoldsburg 5-0 on April 20.
Evan Ross had the Panthers' only win against the Cardinals, defeating Stephen Jackman 7-5, 6-1 at third singles.
Softball team entering stretch run
The softball team hoped to carry its non-league success over to the second half of OCC-Ohio play, which is scheduled to begin Thursday, April 26, at Lancaster.
North was 7-4 overall and 0-3 in the OCC-Ohio before playing the Golden Gales on April 24.
The Panthers went 2-1 last weekend in the Valley of Thunder tournament at Willow Wood Symmes Valley, losing to Symmes Valley 3-2 on April 20 but bouncing back to defeat Oak Hill 9-7 and Point Pleasant (West Virginia) 16-4 in five innings the next day.
Rachel Jensen's three-run home run in the first inning got North going against Oak Hill, and the Panthers scored eight runs in the first against Point Pleasant.
North was the only OCC-Ohio team still seeking its first league win entering the week, but the Panthers had plenty of chances to change that as, because of postponements, they were scheduled to play a league game every day this week.
Entering the week, Central was first in the OCC-Ohio with a 3-1 record, ahead of Gahanna and Grove City (both 2-1). Lancaster was 2-2 and Reynoldsburg was 2-3.
A scheduled game against Central was postponed from April 23 to Saturday, April 28, because of bad weather.
dpurpura@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekDave
SchedulesBelow are the coming schedules for the North baseball, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse, softball, boys tennis, track & field and boys volleyball teams:
BASEBALL
*April 27 -- Home vs. Gahanna. The Panthers lost to the Lions 5-1 on April 6 and won 13-0 on April 10.
April 28 -- At Canal Winchester (DH)
*April 30 -- Home vs. Lancaster. The Panthers lost to the Golden Gales 9-7 on April 11 and 9-1 on April 13.
*May 2 -- At Reynoldsburg. The Panthers defeated the Raiders 3-0 on April 18.
BOYS LACROSSE
*April 26 -- Home vs. Dublin Coffman
May 1 -- Home vs. St. Charles
GIRLS LACROSSE
*April 26 -- At Coffman
April 27 -- Home vs. Bexley in makeup from April 3
May 1 -- Home vs. Wellington
SOFTBALL
*April 26 -- At Lancaster
*April 27 -- Home vs. Grove City in makeup from April 19
April 28 -- Home vs. Pickerington Central in makeup from April 23. The Panthers lost to the Tigers 11-1 on April 11.
*April 30 -- Home vs. Reynoldsburg. The Panthers lost to the Raiders 10-7 on April 18.
*May 2 -- At Grove City
BOYS TENNIS
April 26 -- At Westerville Central
*April 27 -- At Dublin Coffman in makeup from April 3
April 30 -- Home vs. Watterson
May 1 -- Home vs. Hilliard Davidson
May 2 -- Home vs. Olentangy
TRACK & FIELD
April 27 -- Milt Will Invitational at Canal Winchester
April 30 -- Home vs. Canal Winchester and Teays Valley
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
*April 27 -- Home vs. Upper Arlington. The Panthers lost to the Golden Bears 25-20, 25-20, 25-16 on April 19.
April 28 -- At Mount Vernon
*May 1 -- Home vs. Davidson. The Panthers lost to the Wildcats 25-22, 25-23, 25-16 on April 10.
*League contest