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MARIA STEIN - Amid a juggernaut season, the Marion Local boys track team paused on Monday night to announce the next step for two of its stars.
Nate Buschur, an All-Ohio pole vaulter, will compete for NCAA Division II University of Findlay next fall, while hurdler and sprinter Owen Rindler is heading to Pennsylvania to attend another Division II school in Slippery Rock University.
Marion Local's Owen Rindler, seated center, signed a national letter of intent Monday to join the Slippery Rock University track team next year. Seated with Owen are his parents, Scott and Tammy Rindler, while standing from left are brother Tad Rindler, Marion head coach Kyle Grabowski, assistant coach Dani Otte, and sisters Beeca and Sidney Rindler.
The main thing drawing Rindler to Slippery Rock was its academics, specifically that it offered a program in safety management.
"I've been hurt quite a bit in my high school career, be it football or track," Rindler said. "My main goal is to keep people safe."
Rindler joins The Rock program that finished second at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference outdoor championships last season and was the runner-up at the PSAC league indoor meet this season.
After finishing eighth in the 2021 Division III 300-meter hurdles, Rindler did not compete during tournament season last year. Picking up where he left up as one of the top hurdlers in the Midwest Athletic Conference, he also made strides in the 100 and the 400 and expects to join the 4x100 relay team as well.
"I hope I'll be at four events at state," he said, "the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and 300 hurdles."
At Slippery Rock, Rindler expects to compete in the 400 hurdles, the 400 and likely the 200, and said his college coaches have been helping him work on his speed and explosiveness.
"If you're fast in the 400, you'll be fast in the 400 hurdles," he said. "That's the main thing you need to work on, just need to be fast."
Marion Local's Nate Buschur, seated center, signed a national letter of intent Monday to continue his track career at the University of Findlay. Seated with him are his parents, Lisa and Ed Buschur, while standing is Marion coach Kyle Grabowski.
The Flyers have a chance to make waves at the Division III state tournament this year, and Buschur heads in looking to challenge for a state title. He finished fifth in the state at 14-feet four-inches in 2022, then hit 15-9 for sixth place at the New Balance indoor national championships back in March.
So far this spring, he's topped out at 15 feet, which would have tied for third at last year's state tournament.
"16 or higher," he said of his goal before leaving Marion.
Buschur heads to a Findlay program that has dominated the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The Oilers won the G-MAC last season in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Buschur, who plans to major in business management, liked the location and connected with the pole vault coach, Clint Dillon, and so chose the Oilers over Tiffin and Indiana State. Though he's been adding sprints and relays this year, he plans to focus on pole vault at the college level.
In the meantime, the Flyers have the MAC meet next week, with a chance to repeat as champions after breaking a 27-year drought last spring.
"Winning the MAC last year as a team," Buschur said of his proudest accomplishments with the Flyers, "because it was our first time in a while."
In his final weeks of high school track, Rindler has his eyes set on the state tournament, and he thinks Marion has the skill and depth to win it.
"We have the the ability to do that this year, with a lot of the guys we have," he said. "That's the goal."
