(10-29-22) Last Saturday at the D II District Cross Country Meet in Cambridge the Minerva boys team would place 2nd and Owen Grubb (Junior) finished in 10th place. Minerva qualified for today’s Regional meet in Pickerington.

But the joy and celebration after the race would quickly change.

Cambridge Police Department officials said Grubb and three of his teammates were cooling off from where the race was held in the woods after competing in the race. A witness said the boys were trying to knock down a dead tree to get a limb, over the past several years, athletes would find a tree and throwing it off a bridge into the water to celebrate the meet. 

The tree would fall on Grubb as he attempted to run away, causing severe head and face trauma.

Grubb died in Akron Children’s Hospital on October 22 where he was flown by medical helicopter after being treated at Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center.

In addition to his parents, Owen is survived by two sisters, Anna and Emma Arnoto; 2 brothers, Mason and Austin Arnoto; grandparents, Tim & Michelle Caddell of Kensington, Anthony and Kathy Arnoto of Ravenna and Karen Arnoto of Leetonia; great grandparents, Sandra Grubb of Kensington, Sally Caddell of Hanoverton and Marjorie Watson of Elkton.

Today the Lions honored Owen as they would finish 6th at the D II Regional in Pickerington and would qualify for next week’s OHSAA State Championship. Minerva was led by Sophomore Grasyn Rettig who finished 7th (6th team score).

Both boys and girls teams will race next Saturday (Nov. 5) at Fortess Obetz in the OHSAA state cross country championships.

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