Paulding Track and Field

06/05/2026

State Update:

Kayleigh Dunham finished 9th overall in 100H finals. Congratulations Kayleigh on a great season! We look forward to seeing what you can do next year!!

There will be an es**rt for Kayleigh and Elliette back into town around 6:30! Come welcome the girls back! Go Panthers!!

06/04/2026

State Track Update:

Kayleigh Dunham has advance to 100H finals! Kayleigh will compete tomorrow at 2:00pm.

Elliette Roughton finished 10th overall in both 100H and long jump. Congratulations Elliette on a great season! We look forward to seeing what you can do next season!

Go Panthers!!

06/03/2026

Come send off Kayleigh and Elliette tomorrow at the football parking lot (press box side) at 8:30 am. Go Panthers!!

🖤🤍 STATE SEND-OFF RALLY 🤍🖤

Paulding Community, let's show our Panther Pride!

Join us on Thursday, June 4th, at 8:30 AM as we send off two outstanding Paulding Panthers as they head to the OHSAA State Track & Field Championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus!

🏃‍♀️ Kayleigh Dunham – 100m Hurdles
🏃‍♀️ Elliette Roughton – Long Jump & 100m Hurdles

We invite all students, staff, families, and community members to gather and cheer them on as they depart to represent Paulding on Ohio's biggest stage!

📍 Paulding Football Field parking lot
🕣 8:30 AM Departure

Bring your Panther Pride, signs, noise makers, and encouraging spirit as we wish Kayleigh and Elliette the best of luck at State!

Good luck, ladies! The entire Paulding community is behind you!

Paulding Track and Field

06/03/2026

Tonight's Paulding Track and Field Senior Spotlight will be on Izzac Couts, Damien Iliff and Josh Perez!

Izzac Couts:
Parents: Kim and Jeremy Couts
Activities/Sports participated in at Paulding: Football, wrestling and track
Proudest Achievement at Paulding: Being 10-0 and GMC Champs
Favorite memory from time at Paulding High School: Winning first playoff game in school history
Future Plans: Continue working at Mansfield Welding Service

Damien Iliff
Parents: Jamie and Walter Iliff
Activities/Sports participated in at Paulding: Football, Track and Field
Proudest Achievement at Paulding: Going undefeated in football during the regular season since 1988, hosting playoff game and 4-1 vs Fairview all 4 years.
Favorite Memory from time at Paulding High School: Spending time with the Football Team
Future Plans: Continue working at Alliance Automation and getting my Journeymans

Josh Perez:
Activities/Sports participated in at Paulding: Football and Wrestling
Proudest Achievement at Paulding: Going 11-1 and making history 1st year of football, winning sectionals in wrestling and going to districts
Favorite memory from time at Paulding High School: English class junior year and wrestling practice
Future Plans: Travel the world, be financially stable and be successful in life while still wrestling

06/03/2026

Tonight's Paulding Track and Field Senior Spotlight will be on Jack Schweller and Hunter Harwell!

Jack Schweller:
Parents: Todd and Kristie Schweller, Stephanie and Michael Baxter

Activities/Sports participated in at Paulding: Ohio Model United Nations, Track and Field, Cross Country and Science Olympiad

Proudest Achievement at Paulding: Getting a perfect score on the 7th grade math state test

Favorite memory from time at Paulding High School: When Hunter Harwell suplexed me into the pole vault mat and broke my glasses

Future Plans: Attend Trine University to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering

Hunter Harwell:
Parents: Chrissa Harwell and Charlie McClure

Activities/Sports participated in at Paulding: Band, Science Olympiad, Cross Country and Track

Proudest Achievement at Paulding: Vaulting 10'6 and finally beating my sister's PR

Favorite memory from time at Paulding High School: Breaking Jack's glasses on the pole vault mats

Future Plans: Attend Kent State University to pursue a degree in Zoology

06/02/2026

Tonight's Paulding Track and Field Senior Spotlight will be on Alex Highwarden and Jackson Laker!

Alex Highwarden:
Parents: Brandy Highwarden
Activities/Sports participated at Paulding: Track Baseball and Football
Proudest Achievement at Paulding: Graduation and being able to play all these sports especially track.
Favorite memory from time at Paulding High School: Hanging out with friends at lunch
Future Plans: Attend College for Mathematic Business

Jackson Laker:
Parents: Angela and Brian Laker
Activities/Sports participated at Paulding: Track throughout high school
Proudest Achievement at Paulding: Passing all my classes throughout high school
Favorite memory from time at Paulding High School: Community service day with friends
Future Plans: Join the workforce

05/31/2026

This past Tuesday we had our annual team awards where we recognized individual team awards GMC All Academic and GMC All Conference Track and Field. Congratulations to the following award winners listed below. Go Panthers!

GMC All Academic:
Hunter Harwell
Damien Iliff
Abby Punches
Jack Schweller
Izzac Couts

GMC All Conference Track and Field
1st Team:
Kayleigh Dunham
2nd Team:
Anya Mead
Gannon Parrett
Bolu Omonayin
Parker Egnor
Emmett Barnes
Jack Schweller
Landon Grinnell
Honorable Mention:
Elliette Roughton
Achilles Mead
Alex Highwarden
Max Daegar

Team Awards:
Boys Track MVP: Achilles Mead and Landon Grinnell
Girls Track MVP: Kayleigh Dunham
Boys Field MVP: Gannon Parrett
Girls Field MVP: Anya Mead
Most Improved (Track): Jarrett Griffith and Kyler Foor
Most Improved (Field): Hunter Harwell and Elliette Roughton
Workhorse Award: Alex Highwarden and Lilly Steinglass
Coaches Award: Hunter Harwell and Esther Lemieux
Panther Award: Jack Schweller and Aly White

05/31/2026

With this week being the last week of the 2026 Track and Field Season we wanted to acknowledge our Paulding Track and Field Seniors over the next couple days starting with Abby Punches and Abby Elkins!

Abby Punches:
Parents: Amanda Doster
Activities/Sports participated at Paulding: Track and Field
Proudest Achievement at Paulding: Keeping the same job throughout high school
Favorite memory from time at Paulding High School: Making candy salad at practice
Future Plans: Enter the workforce and own my own business

Abby Elkins:
Parents: Adam Elkins and Mindy Elkins
Activities/Sports participated in at Paulding: Cross Country and Track
Proudest Achievement at Paulding: Having the Cross Country Record
Favorite Memory from time at Paulding High School: When Jayla fell out of a tree
Future Plans: Attend Northwest State Community College for Nursing.

05/29/2026

Regional Final Update:
Elliette Roughton is STATE BOUND as she finished 4th overall in Girls Long Jump!

Elliette Roughton and Kayleigh Dunham are STATE BOUND in Girls 100H as Elliette finished 4th and Kayleigh finished 5th overall!

Achilles Mead finished 14th overall in Boys 1600M. Congratulations Achilles on a great season, we look forward to seeing what you can do next year!

Elliette and Kayleigh will compete next Thursday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus!

Go Panthers!!

05/29/2026

Regional Update:
Tomorrow Elliette Roughton will compete in Girls Long Jump starting at 4:30pm. Kayleigh Dunham and Elliette Roughton have qualified for finals of the 100H which will start at 6:00 pm. Achilles Mead will compete at 6:43pm in the Boys 1600M. Good Luck Kayleigh Elliette and Achilles!

Gannon Parrett finished 10th overall in Long Jump and Landon Grinnell finished 12th overall in the 400M. Congratulations Gannon and Landon on a great season! We look forward to seeing what you can do next year! Go Panthers!