By Allen Newbauer
2024 Ansonia graduates Matthew Lee currently at Wright State university who is a division 1 school in the horizon league and Colleen Steinmetz currently at Findlay university a division 2 school that competes in the greater Midwest athletic conference are achieving strong athletics achievements at their respected universities.
Lee, who is a middle-distance runner at Wright State competes in the 400 meters, 800 meters and 1,500 meters. Lee also competes in the 3,000-meter steeplechase for the raiders with his primary event being the 800 meters indoors and outdoors. Matthew Lee also runs cross country at Wright State and has established himself well over the 8k distance that is run in NCAA Division 1.
Since joining the Raiders, Lee has progressed a lot since high school and looks to be a podium finisher at the Horizon league indoor and outdoor championships in 2026.
During high school at Ansonia Matthew Lee was twice conference runner of the year in cross country and competed at the state meet in division 3 as a junior and senior.
In track Lee advanced to state in 1,600 meters as a junior and senior finished 10th as a senior.
Lees current personal best at Wright State are as follows
*400 meters 49.6 secs
*800 meters 1 minute 55 seconds
*3k steeplechase 9 minutes and 40 seconds
Lee continues to train with his former high school teammates Bennett Lehman and Ethan Sparks when they can connect and has had a huge impact on local youth in Darke county through healthy kids running and through his relationships with area runners.
Colleen Steinmetz, who twice was state runner up in Pole Vault at Ansonia High School, is making massive improvements at Findlay and looks to make an impact at nationals for Findlay in both indoor and outdoor track and field.
As a freshman at Findlay Colleen, finishing second in the conference and just missing qualification for indoor nationals by one centimeter.
During the outdoor season Colleen was able to take things to a new level including vaulting 13 feet 5.25 inches (4.10 meters) and received her first GMAC (conference) athlete of the week award.
This also secured her spot for outdoor nationals in Pueblo, Colorado and tied her for the 5th best mark in program history for outdoor pole vault at The University of Findlay. Steinmetz finished 10th at nationals and was named second team all-American honors.
This winter Colleen spent time during the off season working harder than ever and put in a lot of work during winter break and is now in the best shape of her life. This indoor season she has collected 2 more GMAC athlete of the week awards and as improved her indoor personal best which sets at 13 feet 4.5 inches.
Currently, in Pole Vault Steinmetz is ranked 7th in NCAA division 2 and looks to along with her teammates at Findlay do some big things at conferences and at indoor nationals.
