NTL CROSS-COUNTRY: WYALUSING BOYS, GIRLS KEEP THINGS ROLLING IN 2021 (2021-11-20)

Northern Tier Sports Report
This could have been a rebuilding year for Wyalusing cross-country, with all the runners they lost, especially on the girls’ side, but the Rams didn’t rebuild - they reloaded. 

The boys not only won the NTL Division-II title, but also bounced back to take second in District IV, Class A, to go back to states as a team, where they saw Zion Laudermilch earn his second straight medal.

And the girls rebuilt their team in time to take home another District IV, Class A title.

“It was a great season,” said coach Jim Schools. “The athletes never stopped believing in what they could accomplish. Even through the difficult parts of the season, they kept showing up, putting in the consistent work that needed to be done to accomplish our goals.”

The boys’ only lost two dual meets - Athens and CV, both in Large School - and fended off challenges from NEB and Towanda at districts to take silver at districts.

“The boys winning the fourth consecutive NTL Division-II title was a great accomplishment,” said Schools. “We are extremely proud of the boys running hard.”

The girls’ season may have been more surprising, considering they lost three of their top five from a year ago to graduation. But the Wyalusing coaching got them to believe in themselves.

“The girls winning the third district title probably surprised a lot of people, except for us,” said Schools. “The girls stepped up big time to win it.”

Their only dual meet losses were to Troy and NEB, they took second at the NTL Coaches’ Invitational, then held off the Panthers to win the district title.

“One of the overlooked accomplishments was winning the combined title at the NTL Coaches’ Invitational,” said Schools. “The teams worked together to get this.”

The boys may have a tougher time in 2021 as they need to replace their top two - Zion and Eleazar Laudermilch - but their next five return.

The girls will return four of their top five, as just Madison Patton will be graduating. Kayla Beebe, Kassandra Kerin and Laina Beebe were all top 15 at NTLs, so that’s a good core to start with.

Both squads will see stiff competition from NEB, Troy, Athens, Towanda, and CV in 2022, but as teams found out this year, underestimate the Rams at your own peril.