NTL CROSS-COUNTRY: TROY HAS HIGH HOPES FOR THIS SEASON (2022-08-26)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
The Troy Trojans have enjoyed a rich cross-country history as of late, but with a little bit lower numbers this year on the girls side, it might be tough sledding in 2022.

“We’ve got a lot of new faces, and some old faces,” said coach Gary Ward. “We’ve got (Dave) Voorhees helping us, and he adds a lot. He was here when I took over, so having him here instead talking to him on the phone about how to run practice, is a little bit more exciting. We’re excited about the boys, and the girls we’ve got some really good runners - we don’t have a lot of depth.”

The girls return as the reigning NTL Division-I champs, and the NTL Coaches’ Invitational champions, though they just missed states last year by taking third as a team.

They return district silver medalist Alyssa Parks, along with fellow scorers Lillian DePew, Katie Lackey, Rachel Kingsley, and Isis Lyon.

“We want to be in the mix every year,” Ward said about his girls’ team. “We know Northeast Bradford is coming on really strong - they’re going to be the team to beat. I can’t help but look ahead, and see that we’re going to have to beat Wyalusing to go to states, if they take two teams. We want to be in the mix, having three team in the NTL battling for a spot for states. That’s where we want to be, and wen want to win the league.”

Parks has been working hard all year as she knows she’ll have a lot of competition, both in the NTL and districts.

“I ran quite a bit,” said Parks. “There’s a nice course out behind my house I run, it was pretty nice because my dad made it for me, and that helped me.”

Individually, she would like to break the 20-minute barrier, and shoot for that medal at states.

“That’d be awesome,” said Parks.

There’s plenty of competition across the league to help her, especially within her sophomore class.

“If I keep my head in it, and push myself to where I can beat everybody in our league, I think I’ll do pretty good,” remarked Parks.

The boys also return quite a bit, and Ward sees them as an emerging team in the league.

“There’s a lot of young kids,” he said. “We’re trying to race, since we think we’ve got the pack thing down, so we’re trying to race a little more.”

They return all but one from last year’s team that finished fifth at districts, including state qualifier Lance Heasley.

“My goal on my home course is right around a 19:15,” he said. “And on a flat course is 18.”

He ran with outgoing senior Seth Seymour a lot last year, but this year he knows he’ll have to take on that leadership role.

“I kind of miss my senior that has left,” said Heasley. “I want to help my younger teammates and be a role model.”

Jacob Hinman also returns, and he’ll be looking to step up, as well.

“I did a couple 5K’s, and I did some running on my own,” said Hinman. “It’s hard to stick to it, and stay motivated, because you’re not being forced, and it’s really hot this summer, too.”

His goal is to stick with Heasley as much as he can this summer.

“I think if we work hard enough we might be able to get the second spot at districts, and maybe take the whole team to states,” said Hinman.

That’s goal for Troy, as they have to compete with powerhouses like Cowanesque Valley and Athens in the league, is to get one of the top two team spots at states.

“We’re looking for a way to get a team to states, and, maybe, two,” said Ward.

ROSTER

BOYS

Brody Campbell

Chris Cavanaugh

Frank Harper

Chris Krause

Scott Lackey

Ben Osgood

Ian Trick

Gordon Weaver

Juni Elliott

Jacob Hinman

Trevon Teribury

Lance Heasley

Blake Shedden

GIRLS

Danae Madigan

Gabrielle Oliver

Alyssa Parks

Lillian DePew

Katie Lackey

Rachel Ainey

Isis Lyon

Rachel Kingsley

SCHEDULE

Sep. 3 - Troy at Bear Mountain Invitational

Sep. 13 - CV, Towanda at Troy, 4:30 p.m.

Sep. 16 - Troy at Lasagna Invitational

Sep. 20 - Troy, Sayre at Athens, 4:30 p.m.

Sep. 24 - Troy at Owego Invitational

Sep. 27 - Canton, Wyalusing at Troy, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 1 - Troy at McQuaid

Oct. 4 - Troy, NPM at NEB, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 - Troy, Sullivan County at Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 15 - Troy at NTL Championships

Oct. 27 - Troy at District IV Championships

Nov. 5 - Troy at PIAA Championships