RUNNER'S WORLD: TOWANDA BOYS FIND SUCCESS WITH PACK MENTALITY (2022-09-28)
BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportComing into the season the Towanda boys’ cross-country team knew they had three-fifths of a team that could compete for a District IV, Class A title. Now they seem to have found their missing two.
“We knew that the top three definitely had the ability because they ran together all last year,” coach Mike Maurer said about Eric McGee, Nate Spencer, and Luke Tavani. “I knew Jacob (Carr) and Jack (Tavani) have been putting in the miles. As it kind of came on they’ve been running together, and they run together every weekend, even if it’s not a structured run by us, they’re always together so you could see it starting to form.”
At the Lasagna Invitational, when they finished right behind NEB in the team standings, and ahead of Wyalusing, all five snuck in 10th through 15th, with a 34 second spread. Most teams would be envious of a pack like that.
Jack Tavani was just over 20 seconds behind Spencer, while Carr was eight seconds behind Jack.
“At the beginning of the season my goal was to be with them,” said Jack. “We just need to keep working, maybe catch one of them. I know that they’re going to keep working really hard, so we’ve just got to work harder.”
They mark the Lasagna Invite as a turning point in the season, one that showed them just what they could accomplish.
“I think that was the first time we really got as cloys we did together,” said Carr.
He credits the coaches for their improvement this season.
“They’ve definitely been pushing us harder this year, that’s helped out significantly,” Carr said.
Being a pack team has its advantages, as they have multiple runners to train with, but it also has some downsides - there’s nobody getting those low ones, two, and threes for team points.
“That’s what we’re looking at, especially after looking at Lasagna, looking at the other invites, and looking at results,” said Maurer. “Kind of figuring out where we need to be, and what point need to be there.”
Districts will be a similar style field as Lasagna, and the Knights hope to use that to their advantage.
“It really helps out in the bigger meets, because we’re just kind of like a wall,” said Jack Tavani.
It’s definitely shaping up to be a tight one at districts, too, with Troy recently beating Wyalusing in a dual meet. That puts four teams in the running for two state spots.
They’ll get a couple previews of in the next few weeks, as their final regular season meet is at Wyalusing, with NEB, and then the NTL Championships later that week.
“That’s going to be really important for us,” said Jack Tavani. “That’ll show us where we’re at compared to those teams.”
As for Maurer, he hasn’t had any trouble keeping his runners focused this season.
“It’s keeping the kids motivated, 100-percent,” he said. “I know the coaching staff is super excited. We just keep following the process. We just keep saying that to each other - keep following the process, believe in the process, and get to where we need to be.”
TAKING NOMINATIONS FOR THE NTL CROSS-COUNTRY HOF BALLOT
Nominations for the NTL Hall of Fame ballot will be accepted now through Sunday, October 9. Please email nominations to cman0478@gmail.com.
Preview nominees who haven’t been inducted will be carried over to this year’s ballot.
DISTRICT IV RANKINGS (By PennTrackXC - Top 15)
NEB’s Creed Dewing 16:47
Northwest’s Oliver Heintzelman 17:08
Wyalusing’s Jeremy Clauser 17:26
Wyalusing’s Trennan Tewksbury 17:28
MCA’s Kris Kalbarchick 17:59
NEB’s Norman Strauss 18:00
Northwest’s Michael Fritz 18:19
NEB’s Ryan Jones 18:21
NEB’s Aiden Kapr 18:26
NEB’s Dayton Russell 18:27
Troy’s Jacob Hinman 18:27
NEB’s Aydin Finch 18:43
Towanda’s Eric McGee 18:51
Troy’s Brody Campbell 18:54
Towanda’s Luke Tavani 18:55
CLASS AA BOYS
Danville’s Rory Lieberman 15:48
Lewisburg’s Thomas Hess 16:01
CV’s Kristian Mizdail 16:15
Lewisburg’s Jonathan Hess 16:27
Lewisburg’s Kieran Murray 16:32
Milton’s Ryan Bickhart 16:40
CV’s Owen Cummings 16:47
Jersey Shore’s Raidan Francis 16:51
Danville’s Dane Spahr 17:04
CV’s Nathaniel Welch 17:07
Lewisburg’s Ben Bailey 17:15
Lewisburg’s Liam Shabahang 17:22
Athens’ Ethan Hicks 17:25
Milton’s Rex Farr 17:27
Athens’ Ethan Denlinger 17:28
CLASS A GIRLS
SCA’s Kate Moncavage 18:56
NEB’s Gracelyn Laudermilch 18:58
SCA’s Haley Conner 19:53
NEB’s Anaiah Kolesar 20:06
Wyalusing’s Kayla Beebe 20:38
Troy’s Alyssa Parks 20:53
Wyalusing’s Megan King 20:57
S. Williamsport’s Elyse Knoebel 21:06
NEB’s Lilah Hughes 21:07
NEB’s Amelia Kapr 21:18
SCA’s Heather Cecco 21:43
Canton’s Camille McRoberts 21:51
NEB’s Melanie Shumway 22:00
Wyalusing’s Kassandra Kerin 22:23
Troy’s Katie Lackey 22:43
CLASS AA GIRLS
Lewisburg’s Baylee Espinosa 18:42
Lewisburg’s Alanna Jacob 19:25
Bloomsburg’s Maizy Aikey 19:27
Athens’ Sara Bronson 19:27
Danville’s Victoria Bartholomew 19:59
Selinsgrove’s Shaela Kruskie 20:08
Lewisburg’s Jenna Binnen 20:08
Lewisburg’s Maya Sak 20:42
Warrior Run’s Sage Dunkleberger 20:46
Shamokin’s Alexis Bressi 21:01
Danville’s Hannah Bartholomew 21:07
Danville’s Alivia Shen 21:07
Athens’ Emma Bronson 21:13
Hughsville’s Vivian Draper 21:15
Shamokin’s Kamryn Kramer 21:16
NTL WEEK 3 RESULTS
At Mt. Pisgah
BOYS: TROY 24, WYALUSING 32
TROY 15, CANTON 48
WYALUSING 16, CANTON 45
Wyalusing’s Jeremy Clauser 18:19
Troy’s Lance Heasley 18:24.46
Wyalusing’s Trennan Tewksbury 18:26.07
Troy’s Brody Campbell 18:57.1
Troy’s Jacob Hinman 19:03.44
Troy’s Hart Houseknecht 19:33.76
Troy’s Lucas Loxley 19:56.82
Wyalusing’s Clayton Petlock 20:37.93
Wyalusing’s Steven Fields 20:46.40
Troy’s Frank Harper 20:52.19
Canton’s Lawrence Halbfoerster 21:14.71
Wyalusing’s Ethan Lewis 21:23.23
Canton’s Brayden Vroman 21:37.54
Troy’s Ben Osgood 22:08.21
GIRLS: WYALUSING 26, TROY 29
TROY 15, CANTON 45
WYALUSING 15, CANTON 48
Wyalusing’s Kayla Beebe 21:13
Troy’s Alyssa Parks 21:27
Troy’s Katie Lackey 22:10
Wyalusing’s Megan King 22:46
Wyalusing’s Laina Beebe 23:15
Wyalusing’s Kassandra Kerin 23:19
Troy’s Lillian DePew 23:26
Troy’s Rachel Kingsley 25:16
Troy’s Isis Lyon 25:32
Wyalusing’s Riley Porter 26:01
Wyalusing’s Kira Allen 26:47
Canton’s Kali Wesneski 27:16
Canton’s Lacey Niemczyk 29:20
Troy’s Lilly Robbins 29:43
Wyalusing’s Hayley Anaya 30:56
JH BOYS: WYALUSING 21, TROY 35
Wyalusing’s Aidan Neiley 9:10
Wyalusing’s Bradyn Heeman 10:11
Wyalusing’s Parker Cunningham 10:19
Troy’s Owen Campbell 10:30
Troy’s Pryor Teribury 10:48
JH GIRLS
Wyalusing’s Alysha Botts 10:42
Wyalusing’s Camryn Gesford 11:15
Troy’s Sheridan Wilcox 11:58
Wyalusing’s Marci Gowin 14:03
Wyalusing’s Ellie Adams 17:25
At Litchfield
BOYS: SULLIVAN COUNTY 26, NPM 29
SULLIVAN COUNTY 15, SAYRE 50
NPM 15, SAYRE 50
Sullivan County’s Hunter O’Conner 20:02
NPM’s George Miller 20:10
NPM’s Brody Burleigh 20:12
Sullivan County’s Tucker Blasi 20:50
Sayre’s Sam Claypool 22:21
Sullivan County’s Nathan Christopher 22:23
Sullivan County’s Nolan Ryan 23:38
NPM’s Riley Dunn 23:45
NPM’s Jude Rohl 23:55
NPM’s Carl Cuttler 24:55
Sullivan County’s Dylan Gowin 25:06
NPM’s Luke Tice 25:08
Sullivan County’s Parker Higley 25:11
Sayre’s Mark Golden 27:48
Sullivan County’s Adam Lopez 27:53
GIRLS: NPM 19, SULLIVAN COUNTY 39
SULLIVAN COUNTY 20, SAYRE 35
NPM 15, SAYRE 48
NPM’s Addison Farrer 24:34
Sullivan County’s Sam Norton 25:41
NPM’s Madilyn Jones 25:47
NPM’s Jay Hovatch 26:10
NPM’s Anna Kennedy 26:32
NPM’s Madilyn Farrer 26:50
Sullivan County’s Libby Moore 26:52
Sullivan County’s Gracey Moore 26:58
NPM’s Kendall Hoffman 27:06
Sullivan County’s Adriana Krause 27:29
Sayre’s Corey Ault 28:00
Sayre’s Rose Shikanga 28:03
NPM’s Nora Furry 29:16
NPM’s Gabby Gregory 30:20
Sayre’s Deborah Shikanga 30:24
JH BOYS: SULLIVAN COUNTY 15, NPM 50
SULLIVAN COUNTY 15, SAYRE 50
Sullivan County’s Isaiah Botsford 10:26
Sullivan County’s Madden Fries 11:34
Sayre’s Corey Hurd 11:39
Sullivan County’s Lucas King 11:42
Sullivan County’s Dean Harper 11:52
JH GIRLS: SULLIVAN COUNTY 9, NPM 12
SULLIVAN COUNTY 15, SAYRE 50
NPM 15, SAYRE 50
NPM’s Jaca Fairchild 11:03
Sullivan County’s Paige Jordan 11:58
Sullivan County’s Zoey Reese 12:04
Sullivan County’s Addilyn Thibodeault 14:05
NPM’s Carolyn Chernosky 14:31
At Wellsboro
BOYS: CV 23, NEB 32
CV 15, WELLSBORO 39
NEB 15, WELLSBORO 50
CV’S Kristian Mizdail 17:45.15
CV’s Owen Cummings 17:51.62
NEB’s Creed Dewing 17:59.41
CV’s Nathan Welch 18:40.62
NEB’s Norman Strauss 19:42.64
CV’s Duncan Kerr 19:46.62
NEB’s Dayton Russell 19:58.97
NEB’s Aidan Kapr 19:59.92
NEB’s Ryan Jones 20:18.97
CV’s Michael Lundy 20:27.60
CV’s Nathan Boyce 20:57.67
NEB’s Ayden Finch 21:04.62
NEB’s Tanner Herb 21:12.99
NEB’s Brody Bennett 21:13.50
CV’s Hunter 21:26.81
GIRLS: NEB 18, WELLSBORO 42
NEB 16, CV 41
CV 25, WELLSBORO 28
NEB’s Gracelyn Laudermilch 22:47.89
NEB’s Anaiah Kolesar 23:12.15
Wellsboro’s Madeline Gage 23:35.78
NEB’s Lilah Hughes 25:39.26
NEB’s Amelia Kapr 25:39.26
CV’s Teagan Jones 26:41.74
NEB’s Makenna Callear 28:19.65
Wellsboro’s Julia DeCamp 28:49.55
CV’s Ali Bieser 29:07.86
CV’s Gabriella 29:10.57
CV’s Emma 31:59.07
NEB’s Cora Franklin 32:01.53
Wellsboro’s Karah 32:14.39
NEB’s Isabelle Kapr 32:58.70
JH BOYS: WELLSBORO 9, NEB 12
Wellsboro’s Michael 11:10.95
NEB’s Jackson Martin 11:32.00
NEB’s Kale Howland 13:40.21
CV’s Kamryn 15:50.04
Wellsboro’s Jack 17:11.27
JH GIRLS: WELLSBORO 19, CV 38
WELLSBORO 18, NEB 32
NEB 26, CV 31
Wellsboro’s Lauren 11:53.83
Wellsboro’s Isla 12:32.50
Wellsboro’s Bella 12:59.91
NEB’s Kara Dughi 13:03.59
CV’s Claire 14:01.42
At Towanda
BOYS: TOWANDA 22, ATHENS 37
Athens’ Ethan Denlinger 19:08
Towanda’s Eric McGee 19:09
Towanda’s Nate Spencer 19:29
Towanda’s Luke Tavani 19:31
Athens’ Ethan Hicks 19:47
Towanda’s Jack Tavani 20:01
Towanda’s Jacob Carr 20:16
Towanda’s Wyatt Stranger 20:48
Athens’ Nate Prickett 21:26
Athens’ Ronel Ankam 22:23
Towanda’s Dan Storrs 22:46
Athens’ Aiden Oldroyd 23:33
Athens’ Caleb Sinwale 23:57
Towanda’s Rein Alderfer 24:17
Athens’ Pierce Oldroyd 25:05
GIRLS: ATHENS 21, TOWANDA 34
Athens’ Thea Bentley 24:16
Athens’ Emma Bronson 24:16
Athens’ Sarah Bronson 24:15
Towanda’s Marisa Wise 24:53
Towanda’s Madison Nonnemacher 25:49
Towanda’s Taylor Brennan 27:25
Athens’ Emily Henderson 27:59
Athens’ Olivia Cheresnowsky 29:00
Towanda’s Noelle Rogers 29:29
Towanda’s Gracie Carter 29:46
Athens’ Janae Harkins 33:13
Towanda’s Zoie Lamphere 33:42
Athens’ Mary Rose Burch 41:20
JH BOYS: ATHENS 15, TOWANDA 41
Athens’ Graham Wanck 10:01
Athens’ Eli Hicks 11:09
Athens’ Matthew Rosetti 11:55
Athens’ Jacob Shores 11:58
Athens’ Zachary Fisher 12:06
JH GIRLS: TOWANDA 15, ATHENS 50
Towanda’s MaryKate Eberlin 12:02
Athens’ Alyssa Vough 12:42
Towanda’s Mackenzie Brown 12:46
Towanda’s Angie Tavani 14:46
Towanda’s Reagan Deacon 15:39
