NTL CROSS-COUNTRY: MCROBERTS GETS CANTON BACK TO STATES (2022-11-17)

Northern Tier Sports Report
After several years off Canton was able to return to the PIAA Cross-country Championships in 2022.

The Warriors saw senior Camille McRoberts qualify for states after three close calls, as part of a veteran girls’ squad.

“Whenever you have a state qualifier from your program, it’s always viewed as a successful season, and I was happy with Camille’s performances throughout the year while playing soccer and running cross country,” said coach Casey Aylesworth. “We’ll be graduating the entire women’s team - Kali Wesneski, Emmie Tymeson, Jazmyn Hickok, Laci Niemczyk and Carolyn Thoren. If you ask most of these girls, they did cross-country to get in shape for other sports, however, when everyone was there and healthy we were a competitive team, that made other teams work for it. I know us as coaches sometimes measure our success by where we placed at NTLs, districts, or states, but we often forget about making these kids fall in love with the sport, and a kid like Kali Wesneski, just loves to run and she’s been part of the program for six years, and I know she will be a lifelong runner, and that’s as rewarding to me then anything else.”

Canton was seventh at the NTL Coaches’ Invitational, and fifth at districts. 

The boys’ side was largely a rebuilding year for the young team, though they sported good numbers throughout the season.

“I am happy with the progression they made throughout the season,” said Aylesworth. “We were pretty young to start the season with newcomers and returning athletes. We only graduate one male senior in Hunter Brackman, but essentially return our top five. Lawrence Halbfoerster battled Brayden Vroman for the number one spot on our team throughout the season, and I see both of them making large improvements over next nine months. Hunter Huffman, Simon Wile, Tyler Engel and Joshua Hess all return as well, and they have been consistently improving as well. After the season ended, these guys were getting together on their own and still running after school, so regardless of record I am proud of their enjoyment of the sport, and their dedication and hard work. I know a couple of them are hungry for more, and can’t wait to work on some speed in the spring, and get back into it next year. For me, I get as excited for these kids who pop off a 30 second PR, because they are realizing they are possible of so much more.”

The boys were seventh out of 10 teams at the NTL Coaches’ Invitational, and eighth at districts.

While the girls will need some new recruits for next season, the boys could be one of the more dark horse teams in the league.

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