NTL CROSS-COUNTRY: TROY BOYS, GIRLS BOTH HAVE SUCCESS (2024-11-14)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Troy cross-country saw success for boys and girls in 2024, with the boys’ team earning their first NTL title since 2000, and the senior Alyssa Parks getting a state medal on the girls’ side.

“It was such a fun and memorable season to be a part of the Troy Trojan Cross Country program,” said coach Curtis Miller. “The kids really bought into our off-season program and wanted to accomplish some great things going into this year.”

In a reverse of last 2023 the Troy boys edged out Towanda at Mt. Pisgah for the Large School title, their only dual loss coming to undefeated NEB. 

They also took third at the NTL Coaches’ Invitational, and had a top five finish in the District IV, Class AA Championship race.

“On the boy's side, we knew that we were going to have to run our best race at every meet,” Miller said. “There are so many great individual runners in the NTL and obviously some great teams as well. But their goal from day one was to win an NTL Championship. Looking back, it’s an amazing feeling to know that our boys won the program’s first large school championship in 24 years! Our team was led by Frank Harper and Evan Geer every race and they really set the tone and the pace for the rest of our team. Freshman RJ Bellinger joined us this year and he really took over the 3 or 4 spot and was a huge asset for us in many races. We were also grateful to have a guy like Hart Houseknecht who split his time between soccer and cross country. Mason Wulff also did a great job of being exactly where we needed him to be. In the end though, it was a full team effort. Our top seven seemed to change every race and guys like Brody Campbell, Owen Campbell, Ben Osgood, Lucas Loxley, and Cooper Kellogg were also a big part of our team success throughout the year! We’re so excited that the team was able to bring home the Large School Championship, but I also know that the boys weren’t satisfied with the end of the season at districts and they’re extremely motivated going into next year to continue the success and to get someone to states in AA.”

The Troy girls’ team didn’t have enough to field a team, but Parks went out with a bang. The 4-time state qualifier was a top four finisher at the NTL Coaches’ Invitational, took second the District IV, Class A race, and 15th at the PIAA, Class A Championships.

“On the girl's side, Alyssa Parks came into this year the strongest I’ve ever seen her,” said Miller. “She was motivated and ready to attack the season head on. She set personal bests at almost every race and after finishing 4th overall at NTLs we knew going into districts that she had a great shot at bringing home the silver medal, which she eventually did. At the state meet, it was all about winning her first state medal. Being a 4-time state runner is an accomplishment all by itself but the fact that she was able to end her career with a state medal in 15th place was such an amazing moment and was something that she deserved so much for all the hard work and time that she’s put into the program and into herself. Alyssa’s greatest contribution to the program though is the fact that she’s been such an amazing role model for our other two high school runners and our entire JH team. Hopefully, our girl's team will continue to grow and find success, and Alyssa will be a huge reason why that happens.”

The boys’ team returns plenty of numbers for next season as they defend their league title, while the girls’ team should get some reinforcements from a junior high team coming off a strong season.

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