BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
It was a new look squad for NEB boys’ cross-country this season with a roster full of freshmen, and after getting their feet wet they improved to the point that they won their fourth straight District IV, Class A title.
“I thought the season went great overall,” Lockwood said. “Every athlete from JH to Varsity ran a PR and for the most part we were injury free which is something all coaches hope for.”
The Panthers came up short in the NTL dual meet season, falling to Sullivan County in first week of the duals. However, they would bounce back to beat defending Large School champions Troy, while their only other loss on the year was to Towanda.
“We were disappointed not to take the NTL small school title, but for such a young crew to stay focused and come back for the district title was great,” said NEB coach Dillon Lockwood. “The boys should be proud of what they did at the state meet, to place 12/22 teams with five freshmen when there were only about five freshmen on all the other teams that beat them combined is huge! I know they are hungry for another district title.”
Jackson Martin ended up five spots away from a state medal at the PIAA Championships, and would have qualified for states as an individual.
The girls came in a little thinner though still battled for the NTL title, falling to eventual champions Sullivan County and Wyalusing in dual meet action.
Individually, Sophie Bennett qualified for states after just missing out a year ago, with Ruth Laudermilch missing a state qualifying spot by one place.
“We knew it was going to be hard for big accomplishments at team level so the focus was staying healthy and improving which they certainly did,” said Lockwood. “We would have liked more representation at the state level but they all ran great at districts! Sophie ran great at states to place on the top 100 and move up consistently through the race is a hard thing to do but a testament to the work she has put in.I know she and Ruth are hopeful to lead the team to distract title next year as we are loosing no seniors on the girls side.”
The boys say good-bye to senior Russell Martin, but return a host of freshmen who battled for the second through sixth spots all season in Levi Dewing, Xavier Lockwood, Keagan Netherton, and Josiah Russell.
The girls will bring in Julia Laudermilch, who was the NTL Invitational Junior High Champion this past year.
