FALL SPORTS PREVIEWS » BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

BOYERTOWN

Coach: Ed Baghdasarian, fourth year.

Last year’s record: 2-5 Pioneer Athletic Conference.

Runners to watch: Cameron Kratz, Sr.; Nathaniel Ansu, Sr.; Cole Cavalero, Jr.; Lucas Famous, Jr.; Ethan Maraldo, Jr.; Jayden Wool, Jr.; James DeSanto, So.

Outlook: The Bears’ roster is bolstered by newcomers like Ansu, Maraldo and freshmen Cole Peifer and Aiden Voth . ... Kratz placed 50th in last year’s District 1-AAA race . ... “There is more depth behind Cameron Kratz this year,” Baghdasarian said. “Cavalero, Famous and DeSanto as well as the newcomers look to bring the gap between Kratz and themselves closer. Our strength will be our 2-9 guys working together to get low sticks and fast times. Kratz will be looking to find a qualifying spot to compete in his first PIAA State race in November at Hershey.”

DANIEL BOONE

Coach: Doug Snyder, second year.

Last year’s record: 9-5 overall.

Runners to watch: Skyler Fries, Sr.; Luke Gehringer, Sr.; Stephen McDevitt, Sr.; Cory Miller, Sr.; Shawn Selbst, Sr.; Mason Hallman, Jr.; Billy Bulafka, So.; Matthew Ferenz, So.

Outlook: Gehringer and Miller were a respective 14th and 16th in last year’s Berks League meet . ... “This senior heavy team should have another winning record in 2021,” Snyder said.

HILL SCHOOL

Coach: Chris DeLucia, 14th year.

Last year’s record: No official season in 2020.

Runners to watch: Owen Manganiello, Sr.; Patrick Dunn, Jr.; Ginta Harada, Jr.

Outlook: “A young team with a great work ethic and team concept,” is DeLucia’s assessment. “There is no limit to their potential, and we expect strong progress and a few surprises.”

METHACTON

Coach: Steve Savitz, 17th year.

Last year record: 5-2 Pioneer Athletic Conference.

Runners to watch: Vaughn Lackman, Sr.; Bryan Landsberg, Sr.; Tristan Landsberg, Sr.; Chris McGlynn, Sr.; Jack Rosti, Sr.; Jason Shumaker, Evander Lackman, Jr.; Matthew Sanders, So.

Outlook: The Warriors are coming off a 2020 season that saw them place second in the PAC and ninth in the District 1-AAA Championship team standings. Lackman led their district run by finishing 40th . ... “This year, the team is motivated and experienced,” Savitz said. “They trained hard over the summer, and this showed by winning their first scrimmage at the Spring-Ford Invitational. With this level of dedication, this team will be competing for the top spots throughout the season.”

NORRISTOWN

Coach: Milton Williams, second year.

Last year’s record: No season in 2020 due to pandemic

Runners to watch: Zir Banos, Jr.; Alexander Mujica, Jr.; Steven Rubio, Jr.

Outlook: “Right now, due to Covid, we are hitting the reset button on our XC program,” Williams said. “We have a limited number of athletes out right now and are looking to rebuild our program.”

OWEN J. ROBERTS

Coach: Tim Marcoe, fourth year.

Last year’s record: 5-2 Pioneer Athletic Conference.

Runners to watch: Thomas Damiani, Sr.; Jack Golden, Sr.; Sebastian Herrada, Sr.; Evan Hild, Sr.; Charlie Kullen, Sr.; Matt Kwiatkowski, Sr.; Andrew LaGreca, Sr.; Nick Wood, Sr.; Nathan Hayes, Jr.; Andrew McGonigle, Jr.

Outlook: McGonigle was Roberts’ highest finisher at 2020 Districts, placing 29th in AAA . ... “The boys are looking forward to building upon their success over the last few seasons,” Marcoe said. “They are excited about their potential for this season and have worked hard during last track season and over the summer. They are well prepared for the racing season to begin. The coaching staff has emphasized consistent training day in and day out, in order for them to compete with anybody in the league, district, and state.”

PERKIOMEN SCHOOL

Coach: Jacob Wells, first year.

Last year’s record: Team did not participate in any meets last year.

Runners to watch: Ocean Mayer, Jr. Outlook: “One major goal for the season is to have fun and strengthen the program after COVID-19 made cross country running difficult for everyone,” Wells said. “I hope to instill some traditions and memorable experiences for the athletes this year that will carry over to future seasons with the team. Lastly, I want our upper class athletes to have a fantastic season so they can fondly remember their time running cross country, even during a pandemic.”

PERKIOMEN VALLEY

Coach: Ryan Sullivan, 19th year.

Last year’s record: 4-3 Pioneer Athletic Conference.

Runners to watch: Tommy Bricker, Sr.; Evan Romano, Sr.; Robert Westmeyer, Sr.; Dylan Ribelin, Jr.; Jason Clifford, So.; Tristan Watts, So.

Outlook: The Vikings roster is bolstered by the presence of freshman Dinl Liberi . ... “The team graduated two out of top five runners,” Sullivan said, “but are now led by top senior runners Evan Romano and Tommy Bricker, who both had a great summer of training. We will need the development and improvement of younger runners to compete with the top dogs in the PAC 12. Looking forward to the always competitive PAC 12, improving throughout the season and competing for the Final 4.”

PHOENIXVILLE

Coach: Justin Winters, 12th year.

Last year’s record: 2-0 overall.

Runners to watch: Yash Agnihotri, Sr.; Mike Detato, Sr.; Nate Gale, Sr.; Bryan Kerchner, Sr.; Liam Martnishn, Sr.; Rowan Martnishn, Sr.; Joey Romano, Sr.; Leo Sereni, Sr.; Declan Woodall, Jr.; Will Brennfleck, So.

Outlook: “We have a very strong team this year and are excited to see what we can do, especially after the year we just went through (or lack thereof),” Winters said. “The team has a mix of hardened and experienced upperclassmen and an influx of young hungry talent. We’re excited to see what can happen at the end of the season when it really matters, and we’ve gone through the progression of the system. The team is tough, excited and very eager to show what they can do.”

POPE JOHN PAUL II

Coach: Lisa Cagliola, fourth year.

Last year’s record: No PAC season Runners to watch: Seniors Jason DiMarco, Sr.; Pat McCafferty, Sr.; Will Woodall. Sr.; Oscar Luna, So.

Outlook: The Golden Panthers roster will be bolstered in a big way by seven incoming freshman who, according to Cagliola, “look great.” ... DiMarco and McCafferty were PJP’s top finishers in the 2020 District 1-AA meet, placing a respective 13th and 14th . ... “We hope to have a winning season in the Frontier Division and be competitive in the conference championship and districts, where Jason DiMarco hopes to qualify for States for the second time individually.”

POTTSGROVE

Coach: Toni Crater, first year.

Last year’s record: 0-7 Pioneer Athletic Conference.

Runners to watch: Brendan Vaughan, Sr.; Daniel Korman, Jr.; Isaac Kumpf, Jr.; Xavier Walker, Jr.

Outlook: Crater has taken over the Falcon program from Larry Rechtin, who stepped down from the post after 31 seasons. Rechtin, however, is staying on board in an assistant’s capacity . ... The Falcon roster is bolstered by the addition of freshman Owen Mountz . ... “Very small in numbers this season, with a total of nine athletes,” Crater said, “but this group has put in their summer mileage and are ready to race. Each of our top runners were varsity level last year, so they understand what it takes to race and be competitive. With the small team it will be imperative for us to remain healthy. We also have a few new athletes who have joined the team this year, a mix of both upperclassmen and freshmen who are excited and ready to work on rebuilding the Pottsgrove cross country program.”

POTTSTOWN

Coach: Stephanie Konnick, third year.

Last year’s record: No season

Runners to watch: Adam Alaoui, Jr.; Dawud

Barnes, Jr.; Derek Gephart, Jr.; Ethan Masewics, Jr.

Outlook: The Trojans will be light in numbers, with only four runners on the team ... Though he graduated in the spring of 2021, the legacy of program star Darius Smallwood — he was the runner-up in the District 1-AA championship meet last November — resonates with one member of this year’s team. “Ethan is one of our better runners,” Konnick said, “and he looked up to Darius.”

SPRING-FORD

Coach: Dave Cain, fourth year.

Last Year’s Record: 7-0 Pioneer Athletic Conference.

Runners to watch: Greg Chiradonna, Sr.; Braden Krajcirovic, Sr.; Ryan Trimble, Sr.; Andrew Zimmerman, Sr.; Ryan Kovaleski, Jr.; Quinn Smith, Jr.; Jacob Delgado, So.; Jack Stanick, So.; Ethan Tharp, So.

Outlook: The Rams’ roster is bolstered by the addition of freshman Gus Smith . ... Smith was Spring-Ford’s top finisher in the 2020 District 1-AAA race, placing 27th . ... “Strong senior leadership, and a competitive group of juniors and sophomores make up the nucleus of the team. A large talented group of freshmen are pushing to bump into the varsity. This team runs as a pack and works very well together.”

UPPER MERION

Coach: Lynda Newhart, 17th year.

Last year’s record: 1-6 Pioneer Athletic Conference.

Runners to watch: Andrew Ebersole, Sr.; Jack Larkin, Sr.; Zach Reid, Sr.; Charlie Helfand, Jr.

Outlook: “After a rough season last year, losing three duals within two points, the boys are hoping to have a stronger showing,” Newhart said. “The four aforementioned runners will be returning to their varsity spots, but still looking for incoming and younger guys to move up. Still lots of uncertainty, but looking for improvement on last year’s record. Success will be determined by forging experience with new blood.”

UPPER PERKIOMEN

Coach: Todd Niemann, 19th year.

Last Year’s record: 3-4 Pioneer Athletic Conference.

Runners to watch: Hunter Adelsberger, Sr.; Jon Carnesi, Sr.; William Daub, Sr.; Donnie Miller, Sr.; Charles McGillen, Jr.

Outlook: The Indians roster is bolstered by the presence of freshmen William Godshall, Roman Macedo and Ben Sensinger . ... Miller was UP’s top finisher at districts in 2021, placing 30th in AAA competition . ... “The team has great leadership from the seniors, who are also the frontrunners,” Niemann said. “We are looking forward to finally attending some invitationals this year. We should be pretty competitive within the small school division and look forward to competing against the whole league this year.”