Palisades’ Smigo, Northwestern among top contenders
Palisades’ Thomas Smigo has an opportunity to make school history on Saturday morning and etch his name on a short list of Colonial League greats.
Smigo is perhaps the favorite among all Class 1A boys to secure a PIAA cross country gold medal at Saturday’s championship meet in Hershey. He placed third overall in the race last year as a sophomore and is the highest returning medal winner in the small-school field.
The state championships commence at 9:30 a.m. Saturday on the Parkview cross country course with the Class 1A girls race. The Class 1A boys race is set to start at 11:45 a.m.
Smigo isn’t the only state championship hopeful from the Colonial League.
Northwestern Lehigh’s boys team, which was outstanding at the District 11 meet, are among the few favorites projected to battle for the Class 2A team title.
Smigo, a junior, could become the first runner in the Palisades program (boy or girl) to capture a state title and the first boy from the Colonial League to win one since Robert Chandler of Northern Lehigh took the 2A crown in 1992. (Saucon Valley’s Elizabeth Chikotas is the last Lehigh Valley-area runner to earn a PIAA title. She won the 2A girls race in 2013.)
“It would definitely mean a lot,” Smigo said. “I’ve won three league and three district titles and that’s great. It’s an honor. But a state title, after putting in five years of hard work, it’d mean a ton.”
Seven of the top eight finishers from last year’s Class 1A race were seniors. Colton Sands of Penns Valley snagged the gold in 16 minutes, 42 seconds. Smigo took third in 17:01.
He knows, even as the top returnee, the state title is anything but a guarantee, however.
Jenkintown junior Oliver Michell placed 11th a season ago, clocking a time 17 seconds slower than Smigo. Michell is on a short list of contenders, along with Eden Christian’s Sean Aiken (24th last year), Riverside’s Daniel Danilovitz (13th) and Winchester Thurston’s Lance Nicholls (ninth).
“Training’s been going great and I’m completely healthy,” said Smigo, who ran his fastest time at DeSales University in last week’s District 11 meet. “The coaches have myself and [Pirates teammate Mitchell Campbell] peaking at the right time. I felt real good at districts and my time was a huge confidence booster.”
Palisades coach Scott Antoni is confident Smigo will come through with a strong showing at states.
“There is definitely a chance that he could win the state championship,” the veteran coach said, “but we are approaching it as another race that he has to run smart and be ready for.”
The 3.1-mile Parkview course is known for its rugged terrain and steep hills, particularly around the two-mile mark.
“I like running districts at DeSales,” Smigo said, “because it’s a good way to go into states. DeSales is really hilly and it prepares you for the hills at states. I do enjoy a hilly course. I’m going to go out and try to take the lead and hold it because I know I have a good kick. Hopefully, it’s better than everyone else’s.”
The area’s other best opportunity for gold rests with coach Chris Stitzel’s Northwestern boys squad.
Led by 2A individual champion Samuel Bower, the Tigers dominated the district race by placing five runners among the top six finishers. Matthew Santana (second), Cole Chukoskie (third), Joe Chukoskie (fifth) and Nathan Vincent (sixth) are the team’s first five runners.
“My boys team has a shot at the state title,” said Stitzel, whose Tigers won at districts with just 17 points. “They are going to bring their ‘A’ game and they are running with a lot of confidence this year. I’m so proud of these guys with all the hard work and the miles they’ve put in. This team is special so we want to take advantage of it.”
Lewisburg is the two-time defending Class 2A boys team champion.
Northwestern Lehigh would become the first boys team from District 11 in any classification to win a team title. Emmaus’ girls won three straight PIAA golds from 2007-09. Parkland’s girls (2000) and the Central Catholic girls (2001) were the other team champs from District 11.
Blue Mountain senior Olivia Haas aims to defend her title in the Class 2A girls race. Haas owns three District 11 golds.
District 11 and Eastern Pennsylvania Conference champions Alex Heidemann of Freedom and Hailey Reinhard of Emmaus both set their sights on earning a top-25 finish in Class 3A and a state medal.
Michael Blouse is a freelance writer.
PIAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
When: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Where: Parkview Cross Country Course, Hershey.
Schedule: Class 1A girls, 9:30 a.m.; Class 2A girls, 10:15 a.m.; Class 3A girls, 11 a.m.; Class 1A boys, 11:45 a.m.; Class 2A boys, 12:30 p.m.; Class 3A boys, 1:15 p.m.
PIAA CROSS COUNTRY QUALIFIERS (Morning Call area) BOYS Class 3A Teams
Liberty: Jack Huie, Emrick Leshko, Jacob Orrico, Ben Pfefer, Owen Reilly, Jacob Rivera, Cole Ruhf, Hayden Shiban. Nazareth: Brady Bast, Ross Ellis, Sean Gorman, Jack Hasker, Cameron Koch, Adam Kollgaard, Connor Murphy, Robert Pitsko.
Individuals
Paul Abeln, Parkland; Liam Davis, East Stroudsburg South; Evan Dempsey, Northampton; Conor Fisher, Emmaus; Alex Heidemann, Freedom; Andrew Huntsberger, Stroudsburg; Alexander Kane, Southern Lehigh; Dominik Lisicky, Southern Lehigh; Ryan Martin, Pennridge; Liam McLaughlin, Stroudsburg; Ethan Strzempak, Emmaus.
Class 2A Teams
Central Catholic: Brian Collins, Jake Demchak, Duke Ebert, Jimmy Freeman, Gavin Grim, Nathan Harris, Ben Keenan, Leo Koons.
Northwestern Lehigh; Samuel Bower, Cole Chukoskie, Joe Chukoskie, William Gruen, Gavin Nelson, Matthew Sanatana, Zack Santana, Nathan Vincent.
Individuals
Chase Eller, Wilson; Owen Hibbell, Palmerton; Jacob Huber, Saucon Valley; Jordan Smith, Notre Dame-GP; Trevor Weidman, Bangor.
Class 1A Team
Moravian Academy: Sam Carter, Krish Cupta, Greg Hine, Drew Mariani, Trey Messman, Theo Urban, Harry Vicic, Brian Yank.
Individuals
Mitchell Campbell, Palisades; Alexander Hume, Lehigh Valley Academy; Malcolm Naughton, Notre Dame-ES; Thomas Smigo, Palisades.
GIRLS Class 3A Teams
Emmaus: Payton Campbell, Sophia Kovalski, Isabela Lees, Nicole Nosal, Hailey Reinhard, Isabella Scarlata, Addison Shank, Madison Torretta.
Southern Lehigh: Annefloor Fooij, Autumn Garges, Celia Knoedler, Maura Lenhart, Ashley Meinhold, Lauren Meinhold, Natalie Morgan, Alaina Patel.
Individuals
Ella Bray, Pocono Mountain West; Avaline Fihlman, Freedom; Rebekah Hickey, Quakertown; Ashley Landis, Pennridge; Addison McPeek, Easton; Madeline Mumma, Liberty; Jessica Price, Parkland; Nora Ritting, Pennridge; Gracie Trexler, Parkland; Erin Vincent, Easton; Caitlin Voloshen, Nazareth; Elena Wenger, Parkland; Deandra Young, Stroudsburg.
Class 2A Teams
Central Catholic: Clare Coleman, Rosie Deisher. O’Neill Ford. Izzy Kehoe-Huck, Gabby Powell-Dix, Julia Roth, Patsy Shak.
Individuals
Olivia Bortz, Saucon Valley; Avery Errico, Wilson; Sarah Pezzino, Pen Argyl; Skylar Szulborski, Lehigh Valley Academy; Emma Szydlow, Saucon Valley.
Class 1A Teams
Notre Dame-GP: Serena Azzalina, Lauren Bower, Raegan Cooper, Talis Fogel, Katherine Koons, Catherine Mahoney, Olivia Schweitzer, Sarah Sidoro. Individuals
Lily Eyvazeadeh, Moravian Academy; Sophie Lee, Moravian Academy;
Natalie Mosier, Palmerton; Cora Wentz, Palmerton.