Mt. Lebanon, South Fayette ready for WPIAL cross country finals
Ian Baun is one of Mt. Lebanon’s top harriers, hoping to help the Blue Devils wrest the WPIAL cross country title away from North Allegheny.
Ethan Linderman of Canon-McMillan is expected to be in the mix of top runners in Class AAA of the men’s division in the WPIAL.
Nick Wolk of Peters Township is another area contender for a spot in the PIAA championships. The top 15 runners in Class AAA of the WPIAL will qualify for the state finals set for Nov. 1 in Hershey.
NASCAR is not the only sport that boasts The Chase. The WPIAL will conduct its own version Oct. 23 at Cooper’s Lake in Slippery Rock. It’s called the District 7 cross country championships and Mt. Lebanon and South Fayette are battling to defend their team titles while as many as the top 15 to 20 individuals in three classifications are vying for berths in the PIAA finals set for Nov. 1 in Hershey.
The Lebo ladies are the two-time reigning champions in Class AAA, while their male counterparts are chasing perennial favorite North Allegheny for the team title. South Fayette won last year’s boys’ AA division while the Lady Lions finished as runner-up. The Bishop Canevin girls also were district runners-up in Class A action.
Racing begins at 12:45 p.m. with Class A girls’ action and ends with the Class AAA finals starting at 4:30 p.m.
The NA boys, who won last year’s crown with 38 points, are ranked No. 4 in the state while the Lebo lads are No. 5. Last week, the Tigers won the Tri-State Coaches Association Invitational with 38 points while Lebo took second with an 80 score. The meet, run at California University of Pennsylvania, is the final tune-up before the district finals.
“We have a nice group, but it’s going to take a lot of running on our part,” said Mike Agostinelli of Lebo’s ability to catch the Tigers. “The course at Cal is demanding for all runners, but Cooper’s Lake is faster.
“Basically, what we need to do is run our race. Everybody is chasing NA. We are going to run to the best of our ability and see what happens from there.”
Todd Gunzenhauser should be right there with the leaders as he finished third at Tri-State with a 16:35.75 time. NA’s duo of Matt McGoey and Hunter Wharrey finished 1-2 in 15:55.20 and 16:23.
Depending up the course, Gunzenhauser, a junior, has gone back and forth with Ian Baun as Lebo’s top harrier. An outstanding triathlete, Baun is closer to a road racer, says Agostinelli, as opposed to an open course runner.
Junior Ian Harris, freshman Bryce Brandenstein, junior Josh Calapos, senior Matt Stone, junior Jamie Korrza and sophomore Zach Dewipt will be among the others eligible for Lebo. In the competition, only seven can run for each team.
“Our goal is to qualify for states and this year they only take the top three teams,” explained Agostinelli. “It’s going to be a very, very crowded field and a competitive day. How we finish remains to be seen but I expect we will be in the mix. We were five points away from [NA] earlier in the season. A lot will depend upon the meet and the course and the weather. Of course, good weather helps everybody.”
In the past, Ron Schreiner helped Lebo stamp its spot atop the podium. Now the onus is on Oscar Shutt to see that the ladies retain their title.
“If anything,” said Shutt, “the pressure is on me, as opposed to the girls to continue the legacy [Schreiner] left and build on the streak. We’ll go out and run our race and let the final results tell us how good our team is.”
The Lebo ladies have proven they are the best this season. After winning their section, the Blue Devils captured the Tri-State title. With a 67 score, they narrowly defeated NA (74), Seneca Valley (121) and Bethel Park (143). Those four teams, along with Kiski and Butler, are expected to challenge Lebo and battle for the top three berths in the PIAA finals.
“It will be a great challenge to win the WPIAL title,” Shutt said. “North Allegheny was very difficult [at Tri-States] and Coach John Neff will have his team ready. There are also a couple of other teams that have shown they can be in the hunt if their girls have a good day. As far as pressure, I just expect the girls to do their best. That’s all that can ever be asked of them.”
Throughout the season, Kelsey Potts has been Lebo’s best harrier, setting several course records. The junior, however, will be challenging not only two of the top girls from state, but the mid-Atlantic region for the gold medal. Brianna Schwartz from Shaler is the defending champion and NA freshman Madeleine Davison placed first individually at Tri-States, winning in 17:59.62. Kelsey Potts secured second place with an 18:48 time.
“[Schwartz] and [Davison] have run some amazing times this fall so Kelsey is going up against two of the best,” said Shutt. “She has had a great year, improving upon all of her times from last year. We expect that to continue at WPIALs and the state meet.”
Claire Dougherty, Sadie Saxton and Grace Tandon finished fifth, seventh and 11th and posted sub-20 minute times at Tri-States. Freshman Rory Vigrass rounded out Lebo’s top five. All are expected to contribute to Lebo’s run for the gold at Cooper’s Lake.
“Claire, Sadie and Grace had super days at Tri-States and Rory keeps getting stronger,” Shutt said. “We expect them to continue improving upon their times. Our top five have been consistent throughout the year and we expect that to continue.”
South Fayette
Although South Fayette experienced a coaching change this season, the Lions expect to be in the mix for the WPIAL title and PIAA berths. Last fall, the boys won the Class AA title and the girls finished as runner-ups.
“The team and I have set very high goals for this season and have made it a point to not compare this year to last year,” said Lindsay Dolan. “We have a new set of goals for a new group of runners and a new coach. “The only pressure we have to produce is the pressure that these athletes have given themselves by setting high goals for the team and at an individual level. The athletes have been mentally and physically preparing for this competition since the summer and they are excited and anxious to see their personal and team goals be broken. We are in the perfect spot to reach our final goals.”
Seniors Devan Sandala and Alex Frazer, along with sophomore Aaron Pfeil, are the runners to watch from South Fayette on the boys’ side.
According to Dolan, the three harriers have really stepped up to the plate in terms of team motivation. They have also prepared younger runners, Michael Cusick and Sam Snodgrass, to be part of a contending team for the WPIAL Championship.
“I expect that all of these runners will be hitting huge personal records at the WPIAL meet and proving to the state of Pennsylvania that South Fayette is still a very strong and resilient team.”
The Lady Lions are equally strong. Senior Natalie Hilton and freshman Maria DeCello are the ladies to watch in AA even though they are both in their first year of cross country running. They continue to push each other beyond Dolan’s expectations.
“These two girls finish every workout to the best of their ability and bring positivity to practice each day. I expect them to set personal records and to place in the top five individually. We have yet to see the strength of these two runners,” said Dolan, noting how the duo has been competing despite injuries.
Canon-Mac
Although Canon-McMillan did not participate in the Tri-State meet, the Big Macs tuned up for the WPIAL championships by competing in the Mingo Classic as well as the Washington County meets.
Canon-Mac dominated the Mingo Classic, winning the boys’ title. Ethan Linderman won the individual championship at both meets. Seven varsity boys garnered all-county medals and the junior varsity took eight of the top 10 places.
Morgan Grudi paced the Lady Macs at Mingo and seven varsity girls earned all-county awards. The Lady Macs finished second behind Peters Township in the county, but Grudi came back with another time in the 19:30s.
“We had two very good days,” said CM head coach Mark Galley of the races held at Mingo Park. “I am pleased with the progress and recent performances of most of the runners on the team. Many of them had personal records and then came right back to win varsity and JV awards at counties.”
Galley predicts Linderman to be in the mix with the top five finishers at the WPIAL championships. He also notes that sophomore Matt Mansfield and seniors Mike Strokso and Jon Weese are all capable of running times in the 16s. “That gives each of them an individual shot at qualifying [for states],” said Galley.
Junior Mike Cappelli and sophomores Jonas Wudkwych and James Zukowski have all run under 18 minutes this fall.
“If our top three have their best day and those other guys get into the low 17’s,” said Galley. “If all those things happen, we have a real shot at states.”
Noting NA is the favorite to repeat as WPIAL team champions, followed by Mt. Lebanon, Galley said North Hills, Central Catholic and Baldwin are names also mentioned in the mix for the third spot. “Our boys are strong enough to join that group so we are ‘in the hunt'” Galley added.
On the girls’ side, Grudi is making a push to qualify for state and Galley has set a goal of a Top 10 finish for the Lady Macs, who are captained by senior Morgan Gasbarrini.
“We are a very young team,” said Galley, noting the squad’s mix of four sophomores, two freshmen and junior, who is in her first season of running.
Galley expects Lebo, NA, Seneca Valley and Bethel Park to finish among the top girls’ teams in the WPIAL Class AAA standings.
“Early predictions,” he added with a smile, “show for nice running weather.”