ATHENS GIRLS SWEEP QUAD-MEET, WIN FIRST LARGE SCHOOL TITLE SINCE 1990; JUNIOR HIGH BOYS COMPLETE UNBEATEN SEASON

By: Chris Manning  /  October 11, 2022  /  Photo: Chris Manning

MANSFIELD — Sophomore Sara Bronson ran the day’s fastest time to lead Athens to three wins, and the program’s first Large School Division title since 1990 here Tuesday in NTL cross country quad-meet, while the Athens were 2-1, falling to division champ Cowanesque Valley.

“Today was a great race to end the regular season,” said Athens girls coach Scott Riley. “It was really a team effort to win a big quad meet.

“The girls ran strong up front with Sara Bronson, Emma Bronson and Thea Bentley setting the tone for the team,” he noted. “But it was equally important in a meet like today how the other girls ran. Emily Henderson and Abby Prickitt ran great races to secure key places.

“The girls have been working really hard this year with many of them having been in the program for several years now,” added Riley. “We are really excited with the outcome for them and winning the large school championship.”

GIRLS
Athens 24, CV 33
Athens 21, NP-Mansfield 34
Athens 19, Canton 37
The Lady Wildcats earned wins over CV, North Penn-Mansfield, and Canton to finish 8-2 on the season.

Sara Bronson finished first in a time of 20:49, while Emma Bronson (third against CV, second NP-M and Canton) was third overall on the day in a time of 21:08.

Thea Bentley finished sixth overall (fourth CV, third NP-M and Canton) in a time of 22:54, while Emily Henderson was 10th (seventh CV, sixth NP-M and Canton) in 24:52, Abby Prickitt was 14th (ninth CV, eighth NP-M, and seventh Canton) in 14:47, and Olivia Cheresnowsky was 19th (10th CV and Canton, 11th NP-M)  in 27:46.

Janae Barkins was 22nd in 29:57, and Maryrose Bertsch was 26th in 38:30.

BOYS
CV 19, Athens 41
Athens 20, NP-Mansfield 37
Athens 17, Canton 41
The Athens boys logged wins over North Penn-Mansfield and Canton, but fell to division champ Cowanesque Valley.

“Our kids did a great job today,” said Athens boys coach Mike Bronson. “It was awesome to see the girls clinch the Large School Championship and for the junior high boys to finish an undefeated regular season.

“We will spend the next two weeks sharpening up to be ready for the District meet,” he added.

CV’s Kristian Mizdail (16:19), Owen Cummings (16:54), and Nathaniel Welsh (17:20) finished 1-2-3 on the day to lead the Indians to three convincing wins.

Ethan Denlinger finished fourth overall (fourth against CV, and first against NP-M and Canton) in 17:41 and Ethan Hicks was fifth (fifth CV, second NP-M and Canton)  in 17:58 to lead the Wildcats.

Nate Prickitt was 10th (ninth CV, fourth NP-M, third Canton) in 19:39, while Ronel Ankam was 14th (12th CV), sixth NP-M, fourth Canton) in 20:12, and Sam Sensenig was 19th (15th CV, seventh NP-M and Canton) in 20:30.

Caleb Simwale finished 24th for the Wildcats in 21:34, Hunter Huffman was 26th in 21:36, while Aiden Oldroyd was 31st in 22:39, Aiden Pollock-Sinsabaugh was 31st in 22:47, Pierce Oldroyd was 34th in 23:28, Andrew DeForest was 35th in 23:58, Lohith Kinthala was 38th in 24:37, and Gehrig Thurston was 40th in 24:53.

JUNIOR HIGH
BOYS
Athens 15, CV 50
Athens 15, Mansfield 50
Athens 15, Canton 50
Athens had seven of the top nine runners on the day, led by Graham Wanck, Eli Hicks, and Jacob Shores in a 1-2-3 finish.

Wanck clocked in at 8:31, while Hicks crossed the finish line in 9:24, and Shores finished in 10:00.

Matthew Rossettie was fifth overall in 10:06, while Zach Fisher was sixth in 10:29, Abram Steinfelt was eighths in 10:59, and Darious Miller was 10th in 12:24. Isaac Roy was 12th in 13:02 for the junior Wildcats.

Athens girls incomplete
Athens’ Alissa Vough finished second in the junior high girls race in 10:55, and Abigail Conklin was sixth in 17:22.