SOL Boys/Girls Cross Country Notebook (10-23-14)

This week’s notebook highlights the Pennsbury boys’ cross country team and also recaps the SOL championships.

By Scott Huff

The year was 1977.

Jimmy Carter was President; Star Wars was spanking brand new in the movie theaters; the Apple II computer was a introduced to the public; it cost 65 cents for a gallon of gas; the average income was $15,000 a year; and the # 1 hit song was How Deep Is Your Love by the Bee Gees.

And – oh yeah – the Pennsbury boys’ cross country team won a league championship.

“Our first team goal at the beginning of the season was to win the league championship,” said Pennsbury head coach Tim Cass.  “We got close last year, but we wanted to win it this time around.

“We lost by a point to Council Rock North last year, and this year we beat them by a point,” added Cass.  “We were down 44-46 at the end of the meet.  But because we beat them head-to-head they had 3 points added to their team total and we beat them 46-47 - lowest score wins.”

The biggest individual winner for the Falcons was senior Sam Webb who captured the top spot in the individual race with a season best time of 15:49.

“Sam did everything he could do to help the team win the race,” said Cass.  “He has a lot of experience and used that experience to run a smart race.  He knew what he was capable of doing – and he knew what his team needed from him to get us the championship.”

The championship results for the remainder of the Falcons were Alek Sauer (4th place – 16:14); Ari Bortman (10th place – 16:33); Thomas Wick (14th place – 16:40); and Dan Tokar (17th place – 16:40).

“Alek is a four-year runner and used his experience to run a good race,” said Cass.  “Ari is a very solid #3 guy and has maintained a good pace all year.

“Both Thomas and Dan have been our #4 and #5 runner all season,” added Cass.  “Basically, I haven’t had any worries all year about the top five runners on the team.

“Our goal in districts this week is to make states next week,” continued Cass.  “This team has been a very disciplined – hard working – goal oriented team.”

And now the Pennsbury boys’ cross-country team is a Suburban One League National Conference championship team – after 37 long years.

Who’s – Who in the Top 50 from the SOL after Week 8
Boys Individual:

     (2)  Jake Brophy [Central Bucks East] – 15:08
     (4)  Casey Comber [Hatboro-Horsham] – 15:12
    (21)  Sam Webb [ Pennsbury] – 15:49
    (35)  Brian Arita [Council Rock North] – 16:00
    (37)  Matthew Scarpill [Central Bucks South] – 16:01
    (42)  Andrew Hanna [Council Rock South] – 16:03
    (50)  Rock Fortna [Central Bucks West] – 16:07
Girls Individual:
     (2)  Marissa Sheva [Pennridge] – 17:34
     (5)  Olivia Sargent [Pennsbury] – 17:52
    (11)  Hannah Molloy [Pennsbury] – 18:30
    (18)  Merideth Twomey [Pennsbury] – 18:35
    (26)  Maddie Villalba [Central Bucks West] – 18:45
    (30)  Lotte Black [Wissahickon] – 18:50
    (48)  Bailey Balmer [Pennsbury] – 19:02

Who’s Who in the Top 25 from the SOL after Week 8
Boys Team:

     (3)   Central Bucks West Bucks
    (21)  Central Bucks East Patriots
    (25)  Bensalem Owls
Girls Team:
    (1)   Pennsbury Falcons
    (6)   Central Bucks West Bucks
    (13)  Upper Dublin Cardinals

“WE ARE THE SUBURBAN ONE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS !!!”
SOL AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Boys-Team

(1.)  Wissahickon Trojans [25]
Luke Marcelis
Cameron Christopher
Kyuande Johnson
Walker Smith
Matt Gilman
(2.)  Cheltenham Panthers [53]
(3.)  Upper Merion Vikings [80]
Boys - Individual
(1) Lukas Marcelis – Wissahickon - [16:39]
(2) Will Griffen – Cheltenham – [17:04]
(3) Cameron Christopher – Wissahickon – [17:08]

Girls-Team
(1) Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals [25]
Lucile Ionescu
Sarah Smith
Sophie Gustafson
Marissa Hou
Emily Stewart
(2)  Wissahickon Trojans [60]
(3)  Upper Merion Vikings [80]
Girls – Individual
(1) Lotte Black – Wissahickon – [19:13]
(2) Sarah Richart – Cheltenham – [19:42]
(3) Syndi Stovall – Springfield – [19:36]

SOL CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE
Boys – Team
(1)  Central Bucks West Bucks – [43]
Rock Fortna
Ian Davies
Declan McDonald
Brian Iatarola
Teagan Fortna
(2)  Central Bucks East Patriots – [57]
(3)  Hatboro-Horsham Hatters – [85]
Boys – Individual
(1)  Jake Brophy – Central Bucks East – [15:08]
(2)  Casey Comber – Hatboro-Horsham – [15:12]
(3)  Rock Fortna – CB West – [16:08]

Girls – Team
(1)  Central Bucks East Patriots [48]
Jackie Kinkead
Elizabeth Morris
Hannah Morris
Julia Heiges
Caitlin Shewbrooks
(2)  Central Bucks West Bucks [61]
(3)  North Penn Knights [67]
Girls – Individual
(1)  Marissa Sheva – Pennridge – [18:19]
(2)  Maddie Villalba – CB West – [18:59]
(3) Jackie Kinkead – CB East – [19:11]

SOL NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Boys- Team
(1) Pennsbury Falcons [46]
Sam Webb
Alex Sauer
Ari Bortman
Thomas Wick
Dan Tokar
(2) Council Rock North [47]
(3) Bensalem Owls – [90]
Boys – Individual(1) Sam Webb – Pennsbury – [15:49]
(2) Brian Arita – Council Rock North – [16:00]
(3)  Andrew Hanna – Council Rock South – [16:03]

Girls – Team
(1)  Pennsbury Falcons – [15]
Olivia Sargent
Meridith Twomey
Hannah Molloy
Bailey Balmer
Erin O’Connell
(2)  Council Rock North Indians – [57]
(3)  Council Rock South Golden Hawks – [74]
Girls – Individual
(1)  Olivia Sargent – Pennsbury [18:07]
(2)  Meridith Twomey – Pennsbury [18:57]
(3)  Hannah Molloy – Pennsbury [19:27]

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