The Northampton cross country team started their season this week with a match at Freedom. Both the boys and girls are looking to build of quality seasons a year ago when the boys went 12-5 and the girls 13-4.

“We return a talented and experienced group this year. The majority of both the boys and girls teams return. Goals are high with expectations of exceeding last year,” said head coach Dan Benner.

Like the story goes for all teams this fall, things are going to be different.

“This season will obviously be different because of all the factors surrounding us. One of the big differences will be only having dual meets against other Northampton County schools,” Benner said.

As a result, this year’s schedule is: Freedom on 9/15, Easton on 9/22, Liberty on 9/29, Nazareth on 10/6, and Becahi on 10/13.

Unfortunately, Northampton will not be hosting its invite this season, an event that continued to get bigger and better each year.

For the boys, six of eight top runners return from last year: junior Zeke Colyer and senior Owen Nahf (state qualifier last season) should form a great one-two punch throughout the season, Benner said. The Kids have a strong pack of five runners behind them in seniors Wyatt Poniktera, Nick Amato, Ben Heymach and juniors Johnny Breslin and Evan Dempsey.

“If that group of five steps up this year, the boys team could be very dangerous in the district,” said Benner.

Behind those five, Benner said he has a great group of hardworking runners fighting to get into those top-seven varsity spots. That group includes senior Matt Heisler, juniors Noah Sumner, Keith Demieri, Mitchell Mondscheini, sophomores Ryder Ault, Bryson Grover, Nate Feichtel and freshman Braeden Lower.

Benner added there is a host of returning runners who bring experience with them in seniors Nico Quinones, Filipe Valerio, Griffyn Wacik, Ambrose Roland, junior Greg Reese and sophomores Liam Galicki, Jacob Kleiber, and Caige Eisenhart.

There are also a couple of new runners in freshmen Deric Fritzges and Nate Lopez as well.

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For the girls NHS returns its top-three runners from a very successful team last year. Seniors Georgia Wiswesser and Amber Poniktera have been staples at the top of the lineup for the past three seasons and are both coming off state qualifying junior seasons, Benner said.

“Georgia has actually qualified for the state championships the previous three seasons and looks to become the first runner in Northampton history, boy or girl, to qualify all four years,” Benner said.

Junior Brianna Tyler missed out on the state championship by 5 seconds last season and she’ll be looking to break through this year. First-year cross country runner, junior Sarenity Burkit, has worked hard all summer long and looks poised to be a big contributor this upcoming season.

Benner said for the team to really be a contender in the district and have a shot to be in the top-two teams, which would qualify for the state championship, the girls need a fifth runner to really step up and close the gap to the top four runners.

That group looking to claim that spot includes: senior Noelle Eisenreich, juniors Ellie Spencer, Lauren Schuch, Reia Sanchez, Maddie Berger and freshman Abby Enstrom. Sophomore Ava Grimm and freshmen Rebecca Kordalski and Natalie Lopez are new to the group this year.

“We have a great returning staff as well,” Benner said. “Mike Miller is back with the high school team and the middle school team is once again led by Jon Stevens and Melissa Davis.”