The Emmaus boys cross country team enters 2022 coming off an outstanding 2021 season.

“The boys team finished 16-1 in the EPC, which was a huge feat,” Emmaus coach Kami Reinhard said. “The team had some unusual circumstances occur at the Parkland meet and in the postseason that prevented them from reaching that top goal of advancing to states as a team.”

This year the green and gold will be minus three strong seniors who have embarked on their lives after high school. Reinhard is realistic and recognizes there is some rebuilding ahead.

“We would like our boys to have a strong entire season from start to finish,” she said. “But they will need to perform at a higher level to do so and continue to train smart.”

Whether this group of Hornets can win a title is something that only time will tell. Four of the team’s seniors have been preparing since spring track ended.

“Sam Dalton, Oscar Felegy, Brian Merk and Dominic Nunez trained together on many occasions on very challenging terrain, pushing each other to be their very best,” Reinhard said. “At our team practices these four athletes then took it a step farther, including team members from all different grades into their group and helped our freshmen learn the ropes.”

Reinhard likes the example the young men are setting.

“I feel like they are making huge strides in improving the overall team culture of inclusion,” she said.

Sophomore Conor Fisher returns as Emmaus’ top runner from last season following an incredible freshman season in which he claimed 12th in Districts. The previously mentioned Felegy, Dalton and Nunez are all looking to improve on their performances from last season and have put in the hard work to achieve that goal.

Sophomores Jared Petre and Richard Will are expected also to contribute to the Hornet cause, along with senior Brett Pevec, juniors Tyler Finck and Dahlin Allport and freshmen Sean Daubert and Ryan Fach.

“There are many more athletes capable of working their way into the top 10, so we are keeping our eyes on their progress as well,” Reinhard said.