Tigers compete in Hershey
With one meet left in the regular season, both Northwestern Lehigh cross country teams are in position to finish the season with winning records.
The Tiger boys team was 16-4 heading into this week’s final regular season meet, while the Northwestern girls team had an identical record through its first five Colonial League competitions.
The Tigers also competed in an invitational recently at the PIAA Foundation Invitation in Hershey on Sept. 23.
The Northwestern girls teams finished in 19th place among Class 2A teams at the meet. The Tigers were led by Sophia Cornell in 55th place, followed by teammates Kellcey Pedron (105th), Megan Fornwalt (106th), Devon Heinly (123rd), Ava Smedstad (149th), Katie Griffith (153rd) and Amber Carl 186th.
Danville won girls team title in Hershey. Other District 11 teams there included Saucon Valley (17th) and Blue Mountain ( 25th)
In the Foundation boys race, the Tigers finished 34th in Class 2A.
Xander Giandomenico led the way with a 73rd-place individual finish, followed by teammates Sean Kershner (188th), Greyson Wellings (191st), Brady Furman (207th), Jonathan Fornauf (208th), Tyler Lehr (203th) and Bryce Thrash (232nd).
Grove City won boys title. Blue Mountain was 17th. Saucon Valley didn’t compete in the boys team competition.
Here’s a look at some of Northwestern’s recent regular season meets.
Tuesday, Oct. 3
N’western-Palmerton-
No. Lehigh- Bangor-Notre Dame ES-Pen Argyl-Wilson
The Northwestern boys went 1-1 in the meet, with Xander Giandomenico taking fifth place.
The Tiger girls went a perfect 3-0 with Sophia Cornell placing second and Haley DuBois earning fourth.
BOYS
Northwestern 20, Bangor 42
Wilson 20, Northwestern 39
1. Connor Hibell (P) 16:58, 2. Aiden Twist (B) 17:40, 3. Jeffrey Sunderlin (W) 17:43, 4. Chase Eller (W), 5. Xander Giandomenico (NW), 6. Brian Samayoa (W), 7. Jason Hall (W), 8. Sean Kershner (NW), 9. Greyson Wellings (NW), 10. Hans Kuder (W), 11. Dillard Jones (W), 12. Anderson Silfies (W), 13. Matteo Antonucci (NDES), 14. Brady Furman (NW), 15. Shaun Matharu (W).
GIRLS
Northwestern 19, Bangor 44
N’western 15, Pen Argyl 50
Northwestern 20, Wilson 41
1. Avery Errico (W) 20:51, 2. Sophia Cornell (NW) 21:51, 3. Addison Priestaf (B) 22:05, 4. Haley DuBois (NW), 5. Megan Fornwalt (NW), 6. Emma Rex (P), 7. Kellcey Pedron (NW), 8. Devon Heinly (NW), 9. Cora Wentz (P), 10. Katherine Colon (W), 11. Katy Griffith (NW), 12. Amber Carl (NW), 13. Ava Smedstad (NW), 14. Grace Hartzell (B), 15. Leah Hoffer (B).
Tuesday, Sept. 26
No. Lehigh-Northwestern-Catasauqua-Salisbury-Southern Lehigh-Palmerton
The Northwestern boys raced their way to a perfect 5-0 mark.
The Tigers’ Xander Giandomenico finished in second place. Northwestern’s Sean Kershner finished fifth.
Sophia Cornell led the way for the Tigers in the girls meet as Northwestern went 4-1 Cornell posted a seventh-place finish.
BOYS
N’western 20, Palmerton 43
N’western 15, No. Lehigh 50
N’western 15, Catasauqua 50
N’western 15, Salisbury 50
N’western 27, So. Lehigh 28
1. Connor Hibell (P) 16:53,14, 2. Xander Giandomenico (NW) 17:46.25, 3. Gregory Rubino (SL) 17:52.18. 4. Peter Jones (SL), 5. Sean Kershner (NW), 6. Greyson Wellings (NW), 7. Miles Etters (SL), 8. Gabriel Ruggeri (SL), 9. Tyler Lehr (NW), 10. Brady Furman (NW), 11. Henry Parrish (SL), 12. Jonathan Fornauf (NW), 13. Bryce Thrash (NWL), 14. Joshua Garges (SL), 15. Alex Saas (P).
GIRLS
N’western 15, Palmerton 50
N’western 15, No. Lehigh 50
N’western 15, Catasauqua 50
N’western 15, Salisbury 50
So. Lehigh 17, N’western 43
1. Caelee Lenhart (SL) 19:56.88, 2. Lauren Miller (SL) 20:37.31, 3. Celia Knoedler (SL) 20:52.86, 4. Zoe Vezenov (SL), 5. Emily Batten (S), 6. Alivia Bear (C), 7. Sophia Cornell (NW), 8. Emma Heil (NL), 9. Haley DuBois (NW), 10. Neva Bogert (SL), 11. Erin McMenamy (SL), 12. Kellcey Pedron (NW), 13. Elizabeth Kane (SL), 14. Megan Fornwalt (NW), 15. Tessa DiCesare (SL).
Tuesday, Sept. 19
No. Lehigh-Palmerton-Palisades-N’western-Moravian-Notre Dame-Saucon Valley
The Northwestern boys went 3-1. The Northwestern girls finished 2-2.
Xander Giandomenico led the way for the Tigers with a third-place finish, while teammates Sean Kershner and Greyson Wellings were sixth and seventh, respectively.
In girls action, Sophia Cornell recorded an area-best seventh-place finish.
BOYS
N’western 21, Moravian A. 40
No. Dame GP 25, N’western 30
N’western 17, Palisades 45
N’western 17, Saucon Vy. 46
1. Connor Hibell (Palm) 16:27.38, 2. Jake Mattes (NDGP) 17:12.20, 3. Xander Giandomenico (NW) 17:22.96, 4. Jordan Smith (NDGP), 5. Krish Gupta (MA), 6. Sean Kershner (NW), 7. Greyson Wellings (NW), 8. Michael Maslonka (NDGP), 9. Tanner Berkenstock (NDGP), 10. Aiden Van Wert (NDGP), 11. Ethan Reith (SV), 12. Perseus Fowler (MA), 13. Caleb Diaz (Pali), 14. Brady Furman (NW), 15. Jonathan Fornauf (NW).
GIRLS
N’western 20, Moravian A. 42
No. Dame GP 16, N’western 44
N’western 15, Palisades 47
Saucon Valley 27, N’western 28
1. Virginia Kraus (MA) 17:49.20, 2. Katherine Koons (NDGP) 19:32.92, 3. Ella Schweitzer (NDGP) 20:14.43, 4. Oliva Bortz (SV), 5. Olivia Schweitzer (NDGP), 6. Samantha Karwacki (NDGP), 7. Sophia Cornell (NW), 8. Brenna Hammerstone (NDGP), 9. Isabella Johnstone (SV), 10. Emma Heil (NL), 11. Haley DuBois (NW), 12. Savina Steele (NDGP), 13. Kellcey Pedron (NW), 14. Bridget Steidle (SV), 15. Alivia Rieland (NDGP).