Bobcat Cross Country Team Holds Annual Banquet, Several Runners Finish Season At Nike Meet (12/03/15)

(By Mark Bettwy)

(Photos by Mark Bettwy) All Conference runners – Adam Bettwy, Crowe Thiem, Katie Craig, Chelsea Mason

The Clarion Bobcat Cross Country Team held its annual banquet on Tuesday, November 17th at the high school. Many awards were given and accomplishments noted with the highlight being freshman Katie Craig and junior Adam Bettwy representing the school in the Pennsylvania State Championships in Hershey.

Craig and Bettwy received team MVP honors as well as awards for being selected as 1st team KSAC All Conference runners.

Chelsea Mason and Crowe Thiem were given awards for their selection as 2nd team KSAC All Conference runners, as decided by all Conference coaches.

Senior Awards – Kyle Bettwy, Shamecka Dittman, and Giovanni Giamboni.

Junior High MVP awards went to Emma Spitz and Nathaniel Lerch.

Senior awards were presented to Varsity Captain Kyle Bettwy, Varsity Captain Shamecka Dittman, and Giovanni Giamboni.

Additional honors included:
– Most Improved Players: Noah Cole and Chelsea Mason (varsity) and Jenna Miller and Nate Datko (junior high)
– 5th Man “difference maker” award: Alex Cussins (junior high)
– Johnson & Johnson “holds everything together” award: Nick Schill (varsity)
– First time Lettermen included: Kyleigh Craddock, Katie Craig, Gabriella Fleming, Clay McElravy, Daniel Ketner, Noah Schill, Nick Schill, Noah Cole, and Jacob Smith.
– Pin recipients included: Liz Saver, Lili Frakes, Chelsea Mason, Shamecka Dittman, Adam Bettwy, Kyle Bettwy, Marshall Powers, Jimmy Smathers, Victor Stahlman, and Crowe Thiem.

“ONE LAST TIME”
(Wappingers Falls, NY) Four Bobcat runners extended their 2015 Cross Country season for one last race on Saturday, November 28th, by traveling to the Nike Cross Nationals Northeast Regional Invitation. The meet is sponsored by Nike and is on the home course for the New York State Championships, as well as a Regional qualifier for the Nike National Championships.

Adam Bettwy, Kyle Bettwy, Nick Schill, and Jacob Smith competed in the Black-Open race which included 240 runners and was one of 3 male races on the day. Adam finished highest for Clarion with a time of 18:18 followed by Kyle at 22:34. Nick crossed the line third at 24:43 with Jacob ending at 25:27. Senior Kyle Bettwy closed-out his high school cross country career and described the course as challenging given the hills and rainy conditions. Coach Keith Murtha hopes to take a full team to New York to compete in 2016.
(Thanks to Mark Bettwy for this article and photos and the fine coverage he provided throughout the season. Fine season Bobcats.)