Junior High Cross Country Bobcats Make History Win KSAC, Boys Win Northwestern Middle School Championship

on 26 October, 2021 at 13:42

(Above image by Diane Lutz: Bobcat KSAC Invitational Junior High Champions – Front (L-R) Eve Gilmore, Anna Hoover, Raven Cunningham, Eliza Datko, Josh Turner, Wyat Aaron, Caleb Turner, Anthony Bartley. Back (L-R) Callie Snodgrass, Maggie Snodgrass, Anna O’Toole, Nathan Frederick, Hayden Weber, Jonas Wilshire, Quinn O’Neil.)

(By Clarion Area Cross Country Head Coach Keith Murtha)

It was a busy week for the Clarion Cross Country Teams as the they traveled to Karns City, on Thursday, October 27th, to compete in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference Invitational for individual and team titles among the 7 schools hosting both varsity and juniors boys and girls teams.

Not a lightning delay, inclement weather or a tornado warning at the close of the races could slow the Bobcats on this day. Bella Scott got things started in the girls varsity races finishing 8th and medaling to have a complete set of four for her varsity career.

(Diane Lutz image: KSAC Invitational Varsity Girls Medalists – Left to right: Morgan McNaughton – Clarion-Limestone; Brynn Siegel – North Clarion, Karleigh Shaffer – Cranberry; Kelsey Hanna – Cranberry; Kayla Hanna – Cranberry; Jordan Montgomery – Cranberry; Hannah Burgoon – Moniteau; Bella Scott – Clarion Area; Jordyn Hendrickson – North Clarion; Cailyn Heilman – Keystone )

Cranberry took home the team title.

First year varsity runner Ryan Alston had a fantastic race finishing 18th overall, the Bobcats strength was the pack running of Freshman Ben Lambert and Philip Bartley who were 22nd and 23rd respectively. Senior standout Gavin Hoover had a mishap on a steep downhill, but was able to finish a disappointing 33rd and Owen Wilson finished 52nd giving the Bobcats a 5th place team finish.

(Diane Lutz image: KSAC Invitational Varsity Boys Medal Winners: Matt Woolcock – Cranberry; Christian Miller – Cranberry; Kain McFarland – North Clarion; Benjamin Seybert – Cranberry; Collin Zerbe – Cranberry; Aiden Thomas – North Clarion; Avery Keenan – Cranberry; Logan Lutz – Clarion-Limestone; Jack Craig – Clarion-Limestone; Sylas Fox – Cranberry )

Then the magic happened, for the first time in school history, both Bobcat Junior High Teams won KSAC titles in the same year. The Girls Junior High Team led by Bella Scott and soccer standout Eva Lerch won in 2016, but they didn’t have the company of the boys who were defeated by powerhouse Cranberry!

(Diane Lutz image: Junior High Medalists: Front row – Jr High Girls: Danica Wenner – Cranberry; Charli Ames – Keystone; Adisen Jackson – Clarion-Limestone; Anna O’Toole – Clarion Area; Julianna Schwabenbauer – Clarion-Limestone. Second row – Jr. High Boys: Calton Wenner – Cranberry; Hayden Webber – Clarion Area; Noah Weiland – Karns City; Jackson Nicewonger – North Clarion; Jonas Wilshire – Clarion Area)

The Clarion Girls were led by a pair of Anna’s (O’Toole and Hoover), a pair of Snodgrasses (Maggie and Callie) and sandwich Eliza Datko in the middle and the Bobcats beat their cross-town rival, Clarion-Limestone by 1 point 49-50 for the title.

(Diane Lutz image: Bonnie Wolbert at the mic during Medals Presentations)

On the boys side, Pack running got the job done for the Bobcats, with Hayden Weber who finished 2nd overall and Jonas Wilshire 5th overall, joined by up and comers Nathan Frederick, Josh Turner, and Anthony Bartley for a 34-44 win over second place Cranberry!

Fast forward to Saturday. The Bobcats traveled to Kane for the Northwestern Middle School Cross Country Championship featuring 18 District 9 teams and 1 district 3 team. The Clarion girls, missing Maggie and Callie Snodgrass who had already transitioned to the pool for swim season, ran another fantastic race finishing 3rd to Clarion-Limestone and Bradford by a mere 3 points!

(Clarion Cross Country image: 2021 Northwestern Middle School Cross Country Invitational Boys’ Team Champions – Clarion Bobcats: (Front L-R) Josh Turner, Jonas Wilshire, Hayden Weber, Nathan Frederick, Caleb Turner, Wyatt Aaron. (Back) Quinn O’Neil.)

The Anna’s (O’Toole & Hoover) once again medaled and then it was the boys turn. Hayden Weber ran a strong race. He, Jonas and the rest of the team followed the race plan to perfection, running as pack. Hayden continued to open up his lead for the eventual win. Jonas earned a tough 6th place finish followed by Josh Turner to earn a medal, Nathan Ferederick and Caleb Turner completed the scoring for the Bobcats, D9 Champs!

This years Junior High Bobcat Team certainly went the extra mile and the future of Clarion Cross Country is very bright!

(Thanks to Coach Murtha for his article and to Diane Lutz for her pics. Great Job, Bobcats!!!!)