2019 Reporter/Times Herald Area Boys Cross Country Preview

Area runners are back on the course, with a tight pack once again shaping up in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.
“We look to improve on last year’s record in the extremely challenging SOL Continental,” Central Bucks West coach John Mahoney said. “The boys have put in a lot of miles throughout the summer and it will be exciting to see this year’s senior class and young Bucks excel late in the season.”
North Penn went through last year’s conference dual-meet season a perfect 6-0.
Said coach Mike Werner: “We are always curious to see how each team develops from a leadership and team culture perspective. We have grown tremendously in this area over the past few years and are working hard to have that growth continue this year.
“(We want to) learn and grow from day to day and week to week throughout the entire season.”
Dock is also surging in the right direction.
“We want to continue to improve each week and put ourselves in position to run with the top teams in the (Bicentennial Athletic) League and district,” coach Justin Feil said. “It would be great if we could get two or three state qualifiers.
“Last year, we had a great district meet and we’ll hope we can duplicate that effort.”
Following is a team-by-team look at the area.
Central Bucks West
Coach: John Mahoney (second season).
Last year’s record: 4-3, third place in the SOL Continental.
Key performers lost: Nick Gillespie, Carter Laatsch, Luke Fehrman.
Key returners: Luke Cimakasky (senior), Bret Hatzinger (senior), Jason Miller (senior), Paul Nicholas (senior), Eric Mass (sophomore), Nikolaus Mangeot (sophomore), Alex Hartin (junior), Liam Price (junior).
Others to watch: Brennan Wellock (sophomore), Conor Gross (junior), Carter Fitzgerald (sophomore), Mateo Testani (junior), Michael Greco (junior), Julien Mackensen (junior), Ani Nangunoori (junior).
Strengths: This year will be the largest team CB West has ever had. Luke Cimakasky will look to lead a group of reliable seniors and very large pack of young Bucks that are eager to improve as the season progresses.
Question marks: Given the size and depth of the team, it will be interesting to see who emerges as a consistent top seven.
Dock
Coach: Justin Feil (fifth season).
Last year’s record: 4-5.
Key performers lost: Steve Seachrist, Addison Schweizerhof, Bobby Hadden, Matthew Birch, Camron Good.
Key returners: Jonathan Anderson 12, Josh Bauman 11, Aaron Lee 11, Jesse Mong 12, Sean Robinson 11.
Strengths: “We have a good core of returning boys who have been working hard,” Feil said. “We’ll have some good competition among the team for our top 5 spots. We have a couple of soccer players who are doubling up this fall and could help our depth along with a pair of promising freshmen.”
Question marks: “We lost our fastest runner and 1 of our 2 state qualifiers so we’ll need someone to step up to fill that void. Our biggest question mark is how much we are willing to put into the season because we know how difficult our league and district competition is.”
Lansdale Catholic
Coach: Matt Connelly (sixth season).
Key performers lost: Joe Menta.
Key returners: John Murphy 11th, Brinker Meers 11th, Kevin McCullagh, Anthony Gargani.
Strengths: “All of our key runners are back healthy and fit from their summer training, and are providing strong leadership,” Connelly said. “Then there is a strong group of second tier runners vying for the remaining varsity spots, including Matt Sweeney (10th), Eddie Dolan (11th), Danny Menta (9th), Ryan O’Rourke (11th) and Mark O’Brien (9th). These guys are focused and working hard to earn those spots five through seven.”
Outlook for the season: “At this point we have a great chemistry developing for our team. We are looking forward to the season, trying to repeat as district 12 champions and improving on our showing at states.”
La Salle
Coach: Greg Bielecki (17th season).
Last year’s record: 2nd in PIAA AAA State Championship, PIAA District XII Champions, PCL Champions.
Key performers lost: Paul Ghantous, Matt Zilligen, Jack Seiberlich.
Key returners: Vince Twomey, Sr; Ethan Maher, Sr; Brady Koors, Sr; Dan Gervino, Sr; Jack Harrington, Sr; Griffin Pumilia, Sr; Patrick Coyle, Jr; Max Manganiello, Jr; Matt Dyer, So; Ben McGrath, Sr; Michael Lombardi, Jr; Will Rau, So; Owen Donahue, Jr
Strengths: “This may be the deepest the Explorers have ever been,” Bielecki said. “The senior class is one of the best in school history, the junior class improved greatly last year, the sophomore class really impressed as freshman last spring, and the incoming freshman have shown some great front-running. With a really talented, strong, and hard working core of guys setting the tone for the entire team there should be excellent performances all the way down the roster.”
Question marks: “The Explorers will need to be ready to race tough against some of the best on the East Coast. They will need to keep improving as competitors to reach their lofty goals.”
Outlook for the season: “It should be a fun season to follow the Explorers. They have potential low sticks up front from Twomey, Maher, and Koors (who were all in the top 31 in the AAA State Championship last fall), and then an excellent pack behind them with hard working talents like Gervino, Harrington, Pumilia, Coyle, Manganiello, Dyer, and newcomer Zach Brill. With this type of firepower and depth the Explorers should be ready to roll when championship season arrives.”
North Penn
Coach: Michael Werner (11th season).
Last year’s record: 8-0 overall, 6-0 conference, SOL Continental Conference Co-Champions.
Key performers lost: Logan Macoscko, Brian Johnson.
Key returners: Noah Demis, 12. Samir Razi, 12. Erik Kull, 12. Gavin Zanck, 10. Dylan Reid, 12. Ian Kelly, 11. Sean Fisher, 11. Jack Shive, 11. Logan McHenry, 11. Brandon Collins, 11.
Strengths: This year’s team features a strong returning class.
Pennridge
Coach: Terry Permar (24th season).
Key runners lost: Cole Doster, Nick Alvarez, Christian Hangey.
Key returners: Ethan Saville 12, Rob Yochum 11, Jacob Kascsak 11, Richard Loughran 11.
Strengths: The top three are looking good.
Question Marks: “Though it’s a good-sized team, this year we’re probably lacking scoring depth on the back end,” Permar said. “Also, avoiding those pop-up injuries at inopportune times will be key.”
Outlook for the season: “Hoping to get two wins, maybe three.”
Souderton Area
Coach: John Donahue (20th season).
Last year’s record: 2-5.
Key performers lost: Josiah Moyer, Tommy Greve, Kevin Walter.
Key returners: Cole Keel, 12: Nic Morales, 11: Will Nase, 12.
Strengths: “One of the hardest working teams I have ever had,” Donahue said.
Question marks: “Only one runner returns with significant varsity experience.”
Outlook for the season: “Looking for big improvements individually, especially the second half of the season.”
Wissahickon
Coach: Bill Gallagher (37th season).
Last year’s record: 6-0.
Key performers lost: Bryce Miles.
Key returners: Seniors-Hanson Leung, Solomon Thistle, Josh Chaiken, Caymus Ruffner, Michael Licata, Max Klugherz; Juniors- Zac Dallal; Sophomores-Alex Schultz and Doug Hoyer.
Strengths: “Strong senior leadership (13 seniors).”
Question marks: Injuries.
Outlook: “Repeat as conference champions and a strong finish in the district championship,” Gallagher said.