2023 Mercury Boys Cross Country Team-By-Team Preview
Boyertown
Head coach: Ed Baghdasarian, sixth season
Last year’s record: 3-2
Athletes to watch: Aiden Voth, Jr.; Cole Peifer, Jr.; Evan James, Soph.; Samuel Branford, Jr.; Aidan Lacock, Jr.; Braydon McDonald, Soph.; Colin Cooper, Soph.; Brayden Tinney, Soph.; Boden Waite, Fr.; Alex Gambone, Soph.
Outlook: Aiden Voth was a PIAA Championships qualifier last season. The Bears’ strength will lie with Voth getting a low stick, followed by Cole Peifer and Evan James within 30 seconds behind him. Bringing up the next few scoring places just behind Peifer and James will be Samuel Branford and Braydon McDonald close behind. Boyertown is young this season with no seniors and some first-year runners in the mix.
“With no seniors on the roster and a slew of young guys that have improved from the track season, our boys team is ready to start making a push for a much better showing at the District 1 Championships,” Baghdasarian said. “Some new faces will help our team’s depth and strengthen our core top-seven in varsity.”
Daniel Boone
Head coach: Doug Snyder, fourth season
Last year’s record: 2-5, Berks I, 3-12.
Athletes to watch: Daniel Shank, Soph.
Outlook: The Blazers continue to rebuild in 2023 after graduating many seniors over the last two years.
Methacton
Head coach: Steve Savitz, 19th season
Last year’s record: 2-3
Athletes to watch: Matthew Sandner, Sr.; Akhil Yeluri, Sr.; Charlie Reith, Jr.; Colin O’Donnell, Soph.; Brock Yoder, Fr.
Outlook: The Warriors have had a promising start to the fall with two preseason invitational wins. Methacton also adds talented underclassmen in freshman Brock Yoder and Colin O’Donnell in the mix with seasoned veterans.
“Our varsity team is hard working and learned how to pace themselves during the early races,” Savitz said. “As this teamwork continues, we should continue to improve and win some meets.”
Norristown
Head coach: Neil Schafer, second season (also coached from 1993-2000)
Last year’s record: 0-5
Athletes to watch: Jeremiah McCray, Sr.; Malachi Vance, Soph.
Outlook: The Eagles are in the midst of a program rebuild with more numbers added to the team this season.
“We have increased our team size and hope to make some waves in the PAC,” Schafer said.
Owen J. Roberts
Head coach: Tim Marcoe, sixth season
Last year’s record: 2-3
Athletes to watch: Oscar Lorenzi, Sr.; David Fogwell, Sr.; Ben Pittek, Soph.; Nick Payne, Fr.
Outlook: The Wildcats graduated back-to-back Mercury runner of the year Andrew McGonigle (Penn State). Last year, McGonigle took first in the PAC meet and eighth in the District 1 field, the highest PAC placewinner at 15:43.7. Owen J. Roberts carries plenty of potential into 2023 after consistent training over the summer with many newcomers in the mix as well.
“We are a young team and some of our freshmen could be a pleasant surprise and come on to develop and run faster times as the season progresses,” Marcoe said.
Perkiomen Valley
Head coach: Ryan Sullivan, 22nd season
Last year’s record: 4-1, PAC team runner-up
Athletes to watch: Jason Clifford, Sr.; Alex Corbin, Sr.; Ian Johnson, Sr.; Jack Margaritis, Jr.; Cooper Hey, Soph.; Nathan Boyer, Soph.; Max Tacinini, Soph. Colin Dugan, Fr.; Ryan McElwee, Fr.; Shane Donahue, Fr.
Outlook: Just one runner graduated last year as the Vikings retain six of seven of last year’s PAC runner-up team. Seniors Jason Clifford and Ian Johnson will be the leaders of this year’s squad Perkiomen Valley also boasts a large and talented incoming freshman class with 26 rostered overall. Johnson took second place and Clifford took fourth in the PAC Championship meet.
“Looking forward to the always competitive PAC, improving throughout the season and competing for the championship,” Sullivan said.
Phoenixville
Head coach: Justin Winters, 14th season
Last year’s record: 4-1
Athletes to watch: William Brennfleck, Sr.; Ben Eichenwald, Sr.; Landon Connet, Sr.; John Hamid, Sr.; Pranav Shrirang, Sr.; Ryan Pratte, Sr.; Brenden Cunningham, Jr.; Colton Kleppe, Jr.; Ben Imburgia, Jr.; Kyle Padilla, Soph.; Hayden Bray, Soph.; Keshav Vyas, Jr.;
Outlook: The Phantoms have reloaded after a solid mark in PAC dual meets last season with plenty of depth in 2023.
“The team has grown a lot in terms of understanding what it takes to be successful and to fill roles that at times last year were vacant,” Winters said. “I think we will surprise a lot of people.”
Pope John Paul II
Head coach: Lisa Cagliola, fifth season
Last year’s record: 2-3
Athletes to watch: Oscar Luna, Sr.; Aiden Radcliffe, Jr.; Jack McNicholas, Jr.; Ryan Edde, Jr.
Outlook: Oscar Luna is the top returner for the Golden Panthers after a 16th-place finish in the District 1-2A meet. Pope John Paul II also returns its top three finishers from the PAC Championship meet last year in Luna, Jack McNicholas and Aiden Radcliffe.
Pottsgrove
Head coach: Torry Dugan, second season
Last year’s record: 3-2
Athletes to watch: Jordan Raudenbush, Jr.; Owen Mountz, Jr.; Cole Strunk, Jr.
Outlook: The Falcons graduated three seniors from last year’s team, being top team finishers in Dan Korman, Isaac Kumpf and Xavier Walker.
Pottstown
Head coach: Lawrence Harvey
Last year’s record: N/A
Athletes to watch: N/A
Outlook: Legendary coach Larry Harvey returns to lead Pottstown’s program once more.
Spring-Ford
Head coach: Larry Rechtin, second season
Last year’s record: 5-0, PAC champion
Athletes to watch: Ethan Tharp, Sr.; Jack Stanick, Sr.; Jake Delgado, Sr.; Willie Wiles, Sr.; Jedd King, Jr.; Gus Smith, Jr.; Eli Dunham, Jr.; Will Garman, Jr.; Shiahn Ayman, Soph.; Nolan Mead, Soph.; Max LaBarbera, Soph.; Mason Short, Soph.
Outlook: The Rams return five of their top seven runners from last year’s PAC team championship squad. This year, Spring-Ford is looking to build on that success by qualifying for states. Around those returning, the Rams also boast plenty of depth in 2023.
“We have over 50 boys come out and most did their summer running,” Rechtin said. “We don’t have the start we had last year but we go very deep and hope to overwhelm teams by putting a lot of boys in the positions to score.”
Upper Merion
Head coach: Lynda Newhart, 19th season
Last year’s record: 4-1
Athletes to watch: Dante Churchville, Sr.; Anthony Tornambe, Soph.
Outlook: The Vikings graduated two of their top four runners, and positions three through seven on the roster are up for grabs. Upper Merion brings back All-PAC runners in Dante Churchville and Anthony Tornambe, along with a fairly large freshman class.
“Dante and Anthony progressed quite well over last year and are looking to take the next step,” Newhart said. “Their experience along with some hard working returning runners will hopefully pan out to a successful season.”
Upper Perkiomen
Head coach: Todd Niemann, 21st season
Last year’s record: 3-2, District 1-2A fifth-place
Athletes to watch: Kaden Dennis, Sr.; Roman Macedo, Jr.; William Godshall, Jr.; Ben Sensinger, Jr.; Stephen Shermer, Jr.; John Kuzmission, Soph.; Evan Snyder, Soph.; Gavin Dunn, Fr.; Porter Fryauff, Fr.
Outlook: The Tribe returns its top five runners after a top-five District 1-2A team finish last season, as well as young talent added into the mix. Upper Perkiomen is projected to be a young squad with eight of its top nine runners being underclassmen.
“I hope to be more consistent than last year and show our potential at the championship meet,” Niemann said.
