WEEK IN REVIEW   
(11/5 - 11/11) STATES

DIVISION 1 GIRLS: PADUA ACADEMY
After a season opening 3rd place at the very tough Centaur Invitational at Allentown PA the Pandas didn't lose again in a dominating 2003 season capped off by their first State Championship since 1988.  Coach John Lannutti's team was deep and talented and recently climbed into the Harrier Magazine National Top 25 at 24th place.  (see story) Frosh Jenna McCartan was the leader all year along with fellow first team all state teammate Samantha Lichtner while Juniors Jessica Walsh and Jenn Ogden, soph MaryKate McCaffery and freshmen Jen Watunya and Brittiny Rhoades were outstanding as well.  Dan Episcopo and Theresa Marini completed a fine coaching staff.  The JV team was tough also and everybody is back .... uh oh!   Brandywine was clearly the State's #2 squad all year led by the amazing duo of Anna Brousell and Jessica Leitsch who set course records all over this season.  However the rest of the team comprised of seniors Alison Sanchez and Stef Gordon, Junior Beth Graham and sophs Rachel Sawicki and Sarah Flynn came through time and again for the Bulldogs.  Charter got excellent performances from Colleen McCarthy and Rachel Ogburn and a late season burst from 8th grader Camille Legge plus an always strong pack to wind up the States 3rd rated team.  Individually we would like to salute seniors Enya Spence from Newark who finished 6th in the best race of her fine four-year career and Pooja Aysola of Charter who also had a fine season.  Props to senior Christine Dierickx of McKean who is a clear candidate for most improved runner.

 

BOYS DIVISION 1: SALESIANUM SCHOOL
The Sals won their 30th state championship in the last 34 years, the 13th under Coach Ralph Heiss.  This one was sweet because it wasn't easy as the team had to replace 5 top guys who graduated.  The team responded to a puzzling County race with a dominating performance at States.  Freshman Dominic DellaPelle, Junior Joe Donnelly and Senior Sean Dececchis emerged as the leaders but Senior Pat McClory with Juniors Alex Gambogi, Shawn Crowley and Mike Kowal were solidifying factors.  Charter edged Henlopen Champ Caesar Rodney by one point for second behind Mason Hickey's 4th place run.  Neil Johnston and Brian Suher had fine races for the Force as did Joe Debus and Chor Hang Lam.  The Riders were led by a solid senior group of Kyle Luke, Byron Friend and Anthony Swierzbinski along with Brian Line and David Moore.  Individually Charles Gibson ended his fine career as a Champ and as a great representative of Dover High and Delaware XC.  

 

GIRL'S DIVISION 2: ARCHMERE ACADEMY
The Auks had maybe their best team ever and showed continued improvement right up to and including States.  Without a dominating lead runner the team did it with depth and it took every last runner to edge out defending champ Tower Hill by the smallest of margins.  Soph Kasey Hacker was clearly the teams' leading performer while Katie Rath, Justine Raspanti and Kirsten Sauer made up a strong front four.  On Saturday every finish was crucial none more so than that of Beth Malseed and Kim Hacker who ran 25th and 26th just ahead of the Hillers 5th who was 27th.  Congrats to Coach Mike Walsh who won his second State title.  The performance of Coach Cherie Martinez' Tower Hill squad was very impressive, in some ways maybe even more so than last year's title run.  The Hillers had to deal with a lot of difficulties this season and showed some serious heart on Saturday .  Sara Casscells with Julie and Anna Pike formed the core of the team while frosh Heather Reinhardt ran her best race of the year in finishing 20th.  Special congratulations to senior Mimi Kelly who gave it everything she had on Saturday, finishing 27th after a injury-plagued season.  Tatnall was led by three-time state champ Lisa Klein who led the Hornets emergence as strong squad along with frosh Joanie and Annie Castagno and 8th grader Katie Kershner.  Individally we want to mention seniors who finished fine XC careers with big efforts in their last race: Julie Taylor of Ursuline, Caitlin McGroerty & Christine Garmendia of Seaford and Brittany Turner of Dickinson.

 

BOYS DIVISION 2: TATNALL SCHOOL
The Hornets saved the best for last as they recorded their first ever XC Championship behind Kyle Kershner and a 59 second spread of their top five.  Coach Pat Castagno's guys showed marked improvement over last season as seniors Mike Ward and Steve Brown played key roles.  Ward showed right from the opening meet this year that he was much improved while Brown came on strong in the crucial late season meets.  Frosh Brian Sklowdowski had a fine year also but it was Andrew Ruoss whose 11th place run as the 5th man Saturday that clinched things.  This was a real team effort.  Archmere had an outstanding season as well and proved to everybody that they are a strong and gutty bunch of runners.  Seniors Pete McBride and Jason Nista have been varsity runners since they were frosh and have a lot to be proud of.  Chris Bourke, Tom Procopio, John Corsini, Billy DiNardo and Brian Wilson had super seasons as well.  Congrats to Coach Breger's squad.  Frosh Joseph Feeley's 3rd place (Freshman Record) led his Red Lion team to a nice 3rd place finish.