Sep 6, 2005 By Jim Downey 5 min read

The cross country season is rolling in slowly with the occasional non-section dual meet or weekend invitational. The meet of the four-week section schedule begins on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Albert Gallatin is again in the process of building the program with Joe Thomas seeking any and all able bodies to fill the big shoes left empty with the graduation of Patrick Reagan, a WPIAL Class AAA medallist.

Connellsville lost a lot of talent as well with the graduation of WPIAL Class AAA champion Kenny King, Wade Schnorr and Nick Vinoverski on the boys side and Molly Mullaney for the girls.

Joe Siecinski’s squad got off on the right foot with non-section wins over Southmoreland. Brad Showman is one of only two runners returning from last year’s all-County team, but the senior will share time with the soccer squad.

Outside of Showman, the Falcons are young. Junior Joe Villanueva won his first race on Friday against the Scotties. Siecinski has to rely on a lot of unprovens, including sophomores Arlo Helms, Jeremy Molinaro, Nate Richter and Nick Mongell and freshmen Alan Nedley and Dennis Curry.

“We don’t know,” Siecinski said of how he expects his runners to pack or not. “We’re inexperienced. Brad and Joe are leaders. It’s up to them to step up. We’re having a good attitude. I think we’ll do well.”

The Lady Falcons have a large group of untested underclassmen, especially with Gabby Carbonara rehabbing her knee with an uncertain date of return, but if Friday’s race is a sign of things to come the future looks bright. Sophomore Julie Burns won in her first time out with junior Mary Beth Giles not far behind.

One thing in the girls’ favor are good numbers, including underclassmen Monica Faris, Heidi Halfhill, back after not running as a sophomore, Leah Williams, Brianna Brooks, Michelle Rugg and Amber Hyatt.

Laurel Highlands also has a runner on the shelf with Mustang stalwart Jeff Palya recovering from emergency surgery, putting his junior season in question. The loss has Bob Costello wondering what will be in Section 2-AAA, a section that includes Connellsville, Uniontown, Ringgold, Albert Gallatin, West Mifflin, Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth-Forward.

“Ryan Thorn was having a good year (in 2004) going until he was hurt,” said Costello. Donnie Means led the Mustangs in the first meet of the year, finishing 65th in the Gateway Invitational. Other runners in the mix will be Anthony Howard, Matt Rosso, Bryan Shaffer and Chris Miller.

“We’re a work in progress. We’ll get better with experience,” said Costello, who also isn’t blessed with numbers.

“The girls could be okay. We’re still looking for runners 5, 6 and 7,” explained Costello.

Cassie Wallace, Hannah Yauger, Mindy Elias and Bethany Work are the core group for the Fillies of the 22-girl squad. Looking to fill the spots for key points are Casey Conn, Lauren Molchan and Caitlin Schuessler.

Uniontown lost three of its top eight boy runners, plus six seniors, but the group returning for Joe Everhart was a large part of last year’s squad. Seniors Kyle Markwardt and Andy Naymick plus sophomore Derek Thomas give the Red Raiders a nice 1-2-3 punch. The injury bug didn’t miss Uniontown with John O’Neil out for the season after knee surgery, but senior Mac Festa showed ease a bit of the pain in his first year.

“We have a long ways to go, but it should be fun,” said Everhart.

The Lady Raiders won the county title last year and most everyone returns, including all-County performers B.J. Brame, Michelle Naymick, Candace Adams and Stacey Lloyd. Adams, Courtney Sanner and Sandy Risha will serve as senior captains.

“Our goal is to pack it in within a minute of each other. Neither the boys nor the girls have that No. 1-type runner,” said Everhart.

Don Gilpin has had his share of ups and downs at Southmoreland, and the 2005 season holds its own series of questions and uncertainties concerning the makeup of his teams because he often shares athletes with other sports and extra-curricular activities.

“I’d like to have a full team,” bemoaned Gilpin. “They’re not in shape. Nick Barron has been having trouble with his stomach. Chris Kiefer plays soccer. Stephanie Wiltrout is playing soccer. She’s my No. 1 runner, but the pressure is there to make a decision (between the sports). I lost Hannah Lash to Greensburg Central Catholic.

“I think the boys can qualify as a team if they work at it.”

Frazier had its best season in 2004 with the boys and girls finishing 8-4 overall and Joe Turek is looking forward, as always, to 2005.

Senior Kenny Miller leads the way for the Commodores along with fellow seniors Matt Carson, Donnie Strickler and Justin Bise. Looking to help will be underclassmen David Genua, Derek Miller and Steve Cowen.

For the girls, Turek will rely heavily on juniors and returning letterwinners Erin Sizemore, Heather Priester and Shannon Mattox.

Brownsville runs in Section 3-AA along with Frazier, Avella, Burgettstown, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, McGuffey, Washington and Waynesburg Central.

The girls are young, but experienced with sophomore Erika Coffey (3rd) and senior Melissa Pankratz (8th) returning all-County runners. Senior Amber Jackson, junior Lisa Fraley and sophomore Rebecca Bruschi give the Lady Falcons a well-rounded squad.

Joe Feick was the Falcons most consistent runner in 2004 and the top finisher at the county meet.

Waynesburg Central had a young boys team last year, but the Raiders made a lot of noise in Section 3-AA. Brian Wise finished 46th in the WPIAL Class AA Championship for Duane Bowers as a freshman. Brad Mirkovich, Heath Jacobs and Nate Patton are among those who gained an important year of experience.