We are now in the middle of the cross-country season and expectations are high with many players aspiring to make it to states. Two meets and two invitationals have taken place and the team has only gotten better
The first meet the team ran was the Ben Bloser Invitational on Sept. 16. At this meet, Newport’s boys team placed 11 out of 13 and the girls placed 8 out of 8. Top placers for the boys were Matthew Tubioli (32nd, 19:19), Tyler Gardner (51st, 20:40), and Jonathan Benner (55th, 21:00). Top placers for the girls were Mary Jones (39th, 25:33), Gabriella Benner (48th, 26:36), and Mikayla Deiter (49th, 26:37).
The next meet took place at West Perry on Sept. 19. Newport boys placed 3 out of 4 teams and girls placed 5 out of 5 teams.
The meet after that was the 17th PIAA Foundation XC Invitational on Sept. 23. The meet featured pouring down rain and blistering cold, the worst conditions to run in. The Newport girls team placed 21 out of 21 and the boys team placed 34 out of 35. Top placers for girls were Mary Jones (133rd, 27:19), Gabriella Benner (136th, 27:29), and Mikayla Deiter (158th, 28:58). The top placers for the boys were, Matthew Tubioli (98th, 19:53), Jonathan Benner (157th, 21:23), Tyler Gardner (192nd, 22:32)
Despite lower placements for the team, Junior Tyler Gardner explains that it has so far been a “fun season filled with lots of great memories and people.”
