Cross Country now has the most engagement since the beginning of the independent program in the fall of 2016. Newport split off from its co-op agreement with Greenwood after expanded interest in the sport. Coaches Barbara Still and Melissa Briggs look to exhibit the team’s potential to the state championships in November.
The seniors this fall are Gabriel Bailor, Jonathon Benner, Mikayla Deiter, Megan Foltz, Tyler Gardner, Gracyn Shutt, and Matthew Tubioli. Some believe that without Greenwood’s presence in the Perry County Cross Country Championships, due to them having no runners, Newport had the potential to win it all. “[We] definitely have a chance at winning it this year, to be honest, as we have some pretty strong returning and new runners that can capture a championship,” Gardner said.
The team began their season with the Run for the Chocolate hosted by Hershey Area High School at Shank Park in Hummelstown on Aug. 27. Preseason team scores are not available for this invitational.
On the weekend of Aug. 31, Newport traveled to Indian Valley Elementary School for the 50th Annual Big Valley XC (X for cross, C for country) Invitational in Reedsville hosted by Mifflin County High School. This flat course helped some runners increase morale and season bests. For Tubioli, this race was meant to conquer the milestone of breaking the school record.
“As soon as I saw the finish line, a euphoric rush took over my body. I saw the clock and knew that my first goal had been accomplished,” said Tubioli.
Danny O’Toole previously held the record with a time of 18:46: however, Tubioli finished at 18:39. Tubioli’s record-breaking time had placed fourth out of all the single-A boys. “I was hoping to break the school record this season, and knowing I had was an amazing feeling,” Tubioli continued.
Proving strong, the boys’ team placed second of seven with 91 points, behind United (44 pts.), and merely ahead of Camp Hill, (94 pts.).
Sept. 4th brought Newport to Mcalisterville for a Tri-Valley League meet at East Juniata High School. The boys team captured wins against Saint Joseph’s Catholic 22-34, Susquenita 21-37, and Upper Dauphin Area 17-44. The girls collected two wins themselves; Saint Joseph’s Catholic 26-29 and Susquenita 15-50.
For the first time since 2018, the cross-country team went to Kutztown University for PTXC 15. Newport’s boys team placed 15th of 16 with 355 points, behind Oley Valley (349 pts.) yet ahead of Pottsgrove (417 pts.). The girls team placed last of 16 teams with 411 points behind Berks Catholic’s 396 points.
The following Tuesday, the 10th of September, Newport ran the dreaded Susquenita course in Duncannon. Being primarily up the side of a mountain, having winding mulched trails, hills with ruts and rocky bumps, and passing a gravesite, the Buffaloes did their best on this obstacle course. Newport’s male efforts beat Susquenita 20-38, Saint Joseph’s Catholic 20-38 as well, and Upper Dauphin 19-40. The girls stomped Upper Dauphin Area 22-35 and Juniata 28-29.
On Sept. 17th, Saint Joseph’s Catholic held a Tri-Valley League Meet at Oak Hall Regional Park in Boalsburg. Compared to last year’s real feel of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, this year’s comfortable 75 degrees better suits running. The boys beat each team but Juniata; Saint Joseph’s Catholic 23-32, Upper Dauphin Area 20-41, and Susquenita 23-34. The girls managed a win against Juniata once again by one point and the same score, 28-29, and took out Upper Dauphin Area and Susquenita out 9-38 and 15-50.
The next meet for the Buffalo runners was Sept. 21 at Big Spring High School for the Ben Bloser Bulldog Invite. The district preview worked well for the boys team as they placed 24th of 32 teams (607 points), behind soon-to-be opponent East Pennsboro Area (606 points) and beating county rival West Perry (620 points). The girls were 26th of 28 teams with 632 points, behind Northern Lebanon (626 points) and ahead of Hamburg Area (676 points). Mary Jones and Tubioli both were awarded medals for placing within the top 30 in their respective races.
On Sept. 24, Newport joined the Mid Penn Colonial championship between West Perry, Greencastle-Antrim, and Gettysburg Area at West Perry. Poor conditions began in the area this week making this course swampy and slippery. Nonetheless, Newport was only given scores against West Perry, which were winning scores for the boys 26-29 and the girls 27-28.
Sat., Sept. 28th brought great success to Newport’s runners at the Carlisle Thundering Herd Invite. In the boys champion race, Tubioli came out with a fantastic PR of 17:55, rebreaking the school record he previously held. The boys team as a whole took 25th of 31 teams earning 640 points, beating East Pennsboro Area by 25 points and losing to Bedford by 35 points. The girls team didn’t have the five runners to qualify for team placements, however, Jordin Briggs, Gabby Benner, Dieter, and Jones were all incorporated runners.
To begin October, Newport went to East Pennsboro Area on Oct. 1 for a tri-meet between the host and Susquehanna Township. On this additionally swampy course, runners had to evade large areas of water and thick mud ruts. Newport’s boys lost to East Pennsboro Area 34-24 and lost to Susquehanna Township 30-25. Susquehanna Township didn’t run any girls, leaving this to be a dual for Newport and East Pennsboro Area, where unfortunately Newport fell 33-22.
Newport had the pleasure of hosting the Tri-Valley League Championships out at Little Buffalo State Park this fall on Oct. 8. Out of the five boys teams, they were runner-up behind Juniata. Between the four girls’ teams, Newport took third. These close scores would light a fire for a future competition down at Susquenita.
Putting winning scores in your head may be easy, but is putting in the winning mentality easier? For the program’s first time in history, both boys and girls earned their first title ever: Perry County Champions. With the tournament scoring style, the boys won it all with only 32 points while West Perry had 39 points and Susquenita had 56 points. Susquenita only ran one girl and made this a dual between the Mustangs and the Buffaloes for the title which Newport came out victorious; 26-33. Matthew Tubioli accepted the trophy on behalf of the boys and Mary Jones and Mikayla Deiter accepted on behalf of the girls.
Both teams will be running in the PIAA District III Class A Boys and Girls races on Sat., Oct. 26 at Big Spring High School.
