Penns Valley’s Anna Stitzer crowned PIAA 1A cross country champ, and other Centre County results
Even the best-laid plans can often go awry.
That, however, worked in Penns Valley senior Anna Stitzer’s favor on Saturday as she deviated from the strategy she and coach Lynda Federinko had laid out and ran to a first-place finish at the PIAA Class 1A cross country championships in Hershey.
“I knew going in that I was ranked second, I knew that I would be up there,” Stitzer said. “When I started racing I felt really good; I felt really strong. After the mile, I took the lead and kept that lead the rest of the race. And I felt really strong the entire race and it definitely boosted my confidence in my running ability.”
Stitzer finished with a time of 19:32.0, ahead of Portage’s Lauren Shaffer in second (19:37.9), Forest City’s Kate Korty in third (19:37.9), Jamestown’s Claire Anderson in fourth (20:11.3), Elk County Catholic’s Grace Neubert in fifth (20:13.0), Aquinas Academy’s Alexis Abbett in sixth (20:14.3), Southern Columbia’s Kate Moncavage in seventh (20:14.6) and Elk Lake’s Krista Jones in eighth (20:18.4).
This isn’t the first time Stitzer has seen some of her top competition. She finished third to Jones and Shaffer at the beginning of the season at the PIAA Foundation meet in Hershey. To try to improve that result this time around, Stitzer had planned conserve her energy for the first two miles, then “push the swamp” uphill for the final mile to the finish line.
But after mile 1, Stitzer felt in control, and took off from there.
“I ended up not following through with that (plan) because I just felt really good,” she said.
The PIAA gold medal is yet another accolade to add to Stitzer’s already-decorated season season, which included Mountain League and District titles, a Mountain League regular season team title and a pile of broken course records.
While this is Stitzer’s first individual PIAA medal, she was a critical part of last year’s first-place team finish, placing 23rd individually. Since then, Stitzer and Federinko say the senior has increased her mileage, become more consistent with her training, and worked on her diet and staying healthy.
“I trained a lot harder, that’s for sure. I added a lot more mileage to my schedule,” Stitzer said. “I stayed a lot more consistent and I just learned that consistency is key. You’ve got to stay consistent. You have to do what program, what training you’re given. If you do that, the work will pay off, you’ll see good outcomes.”
Alexis Durn also finished Saturday’s race with All-State status, placing 25th in 20:50.5. Abigail Stitzer, who splits her time during the fall between cross country and soccer, finished 44th in 21:31.4.
As Stitzer plans to continue her cross country career next year at Monmouth University, Federinko says she’ll miss the runner who she calls an “inspiration” to both her girls and boys teams.
“She crosses the finish line, then she goes back out and cheers on her teammates,” Federinko said. “Then that just inspires them to do better.”
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy also competed in the Class 1A race, finishing eighth as a team with 234 points. The WolfPack was led by sophomore Amber Fisher, who finished 31st in 21:11.3. Kita Chappell was 71st in 22:02.8; Evelyn Reynolds 105th in 22:38.3; Brandi Carmack 124th in 23:07.1; Abby Ridenour 171st in 24:09.1; and Brynn Wright 220th in 25:49.3.
“I thought everyone raced really well,” Saint Joseph’s coach Jayson Jackson said. “It was probably the best race we had all season for the girls and the two boys who qualified. They did a great job of executing the plan, and really focusing on the things we do in practice every day and bringing those things to fruition on race day.”
P-O’s Chad Muckey places 10th to highlight the boys 1A race
Philipsburg-Osceola junior Chad Muckey finished 10th in 17:08.2 in the boys 1A race to earn All-State status. His teammate, senior Scott Frantz finished 155th in 19:11.3.
Saint Joseph’s sophomore Colin Simander finished 50th in 18:14.5, and teammate Josh Hyman, a junior, was 174th in 19:24.8.
Both of Jackson’s boys and girls teams are relatively young this year, but he’s been encouraged by the growth he’s seen throughout the season.
“They’ve done a great job in practice all year,” Jackson said. “I think the biggest progression is just believing themselves. I think as that confidence grows, they’ll be able to take more risks and race how they practice.”
Penns Valley finished 22nd as a team with 504. But the real feat for the Rams this year was just making the postseason.
At the beginning of the season, Penns Valley didn’t even have enough runners for a full team. But, Federinko said, she was able to get a few boys to come out for the team, and then they enticed their friends to join.
“We started the season without even enough boys to have a full team, and they kept getting better and better,” she said. “They still have a lot of room for improvement but they’re in the right mindset and they want to do better. I think we’re going to see them improve over the next few years and maybe get up higher in the state level.”
Simon Smith led the Rams, finishing 56th in 18:41.8. He was followed by teammate McClain Reamer, who placed 57th in 18:42.4. Dilon Reilly was 122nd in 20:23.4; Vince Smith 128th in 20:39.6; Matthew Wheeland 141st in 21:47.6; and Matthew Ruoff 142nd in 22:26.8.
State College girls take 3rd in Class 3A
State College girls cross country added another top-three finish to its resume, finishing in third with 154 points. Dallastown was second with 149 and North Allegheny first with 62.
“We had our sights set on top two, but three in the state of Pennsylvania is a pretty great thing and we’re excited about that,” coach Rebecca Donaghue said. “The competition was top notch. I think we fought right to the end. We had some kids with slightly off days, and for that to happen and still finish top three is a great day.”
Juniors Amy Devan and Marlee Kwasnica both finished in the top 25. Devan led the Little Lions, finishing 14th with a time of 19:40.6. Kwasnica was 16th in 19:43.6.
Other finishers for the Little Lions were: Chloe Poindexter, 33rd in 20:24.2; Grace Morningstar, 42nd in 20:43.9; Alex Antoniono, 49th in 20:52.6; Natalie Koncoski, 50th in 20:53.2; and Abigail Bigger, 70th in 21:19.4.
“I told myself to come into this race with really positive energy,” Devan said. “I had a really good weekend with my team, so I think that really helped mentally. During the race, l felt really strong. I went out kind of strong for me. I’ve never gone out that fast during a race. Crossing the line and having a good time, my best race of the season, it felt really, really good.”
State College boys finish 7th in Class 3A
State College’s boys teams earned a top-10 finish, placing seventh with 231. The Little Lions were just four points behind No. 6 Lower Merion. North Allegheny was first with 63.
“It was a very solid seventh place because today’s field was extremely fast and really physical, too,” coach Dave Felice said. “A lot of people physically got knocked around. It was a really tough race in terms of the physicality. But I’d say they really had a great showing and they can be proud of their accomplishments. Finishing in the Top 10 in today’s race is really good.”
Senior Trent Dinant led the Little Lions, finishing 26th in 16:57.5. Charles Endres was 32nd in 17:07.8; Nick Sloff 34th in 17:08.1; Tony Tzolov 44th in 17:21.1; Sam Viglione 95th in 18:10.2; Samuel Endres 119th in 18:25.3; and Griffin Selber, 145th in 19:28.1.
This was the final race in the maroon and gray for senior captains Dinant, Endres, Tzolov and PIAA alternate Ethan Morningstar.
“They’ve come a long way, especially the last couple years,” Felice said. “They really climbed up to become some of the top runners in the state. Today was really tough physically, but they really matured and became team captains. Our four captains did a really great job this year with bringing the new guys along. Their overall organizational skills were incredible.”
Alexander Crist leads Bellefonte trio in Class 2A
Bellefonte’s trio of Alexander Crist, Chase Ebeling and Alex Mansfield all ended their seasons strong in the Class 2A race.
Crist finished 58th in 17:39.6, followed by Ebeling at 61st in 17:41.9 and Mansfield 122nd in 18:18.6.
2021 PIAA cross country championships
Saturday at Hershey
1A girls: Overall: Anna Stitzer, Penns Valley, 1st in 19:32.0; Alexis Durn, Penns Valley, 25th in 20:50.5; Amber Fisher, St. Joseph’s, 31st in 21:11.3; Abigail Stitzer, Penns Valley, 44th in 21:31.4; Kita Chappell, Saint Joseph’s, 71st in 22:02.8; Evelyn Reynolds, Saint Joseph’s, 105th in 22:38.3; Brandi Carmack, Saint Joseph’s, 124th in 23:07.1; Abby Ridenour, Saint Joseph’s, 171st in 24:09.1; Brynn Wright, Saint Joseph’s, 220th in 25:49.3. Team: Saint Joseph’s finished eighth with 234.
1A boys: Overall: Chad Muckey, Philipsburg-Osceola, 10th in 17:08.2; Colin Simander, Saint Joseph’s, 50th in 18:14.5; Simon Smith, Penns Valley, 56th in 18:41.8; McClain Reamer, Penns Valley, 57th in 18:42.4; Dilon Reilly, Penns Valley, 122nd in 20:23.4; Vince Smith, Penns Valley, 128th in 20:39.6; Matthew Wheeland, Penns Valley, 141st in 21:47.6; Matthew Ruoff, Penns Valley 142nd in 22:26.8; Scott Frantz, Philipsburg-Osceola, 155th in 19:11.3; Josh Hyman, Saint Joseph’s, 174th in 19:24.8. Team: Penns Valley finished 22nd with 504.
2A boys: Alexander Crist, Bellefonte, 58th in 17:39.6; Chase Ebeling, Bellefonte, 61st in 17:41.9; Alex Mansfield 122nd in 18:18.6.
3A girls: Overall: Amy Devan, State College, 14th in 19:40.6; Marlee Kwasnica, State College, 16th in 19:43.6; Chloe Poindexter, State College, 33rd in 20:24.2; Grace Morningstar, State College, 42nd in 20:43.9; Alex Antoniono, State College, 49th in 20:52.6; Natalie Koncoski, 50th in 20:53.2, Abigail Bigger, 70th in 21:19.4. Team: State College was third with 154.
3A boys: Overall: Trent Dinant, State College, 26th in 16:57.5; Charles Endres, State College, 32nd in 17:07.8; Nick Sloff, State College, 34th in 17:08.1; Tony Tzolov, State College, 44th in 17:21.1; Sam Viglione, State College, 95th in 18:10.2; Samuel Endres, State College, 119th in 18:25.3; Griffin Selber, State College, 145th in 19:28.1. Team: State College finished seventh with 231.
This story was originally published November 6, 2021 at 6:09 PM.
