Central Mountain cross country shows promise
By John Lipez
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP, PA – Central Mountain cross country Coach Scott Bair says his 2023 squads are ready to run.
Numbers are good: 23 at the high school level (12 girls, 11 boys) and six (four boys and two girls) at the middle school level.
At the high school level, 13 team members return from last fall and coach Bair had good things to say: “For the boys, I am looking for big things from junior Sam Wible. Sam was our top performer last season for the boys. Sam will be pushed by sophomore Damien Winner and senior Nick Piergallini. Both Damien and Nick had a remarkable year last year and look to improve this year. On the girls’ team, I look for senior Sofia Dressler to step up and be a leader for this team. Sofia has been running cross-country for the last six years and has the potential to have an amazing season. Sophomores Calienna Cardinal and Grace Keohane are looking strong this preseason and could make some noise by the end of the season.”
Coach Bair said preseason has gone well, stating team members worked hard and pushed through some tough workouts. “We had good turnouts for our optional summer workouts. We had anywhere from 8-12 athletes showing up constantly and it shows. They are in great shape already with a good aerobic base. I look for them to have a fantastic year.”
The teams start their season in a quad at Bloomsburg on Tuesday, Aug. 29, Montoursville and Shamokin also participating. There is but one home meet this season, on Tuesday, Sept. 19, against Central Columbia, Warrior Run, and Milton. It will be held at Lock Haven University’s Stern Complex (West Branch Fields). at 4:15 p.m.; as the only home event, it will be Senior Night as well. Coach Bair invited the public to come check it out.
Central Mountain also be running in the Bear Mountain River Run Invitational, which is hosted by Lock Haven University on Saturday, Sept. 2. The middle school races start at 10 a.m., followed by the high school races at 11 a.m. There will be hundreds of runners participating in each race. The coach said it will be an awesome race to watch. The rest of the CM schedule this season has the Wildcats traveling to different quad meets and invitationals.
