Fox Chapel cross country finishes strong at PIAAs

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, November 16, 2018 | 9:24 PM

The Fox Chapel cross country team wrapped up its 2018 season with a successful showing at the PIAA championships three weeks ago. The girls finished fifth overall with Sarena Seeger (fifth) and Grace Sisson (ninth) earning medals. Christian Fitch finished fifth for the boys and also earned a medal.

Overall, the girls finished 9-0 and were the section champions, and the boys were section runners-up with an 8-1 record.

In the WPIAL championships, the girls finished third, and the boys were fifth. Seeger (second), Sisson (ninth) and Fitch (fifth) picked up medals.

Coach Tom Moul will have to replace some key runners from both teams. Seeger, Annika Urban and Anna Folkerts will graduate.

“Those girls have been instrumental in our success over the last three years and will be greatly missed,” Moul said. “As freshmen, Annika and Sarena were our only state qualifiers and they’ve been back to states every year since. They were the first building blocks of our successful team.”

Gred Overbeck and Avery Bursick will graduate on the boys side.

Key returnees for the girls next season will be Sisson and sophomore Brooke Krally. The boys will return Fitch, sophomores Shane Funk and Ryan Kenyon and freshman Jack Lorence.

“We also have some freshmen who are learning the ropes and may have a bright future if they continue on that path,” Moul said. “Rachel Grimsley, Gabby Kline and Riley McIntyre were all varsity runners this year, as was Lorence. Other boys who had really good freshman seasons were Ethan Napolitan and Jordan Gwin.

“Overall, the girls team worked hard and capped off a successful season with an impressive effort at states. I was very proud of them.”

The coach was pleased with his boys squad, too.

”The boys team was pretty young and is looking to improve. I was impressed with how they ran at WPIALs. They overachieved at that race, which is indicative of a hard-fought, competitive spirit in a big race. That was good to see. Also, having three top-10 finishers at states was the most in Fox Chapel history, to my knowledge.”

“I was happy with the overall work ethic and camaraderie of the team, both of which are very essential for this sport. We need to keep this attitude moving forward as we are always looking for improvement heading into next season.”

Marty Stewart is a freelance writer.

Tags: Fox Chapel