North Allegheny’s Kucler twins branch out with college choices

By: John Grupp
Saturday, October 19, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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North Allegheny star distance runners Robin and Wren Kucler took official visits to the same schools, but the identical twins ended up on different paths.

Robin has committed to run at Wake Forest, while Wren picked Penn State.

“I think those are two perfect choices for them,” NA cross country coach John Neff said. “I know they are both going to be very happy and have great careers there.”

The two seniors, who pledged in late September, also took official visits to Duke and N.C. State before making their final choices.

They will run cross country, indoor track and outdoor track for their respective Division I programs.

“We were looking at the same schools, but we would make our decision on our own,” said Wren, who plans to major in bio-chemistry or veterinary science at the Big Ten school. “It was pretty individual. I think it’s best that we didn’t (pick the same school).

“I really liked the team and the coaches and the program they have. They are really good at developing their athletes. I just thought it would be a really good fit for me.”

The commitments from the Kucler twins give North Allegheny four seniors headed to Division I programs, joining Duquesne recruits Elizabeth Pizon and Kendall Lucas. Another NA senior, Camille Swirsding, is also being recruited.

“I think the balance of academics and running and the team culture is amazing, and I will develop as a person and a runner,” Robin said of Wake Forest. “It was the best fit for me.”

While Wren has yet to compete this fall due to a hip injury, Robin is the No. 1 runner for North Allegheny, which will try for its seventh consecutive WPIAL team title at the Class 3A cross country championships Oct. 24 at White Oak Park. The Tigers have also won six consecutive PIAA cross country titles.

Wren Kucler, who missed last season’s WPIAL and state championships with a stress-related foot injury, said she hopes “to be back soon.”

“It’s definitely been difficult,” said Wren, who placed sixth at states as a freshman and third as a sophomore. “I miss (my teammates) a lot, and I just like running with the team.”

Neff, in his 16th season, is optimistic Wren will return for the postseason championships, but added “nothing is guaranteed.”

The Tigers won the Red, White & Blue Classic in early September and took first place at the PIAA Foundation meet in a 36-team field Sept. 21 at Hershey on the same course as the state championship meet.

Robin, who took second in the WPIAL cross country championships last fall, placed seventh out of 154 runners at Boardman.

“I think Robin is going to be as good as anybody in the state this year,” Neff said. “She is going to be really lights out coming into the end of the season.”

Junior Teresa Pagnotto has embraced the role as the Tigers’ No. 5 runner in a lineup that graduated Eva Kynaston (Penn State) and Erin McGoey (Delaware) from last year’s WPIAL/PIAA champion.

“I think we have a really strong team and we are getting better every race, every week,” Robin said. “I’m excited to see how we perform.”

The runners don’t wilt under pressure on the big stage. The Kucler sisters, Lucas, Pizon and Swirsding, competing as the Wexford Flats running club, placed fifth at the 2023 Nike Cross Nationals Dec. 2 in Portland, Ore. They had qualified by placing second at the 2023 Nike Cross Northeast Regionals on Nov. 25 in Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

“I really like where we are,” Neff said. “We are cranking on all cylinders right now. The workouts have looked great. Comparing where we are now to where we were a few weeks ago, I love our chances going forward.”

Tags: North Allegheny