Quaker Valley boys in position to add to school’s cross country legacy

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, August 31, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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The Quaker Valley boys cross country team is focused on making it an even dozen this season.

QV won the WPIAL Class 2A boys team championship last season for the 11th time in school history with an 83-point total to easily defeat runner-up Beaver.

The Quakers were sparked by the individual efforts of Jonah Montagnese, who placed third with a career-best 15:46.5 time, Clark LaLomia, in fourth place in 15.55.8, Tyler Bell (16:53.4), River Capek (17:03.5), Jackson Pethel (17:17.2), Ryan Kempton (17:55.2) and Gio Ramella (18:20.8).

Montagnese and Ramella are juniors this year; Bell, Capek and Kempton are seniors. Montagnese and the QV runners have been on a particular mission for the last three months.

“The team has all been working really hard all summer to train for this season,” Montagnese said. “We all are really determined to defend our WPIAL championship.

“I think if we put forward our best efforts, it’s going to be really hard to beat us. We have a really talented group and we all know that the championship is in our reach and we want to defend it.”

Montagnese has set lofty targets for 2025 both for himself and his teammates.

“My goals are to hopefully win a state and WPIAL championship individually,” he said, “and to help lead my team to success.

“My coach, (assistant) Ron Graf, made my training plan for the summer, and I’ve been ramping it up in preparation for the season. I have been doing 70 miles each week, which consists of running twice a day three times a week.”

Bell believes if the Quakers remain healthy, successfully defending their WPIAL title isn’t out of the question.

“I think our team is looking very strong and should be a contender to win many of the races this year,” he said. “Our team has grown so much over the past couple of years, and that depth should help us as the season progresses.

“Of course, we lost two great runners due to graduation, but we are returning and gaining a lot of experienced and new runners. I think as long as we remain healthy and continue to push ourselves, we have a really good chance of repeating as WPIAL champions. And we hope to do even better at states.”

Bell is optimistic that his senior season will be memorable.

“I hope to remain healthy all season long and enjoy my senior year,” he said. “I want to medal at states and help the team win WPIALs and place at states.

“I’m really looking forward to the season and getting to be part of this great team, led by some of the best coaches in the WPIAL”

QV’s boys squad wrapped up last year with a top-five Class 2A performance in the state.

“The boys placed fourth,” said QV coach Ryan Kelly, “which is a commendable achievement. Their collective effort and teamwork shined through.”

Montagnese and LaLomia ended up seventh and ninth at Hershey.

All in all, the QV cross country program continues to expand.

There are 32 athletes on the boys team, an increase from the 24 on last year’s squad.

And senior leadership appear to be plentiful.

This year’s team also includes seniors Aiden Dwyer, Tadhg Hamill, Mike Minnock, Finn Musial, Joe Nastasi, Aidan Westwood, Conner Westwood, Nick Winnowski and Austin Young.

Bill Auth, Brody Holles and James Irwin are juniors; Jonathan Hutchens, Damien McClay, Liam Seningen and Eli Walker are sophomores.

The freshman class also is well represented with the likes of Ted Beauregard, Henry Burns, Yousab Ghobrial, Wesley Horton, Henry Howard, Nathan Iliff, Gavin Kahrs, Henry Topol, Graham Walker, Drew Young and Oliver Zutter competing this season.

QV’s section foes are Bishop Canevin, Brentwood, Carlynton, Eden Christian Academy, Hillel Academy, Northgate, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Redeemer Lutheran, Sewickley Academy, South Side and Winchester Thurston.

Tags: Quaker Valley