Men's, Women's Cross Country Teams Claim State Championships
Published 10.16.2001
Led by freshman Christine Seward's first-place finish and a second-place effort by sophomore Scott Morgan (Pocono Mountain), the Wildcat women's and men's teams won Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association Championships Saturday. It was the first state titles for Pennsylvania College of Technology teams since 1999, and marked the fifth overall for the women and fourth for the men.
Among the Penn College contingent behind Seward, a graduate of Pottsville High School, were Becky Snyder (sophomore/Hughesville), third; and Jessica Decker (freshman/Abington Heights), fourth. Women's times were not immediately available.
"They ran a beautiful race on a beautiful day in State College," observed second-year Coach Mike Paulhamus. "Becky and Jessica won't be returning next year because of their eligibility, so it was nice to have them finish the year with a state championship."
Running behind Morgan (28:44.99) for the Wildcat men were Bryan Wolfe (sophomore/Warrior Run, 31:28.34), Joel Wilbur (sophomore/Woodstock Academy, 32:10.10), Robert Thomas (freshman/Jim Thorpe, 32:53.61), Garrison Fletcher (freshman/Weedsville Central, 37:42.62) , Nick Ensig (freshman/Neshaminy, 40:03.98) and Isaac Aeppli (sophomore/New Columbia, 46:52.46).
"It was a very excellent season for the men's team. They were (like the women's team) EPCC (Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference) and state champions," Paulhamus said. "(Saturday), we were running during the Penn State National Invitational and there was an added award we were given the Spike Shoe Award for being the best non-Division I school.
"The kids deserve it. I had some really hard-working kids," the coach added. "They really wanted this bad and worked hard the whole season long."