×

Glendale High School adds cross country

Glendale High School will be in the running this fall.

Glendale is adding a varsity boys and girls cross country program that will join the school’s fall sports itinerary with football and girls volleyball.

Connor Hunter, who will coach the Glendale team, is hoping that cross country will provide an additional athletic avenue for Glendale’s student-athletes.

“Right now, we have only two fall sports — football for boys and volleyball for girls,” Hunter said. “This is adding a new sport and we’re not trying to take anything away from what is already at Glendale — we’re trying to add what is already here.

“This will give some people a chance to participate in a sport who have never before participated in a sport,” Hunter said. “We have some real running talent at Glendale, and I think that we’re going to see that this season. I’m hoping that we will be good, and I think we will be good.”

There has been plenty of early interest in the program, with a total of 40 runners — 17 boys and 23 girls — having already signed up to participate.

“It’s promoting a healthy lifestyle, and it seems like we have a lot of interest so far,” Hunter said.

Glendale athletic director John Matchock, like Hunter, said that cross country will provide students with another sports option.

“This will provide the kids who don’t play football or volleyball something else to take a shot at,” Matchock said. “I feel like it will be a good thing for the kids.”

Hunter, 25, a mathematics teacher at Glendale High School, previously started a cross country program at Montgomery High School near Williamsport. Hunter graduated in 2011 from Bellwood-Antis High School, where he participated in cross country under the coaching direction of Julie Roseborough.

Hunter said that both his older brother, Tyler, as well as Roseborough, were strong influences in his running endeavors.

Matchock said that next spring, Glendale athletes who want to compete in track and field will have the opportunity to be part of a co-op arrangement with Cambria Heights. Last fall, Glendale was part of a boys soccer co-op with Cambria Heights, and this fall, Glendale will be part of a co-op with Heights in both boys and girls soccer.

Hunter said that the school will provide transportation money for the cross country team — all of Glendale’s first-year meets will be road meets — but he is seeking donations to help defray other costs.

Donation checks can be made out to the Glendale Cross Country Boosters and mailed, in care of Hunter, to Glendale High School, 1466 Beaver Valley Road, Flinton, Pa. 16640.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today