Breaking News
Cross Country

Double winner: Ethan Haycisak claims individual title, leads Central Cambria to team title

Berkhimer, Knobloch earn 1st-place finishes

By Michael Boytim 11 min read

REEDSVILLE -- Central Cambria senior Ethan Haycisak was heartbroken a year ago at the District 6 Class 2A cross country meet at Indian Valley Elementary School.

Haycisak advanced to states as an individual, but his team narrowly lost the championship.

He did everything on Saturday to make sure that didn't happen again by winning the individual championship in 15 minutes, 59.9 seconds. As a result, the Red Devils cruised to the team title, 34-76, over Bellefonte.

"Last year, losing by a couple points, that was terrible," Haycisak said. "We wanted to come back better than ever and really put on a show for everybody."

Haycisak has developed into a distance running star after being convinced by former teammate Dom Stevens to come out for the team after he was already in high school.

"Everything I have done over the years finally paid off," Haycisak said. "All the extra miles I put in this summer when I was like -- do I really have to do this? All that work showed up."

Reed Takacs was fourth for Central Cambria in 16:38, and Miles Doyle followed in fifth place in 16:47.4.

Class 2A girls

The Central Cambria girls won another District 6 Class 2A championship, 26-74, over Marion Center -- but Central senior Lanee Berkhimer ran away with the individual race one year after finishing as the runner-up after going into the race with bronchitis.

"I have been staying consistent with training," Berkhimer said. "I was healthy this year. It feels good (to be back on top in the district). Today, I know I won, but it wasn't the best time. I still tried to push. It's dead here. There's no cheering. I couldn't really hear anyone. I'm hoping there will be a better atmosphere at states."

Berkhimer won in 18:25 and will try to match -- or surpass -- some of her success from past PIAA meets.

"I'm hoping to really give it 100 percent," Berkhimer said. "I want to leave no regrets and show people what following God's plan can do in your life."

Central Cambria was led by Paige Alexander's third-place finish in 19:38.5.

"It still feels great," Alexander said. "I was shooting for second, but I'm happy with a top-three finish. These past two weeks, I have been much happier with my times, and our team training helped that."

Alaina Long was fifth in 19:53.7, Alyson Sheehan was sixth in 19:58.6 and Delaney Snyder was seventh in 20:21.9 for the Lady Red Devils.

"I think it's looking good and that we can have a good states finish," Alexander said. "I'm hoping we can all finish well, and I would like to try and finish in the top 25."

Class 1A boys

Noah Knobloch continued an excellent freshman year for Bishop Carroll Catholic by adding a District 6 Class 1A championship to his resume.

Knobloch won the race in 16:55 over runner-up George Nestlerode of Moshannon Valley, who ran it in 17:11.4.

"I really wanted to get better this summer," Knobloch said. "I realized that I had a lot of skill, and I decided to train. I wanted to run as hard as I could. I ran 40-mile weeks, and my workouts helped me a lot. I had long workouts, and winning this means so much to me."

Knobloch ran out in front of the pack throughout the race.

"My teammates helped me so much," Knobloch said. "They help me to push and help me do my best. They help me want to win. It helps so much when you have people supporting you. It means the world to me."

Joining Knobloch at states include Bellwood-Antis runners Bryce Hollenbach (eighth, 17:51.3) and Martin Fatzinger (16th, 18:22.5), Portage's Nolan Westover (11th, 18:05.1) and Williamsburg's Ryland Corl (15th, 18:22.4).

Marion Center won the boys team title, 53-62, over United. Both teams advanced to states.

Class 1A girls

Ava Dixon was surprised when she qualified for states at last season's District 6 Class 1A girls cross country championship.

Saturday the Williamsburg sophomore set much higher goals -- a top three finish -- and pulled it off.

"We ran a lot over the summer, my team and I," Dixon said. "I'm really excited. It was my goal to be in the top three. It's been a great year. I would like to try and get in the top 15 at states."

Dixon placed third in 19:49.5. She also won the Inter-County Conference championship recently.

In fifth place was another local freshman -- Bishop Carroll's Abbey Hines, who finished in 20:46.8.

"It feels really good, especially being a freshman," Hines said. "My times have gotten a lot better throughout the season than I thought they would be. I did a lot of track over the summer and have been working hard during the practices."

Hines just edged Bellwood-Antis junior Julie Kraft at the finish line. Kraft finished in 20:47.7 in sixth and will be joining her teammate Blake Pennington, who finished eighth in 21:05.1, at states.

"It's an honor," Kraft said. "It's so exciting to go with Blake. Blake has been been one of my closest friends since I was little. This is such an exciting thing for both of us. We really push each other in practice. Whenever we do pacing, she's always pushing me and keeping me on track when I try to slow down."

Portage's Josephine White (ninth, 21:06.3) and Cambria Heights' Sierra Hoover (12th, 21:16.7) also qualified for the state meet.

Richland's Natalia Mavridis won the individual race in 18:42.2 and helped her team to the title, 75-84, over United, which also advanced to the state meet.

Class 3A girls

Altoona junior Ashlyn Noce finished as the runner-up in the Class 3A girls race in 18:14.7, a little more than six seconds behind champion Evelyn Younkin of State College.

"I would have been happy as long as I stayed at least as good as last year, and I was second last year," Noce said. "I was aiming for the same or better. I'd really like to be in the top 25 at states, because I only missed it by two places last year."

This is the third year in as many attempts that Noce has qualified for the state meet.

"I was pretty happy, especially because it's pretty cold," Noce said. "It's something you have to get used to, but overall, I think it was a good race. Speed wise it doesn't impact me, but it's just my breathing and getting that under control where it's comfortable to breathe in this type of weather."

She will be joined by freshman teammate Emma Etters, who was eighth in 19:37.1.

"She's been working great," Altoona girls cross country coach Tabitha Quinn said. "I have been able to work with her in the summer and preseason and knowing what she was able to do in junior high. She set forth some goals and having some other runners such as Ashlyn Noce run is a great role model and they can work off each other."

State College won the team title, 28-62, over Altoona meaning the top five non-State College finishers moved on to states.

Hollidaysburg junior Addison Smith was the fifth and final qualifier after finishing 11th overall in 19:50.9.

"I'm not going to lie, I wasn't expecting this," Smith said. "I went in trying to be happy with whatever race I ran. It's been a rollercoaster. My freshman year, I was the first spot to go, and last year I really hit the sophomore slump they say. This year has been trying to get back. I didn't PR today, but I did way better than last year."

Class 3A boys

Mifflin County's Carter Smith, the defending PIAA Class 3A boys champion, repeated as District 6 champion, but not without some competition.

He won in 15:14.9 ahead of State College's Theo Oppermann, who finished in 15:19.9.

The Little Lions won a close team battle over Mifflin County, 31-36. Hollidaysburg was third.

The Golden Tigers advanced two runners to states in Dean Sunderland (sixth, 15:56.4) and Rueben Manfred (eighth, 16:02.9).

"We went out a lot faster," Sunderland said. "After that, the boat was already sinking so it was like, I might as well try to swim. I was surrounded by a lot of great athletes that helped pull me through the second mile."

Sunderland also qualified for states last season as a junior when he was running for Altoona.

"It feels really good. It feels amazing. I'm ready to compete for a medal," Sunderland said. "I'm ready to go with a teammate I really like and a new team. I'm running in a new system that worked well for me this year. I feel honored to be around such great guys that push me every day to get better. I have great coaches that support me and help me through every mistake. I'm so lucky to be on this team, and it's an honor to go back to states."

Manfred said running in what is expected to be the top district race in the state helped his time.

"It means a lot," Manfred said. "We're a minute and a half faster than last year, so we really had to earn it. It's great knowing I stopped probably the second-best team in the state from taking guys to states. It's fun and a blessing to run with these guys. I had a PR by over a minute, which I wasn't expecting, but it makes sense if you look at my training over the summer."

JV winners

Central Cambria runners also claimed the junior varsity individual championships in Class 2A.

Roy Lian won the boys race in 17:59.8, and Kylee Krumenacker won the girls race in 20:52.3.

In Class 1A boys junior varsity action, Johnny Bickel of Bellwood-Antis won the race in 20:29.7.

CLASS 3A (TOP TEAM AND TOP FIVE OTHERS QUALIFY)

TEAM BOYS: 1, State College (SC) 31; 2, Mifflin County (MC) 36; 3, Hollidaysburg (H) 74; 4, Williamsport (W) 111; 5, Altoona (A) 124; 6, Central Mountain (CM) 158.

TEAM GIRLS: 1, State College (SC) 28; 2, Altoona (A) 62; 3, Hollidaysburg (H) 82; 4, Williamsport (W) 83; 5, Mifflin County (MC) 138; 6, Central Mountain (CM) 161; 7, Shikellamy (S) 169.

INDIVIDUAL BOYS (QUALIFIERS): 1, Smith, MC, 15:14.9; 2, T. Oppermann, SC, 15:19.9; 3, Bradbury, SC, 15:24.6; 4, Cubbison, MC, 15:49.2; 5, Rodenbaugh, MC, 15:53.0; 6, Sunderland, H, 15:56.4; 7, Ruffing, SC, 16:01.0; 8, R. Manfred, H, 16:02.9; 9, Walker, SC, 16:05.5; 10, Fritzsche, SC, 16:05.7; 11, Viglione, SC, 16:17.8. OTHER AREA FINISHERS: 13, Chestney, H, 16:29.4; 20, Glover, A, 17:37.0; 21, Lieb, A, 17:47.9; 22, Krupka, H, 17:56; 23, Broadrick, A, 17:57.9; 25, McNicholas, H, 18:00.7; 26, Watt, H, 18:10.0; 27, Frederick, A, 18:18.1; 28, Singer, H, 18:29.4; 33, Dunkle, A, 19:04.1; 39, Getty, A, 20:11.7; 41, Despot, A, 20:45.6.

INDIVIDUAL GIRLS (QUALIFIERS): 1, Younkin, SC, 18:08.3; 2, Noce, A, 18:14.7; 3, M. Sanders, W, 18:17.3; 4, I. Sanders, W, 18:35.2; 5, Swisher, SC, 19:24.3; 6, Frank, SC, 19:29.4; 7, Bigger, SC, 19:30.8; 8, E. Etters, A, 19:37.1; 9, Hutchinson, SC, 19:46; 10, Sheaffer, SC, 19:49.8; 11, Smith, H, 19:50.9. OTHER AREA FINISHERS: 12, Luke, A, 20:06.4; 14, R. Carney, H, 20:24.4; 15, Adams, A, 20:31.9; 16, A. Carney, H, 20:38.4; 20, K. Etters, H, 21:02.0; 21, Fiore, H, 21:02.9; 23, Hileman, H, 21:29.8; 25, Snare, A, 21:39.6; 28, Broadrick, A, 21:51.9; 33, Harkins, A, 22:22.1; 34, Watt, H, 22:35.3.

CLASS 2A (TOP TEAM AND TOP FIVE OTHERS QUALIFY)

TEAM BOYS: 1, Central Cambria (CC) 34; 2, Bellefonte (B) 76; 3, Juniata (J) 120; 4, Richland (R) 122; 5, Forest Hills (FH) 132; 6, Tyrone (T) 139; 7, Penns Valley (PV) 141; 8, Bald Eagle Area (BEA) 193; 9, Penn Cambria (PC) 210; 10, Philipsburg-Osceola (PO) 244.

TEAM GIRLS: 1, Central Cambria (CC) 26; 2, Marion Center (MC) 74; 3, Bellefonte (B) 98; 4, Juniata (J) 122; 5, Penns Valley (PV) 128; 6, Bald Eagle Area (BEA) 149; 7, Penn Cambria (PC) 162; 8, Tyrone (T) 177; 9, Philipsburg-Osceola (PO) 218.

INDIVIDUAL BOYS (QUALIFIERS): 1, Haycisak, CC, 15:59.9; 2, Gasper, B, 16:07.5; 3, Caron, FH, 16:14.8; 4, Takacs, CC, 16:38.0; 5, Doyle, CC, 16:47.4; 6, Smith, FH, 16:52.7; 7, Muchmore, B, 16:56.2; 8, Price, PV, 17:00.7. OTHER AREA TOP 60 FINISHERS: 12, Westrick, CC, 17:28.6; 14, McConnell, CC, 17:40.6; 15, Bearer, CC, 17:41.1; 17, Allison, C, 18:03.3; 19, Yokitis, CC, 18:12.0; 21, Ricupero, PC, 18:14.2; 25, Davis, T, 18:23.8; 27, Erickson, T, 18:28.5; 30, Brasher, T, 18:49.1; 31, Brumbaugh, T, 18:49.3; 35, Giraud, PC, 19:05.0; 36, Wicker, T, 19:12.8; 41, Stoudnour, PC, 19:47.8; 44, Salsgiver, C, 19:56.0; 55, Goodman, T, 20:51.0; 60, Sutt, T, 21:17.0.

INDIVIDUAL GIRLS (QUALIFIERS): 1, Berkhimer, Central, 18:25.0; 2, Fry, B, 19:31.5; 3, Alexander, CC, 19:38.5; 4, Jolley, B, 19:39.8; 5, Long, CC, 19:53.7; 6, Sheehan, CC, 19:58.6; 7, Snyder, CC, 20:21.9; 8, Slade, MC, 20:24.2; 9, Miller, MC, 20:26.0; 10, George, CC, 20:38.0. OTHER AREA TOP 60 FINISHERS: 13, Snyder, CC, 21:22.3; 14, Kirsch, CC, 21:33.0; 16, Savino, T, 22:04.6; 29, Plummer, PC, 24:20.4; 30, Milavec, PC, 24:21.5; 31, Moushlian, C, 23:23.3; 32, Chislow, PC, 23:23.5; 36, Davis, T, 25:00.7; 37, Troutman, T, 25:17.4; 39, Giraud, PC, 25:48.4; 40, Schilling, PC, 25:51.3; 42, Hoover, PC, 26:24.2; 45, Ammerman, T, 27:04.5; 52, Raneri, T, 28:43.9; 59, Kuster, C, 30:03.1.

CLASS 1A (TOP TWO TEAMS ADVANCE AND TOP 10 OTHERS QUALIFY)

TEAM BOYS: 1, Marion Center (MC) 53; 2, United (U) 62; 3, Bellwood-Antis (BA) 97; 4, Bishop Carroll (BC) 99; 5, Purchase Line (PL) 105; 6, Cambria Heights (CH) 106; 7, Portage (P) 177; 8, Homer-Center (HC) 227; 9, Mount Union (MU) 248; 10, Southern Huntingdon (SH) 264; 11, West Shomakin (WS) 274.

TEAM GIRLS: 1, Richand (R) 75; 2, United (U) 84; 3, Forest Hills (FH) 107; 4, Williamsburg (W) 134; 5, Bellwood-Antis (BA) 151; 6, Purchase Line (PL) 153; 7, West Shamokin (WS) 172; 8, Portage (P) 192; 9, Westmont Hilltop (WH) 197; 10, Cambria Heights (CH) 216; 11, Southern Huntingdon (SH) 242; 12, Juniata Valley (JV) 270.

INDIVIDUAL BOYS (QUALIFIERS): 1, Knobloch, BC, 16:55.0; 2, Nestlerode, Moshannon Valley, 17:11.4; 3, Boring, MC, 17:17.9; 4, Beaver, U, 17:40.0; 5, Stokes, U, 17:48.8; 6, Wells, MC, 17:49.8; 7, Ryer, MC, 17:50.2; 8, Hollenbach, BA, 17:51.3; 9, DePlato, Saint Joseph's, 17:55.8; 10, Shepler, U, 17:59.0; 11, N. Westover, P, 18:05.1; 12, Cameron, Penns Manor, 18:12.7; 13, Lewber, River Valley, 18:14.9; 14, Denhard, Bishop McCort, 18:16.6; 15, Corl, W, 18:22.4; 16, Fatzinger, BA, 18:22.5. OTHER AREA TOP 60 FINISHERS: 18, Joseph, CH, 18:33.7; 20, Paronish, CH, 18:35.0; 21, M. Kline, CH, 18:37.4; 22, Gallagher, BA, 18:39.4; 23, Ross, W, 18:39.5; 26, Gentile, P, 18:46.7; 28, J. Phillips, BC, 18:53.5; 31, Bennet, BC, 19:14.3; 32, Shedlock, BC, 19:14.5; 34, A. Westover, P, 19:21.9; 37, Walters, JV, 19:26.9; 40, Hewitt, BA, 19:35.3; 45, L. Kline, CH, 19:48.8; 46, Pablic, BC, 19:49.0; 49, Watson, CH, 19:57.3; 50, Halerz, BA, 19:58.6; 54, Shura, BA, 20:10.1; 55, Isaacson, BC, 20:14.1.

INDIVIDUAL GIRLS (QUALIFIERS): 1, Mavridis, R, 18:42.2; 2, Ascherl, FH, 19:13.9; 3, Dixon, W, 19:49.5; 4, Wannett, PL, 20:37.0; 5, Hines, BC, 20:46.8; 6, J. Kraft, BA, 20:47.7; 7, Warren, PL, 20:49.2; 8, Pennington, BA, 21:05.1; 9, White, P, 21:06.3; 10, Shaw, FH, 21:09.1; 11, Henning, U, 21:15.7; 12, Hoover, CH, 21:16.7; 13, Kolarik, U, 21:23.9. OTHER AREA TOP 60 FINISHERS: 18, Pablic, BC, 21:39.8; 26, Biddle, W, 22:32.3; 27, Norris, W, 22:40.4; 28, Stone, W, 22:43.1; 34, Eckenrode, CH, 23:14.0; 38, McCrum, JV, 23:32.5; 42, Hammond, BA, 23:46.6; 48, A. Burkett, P, 24:19.8; 49, C. Burkett, P, 24:22.0; 51, Kline, JV, 24:25.5; 53, Haney, P, 24:27.7; 56, S. Kraft, BA, 24:43.9; 57, Elias, CH, 24:34.9; 60, Pinzzotto, P, 24:45.5.

Starting at /week.