Published: November 04, 2009 11:42 pm      

Central Cambria girls, Wirfel run for gold

JOHNSTOWN — The biggest cross country meet of the season is set for Saturday at the Parkview Course in Hershey as the runners of the state gather for the PIAA Championships.

Leah Anne Wirfel finished second at last season’s PIAA Class AA Cross Country Championships.

This year, the Forest Hills junior has her eye on the top spot and heads into Saturday’s race at Hershey as the favorite to earn the individual title.

“I try not to think about it,” Wirfel said about the pressure that she is feeling. “I just try to run my own race and do my own thing and see what happens. I’ve just tried to stay confident and calm through my whole season and I’m hoping that I can win a state title this year.”

Wirfel finished undefeated throughout the regular season in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference, then took the title at the conference meet. Last Saturday at Indian Valley Middle School, the Rangers’ runner earned her second District 6 crown with an impressive run of 18:42.

Lewisburg Area’s Sophia Ziemian claimed the state crown in a time of 18:52 last year with Wirfel just behind in 19:07. Ziemian graduated and of the remaining top nine finishers, Wirfel is one of eight who is returning for this year’s championships.

Wirfel will have plenty of company from the area in Hershey with 24 other girls and 23 boys who qualified for the championships.

The Rangers team qualified second at the District 6 meet, behind two-time defending state champion Central Cambria.

Central Cambria claimed the 2008 title by just four points over District 10 West Middlesex, which is once again in the mix this year.

The Red Devils have plenty of firepower returning and are once again considered one of the favorites for a state crown with the top rating in the PIAA.

“We’ve got to run a good race and see what happens,” Central Cambria coach Randy Wilson said about what his team needs in order to win a third straight title.

“It’s the team that’s best on that God-given day and that’s what we were the last two years and hopefully we will again. But there’s just so many factors that I don’t think a lot of people take into it. When you’re running, giving it your all for this whole time, it’s very tough.

“I’m very confident that we’re going to do very well at states. Just the fact that we’re in the picture at states, is something we’re proud of. And to do it three years in a row would be amazing. I think we can do it and the girls are confident.”

Other teams in contention for the team title include District 11 Northwestern Lehigh along with West Middlesex and North East from District 10 and perennial power Lewisburg from District 4.

“There’s a whole cast of teams (in contention),” Wilson said. “There are a group of great team in AA this year. Everyone’s going to have to run good races.”

The Central Cambria team includes four freshmen - Alyssa Brandis, Olivia Lipnic, Kelsey Hagans and Junjari Vyas. The veterans on the squad are seniors Kelsey Seymour and Morgan Eckenrod along with juniors Kendall Seymour and Ashley Stump.

Wirfel will be joined on the course by seven of her Rangers teammates including seniors Laura Kirby and Lauren Malesky, sophomores Kelly Beyer, Kelsey Molnar and Amanda Custer and freshmen Chelsea Chizmar and Kacie Erb.

Laurel Valley senior Hannah Miller is making her fourth trip to the state championships. She finished 13th last year.

“I’m going to states again and hopefully I can do better at states than at districts,” Miller said after the District 6 meet. “I’m looking forward to being back at states and maybe improving my time. The thing that hits you there, is that you have to take off so fast and how you’re pushing yourself the whole time. You can’t slack off one bit or else you fall behind. You also have to watch so you don’t get boxed in.”

The other girls from the area are: Chelsea Diehl and Katie Moser from Bedford; Kristen Koontz of Chestnut Ridge; Jill Spisak and Kristy Chovanec of Bishop McCort; Jill Leadbetter of Somerset; Kelsey Isenberg of United; and, Rachel Rajter of Westmont Hilltop.

Central Cambria senior Mike Salguero, who was second at the District 6 meet, leads a contingent of area boys attending the state championships.

Salguero is returning to the PIAA meet after missing out last season. He also qualified when he was a sophomore.

“The hills are deadly (at the state meet),” Salguero said.

Bedford’s boys, the District 5 team champions, are led by seniors Trey Easter, Michael Himelright and Brady Kirsh and juniors Colin Coffield and Caleb Fisher. The other Bisons are sophomores Joshua Oldham and Clayton Ferguson along with freshman Tanner Williams.

The boys from United were runner’s up at the District 6 meet. The Lions are led by seniors C.J. Weimer, Karl DeStefano, Jared Stewart and Tyrell Varner. The other team members are juniors Ray Ofman and Nathan Beiter along with freshmen Shawn Lichvar and Cabot Bisbee.

The other boys from the area include: Laurel Highlands champ Chad King of Bishop McCort; Josh Patrick and Josh Chapman of Laurel Valley; Jon Makoczy of Forest Hills; and Justin Toddie and Matt Beutman of Chestnut Ridge.