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Woznicki heads All-Region boys' team
Published: November 23, 2009
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It was a strong season for area boys' cross country runners, making the choices for The Daily & Sunday Review All-Region team that much more difficult to make.
While there were a number of strong performances this year, the choice for boys' runner of the year is a simple one after Wyalusing's Taylor Woznicki dominated all season long. Woznicki captured his second straight NTL title, before claiming his first District 4 title this year. At the PIAA meet Woznicki earned his first state medal.
The choices for the remainder of the boys team weren't as easy. Patterning the All-Region team off the top five of a cross country squad, we have three teams of five runners each.
Joining Woznicki on the first team are a pair of Sullivan County runners, each of whom finished in the top five at districts and earned spots in states. Senior Logan Hatton and freshman Kelby Mullen each make the first team, with Mullen also earning All-Region Rookie of the Year honors, after finishing as the highest placing freshman in the state this year.
Canton's Blake Bunner earned his first trip to states this year to take a spot on the first team, leaving just one spot left.
The Northeast Bradford Panthers had a strong pack mentality all year long, with each of their top four runners placing in the top 12 and finishing less than 20 seconds apart at the district meet.
The final spot on the first team goes to Jake Balchikonis, with his teammates Kent Upham and Curt Jewett leading the second team.
The final spot for the first team was a tough one to pick as Balchikonis was the top finisher of the group at districts, Jewett was the top finisher on the team at the league meet and Upham was the top finisher of the squad at the PIAA meet.
Joining Upham and Jewett on the second team were two other state qualifiers in Wyalusing's Stephan Tewksbury and Towanda's Chance Cook. The final spot on the second team was Waverly's Will Mullen, who just missed a spot in states in New York.
The third team is led by the Panthers' Devin Middaugh and also includes two state qualifiers. Athens' Ben Knecht earned a trip to states in Class AAA in Pennsylvania, while Tioga's Nate LaDue earned a spot in the New York state meet.
Rounding out the third team are Wyalusing's Tyler Sutton and Mansfield's Jacob Shedden.
Runner of the year: Taylor Woznicki, Wyalusing
Rookie of the year: Kelby Mullen, Sullivan County
Coach of the year: Mike Murphy, Northeast Bradford
First team
Taylor Woznicki, Wyalusing
Logan Hatton, Sullivan County
Kelby Mullen, Sullivan County
Blake Bunner, Canton
Jake Balchikonis, Northeast Bradford
Second team
Kent Upham, Northeast Bradford
Stephan Tewksbury, Wyalusing
Curt Jewett, Northeast Bradford
Chance Cook, Towanda
Will Mullen, Waverly
Third Team
Nate Ladue, Tioga
Devin Middaugh, Northeast Bradford
Ben Knecht, Athens
Jacob Shedden, Mansfield
Tyler Sutton, Wyalusing
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