Senior Interviews

8th Graders

November 4, 2024

Cross Country

Puleio earns medal at state meet

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

HERSHEY — Meadville’s Megan Puleio earned her first career PIAA cross country medal on Saturday.

Puleio finished 13th in the Class 2A girls race at the PIAA Cross Country Championship meet at Hershey’s Parkview Cross Country Course. Puleio’s time of 19 minutes and 38 seconds was the second-highest amongst District 10 runners and was a 47-second improvement from her time last year.

The junior was boxed in early and sat in 44th at the first half mile, but charged back in the late-race to get to the medal stand, assistant coach Jeff Jones said.

In the 2A boys race, Meadville sophomore Vance Hohmann finished 75th with a time of 17:42. It was his first appearance at states.

From District 10, the Cathedral Prep girls and Grove City boys won team championships, respectively, in 2A.

Maplewood junior Logan Kier placed 99th (18:40) in the 1A boys race. It was his first trip to Hershey.

In the 1A girls race, Saegertown freshman Reese Digiacomo placed 32nd (21:11) and junior Camryn Harakal 141st (23:22).

District 9’s Cranberry won the girls 1A team

championship and District 7’s Winchester Thurston won the 1A boys title.

October 28, 2024

Cross Country

Pedal to the medal

Meadville’s Puleio, Hohmann advance to state cross country championship

By Alex Topor

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

TITUSVILLE — Meadville junior Megan Puleio punched her ticket to Hershey with a career-best finish at the District 10 Cross Country Championship meet on Saturday.

Puleio crossed the finish line at Titusville’s Ed Myer Recreation Complex in 18 minutes and 56 seconds. The time was good enough for fourth place in the Class 2A girls race and more than good enough to advance to the PIAA meet on Nov. 2 at Hershey’s Parkview Cross Country Course.

“I’m excited because it’s (states) an exciting experience. I’m also nervous because the state course is super hilly and this one is all flat,” Puleio said. “My goal (at districts) was to get first because of all the races I’ve been running, but I’m not disappointed. Every time I’ve come to districts I’ve gotten eighth place, so I’ll take fourth.”

Puleio was the only Crawford County runner in the Class 2A girls race to advance to states. She will make the trip with teammate Vance Hohmann.

Hohmann, a sophomore, placed 12th (16:34) in the 2A boys race. It will be his first trip to the state meet.

“We are thrilled with Vance’s opportunity to compete at the state meet. He is someone who has figured out how to race intelligently and tenaciously, even in high pressure races, which is difficult to do,” Meadville head coach Jennifer Zamperini said. “The thing I love most about him is that he has been focused on a team goal all year. In his pursuit for the team to accomplish great things, he has punched a ticket to state, and I really admire his approach, effort and results this season.”

Hohmann paced the Bulldogs, who finished third as a team. The top two teams advance to the state meet, so Meadville just missed the cut. Grove City won the team event and Warren was second with 109 points. Meadville had 135.

Tate Walker (23rd), Tio Aitken (23), Ben Welsh (29) and Griffin Aitken (44) rounded out the top five finishers for the Bulldogs.

“We are blessed with athletes who give us everything they have. We could not ask for better kids. They not only are amazing runners but are amazing people,” Zamperini said. “Third is disappointing this year. We have our sights set on something better next year, but when we think about how far we’ve come it’s awesome.”

In the Class 1A girls race, Saegertown advanced two runners to states. Freshman Reese Digiacomo finished third (19:53) and junior Camryn Harakal was 12th (21:04).

“They’ve worked hard all year. They trusted the system and have looked so good,” Saegertown head coach John McMillen said. “Before the race even happened I looked at all the girls and said ‘You’re ready for this. Your legs are fresh, you’re ready.’ They had a good day. Reese’s 19:50 was a PR too.

Harakal competed at the state race last year and finished 46th.

As an upperclassmen, she’s enjoyed a leadership role to help Digiacomo and the other freshmen this season.

“Reese is one of my best friends. It’s been fun to guide her and the new freshmen. They’re really talented and guiding them through stuff I’ve already done has been fun,” Harakal said. “It will be fun to go back to states with a teammate this time.”

Maplewood junior Logan Kier will make his first trip to Hershey after his 12th-place finish in the 1A boys race. Kier finished in 17 minutes and 17 seconds to pace the Tigers.

As a team, Maplewood finished sixth. Austin Szympruch (20th) and Joseph Granat (33rd) were each in the top 50. Saegertown placed fifth with Josh Weaver’s 22nd-place leading the way.

Cambridge Springs and Cochranton finished 14th and 15th, respectively. Rio Alejandro (38th) led the Blue Devils and Nolan Minnich (31st) led the Cardinals.

Crawford Christian Academy’s Conner Dunn was 51st and the Chargers’ top runner.

In the 1A girls race, Saegertown was seventh in the team standings. Following Digiacomo and Harakal, Emma Spencer was 27th. Cochranton placed ninth with Aliyah Hogue (17th) finishing just outside of earning a medal. Cambridge Springs was 13th. Sophomore Adaline Clayton was the highest finishing Blue Devils in 29th.

As a team, Meadville was 13th in the Class 2A race. Jade Aitken (41st) followed Puleio. Titusville placed 15th with senior Madelin Johnson claiming 33rd. Conneaut’s Kaylee Montes (69th) was the high finisher for the Eagles.

In the 2A boys race, Titusville and Conneaut finished 16th and 17th, respectively. Andrew Bryan paced the Rockets in 39th. Conneaut juniors Nickolas Garcia (35) and Mitchell Lasko (48th) led the charge for the Eagles.

October 7, 2024

Cross Country

Saegertown, Maplewood compete at invitational

GROVE CITY — The Saegertown and Maplewood cross country teams competed in the John Sample Invitational on Saturday at Grove City Memorial Park.

The Maplewood boys team finished 14th, with a team score of 410. Logan Kier and Austin Szympruch paced the Tigers. Kier finished 51st with a time of 18 minutes, 3 seconds. Szympruch (18:15) finished 59th. Joseph Granat (82nd) finished with a time of 19:24.

The Saegertown boys squad finished three points behind Maplewood in 15th. Josh Weaver and Nolan Hughes paced the Panthers, with Weaver finishing in 63rd with a time of 18:21 and Hughes (80th) finishing the race in 19:12. Isaac Huya (19:26) finished in 84th place.

In the girls race, Saegertown placed sixth with 207 team points. Myla Bland and Reese Digiacomo paced the Panthers. The freshman duo placed sixth and 11th respectively, with Bland finishing with a time of 20:14 and Digiacomo finishing the race in 20:28. Camryn Harakal (21:23) finished 29th.

Maplewood didn’t have enough racers to get a team score, but several runners still participated. Shauna Pillar paced the Tigers, finishing 85th with a time of 24:12. Rhinn Post finished 100th, with a time of 26:07.

Maplewood travels to Cochranton at 4 p.m. on Tuesday for a Region 3 dual meet, with Saegertown host Cambridge Springs at 4 p.m. on Tuesday for another Region 3 dual meet.

October 2, 2024

Cross Country

Saegertown cross country cleans house

SAEGERTOWN — The Saegertown cross country team defeated Cochranton in both the boys and girls races in a Region 3 dual meet on Tuesday.

The Saegertown boys finished with 19 points, led by Josh Weaver. Weaver finished in first with a time of 18 minutes and 7 seconds. Nolan Hughes (18:50) finished third with Nate Shartle (18:52) right behind him.

Cochranton’s boys team finished with 49 points. Nolan Minnich led the way for the Cardinals, finishing second with a time of 18:23. Trevor Shelter (20:22) finished eighth.

For the girls race, Saegertown finished with 23 points. The Panthers took all three pole positions, with Myla Bland finishing first. Bland finished with a time of 20:29. Camryn Harakal (20:56) finished second, with Reese Digiacomo (21:09) finishing right behind Harakal.

The Cochranton girls team finished with 33 points. Aliyah Hogue and Meredeth Erdley led the way for the Cardinals. Hogue finished with a time of 22:11, good for fourth place. Erdley (25:14) finished seventh.

Saegertown will head to Grove City at 9 a.m. on Saturday for the John Sample Invitational. Cochranton will host a dual match against Maplewood at 4 p.m. next Tuesday.

September 30, 2024

Cross Country

Local cross country teams compete in Cardinal Classic, Meadville boys take first place

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

COCHRANTON — The Maplewood, Meadville, Cambridge Springs, Conneaut, Cochranton, Saegertown, Titusville and Crawford Christian Academy cross country teams all raced at the Cochranton Classic on Saturday.

For the boys race, Meadville finished first with 48 points. The Bulldogs were paced by Vance Hohmann, who finished in third place with a time of 17 minutes and 37 seconds. Tate Walker (18:28) and Griffen Aitken (18:35) finished seventh and ninth respectively.

Cambridge Springs finished in fourth place with 116 points. The Blue Devils were led by Isaiah Simpson, who finished in fifth place with a time of 18:13. Rio Alejandro finished eighth with a time of 18:30.

Saegertown finished fifth, as the Panthers were led by Joshua Weaver. Weaver finished 14th with a time of 18:48. Nolan Hughes (18:59) finished 18th.

Maplewood finished in sixth place, 20 points behind Saegertown. Lincoln Kier led the way for the Tigers, who finished second with a time of 17:18. Austin Szympruch finished in 11th with a time of 18:39.

Led by Michell Lasko, Conneaut finished with 199 points, good for seventh place. Lasko (18:36) finished 10th. Kameron Kelly finished 35th with a time of 19:55.

Titusville finished in eighth place with 220 points. The Rockets’ highest finisher was Josiah White (19:10) who finished 20th place. Noah Shambaugh (21:49) finished 53rd.

Cochranton’s boys team finished in 11th place with a score of 282. Nolan Minnich (17th) finished in 18:59, with Trevor Shelter (21:09) finishing 47th.

Crawford Christian Academy didn’t have enough runners to qualify for a team score, but several individuals still ran. Connor Dunn finished as the top racer for the Chargers, placing 31st with a time of 19:42. Zach Miles (22:06) finished in 57th.

For the girls race, Saegertown finished in second place with 105, 35 points behind Fort LeBoeuf. Saegertown finished with two racers in the top three, with Myla Bland (21:02) and Reese Digiacomo (21:30) finishing in second and third place respectively.

Titusville finished in fourth place with 142 points. The Rockets were paced by Madeline Johnson (eighth), who finished with a time of 22:24. Kylie Crocker (23:26) finished in 17th.

Meadville finished seventh with 157 points. The Bulldogs were paced by race winner Megan Puleio, who finished in 20:25. Jade Aitken followed Puleio in 16thplace, finishing with a time of 23:16.

Cochranton finished in eight place, just four points behind Meadville. The Cardinals were led by Aliyah Hogue (12th) who finished in 23:01. Anna Cummings finished 29th with a time of 25:02.

Conneaut, Maplewood and Cambridge Springs didn’t have enough racers to qualify for team scores.

Conneaut’s top finisher was Keaira Smeltzer (fifth) who finished in 21:54. Kaylee Montez finished in 22nd with a time of 23:38.

Maplewood was paced by Shauna Piller (24:35), who finished in 27th. Joslyn Blake finished in 59th, with a time of 35:15.

Cambridge Springs was led by Addy Clayton (24th) who finished in 23:49. Heidi Sherman (27:27) placed 45th.

September 23, 2024

Cross Country

Meadville paces local cross country teams at Sharpsville Invitational

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

SHARON — Meadville placed fifth in the boys race and 15th in the girls race at the Blue Devil Invitational hosted by Sharpsville on Saturday. Cochranton, Saegertown, Cambridge Springs and Conneaut all competed as well.

For the girls race, Megan Puleio led the Bulldogs, finishing in fourth place with a time of 19 minutes and 20 seconds. Samantha Fronce finished in 55th place with a time of 23:04. Jade Aitken (24:22) finished in 89th place.

Cochranton finished in 19th place, with Aliyah Hogue finishing in 22:47, good for 49th. Anna Cummings (24:28) finished in 94th place.

Cambridge Springs finished in 24th. Adaline Clayton finished in 112th place, best on the team.

Saegertown and Conneaut both sent runners, but did not qualify for team scores. For the Panthers, Maya Bland finished in ninth place with a time of 20:18. Resse Digiacomo (21:30) and Camryn Harakal (21:50) finished in the top 30.

For the Eagles, Kaylee Montes led the way, finishing in 89th place. For the boys race, Meadville finished all but one runner in the top 100. Vance Hohmann paced the Bulldogs, finishing in 28th with a time of 17:47. Ben Welsh and Griffin Aitken finished in the top 50. The Bulldogs finished fifth as a team.

Cambridge Springs finished in 15th, with Isaiah Simpson (18th) leading the way with a time of 17:34. Rio Alejandro finished in 45th place. Devin Laniewicz (82nd) was the last Blue Devil in the top 100.

Seagertown finished in 19th place, with Josh Weaver (60th) and Nolan Hughes leading the time with times of 18:57 and 19:03, respectively.

Nickolas Garcia and Mitchell Lasko led the way for Conneaut, finishing in 59th and 69th respectively. Garcia finished in 18:55 and Lasko finished in 19:09.

The Cochranton boys team was led by freshman Nolan Minnich, who finished in 67th with a time of 19:07. Trevor Shelter (146th) finished second highest on the team. The Eagles finished in 26th place.

Meadville will travel to a dual meet with Cathedral Prep on Tuesday at 5 p.m. Cambridge Springs and Saegertown will travel to Cochranton for the Cochranton Invitational at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The Eagles will travel to Titusville for a dual meet at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

September 16, 2024

Cross Country

Junior Megan Puleio paces Bulldogs at invite

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

Meadville junior Megan Puleio won the Commodore Perry Invitational on Saturday with a time of 19 minutes and 34 seconds.

Puleio’s time was 30 seconds faster than the runner-up. As a team, Meadville finished seventh. Maria Megill-Herrera placed third (20:38). Jade Aitken was 39th and Kendell Pizer 64th.

Saegertown also put two runners in the top-10 of the girls’ race. Freshmen Myla Bland finished fourth (20:54) and Reese Digiacomo was ninth (21:26). Junior Camryn Harakal placed 16th (21:53) as the Panthers ended in eighth as a team.

Titusville placed 11th as a team. Madeline Johnson (15th), Anna Mehlenbacher (23rd) and Kylie Crocker (29th) were all in the top-30.

Conneaut was 13th in the team standings. Keaira Smeltzer (20th) and Kaylee Montes (51st) paced the Eagles. Cochranton and Cambridge Springs were 16th and 18th as a team, respectively. Aliyah Hogue (41st) paced the Cardinals and Adaline Clayton led the Blue Devils (65th).

In the boys race, Meadville led local teams with a fourth-place finish. Vance Hohman (19th), Tio Aitken (22nd), Ben Welsh (29th) and Griffin Aitken (30) paced the Bulldogs.

Cambridge Springs’ Isaiah Simpson placed 17th to led the Blue Devils to 10th as a team. Titusville was 11th with senior Bryan Johnson (28th) leading the way.

Maplewood senior Lincoln Kier finished second overall in 17 minutes and 1 second. Logan Kier was 32nd for the Tigers, which placed 13th overall. Saegertown was 14th as a team. Josh Weaver led the Panthers (39th).

Conneaut and Cochranton placed 20th and 23rd, respectively, as a team. Mitchell Lasko led the Eagles (42nd) and Nolan Minnich (51st) paced the Cards.

Four individual runners from Crawford Christian Academy competed as well. Conner Dunn finished 69th (19:43) to lead the Chargers.

September 2, 2024

Cross Country

Lincoln Kier paces Maplewood, Myla Bland leads Saegertown at Rocket Invitational

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

TITUSVILLE — Two Crawford County cross country runners placed in the top-10 at the Rocket Invitational on Saturday at the Ed Myer Complex in Titusville.

Maplewood’s Lincoln Kier completed the course in 16 minutes and 53 seconds to finish eighth overall. Other top finishers for Maplewood, which placed 12th as a team, were Austin Szympruch (41st) and Logan Kier (47th).

Also in the boys race, Cambridge Springs finished 14th, Saegertown 15th and Conneaut 18th, respectively. Isaiah Simpson paced the Blue Devils with a 31st-place finish (17:54). Saegertown’s Joshua Weaver and Nolan Hughes were 54th and 57th, respectively. Conneaut’s Mitchell Lasko finished 51st.

Titusville finished 21st as a team. Senior Bryan Johnson led the way in 35th. Crawford Christian Academy’s Conner Dunn was 79th, Caden Lewis was 144th, Silas Dickey was 194th and Tim Pavkov was 200th.

Saegertown freshman Myla Bland finished seventh with a time of 19:58 in the girls race to lead the county. As a team, the Panthers were eighth. Camryn Harakal placed 20th (21:03) and Reese Digiacomo was 28th (21:33).

Titusville was 15th with Madeline Johnson leading the way in 26th and Anna Mehlenbacher in 36th. Cambridge Springs finished in 20th as a team. Adaline Clayton (25:48) led the Blue Devils in 96th.

Keaira Smeltzer placed 31st (21:33) for Conneaut, which had an incomplete team. Crawford Christian Academy’s Natalie Briggs was 108th.

  August 23, 2024

Fall Preview

Cross Country

Panthers cross country ready for challenge

By Trevor Teubner

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

The Saegertown cross country team ran a solid season last year, and the Panthers are now looking to do even better.

The girls and boys team each finished in ninth place in last year’s District 10 championship meet, and head coach John McMillen thinks this year’s team may do even better.

“We had one senior, Skylar (Bland) graduate,” McMillen said. “But, we have two freshmen coming in that are competing at a high level, Reesse Digiacomo and Myla Bland. We’re hoping for big things this year.”

The girls team won Region 3 last season, and despite losing all-region first-teamer Bland, Margaret Hughes, Camryn Harakal and Emma Spencer all return this year. All were selected as all-region runners last year. Harakal ran in the state championship meet last season, finishing 46th.

On the boys side of things, there were no seniors last season. However, all-region first-teamer Caleb Goodwill has transferred after a strong freshman season.

“We still have a young crew,” Mc-Millen said. “We have two seniors this year, Nolan Hughes and Travis Huya. We expect them to compete and shock some people this year. Caleb Goodwill has transferred, so losing him stings. Levi Gardner is also not returning this year.”

Even with some big losses on that side, McMillen believes that there are younger runners that could carry the mantle.

“Josh Weaver is a guy that I think could have a breakout season,” McMillen said. “Issac Huya has been looking really strong as well, so we should be competitive this year. It’ll be tough, but I think we can do it. We just have to get a little faster, then I think we could do really well.”

With a good mix of returning players with experience and younger players looking to make their mark, this season looks to be a promising one for Saegertown.

“Last year, our team motto was ‘it starts with me,’” McMillen said. “Last year, we developed the mindset and character of our team. That motto helped us develop the team as runners. Our seniors have been leading practices and have been very vocal with our underclassmen. They are leading by example. This season is all about trust. Trust in your teammates, trust in your coaches and trust in yourselves. That’ll be the motto for this season.”

Saegertown begins its season with the Rocket Invitational, hosted by Titusville, on Aug. 31. After that, the Panthers will head to Rocky Grove on Sept. 10.