FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Five years in the making — 24 in the waiting — North Schuylkill’s boys have run to the top of the Schuylkill League Division I mountain.
Sweeping Lehighton 19-41 and Pottsville 15-50, the Spartans capped a perfect regular season Wednesday afternoon on their home course. North Schuylkill finished 10-0 overall and 7-0 in Division I.
The division title marked the first for the North Schuylkill boys since 1991, according to available records.
“Teamwork all the way through,’’ North Schuylkill coach Frank Briggs said. “We’ve been pushing stay together, cadence, everything. Don’t let up.
“They’re a phenomenal group that just constantly works together.’’
That teamwork was evident during and after Wednesday’s meet. In fact, it’s been the Spartans’ hallmark all season.
They don’t have a star like former North Schuylkill state champion Brendan Shearn.
Instead, the Spartans have depth, a talented bunch of runners who group together impressively. Afterward, they gathered outside the locker room and concession areas at Spartan Stadium.
“We’re friends off the track (too),’’ junior Chris McCormick said. “In school we hang out, and after school. We’re really close.’’
McCormick led Spartans on the track and course, too, winning the race in 17:31. Junior Austin Roseberry (17:46) placed second and sophomore Matt McCormick (17:49) — Chris’ brother — finished third.
Michael Blacketter took fourth and Trent Frey placed fifth for Lehighton (10-2, 5-2 D-I), which topped Pottsville 15-50.
North Schuylkill freshman Sean McCabe, junior George Anthony and junior Colin Ahrensfield countered by going 6-7-8. Junior Lenny Bolinsky placed 10th.
“We put in a lot of work over the summer, more than we did in years past,’’ Chris McCormick said. “It felt great because my teammates were right there.’’
The time between No. 1 Chris McCormick and No. 5 Anthony was a mere 53 seconds. The gap from 1-7 was just 1:37.
“They really wanted it today,’’ Briggs said.
North Schuylkill’s boys have been building up to this day since they were seventh graders. They showed their promise by winning back-to-back Schuylkill League junior high team championships in 2011 and 2012.
After struggling a bit as freshmen, they have gone 20-1 overall, 13-1 in Division I meets over the past two seasons. As you might have noticed above, none of the Spartans’ top seven is a senior.
“We feel confident for the next two weeks,’’ Chris McCormick said. “We know we’re going to do good. We’re going to try to do our best.’’
Those two weeks mark the Schuylkill League and District 11 Championships. The league meet will be held Oct. 21 at Tuscarora State Park. Districts will be Oct. 28 at Bethlehem Municipal Golf Course.
The goals are to challenge for hardware at leagues and to push for one of the two team berths to states at the District 11 Class AA Championships.
To prepare, North Schuylkill learned how to swim in the deep water. Last month, the Spartans traveled to Hershey for the PIAA Foundation Race and finished 10th out of 21 teams in the Class AA field.
On Oct. 3, they went to Bloomsburg for the NEPA Invitational and placed third in a 27-team field.
“My boys are growing up,’’ Briggs said. “We want to expose them to the big races. We want a no-fear attitude. We want to go down to districts and hopefully pull something off. They’ve been growing for the past five years.’’
“Good things are yet to come,’’ he added. “They’re a beautiful team. I don’t see it letting up for the next few years. I’m very proud of them.’’
Girls’ results
Lehighton sweeps
Spartans, Crimson Tide
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — Cera Gaston won the race in 22:04 as Lehighton defeated North Schuylkill 24-32 and Pottsville 23-35 in a Division I tri-meet.
Brinn DeAngelo placed third overall in 22:25 for the Spartans, who edged Pottsville 25-30.
The Crimson Tide’s Brenna Nagle finished second in 22:23.
Meet Summary
Wednesday at Fountain Springs
3.1 miles
BOYS
North Schuylkill 19, Lehighton 41
North Schuylkill 15, Pottsville 50
Lehighton 15, Pottsville 50
1. C. McCormick (NS) 17:31, 2. A. Roseberry (NS) 17:46, 3. M. McCormick (NS) 17:49, 4. Blacketter (L) 18:02, 5. Frey (L) 18:10, 6. McCabe (NS) 18:19, 7. Anthony (NS) 18:24, 8. Ahrensfield (NS) 18:43, 9. Tavella (L) 18:54, 10. Bolinsky (NS) 19:08, 11. McCabe (L) 19:11, 12. Fisher (L) 19:15, 13. Russell (NS) 19:17, 14. Schwab (L) 20:00, 15. R. Roseberry (NS) 20:09
GIRLS
Lehighton 24, North Schuylkill 32
North Schuylkill 25, Pottsville 30
Lehighton 23, Pottsville 35
1. Gaston (L) 22:04, 2. Br. Nagle (P) 22:23, 3. DeAngelo (NS) 22:25, 4. Pace (L) 23:04, 5. Stravinsky (NS) 23:09, 6. DeMatte (L) 23:31, 7. Kane (NS) 23:50, 8. Smith (L) 24:28, 9. McMullin (P) 24:43, 10. Laible (L) 25:46, 11. Li (NS) 25:50, 12. Kiapes (P) 26:07, 13. Motto (P) 26:26, 14. DeMitro (P) 27:54, 15. Karns (L) 28:40