NTL CROSS COUNTRY: ATHENS FATHER-DAUGHTER DUO EARN TOP LEAGUE HONORS — FIVE WILDCATS, ONE REDSKIN EARN ALL-STAR ACCOLADES (2020-11-18)
Valley Sports ReportAthens sophomore Emma Bronson was named NTL Girls "Runner of the Year," and Athens coach Mike Bronson - Emma's father - received the NTL Boys "Coach of the Year" accolades in recent voting by the league's coaches.
Sayre senior Carrie Claypool earned first-team accolades on the girls team, and was the lone Redskin runner to be honored.
The Athens boys had four runners tabbed as all-stars, including three first-team selections, and one of Emma Bronson's teammates received a second-team nod.
Mike Bronson coached the Wildcats to an unbeaten 10-0 record and their second consecutive NTL title. Bronson, along with Scott Riley and Mark Johnson, were named "Coaching Staff of the Year."
Athens finished fifth at the District 4, Class AA championships, and had three runners that would have normally qualified for the PIAA meet, miss out on qualifying due to new "pandemic rules" put in place to reduce the size of the state field.
Emma Bronson won the NTL Coaches' Invitational, then finished 20th at the District 4, Class AA meet, despite running a time that was 30 seconds faster than her NTL meet time.
During the regular season, Emma Bronson led the Lady Wildcats in every dual, and finished no worse than second place in any meet.
Wyalusing's Zion Laudermilch was named the NTL Boys "Runner of the Year," and Wyalusing coach Jim Schools was the NTL Girls "Coach of the Year."
GIRLS
First Team
Carrie Claypool, senior, Sayre: Claypool finished seventh at the NTL Coaches Invite. She also finished eighth at the District 4, Class A Championships, missing a trip to States by less than 1 second.
Claypool led the Lady Redskins in every dual meet this season.
Also named to the first team were Wyalusing's Catherine Brown, Kayla Beebe, and Sierra Allen, NEB's Melanie Shumway, Troy's Lilly DePew, and Wellsboro's Julia DeCamp.
Second Team
Thea Bentley, freshman, Athens: Bentley finished eighth at the NTL Coaches Invite, and was 40th at the District 4, Class AA meet.
Bentley consistently finished second for the Lady Wildcats during the regular season.
Also named to the second team were Troy's Sydney Taylor, Julia Colton, and Rachel Kingsley, Wellsboro's Havah Simcox, Canton's Sara Saar, and Wyalusing's Madison Patton.
BOYS
First Team
Connor Dahl, senior, Athens: Dahl finished fourth at the NTL Coaches Invite. He was 13th at the District 4, Class AA Championships.
After finishing third to Kyle Anthony and Matt Gorsline in a season-opening win over Towanda, Dahl finished first for the remainder of the regular season.
Matt Gorsline, junior, Athens: Gorsline finished sixth at the NTL Coaches Invite, and was 18th at the District 4, Class AA meet.
Kyle Anthony, senior, Athens: Anthony was seventh at the NTL Coaches Invite, and was 16th at the District 4, Class AA Championships.
Gorsline and Anthony consistently finished second or third for the Wildcats during the regular season.
Also named to the first team were Wyalusing's Justin Hiduk, CV's Seth Neal and Owen Cummings, and Mansfield's Noah Shedden.
Second Team
Justin Lynch, junior, Athens: Lynch finished 12th at the NTL Coaches Invite. He finished 33rd at the District 4, Class AA meet.
Lynch consistently finished fourth for the Wildcats during the regular season.
Also named to the second team were Troy's Owen Williams, Wyalusing's Eleazar Laudermilch and Clayton Petlock, Towanda's Jaden Wise, NEB's Norman Strauss, and Canton's Michael Skipper.
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IN PHOTO: Athens sophomore Emma Bronson.
