Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY — Athens freshman Graham Wanck burst on to the cross-country scene in 2023, and finished the season as the only boy on either side of the border in the Valley to qualify for a state meet. He is the Valley Sports Report Boys "Runner of the Year."
Wanck, who let everyone know he would be a factor this year by winning the junior high race last year at the prestigious McQuaid Invitational, is also the "Newcomer of the Year" for the 2023 All-Valley Boys Cross Country team.
Wanck finished ninth this year in a time of 16:13 in a field of 369 runners in the A-1 Small School race at McQuaid Invitational
Wanck won the McDaniel-Baxter Invite, and finished second at the Owego Invite, and the Forbes Invite.
He finish third at the NTL Coaches Invite, and 13th at District 4 Championships, before capping off the season with a 53rd-place finish at the PIAA Championships.
All-Valley Boys Cross Country team:
Graham Wanck, freshman, Athens: See above.
Jacob Shores, freshman, Athens: Shores turned in a strong first varsity season for the Wildcats, consistently running second for the team behind Wanck.
Shores finished 105th at McQuaid in 18:12.5, was 49th at the Owego Invite, and 25th at the Forbes Invite and at the McDaniel-Baxter Invite.
Shores finished 22nd at NTL Coaches Invite, and 38th at District 4 Championships.
Matthew Rossettie, freshman, Athens: Rossettie was the another impact freshman for the Wildcats this season, consistently running a strong third for the team.
He finished 137th at McQuaid in 18:39.0, 57th at Owego Invite, 42nd at Forbes Invite, and 34th at Baxter-McDaniel
Rossettie finished 30th at NTL Coaches Invite, and 47th at District 4 Championships.
Talon Wood, sophomore, Tioga: Consistently, Tioga’s top runner this season, Wood improved on a strong freshman campaign that earned him "Newcomer of the Year" in 2022.
Wood finished 58th at Owego Invite, 21st at Crusader Classic, and 37th at Marathon Classic.
Wood finished ninth at the IAC Divisional meet, 26th at the IAC Championships, and 29th at the Section IV, Class D championships.
Braylon DeKay, senior, Waverly: DeKay was Waverly’s top runner for the majority of its races this season.
He finished 148th at McQuaid in 18:45.3, was 51st at Owego Invite, 41st at McDaniel-Baxter, and 23rd at Crusader Classic.
DeKay finished 26th at the Section IV, Class C Championships.
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IN PHOTO: Athens freshman Graham Wanck. … VSR STOCK PHOTO.
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BOYS CROSS COUNTRY "RUNNER OF THE YEAR"
2023 — Athens’ Graham Wanck
2022 — Athens’ Ethan Denlinger
2021 - Athens' Matt Gorsline
2020 - Waverly's Collin Wright
2019 - Waverly's Collin Wright
2018 - Waverly's Collin Wright
2017 - Waverly's Collin Wright
2016 - Athens' Camden Allen
2015 - Athens' Gabe Herbst
2014 - Sayre's Nick Sweet
2013 - Sayre's Nick Sweet
2012 - Sayre's Nick Sweet
2011 - Tioga's Brenden Walker
2010 - Tioga's Brenden Walker
2009 - Athens' Matt Millard
