Christ the King
Girls cross country wins third league title, All-Catholics

Christ The King's Kate Edwards, far left, Anne Pyrak, Chloe Wingerter and Chris Walter all earned All-Catholic honors. CTK won the season with a 17-1 record.

Christ the King's girls cross country team won its third regular season title under different circumstances than its first two titles.

The October snowstorm cut short the regular season for the Catholic Cross Country Association's 220 runners. Since Cazenovia Park was closed to all activities, it was decided to call the season after three weeks of completed competition. CTK girls won the season with a 17-1 record.

CTK finished ahead of 11 schools including second place SS. Peter and Paul (Hamburg) (16-2), Notre Dame (12-6), Queen of Heaven (7-11), St. Gregory's (6-12), and St. John Vianney (5-13). The six other schools in the league scored no points at the three meets that were held.

The CTK boys' team finished the season with a 9-9 record in sixth place. After claiming the title for six straight years, they were defeated by Queen of Heaven (12-6), Our Lady of Victory (11-7), Notre Dame (11-7), St. Gregory (9-9), and SS. Peter and Paul (9-9). The record ties were broken by a match of total place points scored over the three meets.

All-Catholics

The CCCA was able to reschedule and relocate its year end All-Catholic cross country championship to the West Seneca Soccer Complex on Oct. 26.

In an agreement with town officials to stay off the grass, a "road race" was held on the paved pedestrian path that rings the soccer fields. Down from the usual near 200 runners, only 84 boys and 73 girls braved the 42 degree temperatures and ten-mph breeze to run the 1.5 mile race.

CTK had three runners place in the girls All-Catholic top ten.

Anne Pyrak, having run undefeated for the past two seasons, finished First All-Catholic in 9:18. Chloe Wingerter finished second in 9:54. Kate Edwards ran in 10:36 to finish eighth.

CTK's fourth scoring runner was Tori Kreuz who finished 22nd in 11:29. Also running for CTK were Alise Jarmusz (12:34) and Chelsea Zanghi (12:52).

CTK's girls team won the meet with a score of (33) over SS. Peter & Paul (59), Notre Dame (62), St. John Vianney (75), Queen of Heaven (80), St. Greg's (82), Sacred Heart (97), St. Vincent de Paul (151), and St. Mary of the Lake (210). Our Lady of Victory and St. Ambrose ran incomplete teams at the championship.

The boys' race was won by Notre Dame (40) followed by St. Greg's (54), Queen of Heaven (59), OLV (66), SS. Peter & Paul (68), CTK (72), Sacred Heart (103), St. Vincent (133), St. John Vianney (192), and St. Ambrose (224).

This year CTK placed only one runner in the All-Catholic top ten, Chris Walter, who finished fourth in 9:18. Kevin Schmitt was 12th (9:52), Henry Edwards came in 25th (10:34) and Pat Hurtubise was the fourth runner to score for CTK, finishing 31st (10:51). Also running for CTK were Ben Georger (11:40), Ben Yee (11:50), Jack Murray (12:02), Pat Murray (12:04), Zack Zenger (12:21), and Joe Foster (13:57).

The boys' league was sponsored by Bishop Timon/St. Jude, St. Francis High School and Canisius High School. Mount Mercy Academy is the major sponsor for the girls' league along with Nardin Academy and Holy Angels Academy.