Cross country: New season set to begin for local teams

Posted: September 6th 2023

Wildwood's Macie McCracken returns this fall after winning Big 5 and Cape May County titles

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

Cross country season for most of the local high school teams is set to begin Thursday.

The following is a look at each of the area’s teams:

CAPE MAY TECH

Cape May Tech enters the season with a rather young team under 18th-year head coach Joe Bresan.

Returning runners include Brandon Markee, Cole Oravits, Christian Thode, Gunnar Cordle, Evan Feliciano, Collin Geiger, Dylan Elko and Eden Williams. The top newcomers include Teague Ludeman, Axel McCoy, Jackson Giorganni and Domingo Zapata.

Oravits, Thode and Markee are serving as team captains.

Cape May Tech’s girls team features a large roster with 14 runners, led by sophomore Kirstyn McHale, who placed 15th at the county championship meet as a freshman. Senior Sheily Maldonado is also a top runner.

Other returnees include senior Ally Jonassaint, juniors Marley Wetzel, Andrea Arroyo and Maya Kaced and sophomore Samantha Zuba.

The top new runners include junior Lydia Marcinkiewicz and freshmen Alexa Ludwikowski, Rachel Jones, Taylor Ciferni, Isabella Moore and Victoria Hammond.

Maldonado, Jonassaint and Wetzel are the captains for 21st-year coach Gerry Chretian’s team.

Cape May Tech opens at county park against Lower Cape May, Middle Township and Holy Spirit on Thursday.

Kirstyn McHale is one of the leaders of Cape May Tech's girls team.

LOWER CAPE MAY

Lower’s boys team lost a good number of seniors, including Big 5 champ Jack Cura, so the Tigers are trying to rebuild with what as of late last week was a small roster.

Lower is led by juniors Connor Barikian (team captain) and Aiden Formento.

Lower’s girls team is building with a young roster. There are four returnees, all of whom are sophomores – Jenna Hill (team captain), Julia Barnes, Victoria Barnes and Hannah Souder. Hill has shown some good potential so far. The top freshman is Katarina Ojasoo.

Both of Lower Cape May’s teams are coached by Syd Peterkin (fourth season).

Lower’s teams face Middle Township, Cape May Tech and Holy Spirit Thursday at county park.

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP

Middle’s boys team finished 5-4 in dual meets last season and returns six of its top seven runners, while adding some freshmen who are expected to make immediate impact.

Senior Thomas Hargest (fifth Big 5 meet, 12th county meet) is the Panthers’ top returning runner. He’s joined by fellow seniors Austin Jenkins and Hunter Shoemaker. Hargest and Jenkins are the team’s captains.

Other returnees include junior Jeff Tzorfas and sophomores Dane Kennedy and Liam Brannon.

Freshmen who could crack the top seven include Jamar Mack, Champion McNeal, Darp Patel and Dylan Jenkins.

Middle’s boys are coached by Rob Heck (third season).

Middle’s girls team, coached by Kelsey Greene (second season), is paced by seniors Hannah Vaught-Crumock and Julianna Frame and sophomore Olivia Orton.

Middle teams open against Lower Cape May, Cape May Tech and Holy Spirit Thursday at county park.

WILDWOOD

Wildwood’s boys qualified for the state Group I meet for the first time in program history last fall. Senior Jorge Cruz Valle, who was second at the Big 5 meet and sixth at the sectional championships, leads the Warriors.

Senior Alexis Huerta and junior Brian Cunniff (fourth at Big 5 meet) are the team’s other returnees.

JORGE CRUZ VALLE

Newcomers include freshmen Danny Benichou, Noah Jones and Nolan Mawhinney.

Junior Macie McCracken, who won the Big 5 and county meets and placed second at the sectional championships, returns for a Wildwood girls team that qualified for the state meet for the second straight year. Junior Leah Pawlus (second at Big 5 meet, sixth at sectional meet) is also a top returnee for the Lady Warriors.

Sophomore Liv Hunter and freshman Rebecca Benichou should also contribute.

Wildwood’s teams open the season Saturday against Wildwood Catholic.

Shane Graves (second season) coaches both Wildwood teams.

WILDWOOD CATHOLIC

Wildwood Catholic’s boys team is again struggling with numbers after not being able to score as a team last season. Its top returnee is junior L.J. Belasco, who was seventh at the Big 5 meet last season.

The Crusader girls are led by two returnees in senior Ally Grandziano and sophomore Angelina Richards. Newcomers include freshmen Kaitlyn Nordberg, Lauren Crouthamel, Sophia Vitta, Zelete Martinez-Panesso and Sloane Manni.

Michael Scythes is Wildwood Catholic’s longtime head coach.

Wildwood Catholic opens the season Thursday at Buena in a meet that also includes Oakcrest and Pleasantville.