Boardman runners win Federal League title
Neighbors | Submitted.The Boardman boys cross country team claimed their first Federal League Championship on Oct. 13 at Hoover High School. The team is, from left, Assistant Coach Ryan Dunn, Mark Hadley (Athlete of Year and First Team All Federal), Nathan Hadley (First Team All Federal), Sam Sheronovich, Jacob Kelleck, Juan Santiago, Alan Burns (First team All Federal), Assistant Coach John Phillips Sr., Justin Maroni, and Head Coach John Phillips (Federal Coach of the Year).
The Boardman boys cross country team won the program’s first-ever Federal League championship Oct. 13 at Perry. The Spartans were led by junior Mark Hadley who placed first overall in 15:43 and was selected ‘Athlete of the Year’ by the coaches of the league.
Right behind Hadley was classmate Alan Burns, who earned First Team All-Federal League honors for his second-place finish (16:22) out of 243 varsity and junior varsity runners. He was followed by freshman Nathan Hadley in fourth place overall (16:26). Hadley also was selected First Team All-Federal League.
Senior Sam Sheronovich ran a career-best time of 16:52, finishing 12th overall and was named Second Team All-Federal League and also earned this week’s BW3 ‘Runner of the Week’ award. Junior Justin Maroni earned a Second Team All-Federal League selection with his 16th-place finish (16:57). Sophomore Juan Santiago was chosen Honorable Mention All-Federal League for his 25th-place finish (17:21).
“This is, without question, the biggest accomplishment in the history of our program,” said Spartan head coach John Phillips, “Our team believed from Day One that we were going to win it this year. All of our guys, especially our seniors, deserve this.”
Setting new personal bests on Saturday were seniors Jacob Noll (19:33), Matt Scott (19:57), Paul Stevens at (20:06), Ryan Key (17:55), Matt Carubia (19:41), Rick Henneman (18:30), Fletcher Dunham (18:47), and Matt Peyko (19:25). Juniors earning new career bests were Mo Akbar (19:57), Jacob Kelleck (17:49) and Kevin McNally (21:10). Sophomores setting new personal records were Josh Botak (19:06), Andrew Cessna (21:36), Brandon Rigelsky (19:28), Matt Stark (21:40) and Kostas Kasamias (18:30).
Every Boardman freshman set a new career best at Perry. They are Nick Cessna (21:38), Jared Whitford (20:36), Nathan Hadley (16:26), Ethan Schwendeman (18:42), Sean Allan (19:51), Adam Deeley (17:57), and Brett Brunko (20:46).
Other teams competing at the event were GlenOak (50), Jackson (69), Lake (92), Hoover (119), Perry (133) and Canton McKinley (216).