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FIRST TEAM
Megan Borton
Dallas, sophomore
Borton is a repeat selection to the first team. She finished the season strong, leading the win over Lake-Lehman in the regular-season finale that decided the Wyoming Valley Conference title, then following that up by finishing second in the conference meet and third in District 2 Class 2A where she was the leading runner on the district championship team. She qualified for the state meet.
Jade Fry
Lake-Lehman, senior
Fry wrapped up her career in Hershey as a four-time state individual qualifier. She joined Runner of the Year Lindsey Williams as the only runners to finish first five times in the WVC’s regular-season schedule, which consists of six cluster meets. Fry returns to the first team after slipping to second-team status in an injury-plagued junior year.
Kaitlyn Hodakowski
Dallas, freshman
Hodakowski led all Wyoming Valley Conference girls at the state meet with the fastest time and the highest finish in any class. She completed the Hershey Parkview Course in 20:40 to place 65th, in the top third of the field, in Class 2A. Finished 10th in District 2 and the conference meet. Contributed to Dallas championships in the WVC and district.
Abby Paczewski
Lake-Lehman, sophomore
Paczewski qualified for the state meet to complete a successful fall in which she was also a significant part of Lake-Lehman’s sweep of Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 and District 2 Class 2A titles in soccer. She finished fourth in the conference meet and 13th in District 2 Class 2A to qualify for the state meet.
Jace Garnick
Lake-Lehman, senior
Garnick moves up after being a second-team selection last season. She placed seventh in the Wyoming Valley Conference meet and 11th in District 2 Class 2A to qualify for the state meet. Helped the Black Knights finish second in the WVC in the regular season.
Nicole Zambetti
Pittston Area, sophomore
Zambetti finished fifth in the Wyoming Valley Conference Meet and seventh in the District 2-4 Subregional, making her one of two Class 3A state qualifiers from the WVC. She was the lead runner on a 14-4 team.
SECOND TEAM
Anna Capaci, Holy Redeemer, freshman
Madison Baloga, Dallas, sophomore
Katie Balay, Hazleton Area, sophomore
Abby Zolner, Dallas, senior
April Kupsky, Wyoming Seminary, sophomore
Rebecca Balara, Dallas, senior
Emily Finnegan, Dallas, sophomore
COACH OF THE YEAR
John Sobocinski
Lake-Lehman
The Lake-Lehman girls carried an unbeaten record into the final meet of the Wyoming Valley Conference season while the school’s boys team was the most improved in the conference between 2016 and 2017. Both teams were coached by Sobocinski, who also coaches the school’s track and field program. The girls went 17-1. The boys improved from 7-11 to 13-5 in a conference where no other team gained more than three wins from a year ago. The girls finished fourth out of 14 teams in Class 2A at the District 2 championships, but advanced three individuals to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Championships.
During his career, Sobocinski’s cross country teams have produced a combined 319-139 record.