The NWPA Championship, hosted this year for the first time at Pleasant Ridge Park in Fairview, Pennsylvania, served as a fitting invitational capstone to a season defined by resolve and steady growth for these pioneer boys. On a cool, sunlit evening, runners took on a classic cross-country challenge demarcated by two grinding climbs up a long hill, winding wooded paths, and a fast, sloping finish into the baseball fields. It was not a course built for personal bests, but for toughness and teamwork.

Reserve, as they have all year, rose to the occasion. Predicted to finish 11th in the field of 18, the boys defied expectations to place seventh overall—an emphatic close to a season that, by design, has been about collective progress.

Junior James Johnston '27 set the tone early, attacking the opening mile in 4:59 and positioning himself with the front pack. Though a cramp with roughly 1000 meters remaining slowed his final stretch, Johnston battled through to finish 16th overall in 17:50, a testament to his discipline and grit. Sophomore Brendan Bennett '28 followed close behind, concluding his season in 18:05, good for 27th overall and ninth among all underclassmen in the race.

Reserve's strength, as ever, lay in its depth. Ian Fleming '27 returned to the lineup with a confident 19:04, trailed by Rian Arora '26 (19:42), Leo Wang '27 (19:50) and Victor Wang '28 (19:53). Junior Daniel Randazzo '27 closed out the varsity scoring in 19:58, giving WRA seven runners across the line within just over two minutes of one another—a testament to the team's cohesion.

That depth paid off. Along with sophomore Arav Mathur '28 (20:14), a handful of WRA athletes crossed ahead of the fifth runners from several teams that the pioneers ultimately beat, underscoring the importance of every spot. Grant Adams '26 returned to the squad after navigating some health challenges and ran with heart to post a 21:15. Sophomores Ronan Flower '28 and Harry Xu '28 both clocked 21:04, with Xu earning a personal best and hinting at a bright future in the sport. Wen Xiao '27 (22:07) continued his steady season, rounding out a strong team effort.

Maverick Geraghty '29 led the freshman with a promising 23:46, followed by Mekhi Hoyte '28 (24:14), Phineas Haskell '29 (24:37), and Tristan Kahrl '26 (24:42).

The boys' seventh-place finish reflected not just athletic progress but the maturation of a culture—one grounded in commitment and shared purpose. On a challenging course under a clear Pennsylvania sky, Reserve showed what it means to run for something larger than yourself.

Full Results here: 

https://pa.milesplit.com/meets/698767-nwpa-cross-country-championships-2025/info