Alrighty folks, this weekend we all need to cheer on our Gannon Knights cross country squad as the runners compete Saturday in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional, hosted by Lock Haven at the West Branch Cross Country Course.
The Gannon men’s team has been outstanding, thanks in part to senior Joseph Westrick.
The environmental engineering major from Pittsburgh’s Chartiers Valley High School won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship on Oct. 25 in Bloomsburg with a time of 25 minutes, 20.3 seconds.
Westrick led the pack the whole race, dominating the competition and winning by nine seconds. He became only the fourth overall individual PSAC Champion for Gannon in all sports, joining the exclusive club that includes golfers Matt Barto, Diana Munoz and Amanda Teodorsson.
Last year, Westrick placed fourth at the PSAC meet and wound up with a fifth-place finish at the Atlantic Regional meet, earning a berth in the national championship meet. There, Westrick placed 81st with a time of 34:20.8.
For his efforts, Westrick was named first-team All-PSAC and first-team All-Region a year ago.
Westrick wasn’t the only standout for the Knights at last month’s PSAC meet, as Ryan Garich finished sixth to help Gannon finish ninth among 15 teams competing.
Also competing at this weekend’s regional meet is Gannon’s women’s team.
The Knights finished 11th of 17 teams at the PSAC Championships. Their standout runner was Sarah Fiorello, who finished 17th to earn All-PSAC honors.
So anyways folks both the men’s and women’s meets will be held in Lock Haven, so make sure to figure out rides so you can head down to cheer on your Ganon Knights!
And as always Go Knights!
TOM SWICK
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