The Penn Boys XC Team faced adversity at the New Prairie Invitational on Sept. 21. The Kingsmen fell short and placed 3rd, losing to the Valparaiso Vikings in 2nd, and the Northridge Raiders in 1st.
Leading the Kingsmen, junior Kush Grewal ran a time of 16:43. This sub-17 minute performance granted Grewal 14th place overall at the Invitational.
Placing 20th overall, senior Jack Ryan persevered, running a time of 16:54. Ryan secured his varsity spot on the team, placing 2nd for Penn.
Following Ryan and Grewal, senior Jack Scalise edged a sub 17 minute 5k, running a time of 17:01. Scalise locked in his 3rd position on the team, as well as placing 24th at the meet.
Falling two seconds short of Scalise, junior Kale Grewal finished with a time of 17:03. The junior finished 4th on the team, just failing to reach Elkhart star Aaron Richter, and placed 26th.
Afterwards, Senior Tanner Mammolenti pushed through a difficult race, finishing with a time of 17:12. The senior leader locked in his varsity spot as Penn’s 5th runner, placing 33rd at the New Prairie Invitational.
Sophomore Brody Lederer finished in 35th place at the meet, crossing the finish line with the time of 17:17. The sophomore star fell short of his previous personal best, but Lederer pushed through and declared himself 6th on the team.
Concluding, finishing 7th for Penn, junior Gavin Belzowski prevailed, running a time of 17:39. Belzowski finished 46th overall.
Reflecting on this race, senior leader Tanner Mammolenti said, “Last week’s meet helped us prepare for the post season by giving us a chance to run on our sectional and regional course against good competition in rough conditions. Hopefully this will make us more prepared for how to strategize for the post season and show us mentally and physically what is needed to achieve our goals.”
The Kingsmen next travel to the Culver Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 28.
