An already stellar cross country season in the books, things just got a little sweeter for coach Robert "Doc" Rappole and his Maple Grove runners.
Rappole, who guided the Lady Red Dragons to an impressive third straight New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D title back in early November at Elma Meadows Golf Course, was recently named the Class D girls cross country coach of the year, while two of his pupils, Hope Pietrocarlo and Corey Wefing, were selected to the Class D All-State first-team.
Pietrocarlo, a freshman and an All-Western New York first-team selection, finished third in the state meet for the second year in a row behind a finishing time of 18:57.
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COREY WEFING
Wefing, who won all of his races over the course of the season save the last, was also an All-WNY first-team choice and raced out to a solid fifth place (at a 5:21 mile pace) at the state meet with a finishing time of 16:32.4 - his best ever at Elma Meadows.
But those were just two of many local runners who made the all-state list.
Besides Pietrocarlo, fellow Lady Red Dragons Caroline Benson and Megan Marsh made the second team while Taylor Norris made the third and Abby Sirwatka was an honorable mention.
Sherman's Holly Eliason was also a second-team selection in Class D and her teammate, Rebecca King, along with Silver Creek eighth-grader Emma Seiders, were honorable mentions.
Lauren Reyda of Fredonia was named to the third team and Kirsten Holmberg of Falconer was an honorable mention in Class C.
For the boys, meanwhile, Wefing's biggest competition during the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association season, John Pannes of Olean, was an honorable mention for Class B.