The Crusaders are state champions.
The Bishop Eustace Preparatory School boys cross country team won the Non-Public B state championship Nov. 4 at Holmdel Park.
After finishing second in the last two state championship meets, the Crusaders got over the hump with an outstanding performance by its five runners. It was the program’s first state championship in seven years.
“Coming into this season, the team was looking forward to bouncing back after two consecutive second-place finishes,” Crusaders coach Michael McClain said in an Instagram post. “Through many events out of our control – including team members from the year previous deciding not to come out again – we were left with five runners to start the season, the bare minimum you need to score at a meet. Things then got worse when multiple members of our team dealt with nagging injuries throughout the season. It then got even tougher when Art Wheeler, one of our senior runners, was not physically able to run today, making us depend on a freshman who had only been participating in the sport for three weeks previous to today and had never seen the course we ran on.”
The Crusaders bested 10 other teams in their field and were led by senior Ryan Gaulrapp, who finished second individually in a time of 17:28. Junior Ethan Caprarola finished fifth with a time of 17:44, and senior Matt Colden clocked in 11th with a time of 18:40. Freshman Shane Smith and sophomore Alexander Dietz finished 31st and 32nd, respectively, just under the 20 minute mark.
“Every runner on our team today ran … with their heart on the line,” McClain said. “Every man counted.”
Bishop Eustace will compete Nov. 11 at the Meet of Champions with a chance to pile on even more accolades.
“This team is the most resilient in the history of the program; they have overcome every challenge that has been thrown at them this year and have done it in spectacular fashion,” McClain said. “We are prepared to compete for the overall state title … and are ready to show the country who we are.”
The Bishop Eustace girls team also had a great showing, placing fourth in the Non-Public B standings. Anya Kazemi finished second individually for the Crusaders with a time of 19:55.
Other South Jersey results
In the Girls Non-Public A meet, Shaelan McNally led Paul VI to a fourth-place team finish, as the Eagles’ senior took fifth individually with a time of 19:17. Camden Catholic’s Nilaa Ponnappan finished in 16th place to pace the Irish to a 16th place finish.
In the Non-Public A boys race, Paul VI Will Mrozinski’s scorching time of 16:18 earned him an eighth place individually, as the Eagles placed fifth overall.
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