CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hughesville's Carter Sherwood and Tristan Kurzawa both compete during Saturday's PIAA cross country championships in Hershey.

Hughesville’s boys and girls cross country teams have been putting in a ton of work and training since the summer in June. Numerous runs, plenty of speed training, even weight room trips.

It all led to this past Saturday, where Hughesville was hoping for success. For the boys team, that success was what they had all dreamed of since the beginning of the year: state gold.

Hughesville’s boys cross country team secured the second state championship in program history at Hershey.

“This win means a lot. The guys have put everything they have into this and have been giving their all since June. Every single one of our guys earned this state championship through the countless miles and grueling workouts. They truly deserved it,” Hughesville coach Griffin Molino said. “We couldn’t have done it without all of the support throughout the whole season from our parents, coaches, our athletic trainer, our school’s administration and the community of Hughesville. We are truly blessed to have so much support and we couldn’t have accomplished this goal without all of these people.”

Molino’s first year coaching the Spartans was in 2021 and he got to see his athletes win the program’s first state title that fall in cross country. That title was set in motion by former coach Josh Gavitt before Molino took the reins over.

For Molino, he noted that this year’s state title didn’t just happen. It’s been a four-year journey to get here.

“We owe so much of this success to Josh and his staff. Our win this year has truly felt like a four-year march towards a state title. I think this win validates everything we have been trying to build and everything we’ve been preaching to the kids,” Molino said. “We are so lucky to have athletes and parents who are willing to buy in and trust the coaches unconditionally. This is the school’s second state title in its history, so I hope it elevates us to a program that is a perennial winner and one that has staying power, similar to Danville and Lewisburg who are great every single year.”

Tyce Shaner led the way for Hughesville to win state gold this year. The senior ran a time of 16:10 to take home a silver medal. The only runner faster than him on Saturday in Hershey was Quaker Valley’s Jonah Montagnese,who ran a 16:00 for gold.

“Tyce did everything he possibly could to get the win on Saturday. He led a majority of the way and he fought from gun to finish and that is really all we can ask for as coaches. He knew to win he would have to put forth his best effort and stay engaged for the entire race and he did just that,” Molino said. “I thought he did a phenomenal job at pushing the pace and trying to run away with it over the last 1.5K, he really put everything he had into it and maybe on a different day, it would have been enough to become a state champion.

“Unfortunately you just have to tip your hat to Jonah, he’s a phenomenal runner and he took everything Tyce threw at him and was still able to secure the win,” Molino continued. “I couldn’t be more proud of Tyce though, he has led this team from the beginning of the year on and off the course. We’re extremely lucky to have a leader like Tyce who leads with his words and his actions. At the end of the day, a runner-up finish is the best finish we have ever had at cross country states and Tyce is so deserving.”

Hughesville had seven boys compete in the Class AA Race, six of whom finished in the top-50 with Shaner (second), Wyatt Laubacher (17th, 17:18), Carter Sherwood (34th, 17:43), Tristan Kurzawa (36th, 17:44), Everett Shaner (47th, 17:59) and Joseph Laubacher (47th, 18:05).

Molino pointed out that the team never gave up on Saturday and the win showed the true character of the runners and program.

“A group that is willing to fight until the end and fight for every spot. If one guy has a bad day, we have three guys willing to pick up the slack, it’s truly an unbelievable group and a group that I personally couldn’t be any more proud of,” Molino said. “To win the way that we did was just poetic because I think it encapsulates what these guys are about and how much they care about one another and are willing to do whatever it takes to win for each other.

“It’s truly inspiring to see high school boys who care so much about each other and are more than willing to go to battle together. Ultimately, I think that is what got them to this point, and won them this state championship,” Molino continued. “We’ll be sad to see our three seniors go, because they have meant so much to the program but they’ll leave us after giving us a day that we’ll never forget. For me, it was an honor to be along for the ride.”

Hughesville had three girls compete on Saturday as well in Emeilia Wolfe, Grace Fortin and Evey Meckbach. Wolfe was Hughesville’s top finisher in girls competition as the freshman took 33rd with a time of 20:39. Fortin finished 84th after she ran a time of 21:35. Meckbach ran a time of 21:45 to finish in the top 100.