Charlotte-area 2020 private high school boys cross-country preview
BY JAY EDWARDS AND LANGSTON WERTZ JR.
Last week, the N.C. Independent Schools Board of Trustees voted to move ahead with fall sports.
High school football practice will begin next week and games will begin Sept. 25.
Cross-country, girls tennis and girls golf will begin the week of Sept. 8. The following week, field hockey, volleyball and boys soccer return.
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BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS TO WATCH
Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers lost four of their top seven runners to graduation, but Country Day has plenty of experience with junior Connor Kleiderer (ninth at CISAA championships), senior A.J. Chardiet (10th at CISAA) and sophomore Pete Pignetti back to chase a league title.
Charlotte Latin: The Hawks return their top five runners from last season: Senior co-captains Charles Harris and Cole Lavelle and junior captain Harrison Klingman teaming with sophomores Emilio Llerenas-Soto and Will Vaughn. Charlotte Latin has the experience and depth to stay in the top half of the CISAA (third last year), which will have them more than prepared to excel at the NCISAA 4A state championships (sixth last year).
Covenant Day: The Lions return 15 runners from a year ago, including their entire top five. This year, seniors Lance Lokas and Bryson Mace, juniors Harry Cogdill, Ian DeYoung and John Michael Salamone and sophomores Andrew Hempe and Evan Hempe give Covenant Day the depth to move up the conference and state ranks after finished fourth in the CISAA and seventh overall at the NCISAA 4A (state) championships last year.
Davidson Day: The Patriots return six starters from a team that finished as NCISAA 2A state runner-up, led by juniors Mitchell Zammitti (2A individual state champion) and Carter Laatsch and the senior quartet of Aaron Barton, Max Carr, Ben Slay and Thomas Watson.
Gaston Christian: The Eagles ran to their first Metrolina Athletic conference (MAC) title last season while also finishing sixth at the NCISAA 3A state meet. Gaston Christian has plenty experience and talent to repeat. Juniors Thomas Bunko, Adam Hoyle Connor Nanney, Jake Sosebee and senior Ryan Thornburg are all returning.
Metrolina Christian: The Warriors have won five of the last six MAC titles, but will have plenty of motivation after a runner-up conference finish last season. Seniors Camden Johnson, Roman Sorrentino, Grey Wooten, junior Matt Herian and sophomore Evan Shifflett all return.
Providence Day: The three-time defending NCISAA 4A state champions have plenty of talent returning with a trio of all-state performers in Christian Landis (4A state runner-up), Colter Nichols (seventh at state) and John Smith (10th at state) all running 16:30 or better. Providence Day will try to win its 21st straight conference title.
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS TO WATCH
Jack Field, Cannon School, Sr.: The Cougars’ top returning runner looks to race up the conference ladder (28th at CISAA championships last year) for a competitive Cannon School team.
Nolan Godfrey, Hickory Grove, Sr.: Lions’ senior was 11th at the MAC league championships in 2019.
Charles Harris, Charlotte Latin, Sr.: The Hawks’ senior co-captain returns after a top-10 league finish (eighth at CISAA0 and 27th at state).
Owen Hunter, Lake Norman Christian, Sr.: The Storm senior will be running to improve his third-place finish at the Carolina State Athletic Association championships last year.
Camden Johnson, Metrolina Christian, Sr.: Four-time all-MAC performer had a strong junior season as conference runner-up and 21st at the NCISAA 4A state meet.
Connor Kleiderer, Charlotte Country Day, Jr.: The 2019 Bucs’ team’s most valuable runner was ninth at the CISAA championships and 18th at state last year.
Christian Landis, Providence Day, Sr.: The two-time defending CISAA conference champion looks to finish his Chargers’ career as the NCISAA 4A state individual champion after earning the 4A state runner-up last year.
Bryson Mace, Covenant Day, Sr.: Lions’ standout set a school-record, running a 16:02.90 last season. He finished fourth at CISAA conference championships, ninth at the NCISAA 4A state championships.
Jackson McGeough, Woodlawn School, Sr.: The Trailblazers’ senior is a legitimate NCISAA 1A state contender after finishing third last year.
Conner Nanney, Gaston Christian, Jr.: The MAC champion also finished eighth at the NCISAA 3A state championships.
Mitchell Zammitti, Davidson Day, Jr.: The defending NCISAA 2A state champion hopes to repeat.
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS ON THE RISE
Caleb Blumenthal, United Faith, Fr.: Falcons’ freshman was the team’s No. 3 runner in his first season of cross-country.
David Lash, Charlotte Christian, Sr.: The Knights’ top returning runner is the leader of a young team.
Zach Makemson, Providence Day, Fr.: CISAA Middle School 3K champion (2019) should have immediate impact in Chargers’ varsity lineup.
Josh Ottenger, Hickory Grove, Fr.: MAC Middle School 3K champion (2019) will also run right into help a veteran, Lions’ lineup.
Grey Wooten, Metrolina Christian, Sr.: The Warriors’ veteran has the potential to challenge for the MAC title, according to coach Brett Honeycutt.
INTERESTING NOTES
CISAA Conference
BY JAY EDWARDS AND LANGSTON WERTZ JR.
Last week, the N.C. Independent Schools Board of Trustees voted to move ahead with fall sports.
High school football practice will begin next week and games will begin Sept. 25.
Cross-country, girls tennis and girls golf will begin the week of Sept. 8. The following week, field hockey, volleyball and boys soccer return.
TOP ARTICLES
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS TO WATCH
Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers lost four of their top seven runners to graduation, but Country Day has plenty of experience with junior Connor Kleiderer (ninth at CISAA championships), senior A.J. Chardiet (10th at CISAA) and sophomore Pete Pignetti back to chase a league title.
Charlotte Latin: The Hawks return their top five runners from last season: Senior co-captains Charles Harris and Cole Lavelle and junior captain Harrison Klingman teaming with sophomores Emilio Llerenas-Soto and Will Vaughn. Charlotte Latin has the experience and depth to stay in the top half of the CISAA (third last year), which will have them more than prepared to excel at the NCISAA 4A state championships (sixth last year).
Covenant Day: The Lions return 15 runners from a year ago, including their entire top five. This year, seniors Lance Lokas and Bryson Mace, juniors Harry Cogdill, Ian DeYoung and John Michael Salamone and sophomores Andrew Hempe and Evan Hempe give Covenant Day the depth to move up the conference and state ranks after finished fourth in the CISAA and seventh overall at the NCISAA 4A (state) championships last year.
Davidson Day: The Patriots return six starters from a team that finished as NCISAA 2A state runner-up, led by juniors Mitchell Zammitti (2A individual state champion) and Carter Laatsch and the senior quartet of Aaron Barton, Max Carr, Ben Slay and Thomas Watson.
Gaston Christian: The Eagles ran to their first Metrolina Athletic conference (MAC) title last season while also finishing sixth at the NCISAA 3A state meet. Gaston Christian has plenty experience and talent to repeat. Juniors Thomas Bunko, Adam Hoyle Connor Nanney, Jake Sosebee and senior Ryan Thornburg are all returning.
Metrolina Christian: The Warriors have won five of the last six MAC titles, but will have plenty of motivation after a runner-up conference finish last season. Seniors Camden Johnson, Roman Sorrentino, Grey Wooten, junior Matt Herian and sophomore Evan Shifflett all return.
Providence Day: The three-time defending NCISAA 4A state champions have plenty of talent returning with a trio of all-state performers in Christian Landis (4A state runner-up), Colter Nichols (seventh at state) and John Smith (10th at state) all running 16:30 or better. Providence Day will try to win its 21st straight conference title.
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS TO WATCH
Jack Field, Cannon School, Sr.: The Cougars’ top returning runner looks to race up the conference ladder (28th at CISAA championships last year) for a competitive Cannon School team.
Nolan Godfrey, Hickory Grove, Sr.: Lions’ senior was 11th at the MAC league championships in 2019.
Charles Harris, Charlotte Latin, Sr.: The Hawks’ senior co-captain returns after a top-10 league finish (eighth at CISAA0 and 27th at state).
Owen Hunter, Lake Norman Christian, Sr.: The Storm senior will be running to improve his third-place finish at the Carolina State Athletic Association championships last year.
Camden Johnson, Metrolina Christian, Sr.: Four-time all-MAC performer had a strong junior season as conference runner-up and 21st at the NCISAA 4A state meet.
Connor Kleiderer, Charlotte Country Day, Jr.: The 2019 Bucs’ team’s most valuable runner was ninth at the CISAA championships and 18th at state last year.
Christian Landis, Providence Day, Sr.: The two-time defending CISAA conference champion looks to finish his Chargers’ career as the NCISAA 4A state individual champion after earning the 4A state runner-up last year.
Bryson Mace, Covenant Day, Sr.: Lions’ standout set a school-record, running a 16:02.90 last season. He finished fourth at CISAA conference championships, ninth at the NCISAA 4A state championships.
Jackson McGeough, Woodlawn School, Sr.: The Trailblazers’ senior is a legitimate NCISAA 1A state contender after finishing third last year.
Conner Nanney, Gaston Christian, Jr.: The MAC champion also finished eighth at the NCISAA 3A state championships.
Mitchell Zammitti, Davidson Day, Jr.: The defending NCISAA 2A state champion hopes to repeat.
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY RUNNERS ON THE RISE
Caleb Blumenthal, United Faith, Fr.: Falcons’ freshman was the team’s No. 3 runner in his first season of cross-country.
David Lash, Charlotte Christian, Sr.: The Knights’ top returning runner is the leader of a young team.
Zach Makemson, Providence Day, Fr.: CISAA Middle School 3K champion (2019) should have immediate impact in Chargers’ varsity lineup.
Josh Ottenger, Hickory Grove, Fr.: MAC Middle School 3K champion (2019) will also run right into help a veteran, Lions’ lineup.
Grey Wooten, Metrolina Christian, Sr.: The Warriors’ veteran has the potential to challenge for the MAC title, according to coach Brett Honeycutt.
INTERESTING NOTES
- Charlotte Country Day junior Connor Kleiderer recently completed his Eagle Scout Project, working with RunningWorks.org to assist families experiencing homelessness and poverty.
- Davidson Day junior Mitchell Zammitti is the younger brother of former Davidson Day star and state champion (cross-country/track) Melissa Zammitti, who now running as a senior at Cornell University.
- Gaston Christian cross-country coach Jason Moore was an an all-conference runner at same school in 2008 and 2009.
- Lake Norman Christian senior Owen Hunter is running in his sixth season under Storm coach Anisia Tellefsen. He began his varsity career in middle school.
- Metrolina Christian senior Camden Johnson could become the school’s first five-time all-MAC runner. Johnson would be only the third MAC runner from any school to accomplish that feat.
- The Providence Day boys’ cross-country team has won 20 straight conference championships in a row.
CISAA Conference
- Providence Day; 2. Charlotte Latin; 3. Covenant Day; 4. Charlotte Country Day; 5. Cannon School; 6. Charlotte Christian.
- Davidson Day; 2. Hickory Christian; 3. University Christian; 4. Statesville Christian.
- Gaston Christian; 2. Metrolina Christian; 3. SouthLake Christian; 4. Hickory Grove; 5. Gaston Day; 6. Westminster Catawba; 7. Concord Academy.
