Best Animated Feature

Best Animated Feature
Best Performance by an Underclassmen
This is essentially the “Best Actor” award, but for freshman and sophomores. Again, the voters can interpret exactly what constitutes “best”.

And the nominees are ...

Evan Addison, LaSalle

This sophomore from LaSalle was a key part of the team’s success in both the XC and track. He ran in the top 5 for the Explorers throughout the season and also ran a pair of clutch legs on LaSalle’s state qualifying 4x8s. He capped off the season at the Henderson Distance Festival with a 4:17 full mile, holding his own in a stacked field of some of the greatest runners of the year.

Liam Conway, Owen J. Roberts

The Owen J. Roberts sophomore was one of the top cross runners in the state in 2015 and just barely missed a medal in the fall. On the track, he proved himself by qualifying for all three distance events at the indoor state championship and then ran 1:54 and 4:15 during the spring. Conway made the state finals in the 1600 and will be one of the top returners for next year’s race.

Jake Claricurzio, CB West

Although he was only a sophomore, Claricurzio was put on the all-important anchor leg for both of CB West’s 4x800s at the state championship (indoor and outdoor). In the outdoor finals, he held his own in an absolutely loaded leg and split a 1:53 to help West earn bronze (and almost silver). He also led his indoor squad to a silver medal just ahead of Abington and ran the 1200 leg of the team’s medal winning DMR.

Luke and Matt Eissler, Pennridge

Pennridge got a pair of big talents in the Eissler brothers. Luke and Matt each held their own in the mid-distances, especially the 800 and ran some key legs for the team’s 4x8 both indoors and outdoors. Matt ran a monster split at outdoor states as a freshman (possibly around 1:55-1:56) and helped Pennridge take home a third straight state medal in the 4x8.

David Endres, Cade Sands, and Cole Sands, CB East

CB East’s XC team was in a dog fight all season to clinch a spot on the line at states. Thanks to this trio of talented freshmen they not only qualified (5^th in D1), but also placed in the top 10 at the state championships. Endres continues his fantastic running on the track, splitting under 2 minutes in the 4x8 and running a key leg on the team’s medal winning DMR.

Tristan Forsythe, Winchester Thurston

The sophomore from Winchester Thurston added an impressive 3 medals to his trophy case this year after medaling in XC, indoor track and outdoor track. He was one of the top sophomores in the state for A XC and won the slow heat of the indoor mile at states. This coming outdoors, with Domenic Perretta graduating, Forsythe should be near the top of the title contenders in the 1600m.

Josh Hoey, DT West

What’s there to say about Josh Hoey that hasn’t already been said? In his three trips to states this year he finished 3^rd-2^nd-3^rd, running the mile and 1600 during track. He also was a part of the state and regional champions in XC (their #1 runner at regionals) as well as a member of West’s outdoor state champion 4x8. But perhaps most impressive of all, Hoey won the Penn Relays mile this year as just a sophomore.

Kamil Jihad, Neumann Goretti

Jihad had an absolutely monster season on the track, especially during outdoors. In his first season at Neumann Goretti, Jihad ran a 1:52 at outdoor states to help push Domenic Perretta to a state record in the open 800. During indoors, he qualified for states in both the 400 and the 800 and tried the difficult double of contesting both at states. Like Forsythe, with Perretta graduating the 800 could be Jihad’s for the taking next year.

Seth Ketler and Sam Owori, Seneca Valley

Seneca Valley’s star is Mike Kolor, but their depth in 2015-2016 was tremendous as well. In XC, Seneca Valley impressed with a surprise 2^nd place finish at the WPIAL championships, thanks in part to Sam Ketler and Sam Owori’s big rise as freshman. In addition, the Seneca Valley DMR finished 4^th at the indoor state championship, with Ketler running a strong opening 1200m leg under the bright lights.

Spencer Smucker, WC Henderson

The Henderson sophomore was one of the top XC runners in the state this past season and grabbed a second straight XC state medal, finishing 15^th. He also led his Henderson team to a #10 finish in the state. On the track, Smucker anchored Henderson’s DMR into the top 10 yet again during his first season of indoor track. Outdoors he showed great speed in the 800 and 1600 and helped Henderson qualify for the district finals in the 4x8.