McDowell Track and Field
McDowell Cross Country
established 1962
established 1957
2020
As a result of the global pandemic, with Covid-19, the team was not able to compete in any invitationals other than districts and states. The team was led by sophomore Christian Mattern. Mattern was the district champ, 1st team All-District, and led the team at states with a 44th place finish. Sophomore Nicolin Pierce was 1st team All-Region, and finished 7th at districts and 98th at the state meet. Junior Caleb Willis finished 8th at the district meet and 99th at states. Daniel Easley and Jason Visosky were both able to also qualify for states with district places of 9th and 10th. They were both 2nd team All-Region as well. The team was able to have a team score at the state meet with 5 qualifiers.
2021
The team was able to win the Region 6 title with an undefeated season. They just barely lost to Taylor Allderdice by 3 points at Districts. The team was once again able to get a team score at the state meet with 5 state qualifiers. Leading the team was junior, Christian Mattern, who was 1st team All-Region, 1st team All-Districts, and was the runner-up at the District Championship. His 34th place at the state meet was the 2nd best all time for a junior (Jon Bannister-12th, 1967). Kamden Kramer, a freshman, was 1st team All-Region, and placed 4th at districts, and 77th at states. His place at states was the best ever for a freshman at McDowell. Senior, Landon Owens, was 1st team All-Region, and placed 9th at districts. Junior Nicolin Pierce, was 1st team All-Region. Sophomore, Brady Heeter, was 1st team All-Region, and placed 8th at districts. Senior Daniel Easly placed 6th at districts. Freshman, Camden Pierce and Senior, Caleb Willis were both 2nd team All-Region.
2022
The team was able to win the District title for the first time in 5 years. They beat Taylor Allderdice, who had won the previous 4. Their score of 18 points was the lowest for a AAA team since Academy scored 16 in 1949. They repeated as Region Champs win their largest win against Cathedral Prep since 1998. The team won the McDowell Invitational for the first time since 2009. They also won the Legends Meet and the Northwest PA Invitational. Sophomore, Kamden Kramer led the team with the highest finish ever at states with an 11th place finish. Jon Bannister had the previous best place (12th- 1967, 1968). He was the first state medalist since Joe Vacanti in 1999. Kamden was the alumni race winner and the McDowell Invitational winner. He set the McDowell Brown's Farm course record with a 15:50 time. Adam Dzuricky had the record from 1998 (16:09). He was the Region Runner of the Year, and first team All-Region. Senior, Christian Mattern finished out his high school career as the district runner-up, 1st team All-Region, and a 41st place at the state meet. Senior Nicolin Pierce, Junior Brady Heeter, and Sophomore Camden Pierce were also 1st team All-Region. Freshman Deacon Pierce and Jaden Olmes were 2nd team All-Region.
2023
Led by Kamden Kramer, the team won the Region and District titles. Kramer was The Region Runner of the Year, McDowell Runner of the Year, 1st team All-Region, 1st team All-District, District Champion, and All-State with his 23rd place at the state meet. Camden Pierce was 2nd team All-District, and 1st team All-Region as he was the District Runner-Up. Brady Heeter was 1st team All-Region, and placed 5th at Districts. Deacon Pierce was also 1st team All-Region. Jaden Olmes and Freshman, Caleb Coffman were 2nd team All-Region.
2024
1968
The 1968 cross country team had 19 new runners, but still managed a successful season with 9 wins and only 2 losses. The team won the Central Catholic Invitational, took 2nd at Section 1, lost districts to Strong Vincent, and placed 6th at the state meet. The team was led by All-State runner, and captain, Jon Bannister, and captain Jay Pratt, who finished 10th at districts. Bannister finished 12th at the state meet to tie the highest finish ever by a McDowell runner.
1969
For the third straight year, the boys' team was undefeated, and Region champs. Their overall winning streak has reached 13 dual meets. Leading the team was Kamden Kramer. He was the Region Runner of the Year, first team All-Region, first team All-District, district champ, and All-State for third straight year. He also broke his own course record for Browns' Farm for McDowell (15:42). He also broke the course record for Frontier Park. Camden Pierce was 1st team All-Region, and 2nd team All-District. Deacon Pierce was also 1st team All-Region. Allan Wiertel, Caleb Coffman, A.J. Roberts, and freshman Grant Skrbin were all 2nd team All-Region.
