McDowell Track and Field
McDowell Cross Country
established 1962
established 1957
2010
The team was led by All-Region runners: Katie Manno (8th place at Regions, 6th at districts), Melissa Perseo (5th place at Regions, 8th at districts), Marisa Fryer (9th at Regions, 14th at districts), Judy Jennings (11th at Regions, 19th at districts), Victoria Hermann (12th at Regions), Reese Shebel (13th at Regions, 18th at districts), and Franki DiSalvo (14th at Regions, 13th at districts). Katie and Melissa both qualified for states.
2011
The team was led by freshman Kelsey Swantek, who finished 2nd at Regions and 1st at districts. Joining Kelsey on the All-Region team were: Melissa Perseo (3rd), Katie Manno (4th), Katie Hain (8th), Rachel Willis (9th), Amanda Krawiec (10th), Judy Jennings (11th), Paige Russo (13th), and Reese Shebel (14th). The team took 1-2-3 at districts behind Kelsey Swantek, Melissa Perseo, and Katie Manno. Rachel Willis finished 8th, Katie Hain finished 9th, Amanda Krawiec finished 10th, and Judy Jennings finished 13th. The score of 23 at districts was one of the best scores ever in district 10 history. The team had won 4 straight invitationals before heading to states.
2012
The team was led by all-region runners: Melissa Perseo (1st- Regions, 1st- Districts), Kelsey Swantek (4th- Regions, 3rd- Districts), Ashley Buseck (5th- Regions, 5th- Districts), Rachel Willis (11th- Regions, 7th- Districts), and Amanda Krawiec (12th- Regions, 8th- Districts). Freshman, Alina Nieratko finished 6th at districts, and Kaitlin Daubert finished 9th at districts. The team lost to Villa Maria for the Region 6 dual meet title, but beat them at the Region 6 Championship. The team went on to finish 18th at the state meet, where they were led by Melissa Perseo, who finished 102nd.
2013
Kelsey Swantek became the first McDowell girl to ever win the district crown twice as she led the team to another team district title. Other team leaders at districts included Kaitlin Daubert, who finished 3rd, Ashley Buseck, who finished 6th, Francesca Sicari (11th), Marissa Flagg (13th), and Alina Nieratko (14th). The team only graduated one senior out of their top 6.
2014
The team lost the Region title to Villa Maria, who went on the win the AA state title. Kelsey Swantek finished 2nd at districts to qualify for states. Ashley Buseck joined her with a 7th place finish at districts. Freshman Haile Martin rounded out the top 10. Also contributing at districts were Jessie Redinger (13th), Kylee Wilson (14th), and Olivia Hamilton (15th).
2015
Leading the team was freshman Maddie Peterson, who finished 3rd at district, and qualified for states. Grace McLaughin (9th), Jessie Redinger (10th), and Sophomore Rachel Bessetti (11th) also qualified for states. Jordan Bielanin also contributed at districts with a 13th place finish.
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
2016
For the first time ever, the McDowell girls’ team competed as a district 6 team for AAA because of a lack of district 10 AAA teams. As a result, the team finished 6th. Freshman, Kirsten Kucharski, led the team at districts with an 18th place finish. Sophomore, Maddie Peterson was 1st team All-Region 6. Freshman Gina Villella was 2nd team as well as junior Alina Kotok.
2017
Under first year head coach, Jen Martin, the young team finished 2nd to Villa Maria in Region 6, and finished 6th for the District 6 Championship. The team was led by Junior, Maddie Petersen, who finished 19th at districts, and was the only 1st team All-Region member. Freshman, Claire Belton, finished 21st at districts. The team was also led by Rachel Ramsey, Kirsten Kucharski, Alina Kotok, Chloe Pavlov, freshman Katerina Farrell, and Sydney Schwartz. The highlight of the season was winning the Dirty Dawg Invitational for the first time since 2011. Kotok, Ramsey, and Pavlov were 2nd team All-Region.
2018
For the first time in 5 years, the team won the District Championship after competing in the District 8/10 Championship for the first time. Freshman, Kyla Kramer, also made history as the first freshman female ever to win districts for McDowell. She was 1st team All-District, and 1st team All-Region. Junior, Angela Sbrocco, was also 1st team All-Region, as well as 2nd team All-District based on her 5th place finish at districts. Maddie Petersen finished off her career with a 7th place finish at districts. She was elected to the 2nd team All-District team, and 2nd team All-Region team. Sophomore, Katerina Farrell, was also 2nd team All-District, and 2nd team All-Region. Senior, Rachel Ramsey, was named to the 2nd team All-Region. Sophomore, Claire Belton, also contributed to the teams' success with her 9th place finish at districts.
2019
For the first time in 10 years, the team was able to beat Villa Maria in a dual meet to win the Region 6 title. The team also won the District Championship. Junior, Claire Belton was the District Champion, and was 2nd team All-Region. She was 79th at the state meet. Kyla Kramer, Lexi Pierce, and Gina Villella were all 1st team All-Region. Kat Farrell was also 2nd team All-Region. It was the teams' first undefeated season since 2008.
