Madison Recap

With less than three weeks left until the post-season, the Jaguars continue to put in solid effort, showcasing another strong performance at the U Wanna Come Back meet in Madison. The competition was fierce, with the Varsity Jags finishing 8th out of 12 teams, while the JV squad came through impressively, securing 3rd place among the same 12 teams.

Leading the Varsity team once again were Maddie Koons (18:54) and Avery Stives (18:58). Both athletes not only cracked the sub-19-minute mark but also earned spots at 8th and 9th place, respectively, on SJA’s all-time rankings.

On the JV side, senior Silvia Lanese led the charge with a personal best time of 22:32. She was closely followed by Celia O’Leary (23:07), Mora O’Linn (23:13), Alex Humphrey (23:25), and Bridie Hyland (23:25).

The day wrapped up with 26 runners achieving season-best times and 9 athletes hitting lifetime bests. The team recognized two standout performers as Athletes of the Meet. Avery Stives (’27) for securing her place on the all-time list, and Kate Neitzel (’28), who earned a lifetime best with a strong race.

Looking ahead to next week, the team will split up for two meets. Captains, four-year seniors, and those who have run sub-24 minutes this season will compete at the Portage Invite in Michigan, while the rest of the squad heads to the Milt Place XC Festival in Medina.

Black River Recap

This past weekend, the team split into two squads. The Varsity Jags took a well-earned break from racing, while the rest of the team competed at the JB Firestone / Black River XC Invitational. After placing fourth at the meet last year, the team returned with renewed determination and raced their way to an impressive first-place finish.

The Jag pack was led by strong performances from Anna Heuberger (5th place), Mae Wimbiscus (7th place), and Jezebel Kostecke (9th place), each playing a key role in the team’s success.

This week, three athletes earned the title of Athlete of the Meet for their standout performances and for leading and supporting their teammates both on and off the course. Congratulations to Stella Garland (‘27), Anna Heuberger (‘28), and Mary Linehan (‘29) for exemplifying the spirit and strength of the team.

Next up, the team will head to Madison High School for the Madison U Wanna Come Back Invitational.

Massillon Jackson HeckSpacular Recap

This past Saturday, the SJA Jaguars competed at the HeckSpacular, hosted by Massillon Jackson. While the meet was smaller in size, the competition remained tough. The Jags rose to the challenge, securing an impressive 2nd place team finish.

Leading the pack once again was Maddie Koons (‘29), running a season-best 19:01, followed closely by Avery Stives (‘27) with a lifetime-best 19:13. Both runners solidified their spots on SJA’s all-time performance list with these stellar times.

Senior Katherine Starck crossed as the team’s third finisher, also earning a lifetime-best with a time of 20:45. The next four scorers followed closely:

Carolyn Skrha (‘28) – 21:07
Olivia Newman (‘28) – 21:26 (lifetime best)
Ella Schneider (‘27) – 21:37 (lifetime best)
Anna Heuberger (‘28) – 21:45 (lifetime best)

In total, 26 athletes recorded season-best times, while 7 achieved lifetime bests. This is a testament to the team’s continued hard work and growth.

This week’s Athletes of the Meet, as voted by the team, were Izzy Snow (‘29) and Silvia Lanese (‘26) for their dedication and outstanding performances.

Next weekend, the Varsity squad will take a well-earned rest while the rest of the team heads to the JB Firestone Invitational at Black River High School. Go Jags!