The New Era of the New Year

By: Garrett Zatlin

For the past few years now, our top PA alum have included names like Brenden Shearn, Alec Kunzweiler, Ned Willig, Tom Coyle, and many more. Of course, all good things must come to an end. All of these guys will be graduating out of the NCAA after this spring. 

This is the last time we will see Brenden Shearn give life to a once forgetful Penn program. This is the last time we will see Alec Kunzweiler navigate through a tactical mile enroute to a top finish. This is the last time we will see Ned Willig^[1] dominate the Ivy League (now BIG 10) middle distances. This is the last time we will see Tom Coyle drop sub 4 minute miles or lead off Stanford's DMR. 

But as they leave, new names are emerging. In the past year, some of the best performances from our PA alum haven't necessarily come from juniors or seniors. They have come from freshmen and sophomores. The young guys are progressing rapidly and their development is unheralded.  

Who would have thought that in 2016, Kevin James would be among the top seven runners for the defending national champions (Syracuse) as a redshirt freshman? The same goes for true freshman Jake Brophy who was a key scorer in Navy's quest to qualify for nationals^[2]. Brophy was the only underclassman in their top seven.

Or how about Villanova's redshirt freshman Andrew Marston becoming the first PA alum since 2014 to qualify for XC nationals as an individual^[3]? Additionally, Marston is one of only five PA alumni since 2010 to qualify for NCAA's as an individual. The other four? Dan Lowry^[4], Vince McNally, Kyle Dawson, and Matt Fischer. That's some nice company to be part of.  

Meanwhile, John Lewis (as a true freshman) proved to be one of the most consistent PA alumni in the nation. He recorded NINE sub-1:50 efforts throughout his indoor and outdoor track campaigns which resulted in a collegiate PR of 1:48. But while John Lewis was logging great race after great race, Columbia freshman Alek Sauer was preparing for a killer post-season as he ripped open a 1:48 PR to make the NCAA East Region finals. Lewis was the first man out of that final.

Yet, the biggest surprise was Penn State's Colin Abert. It was easy to dismiss Abert when you considered his youth and inexperience, but he posted some impressive times of 3:45 (1500), 4:03 (mile), 8:08 (3000), 14:10 (5000). Does 2017 hold a sub-4 mile for Abert? What about a sub 14? Dare I say a nationals appearance? After that first year, it's tough say any of those won't happen...

Freshmen and sophomores are hitting times that past alumni didn't run until they were juniors or seniors. Could this be the start of PA alumni consistently qualifying for nationals? Having multiple All-Americans? Becoming conference champions? How about an individual who earns multiple All-American honors? These aren't unrealistic goals.

And the best part? We haven't seen the full potential of guys like Sam Webb (Penn), Elias Graca (Penn), Matt McGoey (Pittsburgh), Sam Ritz^[5] (Columbia), Casey Comber (Villanova), Paul Power (Villanova), Griffin Molino (Syracuse) and pretty much all of the 2016 recruits that just finished up their first collegiate season of cross country.

For some, it will take time to find their groove. They might have to deal with injury or illness or just having a bad season. Everyone is human. It happens. 

But this is a special group and they have given us good reason to set expectations high. They bring a new sense of excitement and a stronger conviction to the phrase "PA Don't Play". Whatever your thoughts about 2016 may have been, the new year will almost assuredly be better.

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[1] Willig is taking the same approach as Dan Lowry by completing his undergraduate education at Brown and finishing his last year of eligibility at Michigan as a grad student.

[2] It was the first time Navy had qualified for the national championship since 1997. 

[3] Matt Fischer was qualified as an individual in 2014.

[4] Dan Lowry qualified for nationals as an individual twice in his career.

[5] Ritz is a name to watch as he is coming back from injury.