By Dave Bellomo

2020 was an interesting year, to say the least, and high school sports in Central Pa was no exception. This was especially true for the Warrior Run Girls Cross Country team, who won the PIAA 2A state championship in Hershey by defeating 5-time state champs, Central Cambria.

The Warrior Run Girls Cross Country team consisted of Alyssa Hoffman, Mikaela Majcher, Alanna Ranck, Lauren Trapani, Sage Dunkleberger, Sienna Dunkleberger, Rory Dunnick, Kelsey Hoffman, Peyton Ranck, Lillian Wertz. The coaches were Kip Hoffman, Scott Hoffman, Tom Williams, and head coach, Corey Dufrene.

Five girls were able to score team points for Warrior Run. Lauren Trapani led her team with a 5th place overall finish, 2nd place among qualifying teams, with a time of 20:04. Alyssa Hoffman took 17th place overall, 5th among qualifying teams, with a time of 20:44. Both Trapani and Hoffman took home individual medals for their efforts.

Sage and Sienna Dunkleberger took 35th and 37th places, 10th and 11th among qualifying teams, while Alanna Ranck and Mikaela Majcher were also able to earn points for the Defenders with 40th and 50th place finishes overall, 12th and 15th among qualifying teams.

I was able to catch up with Head Coach Corey Dufrene for an interview.
Coach, please give me a general overview of your competition season. How difficult was the schedule?

The 2020 season was a modified PHAC schedule due to COVID-19. The season consisted of 6 dual meets and no invitationals. A normal season would have been 6 PHAC meets versus 3 or 4 other teams (not dual meets). It also would have consisted of at least three invitationals against many of the PHAC schools and many schools from outside of the area. When the new schedule came out, we were excited because we were happy just to be able to have a season. Our schedule consisted of Selinsgrove, Midd-West, Lewisburg, Mifflinburg, Milton, and Shikellamy. It was not an easy schedule. Two of our first three meets were against really good teams in Selinsgrove and Lewisburg. Lewisburg finished in 5th place as a team in 2019 and returned many of their key runners. We completed our dual meet season against a really good Shikellamy team that had two individual state qualifiers. So I would say that our dual meet season was very tough and prepared us well for districts. In my opinion, District IV was one of the best districts in the state of Pennsylvania in 2020 for girls AA cross country.
Did you feel you had a strong team going into the season? Were there any exceptional veteran athletes, rising stars, etc.?

We felt that we had a pretty solid group entering the season. We entered the season with five very talented and experienced runners in Sage Dunkleberger, Alyssa Hoffman, Mikaela Majcher, Alanna Ranck, and Lauren Trapani. Our team rounded out with five pretty talented freshmen as well in Sienna Dunkleberger, Rory Dunnick, Kelsey Hoffman, Peyton Ranck, and Lillian Wertz. The biggest contributor to the confidence we had in this group was the work that they put in during the offseason, which was a little bit longer due to COVID-19. We were able to see the hard work they put in daily from afar, and it was exciting.
How did COVID affect training and competition?

COVID-19 affected many different aspects of the cross country season in many different ways. Our training didn’t change a whole lot during the season other than having to wear masks when we weren’t actively training and having to be screened before every practice. The biggest area that was affected due to COVID-19 was the offseason. During the spring, the kids worked hard after the outdoor track season was shut down and throughout the summer. We were able to see the training they were doing from afar, and it was awesome seeing them putting in the miles. Maybe it was because they had nothing better to do, but it definitely went a long way in being ready for the start of the cross country season. Our competition was definitely impacted due to COVID-19. As stated before, our season was modified, and we weren’t allowed to attend invitationals. We were a bit concerned about the lack of big meet experience, but we were not really focused on that early on. Our biggest concern was whether we would finish the season.
Did the pandemic create any uncertainty of even having a season?

COVID-19 caused a day-by-day aspect to life in general. We all looked forward with hope that life would return to somewhat normal (as normal as possible). When we found out that we were going to be allowed to go forward with the season, we were so excited and wanted to ensure that we did everything we could to ensure that the season continued. It was day-by-day and week-by-week for us. The kids were great in just enjoying every opportunity. One of the things we talked about often was taking advantage of our opportunities because they aren’t always a given, and our kids seemed to embrace this all season.
What were some of the other obstacles you faced?

We faced many obstacles this season, but it was all worth it in the end. The biggest obstacle we faced was the COVID-19 protocols and how to navigate through them. This was not exclusive to Warrior Run. Wearing masks and making sure to social distance as much as possible was difficult, but worth it if it meant a season. It changed how our practices looked and functioned. It also changed how we coached, as well.
Did the team expect to do as well as they did, or was it sort of week-by-week?

It was week-by-week this year, mostly due to COVID-19. Each week we had a strategy for training and competition, and the team bought in. It served us well throughout the season. We knew that we could be good, but they never looked too far ahead.
Other than the athletes, were there any people that were critical to the team’s success?

As with many successful teams, it’s never just the coaches and athletes. We couldn’t have done any of this without the support we received from many other people. None of this would have been possible without the support and dedication from the parents and families of the athletes, administrators, and staff at Warrior Run. All of the little things that make a season successful were greatly appreciated.
Is there anything else you want to add?

There were two other things that I’d like to mention. First of all, Alyssa Hoffman, a senior on the team, was able to take on and complete a project that was much needed for Warrior Run Cross Country as well as Warrior Run. Alyssa was able to plan and facilitate the construction of a new bridge across the Warrior Run Creek on school property. The new bridge was completed in time for our first home meet and, as stated, was much needed. The old bridge was not very safe and was only capable of one-way foot traffic. The new bridge is now capable of allowing two-way foot traffic and will be there for years to come. Second, the new bridge allowed us to offer to host the District IV Championship meet this year when district officials were looking for a location to hold the meet due to the shutdown of Bloomsburg University because of COVID-19. They accepted the offer, and we were able to hold districts at Warrior Run for the first time. It was great for our seniors to be able to run their last high school district meet on their home course. It just added to a truly awesome season!

It was difficult putting in words all the good that took place this season. I am truly proud of the work each athlete put in this season, and I am happy for them that they will always be able to look back on this moment and know they were Warrior Run’s first state champion cross country TEAM!