ATHLETICS UPDATE
Cross Country
The women ’ s and men ’ s cross country teams demonstrated notable achievements in the fall season . Head coach Jacki Waller , in her 18th year , guided the women ’ s team to a commendable seventh-place finish at the NJCAA DII National 5K Championships in Huntsville , Ala . This accomplishment tied a school record previously set in 2020 . The women ’ s team has consistently secured a spot in the
Jessica Erwin top 10 nationally for the past four years . Sara Ashley led the Bobcats with a season-best time of 19:52 , followed by Alexi Amer ( 20:09 ) and Jessica Erwin ( 20:10 ). Additionally , in the NJCAA Half Marathon Championship , the women secured a ninth-place finish competing against both DII and DI programs . Ashley again led the team with a time of 1:36:33 . The team also achieved second place in the NJCAA DII Region 8 5K Championship meet in Tallahassee , with Nathalia Mallo earning Division II All-FCSAA / All-NJCAA Region honors .
Athletics Update
The men ’ s cross country team , led by secondyear head coach Lee Rietsma , finished 12th at the NJCAA DII 8K Championships . Although they aimed to surpass their 11th-place finish from the previous year , they fell just short . Luis Cruzado led the men ’ s team with a time of 27:03 , followed by Tom Palamar ( 27:19 ) and Ronnie Aeschleman ( 27:23 ). In the NJCAA Ronnie Aeschleman Half Marathon , the men secured a 12th-place finish , with Palamar achieving a school-record best of 1:12:29 . Cruzado finished second for the Bobcats in 1:16:42 , followed by Aeschleman in ( 1:19:10 ). Before nationals , the men secured second place in the NJCAA DII Region 8 Championship meet in Tallahassee , with Palamar earning Division II All-FCSAA / All-NJCAA Region honors .
Luis Cruzado Tom Palamar
Alexi Amer and Sara Ashley
Volleyball
The women ’ s volleyball team , led by head coach Deann Wilson in her sixth year , concluded the season with a 14-10 overall record and clinched the Sun-Lakes Conference South Division crown with a 9-4 record . The team received national recognition in the NJCAA DII Volleyball polls and reached the conference semi-finals , ultimately losing to Pensacola State . Notable players Kylie Ciani and Elizabeth McDonald received various accolades throughout the season , including being named to the DII All- FCSAA / All-NJCAA Region 8 team and All-Sun-Lakes Conference first-team . Ciani was further honored as an NJCAA DII All-American honorable mention .
28 PHSC
Kylie Ciani
Elizabeth McDonald