Check out the T&G Hometeam boys' cross-country all-stars
The following is a list of Hometeam boys' cross-country all-stars, as selected by the staff at the Telegram & Gazette.
These also are all nominees for the boys' cross-country player of the year for the Central Mass High School Sports Awards, presented by DCU, to be held in the spring. The winner will be the announced at the show. More details about the program are coming soon.
During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with the top three finalists and the player of the year. All official nominees can receive a free ticket. Check back later in the year for information on how to RSVP.
The Central Mass High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.
Mike Alleva
Lunenburg High, Senior
Alleva and his teammates routinely had a bit of fun before practice by tossing around a football. They were all business on the course, though, going 7-0 in dual meets and winning the Mid-Wach D championship. Alleva, a multi-year captain, set the pace by finishing first at the league meet. He went on to place second at the Division 3B state meet and third at the D3 state championships, where he lowered his personal-record time to 15 minutes, 57.1 seconds. That made Alleva the first runner in school history to post a sub-16:00 over 5,000 meters. Alleva will continue his academic and athletic careers at Merrimack College. He is the son of Jane Gallagher of Lunenburg.
Adam Balewicz
Nashoba Regional, Sophomore
When it comes to memorable moments of the season, Balewicz lists the lows and the highs. The sensational sophomore got, in his own words, “trampled” at the Bob McIntyre Invitational in mid-October – but he used it as a springboard to success, culminating with a 10th-place finish at the Division 2 state championships. He was the first underclassman to cross the line and his time of 16 minutes, 16.9 seconds was a personal record by 53 seconds. In between, Balewicz took third at the Mid-Wach B meet and eighth at the D2A state meet, where he was once again the top underclassman. He is the son of Amy and Jonathan Balewicz of Bolton.
Freddy Collins
Nashoba Regional, Senior
It was a senior season to remember for Collins as he amassed a horde of gold medals. This three-time T&G Super Team selection in cross-country finished second at the Bob McIntyre Invitational before going on to take top honors at the Mid-Wach B championships, Division 2A state meet and, in his most memorable moment of the season, the D2 state championships. His time at the all-division state meet of 15 minutes, 26.9 seconds bested the field by 18 seconds, was a personal record and ranked eighth in the state this fall. Collins will continue his running career at Boston University, where he plans to study engineering. He is the son of Kristen and Fred Collins of Stow.
Bronson Dubey
Shepherd Hill Regional, Senior
All the time, effort and miles paid off for Dubey with a memory making senior campaign. This Rams captain finished seventh at the Martha’s Vineyard Invitational, third at the Mid-Wach A championships and 13th at the Frank Mooney Coaches Invitational, where he posted a personal-record time of 16 minutes, 35.9 seconds. Dubey returned to the Wrentham Development Center the next two weeks, placing 16th at the Division 1C state meet to become one of five Central Mass. runners to qualify for the D1 state championships. Dubey will continue his running career at American University or Dartmouth College, where he plans to study business administration and economics. He is the son of Lisa and Brian Dubey of Dudley.
Caleb Hatlevig
Parker Charter, Sophomore
After a long wait while the results were compiled, the Panthers were finally announced as the Division 3 state team champions at the Wrentham Development Center. It was an emotional and memorable moment for Hatlevig, who placed fifth in a personal-record time of 16 minutes, 5.5 seconds. He had plenty of other reasons to celebrate during a superb sophomore season. Hatlevig’s long list of accomplishments included finishing first at the Ocean State Invitational, Colonial Athletic League championships and Division 3C state meet, leading the Panthers to the team title at the latter two events. He is the son of Nicole Odekirk Hatlevig and Troy Hatlevig of Stow.
Joseph Korhonen
Parker Charter, Senior
A three-year captain and three-time T&G Super Team selection, Korhonen capped a tremendous varsity cross-country career that spanned five seasons with bookend state team championships. That, not surprisingly, was his most memorable moment of the season. Korhonen really hit his stride during the postseason. He placed second at the Colonial Athletic League championships, ninth at the Division 3C state meet and 11th at the D3 state championships to help the Panthers capture the team title at all three events. Korhonen’s final varsity race proved to be his fastest of the fall as he covered the 5,000-meter course at the Wrentham Development Center in 16 minutes, 29.7 seconds. He is the son of Heidi and Matt Korhonen of Shirley.
Dennis McNamara
Shrewsbury High, Senior
McNamara’s fourth season of varsity cross-country was undoubtedly his finest, leading to a second straight T&G Super Team selection. This three-sport captain (also basketball, track) finished first at the Mid-Wach A and Central Mass. Division 1 championships to lead the undefeated Colonials to a pair of team titles. It was the first CMass championship in program history and among McNamara’s most memorable moments of the season. McNamara then capped of the fall by placing 26th at the uber-competitive Division 1A state meet in a personal-record time of 16 minutes, 29.5 seconds. McNamara will continue his academic and athletic careers at Loyola University Maryland. He is the son of Clem and Bob McNamara of Shrewsbury.
Jacob Naim
Marlborough High, Senior
Among other things, Naim enjoys playing jazz piano. This two-year captain’s success on the cross-country course was certainly music to the ears of the Panthers and coach Jeffrey Downin. Naim placed fifth in a stacked field at the Mid-Wach B championships and then toured the 5,000-meter course at the Wrentham Development Center in a personal-record time of 16 minutes, 32.1 seconds to place 10th in the Division 1C state meet and become one of five Central Mass runners to qualify for the D1 state championships. While he has yet to settle on a college, Naim plans to major in biomedical engineering and/or economics. He is the son of Lenka Drahoradova and Ahmed Naim of Marlborough.
Tim Rank
Littleton High, Sophomore
From climbing to camping and skiing to surfing, Rank loves being active outdoors. And, of course, that includes distance running. The standout sophomore posted a resounding victory at the Mid-Wach C meet and was the runner-up at the Central Mass. Division 2 championships as the Tigers claimed the team title. That was his most memorable moment of the season. Rank then finished fourth at both the Division 3B state championships, once again helping the Tigers to a team victory, and the D3 state championships, where he lowered his personal-best record time by a whopping 34 seconds to 16 minutes, 2.1 seconds. He is the son of Megan and Douglas Rank of Littleton.
Marcus Reilly
Northbridge High, Senior
Reilly bulked up his already remarkable running résumé during his inaugural season of high school cross-country. He scored a runaway victory in the small school sophomore race at the Frank Mooney Invitational, crossing the line in 15 minutes, 24.5 seconds. That set a 5,000-meter course record for sophomores at the Wrentham Development Center and was the seventh-fastest time in the state this fall. Then, in his most memorable moment of the season, Reilly celebrated his 16th birthday in front of family and friends by finishing first in the Division 3A state met. Reilly topped it off by placing second at the D3 state championships. He is the son of Stephanie and Paul Reilly of Northbridge.
James Riley Jr.
Shrewsbury High, Senior
Riley will always fondly recall the unique chemistry and family-like bond he and his teammates developed over the course of his senior season. That togetherness manifested itself in the Colonials going 5-0 in dual meets and claiming crowns at the Mid-Wach A and, for the first time in program history, Central Mass. Division 1 championships. Riley finished second in both races and then placed 30th at the Division 1A state meet in a personal-record time of 16 minutes, 32.4 seconds. While he has to settle on a college, Riley plans to continue his running career and major in psychological and physical therapy and minor in political science. He is the son of Sherrie and James Riley Jr. of Shrewsbury.
Aidan Ross
Uxbridge High, Junior
Ross was the unanimous and undefeated heavyweight champion of the state during a record-setting cross-country campaign. Ross led the Spartans to an 8-0 dual-meet record and the Southern Worcester County League championship. He finished first at the Frank Kelley, Bay State and Bob McIntyre invitationals before having a November to remember. Ross won the Division 3B state meet by 70 seconds to lead the Spartans to a second-place finish in the team standings. This three-time T&G Super Team selection (2 cross-country, outdoor track) then returned to the Wrentham Development Center a week later and toured the 5,000-meter course in 14 minutes, 47.2 seconds to claim the D3 state championship. That was a personal record, a course record and the fastest time in the state this fall by a hefty 18 seconds. He is the son of Sharon and Robert Ross of Uxbridge.
MORE: T&G Hometeam girls' cross-country all-stars
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: The T&G Hometeam boys' cross-country all-stars
