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School records, Co-MVPs, and more: Cape High School Boys Cross-Country All-Stars Team

Courtney Jacobs, Cape Cod Times
·7 min read

Whether it was a Dual Meet, Divisional Meet, or State Championship, these Cape Cod boys cross country athletes showed why they went the distance (literally) with some of the best in the area. This list features Co-MVPs, schools records, a top 10 state championship finish and more.

Presenting the Cape Cod Times Boys Cross Country All-Scholastic 2023 Team.

First Team

Connor Bruni, Sandwich

The senior captain finished the season with three South Shore League wins, placed seventh at the South Shore League Meet Championship, 13th at the Division 3 Championship, and finished 38th at the MIAA Division 3 State Championships with a time of 17:25.39. He was named a South Shore League All-Star, and received the South Shore League Team Sportsmanship Award. For his career, he has been a Cape and Islands League All Star, and qualified for the Division 3 All-State Championship twice.

"Connor is one of the hardest working athletes on the team," Sandwich coach Amy Delgado said. "He has worked year round, training to be one of the best distance runners in the Cape and Islands and South Shore Leagues. He has become a great leader for our team during three seasons of running and is constantly looking to better himself and the team as a whole. We are going to miss him immensely when he graduates in June."

William Crowell, Nauset

Crowell finished his final high school season with a third place finish at the Cape and Islands League Meet, 19th place at the Div. 2B State Championship Meet, and was a Division 2 All-State Championship Meet competitor

"Will has always set high standards for himself as a runner and the result has been success for himself and his teammates," Nauset coach Moira Nobili said. "Every year he improves and is always qualifying for the very competitive state and all-state meets. One of the most dedicated and hard working athletes I have coached."

EAST FALMOUTH -- 09/21/23 -- Nathan Gartner, left, his twin brother, Silas Gartner, and their father, Ken Gartner, center, talk about running and the many races they have participated in including the Falmouth Road Race. Running medals hang from the tree at their family home. Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times
EAST FALMOUTH -- 09/21/23 -- Nathan Gartner, left, his twin brother, Silas Gartner, and their father, Ken Gartner, center, talk about running and the many races they have participated in including the Falmouth Road Race. Running medals hang from the tree at their family home. Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times

Nathan Gartner, Falmouth Academy

In his sophomore campaign, Nathan Gartner went undefeated in dual meets.  He placed first at the Frank Mooney Small School Sophomore Division with a personal best 5K of 16:19, and finished 46th (17:17.65) in the MIAA Division 2 State Championships. He is two-time Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star.

"Nathan quietly goes about his training and racing and builds on what he has done before. He is a tenacious competitor," Falmouth Academy coach Jason Cullinane said.

FALMOUTH 04/05/23 Silas Gartner of Falmouth comes to the finish against Barnstable.
FALMOUTH 04/05/23 Silas Gartner of Falmouth comes to the finish against Barnstable.

Silas Gartner, Falmouth

The sophomore was named the Cape and Islands Atlantic Division League Co-MVP of Cape and Islands League. Silas Gartner won the Cape and Islands Championship race by 12 seconds (16:07), and placed first in four out of five Cape and Islands Dual Meets. He had a time of 16:01 in the Bob Glennon Twilight (9th place), and 16:23 in the Frank Kelly Invitational (18th overall including large schools). He had a third-place finish in the State Divisional Race with a time of 15:58, and earned the medal in MIAA Division 2 State Championship for 13th place with a time of 16:32.72.

"Silas continued his dominance as one of the premier runners on the Cape and Islands as only a sophomore," Falmouth coach Conor Markham said. "His rigid training and dedication have earned him a reputation as one of the most promising runners in the state.

SOUTH YARMOUTH 11/02/21 Jaxson Merrill of Barnstable leads his group going up the hill to the final half lap before the finish of the Cape and Islands Cross Country Championship at Dennis-Yarmouth high school.
SOUTH YARMOUTH 11/02/21 Jaxson Merrill of Barnstable leads his group going up the hill to the final half lap before the finish of the Cape and Islands Cross Country Championship at Dennis-Yarmouth high school.

Jaxson Merrill, Barnstable

In his final high school season, Merrill was named the Cape and Islands Atlantic Division League Co-MVP alongside Silas Gartner. He placed 13th (16:47.20) in the MIAA Division 1B Divisionals, and placed 27th (16:27.31) in the MIAA Division 1 State Championships.

Lee Moors, Upper Cape

Moors has been the Rams' MVP the last two years. He led the team in first-place finishes, is a two-time Mayflower League All-Star, and had a career best 18:54 at the State Vocational Championship in 2022.

Shane Stanghellini, Sturgis East

Stanghellini was named the Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division League MVP. He had a top 10 finish in the MIAA Division 3 State Championships with a time of 16:27.62.

Second Team

Kevin Defeudis, Barnstable

Defeudis was selected as a Cape and Islands Atlantic Division League All-Star in his sophomore season.

Casey Fitzgerald, Dennis-Yarmouth

Despite being just an eighth grader, Fitzgerald was named a Cape and Islands Atlantic Division League All-Star.

Chatham Gillis, Monomoy

Gillis was selected a a Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star.

Brandon Gomes, St. John Paul II

Gomes as named a Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star as a sophomore.

Erik Gulmann, Falmouth Academy

As a sophomore, Gulmann ran the fastest Falmouth Academy time on the home course, and was named a Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star. He also had a personal best of 17:49 for 5K at the Bob Glennon Twilight Meet. He was named a first-time Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star

"Erik improved through the whole season and was always a solid runner we could count on to perform. He was the third man on our varsity squad," Cullinane said.

Hunter Hunt, Nauset

In his final season at Nauset, Hunt was named Cape and Islands Atlantic Division League All-Star and received the Individual Sportsmanship Award.

Liam Jatzcak, Cape Cod Academy

Jatzcak, as a freshman, was selected as a Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star.

Pierce Johnson, Dennis-Yarmouth

As just a freshman, Johnson was named a Cape and Islands Atlantic Division League All-Star.

Joel Kinkead, Sturgis East

Kinkead was named a a Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star in his freshman season.

Ethan Koufus, Nauset

In his freshman season, Koufus ended it as a Cape and Islands Atlantic Division League All-Star

Dylan Moreno, Sturgis East

The senior placed 68th in the MIAA Division 3 State Championships with a time of 17:58.48, and was named a Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star.

Bryce Moulding, Upper Cape

Moulding was named a Mayflower Atlantic Conference (Small Vocational Division) All-Star.

Cal O'Donnell, Stugris West

O'Donnell was selected as a a Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star.

Gabe Pichardo, Barnstable

The junior was named a Cape and Islands Atlantic Division League All-Star.

Cole Rauch, Cape Tech

Rauch was named a Mayflower Atlantic Conference (Small Vocational Division) All-Star as a sophomore.

Tim Sanders, Nauset

Sanders was one of three Nauset seniors named as a Cape and Islands Atlantic Division League All-Star.

Owen Smith, Sturgis West

Smith was selected as a Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star.

Nick Terranova, Dennis-Yarmouth

The senior was named a Cape and Islands League All-Star, and qualified individually for the MIAA Division 3 State Championships where he finished in a time of 18:34.52. Terranova finished his high school career with a 5K personal record of 17:44.

"Nick has been a tremendous leader in the three years I've been coaching, and has helped reboot our boys cross country program," D-Y coach Craig Johnson said.

Broden Vincent, Martha's Vineyard

Vincent was selected as a Cape and Islands Atlantic Division League All-Star as a junior.

Gareth Vos, Monomoy

Vos came in 66th place in the MIAA Division 3 State Championships with a time of 17:56.76, and finished the season as a Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star.

Wylie Wakefield, Falmouth Academy

In his final high school season, Wakefield was named a Cape and Islands Lighthouse Division All-Star. He ran a 18:15.60 for 5K at the Mass State Divisionals 2C Meet, where he was 51st. He has run for the Mariners as long as it has existed, and improved by almost two minutes over 5K from last year.

"Wylie was team captain and was involved with the team from training to recruiting to racing. We knew he would give his all every race," Cullinane said.

Honorable Mention

Drew Castro, Sturgis East

Kevin Donahue, Sturgis East

Cullin Enright, Sturgis East

Francisco Garcia Raya, Sturgis East

Rory Murray, Nantucket

Emmett Rockwell, Sturgis East

Contact Courtney Jacobs at cjacobs@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @CJ_Journalist.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Times High School Boys Cross-Country All-Stars Team