By: Karen Kadilak 
Friday, December 20, 2019 | 7:08 PM

A lead from a Quaker Valley alum convinced senior Annie Wicker to sign a letter of intent to compete for the William & Mary women’s cross country and track and field teams next season.

Wicker, 17, of Sewickley, said the Williamsburg, Va., school was on her radar because of Zach Skolnekovich, a redshirt sophomore distance runner on the Tribe’s men’s teams.

“I talked to him a lot during the recruiting process and on my official visit,” Wicker said. “He was helpful and gave me good advice.”

Wicker, a two-time WPIAL Class AA cross country champion and the PIAA runner-up in the 1,600-meter run in track and field last season, said William & Mary’s academic reputation was one of the reasons she started to look at the school.

She is undecided about a major but is interested in exercise science, possibly nutrition or kinesiology. She plans to minor in Spanish.

“On my official visit, I felt like I got to know most of the girls’ team well,” she said. “They were all nice. I got a good sense of their team dynamic and focus.”

Wicker said she has a lot of respect for Tribe assistant coach Scott Jones.

“After getting in contact with (him), I felt like I connected with him, and he saw me as more than just a runner,” she said. “A lot of the advice he gave me I applied heavily during the recruiting process, which I took as a sign that his coaching style would work for me.”

Jones was impressed by Wicker’s talent and character.

“Her curiosity and mindset will enable her to capitalize on the incredible opportunities for personal growth at William & Mary,” he said. “The entire program is excited to have Annie joining us in August.

“Her presence will make us better, and we are inspired to make her better.”

Quaker Valley coach Jim Cohen said Wicker made a great decision.

“It’s a great academic school and a (Division I) cross country and track program,” Cohen said. “This will give her plenty of room for growth and development in her running.”

Wicker said she also took official visits to Pitt and Penn State.

By: Karen Kadilak
Friday, November 8, 2019 | 7:58 PM

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Three Sewickley-area runners earned medals at the PIAA cross country championships Nov. 2 in Hershey.

Quaker Valley seniors Annie Wicker (19 minutes, 22 seconds) and Daniel Ford (16:49) placed 12th and 22nd in the Class AA girls and boys races, respectively.

Eden Christian Academy senior Eric Gronbeck (16:54) came in 16th among Class A boys.

Quaker Valley coach Jim Cohen said Wicker and Ford, as well as sophomore Anna Cohen (Jim’s daughter), achieved substantial personal best.

“Daniel, in particular, ran well,” Jim Cohen said. “His time was over 30 seconds faster than last year, which is a great way to close out his high school career.

“Annie (was) 20 seconds faster than last year, and Anna ran a (20:43), which was a good place to be as a sophomore.”

Wicker, the 2017 and ’18 WPIAL champion, said although she placed higher in previous meets, she was happy to be faster.

“It was a good way to end things,” she said.

Eden Christian coach Kelly Gronbeck was proud to present her son his medal at the award ceremony.

“Getting to do this as his coach, and mom, is a highlight I will never forget,” she said.

The Eden Christian boys, the only team to qualify from the Sewickley area, finished ninth.

Joining Eric Gronbeck in the lineup were senior Wes Rodu, freshman Sean Aiken, sophomore Ian Bilger, freshman AJ Wagstaff, sophomore Brandon Gunzburg and freshman Noah Reaoch.

“There were three returners from last year’s state-qualifying team (Eric Gronbeck, Rodu and Bilger), and all of them significantly lowered their times,” Kelly Gronbeck said.

Rodu was proud of the Warriors, who placed third in the WPIAL championship Oct. 24 after winning their first section title.

“Our top-10 finish made for a great ending to our already successful season,” he said. “We enjoyed fast times and were happy to have accomplished the goals we set for ourselves.

“Eric Gronbeck’s top-25 finish only added to our excitement.”

Eden Christian junior Katelyn Shaver, the lone Warrior in the girls event, improved.

“Katelyn took 44 seconds off her WPIAL time and was significantly ahead of her predicted finish,” Kelly Gronbeck said.

 Shawn Annarelli

Tuesday, October 29, 2019 | 1:18 PM

Daniel Ford

School: Quaker Valley

Sport: Cross country

Class: Senior

Claim to fame: Daniel Ford ran to a ninth-place finish at the WPIAL championship meet Oct. 24 and qualified for the state championships for the fourth consecutive year.

He hoped to place higher at WPIALs his senior season, but called it a learning experience and said the PIAA meet will be an opportunity to improve on Saturday in Hershey.

Why do you enjoy running?

I think it’s fun to go out every day to push yourself. With running, you can easily see when you’re improving, and being able to compete makes it fun.

What will you remember most about being a Quaker Valley cross country runner?

I think I’d have to say the whole team and the coaching. It’s been a fun year with everyone and really enjoyable. I think being able to share these experiences is the highlight of every cross country season.

What was your favorite cross country course?

I really liked the Sharpsville course. I liked it my freshmen year through my senior year, because that’s where I set my PRs, so it was always a fast course for some great times. I ran (16 minutes, 10 seconds) there.

What does it mean to you to take another trip to states?

I think the pressure isn’t there as much. Having done it three times, I kind of know what to expect and can plan my race accordingly.

What’s your favorite subject in school?

I really like computer science and our computer science teacher. I think I’d like to work in that field. Where specifically in that field, I don’t know. There’s a wide range of things you can do in computer science.

What else do you enjoy?

Outside of cross country and track, I enjoy mountain biking. I go out sometimes with my friends or my dad, just out on the trails. It’s a lot of fun.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019 | 2:22 PM

Anna Cohen

School: Quaker Valley

Sport: Cross country

Class: Sophomore

Claim to fame: Anna Cohen always had a love a for running and found a way to channel her energy with a USATF club, which her dad coached.

They’re still in the same roles at Quaker Valley, and the tandem has paid off with Cohen (20 minutes, 58 seconds) recently finishing third at the Midwestern Athletic Conference Championship.

What’s it like still having your dad as your coach?

I’ve always really liked him as a coach. He’s hard on me when I need it in practice and in races, and at the same time he’s understanding. He knows my body as well as I do, so we’re able to adapt my training when we need to.

How were you able to shave off 50 seconds at MACs this season?

The course was really muddy last year, so that’s part of it. Also, over the summer, I did a lot more miles. I’ve seen that help a lot more in my races.

What are your thoughts on the course?

It’s probably the hardest course we run every season. It has a lot of hills that really (drain) everyone. Overall, it’s a nice course, and I like racing there.

What does it mean to you to get a top-three finish?

It means so much, because Annie (Wicker) and the other girl who won are some of the best runners locally and in the state. To be near them and compete with them is a big deal.

What do you have to do in training to be ready for the WPIAL championship (Oct. 24)?

I’ll have to get speed work in. It’s probably my weakness, so I’ll go to the track and get in some faster work and continue with everything else I’ve been doing.

Your teammate, Annie Wicker, is a two-time WPIAL champion. What have you learned from her?

I’ve learned from her how much work it takes to get to the level she’s been at for years. She’s one of the nicest people I’ve met in running, and she’s always there for me in the good times and the bad. It’s always nice to know I have someone to run with every day whether we’re going easy or hard.

What would it mean to you to win a WPIAL title?

That would be amazing if it could happen. It’s always been a dream of mine.

By: Karen Kadilak
Friday, October 11, 2019 | 5:28 PM

Quaker Valley girls cross country did not have enough runners for a team, but still packed a powerful punch in the Midwestern Athletic Conference championship meet Oct. 9 at Beaver County’s Brush Creek Park.

Senior Annie Wicker (20 minutes, 36 seconds) and sophomore Anna Cohen (20:58) placed second and third among 108 individuals in the varsity race, which brought together schools from Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties and western Allegheny County.

Wicker had hoped to do better after finishing close to two seconds behind Moon sophomore Mia Cochran (18:45).

“My goal was to be a little more competitive up front,” Wicker said. “It’s frustrating, but we’re going to move on and focus on WPIALs.”

Wicker will be seeking her third consecutive WPIAL Class AA title Oct. 24 at Cal (Pa.).

Junior Julia Kubinski and freshman Riley Holles competed.

On the boys side, the Quakers came in sixth of 19 teams.

Senior Daniel Ford (17:09) led with fourth place among 141 individuals.

Ford said it was a good tune-up for the WPIAL championship, in which he finished third last season.

“The course features a few hills, which we are going to see at the WPIAL course,” Ford said. “The race gave our team confidence going into the WPIAL (meet) as we got a better idea as how we can compete as a team.”

Junior Nicolas Pascarella (18:57) and freshman Luke Hotchkiss (18:58) placed 31st and 32nd.

“Keep an eye out for them,” Quaker coach Jim Cohen said.

Cohen said senior Bobby Patterson, the Quakers’ fourth runner, is doing well in his first season in cross country.

Junior Owen Wagner, sophomore Henry Wagner and freshman Freddy McCullough were other competitors.

“The boys team is young and deep, and it will be fun to watch them develop over the next few years,” said Cohen, in his first season at the helm.