BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
The Wolves ruled the third OAA Red Jamboree at Clintonwood Park last Thursday claiming the league championship.
The Clarkston Boys Varsity Cross Country team finished with 26 points, with four runners finishing in the top five places.
“We were in the had-to win mode because of our third place finish in the second jamboree,” said Larry Adams, head coach. “We had to win the meet to be the overall league champions. I liked the fact they stepped up knowing what they had to do to win to be champs again this year. They did a nice job of accepting the challenge. We put ourselves in that position by resting some guys in the second jamboree so we had to win the third one to be outright champs.”
Senior Brendan Favazza led the race finishing in first place in the time of 15:11.1.
“Brendan broke his own school record,” Adams added. “He ran by himself for the last two miles.”
Senior Nathan Sesti took the third spot, finishing at 16:06.8, his brother Andrew, a sophomore, was close behind in fourth place in the time of 16:22.9. Senior Christian Collis finished in fifth place at 16:30.4, and sophomore Joey Taverna finished in 13th place, 16:57.3, to round off the top five runners for Clarkston.

“Christian and Joey did a very nice job for us,” said Adams. “They had season bests which was exciting. We had 96 percent season bests for our overall team and the weather was great. They did a nice job of running a controlled race, but also running a little fast because it was our course.”
He added Rochester Adams, who finished in second at the jamboree with 54 points, has been pushing the team all year.
“We take care of our own business, but it’s nice to know there are athletes out there who can challenge you any given time if you are not on your best game. They did not take for granted. They knew they had to perform well and they did a really nice job doing that.”
Lake Orion finished the jamboree in third place with 83 points; Oxford, fourth, 88; Troy, fifth, 114; and Birmingham Seaholm, sixth, 139.
The boys JV team finished in second place with 37 points during the meet. The top five runners were senior Jacob Carusello in second place at the time of 17:24.6; junior Valen Kurmaniak, fourth, 17:32.3; freshman Henry Poploskie, fifth, 17:34.7; senior Bill Osmun, ninth, 17:48.5; and junior Bo Anderson, 17th, 18:06.2.
Lake Orion finished in first place with 29 points; Rochester Adams, third, 78; Troy, fourth, 101; Oxford, fifth, 122; and Seaholm, sixth, 190. The girls varsity team finished in third place with 73.
Senior Mia Patria led the pack as she finished in second place at the time of 18:18.8. The top five runners also included junior Mattie Drennan in fifth place, 19:19.3; sophomore Elise Wilhelm, 16th, 20:13.3; sophomore Mackenzie Montigano, 21st, 20:36.7; and freshman Cate Cotter, 29th, 20:59.2.
Troy finished in first place with 46 points; Rochester Adams, second, 72; Seaholm, fourth, 74; Oxford, fifth, 102; and Lake Orion, sixth, 116.
The JV team finished in sixth place with 124 points. Sophomore Crysta Gasiorowski finished in 13th place at 22:01.4; junior Lori Wilson, 20th, 22:13.4; junior Olivia Galio, 21st, 22:13.4; freshman Annelise Lemieux, 38th, 22:45.5; and junior Kelsey Roth, 46th, 23:09.8.
Oxford finished in first place with 22 points; Rochester Adams, second, 51; Lake Orion, third, 102; Seaholm, fourth, 106; and Troy, fifth, 115.
The varsity runners head to Springfield Oaks County Park on Saturday for the MHSAA Division 1 Cross Country Region 7 meet.
“Hartland is going to push us for the title,” said Adams. “They are right there with us. We have to be better. We want to win the regional again and on a tougher course. We know how to manage the course. We went out there two weeks ago just to get used to it and remind ourselves of what we have to do and where we have to do it at. We are looking forward to the challenge. It’s about place, about making sure we are in the right place in the race in reference of the other teams that are competitive with us.”
The girls race at 9 a.m. and boys race at 9:30 a.m. The top three teams head to the state race on Nov. 2.

  Clarkston Cross Country, cross country, OAA Red