With two returning elite-level runners, Upper Perkiomen's girls cross-country team should complete for the Pioneer Athletic Conference's Frontier Division title. Head coach Todd Niemann said he expects them to improve in the conference championship meet.

Nadia Frydlewicz in front, Maggie Milkowich on right,  Lauren Donahue in the middle.

            Abigail Rowland and Maren Landis are both returning state qualifiers. Both are expected to run faster this season, according to Niemann.

            "They are both in better shape than last year," the coach said. "Both will run better."

            Niemann identified Rowland, a sophomore, as the Tribe's No. 1 runner. Last season, she finished 170th overall in the PIAA Class 2A championships after ending up in fifth place at districts and 22nd overall in the conference race.

            Landis, a junior, is also looking to build on a solid performance last season. She finished in 102nd place at states, ended up eighth at Districts and 32 during the PAC championship race.  "They both look very good," Niemann said.

            The duo led the Tribe to a third-place overall finish at districts, the highest in school history, and a six-place performance in the conference race. Niemann said his goals include winning as many dual meets as last season and improving in the PAC race. The coach expressed hope that the team's depth will allow it to make that leap.

            "It's not going to be easy," said the coach, who described PAC rivals Phoenixville, Owen J. Roberts and Perkiomen Valley as the top teams in the state.

            A trio of seniors – Lauren Donahue, Nadia Frydlewicz and Maggie Milkowich – should provide consistent scoring. Niemann said he wouldn't be surprised if they take turns finishing in third place for the Indians.

            Last season at Districts, Frydlewicz finished in 19th place, only three spots from a state qualifying berth. Donahue ended up in 25th place and Milkowich finished 31st in the race.

            A trio of underclassmen – including freshman Reagan Miles, junior Ashlee Shafer and sophomore Amy Rohl – will round out the Tribe's top eight performers.

            Capturing the Frontier Division title will likely come down to a Sept. 27 home meet against the Phantoms.

            Rowland led the Tribe girls to a second-place finish at the Northampton Cross Country Invitational last weekend. She finished 21st overall (19:58.5). Landis ended up nearly 23 seconds and 13 places behind (20:21.1) on Saturday, Sept. 2.
            Donahue finished in 73rd place (21:14.8). Nadia Frydlewicz ended up in 87th place (21:46.1).

            The boys team will be led by junior Roman Macedo and Jon Kuzmission, a sophomore. Both put in the necessary work over the summer to get better, according to the coach.

            "They give us a real nice one-two punch," said Niemann, who added that Kuzmission has been pushing Macedo.

            The team will rely on juniors Ben Sensinger and William Godshall, sophomore Evan Snyder ninth graders Gavin Dunn and Porter Fryauff and Kaden Dennis, the only varsity senior runner, to score.  "We've got eight solid runners," Niemann said.

            Macedo delivered the fastest time for the boys (16:53.3), who finished fifth overall at the Northampton Invitational meet. Kuzmission ended up four places and just over five seconds behind (16:58.9). Kaden Dennis (126th place, 18:21.9) and Sensinger (131st place, 18:28.8) rounded out their top four finishers. 

            Both teams ran at home last week against Souderton. Both teams treated the Aug. 30 meet as a scrimmage since the visitors were missing some competitors, according to Niemann.