What a showing for the JV Pirate Cross Country team in Bandera at the Bulldog Invitational. Lytle won the team championship scoring 35 points to outdistance themselves from runner up La Vernia who tallied 50 points.
The JV Lady Pirates also put on a strong showing placing 5th overall with 134 points, only six points behind 4th place Gonzales.
Pirates
Aaron Martinez, Yandel Esquivez, Daniel Mercado, and Donovan Cortez all had top 10 finishes while Faustino Ruiz was barely out of that group placing 12th overall.
Martinez placed 4th individually out of 93 runners to lead his team at 19:42, while Esquivez was neck and neck to place 5th at 19:43. Mercado was 6th at 19:45. Many witnessed and cheered the teammates battling for spots as they sprinted toward the finish line.
Cortez was 8th overall with a 20:03, while Ruiz rounded out the team score with his 12th place, 21:06 time.
Jared Aguinaga (33rd-22:54) and Aiden Zimmerle (41st-23:55) also competed.
“They are getting themselves ready in case they may have to step up and fill in at district if those other varsity runners do not get healthy in time,” said Head Coach Gilbert Ruiz.
Lady Pirates
Jadyn Bojorquez earned an individual silver medal with her amazing 14:21 second-place finish. Nivea Sancez was in the top 20 as well with a 19th place, 15:49 time.
Rose Scotello (25th-16:24), Lia Corral (41st-17:23), and Alize Sanchez (47th-17:56) also helped secure the Lady Pirates 5th place showing.
Team boy rankings
1st Lytle 35, 2nd La Vernia 50, 3rd Bandera 93, 4th Eagle Pass 111, 5th Great Hearts Northern Oaks Griffins 112, 6th First Baptist Academy of Universal City 138, 7th Uvalde 152, 8th San Antonio Pieper Ranch 213, 9th Gonzales 228.
Team girl rankings
1st Bandera 38, 2nd La Vernia 70, 3rd San Antonio Pieper Ranch 101, 4th Gonzales 128, 5th Lytle 134, 6th Great Hearts Northern Oaks Griffins 136, 7th Eagle Pass 143, 8th Pleasanton 153, 9th Pearsall 219, 10th YWLA 241.
By Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer