TRI-CITY AREA — From start to finish the 2023 edition of the Tri-City Times All-Area boys’ cross country team is one that any coach would be pleased to have.
Here is a look at who made this year’s squad and the performances they generated en route to those accolades:
Aiden Fitchett, Dryden.
Best effort: Fitchett logged a school record-setting 16:36.4 clocking for second Saturday, October 28 during a Division 4 regional contested at Wagener County Park.
Top finishes: The senior pulled up first at the Dryden-based North Central Thumb League Championship and Linden Classic; obtained seconds at the Dryden-based Cardinal Classic and a Division 4 regional at Wagener County Park; provided a third at the Oakdale Classic in Lapeer; furnished fifths at the Corunna Earlybird Invitational and Holly/Duane Raffin Festival of Races; 
garnered a sixth at the Wagener County Park Invitational; registered a seventh at the Bret Clements Bath Invitational; placed 10th at the Ubly Invitational; took 22nd during the Division 4 state meet at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn (earning All-State accolades as a result); plus added a 28th at the Greater Flint Championships.
Elliot Whitney, Imlay City.
Best effort: Whitney posted a time of 16:44.2 en route to a 26th at the Shepherd Bluejay Invitational on Saturday, September 30.
Top finishes: The senior pulled up first at the Oakdale Classic in Lapeer; placed third at the Foxes and Hound Meet in Algonac; took fifth at a BWAC Jamboree Meet in North Branch; generated sixths at an Almont-based Blue Water Area Conference Jamboree Meet; BWAC Jamboree Meet hosted by Cros-Lex and Cardinal Classic in Dryden; obtained an eighth at the Genesee Invitational; supplied an 11th at the Frankenmuth Invitational; provided a 12th at the Autumn Classic; collected a 13th at the Birch Run Fall Invitational; claimed a 22nd at the Corunna Earlybird* Invitational; furnished a 23rd at a Division 2 regional in Shepherd; and garnered a 26th at the Shepherd Bluejay Invitational.
Noah Hall, Dryden.
Best effort: Hall registered a 17:53.3 clocking for 11th Saturday, October 28 during a Division 4 regional contested at Wagener County Park.
Top finishes: The junior took sixths at the Dryden-based NCTL Meet and Linden Classic; obtained a 10th at the Oakdale Classic in Lapeer; furnished 15ths at the Cardinal Classic and during a Division 4 regional hosted by Wagener County Park; provided a 19th at the Holly/Duane Raffin Festival of Races; claimed a 20th at the Bret Clements Bath Invitational; placed 23rd at the Corunna Earlybird Invitational; supplied a 22nd at the Ubly Invitational; registered a 27th at the Wagener County Park Invitational; took 64th at the Greater Flint Championships; plus added a 118th during the Division 4 state finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
Logan Romain, Dryden.
Best effort: Romain supplied a time of 17:59.6 en route to a 16th Saturday, October 28 during a Division 4 regional contested at Wagener County Park.
Top finishes: The sophomore collected a fifth at the Dryden-based NCTL Meet; took 10th* at the Linden Classic; placed 12th at the Oakdale Classic in Lapeer; managed a 15th at the Corunna Earlybird Invitational; provided 16ths at the Dryden-based Cardinal Classic and a Division 4 regional contested at Wagener County Park; obtained a 22nd at the Bret Clements Bath Invitational; pulled up 27th at the Holly/Duane Raffin Festival of Races; generated a 29th at the Ubly Invitational; collected a 41st at the Wagener County Park Invitational; furnished an 83rd at the Greater Flint Championships; plus added a 151st during the Division 4 state finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
Connor Wolff, Dryden.
Wolff generated an 18:21.4 clocking for 21st during a Division 4 regional contested at Wagener County Park on Saturday, October 28.
Top finishes: The senior wound up 10th at the Dryden-based NCTL Meet; collected a 15th at the Linden Classic; placed 21st during a Division 4 regional contested at Wagener County Park; supplied a 33rd at the Oakdale Classic in Lapeer; registered a 36th at the Bret Clements Bath Invitational; provided a 37th at the Dryden-based Cardinal Classic; supplied a 49th at the Holly/Duane Raffin Festival of Races; plus added a 188th during the Division 4 state finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
Colton Grzyb, Almont.
Best effort: Grzyb posted a time of 18:45.9 for 209th Saturday, November 4 during the Division 3 state finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
Top finishes: The freshman collected a fifth at the Skippers Cross Country Showcase; obtained an 11th at the Green Devil Invitational in Brown City; furnished a 21st at the Dewitt Invitational; claimed a 22nd at a Blue Water Area Conference Jamboree Meet hosted by Cros-Lex; placed 23rd at a Division 3 regional in Dewitt; generated a 25th at a Blue Water Area Conference Jamboree Meet in Almont; took 26th at the Cardinal Classic in Dryden; supplied a 27th at Blue Water Area Conference Jamboree Meet in North Branch; pulled up 30th at Oakdale Classic in Lapeer; supplied a 75th at the Autumn Classic; plus added a 209th during the Division 3 state finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
Conner Wildie, Imlay City.
Best effort: Wildie furnished an 18:59.4 clocking for 11th at the Algonac-based Foxes and Hounds Meet on Tuesday, October 10.
Top finishes: He claimed an 11th at the Foxes and Hounds Invitational in Algonac; obtained a 17th at Genesee Invitational; generated a 19th at a Blue Water Area Conference Jamboree Meet in North Branch; managed a 20th at the Oakdale Classic in Lapeer; provided a 26th at a Blue Water Area Conference Jamboree Meet in Cros-Lex; supplied a 27th at the Cardinal Classic in Dryden; furnished a 31st at the Frankenmuth Invitational; placed 39th at the Corunna Earlybird Invitational; obtained a 51st at Birch Run Fall Invitational; pulled up 72nd at a Division 2 regional in Shepherd; collected an 80th at the Autumn Classic; and added a 120th at the Shepherd Bluejay Invitational.
Second team– Gavin Campbell, Almont; Donovan Glasgow, Capac; William Larkin, Almont; Brendan Peter, Dryden; Jacob Biolchini, Almont; Sean Finnigan, Dryden; and Matthew Hickmott, Dryden.
Coach of the Year– For directing Dryden to a first at the NCTL Meet it hosted; a second at the Linden Classic and a Division 4 regional contested at Wagener County Park; a third at the Oakdale Classic in Lapeer; a fourth at the Cardinal Classic in Dryden; fourths at the Corunna Earlybird Invitational and Bret Clements Bath Invitational; a fifth at the Ubly Invitational; and a 20th during the Division 4 state finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Cardinal Coach Kory Lohrmann earns Tri-City Times All-Area Coach of the Year accolades.
Kevin Kissane
Kevin Kissane has been covering high school sports for the Tri-City Times since 1985. When not standing on a field or court with his camera and notepad, he enjoys golf, travel and family. Kevin is a 1980 graduate of Capac High School, and is also a grad of St. Clair Community College and earned a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.
