MORGANTOWN — It isn’t often that a team in any sport loses a senior who signs to a Division I college program and returns the next season just as strong as it was a year ago.
That’s the case for the University High cross-country team this season, as the Hawks boys team brings back multiple top 10 runners from the state meet last season, even after losing Tyler Umbright, who is now running for Pitt.
Three Hawks finished in the top six of the Class AAA state championship race in 2024, with the fourth finishing 14th.
Three of those runners (Ethan Conroy, Micah Gainer, and Logan Conroy) all return in 2025 to lead the way for UHS. It all points to the Hawks continuing one of the most dominant dynasties in West Virginia prep athletics. Since winning the Class AAA state title in 2019, the UHS boys have finished on top of the pack in six consecutive years. The Hawks have won eight of the last 12 state championships dating back to 2013 and also finished second in the state in 2012 and 2015.
“Another runner who is back, Colin Schrull, had a good year and will be a senior, too,” UHS head coach Ed Fronaphel said.
Senior Ethan Conroy is aiming for his fourth top 10 finish in the state in Class AAA in as many seasons. Fronaphel said only a handful of runners have accomplished throughout UHS cross-country.
“If you look through the books, there may be three or four runners to ever do that,” he said. “Then Micah is running some of the best times we’ve ever seen for a freshman in the history of the team. If they work hard all year and continue to stay motivated, they can have special years and beyond.”
The UHS girls’ team, which also won the state championship last season to complete a University High sweep, lost a strong senior class, but Fronaphel says a talented freshman class is incoming and should help boost the squad.
“We lost some good runners on the boys’ side and the girls’ side, three seniors who all left a mark on the program,” he said. “We have a good group of freshmen girls coming up, and while I won’t make predictions, we should be ok there.”
Another boost for the girls’ side is the return of junior Abigail Rogers, who finished second in the state in Class AAA last season. Sophomore Rosie Biundo also returns after she took 14th as a freshman in 2024.
“Rosie is already running better than last season, so I would probably bump her up into the top ten if you take the graduates out of the conversation,” Fronaphel said. “Izzy West (24th in the state) is also back after a strong freshman season. Having a freshman on the girls’ side is always a nice thing to have.”
KEY RUNNERS: Boys; Maxwell Abdilso, Joaquin Summers. Girls; Allison Hawkins, Lauren Hawkins, Megyn Amsler.
KEY RUNNERS: Boys; Coen Thomas, Ethan White. Girls; Ava Simmons, Delilah Myers, Autumn Myers.
KEY RUNNERS: Boys; Miles Steptoe, Jake Stevens Girls; Bri Blake, Lauren Williams.
KEY RUNNERS: Boys; Robert Victor. Girls; Aliana Riley.
