Font ResizeFor so long this team has come up just short.
Finally, on Saturday, head coach Ron Herman and his York Suburban cross country team received its due, winning the PIAA Class AA boys' championship.
"I've dreamt this for so long," said Herman, in his 22nd year coaching the Trojans. "I went into the (results) trailer and when I got in I said, 'Are you saying we're champs?' And they said, 'Yeah.'
"I said, 'Can you pinch me, to make sure I'm not dreaming anymore.'"
To understand just how frustrating it was over the past 22 years, you have to know the opportunities that came and went at the state meet.
After winning the District 3 meet 10 days ago, the Trojans secured their ninth regional trophy in the program's history.
But at the state level, championships haven't been as easy to accomplish.
A second-place finish in 2000 was the last time the Trojans came close to achieving the top honor in Class AA. And there were 13 other top-five finishes during Herman's 22 years coaching.
Yet there was something about this team that jumped out, an intense unity and team concept that combined with stellar racing between the Trojans' first five runners.
Suburban's first five finishers were 39 seconds apart from each other Saturday. The Trojans recorded a score of 76 at the state level.
"That was the winning formula all through the season and it was the winning formula today," Herman said. "I told them
Nick Schrading (16th, 17:10) and Matthew Barton (21st, 17:14) finished in the top 25 for the Trojans.
"When I finished and looked back and saw most of our teammates finished, I was just like, 'Wow, I think we did it,'" Schrading said.
Lockwood finishes fourth in Class AAA: Success was also found at an individual level, as Dallastown senior Chuck Lockwood secured a fourth-place finish in the Class AAA meet, completing the Parkview course in 16:04.
In nearly every race since the season began, Lockwood said, he's been setting and reaching goals. But this one proved to be his hardest.
"The main thing was that I was being consistent with my goals," Lockwood said. "Every goal I set I've just gotten.
"Coming into this, I knew this was one of my hardest goals. I wanted top 5 and I got fourth. I'm just really happy."
Among the preparation for the meet, he said, was research of his competitors.
"I've just been paying attention all year," he said.
Lockwood was met by a row of friends and family after the big-school race and many expressed their congratulations. But a few even mentioned the future and the colleges the Wildcat senior might enjoy competing for down the road.
Maryland and Duquesne were discussed.
But Lockwood said he's narrowed his decisions down to LaSalle University, Columbia University and Binghamton University.
Schrann moves on up: In the Class AA girls' meet, York Catholic's Kady Schrann extinguished her penchant for 14th place finishes by coming in 10th in 19:47.
Two years prior, the Fighting Irish junior had recorded identical 14th-place finishes.
"Last year I aimed a little too low," she said. "But this year that was the target."
Suburban girls show promise: In the Class AAA girls' meet, York Suburban sophomore Lily Corsaro came in 53rd, clocking at 20:16. And senior Michelle Roos followed in 20:38, which was good for 85th place.
Trojans head coach Bill Oestereich said Corsaro should round into form in the next two years.
"She progresses every year and by her senior year, I think you're going to see something special," he said. "I think you're going to see at least top 10. I know, you can just tell."
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