Senior cross country runners Dominick DeRafelo and Josh Endy, the top runners on this year’s cross country team, plan on continuing to run in college.

Dom qualified for states and placed 43rd — even after recovering from lyme disease and mono at the beginning of the season. Josh did not qualify for states, but he still finished as a top runner at many meets. Overall the two team captains helped make this one of the best seasons for cross country ever.

“The season was a lot of fun and I beat my goal for the season of placing top 75 at states by placing 43rd,” DeRafelo said.

Endy agrees that it was a fun, successful season.

“Overall I’m proud of what I accomplished, and what we accomplished as a squad, and how we were able to show that Boyertown distance running can contend in highly competitive races,” he said.

However, he was a little disappointed with how the season ended. DeRafelo and Sophomore Christian McComb were the only one of the seven varsity runners to qualify for states.

“We beat some highly ranked teams in the beginning and through the middle of the season,” Endy said. “Our postseason wasn’t everything we wanted it to be after falling short of qualifying as a team for states.”

DeRafelo said he plans to continue running in college. He is looking at Seton Hall, Kutztown and Salisbury. 

“Running has opened a lot of opportunities for me…and I definitely want to continue competing and running for as long as I can,” he said.

His goal is to be a national qualifier in cross country and track.

He said he plans is to study education in college “so I can teach math or science and coach after college as well as get my personal training certification.” He also is considering physical therapy.

Endy also is looking forward to running in college. He said he is not certain where he is going yet, but most likely it will be Division III.

“I’m really looking forward to being competitive and training with a highly motivated group of guys,” Endy said.

He plans to study physical therapy.

“I really want to be able to aid other people and continue to be involved and promote a healthy and active lifestyle,” he said.