Hobart boys win first title in 39 years

Updated: October 15, 2011 10:31PM

CROWN POINT — Hobart coach Ty Artherhults sported a glazed look on his face and seemed shocked.

After watching his Brickies capture their first regional cross country title since 1972, Artherhults was entitled to be stunned — maybe even delirious.

“It’s fun,” he smiled. “Last year we were kind of shocked to get third.”

The Brickies scored 67 points to edge Andrean (75) for the team title. Crown Point (78), Lowell (91) and Lake Central (104) placed third, fourth and fifth, respectively, and qualified for the New Prairie Semistate.

“We knew we had a shot at winning today — as long as they kept their pack tight and battled,” Artherhults said.

Brent Dunn placed fourth to lead the way, but sophomore John Petroskey, who placed 14th, and freshman Collin Allen, who placed 20th, were the primary reasons the Brickies won a regional for the first time in 39 years.

“Petroskey, he just stepped up huge, and our freshman (Allen), ran an outstanding race today and had a (personal record),” Artherhults said. “I’m just really happy for the guys and the way they performed today.”

Petroskey, who placed 14th at the sectional, was proud about helping his team win: “I’d say it was definitely my best race,” he said.

After finishing third at Tuesday’s sectional, the Brickies claimed they had to make amends.

“We used the sectional to our advantage today,” Dunn said. “We wanted to go out and redeem ourselves.”

“It means a lot to us, but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t do it again next week and don’t get to state,” Petroskey said.

While the team results were hardly typical for Hobart, they were all too familiar to Highland’s Jake Baranowski, who finished second for the third straight year.

Baranowski lost to Merrillville’s Dylan Harrison the previous two years, while Lowell’s Kyle Eller outlasted him Saturday.

“It wasn’t what I wanted, because I wanted to win,” Baranowski said. “He ran a heck of a race. I give him credit for that. He ran the last mile out of his mind.”

After winning the sectional, taking the regional crown was special for Eller.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “I wanted to win it, but I just didn’t really know if I could. It feels great. It really hasn’t sunk in yet.”

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