In a remarkable turn of events, the Sallies boys’ cross-country team captured the state championship title, defying all predictions. Going into the meet, expectations were that Salesianum would finish second to Cape Henlopen High School, with a projected score of 50-58. Yet, the Salesianum boys wanted it more. Missing two of their top runners, Ethan Walther ‘25 and Joe Conley ‘26, the Salesians stepped up to the challenge, securing the victory. Scott Davis, head coach of Salesianum Cross Country, remarked to the boys before they left for states, “Knowing you are going to win isn’t any fun; being the underdogs is the most exciting part. We will win if you want it, and Cape wants it—you have to want it more.” Coach Davis reminds the boys before they run, “The hay is in the barn.”
Sidebar on Cross Country Scoring:
Team scores are based on the placements of each team’s top 5 runners, where first place receives 1 point and 2nd place receives 2 points; the lowest score wins. The perfect score is 15 points, achieved by securing places 1-5.
The 2024 Salesianum Varsity Squad
The Varsity squad this year consisted of James Dempsey ‘27, Kaleb Kain ‘27, Matthew Poole ‘27, Andrew Bradley ‘25, Aidan Leary ‘26, James Szpak ‘25, and Colin Dempsey ‘28. The boys were supported by three alternates, Sam Fielding ‘26 Lincoln Narvaez ‘27, and Tyler Gaydos ‘26. Each of these runners delivered crucial performances, positioning themselves strategically to score the fewest points possible. The boys knew what they needed to do; they ran smart, and they followed the plan. Here’s a closer look at how each member of the squad performed.
James Dempsey ‘27, 6th Place, 6pts (team score 6pts)
Matthew Poole ‘27, 7th Place, 7pts (team score of 13)
Kaleb Kain ‘27, 10th Place, 10pts (team score of 23)
Andrew Bradley ‘25, 16th Place, 16pts (team score of 39)
Aidan Leary ‘26, 17th Place, 17pts (team score of 56)
Jimmy Szpak ‘25, 20th Place.
Colin Dempsey ‘28, 24th Place
Coach Scott Davis – Head Coach
Coach Asa Equels
Sallies Cross Country Coaching staff deserves credit for this victory. Under their leadership, the athletes knew what they had to do at every point of the race. They prepared the team to improvise, adapt, and overcome, even with two key runners missing. Coach Davis and Coach Equels emphasized the importance of running strategically, knowing how close this race was going to be. They push every athlete to be not only the best runner they can be but also the best individuals. After the win on Saturday, Coach Davis emphasized to the team that this group isn’t made up of just 7 varsity athletes; every single athlete had a role—to push each other to be better, to support one another on the course, call times, and give encouragement. Coach Davis and Equels have coached the most “winningest” sport at Salesianum, now with 47 state championships, having only ever lost 8 in the history of the program.
Special Thanks
A special thanks goes out to the Salesianum Cross Country team mom, Ms. Walther, for planning some of the best team dinners; the Salesianum students and partners who came out to support the team at meets and states; and Dr. Kurdish, Fr. Bretta, Fr. Brian, Ms. Godfrey, and all the faculty and staff who supported the boys throughout this season.
Boy’s
Today’s victory isn’t just a celebration of a win; it’s a celebration of the teamwork, resilience, pride, and values that define the Salesianum Cross Country Team.
Brothers Unite, Live Jesus.
