Decade in Review: #4 Barker boys team captures state cross-country championship

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 1 January 2020 at 9:22 am

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Sergio Cruz, a two-time league champion, leads the way during the 2014 N-O All-League race at Lakeside Beach State Park.

The Barker boys cross-country team enjoyed an outstanding title run during the first half of the decade.

The Raiders captured the state Class D championship in 2011, finished second in 2010, 2012 and 2014 and third in 2013 after winning the Section VI title in each of those seasons.

In N-O competition, Barker claimed the championship six times (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016). Albion interrupted that run by claiming the crown in 2012 while Newfane has captured the last three titles.

Newfane also claimed the N-O girls cross-country title seven times during the decade including the last five in a row. The Lady Panthers Kim Goerss claimed the N-O individual title four years in a row (2015-18).

The Barker boys track team also had a very successful decade capturing five straight N-O championships from 2011-15. That run came following Albion’s string of seven straight titles from 2004-10. Albion ended that title drought by claiming the crown this past spring.

The Barker girls track team claimed the N-O crown in 2015 while Albion captured the title for three straight years from 2010-12.