By HUNTER O. LYLE
BRADFORD, PA – After nearly five decades at the helm of the Bradford boys’ cross country team, head coach Tom Tessena is finally entering his swan song and he pulls the reins of an ambitious roster.
Throughout his 47-year tenure, Tessena has built an impressive resume, one that includes 18 District 9 cross country championships as well as 28 track and field titles, where he has coached for 57 straight years. However, coming off a cross country season that saw the Owls place fourth in the district and be absent of any PIAA qualifiers for the first time in recent memory, Bradford is looking to their senior leadership to right the ship.
At the tip of the spear is Kadyn Tessena, who has put in the work this offseason by participating in running camps at both Slipper Rock University and Edinboro University, tallying over 420 miles ran over the summer.
“He is our team leader this year,” said Tom Tessena. “He should be much faster this season.”
Alongside Kadyn Tessena will be fellow letter winner Evan Troisi, a senior, and the Owls’ three junior letter winners, Jordan Hogue and Nikolai and Xavier Fontino.
“Jordan was our second and third man in almost every meet last year. He had a good track season last spring and is building on that right now,” said Tom Tessena. “Nikolai and Xacier both show promise, but I’d like to see them get more miles in. They need to close the gap if we are going to be successful this year.”
Heading into the season on the road this Saturday, where the Owls’ will travel to Geneva, Ohio for the Hoka Classic, Bradford has what Tom Tessena describes as a favorable schedule. Bradford’s itinerary includes six dual meets and the newly-established District 9 League championship meet as well as five invitationals that include the Red Dragon, the McQuaid, the Rocky Grove as well as their own home invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19.
“Those Invitationals are the key to getting better against quality competition. Those are great
opportunities to find out what we are made of. We have some veterans that have to come through for us if we are going to be competitive this season,” said Tom Tessena. “Our goal is to improve each week and be at our best by the District 9 AA Championship and most of all to stay positive.
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