Key Contributors

Below the headlines there are many efforts that contribute to team success. NEPA Sports Nation takes a weekly look at some of those contributions. Here are the Key Contributors from the week of Nov. 1-7:

DAEGAN GIANNONE, Montrose girls cross country

Giannone finished 40^th out of 251 in the Class A girls field of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Championships. As Montrose’s second runner, the sophomore finished ahead of the corresponding runners from first-place team finisher Notre Dame Green Pond and second-place Mohawk. She played a significant role in helping Montrose finish third in the state in the 23-team field.

THOMAS ISKRA, Wyoming Seminary boys soccer

Iskra eventually stepped into the spotlight when he scored the overtime goal that lifted Wyoming Seminary to a 3-2 victory over Wyoming Area in the District 2 Class A championship game, avenging a pair of regular-season losses. First, however, Iskra assisted one of the regulation goals in the championship game and three of the team’s four goals in its quarterfinal victory.

MAX KSENICH, Blue Ridge boys cross country

Ksenich, a freshman, finished in the top half of the state field in Class A at the PIAA Championships, helping an all-underclassmen Raiders lineup finish 14^th in the state. Placing 127^th in the 259-runner field as Blue Ridge’s third runner made Ksenich better than the No. 3 runner on more than half the teams in the field.

RYAN MATYAS, Hazleton Area football

Matyas, a junior outside linebacker, led the defense in Hazleton Area’s 24-3, District 2 Class 6A semifinal victory over Wilkes-Barre Area. He made 10 tackles, including a sack.

KRISTA PAPURA, Crestwood field hockey

Papura had two defensive saves, including one in the final minute, as Crestwood held on for a 2-1 victory over Selinsgrove in the District 2-4 Class 2A Subregional championship game.

LIBBY ZICK, Blue Ridge girls volleyball

The sophomore setter had 18 assists when Blue Ridge defeated Mountain View, 25-15, 25-13, 25-16, in the District 2 Class A championship match. Zick showed she can do more than set with seven digs, four service aces and three kills.

PREVIOUS KEY CONTRIBUTORS

Oct. 25-31: https://nepasportsnation.com/key-contributors-10/.

Oct. 18-24: https://nepasportsnation.com/key-contributors-9/.

Oct. 11-17: https://nepasportsnation.com/key-contributors-8/.

Oct. 3-10: https://nepasportsnation.com/key-contributors-7/.

Sept. 27-Oct. 2: https://nepasportsnation.com/key-contributors-6/.

Sept. 20-26: https://nepasportsnation.com/key-contributors-5/.

Sept. 13-19:https://nepasportsnation.com/key-contributors-4/.

Sept. 6-12: https://nepasportsnation.com/key-contributors-3/.

Aug. 30-Sept. 5:https://nepasportsnation.com/key-contributors-2/.

Aug. 19-29:https://nepasportsnation.com/key-contributors/.

MORE WEEKLY STANDOUTS