The Northwestern girls have been a staple at the state championship cross country meet in recent years.

But 2016 saw the Tigers fail to send a team to Hershey for the first time since 2010.

After winning the Colonial League title and placing second at the District 11 meet, Northwestern returned to Hershey on Saturday and finished sixth out of 19 Class 2A teams with 212 points.

“That was overall our main goal, was just to get those kids here,” said Northwestern head coach Chris Stitzel. “Today was just a bonus for them to top off a great season that we had.

“That was the goal at the beginning of the year, to try to get a team back here, and two guys. And we reached our goal.”

The Tigers were led by freshman Kailyn Jones, who finished 51st in 20:33.

Jones was happy to help the team reach its goal.

“It’s really great,” she said. “We all really wanted to come to states, especially as a team. And it’s just nice to come here as a team, having a lot of fun.

“It’s just a great experience. I’m kind of sad the season is over. I’m gonna miss all these girls. We get along and we’re all really close. It was just a great season.”

For senior Molly Tarvin, it was an opportunity to race with her team one more time.

“It’s awesome,” said Tarvin, who was 81st. “Just standing on the starting line, looking around, seeing that it’s my last time I’m going to do this with them.

“It’s really motivating, seeing them with me, and knowing that they’re hurting just as much as I am. If I can’t run for myself, I gotta run for them.”

Northwestern will have much of its core returning next season. The Tigers will lose Tarvin and Hannah Herzon from this year’s squad, but return Alyssa Zack, Sarah Supplee, Madeline Consuelos and Kristen Brown.

Zack, Supplee and Consuelos will be seniors, while Brown will be a junior.

With several newcomers expected to move up from the junior high program, Stitzel is hoping the team will once again be in Hershey next season.

“This is a good thing to build on for next year, knowing I have most of these girls back,” said Stitzel. “I have a couple middle school girls coming up, and we might get some others. So we’ll rebuild for next year, and go at it again next year.”

But Stitzel is proud of what this group accomplished this season. Saturday was just icing on the cake.

“We came out yesterday (Friday), had fun, and said whatever you do today, there’s no pressure on us at all,” Stitzel said. “Just go out and have a good day.

“We’re leaving here as league champions. Our two seniors are leaving here as league champions, finished second in the district and sixth in the state. And that’s nothing to sneeze at. So I’m happy with the way we performed, and just happy with the whole season, the way it went. This was just a bonus to cap off a great season.”

Northwestern had two seniors in the Class 2A boys race. Robert Leiser finished 84th (17:41) and Phillip Castrine 133rd (18:09).

“Last time, I guess I was nervous,” said Leiser, who finished 48th a year ago. “I led, which was not a good decision. Today it was a little bit smarter.”

Leiser ended his career with a third straight trip to states, while Castrine qualified for the second year in a row.

“It was a good last race, and four years I’ll never forget,” said Castrine.

While Castrine and Leiser were Northwestern’s only boys at the state meet this season, don’t be surprised if that number increases in the coming years.

“I feel that in the next two to three years, maybe even four years, the boys’ cross country program here is gonna be something that people are gonna fear,” said Castrine. “I think it’s gonna be a good program, because we have a lot of young talent coming up from the middle school.”

PIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOYS CLASS 2A

TEAM SCORES (TOP FIVE)

1. Wyomissing 105, 2. York Suburban 107, 3. Harbor Creek 111, 4. Dallas 134, 5. Grove City Area 168.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

1. Isaac Davis (Jersey Shore) 15:56, 2. Bryce Ohl (York Suburban) 16:16, 3. Jonah Powell (Grove City Area) 16:18, 4. Quinn Serfass (Loyalsock) 16:23, 5. Ryan Starvaggi (Harbor Creek) 16:24, 84. Robert Leiser (Northwestern) 17:41, 133. Phillip Castrine (Northwestern) 18:09.

GIRLS CLASS 2A

TEAM SCORES

1. Danville 121, 2. Allentown Central Catholic 139, 3. Villa Maria 147, 4. Northern York 151, 5. Scranton Prep 172, 6. Northwestern Lehigh 212.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

1. Marlee Starliper (Northern York) 17:50, 2. Maddie McLain (Eastern York) 18:42, 3. Taryn Parks (Greencastle-Antrim) 18:50, 4. Gianna Labbiento (Sharon) 18:53, 5. Emily Deschler (Allentown Central Catholic) 19:04, 51. Kailyn Jones (Northwestern) 20:33, 66. Alyssa Zack (Northwestern) 20:42, 81. Molly Tarvin (Northwestern) 20:52, 106. Sarah Supplee (Northwestern) 21:08, 121. Madeline Consuelos (Northwestern) 21:21, 150. Hannah Herzon (Northwestern) 21:45, 198. Kristen Brown (Northwestern) 23:04.