While CBA Cross Country did not win the NJSIAA Non-Public A title, the team still proved they're the best in New Jersey and a force on the national circuit.

With the season all said and done, CBA now sits as the No. 1 team in New Jersey and No. 20 in the country.

The Colts were dethroned as state champions by Don Bosco back on November 14, but just as any championship-caliber team does, CBA brushed off the loss and used it as motivation to beat Bosco in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions the following week.

It was CBA's sixth consecutive victory at the MOC, led by star runner Blaise Ferro, who finished second at the MOC a week after winning the individual state championship. It was the Colts' 21st MOC title in the 44-year history of the meet.

One week later, the CBA team finished second at the Nike Northeast Regional Championship, qualifying for the Nike Nationals. It was also the sixth straight year that CBA had qualified for the Nike Nationals.

CBA finished 20th at the Nike Nationals, which is held near the Nike, Inc. headquarters in Portland, Ore. Ferro finished 20th in the race in a school record time (15:30).

Lost in a busy November, CBA was also victorious at the Shore Conference and Monmouth County Championships. Meanwhile, the Colts pushed their national duel win streak to 343 straight.

After all these accomplishments, it was no surprise that CBA was named NJ.com's XC Team of the Year.

CBA relied on senior Ferro to be their catalyst in the championship season. Ferro, who sat out most of the season with an injury, won the individual state title, finished second at the Meet of Champions and won the Northeast Regional. He was named Shore Conference Runner of the Year by NJ.com.


While Ferro led the Colts, they always needed a full team effort to succeed. Senior Brian Dengler and junior Noah Yuro played major roles in the Meet of Champions victory, finishing second and third on CBA. Senior Paul Knepple and sophomore Brian Hill have continued to cut time off their averages, especially in championship races. Senior Nick Trigani, along with Ferro, has run in championship meets every year since he was a freshman.

Congratulations to head coach Tom Heath, his assistant coaches and the runners for another great year of cross country at CBA!

CBA XC 2015 ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN REVIEW:

No. 1 Team in New Jersey (Sixth Straight Year)
NJSIAA Meet of Champions Winner (Sixth Straight Year)
Shore Conference Champions
Monmouth County Champions
Runner-Up at NJSIAA Non-Public A Championship
Blaise Ferro '16, Individual Non-Public A State Champion & Individual Northeast Regional Champion
Runner-Up at Nike Northeast Regional Championship
No. 20 at Nike Cross Country National Championship (Sixth Straight Year of Qualifying)
NJ.com's XC Team of the Year (Sixth Straight Year)
Ferro Named NJ.com's Shore Conference Runner of the Year