Hands on his head, Scotty Zoscin looked to the top of the mountain.

The Weatherly senior spied some Palisades runners and started to do the math while teammates checked stopwatches.

Last week’s District 11 cross country meet, which was held at Blue Mountain Resort, featured a new format this season in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The event was spread across two days, and races were split into two heats, with overall individual and team results merged at the completion of both.

The Wreckers were in the first heat in the class A field and had to watch some of their competition, including the Pirates, run the next race.

Watching and waiting, Zoscin and his teammates were left wondering if they had claimed the program’s first district title and a berth at this week’s state meet.

Until first-year head coach Ryan Kately emerged with the trophy and medals for each of the Wreckers.

“Once we finished our race, we had so many nerves just thinking about the next race,” said Zoscin. “We knew Palisades was a team we had to beat. Just getting the news, coach coming out with the trophy ... I just thought of all the guys and how much work they put in and how much this means to not just me, but to all of them and the whole town of Weatherly.

“The amount of support we have is tremendous, and knowing we did it for the town, for each other and just as a group of brothers, the feeling is just fantastic. I can’t even describe it.”

Family members were gathered in anticipation of what they hoped would be another historic moment for the program, which claimed the Schuylkill League title a week earlier.

“A big credit goes to my senior, Scotty Zoscin,” said Kately. “He’s the leader of this team. And this year is kind of different for him. Toward the end here, he wasn’t winning races. But he’s just an unselfish guy, and he worries about the team more.

“He’s been our captain all year, and we’re lucky to get him one more race in a Weatherly jersey.”

Like he did at the league meet, Zoscin - a three-time state qualifier during his cross country career - paced the Wreckers. The senior was third at districts after finishing fourth at leagues.

Ricky Ray, Frankie Willis, Jacob Parker and Michael Berger made up the remainder of Weatherly’s top-five at leagues.

At districts, the order was Berger, Willis, Parker and Ray to help the team knock off Moravian Academy (39-70) Palisades (84) and Shenandoah Valley (86).

Zoscin celebrated individual success at districts a year ago, winning the Class 1A race. But the Wreckers were third in the team standings behind Moravian and Shenandoah.

Weatherly’s depth has lifted it to new heights this season.

“Michael Berger has dropped three minutes off his time from last year,” said Kately. “Ricky Ray has made big improvements. And then we have guys like Frankie Willis and Jacob Parker, they’ve always been there.

“But everyone has improved, and everyone bought in to the training this year, and that’s why we’re holding the trophy.”

The Wreckers, who will also have Nathan Tripp and Brady Walters running in Hershey, went 13-0 in the regular season and stood atop the Division 2 standings in the Schuylkill League.

“No matter what, I can always depend on them,” said Zoscin. “Last week (at leagues), I didn’t expect to get fourth. But these guys got me, and we still won the league championship.

“Just the amount of improvement and the winning culture that these guys have; the mindset these guys have is that no matter what, we’re going to go out here and give it our all.”

That mentality has taken Weatherly to the summit, above the competition and beyond even its wildest expectations.

“I told these guys, once you win a district title, no one can take that away from you,” said Kately. “These guys are like a brotherhood. They’re close to each other, growing up together, and to bring a championship back to Weatherly for them, they’ll be able to go back when they’re older and look at that banner in the gym and be proud of it.”

TIGER BOYS AT STATES

... The Northwestern boys claimed their second straight district crown a week ago, winning the Class 2A title, to advance to states.

Northwestern, which went 17-1 in the league during the regular season, finished with three runners in the top six, led by sophomore Samuel Bower’s (17:55) runner-up finish. Matthew Santana (18:18) was fourth overall, while Cole Chukoskie (18:29) placed sixth. The Tigers placed 14th at states last year in the Class 2A team standings, and were led by Santana’s 130th-place finish (18:09). Joining Bower, Santana and Cole Chukoskie at states will be Joe Chukoskie, Will Gruen, Ethan Kowalski, Nate Vincent and RJ Zack.

OTHER QUALIFIERS ... Palmerton’s Natalie Mosier will be running in Hershey for the second straight year after finishing second in the Class 1A race at districts last week. The sophomore was 74th at states a year ago. Northwestern’s Angelina Klein placed sixth in the Class 2A race, and will also be making her second trip to states. The sophomore finished 115th a year ago. Lehighton’s Kelsey Gaston will be looking to cap a stellar season and career with a strong run in Hershey. The senior placed third in the 2A race at district to advance to states for the first time.

THE DETAILS

... The state meet will be held on the Parkview Cross Country Course in Hershey this Saturday with some schedule changes. Each gender classification will run in four waves, starting with the Class 1A girls at 9 a.m., 9:15, 9:30 and 9:45, followed by the 1A boys (10 a.m., 10:15, 10:30, 10:45); 2A girls (11 a.m., 11:15, 11:30, 11:45); 2A boys (noon, 12:15, 12:30, 12:45); 3A girls (1 p.m., 1:15, 1:30, 1:45); and 3A boys (2 p.m., 2:15, 2:30, 2:45). Awards will be presented at the front of the GIANT Center after each classification is completed and all scores are tabulated. The championship and the runner-up teams in each class, both girls and boys, will receive trophies. Members of the champion and runner-up teams will receive medals (10 per team). The top 25 individual finishers in each class, both girls and boys, will receive medals.

HOW TO WATCH

... New this year, PCN will stream live looks at checkpoints throughout the races during the PIAA Cross Country Championships. In addition, the stream will be free. This will not be a livestream of the entire event, but stationary points along the course. The Championships will air on cable Nov. 25 starting at 6 p.m. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a limited number of spectators will be permitted to walk the course in support of qualifiers throughout the day of competition. Each qualifying runner will receive four wristbands for use by supporting spectators. The wristbands will be distributed as part of the registration packet for coaches. Dogs are also prohibited from entering the course during competition.