Cross-country: Conval's Long Winning Tradition

The first running Cougs...the 1970 team (front, from left): Matt Kamarck, Alan Hebert, Mike Norton, Matt Anderson and David Jarest. Back row; Coach Dick Hebert, Alan Weathers, Peter Doyle, Kevin Chapman, David Mason and Dennis Sutcliffe.

When Conval Regional High School burst on to the New Hampshire scene in the fall of 1970, few may have heard of the blue and gold Cougars. But once they knew their running heritage, opponents knew right away they were going to be in for a battle.

Antrim, Peterborough Speedsters

In the early 1960s, it was Antrim High with high-flying runners Stan Dutton and Donald Putnam who made the Warriors a team to reckon with in Class S. They even beat future Class M-S powerhouse Peterborough in a 1961 tri-meet.

In the late ‘60s, with Coach Bill Yeo leading the way, it was Peterborough High that became the talk of the New Hampshire running world, winning the state cross-country championship for an astounding four consecutive years. (Read more about these amazing teams on the Conval Hoop Heritage website: https://cvhoopheritage.blogspot.com/2024/02/running-past-basketball.html)

With a rich running heritage, Antrim and Peterborough joined forces in the fall of 1970 to form Conval Regional—and the excellence kept on coming. The newbie Cougars quickly established themselves in Class I (D2) as a team to reckon with. They went 6-1 in dual and multi-team races, with their only loss to prep school Vermont Academy.

Dave Mason led the Cougars for much of the first year in 1970.

In the first-ever Conval Invitational in the fall of 1970, the Cougars, led by standout Dave Mason, were nipped by powerhouse Bishop Brady of Concord and two-time Class I champ John Savoie. But in their first year of existence, Conval finished a strong fifth in the Class I meet and wound up 10th among all high schools in New Hampshire.

And that was only the beginning.

Conval boys’ cross-country became Division 2/Class I state champs in 2000…and in 2002, 2006 and 2007. And the girls won the Class I state title in 2001! (More on these teams later.)

No other Conval High team comes close to matching the achievement of our cross-country squads.

Off and running at the very first Conval Invitational, 54 autumns ago.

Running with Team ‘24

Meanwhile, we’re on to the 2024 season, and a new breed of Cougar is helping to ensure that Cougar cross-country heritage keeps on running. It’s a huge group, too, with lots of freshmen and only three seniors.

Members are: Freshmen—Emmitt Allen, Brianna Bard, Berkley Bates, Jeff Belcourt, Tom Belcourt, Ronan Fortin, Kate Fraley, Kiran Galbraith, Joshua Luce, Norah McNamara, Noah Regis, Van Stahlin and Walter Stephens. Sophomores—Vincent Hollenbeck, Marcus Jordan and Tysen Schuneman. Juniors—Whitney Adair, Brian Alonso, Sarah Brace, Alia Dodge, Kira Lavoith, Sara Mackie, Ross Stephens and Nathan Vanderpool. Seniors—Joshua Decker, William Simard and Sean Witt.