Liverpool junior wins cross country sectional title as CNY schools celebrate fall achievements
Brady Petrella of Liverpool High School captured the Class A cross country title, leading a strong showing for Central New York runners and teams as schools across Syracuse and its suburbs mark a season of student success and community engagement.
Brady Petrella, a junior at Liverpool High School, crossed the finish line first at the Class A boys cross country sectional meet, setting a new course record and earning a spot at the state championships, according to Syracuse.com.
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Petrella’s win capped a season of steady improvement for the Liverpool squad. He led a pack of five Liverpool runners who finished among the top individual qualifiers, shows the team’s depth and the coaching staff’s focus on building a strong distance program. The meet, held at Baldwinsville’s Durgee Junior High course, drew hundreds of student-athletes and their families from across Onondaga County, including runners from Salina, Geddes, and the city of Syracuse.
Petrella’s time not only secured his individual title but also helped Liverpool clinch a team berth at the state meet. The Baldwinsville boys team, running on their home course, also qualified for states after a tight battle with Fayetteville-Manlius and West Genesee. Coaches and parents lined the course, cheering runners through the final stretch near the intersection of East Oneida Street and Albert Palmer Lane.
For Liverpool, this marks the third time in five years that a runner has advanced to the state championships. The program’s consistency has made it a fixture in Central New York high school athletics, with alumni often returning to volunteer at meets or mentor younger athletes. The team trains on local routes, including the Onondaga Lake Park trails and the Liverpool High School campus loop, building endurance for the hilly sectional course.
By The Numbers
- 1: Number of individual Class A boys cross country sectional titles won by Liverpool’s Brady Petrella, per Syracuse.com
- 4: Other top individual finishers from Central New York who qualified for the state meet, according to Syracuse.com
- 53: Photos published by Syracuse.com from the sectional meet, capturing the event’s highlights
Syracuse.com’s gallery of 53 photos from the meet shows the intensity and emotion on display, from the starting gun to the finish line. Runners from schools like Cicero-North Syracuse, Jamesville-DeWitt, and Marcellus are pictured pushing through the final meters, while parents and classmates wave signs and ring cowbells along the course. The sectional meet has become a fall tradition for many families, with tailgates and post-race gatherings at local spots like Heid’s of Liverpool and the B’ville Diner.
What this means for Central New York families
For parents and students in Liverpool, Baldwinsville, and the Syracuse City School District, Petrella’s win is a source of pride and a reflection of Central New York’s competitive edge in high school sports. The sectional meet, held in early November as the leaves turned along the Seneca River, brought together families from neighborhoods like Galeville, Lakeland, and the Northside.
Many families spent the morning at the course, bundled in sweatshirts and sipping coffee from Dunkin’ on Oswego Road. The event gave parents a chance to connect with coaches and other families, while younger siblings played tag on the sidelines. For seniors, the meet was a final chance to compete on home turf before graduation, while underclassmen like Petrella looked ahead to bigger stages.
With the state meet scheduled for November 12 at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School, families are booking hotel rooms and organizing carpools. Local businesses, including Fleet Feet Syracuse and Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists, have sponsored travel stipends and gear for qualifying athletes. School administrators have arranged send-off rallies and pep assemblies, with banners hanging in the Liverpool High School gym and morning announcements celebrating the team’s success.
The achievements of Liverpool and Baldwinsville runners reflect years of investment in athletic facilities and coaching across Onondaga County. Districts have upgraded cross country courses, added strength training equipment, and supported summer running camps. Coaches credit these resources, along with strong community backing, for the steady stream of state-level qualifiers from Central New York.
For more updates on school sports and student achievements, visit our Syracuse schools page.
Spotlight on student inspiration: Astronaut Epps returns to Syracuse
Jeanette Epps, a NASA astronaut who grew up in Syracuse, spoke at a veterans expo downtown, sharing her journey from city schools to the International Space Station, according to Syracuse.com.
Epps spent hours at the expo, meeting with students, veterans, and families. She posed for photos and answered questions about her time in space and her earlier service in Iraq. Epps told the crowd that she first dreamed of becoming an astronaut as a little girl growing up in Syracuse, and she encouraged students to pursue careers in science and technology.
Her visit resonated with students from the Syracuse City School District, especially those from neighborhoods like Eastwood and Tipp Hill. Epps’ story is a reminder that local students can reach the highest levels of achievement, whether in STEM fields or public service. Teachers have used her example in classroom discussions, and several schools have organized field trips to science museums and STEM fairs in the weeks following her talk.
Families in Syracuse say Epps’ return shows how important of community events that connect young people with role models. The veterans expo, held at the Oncenter Convention Center, drew attendees from across the city and nearby towns like DeWitt and Solvay. Organizers reported record turnout, with students lining up for autographs and parents snapping photos for social media.
Community events and school engagement
Throughout the fall, schools in Syracuse and the suburbs have packed their calendars with events that bring together students, parents, and educators. Football Saturdays at the JMA Wireless Dome draw crowds from all over, with local high school bands performing at halftime and alumni tailgating in the parking lots off Irving Avenue.
Cross country meets, like the one at Baldwinsville, offer a different kind of community gathering. Races wind through wooded trails and open fields, with volunteers handing out water and timing splits at mile markers. After the meets, families often stop for pizza at Twin Trees or ice cream at Gannon’s on McDonald Road.
Beyond athletics, schools have hosted academic and cultural events. The recent Syracuse Symposium, as reported by CNY Signal, provided free humanities programming for students and families. Workshops ranged from poetry readings to history exhibits, giving students a chance to explore new interests outside the classroom. These programs, often held at the Everson Museum or the downtown library, are open to families from across Central New York.
For more on upcoming activities, check our community events page for things to do in Syracuse and neighboring towns.
Looking ahead: State meet and ongoing achievements
With the state cross country meet coming up at Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, Liverpool and Baldwinsville runners are logging their final workouts and reviewing race strategies. Coaches have scheduled practice runs on similar terrain, and athletes are focusing on nutrition and rest in the days leading up to the big race.
Families and classmates across Onondaga County will be following the results closely, with updates posted on school websites and social media. Local businesses have put up signs wishing the teams luck, and some teachers have planned watch parties for race day. The excitement around the state meet reflects the pride that Central New York takes in its student-athletes and the support networks that help them succeed.
Meanwhile, stories like Jeanette Epps’ return to Syracuse continue to inspire students to set ambitious goals, whether in sports, science, or public service. The fall season remains a time of achievement and celebration for schools in Syracuse, DeWitt, Salina, and out in Caz, as families look ahead to winter sports and academic competitions.
Where to check for updates
For the latest on school sports, student achievements, and community events, visit your district’s website or follow CNY Signal’s schools coverage for ongoing updates.
📷 Wikimedia / Wikipedia , Liverpool, New York , CC BY-SA 4.0 / Public Domain (verify per file)
Sources
- Syracuse.com, Liverpool junior dominates boys cross country sectional meet: ‘Never want to count myself out’ (53 photos)
- Syracuse.com, Astronaut Epps speaks at veterans expo: As a little girl here, I dreamed to going into space
