JEFFERSON TWP — Jolene and Alyssa Kunkel are taking the Knoch girls cross country team to heights it's never reached before — and the sky's the limit.

Jolene, a freshman, and Alyssa, a junior, have helped transform the Knights into formidable opponents, not just in the section, but in the WPIAL as well.

With the sisters' help, the Knights have enjoyed their best season in the program's 20-year history:

• A 15-5 overall record was its first winning season as well as the most victories.

• A 3-4 section record, which gave coach seventh-year coach Wess Brahler his first section triumph.

• Placed 17th at the WPIALClass AAA Championships last week, its highest finish ever.

• Had its first WPIALmedalist and PIAA qualifier in Jolene, who was 18th overall. Alyssa just missed the cut, but finished 37th.

• Jolene also broke the course and school record with a time of 19 minutes, 39 seconds, crushing the previous mark by 17 seconds.

Now, Jolene, who took part in the middle school program Brahler started three years ago, will compete in Saturday's PIAA Championships in Hershey.

"She had three years of experience and had some tremendous races," said Brahler. "She lost only one time in three years. She's had a lot of success and she's made that transition from middle school to high school very well."

Jolene not only did well in dual meets, but she won the prestigious Central Catholic Invitational, as well as the competitive Lakeview and Rocky Grove events

"I never expected to do as well as I did at Central Catholic," said Jolene. "That really prepared me for the WPIAL meet. I just wanted to get better.

"I had a goal in the back of my mind to make it to states. Then, as the season went on, I thought I could be in the top 20 (at WPIALs)," Jolene added.

"Jolene is the best runner I've ever coached," said Brahler, who led Moniteau for 11 years before coming to Knoch. "We're looking for good things from her."

Jolene started running in the fifth grade, but more or less just to keep busy.

"My mom told me it's something to do since Alyssa was doing it," said Jolene.

She enjoyed taking part in a fifth-grade track meet and enjoyed running the longer distances. When she got to the sixth grade, the cross country program was in place.

In middle school, Jolene enlisted Shannon Evanchek to join the newly formed cross country program. Now both are key pieces to the future of the Knights. Evanchek finished 62nd overall in her first WPIALmeet.

"I knew Jolene was going to be good this year," said Alyssa. "I knew Shannon had potential, but I didn't expect her to do as well as she has already."

As for Alyssa, she didn't benefit from having a middle school program — she began running in the ninth grade — but she did learn a lot from watching those around her.

"When our boys team first qualified for the state meet in 2005, Alyssa was a freshman and she saw the boys success and thought, 'What can I do to get where the boys are at?'" Brahler said.

"In 1½ years of training, she's progressed very well. ... She's a very consistent runner," Brahler added.

"Definitely, the dedication, the running and putting the time in really helped," said Alyssa. "You put more time into something, you reap the benefits."

With the history of the program, Alyssa didn't anticipate any big turnarounds when she came in as a freshman.

"I didn't think anything was going to happen," said Alyssa. "Last year, you could tell something could happen. The girls in middle school were coming on.

"This season was amazing. It makes me want to work harder. It makes everyone want to work harder."

PIAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

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Class AAA BoysSeneca Valley (team):Cam Stauffer, Chris Cipro, Andrew Razanauskas, Matt Davis, Eric Geddis, Mike SibenacButler: Ben Porter, Wayne Dailey

Class AAA GirlsSeneca Valley: Megan PowellKnoch: Jolene Kunkel

Class AA BoysMars (team): Justin Stadelmyer, Nick Edinger, Brandon Stadelmyer, Michael Lewis, Chris Hardt, Jon Randza, Chris AlikhaniSlippery Rock: Nate King, Owen BowserGrove City: Jacob Kildoo, Tim BollingerKarns City: Aaron McGarvey, Chris Harmon

Class AA GirlsGrove City: Megan DeGraaf, Becky Consbruck