From upstart program to a state championship. It took the Mars girls cross country team just 15 months to complete that journey.

The Planets became the first team in school history to earn a PIAA title when its seven runners brought home the Class AA crown in November 1976.

The members of that squad — Leda Best, Germaine Brooks, Rachael Brooks, Carol Cronenberger, Nancy Cronenberger, Chris Lewis and Linda Trump, along with coach Herb Wellman, were inducted into the Mars Athletic Hall of Fame last Friday.

“As good as they were, the girls deserve this honor,” said Wellman. “They had good talent and were very dedicated. I was blessed to be able to coach them.”

Mars started a girls cross country team in 1975, but rather than taking its lumps that first season, the Planets placed second in the WPIAL and fifth in the state.

“We had decent numbers that first year, about 10 or 11 girls,” Wellman said. “A lot of the girls were on the basketball team and, if they didn’t play volleyball in the fall, they came out for cross country. The basketball team (under coaches Carol DeVenzio and Marcia Semple) was a running team. The girls wanted to stay in shape for that.”

“We were underdogs in a lot of our meets,” said Best. “I remember running against Shaler, which was a much bigger school, and people saying that they were going to kick our butts. We ended up taking the top four places.”

After a great first season, Wellman knew his team was capable of big things in 1976.

“I knew we would be pretty good,” he said. “We had tough kids and I thought we would do well based on the previous year.”

The Planets first claimed the WPIAL Class AA title, beating out defending champion Brentwood, before heading to Penn State University for the state championship meet.

“I had a friend who lived out east and he sent me some information on the good teams out that way,” Wellman said. “I felt as long as everybody on our team did their best, nobody was going to beat us.”

Best remembers Mars’ home course having several challenging hills.

“We ran those hills all the time and got in a lot of practice on them,” she said. “I think that helped us once we got to Penn State.

Led by Rachael Brooks’ effort of fifth place in the team rankings (13:46, 12th overall), the Planets once again downed Brentwood, this time by a score of 76-81.

Also scoring for Mars was Nancy Cronenberger (13:54, ninth/16th), Best (13:58, 10th/17th), Carol Cronenberger (14:38, 25th in team), Chris Lewis (14:30, 27th) and Germaine Brooks (14:48, 33rd team).

“It was thrilling,” Best said of bringing home Mars’ first state team title. “We were all extremely excited.”

Likewise, Best said she is “ecstatic” about being recognized by the hall of fame, along with her former teammates.

“We worked hard and had a good coach,” she said. “This honor is well-deserved.”

The Mars Athletic Hall of Fame also inducted four individuals, including:

Jaime Wojdowski (Class of 1999): Became the first Mars athlete, boy or girl, to qualify for state competition in three sports (soccer, basketball, track and field). ... As a defender, helped the Planets’ girls soccer team go a combined 34-8-3 her junior and senior seasons, including a section title and trips to the WPIAL Class AA semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals in 1998. ... Earned medals in the 300-meter hurdles by placing second in the WPIAL and eighth in the PIAA track events her senior year. ... At the time of her graduation, was ranked in the top 10 all-time at Mars in six events — 300 hurdles, 100 hurdles, 400 run, triple jump, pole vault and 1,600 relay. ... Moved to forward after arriving at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, where she played soccer for four years.

Susie Giovengo (Class of 2000): Lettered four years as a forward on Mars’ girls soccer team, earning a spot on the Butler Eagle’s Elite 11 All-Star Team in 1997, 1998 and 1999. ... Graduated with a then-school record 67 goals. ... Played both forward and midfielder while making 42 career starts at Indiana (Pa.) University.

Tom Weinrich (Class of 2001): Won WPIAL Class AA track and field titles in the triple jump and long jump as a senior. At the ensuing PIAA Championships, took second in the triple jump with a school-record distance of 46 feet, 4.75 inches and fifth in the long jump. ... As a junior, finished fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the long jump at the WPIAL meet.

Rick Gable (Class of 2003): Was a three-year starter on the offensive line for Mars’ football team. ... Was the team’s best lineman in 2002 when the Planets played in the WPIAL Class AA title game against Seton LaSalle at Heinz Field. Earned a spot on the Butler Eagle’s Sweet 16 Offensive All-Star Team as a right tackle that season. ... Started all four years at Thiel College, helping the Tomcats reach the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time in 2005.