GROVE CITY — Tony Consbruck has made it to the state cross country meet many times in his long coaching career.

But the journey this season will be a little different for the Slippery Rock High boys and girls coach.

He'll be going to Hershey as a parent, too.

But there's a catch: His youngest daughter, Becky, will be running for Grove City.

"I told her, 'Hey, do me a favor. Send me to the state meet as a parent.'" coach Consbruck said.

So, Becky did, placing 20th at the District 10 Class AA meet Saturday in Sharon with a time of 20 minutes, 57 seconds.

In doing so, she became the first of six Consbruck sisters to make it to the PIAA Championships.

Sarah, 25, Katie, 23, Emily 21, Maggie, 19, and Abbey, 17, all ran cross country and all fell short of making it to the state meet.

Now Becky, 15, and a sophomore, will be making the trip.

Tony Consbruck is a biology teacher at the school, so he knows how anomalous it is for one couple to have six daughters. It's like flipping a coin six times and having it come up heads each time.

He's also aware of how unique it is to have all six run cross country for dad's rival school.

"Even though they may say so, I never forced them to do it," the elder Consbruck said. "They know what they could learn from a sport like this. I think no matter what actual athletic success you have, it teaches you life lessons."

Becky's season didn't lead either one to believe she could make it to the PIAA Championships.

She had a solid season, routinely finishing second or third for Grove City in each meet. But it appeared she would fall just short of advancing to the state championships again this season.

However, she ran one of her best times of the season to make the cut.

"She did well at districts last year," coach Consbruck said. "But I wasn't sure she'd make it this year. I knew she had the ability, but with the kind of season she was having, I didn't know."

Despite the urge, coach Consbruck tries to keep the critique of his daughter to a minimum at the dinner table.

He will offer a tidbit of advice to his daughter here and there, but he makes an effort not to overdo it.

"I'll say it, but I won't harp on it," coach Consbruck said. "I'll tell her something like her form was a little sloppy and leave it at that. I don't want to be overbearing. She has a coach."

That doesn't prevent the occasional dicey situation, especially when Slippery Rock is running against Grove City.

At a meet earlier this season, Becky was running neck and neck with Slippery Rock's top runner, Andrea Shaffer.

At the one-mile mark, coach Consbruck offered words of encouragement to Shaffer, drawing a snarl from his daughter.

At the two-mile mark, coach Consbruck tried to pump up his daughter and drew a glare from Shaffer.

"After that, I just shut up," he said.

Becky understands the unique situation her father is in and accepts it.

"It's understandable," she said. "He also cheers for me. It's not like he's ignoring me."

Becky said it hasn't been difficult running for Grove City while her father coaches for Slippery Rock.

She said everyone supports her.

"We kind of make a big joke about it," Becky said. "The coaches (atGrove City) always joke with me, 'I wonder what they are doing at Slippery Rock?'"

Becky is just happy to advance to the state meet.

She'll not only be running for her school, but also for her father Saturday in Hershey.

"He said he always wanted to go as a parent," Becky said. "That's half the reason why I was trying to get there so badly. I was trying to make it for him. Now I want to do my best to make him proud."