ROCK HILL, S.C. (Sept. 6, 2025) — Fort Mill High School delivered a clean sweep at the Trojan Invitational on the Northwestern High School campus course, capturing team titles in all four races: girls varsity 5K, boys varsity 5K, girls JV 5K, and boys JV 5K. The meet was directed by Chris Ardis with results by Mitchell Timing.
Girls Varsity 5K
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Team Champion: Fort Mill (34) — scoring 2-4-5-11-12 with just a 1:09 spread
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Runner-up: Clover (76); 3rd: Greenville (100)
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Individual Winner: Ella Nighbor (Clover) — 18:03.1
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Fort Mill scorers: Kaylee Rovenstine (2nd, 18:20.0), Alivia Cleveland (4th, 18:46.1), Marlee Cook (5th, 19:04.7), Lauren Allen (11th, 19:28.8), Mia Zook (12th, 19:29.0)
Ella Nighbor of Clover won individually with a time of 18:03.1, the fastest in the state this season, holding off Fort Mill’s Kaylee Rovenstine down the stretch. The two have played leap frog with the fastest time in the state over the last two weeks.
Boys Varsity 5K
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Team Champion: Fort Mill (42) — scoring 1-5-6-13-17; 1:01 spread
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Runner-up: South Pointe (56); 3rd: Catawba Ridge (85)
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Individual Winner: Connor Demmerle (Fort Mill) — 16:04.4 (wire-to-wire win)
Demmerle broke the field early and never looked back, with teammates Finn Leckrone (5th, 16:15.1) and Owen Ware (6th, 16:22.3) locking in critical low sticks. Hudson Haley (13th, 16:51.4) and Ben Madej (17th, 17:05.3) closed the scoring for Fort Mill.
Girls JV 5K
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Team Champion: Fort Mill (18) — scoring 1-2-4-5-6
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Runner-up: Clover (61); 3rd: Chapin (87)
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Individual Winner: Leah Ackerman (Fort Mill) — 21:13.0
Fort Mill dominated with seven Jackets in the top 10, led by Ackerman and senior Tierre Peterson (2nd, 21:29.0), underscoring the program’s depth.
Boys JV 5K
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Team Champion: Fort Mill (23) — scoring 2-3-4-5-9
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Runner-up: Chapin (56); 3rd: Catawba Ridge (84)
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Individual Winner: Koa Erickson (Chapin) — 16:58.3
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Top Fort Mill finishers: Preston Cullen (2nd, 17:46.0), Liam Doheny (3rd, 17:54.1), Jacob Audley (4th, 17:57.8), Reeves Parker (5th, 18:02.0)
Even with Chapin’s Erickson taking the tape, Fort Mill stacked the next four spots to clinch the sweep.
York County Highlights
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Clover Girls Varsity: 2nd overall; Ella Nighbor’s 18:03.1 was the meet’s top girls’ time.
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South Pointe Boys Varsity: 2nd overall, led by Keller Brown (2nd, 16:11.3).
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Catawba Ridge Boys Varsity: 3rd overall with freshman Lincoln Smith (4th, 16:14.8).
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Northwestern: Strong home-course efforts with Grace Harvey (13th girls varsity, 19:29.3) and Michael Thomas (36th boys varsity, 17:52.1).
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Nation Ford Girls Varsity: 6th, paced by freshman Addison Eastley (15th, 19:43.8).
Meet Notes
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Venue: Northwestern HS Campus Course (Rock Hill, SC)
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Date: Sept. 6, 2025
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Races: Girls Varsity 5K, Boys Varsity 5K, Girls JV 5K, Boys JV 5K
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Officials: Meet Director — Chris Ardis | Timing — Mitchell Timing
Bottom line: With varsity stars up front and JV depth to match, Fort Mill swept the board in Rock Hill — a statement day for the Yellow Jackets as the season kicks into gear.
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