The 1970’s firmly established the winning tradition of Solanco Cross-Country as every team had a winning record during that decade. Coach Art Harrington actually began coaching in 1969 with a record of 9 wins and 3 losses.
The 1970’s also marked the beginning of Coach Harrington’s summer cross-country camps. This was primitive tent camping in Pennsylvania State Parks which made today’s Camp Runalot seem like the Ritz-Carlton. Meals for the entire team were cooked by Har on one two burner Coleman stove, and tails of bear sightings and flooded tents can still be heard from those lucky camp participants.
In 1970, the Mules were 8 and 4 followed by an outstanding 1971 season, where they finished 12-1, won the PIAA District 3 Championship and finished 2nd at the PIAA State Championships. In 1972, they finished with a 12-3 record, and went 14-1 in 1973. For the next three years, the teams really excelled. In 1974, they were 15-2, 2nd at the PIAA State Championships with Glenn Wimer placing 4th. The 1975 team produced a 15-2 record, a PIAA District 3 Championship win and a 4th place finish at the PIAA State Championships. Cliff Wimer became Solanco’s first state champion that year while Scott Boxlietner finished 8th. 1976 followed with another 15-2 regular season record and a 2nd place finish at the PIAA State Championships, missing the State Championship by one point. The Mules were 16-3 in 1977 and 12-6 in 1978. Throughout his Cross-Country career at Solanco, Cliff Wimer finished with an amazing 57 and 1 record, and 2 PIAA State Championships. Although there was no girl’s team, Ann Sweigart competed during the late 70’s and finished with an outstanding 2nd place performance at the PIAA State Championships in 1978.