Showing ‘Pop Pop’s’ grit, Oley Valley’s Josh Wagner runs to Berks Best, state medal

By Julie Pelchar Cohen — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent

SHIPPENSBURG – Josh Wagner has run with a chip on his shoulder the final few weekends of his senior track season.

Boys from other Berks schools received headlines. Others earned higher seeds for the championship races. 

Oley Valley’s distance star laced his spikes feeling overlooked and underestimated.

Turns out those feelings ignited the motivation Wagner needed to toss an exclamation point on his high school career.

Wagner finished sixth in the Class 2A 1600 Friday on the opening day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships. He crushed a personal best to grab a Berks Best time with a 4:20.39 at Seth Grove Stadium.

The race was swift in a fast field and served as a warm-up act for national sensation Drew Griffith. The Butler senior and Notre Dame recruit annihilated a National Federal of State High School Associations record in the 3A race with a 3:57.08.

Wagner couldn’t be happier with his place in Lynx history. After writing a chapter with last weekend’s 1600 gold at the District 3 Championships, he penned another one Friday.

“I knew I could run with those guys today no matter what,” Wagner said. “I wanted a medal especially with it being my senior year, and that’s what I went out there and did.”

In medal contention throughout the race, Wagner bolted from fifth place to third at the start of the third lap. It was a matter of hanging on from there.

Wagner lost ground over the final 400 meters but he had pushed himself far enough to have a cushion.  

He busted a personal best by more than three seconds to lower his school record. Wagner also holds Oley’s all-time best time in the 800 with a 1:57.90.

“It was a painful last lap,” he said. “I almost fell with 50 to go. I literally felt like I was swimming, but it was a great race.”

Wagner’s chip on his shoulder seems to make him a chip off the old block. He said he also draws motivation from his grandfather, Bruce Cronrath.

“Pop Pop” also grew up in the Oley Valley. He attended a one-room schoolhouse but was unable to devote attention to his studies.

Instead, he worked with his father at a farmer’s market to help support the family and put food on the table.

After his hardscrapple childhood, Cronrath served in the Army, eventually earned a managerial position in the public sector and made enough money to send Wagner’s mother to college.

“I definitely have a hard-working mentality,” Wagner said. “I credit that to my Pop Pop. As a kid, he did not have the most fortunate life.

“He did not have all the opportunities I have. I take advantage of them and put my face down and work hard so I can make him proud.”

Cronrath didn’t travel to Shippensburg but likely watched the PCN broadcast.

Pop Pop must have been beaming watching a grandson who shares his feistiness.

Cronrath is also a runner. Wagner said he didn’t start running until late in life. A doctor who performed Cronrath’s knee replacement declared Cronrath would never be able to run.

Those words seemed to have placed a chip on Cronrath’s shoulder. At age 80, he competes in local 5K’s. He finished a marathon several years ago and recently ran 50 races in a calendar year.

“Him being out there at age 80 and being able to run and stay active motivates me,” Wagner said. “It motivates me to push my hardest.”

Wagner’s senior push has transformed the former soccer player into the county’s fastest miler. Switching to cross country last fall padded Wagner’s training mileage.

As a result he has surged in the 1600 after spending his junior season primarily as an 800 runner.

Wagner will anchor Oley’s 3200 relay Saturday morning and race the 800 in the afternoon.

Wagner is a two-time district medalist in the 800, taking silver as a junior and bronze last weekend. He finished 10th in the 800 final during last year’s PIAA championships. 

Along with relay teammates Andrew Zook, Ryan Gourley and Ben DeBalko, Wagner will be looking for redemption. The Lynx finished ninth last year and missed a medal by one spot.

Seems like just the motivation Wagner needs.