High school girls cross country team previews
Garaway’s Mya Wengerd, left, and Meghan Schwartz, pictured in front of Kenadi Yoder, return to continue the Lady Pirates successful cross country program.
The high school girls cross country season will begin Aug. 21.
Here are season previews for each school in The Holmes Bargain Hunter’s coverage area:
Hiland
The Lady Hawks have one runner on their roster this season, so improving as the season goes along is the name of the game for Hiland this year.
“Gianna Miller is new to cross country as she enters her freshman year,” third-year coach Jackie Kaufman said. “We look forward to her improving her placement and time throughout the season.”
Kaufman said being new to cross country has some advantages for Miller.
“I think the lack of pressure, great environment and competitive league will help to improve her individual success,” Kaufman said.
West Holmes
The Lady Knights graduated four letterwinners from their back-to-back state-qualifying teams, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t expecting another strong season this year.
“Despite the losses, we have an exciting returning core and several newcomers that we are excited about,” 17th-year coach Kevin Beachy said.
Returning letterwinners include senior Autumn Conner; juniors Noelle Smith, Lexy Starner and Zora Starner; and sophomore Alexis Wagers. Promising newcomers include senior Peyton Carathers and sophomores Katherine Kaster, Serenity McClintock and Alizah Sigler.
“We have a core of returners that are invested in what it takes to be great and are leaders,” Beachy said. “The new runners will get plenty of varsity opportunities early in the season.”
When it comes to the Ohio Cardinal Conference meet, Beachy expects Lexington and Wooster to be in the mix for a league title.
“We are expecting to be competitive with them again this year,” he said.
Loudonville
The Lady Redbirds will have a mix of experience and youth this season.
“We have some student-athletes new to cross country that will be learning the sport from experienced upperclassmen,” second-year coach Whitney Snyder said. “We’ve changed up the race schedule a little to see more of our strong district and regional level teams, so hopefully that helps prepare them for the races later on.”
Four letterwinners return this season — seniors Grace Ringler and Allison Tournoux; junior Tess Shultz, who finished 19th at last year’s Division III state meet; and sophomore Nora Lance — and they’ll be joined by promising freshmen newcomers Ashlyn Campbell and Bailey Henry.
“Our strength this season will be in our upperclassmen leadership,” Snyder said. “The upperclassmen (Grace, Allison and Tess) have a lot of experience, show what it means to be hardworking, and set a good example in sportsmanship and support toward everyone in the cross country program.”
Snyder hopes to see her team repeat as Mid-Buckeye Conference team champions.
“This is our last year competing in the Mid-Buckeye Conference (Loudonville is completely joining the KMAC next year), and while we know there are several strong runners to compete against, we hope to earn another team championship with our girls,” she said.
Garaway
The Lady Pirates finished 19th at last year’s Div. III state meet, but they graduated a couple of key pieces from that team.
Despite that, expectations remain high within the program.
“We had a couple of great seniors graduate last year, so we will have an opportunity to grow in experience overall (this season),” ninth-year coach Lucas Immel said. “We still have four runners from our team last year to help progress us forward.”
Returning letterwinners include seniors Tori Beachy, Emily Rider and Meghan Schwartz and junior Mya Wengerd. Four promising newcomers also will be in the mix — senior Natalia Flores-Flores, junior Tessa Flores-Flores, sophomore Lainey Hershberger and freshman Lydia Raber.
“This is a hardworking group,” Immel said. “I think their work ethic will produce dividends in the long run.”
Waynedale girls
A coach’s job is never really done, and Shauna Pittman, heading into her second year as Waynedale’s cross country coach, is a prime example.
Pittman led the Golden Bears to a third-place finish in the Wayne County Athletic League in her debut season, but after losing two runners to graduation, only three remain — not enough to score points as a team.
That’s when the coach also becomes a recruiter.
“We have no new runners this season — at least as of now — but we’re working on it,” Pittman said. “Our weakness will definitely be our small numbers.
“League will be difficult this year unless we can recruit a few more girls before the start of the season. We are hoping for a few top 10 performances at the WCAL Championship meet, however.”
As it stands now, the quantity might not be there, but the quality is among letterwinners Clara Sundberg, a senior, and sophomores Carleigh Lynch and Anna Pittman.
Sundberg, a state qualifier as a sophomore, battled injury last season and placed 23rd at the regional meet to just miss a return trip to state. Pittman came a bit closer to getting to the big meet, finishing 22nd at regionals.
“Clara should be back and stronger this season, and Anna will be stronger this season as well,” Pittman said. “I expect the team’s strengths to be their hard work ethic and their desire to encourage each other on. These girls are mentally tough and will use that to their advantage.”