Girls cross country capsules
JIM THORPE
Head coach Drew Benyo (23rd season)
Assistant coaches Janet Ginder
Last year's record 3-8
League Schuylkill League
Classification AA
Key losses Tyra Brown, Emily Andrews, Elizabeth Schneeberger-Klotz
Key returnees Erin Bucci (Jr.), Gabriella Miller (Jr.), Samantha Miller (Jr.), Caitlyn Henninger (Jr.), Kayla Susko (Jr.), Tiffany Erney (Jr.), Briana Gehres (So.)
Others to watch Danielle Juracka (Jr.), Sara Kimborowicz (Jr.), Courtney Martinelli (Jr), Brittany Scherer (So.), Rebecca Osborne (So.), Catherine Condly (Fr.)
Strengths Benyo believes that his girls' team has a lot of potential. He thinks the talent is already there, they just have to believe it is there and work to reach it.
Weaknesses Jim Thorpe has no key seniors and will suffer from some inexperience. The girls also had a lot of injuries last season, especially at the end of the year.
Quoteable "We have a very young team with no seniors. This will be a rebuilding year, in terms of race day experience. There is a great deal of potential which will be reached when they believe in themselves as a team and trust the system. It does work, they just have to realize that." Head coach Drew Benyo.
LEHIGHTON
Head coach Ron Rabenold (Third season)
Assistant coaches Jake Marushak
Last year's record 3-12
League Mountain Valley Conference
Classification AA
Key losses Alli Sabol, Brittany Moyer, Auriel George, Amanda Troxell
Key returnees Alyssa Schleicher (Jr.), Emily Oldt (So.)
Others to watch None
Strengths The two-girl squad of Schleicher and Oldt are extremely willing to work to make themselves better runners. Rabenold feels thta they have a strong determination, discipline and love for the sport.
Weaknesses The departing seniors left a huge whole in the squad that has not been filled.
Quoteable "It is everyone's hope that a younger group of runners will emerge willing to dedicate themselves to this noble sport and return this program back to respectability." Head coach Ron Rabenold.
MARIAN
Head coach Jeremy Dormer (Third season)
Assistant coaches Rob Legath, Christine Legath
Last year's record 6-5 (4-2)
League Schuylkill League Division II
Classification AA
Key losses Katie Owens, Kristen Halenar, Emily Schilling, Michelle Fetco, Cassie Klocek
Key returnees Madison Monaco (Jr.), Molly Balliet (So.), Sam O'Donnell (Jr.), Emma Boyle (Jr.)
Others to watch Shannon Skotek (Jr.), Amanda Srinivasan (Fr.), Mary Susan McAndrew (Fr.), Brianna Kubishin (Fr.), Emily Betterly (Fr.)
Strengths At this point in time, the Fillies will look to Madison Monaco to be the front-runner and pace the rest of the pack throughout the course of the season. Molly Balliet has been keeping up with Monaco in pre-season runs. But, Dormer is hoping Sam O'Donnell and Emma Boyle can continue to push themselves to get closer to the front for a better pack for the up-and-coming season.
Weaknesses The Fillies are relying on one of the inexperienced freshmen to step up to fill the role of a scoring fifth runner. Right now, Dormer feels Mary Susan McAndrew and Amanda Srinivasan have the ability to do so as they are looking pretty strong during pre-season workouts.
Quoteable "We have two Schuylkill League Division II All-Stars coming back this year in Madison (Monaco) and Sam (O'Donnell) and Emma (Boyle) was one as a freshman. So, all four of them should run really well for us and help us to contend for a title this season," Head coach Jeremy Dormer.
PANTHER VALLEY
Head coach Morgan Jones (Fourth season)
Assistant coaches Michelle Markovich, Marie Griffiths
Last year's record 5-6
League Schuylkill League
Classification AA
Key losses Abigail Markovich, Kaylynn Covine
Key returnees Sindle Griffiths (Sr.), Alyssa Marshall (Sr.), Olivia Markovich (Jr.), Shannon Phillips (Jr.)
Others to watch None
Strengths Sindle and the other girls are working hard and keeping a greatattitude.
Weaknesses Only four runners at the moment.
Quoteable "Sindle seems to have put her injury in the past and is running well. Our other girls have potential and hopefully they will let it show this year. They are dedicated and I am glad to coach them." Head coach Morgan Jones.
PALMERTON
Head coach Jeff Minnich (10th season)
Assistant coaches Mike Shafer
Last year's record 8-18 overall
League Colonial League
Classification AA
Key losses Natalie Savage, Cathy Gamez
Key returnees Andrea Stevko (Jr.), Kayla Strohl (Jr.)
Others to watch Leah Heffelfinger (Fr.)
Strengths The Blue Bombers are looking to its veteran experience to pace the team this season. Minnich stressed some of the girls have been active runners for several years now and that can only be a benefit to the program once they hit the competitive terrain running this season.
Weaknesses The lack of numbers will also effect the Bombers once again. The program is low in numbers again and Minnich is in the process of trying to round up a few extra bodies to help the other Bomber harriers.
Quoteable "Despite the lack of numbers, I have seen a few individuals who look pretty strong at this point. We certainly can't afford injuries and will have to count on contributions from each athlete." head coach Jeff Minnich.
PLEASANT VALLEY
Head coach George Fair (12th season)
Assistant coaches Rick Rimple. Matt Frable
Last year's record 8-4 MVC
League Mountain Valley Conference
Classification AAA
Key losses None
Key returnees Sam Klingel (Sr.), Christine Klingel (Sr.), Brittany Dunay (Sr.), Kelsey Fisher (Sr.), Althea Ross (Sr.), Stacy Wojy (Jr.), Kayla Kishbaugh (So.)
Others to watch Abby Caspszyk (Fr.), Gabrielle Lucchelse (Fr.), Dana McAllister (Fr.)
Strengths Sam Klingel is now a senior and will be counted on, along with the other four seniors, to be leaders for this year's team. Fair likes his group of seniors and thinks they will be strong at the top of the lineup.
Weaknesses While the Bears' five seniors have had a lot of varsity experience, the majority the team does not. Fair has a lot of ninth and tenth graders on his team and are very young in terms of running experience.
Quoteable "I am hoping our seniors will be able to carry us. Our experienced runners will have to lead by example for the many of our inexperienced runners." Head coach George Fair.
NORTHERN LEHIGH
Head coach Dave Oertner (29th season)
Assistant coaches Beth Case, Aimee Zeiser
Last year's record 17-9
League Colonial League
Classification AA
Key losses Steph Pryor, Briana Riddick, Julie Wagaman
Key returnees Lauren Oertner (Sr.), Megan Rex (Sr.), Rachel Barnett (Jr.), Sam Corcoran (Jr.), Aimee Oertner (Jr.), Bryanna Tomkins (So.)
Others to watch Maggie Sauerwine (Jr.)
Strengths Northern Lehigh will have four of its top seven runners from last season back, which is nice. Look for those ladies to continue to lead the team this year.
Weaknesses Oertner's numbers are down on the girls' side, so depth could become a problem if the Lady Bulldogs were to be hit by any injuries.
Quoteable "We have a number of experienced runners returning, so we know what it takes to be successful. If we can avoid injury and everyone can perform up to their abilities, we can have ourselves a nice season." Head coach Dave Oertner.
NORTHWESTERN
Head coach Chris Stitzel
Assistant coaches Tim Churetta
Last year's record 26-0
League Colonial League
Classification AAA
Key losses Lindsay Kerr, Megan Handwerk, Ramzy Burns
Key returnees Katie Hallingstad (Sr.), Anna Fricchione (So.), Natalie Boehm (Jr.), Courtney Desiderio (Jr.), Sarah Ribecky (Jr.), Emma Kemmerer (Jr.)
Others to watch Haley Yost (Fr.), Julia Bolsover (Fr.), Noelle Desiderio (Fr.)
Strengths The defending District 11 and Colonial League champs have a good nucleus of runners back. If Hallingstad recovers from an injury she'll be the top team's top runner. Fricchione was the team's fourth-fastest runner at leagues and districts last year and will surely be among the leaders this year. Boehm, Courtney Desiderio and Ribecky were also contributors last year. A few freshmen are up from a middle school team which won last year's Hurricane Invitational. At least three or four could make the team's top seven. The standard has been set over the past few years. The Tigers finished in the top two spots at districts four of the past five years. It will be a little more difficult this year with the team moving up to Class AAA.
Weaknesses It will be impossible to replace Lindsay Kerr, last year's state champ, and classmates Megan Handwerk and Ramzy Burns. Those three were big contributors to the team throughout their entire high school careers. Another undefeated season will be hard to achieve, but a young Lady Tiger team should stay among the top three or four teams in their league this year. The team's only senior is Hallingstad, who will be out for most of the season and possibly all of it. With a core of good runners back next year and a few more solid freshmen, the team could be contending for titles again within the next few years.
Quoteable "We're very young. We have to count on our freshmen moving up. I'm counting on three or four of them being in our top seven this year. I told the girls, every spot's open. With Katie out, one through seven is open. I still expect to be real competitive in the league," Head coach Chris Stitzel.
TAMAQUA
Head coach Thomas Kanger (Ninth season)
Assistant coaches Mike Sakash
Last year's record 10-1 overall (5-1 SL)
League Schuylkill League
Classification AA
Key losses None
Key returnees Dana Ansbach (Jr.), Emily Bumbulsky (So.), Amber Carroll (Jr., two-time State Medalist 12th place in '09), Alesia Casler (Sr.), Kayla Kerstetter (Sr.), Cecily Kohlmeir (Jr.), Paige Kosica (Sr.), Jessica Leiby (Sr.), Juliana Lesniak (Sr.), Alexandra Miller (So.), Colleen Rorke (Sr.), Ashley Van Buren (Jr.)
Others to watch Melody Kelly (Sr.), Schuyler Schmidt (Past 2007 Sch. League Champion returns to running)
Strengths All eyes are guarenteed to be on Amber Carrol, a two-time state medalist, to be the one in the front of the pack for the Blue Raiders this season. However, if 2007 Schuylkill League champion Schuyler Schmidt deciding to return to the sport and can return to her old form quickly, it will solidify the program even more with a superb 1-2 combo up front in each meet.
Weaknesses None
Quoteable "With many returners led by Amber Carrol, Dana Ansbach and Cecily Kohlmeir, our team should be in the running for the League Title. We have many leaders and many seniors that are looking forward to a great year. With the addition of Schuyler Schmidt and several others we should also have depth to compete at a high level of competition," Head coach Tom Kanger.
WEATHERLY
Head coach Mike Miller (First season)
Assistant coaches Phil Jefferies
League Schuylkill League
Classification AA
Key losses None
Key returnees Tianna Genetti (Jr.)
Others to watch Erin Dougherty (So.), Jamie Dougherty (Jr.), Susan Reigle (So.), Devon Bizarre (So.)
Strengths Miller believes the fact that four of the five of the runners play soccer together will be key in one team component. It brings a good team camaderie to the table with a program that didn't have the chance to compete last year since lack of interest. Miller feels as long as these girls stick together the Wreckers should be competitive during the Schuylkill League regular season.
Weaknesses With only five runners out for the team this season, the Wreckers obviously lack depth. But, Miller's concern though is that the Wreckers lack a front-runner. At this current moment, the Wreckers' don't have anyone to push the rest of the pack in the midst of the competition this season.
Quoteable "We want to be competitive in every race. We're looking to improve from day-one on as the season goes along. We're hoping to keep on improving our pace towards the time that the Schuylkill League championships arrive," Head coach Mike Miller.
