With 12 freshmen on the boys team and a girls team dominated by underclassmen, potential is probably the best word to describe Oxford’s cross country squads this season.
‘We’re very, very pleased with both groups,? said Coach Ray Sutherland. ‘Our biggest strength is our potential.?
A strong middle school program combined with the district’s elimination of financially burdensome pay-to-play system has produced a lot of new faces on both teams.
Because of the middle school program’s success at recruiting, training, and keeping runners? interested, Sutherland said, ‘We’re not losing them to other sports.?
And the nixing of pay-to-play was enough to nudge kids to run who ‘might have been on the border line before,? the coach explained.
On the girls side, Sutherland said, there’s ‘a lot of talent and they’re getting better.?
Over the last three years, the girls have increased their competitiveness and speed.
‘Even if they got beat, they got beat close,? Sutherland said. ‘Now, I think we’re going to start causing some problems in the league.?
Captaining the girls squad are senior Taylor Dewey, junior Shannon Seeley and junior Kate Wolanin.
All three runners will easily be running in the team’s top three. Last year, Dewey ran the fifth fastest time in Oxford High School history.
Add sophomore Megan Seeley, who ran the school’s seventh fastest time last year, to that mix and Sutherland said it’s looking like a four-way race for the number one spot.
‘I honestly think we have a good chance of having four number ones this year, which is a great problem,? the coach said.
Returning varsity starter sophomore Mallory Skilling is expected to run somewhere between fifth and seventh place on the team. ‘She’s doing a real nice job,? Sutherland said.
Other potential starters this season include freshmen Jillian Walker, Olivia Hernandez and Bree Barry along with junior Carly Eisenhardt.
Freshman Kasey Smith was described as a ‘dark horse? to be among the top seven runners.
‘There’s a lot of talent here that’s ready to go right now,? Sutherland said.
While the boys team is bursting with youth and potential, it’s also hindered by the fact it has ‘little if any varsity experience,? according to Sutherland.
‘We had a lot of seniors graduate last year. Some big runners,? the coach said.
Although the team includes 12 freshmen, Sutherland noted it’s ‘probably the best freshman class we’ve had in four or five years.?
‘We’re really excited about these young kids,? he said. ‘We might take our lumps a little bit. But their attitude is just really good.?
Fortunately, the boys are captained by two seasoned veterans, senior Chase Tucker and junior Erik Joergen.
Sutherland said their leadership is ‘really making a difference? and he expects them to be the number one (Joergen) and two (Tucker) runners.
Freshman Nolan Salani is expected to run in the number three spot.
Rounding out the top seven runners in no particular order could be juniors Stuart Sanchez and Christian Brendel and sophomores Doug Chowanic and Shane Kerbelis.
But this is all speculation on Sutherland’s part.
‘It’s very difficult to pick a top seven right now,? he said. ?’We definitely have some dark horses.?
Among those dark horses threatening to burst into the top seven are freshmen Alec Smith and Zach Kelley.
Due to the team’s youth and inexperience, Sutherland said the rules governing starters will be modified this year.
Usually a starter has to be beaten two or three times before another runner can take their spot, but the coach said it’s ‘going to be a lot more liberal? this season and someone who has a ‘good day is probably going to be starting next time.?
Because of the ‘sheer number? of young runners on the boys squad, this is going to be one of the biggest years in terms of improvement.
‘You’re going to see a huge difference in times by the end of the season,? Sutherland said.