Panthers looking to better 2002

Kokomo Tribune - Monday, August 25, 2003

Western girls cross country coach Dana Neer remembers last season and smiles. When he looks at the 2003 season, however, he can't help but grin and think of the possibilities.

He smiles because (lie Panthers earned their first-ever berth in the IHSAA Semistate that was at North Manchester. Neer's grin corner from the fact that lie returns five of the top seven girls who made that happen while adding a strong freshman runner into the mix,

"We had a great season and what a great pack that was," lie said, ,I feel we have a very formidable group of girls coming back. With the addition ol, a few others, we're very competitive live, especially one through six. We have a couple girls vynig for seventh and we'll see how that Pans Out in the next few meets:'

Back for the Panthers are seniors Brittany Stellhorn and Korena Newlin in, juniors Becky Elliott and Megan Clearwaters and sophomore Annina Gruber. Those girls held five of the top seven spots last year.

"Brittany had a tremendous summer of training and she's running as strong as ever," Neer said. "She seems to he leading the way right now. All of those girls have come through track anti cross country with flyng colors. The girls and I have been running together for a year now and we've be- come accustomed to each other and our training routines. I feel like we're much further down the road than we were at this point last year"

Freshman Anna Hurlock ran third for the Panthers behind Gruber and Stellhorn in their season opener Saturday at Fountain Central, joining her in it shot at (lie varsity is sophomore Cassie Meyer, Freshman Vanessa Lorenz will be competing for the No. 7 spot and sophomore Whitney Rittmann is also a possibility.

"Cassie ran track for the first time and Anna has picked up very quickly on things and is enjoying it," Neer said. Also back are senior Leigh Miller and sophomore Brianna Vess.

The Panthers have also picked up a large group of first-year runners that include juniors Crystle Parkins, Jessi Muehr and Rachel Beeson, sophomores Liz Bogue and Allison Hoover and freshman Liz Hoppes.

Here's a look at the other girls cross country teams in Howard County.

EASTERN

With just three girls out, the Comets are looking for at least two more girls to be able to compete as a team.

“The numbers are disappointing. We're hoping a couple others would have joined us," coach Brandon Mink said. “At this point those girls we have are committed to working and improving their own individual performances over last year,"

After winning the Howard County and Marion Sectional championships, senior Laura Boltz will be one of the top runners in the area. She’ll be joined by senior Aubrey6 Beachy, who’s also playing soccer, and Junior Crystal Barker.

“Laura did well in cross country and she had a super track season. She’s trying to build on her junior year and move up to the next level,” Mink said. “She put in a lot of miles over the summer and is looking good right now.

“The others are trying to get their legs underneath them and get up to speed.”

KOKOMO

The Wildkats are up to 10 girls and that's something that makes Kokomo coach Ricke Stucker happy.

"That's good for us. That's more than we've had in a while," he said.

Returning to the team are seniors Kristine Bolinger, Lisa Madsen and Sarah Goodnight and junior Amber Longwith. But, two girls who Stucker believes will help the team considerably are sophomores Sarah Lee, who's who's coming off a strong track season and Carly Donoghue, who will also be playing soccer.

“Those two girls are probably above everybody else,” he said. “Kristine is really, really working hard. We had four girls go to cross country camp and that hasn’t happened.”

“We’ve go some great girls and it’s fun to come to practice. The girls we have back, their times are really down. If we improve, we might surprise somebody at the end of the season.”

New to the team are juniors Megan Tetrault and Summer Hickey, sophomore Sarah McDonald and freshman Adrienne Shepherd

NORTHWESTERN

The Tigers finished Iasi Season With six healthy girls, bill they have 10 girls out now including a core group of six whose experience is among the best Northwestern coach Pete Schroer believes ever had.

Leading the Tigers are Seniors Sarah Bauson, Amanda Hoff and Katie McCool with juniors Laura Bauson and Mary Cox and sophomore Katie Tryling rounding out the core group.

Schroer thinks the Tigers Will be able to give Western some competition.

"We had some injuries that we worked through last year and it gave all of them a chance to shine. Sarah, Katie [McCool] and Mary ran No. 1 at times," he said, "With those three and Laura, you have proven veterans. You couldn't ask for any more experience among the top four. There are some aspirations and hopes there. We're not going to back down any.

“Katie [McCool] and Sarah are working well with each other. I don't think either one feels the pressure that they have to be our No, 1, go-to person. 'They're working at it from the combined standpoint and that's all effective approach for them early in the season. I want to keep them healthy because the quality is definitely there.

New to the team are junior Drew Schoenian, sophomores Carmen Malin and Lauren Sewell and freshman Olivia Pohl.

"We're looking for some people to try and prove to be consistent as 5-6-7 people for us," Schroer said.

If Katie [Tryling] has another successful season and Lauren continues to move up that's a possibility. Amanda had her best summer and could step up.”

TAYLOR

The Titans may just have three girls out, but that's an improvement over last year when they had none.

“We're trying to build it up. My goal is that if we don't get it done this year, hopefully next year we'll have a full team," first-year coach Brad Swain said.

"The main thing is to make improvement, get better and be ready when the sectional comes.

Sophomore Danielle Glick is coming off a good track season and should do well in cross country, too. Also out are sophomores Amanda Hansen and Olga Fields.

"Danielle is going to be a really good runner this year. She's working hard and I think she's going to continue to progress as the season goes along," Swain said. "Amanda and Olga have done pretty well so far,"