Thursday, August 26, 2004
The season ended a week early for all but one of the girls on Western's cross country team in 2003.
A sixth-place finish at the IHSAA New Haven Semistate meant that the rest of the Panthers could only watch Annina Gruber run at the state championship.
They plan to be there with her this season.
"The girls took that hard and they took it personally. It was a joyous day because some people didn't give us a chance and we ran hard, but it was a hard day because we didn't go on," Western coach Dana Neer said. "The girls have very high expectations, coupled with hunger and they've put in the work.
"They've elevated this team to where we could be a top 20 team. They know what needs to take place -- they are looking to finish in the top five at semistate and move on."
To do that, the Panthers can look to a team that includes eight of the top nine girls from last year. Gruber, a junior, leads the way with sophomore Anna Hurlock right on her heels. Seniors Megan Clearwaters, Becky Elliott and Jessi Muehr, junior Cassie Myer and sophomores Liz Hoppes and Vanessa Lorenz are also back for a team that lost just Brittany Stellhorn to graduation.
"This is a big season for Annina. She's coming off outstanding sophomore seasons in cross country and track. I feel she believes this is who she is," Neer said. "Our main concern is that she elevate her game from her sophomore to her junior year and that's hard to do coming off a great season. But, she's worked hard and feels confident.
"Anna was very close to going to state as a freshman. I think she was able to sense that and I think she really wants it. She's right there."
The grouping of Elliott, Clearwaters, Muehr and Myer is an especially strong one for Western, the coach believes.
"With Becky, Megan, Jessi and Cassie in the 3-4-5-6 positions, they put us in a very strong situation," Neer said. "I know they'll get the job completed in the middle and at the finish. I'm content and satisfied with what is happening with them right now.
"Liz has improved greatly. She's stepped up to the next level and is thinking like a running athlete. She just needs to understand that she needs to be in the mix in the middle of the race."
Lorenz has spent most of her summer battling some leg issues and has been riding a bike. If needed, however, she could step into the lineup. Juniors Whitney Rittmann and Molly Nagy fill out the top 10.
Others who could figure into the plans are senior Rachel Beeson, juniors Rachel Lazar, Brianna Vess, Tanika Weber and Eliza Weibrecht, sophomore Vanessa Aders and freshman Kristi Muehr.
Gruber, Clearwaters and Elliott have each been named all-county twice and they lead a group of seven girls returning from last year's team. The rest -- Hurlock, Taylor's Danielle Glick, Northwestern's Lauren Sewell and Kokomo's Adrienne Shepherd -- were all first-year runners at the high school level.
Eastern
Coach Brandon Mink has three girls out for the team -- senior Crystal Barker and freshmen Emily Rethlake and Danielle Stiner -- but he's out looking for more.
"We're having a real tough time even with junior high. It's difficult getting the girls out. With a small school -- and as many sports and extra-curricular activities -- we tend to spread them pretty thin," Mink said. "We're trying to build a program. It's frustrating but I'm pleased with the freshmen girls who have come up.
"They're working hard and I'm pleased with their work ethics. Crystal is one who has been there and she has to bring them along."
Kokomo
The Wildkats return nearly their entire semistate-qualifying team from last season, a team that surprised coach Ricke Stucker.
"This time last year, I didn't think we would be anybody. Those girls just kept getting better and better," the longtime Wildkat coach said. "We have some kids with some experience. If our younger kids stay healthy, by the end of the year, I think we'll be pretty decent."
Sophomore Adrienne Shepherd leads the returning runners and that group also includes seniors Summer Hickey, Amber Longwith and Megan Tetrault and juniors Sarah Lee and Sarah McDonald. Also back helping coach the team is Elizabeth Sehr, who Stucker called his "best leader ever."
New to the Kats are Kelly Janowski and Tiffany Williams, who both ran track, and freshmen Katelyn Cole and Nicky Parry.
Northwestern
The Tigers return an experienced group of six girls in seniors Laura Bauson, Mary Cox and Drew Schoenian, juniors Lauren Sewell and Katie Tryling and sophomore Olivia Pohl. Four -- Sewell, Bauson, Schoenian and Tryling -- ran on the Tigers' semistate team last season. Cox and Bauson were on the semistate team as freshmen.
"We have some girls with tremendous experience. They know what cross country is about. They know what it takes to get to semistate and they know what to expect in practice," NW coach Pete Schroer said. " They're tough and competitive.
"They have tremendous enthusiasm and I know they're going to work hard enough and train hard enough. We just have to keep them healthy because there are a few fragile ones in the group."
Sewell ran the No. 2 spot last year in her first year in the sport.
"Lauren is out in front of everybody. She's come a long way in the last couple years," Schroer said. "She ran well this summer and she's ready to go."
Joining the team for the first time is sophomore Jackie Combs and Jennifer Claudio is the team's lone freshman.
Taylor
Just two girls are out at Taylor -- Glick and classmate Olga Matsenko.
"Olga is in her first year and trying to get in shape to be competitive by the end of the season," coach Jim Grossman said.
Glick, running cross country for only the second year, has her sights set high.
"Danielle's goal is making it to the state tournament this year. She ran in several races over the summer and went to two running camps," the coach said of the junior who finished 25th at semistate. "She's really focusing on this. Last year, a lot of it was mental. Now, she realizes she can compete at the higher stages. This year, I hope she's out front leading. She shouldn't be dependent on the competition; she just needs to stretch herself out."