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PASCO COUNTY PREP CROSS COUNTRY PREVIEW

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 13, 2008

Land O' Lakes

COACH: Kris Keppel (15th year)

DISTRICT: Class 3A-District 8

KEY RETURNING RUNNERS: Boys: Felix Soto, Sr., sixth at state last year, defending district, region and Sunshine Athletic Conference champion; Matt Schwartz, Jr.; Tommy Cook, Sr., team captain; Jake Morken, So., most improved runner. Girls: Renae Porsch, Jr.; Morgan Keppel, Jr.

NEW RUNNERS: Boys: Adam Weinstock, Fr.; Zack Lonsway, So.; Girls: Alyssa Brandt, So.; Nicolle Forcier, Jr.

OUTLOOK: The boys team has the potential to return to the Class 3A state meet. It is the deepest team Keppel has had. Soto will take another shot at winning a state title. The girls team could be the strongest in school history and could be the first to reach the state meet. Brandt could be one of the county's top female runners.

Wiregrass Ranch

COACH: Boys: Chris Loth (second year); Girls: Don Howard (third year)

DISTRICT: Class 2A-District 3

KEY RETURNING RUNNERS: Boys: Ryan Pulsifer, So.; Logan Selzer, So.; John Davis, So.; Ian Cassette, So.; Josh Reilly, So. Girls: Ariel Grey, So., won SAC and district titles in 2007; Taylor Hixon, So.; Megan Ibison, Sr.; LaKeishia Brown, Jr.; Hannah Still, So.

NEW RUNNERS: Boys: Tyler Mattera, Fr.; Sam Eder, Fr. Girls: Kelsey Sturman, So., ran track and made it to state in 400 meters; Jasmine Boykin, Fr.

OUTLOOK: The boys team had Pulsifer make it to state last year as a freshman, and the Bulls qualified as a team for regional. The goal this year is to qualify for state. The boys team has been working out since May. The girls should be competitive in conference and district after finishing second to Gulf in SAC and second to Crystal River in the district last season. The girls also finished 17th in Class 2A at state, and they started training in May. Wiregrass Ranch has 18 girls on the team.

Gulf

COACH: Dean Lofton (16 years)

DISTRICT: Class 3A-District 8

KEY RETURNING RUNNERS: Boys: Lane Miller, So.; Victor Karatonis, Jr.; Bryan Mumaw, Jr. Girls: Brittany Bennett, Sr., No. 1 runner; Natalie Smith, So.; Colleen McAuliffe, Jr.

NEW RUNNERS: Boys: Tyler Best, So. Girls: Rachel Patnode, Fr.; Kara Stouser, Fr.

OUTLOOK: The boys team could be very strong, although it did not have a strong summer of training. The Gulf girls won the SAC title and went to the Class 3A state meet, where they finished 18{+t}{+h}. The girls should be strong, but not as strong as last year. Bennett could be one of Pasco County's best.

Sunlake

COACH: Joel Richards (second year)

DISTRICT: Class 2A-District 3

KEY RETURNING RUNNERS: Boys: Michael Holiga, Sr.; Robert Stewart, Jr. Girls: Lesley Shaughnessey, Sr.; Samantha Shively, Jr.; Lydia Schmidt, Jr.

NEW RUNNERS: Boys: Devon Weston, Sr.; Kenny Fessel, Fr.; Tim Vaughn, Jr.; Matt Wolfe, So.; Marc Romera, So. Girls: Marissa Garcia, Jr.; Gillian Kruszka, Jr.

OUTLOOK: The goal for the boys is to make it to the regional meet, but it faces a tough district. The team is young. The girls team is also young, but Shaughnessey will be the top runner and has a chance at state.

Mitchell

COACH: Jeff Leavey (fourth year)

DISTRICT: Class 4A-District 4

KEY RETURNING RUNNERS: Boys: Sebastian Ruiz, Sr.; Taylor Britton, Sr.; Angelo Breuning, Sr.; Chris Thornal, Sr.; Harry McCarthy, Sr.; Jeff Wakefield, So. Girls: Shelby Wright, Jr.; Hilary Twombly, Sr.; Emily Twombly, So.

NEW RUNNERS: Boys: Mike Irwin, Sr.; Gabriel Ruiz, Jr.; Billy Kostakis, Jr. Girls: Kelli Williams, Jr.

OUTLOOK: The boys were second in the conference last season. They are in the hunt for runner-up in the SAC and have chance at reaching regional. The girls team has a lot of newcomers who haven't run cross country before, but there is talent.

Pasco

COACH: Barry Grayling (sixth year)

DISTRICT: Class 2A-District 3

KEY RETURNING RUNNERS: Boys: Anthony Plourde, So.; Alan Cruz, Sr. Girls: Leeann Eble, Sr.; Teresa Christmas, So.; Mallory Mattson, Sr.; Hannah Hollander, So.

NEW RUNNERS: Boys: William Fletcher, Jr.; Carson Brock, Fr.; Dillon Dunbar, Fr. Girls: Tori Larsen, So.

OUTLOOK: The boys team hopes to get to state, and Grayling thinks this is one of his better teams. For the girls, Eble has regained her health. She won two SAC titles and two district titles, but she injured her ankle last year, ending her season early. Eble will battle Wiregrass Ranch's Ariel Grey to be the top female runner in the county. The girls could advance out of district, but getting out of the region will be a challenge.

Hudson

COACH: Boys: Frank Buono (eighth year); Girls: Bridget Stokes (first year)

DISTRICT: Class 3A-District 8

KEY RETURNING RUNNERS: Boys: Matt Pesek, Jr.; Girls: Kayla St. Pierre, Sr.

NEW RUNNERS: Boys: Alex Mancini, Fr.; Larry Eichel, Sr. Girls: Kara Eichel, So.

OUTLOOK: The boys are young, with Pesek the only veteran runner. The girls do not have a full team, but top runner St. Pierre could get to regional.

Ridgewood

COACH: J.D. Baker (sixth year)

DISTRICT: Class 3A-District 8

KEY RETURNING RUNNERS: Boys: Mason Chilmonczyk, Jr.; Tyler Camacho, Jr.; Niko Mackey, Sr.; Alex Coffiey, Jr. Girls: Jill Browne, Sr.; Athena Papadopoulos, Sr.: Mariah Moss, Sr.

NEW RUNNERS: Boys: R.J. Anderson, So.; Preston Stutzman, Fr. Girls: Courtney White, So.; Alyssa Lemanski, Fr.; Morgan Rasmussen, Jr.

OUTLOOK: There are 16 boys, giving the team depth. It will be a strong, competitive team, and Baker thinks it is better than last year's team. There is a good mix of veterans and rookies on the girls team. Jill Browne could be in competition for the SAC girls title; she ran a 20:57 at the Red Mule Run.

River Ridge

COACH: Suzanne Rehermann (first year)

DISTRICT: Class 3A-District 8

KEY RETURNING RUNNERS: Boys: Jason Jones, Sr.; Ryan Jones, So.; Landis Lied, Sr.; William Sexauer, Jr. Girls: none.

NEW RUNNERS: Boys: Tyler Newman, Fr.; Thomas Siorello, Fr. Girls: Devon Gottman, Jr.; Kaitlin Haas, Fr.; Haley Dennis, So.

OUTLOOK: The boys have been practicing throughout the summer, and Jason Jones has a shot at getting to state. The girls have a new team, and the runners will have to develop.

Wesley Chapel

COACH: Boys: John Hoffman (first year); Girls: Kristen Broecker (first year)

DISTRICT: Class 3A-District 8

KEY RETURNING RUNNERS: Boys: Justin Prengaman, Jr.; Chris Trinidad, So.; Chad Fee, So. Girls: Jessica Furst, Jr.; Kali Van Swearingen, Jr.

NEW RUNNERS: Boys: Bryan Cox, Sr.; Yuya Burkhart, Jr. Girls: Kandice Watson, So.

OUTLOOK: Hoffman said the boys team is looking to do the best it can with several new runners. Furst reached state last year and looks like one of the top female runners in the county. She should reach state again. Wesley Chapel only has five girls on the team.

Zephyrhills

COACH: Boys: Robin Wilkes (first year); Girls: Carly Braswell (second year)

DISTRICT: Class 2A-District 3

KEY RETURNING RUNNERS: Boys: Vincent Baez, Sr.; Carrick Virtue, Jr.; Dakota Swonger, So.; Chris Swonger, Jr. Girls: Elizabeth Patrias, Jr.; Erin Tomlin, Jr.

NEW RUNNERS: Boys: Mike Proctor, Sr.; Dru Turner, So.; Nich Hymes, Jr. Girls: Dakota Rios, So.; Suzanne Springfield, Jr.

OUTLOOK: The boys team has a chance at state. It reached regional last year but lost five seniors. The girls team has several new runners.

Larry Bugg

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