Graduation losses may burden teams

By SAM TALLARICO Eagle Staff Writer

September 01, 2009 Last Updated: September 01, 2009 03:29 PM High School

Graduation losses could leave a definite mark on Butler County area boys cross country teams this season.

The list reads like an all-star race: Ben Porter and Matt Crawford (Butler), Cam Stauffer, Eric Geddis and Matt Marchese (Seneca Valley), Brian Tackett and Owen Venesky (Knoch).

Throw in Owen Bowser (Slippery Rock), Tom Bollinger and Ryan Sestak (Grove City); Aaron McGarvey (Karns City) and Andrew Edmonds, Lucas Rodgers and Dylan Kristufek (Moniteau), among others, and it looks as if teams will be hard-pressed to replace them.

But those losses are a fact of life for high school coaches, who will turn to the next batch of young leaders.

"What's nice is we've had good senior leadership over the years and we've been able to replace it and guys realize it and step into the role," said Knoch coach Wess Brahler, whose team picked up 13 wins last season.

Grove City was the District 10 Class AAA champion and posted an undefeated season, but the Eagles still have a strong group of returning runners.

"The bottom line is we should be as strong a team, if not stronger, than last year," Eagles coach Mike Sample said.

The following are previews for the upcoming Butler County area boys and girls cross country season:

Coach: Rick Davanzati, fifth year2008 record: 7-2, third in sectionReturning letterwinners: Seniors Grant Baron and Lance Dugger; juniors Evan Gomez and Tom Rumbaugh; sophomores Jonny Andreassi and Trey NeveuxCoach's comment: "We have a nice nucleus, with Lance, Grant and Evan, but we're not as deep. The group of freshmen boys who are sophomores have the potential, as well as freshman Evan Bauer and Chris Grooms, a junior, who didn't run last year but has looked good in practice."

Coach: Jim Nagle, fifth year2008 record: 6-3 overall, sixth at WPIAL Class AAA championshipsReturning letterwinners: Senior Andrew Razanauskas and Chris Matessa; juniors Mark Davis, Brent Kendrick, Brendan Lemmex and Alex MascioCoach's comment: "We lost three key starters. It will be hard to replace those guys with scorers, but if we stay healthy, we should have a nice team."

Coach: Wess Brahler, ninth year2008 record: 13-5 overall, seventh at the WPIAL Class AAA championshipReturning letterwinners: Seniors Dillon Schwertz, Chris Cetnar, Paul Kletzli and Ethan Hacker; junior K.J. McCreaCoach's comment: "Our goals never change at Knoch. We want to get as many kids to the state meet. This is a great bunch of guys and they'll be a very tight-knit team this year. In the past, we've always had a 1-2 up front then close the door. This year, there's more of a group."

Coach: Joe Cioc, second year2008 record: 6-5 overall, 5-4 in the sectionReturning letterwinners: Juniors Chris Hardt, Jacob Hunter and Colby Mathews; sophomores Sean Gannon and Ryan WinnerCoach's comment: "We have just one senior on the team and a freshman who has turned in the best time so far in Scott Slaney. ... We lost a majority of our point scorers, our top four runners (Nick Edinger, Jake Montag, Chris Alikhani and Kyle Cimperman). My biggest expectation is giving them experience and that they'll get better with each meet."

Coach: Bob Livrone, 12th year2008 record: 4-4Returning letterwinners: Juniors Kevin Keppel, Eric Snyder, Steven Posney, Joey Sadecky and Zach WillCoach's comment: "Our top runner, Sergei Dines, moved to Florida, but we picked up (WPIAL Class AA 800-meter champion) Nick Gentile. Those five juniors have been together for three years and have been improving each year. We're looking for pretty good things. Certainly, losing Sergei hurt, but getting Nick will help."

Coach: Mike Hilliard, first year2008 record: 5-1 in Region 2 for second placeReturning seniors: Jackson Udy and Jacob SpurkCoach's comment: ""We have 16 runners and have good balance in each (class). I think we definitely have a dedicated group of guys and think we'll have a good season. There's good competition from the bottom to the top seven and four runners competing for that No. 7 spot."

Coach: Mike Sample2008 record: 8-0, Region 2 and District 10 Class AAA championsReturning letterwinners: Seniors Aaron Anderson, Jon Stewart and Ethan Smith; junior Jacob Kildoo; sophomores Ben Hoffman and Alex KnabyCoach's comment: "Jake should be one of the top runners in Western Pennsylvania, if not the state. ... We have a couple of freshmen who should step up."

Coach: Don Loughry, 32nd year2008 record: 9-1, Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference runner-upReturning letterwinners: Senior Bryce Foreback; juniors Darren Best, Ethan McGarvey and Dylan SurrenaCoach's comment: "We have a promising junior (Kyle Leighton) and some promising freshmen. I have high expectations because of our depth, which has been a problem in the past. We've been competitive from Nos. 1 through 4, then fallen off with the fifth runner which hurts you tremendously. Dual-meet wise, we'll be as strong as last year — maybe a little stronger. In invitationals, we'll be better."

Coach: Sue Scialabba, third year2008 record: 5-4Returning runners: Tony Miller, Phil Kristufek, Cody Thompson, Evan Hartshorne, Alex Edmonds, Corey Haney, Nick Stockert, Tyler Kristufek, Cole Blair, Demetrius Nassy, Devin Nassy, Evan Miller, Nathaniel Taylor, Tim ShearerCoach's comment: "This team has the potential to do great things. They are working very hard and have wonderful attitudes. The league will, once again, be very competitive, but we are hoping to improve on last season's records and qualify some runners to the PIAA meet."

Coach: Tisha Boltz, second year2008 record: Didn't field a full teamRunners: Junior Cole Ferris and freshman Shawn HazlettCoach's comment: "This is Shawn's first year so this is a new experience for him on the longer course. Cole ran two years ago for us but not last year. He's showing a lot of promise."

Coach: Luke Lavan, sixth year2008 record: N/AReturning letterwinners: Seniors Tyler Drake and Evan best; junior Jordan MillerCoach's comment: "I do see them being very competitive. We have a group of five within one minute of each other, so that's pretty competitive. They seem to have a great attitude, are working very hard and ready to compete and leave it all on the course and see what happens."

Coach: Rick Davanzati, fifth year2008 record: 7-2, third in sectionReturning letterwinners: Senior Emily Petrak; juniors Trisha Brandt; Christina Brenckle, Ashley Crawford, Ashton Dolan, Gretchen Geibel, Jessica Lytle, Christy Monnie and Danica SnyderCoach's comment: "We have a lot of potential returning and I hope we can do well. (Senior) Katresa Savisky ran a 2:22 split in the 800 in track. She came out for the team and (junior Sarah Getsay is also new to the team and seems to have some potential, as well as a trio of freshmen."

Coach: Jim Nagle, fifth year2008 record: 2-7 overall, fifth at the WPIAL Class AAA championshipsReturning letterwinners: Seniors Erin Lopresti, Jess Glas, and Lauren McKinney; junior Megan Peaco; sophomores Liz Buechele and Kristen McKinneyCoach's comment: "We lost one of the finest runners we've ever had in Megan Powell and you just don't replace her, or Joelle Scarnati, a four-year letterwinner. It's like the boys team, if we stay healthy, we can have a pretty nice team."

Coach: Wess Brahler, ninth year2008 record: 14-3 overall, WPIAL Class AAA runners-up; ninth at PIAA championshipReturning letterwinners: Juniors Jolene Kunkel and Shannon Evanchec; sophomores Emily Hertweck and Christina CoriglianoCoach's comment: "We also have some very talented runners in freshman Katie Jones and sophomore Tess Haverstick. Where we'll be, I don't know. We have a lot of potential. I want to be injury free and peak at the right moment. We're talented, I know that. We just have to put it together."

Coach: Joe Cioc, second year2008 record: 7-4 overall, 7-2 in the section for third placeReturning letterwinners: Seniors Samantha Brandon and Gabri Pierre; junior Carly Clark; sophomores Elizabeth Parsons and Salina SmialekCoach's comment: "Samantha and Gabri are already on the Mars Top 15 all-time and we're getting Michelle Perri back, who didn't run last year, but she's on that list so we have three top 15 runners this year. We have our top newcomer, a freshman, with Maggie McChesney, so our expectations are high."

Coach: Bob Livrone, 12th year2008 record: 3-5Returning letterwinners: Juniors Cheyenne Conrad and Lauren Screen; sophomores Carol Amadee, Julia D'Amico and Jessica FixCoach's comment: "We have two freshmen, Kayla Zboran, who's been winning her age group in a lot of the area road races, and Rachel Sadecky, who should been pretty good. With those freshmen and our core of upperclassmen, we'll be all right."

Coach: Jessica Schroeffel, first year2008 record: 6-0, District 10 Class AAA Region 2 championReturning letterwinners: Juniors Rachel Richter, Susan Timko and Kayla Brendlinger; sophomore Jessica BennettCoach's comment: We should be a very solid group. We have seven runners (Kathy Rasely, Kate Brozenic and Alexis Reeher are the others), but will be very competitive. They have a good work ethic and all have been summer training. They're positive role models."

Coach: Mike Sample2008 record: 7-1, Region 2 runners-up, third at District 10 Class AAA championshipsReturning letterwinners: Senior Becky Consbruck; juniors Sara Chuzie and Jonna Schaper; sophomores Erika Cyphert, Eliza Lowe and Evyn SeldenCoach's comment: "They're a little more difficult to pinpoint. The freshmen will have to fill the void left by Megan DeGraaf, Meghan Boarts, Nicole Wizorek and Chelsie Hensel. When the time comes, we'll be competitive, maybe not at the top, but we're deep No. 1 through 7, more than our 1-7 last year."

Coach: Don Loughry, 32nd year2008 record: Didn't field a full teamReturning letterwinners: Senior Sarah Young; sophomores Nicole Beck, Melissa Ebbitt and AinSoph WilliamsCoach's comment: "You have to go all the way back to the mid 1990s since we've fielded a team. I don't know what to expect, but I think we'll be competitive. With the three 10th graders, they'll do better than last year. In the KSAC, we'll be competitive."

Coach: Sue Scialabba, third year2008 record: 6-3Returning runners: Mimi Haney, Jenna McCorry, Courtney Catterall, Danielle Rider, Taylor Shaffer, Krista Snyder, Heather Porter, Nikki Yeckel and Chelsea CatterallCoach's comment: "This team has the potential to do great things. ... . The league will, once again, be very competitive. But we are hoping to improve on last season's records and qualify some runners to the PIAA meet."

Coach: Luke LaVan, sixth year2008 record: N/AReturning letterwinners: Seniors Nicole Marshall and Caroline Blauser; junior Emily MilfordCoach's comment: "Emily was in the top 20 runners (at the KSAC meet) so she's a pretty good runner. I don't know the expectations for the team. I'm really proud of their positive attitude and great work ethic. It's refreshing and it's something that carried over from last year's team. You plan to win and practice to win and if you do, it's a blessing, because you never know."

Coach: Tisha Boltz, second year2008 record: Didn't field a full teamRunner: Junior Sammi Barger