It's shaping up as another 4-way section battle
Once again, the Knoch, Butler and Seneca Valley boys cross country teams will be gunning for North Allegheny in what could be another heated section race.
The only question is can it be as competitive as it was last year?
The Knights went 7-1 in the section behind the undefeated Tigers. while the Tornado and Raiders were not far behind.
Knoch lost its top two runners in Artie Black and Kyle Reeping, as well as No. 4 in Chris Recio, but Knights coach Wess Brahler has the depth to try to recover.
"Success breeds success, and our boys saw that last year," said Brahler, who has 23 runners out for the team. "These boys have done better at this point than last year. They had a much better summer.
"I feel we're one of the top 10 teams. There's no clear cut favorite like NA last year,"Brahler added.
North Allegheny won the WPIAL Class AAA title in 2005, while Knoch was fourth, Butler fifth and Seneca Valley 11th.
The Tornado return their top three runners, while Seneca Valley lost only one key runner to graduation.
"Last year, everything sort of fell into plan right at the end of the year, and the kids ran real well at the WPIAL meet," said Butler coach Rick Davanzati. "We looking for a big year, but, at the same time, we have to be cautious."
On the girls side, Butler returns 10 letterwinners, including eight seniors, and hopes to make its move this year.
"I don't want to be overly optimistic, especially where we are now with Jessica Vernon's (knee) injury, but I'd venture to say we'd win more than we'd lose," said Davanzati.
In Class AA, Slippery Rock, which won the District 10 Class AA championship and placed fifth at states, will try to continue its success.
The Rockets lost Janelle Hartzell, Amanda Kellogg, Jill Laux and Sarah Thompson to graduation, but they still have five returning letterwinners back with great experience, especially after last track season.
The following are previews for the upcoming boys and girls seasons:
BoysButler•
Coach: Rick Davanzati, second year•
2005 record: 6-3 overall, 5-3 in the section, fifth at WPIAL finals•
Returning letterwinners: Seniors Steve Monnie and Rob Miller; juniors Logan Elias, Willie Laue and Wayne Dailey; sophomores Ben Porter and J.T. Fleming•
Coach's comment: "Last year, we sort of snuck up on people and they weren't ready for us. The kids jelled as a team late in the year. This year, we lost our No. 4 and 6 runners, so a lot more is expected of us. As a result, the kids can't rest on their laurels."
Seneca Valley•
Coach: Jim Nagle, second year•
2005 record: 6-5 overall•
Returning letterwinners: Seniors Dan Dickey, Ben Ranallo, Lewis Butler and J.D. Mazzocco; junior Chris Cipro; sophomores Cam Stauffer and Vince Ulizio•
Coach's comment: "The boys were 11th at the WPIAL meet and they look like they'll be a little better than last year. We have better depth."
Knoch•
Coach: Wess Brahler, seventh year•
2005 record: 21-1 overall; 7-1 in the section for second place; fourth at WPIAL meet; 12th at PIAAfinals•
Returning letterwinners: Seniors Ben Hutterer and Cory Steinhagen; junior Mike Fugate and Vincent Moxie; sophomores Brian Tackett and Owen Venesky•
Coach's comment: "Last year was the best season ever at Knoch. We lost Artie Black (Messiah College) and Kyle Reeping (Duquesne) and our No. 4 runner, Chris Recio. Our sights are set high and we'll be pretty good again."
Mars•
Coach: Joelle Patterson, second year•
2005 record: 10-6 overall, 5-2 in the section for third place•
Returning letterwinners: Senior Cody Kier; juniors Justin Stadelmyer, Mike Lewis and Jon Randza•
Coach's comment: "I'm very excited about this year. Since we're still in Class AA, we still have a shot. We have (senior) Derek Workman out for the first time (Workman was among the top middle distance runners in Class AA last spring) and a transfer from Butler (Chris Alikhani)."
Freeport•
Coach: Bob Livrone, ninth year•
2005 record: 12-4 overall, 6-2 in the section for third place•
Returning letterwinners: Seniors Matt Thaemert, Cory Chelko, Bryan Tague and Alex Wheeler•
Coach's comment: "We have a nice group back and we're hoping to do well. Brendan Reilly (who graduated) was a hammer. He was usually first. We also lost our No. 4 runner, Chad Baker. The kids are working hard and maybe we'll surprise some people."
Slippery Rock•
Coach: Tony Consbruck, third year•
2005 record: 2-4 overall•
Returning letterwinners: Junior Dan Hartzell and sophomore Cal Spigler•
Coach's comment: "We're still trying to invigorate the program. The talent is up there but it's getting harder. We have a total of 10 guys on the varsity and five or six on the junior high level. I look for the guys to be competitive at least in Region 2 and maybe a top 10 finish in (District 10)."
Grove City•
Coach: Mike Sample•
2005 record: 4-2 overall•
Returning letterwinners: Senior Adam Stillwaggon; junior Jim Sheih; sophomores Ryan Sestak and Tom Bollinger•
Coach's comment: "We have only 10 on the squad, but have two freshmen, John Stewart and Ethan Smith, in the mix. With Adam and Tom, we have a couple of guys who will go at it, but we'll fall off at No. 3, 4, 5. With the junior varsity guys coming up, hopefully by the end of the year, we'll do better."
Karns City•
Coach: Don Loughry, 28th year•
2005 record: 9-0 overall, KSAC champions, fifth in District 9 Class AA finals•
Returning letterwinners: Seniors Travis Hendell and Justin Smith; juniors Chris Harmon, Eric Kriebel and Richard Brown•
Coach's comment: "This will be one of our smallest groups in a long time. We have some quality runners, some young runners. If two new kids can develop, we can do well. We have some potential. We just have to work hard."
Moniteau•
Coach: Jim Metz, sixth year•
2005 record: 5-1 in the KSAC for second place•
Runners: Seniors Matthew O'Malley and Aaron Smith; juniors Jimmy Bonetti, Eric Hillard and Mike Kosick; sophomores Andrew Edmonds, Ross Groom, Dylan Kristufek, Lucas Rodgers and Michael Unger; freshmen Evan Hartshorne, Phillip Kristufek, Anthony Miller, Cody Thompson and Kyle Thompson•
Coach's comment: "We're expecting a lot of good things from these guys. Our big opponent will be Karns City, who always has strong kids. I would have liked to run them later in the season, but, unfortunately, we drew them for the first meet."
Union•
Coach: Denny Stewart, second year•
2005 record: 5-5 overall•
Runners: Seniors Brett Moore, Brandon Johnston and Brogan Gearhart; juniors Josh Bowser, Ryan Bowser, Spencer Varner and Clay Burns; sophomores Matt Gagliano, Cameron Adams and Corey Best; freshmen Dan Kemery and Tyler Hollingsworth•
Coach's comment: "We just shoot for improvement. That's the way we've done it so far in track. We've got guys in band, golf, football. You can't do too much because of football practice, but it's nice they can do both things."
GirlsButler•
Coach: Rick Davanzati, second year•
2005 record: 6-3 overall, 5-3 in the section•
Returning letterwinners: Seniors Sarah Clouse, Chelsea Cooper, Tess Crispin, Fontaine Graham, Liz Graham, Vikki Karwoski, Marie Rumbaugh and Jessica Vernon; junior Deanna Diederich; sophomore Ashley King•
Coach's comment: "If we get the girls healthy, I'm looking forward to a very successful campaign. I'm hoping to get two to three girls to the state meet this year if everything goes well."
Seneca Valley•
Coach: Jim Nagle, second year•
2005 record: 6-5 overall, fourth at WPIAL Class AAA meet; tied for 16th at PIAAfinals•
Returning letterwinners: Senior Yolien Peeters; junior Emily Wolfarth and Nicole Gostkowski; sophomores Megan Powell and Joelle Scarnati•
Coach's comment: "We started off shaky last year and we'll maybe start shaky this year. They're good kids and they work hard."Knoch•
Coach: Wess Brahler, seventh year•
2005 record: 5-17 overall•
Returning letterwinners: Seniors Melissa Balsiger and Ashley Cetnar; juniors Dana McCarren and Kayla Davis; sophomores Alyssa Kunkel, Sarah Robb and Nicole Fleishner•
Coach's comment: "We're up to 17 girls this year. I'm very excited about that. We're keeping the numbers up and they had a great summer of training. We're looking to turn the corner."
Mars•
Coach: Joelle Patterson, second year•
2005 record: 12-3 overall, 6-1 in the second for second place•
Returning letterwinners: Juniors Chloe Pierre and Jessica Moran; sophomore Beth Pecora•
Coach's comment: "We have a lot of freshmen out and a new sophomore and senior out. We have 15 girls on the team. It's definitely a rebuilding year, but I'm excited about it."
Freeport•
Coach: Bob Livrone, ninth year•
2005 record: 13-3 overall, 6-2 in the section for third place; sixth in the WPIAL Class AA finals•
Returning letterwinners: Seniors Kristen Prazenica, Cassie Treshok and Karolyn Casely; juniors Christine Marty and Alex Toy; sophomore Brittany MacShane•
Coach's comment: "Even though we lost Kristen (Knappenberger) and Melanie (Lutz), we should still be strong. We have a good core coming back. We still have an outside shot at states."
Slippery Rock•
Coach: Tony Consbruck, third year•
2005 record: 4-2 overall; District 10 Class AA champions, fifth at PIAA finals•
Returning letterwinners: Seniors Brittany Lyons and Allison Plummer; juniors Calley Bridges and Sarah Opp; sophomore Andrea Shaffer•
Coach's comment: "We have a nice nucleus coming back. We also have sophomore Nicole Fuchs, who was coming on in track, so, hopefully, we'll have six solid runners. If those five (letterwinners) are healthy, we could go back to Hershey for the state meet, and that's the goal."
Grove City•
Coach: Mike Sample•
2005 record: 2-4 overall•
Returning letterwinners: Junior Hannah Labate; sophomores Megan DeGraaf, Chelsie Hensel, Meghan Boarts and Nicole Wizorek•
Coach's comment: "Megan DeGraaf was our No. 1 runner last year and she'll have company with Helen Phipps (a senior who was a Butler Eagle soccer honorable mention pick last year). That'll be a nice 1-2 punch that we've not had before."
Karns City•
Coach: Don Loughry, 28th year•
2005 record: Didn't field a full team•
Runners: Sophomore Sarah Shreve; freshmen Shenoa Hendell and Sarah Young•
Coach's comment: "All we're looking for is steady improvement. This is the first time they'll be running on the varsity course."
Moniteau•
Coach: Jim Metz, sixth year•
2005 record: 5-2 overall•
Returning letterwinners: Seniors Amy Gladd, Samantha Kristufek and Nikki Stiner; juniors Michelle Gebhart and Kristy Ice•
Coach's comment: "We only have five girls. It's a good core, but without displacers, it's a tough haul. That sixth or seventh runner ends up hurting you, but we're looking for good things."
Union•
Coach: Denny Stewart, second year•
2005 record: 5-5 overall•
Runners: Senior Meghan Booth; junior Sarah Myers; sophomores Kirstie Priester, Brittany Hoover, Jenna Holden and Amanda Barger; freshmen Katie Criner, Tori Weckerly, Lipha Logue, Sarah Beichner and Andrea Buzzard•
Coach's comment: "I basically look for improvement. I don't worry too much about the winning stuff."
