Cross Country 2000 Preview

Cross Country

DELAWARE HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY
2000 PREVIEW

Here we go again! Labor Day is upon us and the season starts in less than 2 weeks. Practice is underway and teams are starting to get some idea where they stand. Coaches now have a pretty good idea which veterans worked hard this summer and who may not have. Everybody is optimistic about some of the freshmen or newcomers on the team and anxious to see how they'll do under fire. So in the interest of fun we've decided to sit down and informally figure how things stand for the year based on who's graduated and who's coming back. We know well what a big impact frosh (especially girls) can have and also know that a mid or back of the pack runner from last year can get a lot better over a dedicated summer. These are not predictions and are listed based on last year's State Meet finish.

Boys Div1 Boys Div2 Girls Div1 Girls Div2

DIVISION 1 BOYS

       1999 Champ Salesianum loses two of top seven including remarkable individual champ Eric Eckstrand. However, as usual, return strong deep team. First team All Stater Kevin Winchell and 2nd teamers Charlie Dielmann and Brian Monaghan will lead the way. Sixth and 7th runners at States last year were frosh (Gambogi and Meany) and they might be major contributors this year.
       '99 runner up St. Mark's returnees almost exactly mirror Sallies. First Team All State runner Kyle Berseth(3rd,States) and 2nd teamers Chris Coyne and Mike Lahm lead a pretty experienced crew. Hope for improvement from now 10th graders Darlington and Griffith who ran in States last year. Will miss graduated Josh MacPherson(4th states).
          Brandywine loses standout competitor Dan Oren and 3 other seniors. Jason Scott (9th, Div1) along with Mc Gowan and Nobles foundation for strong team. Charismatic coach Flanagan always gets lots of kids out and some will be runners.
         Perennial contender Caesar Rodney returns 5 of top 7 led by third team all stater Greg Whitten and Matt Gordineer. Last year's young team will be more experienced and figures to improve significantly.
        Newark had a strong pack mentality in '99 and returns 5 of 7. Third team all state runner Dan Bowser along with John DeFranco lead a team which could have a much greater impact this year.
        Middletown was very competitive in '99 and should be again if they can find a way to replace stand out Alex Birchenall. Third Team All State runner Jeff Wilber (8th,Div1) will be the leader.
        McKean has All NCC Andrew Bennett and Andy Tuoni returning and only graduate one man. This team eligible to move way up in 2000.
        Sussex Tech had a solid season in '99 with a mostly young squad and should advance this year.
         Christiana, Dover, Glasgow and Delcastle will hang tough and try to figure how to transfer great track traditions to XC

DIVISION 2 BOYS

          Cape Henlopen had a great year in '99, but must replace 4 of 7 including Chris Jackson (4th,Div2). Third Team All-State Dean Popovich and fellow juniors Matt Jackson and Matt Riggin provide a great foundation.
          Wilmington Christian battled Cape to the wire last year and lose only Andy Cherry (7th,Div2). Coach Ausema's squad is optimistic and will be led By Soph Chris Lucernoni (9th,Div2 ), backed up by Raybould, Holbrook, Singer and Smith.
          Archmere loses star Dan Kane and might have to regroup. Brendan Phillips should lead the way. This team traditionally finds a way to get the job done.
           Seaford loses two top ten guys (Maddox and Rose) but will still have Cameron FitzGerald (18th,Div2) to rely on.
           St. Andrew's may not see another Morgan Scoville for a while. The 2-time State Champ's success may help returning runners set some high goals for themselves including State 13th place finisher David James.
            Dickinson loses James Baker but still has All NCC Jon Marshall to lead the way.
            Milford and Charter School are teams with enthusiastic coaches who want to establish programs.
            Sussex Central will battle for Henlopen South honors.
              Traditionally strong Lake Forest had rough year in '99 but will be a contender again soon.
             Sanford has Tim Hancock back and could surprise in the DISC.
             Mt. Pleasant graduates Jon Cottrell but team is getting more kids out lately and could move up.
              Brian Feeley's Hodgson team is steadily improving and is also enjoying better numbers.
               Smyrna, Tatnall, Laurel, Tower Hill, St.Elizabeth's and Concord are scouring the halls for more likely candidates.
               St. Thomas More Academy will proudly field it's first team ever under coach Ray Rodrigues who assisted at Cape last year.

GIRLS DIVISION 1

              St. Mark's defeated Brandywine last year in an incredibly close state meet. Both teams return the majority of their squads and are set to battle once again over the course of the '00 season. The Spartans lose only Stef Lazorick (17th,Div1) and will be led by 2nd Team All State Katie Park (5th,Div1) along with Mandy Hewes, Kristen Sullivan, Jacki Justison and Nora Miller. The Bulldogs will be led by standout Jenn Kutney (3rd,Div1), 2nd team All State Kimmi Lopata plus Leslie Wason, Abby Nerlinger and Jeanna Wood.   Will miss 4 year star Allison Taylor. Both teams have good numbers and should be deep.
              Caesar Rodney graduates 6 of top 7 but the one returnee is State Champ and Runner of the Year Jill Hajec . The Riders will fill in with young runners and should definitely no be discounted.
               Padua loses Jen Oakes but has solid retuning cast led by Erin Lord (4th,Div1) along with Colleen Reid and Christina Anderson. Relatively small numbers don't help but team always finds a way to be a big factor in November.
               William Penn returns 4 of 7 and will be led by junior Rebekah Acosta (27th,Div1). Will miss Ann Nakai (10th,Div1) . Could improve quickly.
               Newark was hard hit by graduation (Kim Woods and B. Politkowski) but team always has good numbers and is really a sleeping giant. Will miss long time coach Harry Davies who retired.
               Middletown girls had their best season ever last year and prospects are bright for '00. Third Team All State Laura Billings is back, hopefully recovered from injuries that cut her season short and will form the foundation along with Jen Fose and Jenna Flickinger.                 AI DuPont has great longstanding tradition in XC but has been in a little down cycle recently. Erin Kenealey will lead the comeback. Never count out Coach Lantz' Tigers.
                Dover has Lashell Green (20th,Div1) and great potential.
               Sussex Tech is building a program and will continue to get better.
                Christiana, Delcastle and Glasgow, like their boys team counterparts, will try to capture some of that track magic.

GIRLS DIVISION 2

          Cape Henlopen edged perennial power Ursuline last year in a thrilling State Meet. Both teams will have to deal with the loss of several key runners to graduation but there's plenty of talent still around. Cape will be led by Soph All Stater Tiffany Melendez along with Beth Redden and Brittany Morris. Coach Pollock has created spirit in Lewes and replacements might be ready to step right in. Ursuline loses 5 of top 7 including 4 year standouts McGough and Dougherty but has defending champ Colleen Taylor back to set an example for younger runners. Both teams aiming for rematch in November.
           Lake Forest has a solid nucleus returning led by All Staters Holly Wilson and Lena Ewing. Coach Blades can always get kids out and the team could easily be better despite losing 4 year star Nicole Faries.
           Charter School of Wilm. was the surprise of '99. The much traveled Christine Noelke is gone but there is lots of young talent still here. This team could be major factor this year with 6 of top 7 back led by Natasha Frisby and Kenya Hodges.
            Archmere will greatly miss soph Katherine Lukach (9th,NCC) whose family moved, as well as reliable Lisa Olson. The Auks had a close pack last year and Mike Walsh will turn his large squad into a contender.
            Concord (Jill Brobst) and Tatnall (Meredith Lambert) have great number one runners back but will need help in the numbers department.
             Milford has First team all state Jessica Rivera to lead a team that appears on the way up.
             St. Elizabeth and Tower Hill will have new coaches. Bob Rutkowski has switched from St. E's To TH.
               Hodgson has Amber Whitesell and legitimate reason for optimism.

The other Division 2 Teams will bravely continue uphill battle to get more students involved.

Thanks for reading. Remember these sketches are not predictions. Lots of factors are unknown e.g. freshmen, injuries etc. Good luck to everyone involved in Delaware HS XC in 2000 and remember to bookmark n5cta.com
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