Northwestern’s run of success continued in both the Colonial League and at the District 11 meets last season. A talented roster should put the Tigers in the hunt once again this year.

JIM THORPE

KEY LOSS ... The Olympians will need to replace one of their top runners from a year ago in Tessa Bevilacqua.

COMING BACK ... Head coach Marie Rosahac, in her second year in charge of the program, will be looking to a strong group of returnees in Isabella Acker (Jr.), Katelynn Bos (Jr.), Olivia Renode (Jr.), Megan Rosahac (Jr.), McKenzie Snyder (Jr.), Nicole Carroll (So.) and Brooke McKeon (So.) to lead the way this season and improve on last year’s 8-10 overall record and 5-9 mark in the Schuylkill League. “We have a talented group of runners who are extremely determined and optimistic and work well together as a team,” said Rosahac. “But the squad is small in numbers so depth is a concern, especially since five out of the 10 are also soccer players. Hopefully they all stay injury free this season.”

KEEP AN EYE ON ... Lydia Wallace (Sr.), Aubrey Bonner (Fr.) and Hailey Wallace (Fr.) are also expected to contribute this season. “Katelynn Bos, who is also the goalie for our JT soccer team, will look to pick up where she left off after a great inaugural 2019 cross country season. She finished as our team MVP and looks to be our front runner,” said coach Rosahac. “ Also, track standout Lydia Wallace (a state medalist in 2019), will be running for us this year and we look for her to bring a middle distance runner’s kick to the 3.1 mile course. I anticipate Megan Rosahac to help lead our strong pack of junior runners along with our returning sophomores who have been putting in the mileage over the summer. Also, Freshman Aubrey Bonner has shown a lot of potential and looks to help the team as a top-five contributor.”

OUTLOOK ... “This is an amazing group of girls, a majority have been with me since middle school and the drive they have will help them achieve their goals and be competitive with the teams in our league. The talent and potential are there, they just have to display it with every meet,” Rosahac said.

LEHIGHTON

KEY LOSSES ... The Indians will be looking to replace Alyssa Williams, Madison Cressley and Asia Arner from last year’s team, which went 10-4 overall.

COMING BACK ... Head coach Erica Pagotto, now in her eighth year leading the program, will be counting on upperclassmen Kelsey Gaston (Sr.), Gianna Sube (Jr.) and Katie Wojton (So.) to be among the team’s leaders this season.

KEEP AN EYE ON ... Jamyson Cotterman (Sr.), Mattie Rehrig (Jr.), Ceara Breiner (So.), Brynn Barachie (So.), and Elizabeth Troutman (Fr.) to also be among the team’s contributors this season. “We have a group of girls that are committed and are continually learning and growing as runners,” said Pagotto. “But we will have to find a way to replace several strong runners who graduated last year.”

OUTLOOK ... “ The motto the girls are running to this year is, ‘Run as one, work as a team, finish as a family,’” said Pagotto.

MARIAN

SHORT SUPPLY ... A dearth of runners could be a factor for the Fillies with just a trio of returnees IN Haley Curnow, Grace Curnow and Isa Genao. They will be joined by newcomers Emma Ashfield and Maddie Dando. With only five runners it will be improtant for the Fillies to stay healthy.

IN THE WATER OR ON THE LAND ... Although this is her first year out for cross country, Dando is no newcomer when it comes to PIAA sports. The Marian senior is a three-time District 11 gold medalist and a three-time state qualifier in swimming.

YES WE CAN ... “Each year our expectations are the same for both our boys and girls, compete to win our division, push for place winners at the league championship, place winners at districts, and qualify runners for states,” said Huegel. “This year, both of our teams once again have an opportunity to compete for a district championship and put themselves in a position for a top three finish.

NORTHERN LEHIGH

KEY LOSSES ... The Bulldogs will have to replace one of the program’s best in Reagan Pender, who has won back-to-back Colonial League and District 11 titles and notched a fifth-place finish at states last season, her second state medal. In addition to losing Pender, who is a two-time Times News Female Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

ANOTHER LOSS ... Northern Lehigh will also need to replace Ali Lorah, a key contributor on a squad that went 8-16 a year ago.

COMING BACK ... As head coach Dave Oertner enters his 39th season in charge of the program, he will be looking to juniors Emily Moyer. Carly Mikulski and Stefany Steckel to move the team forward.

KEEP AN EYE ON ... Freshman Emma Smith will also be counted on to contribute this season.

NORTHWESTERN

LOOKING FOR MORE ... Few programs have experienced as much success as Northwestern in recent years. The Tigers doubled down in 2019, with both the boys and girls winning District 11 titles and qualifying for states. It was the second straight district title for the girls. “Our teams have been training hard and they have been running well together,” said head coach Chris Stitzel. “I know they’re all chomping at the bit to get out there and compete, because all they’re doing is training with each other. They’re training hard, and they just want to get out there and compete. Our girls only lost one senior on varsity. So we are young and strong and ready to go. Hopefully we have a postseason, but we’re ready for leagues and districts if we have them, and we’re hoping to get back to states.”

DECADE OF DOMINANCE ... The Tigers have also been one of the top teams in the Colonial League over the past 10 years. From 2010-19, they won seven league meet titles. During that same span, they won five district titles and were runners-up on three other occasions. They finished in the top-10 in the team standings at states six teams, placing third in 2018. “We’re excited,” said Stitzel. “The kids are excited to get going. I know it’s been a long time since they competed against somebody but we’ve got a good team and I’ve got some additions with middle school girls coming up and other girls coming out for the team so they look pretty strong again this year.”

COMING BACK ... Angelina Klein returns after a stellar freshman season and should continue to build on the success she had a year ago. “She’s been working hard and she’ll probably be my top runner,” said Stitzel. In addition to Klein, the Tigers also return Maci Fisher, Kailyn Jones and Molly McGorry, who was injured much of last year but returned for the postseason. Alexis Vennera and Nicole Landes also return, and Stitzel is hoping the group will be able to offset the loss of Allison Costa, who was a key contributor on last year’s team. “They’ve all been working hard to get back to where we were in other years,” he said. “We’re just excited to get some meets in and under our belts and just race.”

INFLUX OF TALENT ... In addition to a deep and talented high school roster, Northwestern also has 28 middle school runners combined between boys and girls. Between high school and middle school, the Tigers have over 65 kids in the program. “I’ve just been blessed, trying to keep kids healthy,” said Stitzel. “They come out and they work hard for me. But we certainly don’t take anything for granted. All it takes are one or two kids to go down and that can affect the whole team. I’m just blessed that the kids are willing to work hard for me, and that we’re staying healthy most of the season and they’re working hard.”

PALMERTON

BUILDING BLOCKS ... Though the Blue Bombers went 4-20 in the Colonial League a year ago, they feature a young core led by sophomores Natalie Mosier and Beth Morgan, along with freshman Cece Pyfer. “We have a young team of only ninth and 10th graders eager to prove themselves,” said second-year head coach Bill Zeky. “Be we have low numbers. A few of our girls split time with other sports. We will struggle to field seven runners some days. Also our youth and inexperience can be considered a weakness too.”

REASON FOR OPTIMISM ... Zeky knows there might still be some growing pains, but he’s eager to see the squad build on some solid results from last season. “We ran strong last year considering it was a team of ninth grade girls,” he said. “Comparing them to other freshmen girls, we had one of the strongest teams in 2019. We should improve our win/loss if all our girls even marginally speed up. Natalie Mosier qualified for states last year as a freshman, so she should be back at states again this year. She hopes to medal at leagues and districts again too.”

OUTLOOK ... “Our girls team captain, Natalie Mosier, has elevated her commitment to training this summer. She will be a force to be reckoned with this season. Her dedication has raised up the rest of the girls team as well. Last year we were a team composed solely of ninth graders. This year we are one year stronger and wiser. I am excited to see how much these girls can achieve this fall,” said Zeky.

PANTHER VALLEY

MAKING A RUN ...The Panthers will have two runners competing as independents this season, seniors Alex Janner and Matt Kokinda.

“Both of Panther Valley’s independent cross country runners are looking forward to this fall season since their spring track and tield season was cut short due to the COVID pandemic,” said Panther Valley Athletic Director Kristin Black.

PAIRING UP ... Panther Valley’s independent cross country runners follow the Jim Thorpe Schuylkill League schedule and also compete in invitations throughout the fall season.

OUTLOOK ...”Both runners want to improve their times and places from last year’s leagues and district meets. Also both runners are looking forward to pushing themselves for their senior season,” said Black.

PLEASANT VALLEY

COMING BACK ... While the Bears don’t have significant losses, they will be counting on a smaller roster to make significant contributions this season. Lily Mingora (Sr.), Mikayla DeReinzi (Sr.), Kara Baker (So.) and Abbie Wodren (Jr.) will be the team’s leaders this fall. “We have a solid core of returning runners,” said George Fair, who is entering his 22nd season coaching. “But we lack depth through the varsity seven.”

LAST YEAR ... Pleasant Valley’s girls posted a 5-12 record a year ago in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.

OUTLOOK ... “With such a small team this year, every runner will have the opportunity to make a difference in a meet,” said Fair. “We will be successful if the inexperienced runners are able to step into a scoring role in the five through seven spots.”

TAMAQUA

LOOK WHOSE BACK ... The number of veterans is mind-boggling for Tamaqua as nine runners are returning from a year ago. The Raider veterans include seniors Caitlin Smith, Frances Kabana, Grace Stegemerten, Madelyn Jones, Madison Nichols, Makenna Carroll and Natalie Hydro; junior Ashley Jones; and sophomore Mia Jones.

WHO CAN HELP ... Finishing the season at 14-3 and second in the SIAL Kanger is hoping to add more firepower in the lineup. Keep an eye on sophomore Hailey Williams and newcomer Alexis Jones. They can supply extra help with the loss of grads Brianna Dumond and Lottie Mateyak.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS ... The plethora of veterans can challenge a difficult Schuylkill League schedule. “We have some teams in our division,” said Kanger. “North Schuylkill defending league champions and are led by league champion Cori McCormick. Blue Mountain will also be tough with Olivia Haas, who won the district title and had a high finish at States.”

WEATHERLY

FOUR TO SCORE ... The Wreckers are short on numbers but not heart. There are just two veterans that have tasted the varsity competition from 2019. Those pack leaders include Danielle Gordon and Elizabeth Marshman. Head coach Ryan Kately is looking to a pair of fresh new faces in Kendall Gerhart and Melanie Marshman to help out his veterans.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR ... “We are young with just two returning runners,” said Kately. “Elizabeth Marshman is our most experienced runner and will becounted on for her leadership. But we can get a big lift from sophomore Danielle Gordon as well. Last year as a freshman she did very well and she should improve this season. We also have two potentially good freshmen in Gerhart and Marshman.”

WHAT THE COACH SAID ... The Schuylkill League is very strong as always, For the girls, I think our biggest hurdle might be not having a full team. All the girls have been working hard, and I would love to see them get a few wins.