There’s a lot to look forward to for some sports programs at Jim Thorpe this season.

The Olympians welcome back a strong girls cross country team with a number of district and state qualifiers, while the volleyball squad also returns plenty of talent and is hoping for plenty of success.

Despite losing a large graduating class, the boys soccer team expects to be competitive again and improve as the season progresses.

GIRLS TENNIS

Head coach: Emilio Mercado

League: Colonial

Key losses: Kiera Reese, Lila Dejessa

Key returnees: Seniors Noelanie Sepulveda, Anjali Chiulli, junior Matylda Burzynski, sophomore, Ella Ramey. “Noelanie is competing for our second singles,” said Mercado. “She’s shown consistency in her game and likes to play long baseline volleys. Anjali Has a decent forehand and likes to play from the baseline. Matylda is only in her second year playing tennis, but she might become our first singles and first doubles. Her strong swing is a backhand at the net, and Ella has been practicing this summer and getting better.”

Top newcomers: Freshmen Summer Pecic and Jillian Haas are both new to the current roster, and new to the game of tennis.

Season outlook: “We’re kind of a rag tag bunch with mixed skill levels, but our returnees have improved their consistency. We’re not about wins and losses, but about getting better each day of the season.”

Quotable: “It’s going to be stressful playing against so many monster schools, so we’ll treat each match as a practice with the goal to keep the ball in the court.” — Head coach Emilio Mercado

GIRLS SOCCER

Head coach: Christian Bartulovich

League: Colonial

Key losses: Mikayla Eberle, Kylie Fiske

Key returnees: Seniors Aubry Wirth, Hailey York, Arianna Onofre; juniors Isabella Roman, Taylor Paul, Madilyn Off, Sara Kratzer, Courtney Carr; sophomores Karryssa Wolf, Payton Hassler. “Aubry is very quick and has finishing ability,” said Bartulovich. “Hailey is a secure defender and reads the play well.” Onofre has a good mind set and has been working hard in the offseason to improve her game. Bartulovich says Roman is on an elite level. She’s the team’s best dribbler and can finish with her shot, while Paul is a physical defender. “Madilyn and Courtney are utility players we can place where needed. Sara has a nonstop engine. She’s a track star on the field. Karryssa will be our goalie and is working hard at the net. Payton is fairly new to soccer, but we see improvement every day.”

Top newcomers: Freshmen Shylah Acevedo. “She is dedicated to the game of soccer and has shown an ability to score from anywhere.”

Season outlook: The Olympians, after a winless season last year, are setting individual “mini-goals” for this season. “We will ask each of our players to make improvements in their passing, their defending and have them understand they have the ability to win, and we certainly expect to compete and win some games this year.”

Quotable: “We will find space in their heads to remind them they love this game and never to let that love go away.” — Head coach Christian Bartulovich

BOYS SOCCER

Head coach: Mike Dudak (10th year)

League: Colonial League

Key losses: Hayden Meckes, Devon Frantz, Conor Highland

Key returnees: Coming off an 11-win season last year, two seniors spearhead the Olympian’s 21-player roster. In their offensive zone attack Zachary Grosse, described by Dudak as “the engine that drives the team,” will be counted on for leadership and scoring firepower. “Coner Koch is another lunch pail-type player like Zachary. He has no quit in his game at the midfielder position,” said Dudak. Junior striker Blaze Flyzik will share time kicking for the football team and has shown ability to read the field and anticipate where the ball will go. Defenseman Colin Warren is a solid ball handler and passer. Sophomore Maddux Day could lead the team in scoring. “He’s an extremely skilled ball handler and gets himself into position to take good shots.”

Top newcomers: Freshman Todd Schloshman is improving each day and is a good ball distributor. Two players are competing for the goalie position. “Freshman Austin Warren was our keeper at the middle school level. He has grown into a good size and has been training off season. Sophomore Brayden Whitaker, injured last season, brings athletic talent to the goalmouth. “Both players must have short memories when they give up goals,” said Dudak. “Consistency is key.”

Season outlook: “We graduated 11 seniors, so we’re a young team looking to be competitive enough to make the postseason playoffs and if we get there, I think we’ll be dangerous in the leagues and districts,” said Dudak, who has amassed over 135 victories along with a Schuylkill League and a District title under his tenure as head coach for JT.

Quotable: “We don’t have a core yet. Half our players have never played together. Once we jell and build chemistry, we can be a standout team in the Colonial League.” — Head coach Mike Dudak.

CROSS COUNTRY

Head coach: Marie Rosahac

League: Colonial

Key losses: Boys - Gabe Wirth, James Cicchinelli.

Key returnees: Boys - Sophomores Ethan Shaffer, Jakob Sheckler, Joseph Pfluke. Girls - Seniors Sophie Durange, Stacy Bos, Ashlyn Coffey; Sophomores Logan Gillespie, Olivia Holland, Kayleigh Halenar, Cheyenne Louk. “Jakob is an impact runner we expect to score points for our team,” said Rosahac. “He’s very consistent with his performance. Ethan is a top-five runner for us, and Joseph is a middle-of-the-pack runner who should score us points. With our girls, Logan returns from being selected Times News Cross Country Runner of the Year. She was a fourth-place finisher in districts and qualified for states. Sophie, Stacy, Olivia, Kayleigh and Cheyenne all were district qualifiers last season.”

Top newcomers: Boys - Junior Colin Warren; sophomores Brian Reese, Luke Smitresk; freshmen Gauge Kardisco, Owen Novy, Joe Enciso. Girls - senior Aubry Wirth. “Colin did very well when he ran for our junior high team. He’s a front-runner and sets the pace. Brian is a sprinter on the track team. Aubry plays soccer, too, and will compete with us when the schedules do not conflict.”

Season outlook: Boys - “We’re thrilled to have a boys’ turnout that nearly doubled last year’s roster. We expect them to win some races. Girls - “Our girls are a strong group with Logan, Kayleigh, and Stacy as state qualifiers a year ago. They jell well and they love to run. Last year they finished fifth in the districts out of 19 teams.”

Quotable: “You must be mentally tough to run cross country, and there’s a big transition in distance from the junior high to the 5K high school race. We like what we see in both teams and we’re ready to compete this year.” — Head coach Marie Rosahac

VOLLEYBALL

Head coach: Rachel Oliver

League: Colonial

Key losses: Maura Malsaka, Abigael Kuhn

Key returnees: Seniors Remy Gorski, Kimora Seales-Griffith, Jaylah Yeakel; juniors Aubrey Stamets, Brooklyn Yuhas, Lillian Outwater. “Remi had 112 kills last season and was outstanding with 186 digs and 37 serve aces,” said Oliver. “Kimora gives us a strong presence at the net with a .360 hitting percentage and 38 blocks. Jayla is an all-around good player with a 95 percent serving percentage. Aubrey and Brooklyn bring valuable experience. Lillian sees the court well and makes smart decisions.”

Top newcomers: Junior Kiara Enderes; freshman Gabi Oliver. “Kiara has played travel ball and competed on the national stage. She and Gabi should improve our defense and libero positions.”

Season outlook: The Olympians aim to improve last season’s seven-win record with a strong foundation and the ability to grow into a very competitive group. Oliver is counting on her team’s flexible versatility and growing chemistry to finish in the top four of the Colonial League and qualify for district playoffs.

Quotable: “We have a great team attitude with a depth of younger players ready to step into different positions which will be very important to our season this year.” — Head coach Rachel Oliver