The 2019 girls cross country season will see new coaches at Jim Thorpe, Marian and Palmerton.

But expect to see more of the same at a pair of programs who have been powers in recent years. Despite some key graduation losses, Northwestern and Tamaqua should once again contend for league and district titles.

JIM THORPE

TAKING OVER

... Marie Rosahac will be the Olympians’ head coach this season after longtime mentor Drew Benyo retired following last season. Rosahac had been Benyo’s assistant for 12 years. Chelsey Cosslett will be the team’s assistant.

COMING BACK ... Tessa Bevilacqua (junior), Isabella Acker (sophomore),Olivia Renode (sophomore), Megan Rosahac (sophomore) and Mckenzie Snyder (sophomore) return and are expected to be key contributors this season.

STEPPING IN

... Freshmen Nicole Carroll and Brooke McKeon also are expected to be vital parts of the team’s success this year. “Keep an eye on Nicole Carroll and Megan Rosahac who are going to be counted on to play a key role on the team,” said Coach Rosahac. “We need our returning sophomores and freshmen to continue to work hard, as it is an opportunity for these young runners to make a difference. I am excited about this group of girls, as they are motivated for a good season.”

OUTLOOK

... While Rosahac said that the Olympians may not have the depth she would like, the first-year head coach remained positive when talking about the team’s prospects for this season. “Our girls team is low in numbers, so hoping that everyone stays healthy, as we lack depth. Even though this group is small, they are a quality group of hard workers who are optimistic and have put in their time training over the summer. They have shown great dedication preparing for the season, and I hope that their effort will translate to a successful season. They encourage one another, as well as challenge one another and support each other. They are a wonderful group to coach. We have no seniors this year, so we will rely on Tessa to be our motivator and role model,” she said.

COMING TOGETHER ... Panther Valley junior Alex Janner will also be following Jim Thorpe’s schedule this season, and will compete as an independent. It is her first season participating in cross country.

LEHIGHTON

LEADING THE WAY

... Now in her seventh year as head coach, Erica Pagotto is optimistic about a squad that returns several talented upperclassmen. “We have several solid runners on the team. They work well together and are excited for the season,” said Pagotto. She will be looking to Alyssa Williams (senior), Madison Cressley (senior), Asia Arner (senior) and Kelsey Gaston (junior) to help the Tribe improve on last season’s 8-6 mark.

MIXING IN

.. With the graduation of Sarah Laible, among others, Pagotto also will be looking at Paige Wehr (junior), Jamyson Cotterman (junior), Mattie Rehrig (sophomore), Leilani McClure (sophomore), Giana Sube (sophomore), Anna Hoppes (freshman) and Ceara Breiner (freshman) to be key contributors this season. “A few runners did not return this season, and they will be missed,” said Pagotto.

STEADY GROWTH

... As with the boys team, Pagotto has worked with many of the runners since they were in junior high. “I have been working with the girls for several years now. I believe their hard work will pay off. They really are pushing themselves this season. They are living up to this year’s motto, ‘Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best,’” Pagotto said.

INVITE ONLY

... Lehighton’s three invitationals this season will be the Northampton Invitational (Aug. 31), the ‘Canes Invitational (Sept. 7) and the Centaur Invitational at DeSales University (Sept. 14).

MARIAN

FAMILIAR FACE

... Justin Huegel will slide into the role of head coach for the Fillies. He is a familiar face, having been a part of the track program in the spring.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

... Capparells have been running through the brier at Marian for the past five seasons, but there aren’t any to be found this time around. Nicole, like her highly successful sister Tina, has now departed after leaving her footprint on the program.

SIX PACK BACK

... The loss of Capparell will not sting quite as much since there are six returning runners with three seniors heading the class — Carolyn Mehallo, Nicole Kreisl and Andraya Pikitus. Returning underclassmen are Isabella Genao, Grace Curnow and Lisa Napoletano.

WHAT TO EXPECT

... “This is a unique year, since it is the first in half a decade without a Capparell on the roster,” said Huegel. “Since both Tina and Nicole moved on to the next stage of their careers, their example provided our rising seniors and underclassmen with a drive to take ownership and put in the work to establish them and make their own names as forces within the league and district. We believe we can put our women in a position to compete for places on the podium at fall.”

NORTHWESTERN

WHO’S NEXT?

... For many high school cross country teams, it would be a daunting task to replace three of its top five runners from a team that finished third in the state a year ago. But for Northwestern, it’s business as usual. The Tigers have won six of the last seven Colonial League titles, and have only lost a few dual meets during that stretch. Over that period, they’ve graduated some great runners and have always found ways to reload for the next season. This year is another case of the team reloading rather than rebuilding.

STEPPING UP

... While Alyssa Zack, Maddie Consuelos and Sarah Supplee have graduated and will all run in college, the team has enough talent returning and moving up from the middle school that it doesn’t expect to skip a beat this year. “I think we’ll be fine,” said 21st-year head coach Chris Stitzel. “Southern Lehigh and Palisades are probably going to be our main threats. If we can hang with them with our freshmen, by the time we get to postseason I think we’ll be all right.” Stitzel is referring to the fact that some of his returning runners are recovering from injuries while an influx of freshmen are earning their places in the line up.

YOUTH IS SERVED

... This year’s team has just two seniors in Allison Costa and Kristen Brown. Costa, who finished 14th in last year’s Colonial League championships and 22nd at districts, will likely be among the team’s top two runners this season, while Brown is recovering from injuries and will rejoin the lineup sometime during the season. Freshmen Angelina Klein, Maci Fisher, Alexis Vennera and Claire Costa are all expected to run with the varsity team this fall. Junior Kailyn Jones (fifth at leagues, 14th at districts in 2018) and sophomore Molly McGorry (11th at districts, ninth in leagues) were also part of last year’s championship team, with Madison Santana also able to help at the varsity level.

ROUNDING OUT THE ROSTER

... The rest of the team includes juniors Mya Conti, Taya Derr, Brianna Fritzinger, Emma Greenawalt and Sarah Korbich; sophomores Roselyn Bernhard (31st at districts, 23rd at leagues last year), Molly Boushell, Mary Carlson, Faith Crisomia, Kaylee Konyak, Nicole Landes and Emma Nelson; and freshmen Emily Fagan, Kelly Moloney and Muse Sheyanne.

ENCORE

... Northwestern went 23-1 last year, took first place at the Colonial League Championships as well as in District 11 Class 2A. With only one District 11 Class 2A girls team making it to states this year, the Tigers will have to repeat as district champs in order to qualify for states. “I think we can make some noise in leagues and districts,” said Stitzel.

TAMAQUA

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

... The Blue Raiders had four runners — April Gerber, Kailyn Erbe, Melanie Shimko and Sarah Maue — graduate last June

STACKED FOR A GOOD RUN

... Keep in mind that the Raiders are riding a high heading into the season after capturing four-straight SIAL championships. And this team has eight runners that hit the trails last fall who return to bolster hopes of competing at a high level. Those returnees are Brianna Dumond, Francis Kabana,Grace Stegemerten, Hailey Toth, Lottie Mateyak, Madelyn Jones, Natalie Hydro and Vanessa Poko.

TIME TO GET IT ON

... “We return three top runners, but lost Maue and Gerber,” said head coach Tom Kanger. “The team has many new athletes that could step in quickly with a lot of talent. We are riding a four-year championship streak, but it will be tough to continue with such a strong league.”

DEPTH

... “Kanger’s Kids” have plenty of potential standouts. Alexis Stianche, Ashley Jones, Caitlin Smith, Kelli Ehrig, Madison Nichols, Makenna Carroll, McKenna Ehrig, Mia Jones, Molly Murphy and Tressa Barron are all underclassmen who could shine.

WEATHERLY

GONE, GONE AND GONE

... The Wreckers graduated three seniors in Abby Hernandez, Megan Peifer and Nicole Gordon

TWO ON THE RETURN LIST

... There is a junior veteran in Elizabeth Marshman, along with sophomore Elizabeth Knight and a newcomer in freshman Danielle Gordon.

NEED OF HELP

... Certainly the numbers are very low for coach Desi Furmanchin but she’s going to push her team to the hilt and try and get the three lone star’s ready for a crack at the District 11 meet.

HOW IT WORKS

... “With only three girls on this year’s team, we won’t be able to compete for wins, but we are shooting for individual league medals,” said Furmanchin. “All three girls are talented runners and will represent us well in leagues and districts.

NORTHERN LEHIGH

REAGAN READY

... Northern Lehigh’s standout distance runner Reagan Pender is back for her senior campaign, and has been making great strides. According to Northern Lehigh head coach Dave Oertner, “She looks so strong already, and she’s already ahead of where she was at this point last year.” Respected throughout the league and district, look for her to be in the mix in the 2019 postseason.

CRUCIAL KATIE

... Katie Guelcher has graduated. Consistently among the top finishers, Guelcher has left a void in the Bulldog roster after moving on to Lebanon Valley College to continue her career.

WHAT’S LEFT?

... Among those Oertner is counting on this season are Ali Lorah, Natalie Keller, Emily Moyer and Carly Mikulski.

READY TO GO

... Even with the low numbers on his girls’ runner list, Oertner remains steadfast with the idea that his squad will be quite capable. “The girls will compete this year, and a lot of that depends on the development of the lineup to back up Reagan,” he said.

PLEASANT VALLEY

YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

... This year, Pleasant Valley head coach George Fair is looking to the ninth-grade runners to make immediate impacts. On the girls’ team, half the lineup is made up of freshmen and will need to develop and contribute almost immediately in order to compete.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

... Fair’s 2018 Lady Bears finished their season with a 6-11 mark, and the coach is hoping for improvement on that end this year. Graduates Samantha Segeda and Kelly Lesnik were key components of that team a year ago, and Fair needs his remaining runners to get it together to replace that.

OUT OF HIBERNATION

... The Bears feature several talented returning runners in Grace Mingora and Abbie Worden. Also, Mikayla DeReinzi should be able to step in and make some noise.

WHAT’S GOOD ... For the Bears to be a strong squad, several things need to happen for Fair, including his returning runners to take over the leadership roles and help guide the incoming, younger talent. “The girls have a few returnees that will be good leaders for our young team,” he said. “If the veterans are able to help the younger runners move along, we should have a good season.”

PALMERTON

STARTING FROM SCRATCH

... Head coach Bill Zeky has a bit of a task ahead of himself this season, as the 2019 girls’ cross country team is essentially pressing the reset button. With an all-freshmen roster, experience will be low, but potential is high.

‘FRESH’-MEN

... Despite the lack of experience at the varsity level for the girls’ team, Zeky sure doesn’t feel like this group of runners is new to the program. As the junior high coach last year, he worked with the group of ninth-graders, and has been working with them all summer in workouts.

TOP BOMBERS

... With Natalie Mosier emerging to the front of this group of young runners, Zeky is confident that any of his other potentially strong runners can produce strong results in time. Even though the troop of runners will be new to the varsity scene, they are not new to competing against peers in race scenarios.

THE ROAD AHEAD

... This year’s team is maintaining a high level of training, both in the offseason, and in this year’s preseason workouts. Having competed in the junior high level together, this year’s Bomber squad is a tight-knit group, and should be able to develop almost immediatel.

Sam Matta, Andy Steinmetz and Mike Haines also contributed to this report