Cross country: 2022 season preview capsules

Aug. 21—Class 5A

Boulder Panthers

Coach: Geo Tam

The Scorecard: The Panthers are looking forward to a strong season from their returning upperclassmen after the exit of some strong seniors last year. Some of the top names include seniors Sofi Krodel-Smith, Nathan Reseigh, juniors Malia Chipouras, Kiki Vaughn, Morgan McCuen, sophomores Abby O'Leary and Lyla Lanning. "We can't wait to continue building what was started last year," Tam said. "While most of the boys team graduated, we believe the upperclassmen are ready to continue to build upon the culture. While a few of the girls graduated, last year's team boasted some depth and we believe that they are ready to improve their team performances."

Broomfield Eagles

Coach: Greg Weich

The Scorecard: The Eagle ladies finished 18th at the Class 5A state championships in 2021 and look to improve that mark. Some of the team's top returners include seniors Paisley Williamson, Norah Powers, juniors Maelynn Higgins, Vanessa Deeming, Sarah Craik, Ian Weich, Kieran Brillhart, James Carwin, and sophomores Calder Denham and Jonathan Charpentier. "Maelynn Higgins is coming off of third and fifth place finishes at the state track meet, so she should be one of the best runners in the region," Greg Weich said. "The goal for her is a top-five finish at the state XC meet this year."

Centaurus Warriors

Coach: Devin Rourke

The Scorecard: The Warriors bring back a strong core of four runners with seniors Max Heins, Sam Schwarting, Ava Miller and junior Kieren Berg, the quartet of which will be aided even more by juniors Jake Schwarting, Christian Stein, sophomore Morgan Kirk and senior Allison Martin. This comes a year after losing strong athletes in Kyle Berg and Maggie McCleskey, and they hope their depth will help them take on a new challenge. "We're psyched," Rourke said. "We bumped up to 5A this season from 4A, so we're looking to make a statement."

Erie Tigers

Coach: Brandon Havard

The Scorecard: The Tigers look strong on the boys' side, thanks to seniors Evan Kraus, Logan Maddox, juniors Cody Simonson, Dillon Richardson, Nate Raimo, Ryan Rademacher and sophomore Behn Thomas. The ladies' side is low on numbers but will be led by juniors Ella Jimenez, Ashley Keazer and sophomore Sabina Stroia. "I am definitely excited for both sides," Havard said. "Moving up to 5A is no easy task, of course, but I do think that we are equipped and ready to make that jump and hopefully, make a splash and make some noise with the boys and the girls."

Fairview Knights

Coach: Sean Vandermosten

The Scorecard: The Knights return to action a year after the boys placed fifth and the girls placed seventh in the Class 5A state championships, and they have high hopes leading into a new year. They'll look to seniors Tim Churchill, Allison Kirby, junior Jack Brown and sophomore Sierra Wall to take the reins early on. "On the boys side, we have an experienced group that executes training well and is focused on their goals," Vandermosten said. "On the girls side, our group is young but trains like they are veterans. The sky's the limit for both groups."

Legacy Lightning

Coach: DJ Hummel

The Scorecard: The Lightning graduated their two top female runners who qualified for the Class 5A state meet last year but will have plenty of upperclassmen to lean on this year for leadership. Top names include seniors Cian Nagle, Liam Simmons, juniors Addie Dolan and Kiera Wilkinson. "I cannot wait to watch my athletes grow and improve in the sport of running. We have some potential on the team," Hummel said. "As always, we have to take the season one day at a time."

Monarch Coyotes

Coach: Kent Rieder

The Scorecard: The Coyotes house a group loaded with upperclassmen, namely seniors Sam Kapner, Santiago Saenz, Evan Dudley, Amanda Rampy, Avery Richardson, Piper Phillips, Waverly Fisher and Medora Peltier. "This is a very experienced group, we have all of the girls who ran at the state meet last year back for another year and a young but deep boys team, including the lone qualifier Santiago Saenz," Rieder said. "Sam Kapner missed all but the first meet last year and looks to come back with a very strong senior season."

Class 4A

Frederick Golden Eagles

Coach: Jenna Ptaschek

The Scorecard: The Golden Eagles look young this year as just senior Brandt Hartman and junior Zach Bailey come back from the varsity side. The team will also look to juniors Jayson Tyler, Will Hershey, Gracie Wilts, sophomores Niko Carrillo, Rico Moreno and freshmen Jessica Ellinger and Hailey Pollard to step up. "We lost a lot of seniors last year and now have a rather young team, but I am excited to get to work with these new drummers for the next four years and help them become the best athletes they can be and their overall growth, along with the program's growth," Ptaschek said.

Longmont Trojans

Coach: Scott Dickinson

The Scorecard: The Trojans graduated a large senior class earlier this year, meaning their team will look much younger this fall. Some of their top returners include junior Dacen Wach, sophomores Noah Bassoff, Kenna Kaminski, Clara Linder and Ella Stearman. "We are excited to develop a passion for running and a love for the sport with this group," Dickinson said. "At Longmont, we love to provide a space for young men and women to learn what distance running is all about and the mental and emotional benefits that running can provide."

Mead Mavericks

Coach: Steve Parsons

The Scorecard: The Mavericks enjoyed a strong showing at the 2021 Class 4A state championships as the boys placed fifth and the girls claimed 19th. This year, they welcome back seniors Nolan Hoffman, Joe McGregor, Frances Hudson, Lauren Caldwell, and juniors Ben Mayer and Abby Moore. "We are solidly confident coming into the fall season," Parsons said. "We're excited to coach this season because on one hand we have a senior-heavy team with lots of racing experience and we're welcoming in a good crop of freshmen that are eager to learn and have lots of potential."

Niwot Cougars

Coach: Kelly Christensen

The Scorecard: A year doesn't go by that Niwot cross country isn't a threat to win the 4A state boys and girls titles, and 2022 is no different. The Cougars return juniors Olivia Alessandrini, Cayden Justice, Kendall Madine, Sarah Perkins, Mia Prok, seniors Lex Bullen, Madison Shults, Freddie Ambrose, Jeremy Gillett, Stefan Haug, Carlos Kipkorir, sophomores Bella Nelson, Gavin Engrakul, Keegan Geldean, Kye Toothaker and Chris Wood. "The Niwot girls won the state and national championship last year, the boys were second at the state meet and finished eighth in the nation," Christensen said. "Both teams have better depth than last year."

Silver Creek Raptors

Coach: Roger Powley

The Scorecard: The Raptors bring back a strong girls squad that placed 10th in last year's Class 4A state championships, four qualifiers of which will take the course again this year: seniors Grace Moroney, Elle Murray, Taylor Weiss and sophomore Cloe Ruth. Senior Logan Coppock, junior Simon Murray and sophomore Owen Hutchings will headline the boys' side. "The senior girls have high expectations of themselves and plan on ending out their high school careers with a big step up from their last year's state placing, Powley said."

Skyline Falcons

Coach: Jim Hallberg

The Scorecard: The Falcons welcome back four athletes that Hallberg will look to for leadership: Henry Carr, Aiden Phelan, Sarah Taylor and Ada Cook. They'll also have five seniors to lean back on. "I look forward to seeing these young athletes grow and improve. Many of them have the desire to move up in fitness and do the work," Hallberg said. "This group of young student-athletes have a tight bond. They are willing to sacrifice and work really well together as a team."

Class 3A

Holy Family Tigers

Coach: Isaiah Remington

The Scorecard: The Tigers flexed their collective muscles in 2021 as the boys placed fourth and the girls nabbed seventh in last year's Class 3A state championships. They bring in a new head coach but welcome back familiar faces in seniors Anthony Haberkorn, Patrick Cavanaugh, Gabriel Martinez, Summer Norwell, Olivia Bertagnolli, juniors Katherine Ryan, Emmy Stoll, sophomores Parker Nelson, Garrett Smith, William Gallegos and Anabella Descalzo. "As a coach, I'm very confident in both our teams this fall," Remington said. "Our girls have some great depth and the boys have several returners looking to improve on their finish last year.

Jefferson Academy Jaguars

Coach: Ben Hershelman

The Scorecard: The Jaguars come back after a strong showing at the Class 3A state championships last fall that saw the boys place sixth as a team and the girls take sixth. Some of their top returners include junior Sean Beasley, sophomore Rylan Mills, freshman Aden Garza, junior Maya Ross and senior Tessa Stadler. "Our boys team is the defending league champion and regional runner-up," Hershelman said. "Our girls team was last year's league and regional runner-up. We are looking to add to our trophy case this fall."

Peak to Peak Pumas

Coach: Kim McConnell

The Scorecard: The Pumas return to the course after qualifying both the boys and girls teams for the Class 3A state championships last fall. They'll bring back top talent in senior Ryan Taylor, sophomores Jack Cerullo, Brenden Hartley, Emory Vazquez, juniors Abbey Brende and Annaka Rudolph. "I am glad to be back at Peak to Peak after two years away. We have an outstanding group of young athletes who are excited to work and to enjoy the process of improving together," McConnell said. "This is a young team with lots of potential."

Prospect Ridge Academy Miners

Coach: Mary Marr

The Scorecard: Calling her boys team "the strongest in program history," the Miners return seniors Logan Goodman, Avin Singh, Elise Wheeler and junior Avery Marr to their top roster spots. Both the boys and the girls teams qualified for the 3A state meet last fall and look to improve upon their finishes this year. "For both teams, we have strong numbers and depth with several promising newcomers to the program," Mary Marr said. "I am also excited to field a full JV squad this season as we continue to grow numbers.

Class 2A

Dawson Mustangs

Coach: Katie Boyle

The Scorecard: The Mustangs look to build back their numbers a year after Helen Leon, now graduated, served as their lone state qualifier. Boyle will lean on seniors Finn Carpenter, Jacob Horacek and Cade Collins to lead the younger kids. "I have a lot of freshmen and sophomores who are willing to work hard and buy into the process," Boyle said. "I am very excited about the opportunity to rebuild the running culture at our school."

Lyons Lions

Coach: David Goodman

The Scorecard: The Lions said goodbye to legendary coach Mark Roberts after the track season in the spring, but welcome a new head honcho with Goodman. Goodman already expects a couple of boys, senior Cole Thomas and junior Sage Wynja, to make a strong statement this year. "The boys returning for Lyons have been putting in some great work this preseason and I am very excited and confident coming into cross country," Goodman said. "Our girls team is a little shorthanded right now. Hopefully, we can do some recruiting once school starts to bolster our numbers a bit."

Nederland Panthers

Coach: Gavin Coombs

The Scorecard: The Panthers house just one top returner with sophomore Lukey Mahorski, but will have a clean slate on the girls' side a year after then-senior Eirwen McClish served as the team's only Class 2A state qualifier. Senior Megan Hess, freshmen Abby Hess and Eliza Brundege will step into the spotlight for the ladies. "All girls are new this year," Coombs said. "I am so excited to continue to help grow the cross country program at Nederland High School. We have a great group of kids and we are excited to get out and work hard and have fun."

Shining Mountain Waldorf Lions

Coach: Tyler Haughness

The Scorecard: The Lions will host a team of 12 athletes this fall, most of which are upperclassmen — seniors Pascal Hennies, Zara Mele, juniors Haven Dewart, Campbell Horning, Brighton Langenegger, Michael Miller and Ruby Modica.

Twin Peaks Timberwolves

Coach: Jillian Robinson

The Scorecard: The Timberwolves' program continues to grow a year after the boys team placed eighth at the Class 2A state championship. They welcome back top runners in seniors Giorgio Spensieri, Noah Stadler and Jason Shipp, and will house a girls team for the first time in school history. "This cross country season will be a developing season," Robinson said. "We graduated half the team last year but returned two of our top athletes this year. I am excited to begin developing our freshman class and continue to work with the upperclassman as they develop a passion for the sport of running."