Shepherd Hill girls' cross-country squad ready for a championship run
The aftermath of COVID-19 is looking much brighter for the Shepherd Hill girls’ cross-country program.
“We seem to be rebounding from COVID,” said Rams coach Nicole Fossas, who is in her 14th season. “They’re starting to participate again. I’m hoping it’s a trend.”
“We’ve got more (athletes) this year,” senior captain Emery Mullen said. “We have a lot of newcomers. Like last year, we had to do a lot of recruiting. We also got some talent, definitely, which is good. It’s a good group of girls. Everyone is focused. Everyone wants what’s best for each other.”
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Senior captain Grace Bateman said the seniors mesh well with the underclassmen.
“I love this team this year,” Bateman said. “We’re super close. We have a lot of potential. We have a lot of freshmen. I think they will have a lot of impact. I think it all kind of goes together. We have a lot of talent, too. Both of those things combined makes us strong.”
Fossas, who has guided Shepherd Hill to Central Mass. Division 1 titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019, still competed at a high level with low numbers last year – the Rams qualified as a team for the all-state championship – but turnout has been much better this fall.
Shepherd Hill’s varsity roster has no juniors and just one sophomore to go along with nine returning seniors and five freshmen.
“We have very strong leadership,” Fossas said. “They paid the price with COVID. They hung on. They’ve created a great culture, and they’ve continued to build that culture and teach the younger girls. They’re just awesome.”
“I just want to be the best role model I can be and continue our strong program,” Mullen said. “Leave it better than I found it.”
“I love our program,” Bateman said. “It’s always been strong. I like to give everything 100-percent. I like to keep a positive attitude, too.”
Last year, the Rams only dual meet loss was to Mid-Wach A rival Wachusett and Shepherd Hill also finished second to the perennial powerhouse Mountaineers at the Mid Wach A League championships.
“It’d be nice to beat Wachusett and give them a good meet – give them some good competition,” Fossas said. “We have a little more depth this year. Our numbers are a little better than last year. I knew last year, it was all about building the program back up again and getting the numbers back up again.”
The Rams did not participate in last November’s inaugural District E Central Mass. Cross Country Championships at Municipal Golf Course, but finished fifth at the Division 1C race at the Wrentham Developmental Center before returning there a week later to place 21st at the all-state championship.
“We made it to All-State’s, which was awesome,” Fossas said.
Shepherd Hill is 2-0 with victories over Westborough (23-32) and Algonquin Regional (24-31) and will host Leominster Wednesday.
The Rams opened their season with an impressive second-place effort at the 15th Annual Vineyard Cross Country Invitational with 76 points. Barrington, Rhode Island had won it with 68 points.
While it’s far too early to predict what will happen this postseason, Fossas’s No. 1 rule is to stay healthy.
In past years, injuries and illnesses have decimated Shepherd Hill’s lineup, especially at the most inopportune times like the All-State meets.
“Sometimes, it was the (lack of) numbers,” Fossas said. “An injury here and injury there you get knocked out. Your numbers (in cross country) are never huge compared to other (sports). The first goal is to stay healthy. You’ve got to stay healthy.”
Other seniors to watch are the trio of Karlee White, Lily Bateman, who is Grace’s twin sister, and Abigail Lombardi. Two freshmen who have shined so far are Megan Andress, who placed third in the freshman race at the Amherst Invitational, and Emily Hultgren, who won the jayvee race at the Vineyard Invitational and the freshman race in Amherst.
“Emily can make an impact right away,” Fossas said.
Rising sophomore Meghan Stevens is a former soccer player. She came in 11th at the Vineyard Invitational (20:32.1), which was one second behind Grace Bateman, and ninth (20:23) at the Amherst Invitational, one second ahead of Wachusett senior captain Olivia Pickett.
“She ran last year,” Fossas said. “She did a great job. She worked hard over the summer. She exceeded expectations coming in.”
Mullen, who is also a standout basketball player, is having conversations with several Division 2 and 3 colleges to compete in both cross-country and hoops. The 17-year old Mullen, runs the 800, mile, 3,200 relay, and throws the javelin in outdoor track.
“I feel like I’m on a kind of a different kind of path in a way,” said Mullen, who is not a full time runner unlike some of the former Rams’ greats who have graced the trails and track at Shepherd Hill. “I’m trying to pursue both running and basketball in college.”
Mullen’s personal best in a 5K is 19:07 set at last year’s Twilight Meet. Last year, she finished eighth in the D1C Meet in 19:29.6 and 30th at All-States (19:11.7). She missed the Amherst Invitational to attend a basketball camp.
“Right now, my main goal, personally – I’m still trying to break 19 minutes,” Mullen said. “I got close (last year). I’m hoping I can do it this year. I want to set myself up for college and keep improving.”
“She’s tremendous,” Fossas said. “She’s a basketball player. She does both equally well. She’s a tremendous athlete. I love her speed. I’d like to see her improve on her placement from last year (at All-State’s). She’s kind. She’s driven. She’s a great leader. She makes everyone feel welcome.”
Grace Bateman, meanwhile, is hoping to break 20 minutes.
“I just want to get better,” said Bateman, who focuses on the 1000 in indoor track and the 800 in the spring. “I love running. I just love the sport. I love our team and just the environment. I love coach Fossas and (boys) coach (Len) Harmon. They’ve had a huge impact on me as a runner. I’m going to miss it.”
The 17-year old Bateman, who wants to run cross country and track at either Holy Cross or Stonehill next year, cherishes running with her sister.
“I like it,” said Grace, who is just getting over a bout with COVID, herself. “I think it’s fun. We have a good relationship. It’s nice when we’re on vacation, or something, I would have a running partner.”
Wrentham meet on horizon
This Saturday, October 1st, at the Wrentham Developmental Center is the MSTCA Wrentham XC Team Challenge with the varsity slate starting at 11 a.m. with the girls 2K followed by the boys 2K at 11:20 a.m., the girls 3K at 11:35 a.m., boys 3K at noon, girls 5K at 12:25 p.m., and boys 5K at 1:30 p.m. The event concludes with a Coed 5K race at 1:20 p.m.
Contact Steve Farley at sports@telegram.com.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Shepherd Hill girls' cross-country squad ready for a championship run
