REDMOND HIGH SCHOOL
Head Coach: Denis Villeneuve, 21st year
Last year: 6-3, 3rd in Kingco (boys); 8-1, 3rd in Kingco (girls)
2011 turnout numbers: 70
TOP RETURNERS – BOYS:
Jr. Johnathan Stevens: Only returner to place at Kingco last season, holds down top spot on boys’ squad.
Soph. Zach Kirwan: Very talented runner is one to watch this year and in the program’s future.
Sr. Max Dunn: Co-captain looks to improve in his final cross country stint and better his middle-of-the-pack finish at state last year.
Sr. Billy Van Hoff: One of many vying to fill the crucial No. 4 and 5 spots used for scoring varsity matches. Only other state participant from last season.
TOP RETURNERS – GIRLS:
Soph. Kelsey Dunn: Placed top 12 at Kingco as a freshman and looks to redeem herself from a tough state race last fall.
Srs. Holly Young, Allie Nichols: Girls’ co-captains will bolster the top five with their experience and leadership.
Jr. Lila Rice: Very talented transfer from Seattle Academy last year will add to the girls’ depth.
Jr. Kate Wagner, Sr. Lauren May: Both got to experience the state race last year, and will certainly contribute to team scoring this season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Redmond High’s perennially strong cross country turnout has produced eight athletes that are currently running in college: Miles Hille (Seattle University), Anthony Ellis (New Mexico State), Aiden Irish (University of Portland), Mack Young (WSU), Jenny Light (Santa Clara), Sarah Lord (Boston College), Jillian Jaccard (Loyola Marymount), and Devin McMahon (Cornell).
QUOTABLE:
“We’ve been to state so many years in a row… but you never really know until it gets rolling. Our girls’ team looks particularly deep. We anticipate being up near the top.” – Mustangs’ head coach Denis Villeneuve
BIG MEET:
Wednesday, Oct. 12 vs. Issaquah, Newport, Eastlake: This final meet before the postseason will serve as a tune-up for the big dance against a few strong programs, particularly the Eastlake girls who look to challenge the Mustangs’ depth at the Kingco League Championships.
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THE OVERLAKE SCHOOL
Head Coach: Micah Orr, 2nd year
Last year: 5th in 1A Emerald City League (boys); 6th in league (girls)
2011 turnout numbers: 21
TOP RETURNERS, NEW PLAYERS – BOYS:
Jr. Connor Buhaly, Soph. Dylan Reynolds: The Owls’ No. 1 and 2 boys broke the 18-minute barrier by less than a second at the Westside Classic last year and look to make state this season.
Sr. Charles Petitpas: Talented runner will add strength and depth to boys’ roster.
Jr. Erik Risa: Fastest at summer camp time trial. Like Petitpas, a soccer player that took advantage of that sports move to the spring to try out for cross country.
Fr. Cole Tsang: Youngster finished in the top three in all middle school meets, looks to be the future of the program.
TOP RETURNERS – GIRLS:
Soph. Sonja Johnson-Yu: Finished 36th at the 1A state meet as a freshman, has tons of potential and looks to better that mark this year.
Soph. Mariel Frank: Placed middle-of-the-pack at the state meet as a freshman, will help lead the shorthanded girls’ squad by example.
QUOTABLE:
“I think the boys will continue to improve. Last year we went from last to 5th, this year we want to be top 3 in league. The core of the team returns, since we’re only losing one out of our top seven from last year. With the new additions, we should be better than ever and likely send a couple of runners to state. On the girls’ side, the low numbers hurt us, but consider that with only 5 runners all year last season, we were only 34 points shy of making it to state as a team. We return all but one from that squad, so you never know. At a minimum, we hope to send a couple of individuals back to the big dance.” – Owls’ head coach Micah Orr
BIG MEET:
Sunfair Invitational, Friday, Sept. 30, 10 a.m. at Franklin Park, Yakima: This huge meet attracts many top teams from around the stats and will be a good test to see where the Owls stack up mid-season.
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THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL
Head Coach: David Miller, 7th year
Last year: 3rd place Districts, 11th at 2B state meet (boys), 1st place Districts, 7th at state (girls)
2011 turnout numbers: 14
TOP RETURNERS, NEW PLAYERS – BOYS:
Sophs. Jacob Benson, David Broaddus: Both finished middle-of-the-pack at the 2B state meet last year, will hopefully lead the boys to a seventh-consecutive state appearance.
TOP RETURNERS – GIRLS:
Sr. Joy Twentyman: Program’s top finisher at state finished 17th last year, looks to get on the podium in her last time out.
Soph. Bridget Daugherty: Made state last year and ran a 22:59 as a freshman, looks to develop as a runner and lower her times as she gets stronger.
Sr. Anna Broaddus: Only other state returner seeks to better her time of 24:44 last fall.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Bear Creek boys’ team has qualified for state in six consecutive years.
QUOTABLE:
“The 2011 Bear Creek cross-country team has high hopes. The girls team returns their top three runners and has added two new girls that will gel nicely with the team. After finished 7th at the 2010 state meet, the girls team hopes to summit the podium in 2011. The boys team is a young team. The top two returning runners are sophomores, but are quite talented and committed to the team.” – Grizzlies’ head coach David Miller
BIG MEET:
SeaTac 2B League Meet, Tuesday, Oct. 11 at Ft. Steilacoom Park: This final meet before the postseason begins will show who will step up for the Grizzlies when it matters most. Also will be a good test to run against Crosspoint Academy, who return six of their top seven runners.
