Chasing history

BOYS

Division I

Blue Mountain

Head coach: Brian Rauenzahn (2nd season)

Last year: 7-3, 3-3 D-I

Returnees: Stuart Blair (sr.), Brad Williams (sr.), Daniel Challenger (jr.), Hunter Firing (jr.), Adrian Dohmann (jr.), Derek Mosteller (soph.)

Newcomers: Wyatt Kramer (sr.), Conner Eifert (sr.), Daniel Kelley (soph.), Thomas Levkulic (fr.), Chad Bogash (fr.), Christian Menuchak (fr.)

Outlook: Eagles return five of their top seven runners and add Schuylkill League junior high champ Levkulic. Still a young team that will need underclassmen to step up to be competitive in league.

Col-Mon Vo-Tech

Head coach: Rick Slavick (5th season)

Last year: 3-7, 1-5 D-I

Returnees: Dean Wanzie (sr.), Clay Strohl (sr.), Tom Rupert (sr.), Jordan Heintz (soph.), Marcus Joline (soph.), Gabe Slodysko (soph.), Jared Slodysko (soph.)

Newcomers: Lee Pitonyiak (jr.), Derex Colon Rivera (soph.), Dylan Knorr (fr.), Cordell Tappee (fr.), Shawn Cool (fr.), Jesse Clark (fr.)

Outlook: Experienced team with some depth could improve record during second season in Schuylkill League.

Jim Thorpe

Head coach: Drew Benyo (26th season)

Last year: 10-1, 5-1 D-I

Returnees: Christian Fields (sr.), Jake McGeehan (sr.), Zach Nase (sr.), Jonathan Condly (jr.), Nathanial Fields (jr.), Jake Saxon (jr.), Jian Gentile (soph.)

Newcomers: Sam Gilkes (jr.), Ben Saxon (fr.)

Outlook: Losing only No. 6 runner to graduation, Olympians are primed for a big year. State qualifier Christian Fields leads Division I and Schuylkill League title contender.

North Schuylkill

Head coach: Franklin Briggs (3rd season)

Last year: 6-2, 4-2 D-I

Returnees: Evan Brouse (sr.), Devin Mashack (sr.), Trent Kauffman (jr.), Shane McGrath (soph.)

Newcomers: Will Halko (sr.), Colin Ahrensfield (fr.), George Anthony (fr.), Lenny Bolinsky (fr.), Robert Flannery (fr.), Jimmy Garaway (fr.), Dominic Kadziela (fr.), Kenny Kropp (fr.), Chris McCormick (fr.), Jake Wood (fr.)

Outlook: Lost irreplaceable Brendan Shearn to graduation. Still, Spartans have a young, talented team, with Mashack at the top. Division dark horse.

Pine Grove

Head coach: Dana Grabish (2nd season)

Last year: 0-10, 0-6 D-I

Returnees: Nick Cataldo (sr.), Tadd Shiffer (jr.), Zachary Walter (jr.)

Newcomers: William Carlin Jr. (sr.), Derek Knoll (jr.), Ricky Bouchette (soph.), James Gately (soph.)

Outlook: Improved numbers and experience should make Cardinals more competitive this season.

Pottsville

Head coach: Barb McGinley (16th season)

Last year: 11-0, 6-0 D-I. Division I champion, Schuylkill League champion

Returnees: Ed Hossler (jr.), Corey Schuster (jr.), Justin Welkie (jr.), Michael Dudash (soph.), Aiden Liptock (soph.), Ryan Scanlan (soph.), Anthony Wojciechowsky (soph.)

Newcomers: Jake DiCello (jr.), Josh Howell (jr.), Dimarcus Vilcheck (fr.), Anthony Ryndock (fr.)

Outlook: Powerhouse senior class graduated, leaving young team to rebuild and try to carry on winning tradition.

Tamaqua

Head coach: Tom Kanger (11th season)

Last year: 5-4, 2-4 D-I

Returnees: Dustin Sabol (sr.), Jordynn Fatzinger (sr.), Nicholas Digiglio (sr.), Zachary Oliveria (sr.), Joseph Mellott (jr.), Joshua Ambrose-Manness (jr.), Matt Stahler (jr.), Andrew Tite (soph.)

Newcomers: Gregg Gehman (jr.), Jacob Gursky (jr.), Joseph Nortavage (soph.), Nathan Gerace (soph.), Adam Melnick (fr.), Dakota Boyer (fr.), Raymond Kinder (fr.)

Outlook: Experienced team with some depth. Expect Blue Raiders to take steps forward this season and improve last year's record.

DIVISION II Mahanoy Area

Head coach: Dave Holmes (24th season)

Last year: 5-4, 4-2 D-II

Returnees: William Fazio (sr.), Shane Starkey (sr.), Chris Maley (sr.), Joey Hullihan (jr.), Adam Bahrey (soph.), Joseph Bradley (soph.), Gianni Versace (soph.)

Newcomers: None

Outlook: State qualifier Fazio leads experienced team that's solid but has no depth. Will need to stay healthy to consistently score as a team.

Marian

Head coach: Jeremy Dormer (5th season)

Last year: 3-7, 3-3 D-II

Returnees: Nick Hopeck (sr.), Phil DeSantis (sr.), Nick Menighan (sr.), Graham Wolk (sr.), Nick Mayernik (sr.), Connor Roberts (jr.), Jon-Luke Sivak (jr.), Matthew Greenfield (soph.)

Newcomers: None

Outlook: Senior-heavy team with not much depth. Will need to stay healthy and stay together to be competitive in division.

Minersville

Head coach: Jason Burgess (15th season)

Last year: 7-4, 5-1 D-II. District 11 Class A champion

Returnees: Wesley Yutko (jr.), Zachary Brown (jr.), Mike Hoptak (jr.), Nicholas Kriston (jr.), David Pedron (jr.), Pierce Beck (soph.), Cordell Flaherty (soph.), Clement Rushanan (soph.)

Newcomers: Eric Smack (sr.), William Hill (jr.), Austin McCullough (soph.), Michael Perzel (soph.), Ryan Scott (soph.), Samuel DiBiase (fr.), Connor Moran (fr.), Lucas Rinaldo (fr.)

Outlook: Young and deep team that returns four runners from last season's District 11 Class A championship team, including individual champion Yutko. Division contender.

Nativity

Head coach: Jenn Terefencko (3rd season)

Last year: 2-8, 1-5 D-II

Returnees: Mark Sabol (sr.), Kris Maurer (sr.), Daniel Young (jr.), Jake Evans (soph.), Tyler Cooper (soph.)

Newcomers: Brett Rushannon (soph.)

Outlook: Lost just one runner to graduation, so Nativity looks to notch a few more wins this season. Lack of depth is an issue.

Schuylkill Haven

Head coach: Bob Girvin (43rd season)

Last year: 7-2, 6-0. Division II champion

Returnees: Kyle McGarry (sr.), Stephan Schock (sr.), Nick Semanco (sr.), Sam Brennan (jr.), Fred Buehler (jr.), Ethan Garvey (jr.), Connor James (jr.), Josh Semanco (soph.), Zachary Semanco (soph.)

Newcomers: Josh Mairose (sr.), Adam Seltzer (sr.), Dominic Trimboli (sr.), Kristian Svenson (jr.), Kevin Slappey (fr.)

Outlook: At full strength, should challenge for Division II championship, but five boys are also members of the soccer team. McGarry and Brennan are returning state qualifiers.

Shenandoah Valley

Head coach: John Brennan (14th season)

Last year: 0-11, 0-6 D-II

Returnees: Anthony Adorno (jr.), Kyle Guers (soph.)

Newcomers: Hui Wei Liu (jr.), Irvin Garcia (fr.), Austin Uholick (fr.)

Outlook: Lack of depth will make team success difficult, so Devils will focus on individual improvement.

Weatherly

Head coach: Jenn Cronin (1st season)

Last year: 3-6, 2-4 D-II

Returnees: Brett Kelly (jr.), Dillon Bizarre (soph.), Luke Figas (soph.), Joey Genetti (soph.), Michael Nemshick (soph.), Jacob Sirkot (soph.), Cyrick Thomas (soph.)

Newcomers: Devin Berger (fr.), Marty Cichowic (fr.), Shane Coll (fr.), Keith Cullen (fr.), Paul Eckert (fr.), Justin Foley (fr.), Richard Grenet (fr.), Matthew Holland (fr.), Evan Kunkle (fr.), Donald Ludwig (fr.), Chris Macneal (fr.), Zach Peiser (fr.), Mark Good Jr. (fr.)

Outlook: Great turnout, but squad is extremely young and inexperienced at the varsity level. A team on the rise.

Berks League Hamburg

Head coach: Phil Kistler (11th season)

Last year: 1-14, 0-7 Berks II

Returnees: Kerry Mega (sr.), Alex Moquin (sr.), Sam Moseman (sr.), Shane Shollenberger (sr.), Logan Dougherty (jr.), Zack Govern (soph.), Mike Hummel (soph.), Rutger Scherer (soph.), Brett Schlappich (soph.)

Newcomers: Joel Dierwechter (jr.), Kyle Hill-Strackbein (jr.), Jordan Dougherty (fr.), Jon Gesicki (fr.), Josh Kantner (fr.), John Kauterman (fr.), Caleb Smith (fr.)

Outlook: Experienced squad will look to take steps forward in ultra-competitive Berks League.

GIRLS

Division I

Blue Mountain

Head coach: Brian Rauenzahn (2nd season)

Last year: 9-1, 5-1 D-I

Returnees: Olivia Shpakovsky (sr.), Madelyn Krause (jr.), Sarah Brooks (jr.), Courtney Dukmen (soph.), Jill Heffner (soph.), Shannon Henninger (soph.), Alexandra Johnson (soph.), Caroline Rickard (soph.)

Newcomers: Emily Leymeister (jr.), Gabrielle Krause (fr.)

Outlook: Young team returns four starters from a year ago. Will need underclassmen to contribute to challenge top teams in league.

Col-Mon Vo-Tech

Head coach: Rick Slavick (5th season)

Last year: 0-9, 0-6 D-I

Returnees: Justine Crane (sr.), Chelsea Benish (sr.)

Newcomers: Hanna Kramer (soph.), Maise Kramer (fr.), Danielle Dickson (fr.)

Outlook: Lack of depth and experience will make team success difficult for Rams.

Jim Thorpe

Head coach: Drew Benyo (26th season)

Last year: 4-7, 2-4 D-I

Returnees: Courtney Capper (sr.), Catherine Condly (sr.), Lindsay Capper (jr.), Taylor Tonelis (jr.), Emily Ruff (jr.)

Newcomers: Amy Jascot (sr.), Sandra Kimborowicz (sr.), Zena Mireli (jr.), Victoria Asbrock (soph.), Ilse Hassler (soph.)

Outlook: Led by state qualifier Courtney Capper, Olympians look to improve. A .500 season is a realistic goal.

North Schuylkill

Head coach: Franklin Briggs (3rd season)

Last year: 6-2, 4-2 D-I

Returnees: Maura Gownley (sr.), Emily Tobin (sr.), Abby Warner (sr.), Vanessa Zimmerman (sr.), Maggie Kergick (jr.), Ariana Kessler (jr.), Eliza Schally (jr.), Jess Yeneskie (jr.)

Newcomers: Kylie Fetterolf (sr.), Nicole Kane (soph.), Vanessa Ferraiolo (fr.), Lexi Roche (fr.), Rachel Cataldo (fr.)

Outlook: Experienced squad led by state qualifier Warner should be improved and could challenge for division title.

Pine Grove

Head coach: Dana Grabish (2nd season)

Last year: 2-8, 1-5 D-I

Returnees: Savannah Potts-Krammes (jr.), Courtney Herring (jr.), Kristin Bichteman (soph.), Elisa Seip (soph.)

Newcomers: Michelle Heffner (jr.), McKayla Lally (fr.)

Outlook: Cardinals building with youth. Leading the way is Schuylkill League junior high champion Lally.

Pottsville

Head coach: Barb McGinley (16th season)

Last year: 9-0, 6-0 D-I. Division I champion, Schuylkill League champion

Returnees: Paige Stoner (sr.), Gabrielle DiRenzo (sr.), Adalie Zanis (sr.), Emily Heinbach (jr.), Hannah Kostick (soph.), Bailey Nagle (soph.)

Newcomers: Lauren Howell (sr.), Ashley Pogash (soph.), Chloe Bledsoe (fr.), Carissa Kiapes (fr.), Rebecca Sites (fr.)

Outlook: Stoner, DiRenzo and Nagle give Tide strong front runners, but others will have to step up to match team success. Division contender.

Tamaqua

Head coach: Tom Kanger (11th season)

Last year: 6-3, 3-3 D-I

Returnees: Stefanie Gensure (sr.), Chelsea Frantz (soph.), Melanie Kostecky (soph.), Victoria LaBar (soph.)

Newcomers: Courtney Miller (jr.), Alyssa Alabovitz (fr.), Katelynn Wisler (fr.), Nicole Wasserleben (fr.), Shania Jennings (fr.)

Outlook: Young squad - one senior - that will look to improve and build for future. Blue Raiders, though, always find a way to be competitive.

DIVISION II Mahanoy Area

Head coach: Dave Holmes (24th season)

Last year: 7-1, 5-1 D-II

Returnees: Erin Noon (sr.), Noel Bernardyn (jr.), Jacqui Pitts (jr.), Anne Stramara (jr.), Kelly Walinchus (jr.), Courtney Levy (jr.), Laura Bisco (soph.)

Newcomers: None

Outlook: Bears return a pair of state qualifiers in Bernardyn and Bisco. No depth, but if they stay healthy, they may have enough to challenge in division.

Marian

Head coach: Jeremy Dormer (5th season)

Last year: 0-8, 0-5 D-II

Returnees: Mary Susan McAndrew (sr.), Amanda Srinivasan (sr.)

Newcomers: Kaylee Horn (sr.), Alex Valusek (jr.), Nikki Kline (soph.), Nicole Baba (soph.), Kristina Matunis (fr.), Alaina Hall (fr.), Shauna McCardle (fr.)

Outlook: Improved numbers will enable Fillies to score as a team this season.

Minersville

Head coach: Jason Burgess (15th season)

Last year: 9-2, 6-0 D-II. Division II champion, District 11 Class A champion

Returnees: Cassidy Mason (jr.), Kara Pytko (jr.), Faith Bolich (jr.), Brittany Cory (jr.), Haylee Evans (jr.), Katie Glore (jr.), Amanda Conshue (soph.)

Newcomers: Ebonie Smack (soph.), Mallory Hoffman (fr.), Reiley Lonergan (fr.), Kristen Lowe (fr.), Maddyson Melochick (fr.), Autumn Pedron (fr.), Emily Stuck (fr.), Karina Yutko (fr.)

Outlook: Team with no seniors returns six of top eight runners from last season's District 11 Class A championship team. Mason is defending district champion. Division favorite.

Nativity

Head coach: Jenn Terefencko (3rd season)

Last year: 0-8, 0-4 D-II

Returnees: None

Newcomers: None

Outlook: Nativity will not field a girls' team this season.

Schuylkill Haven

Head coach: Bob Girvin (43rd season)

Last year: 4-5, 3-3 D-II

Returnees: Michelle Brenneman (sr.), Emily Daniels (sr.), Chelsea Slappey (sr.)

Newcomers: Sage Garvey (sr.), Casey Renninger (jr.), Haleigh George (soph.), Madison Hess (soph.), Maddie Schaeffer (fr.)

Outlook: Daniels and Slappey were state qualifiers last season, but Hurricanes need other girls to step up to be competitive in division.

Shenandoah Valley

Head coach: John Brennan (14th season)

Last year: 6-4, 4-2 D-II

Returnees: Jasmine Canales (sr.), Jillian Dove (sr.), Alexa Jefferis (sr.), Kehley Taylor (sr.), Brittany Joseph (jr.), Kelsey Uholick (jr.), Alexis Luna (soph.), Julia Najera (soph.)

Newcomers: Oceana Najunas (sr.), Emma Ruiz (sr.), Karen Arias (jr.), Liz Cole (jr.)

Outlook: Experienced team, led by state qualifier Jefferis, should be competitive in division.

Weatherly

Head coach: Jenn Cronin (1st season)

Last year: 2-6, 1-4 D-II

Returnees: Kayla Craver (jr.)

Newcomers: Julya Generosa (soph.), Katie Sernak (soph.), Breena Coxe (fr.), Sami DeSpirito (fr.), Morgan Gower (fr.), Maddie Hartz (fr.)

Outlook: Hit hard by graduation, extremely young team will look to lower times and build for the future.

Berks League Hamburg

Head coach: Phil Kistler (11th season)

Last year: 1-14, 1-6 Berks II

Returnees: Karli Phillips (sr.), Shelby Levan (jr.)