By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

High school girls cross country 2024 season previews. If a school is not included, their preview season preview will publish at a later date.

CRESTWOOD

Head Coach: Jim Schweickert, 14th year.

Coaching Staff: Greg Cicero.

2023 Record: 2nd in Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division.

Returning Letterwinners (5): Abby Guyette, sr.; Erin Hallis, jr.; Kennedy Rhodes, jr.; Piper Seibold, soph.; Maddie Grace Gonczy, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (1): Aspen Baynes.

Season Outlook: Piper Seibold had a breakout season last year as a freshman, finishing fourth in the CVC and 29th at regionals.

Erin Hallis is the team leader and multi-sport standout. She was named the CVC Player of the Year in girls soccer last year.

Kennedy Rhodes is a consistent runner and placed 16th at the CVC meet. She battled through injuries to her Achilles last year.

Maddie Grace Gonczy was 11th in the CVC last year after missing a lot of time because of a foot injury.

Underclassmen to Watch: Piper Freedline, soph.; Bella Stier, fresh.

FIELD

Head Coach: Ed Conroy, 19th year.

Coaching Staff: Mike McKinney, Zach Mack, Sarah Conroy, Paul Stoicoiu.

2023 Record: 17th at regional.

Returning Letterwinners (5): Jessica Pollard, sr.; Cassidy Wells, sr.; Maddie Adams, jr.; Carter Shutty, jr.; Reagan Wyszynski, soph.

Letterwinners Lost: None.

Season Outlook: “We are very excited for our girls program this year,” Conroy said.

The team is led by senior captains Cassidy Wells and Jessica Pollard.

“We have 15 girls running this season and three are freshmen that show great potential.”

The lead runners for the Falcons are Maddie Adams and Wells. Adams has earned First Team All-Metro Athletic Conference the last two seasons, while Wells also was awarded the top league honor in 2022 before battling a foot injury throughout 2023.

Underclassmen to Watch: Leia Brugler, fresh.; Caylor Shutty, fresh.; Rylee Stoicoiu, fresh.

KENT ROOSEVELT

Head Coach: Matt Pazderak.

Coaching Staff: Kaylie Weigel, Ken Claypoole.

2023 Record: 6th Suburban League American Division.

Returning Letterwinners (7): Emma Artur, Maddie Baron, Jeanie Barzellato, Nevaeh Hersman, Annie Liedtke, Nina Loofboro, Hannah Robinson.

Letterwinners Lost (2): Caroline Stahle West, Marlena MacPherson.

MOGADORE

Head Coach: Diana Morris, 4th year.

Coaching Staff: Michael Morris.

2023 Record: Portage Trail Conference champions, district champions, regional champions, 16th at OHSAA state championships.

Returning Letterwinners (6): Ari Tompkins, sr.; Julie Tompkins, sr.; Emma Quillen, sr.; Alana Santiago, jr.; Kai Gaetjens, jr.; Kasey Bolyard, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (3): Katie Lane, Mia Gaetjens, Emma Smith.

Season Outlook: The Wildcats return a core of runners that helped lead the program to the state championships last year.

“The team is as solid as we have ever had,” Morris said.

Underclassmen to Watch: Kylie Stewart, fresh.

RAVENNA

Head Coach: Emma Lunardi, 1st year.

Coaching Staff: Kendrick Johnson.

2023 Record: 6th in Metro Athletic Conference.

Returning Letterwinners (6): Julia Stratton, sr.; Clare Johnston, jr.; Gracie Stroh, jr.; Torrie Butner, soph.; Kaitlynn Artz, soph.; Hannah Jones, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (1): Addison Ribelin.

Season Outlook: Julia Stratton was named Second Team All-Metro Athletic Conference last year.

“She was our top runner and is an excellent student-athlete,” Lunardi said.

Underclassmen to Watch: Gracie Stroh, jr.; Helaina Collins, fresh.

ROOTSTOWN

Head Coach: Larry Bailey, 42nd year.

Coaching Staff: Kyle Rodstrom.

2023 Record: 1-5; regional qualifiers.

Returning Letterwinners (5): Allison Krieger, sr.; Kelsey Bittecuffer, sr.; Hannah Crandell, jr.; Dana Little, jr.; Bailey Kidd, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (5): Mallory Butcher, Violet Puin, Ashley Reyes, Maggie Frick, Grace Hunt.

Season Outlook: The Rovers have some talented runners returning.

Allison Krieger missed being named All-Portage Trail Conference by only one placement last year.

Hannah Crandell “has improved every season,” according to Bailey, and remains one of the team’s hardest workers.

The 2023 season was Kelsey Bittecuffer’s first year in the sport, but always trains with determination. Dana Little was also a first-year runner a year ago, but continued to improve.

Bailey Kidd had a solid freshman season and Bailey said that he anticipates that she will be a major contributor this year.

Caitlyn Hays improved throughout last year and the Rovers welcome the return of senior Abby Borbely, who ran for the Rovers’ middle-school program before transferring to a different school.

Underclassmen to Watch: Emma Smith, fresh.; Arlayah Holden, fresh.

SOUTHEAST

Head Coach: Julia Dillon, 8th year.

Coaching Staff: Monica Kiskadden, Kelli Simmons.

2023 Record: 2nd in Portage Trail Conference, regional qualifiers.

Returning Letterwinners (8): Claire Dillner, sr.; Julia Frick, sr.; Kristen Campbell, sr.; Julia Wheeler, jr.; Penelopei Sutliff, jr.; Madalynn Lane, jr.; Jenna Canale, soph.; Sydney Schoenbaechler, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (1): Tonja Bradley.

Season Outlook: “We are very excited about our girls this season,” Dillon said. “We have a lot of experienced runners coming back, and we are looking forward to competing in a new league and hopefully at the top.”

Julia Wheeler, Kristen Campbell and Julia Frick bring “speed, experience and fortitude to the team,” according to Dillon.

Claire Dillner, Penelopei Sutliff, Madalynn Lane and Jenna Canale have potential to aid the team’s scoring.

“The best factor of the team is the camaraderie amongst the girls and the support they have with one another.”

Underclassmen to Watch: Natalie Campbell, fresh.; Grace Wheeler, fresh.; Anastasia Sutliff, fresh.

STREETSBORO

Head Coach: Jon Hannan, 4th year.

Coaching Staff: Angela Novotny, Larry Hoffman.

2023 Record: 4th in Metro Athletic Conference.

Returning Letterwinners (7): Grace Tomson, sr.; Kenzie LaGuardia, sr.; Sonia Downing, jr.; Madi Campbell, jr.; Bri Hushion, jr.; Claire Campbell, jr.; Kaelyn Malloy, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (3): Cara Tiller, Samyra Smith, Kendall Epple.

Season Outlook: The Rockets return a group of solid runners in Sonia Downing, Madi Campbell, Kenzie LaGuardia, Grace Thomson, Kaelyn Malloy and Bri Hushion.

Downing suffered a fracture in her leg from the track season. She is expected to return to the team by the end of the season. She is a two-time regional qualifier.

“Madi Campbell greatly improved her time last season and should compete for our team’s top spot,” Hannan said.

Underclassmen to Watch: C’Niyah Ivory, fresh.; Harmony Cook, fresh.; Sunni cKenzie, soph.