By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

CRESTWOOD
Head Coach: Jim Schweickert, 15th year.
Coaching Staff: Greg Cicero, 3rd year.
2024: 2nd in Chagrin Valley Conference, district champions.
Returning Letterwinners (4): Piper Siebold, jr.; Maddy Grace Gonczy, jr.; Piper Freedline, jr.; Bella Stier, soph.
Letterwinners Lost (3): Abby Guyette, Erin Hallis, Kennedy Rhodes.
Season Outlook: The Red Devils missed a chance to qualify for the state championships as a team by only 20 points last season.
Similarly, Siebold, has very nearly qualified as an individual the previous two seasons.
Siebold was named First Team All-Chagrin Valley Conference in her first two years and is prepared to have another special season.
Gonczy is returning from a hip injury, but has begun to start running well again. She had a nice track season last spring, including a time of 2:24 in the 800 meters.

FIELD
Head Coach: Ed Conroy, 20th year.
Coaching Staff: Mike McKinney, 2nd year; Zach Mack, middle school.
2024: 3rd in Metro Athletic Conference.
Returning Letterwinners (5): Maddie Adams, sr.; Carter Shutty, sr.; Leah Brugler, soph.; Caylor Shutty, soph.; Rylee Stoicoiu, soph.
Letterwinners Lost (4): Addi Berthold, Kami Eader, Jessica Pollard, Cassidy Wells.
Season Outlook: Adams ran to a fifth-place finish last year and earned First Team All-Metro Athletic Conference honors for the third consecutive season. She is a team leader, alongside Carter Shutty.
“We are very excited for our girls program this year,” Conroy said. “We have 10 girls running this season and two new freshmen who show great potential.”
Kylie Stewart is another lead runner for the Falcons, while Conroy said he expects that freshman Alison Church can be in the mix as a lead runner, as well.
Rounding out the top-five runners are Carter Shutty and Brugler.
“The team is very close, and we hope to stay healthy throughout the season to have a shot at qualifying for the regional meet.”
Underclassmen to Watch: Alison Church, fresh.

KENT ROOSEVELT
Head Coach: Matt Pazderak.
Coaching Staff: Leah Wilson, assistant; Ken Claypoole, assistant.
Returning Letterwinners: Anya Young, sr.; Nikayla Williams, jr.; Cate Simms, soph.
Season Outlook: Over the last two seasons, Kent Roosevelt has graduated 12 runners, which puts the program in a “rebuilding phase,” according to head coach Matt Pazderak.
“Anya, Cate and Nikayla will leads our small squad,” Pazderak said. “Each of these athletes have put in consistent work over the summer that should set them up for a strong start and an even stronger competitive finish to the season.

MOGADORE
Head Coach: Diana Morris, 4th year.
Coaching Staff: Rudi Hiney, Mike Morris.
2024: 1st in Portage Trail Conference, district champions, state qualifiers.
Returning Letterwinners (2): Alana Santiago, jr.; Kasey Bolyard, jr.
Letterwinners Lost (4): Ari Tompkins, Julie Tompkins, Emma Quillen, Lily Hotchkiss.
Season Outlook: The team is led by juniors Santiago and Bolyard.
Both are good athletes and team leaders.
“Alana and Kasey are perfectly matched to pace together and push one another this year,” head coach Diana Morris said. “We look for them to quickly set new personal records and get stronger as the season progresses.”
Underclassmen to Watch: Emalynn Hayes.

RAVENNA
Head Coach: Molly Middleton, 1st year.
Returning Letterwinners (5): Clare Johnston, sr.; Gracie Stroh, sr.; Kaitlyn Artz, jr.; Hannah Jones, jr.; Olivia Stroh, soph.
Letterwinners Lost (1): Julia Stratton.
Season Outlook: The Ravens return seven runners with experience for new head coach Molly Middleton, who brings 12 years of coaching experience during her time at Marlington.
“I am looking forward to these runners being leaders and improving upon last year’s performances,” Middleton said. “They have been working very hard in the off-season, running daily and working on building their strength.”
Underclassmen to Watch: Bobbie Fleeton, soph.; Grace Hemker, fresh.

ROOTSTOWN
Head Coach: Larry Bailey, 43rd year, 197-201 career record.
Coaching Staff: Kyle Rodstrom.
2024: 4-4 record.
Returning Letterwinners: (5): Hannah Crandell, sr.; Dana Little, sr.; Cailtyn Hays, jr.; Bailey Kidd, jr.; Emma Smith, soph.
Letterwinners Lost (3): Allison Krieger, Cecelia Krieger, Kelsey Bittecuffer.
Season Outlook: The Rovers’ top runners are led by Crandell, who earned the Best Distance Award during the spring track season and is “greatly improved,” according to veteran coach Larry Bailey.
Little, Kidd and Smith all return to help boost the team’s depth, while a large class of incoming freshmen add depth after going 10-0 and won a pair of Portage Trail Conference championships during middle school.
“Many of them will be in our varsity seven,” Bailey said.
Underclassmen to Watch: Ava Elizabeth Bell, fresh.; Paisley Day, fresh.; Abigail DeLotell, fresh.; Josie App, fresh.; Payton Rogers, fresh.; Charlotte Simkanin, fresh.; Samantha Smolk, fresh.; Savannah Stephan, fresh.; Brynn Bird, jr.

SOUTHEAST
Head Coach: Julia Dillon, 9th year.
Coaching Staff: Monica Kiskadden, assistant.
2024: 2nd in Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference, regional qualifiers.
Returning Letterwinners (5): Julia Wheeler, sr.; Penelope Sutliff, sr.; Jenna Canale, jr.; Sydney Schoenbaechler,jr.; Anastasia Sutliff, soph.
Letterwinners Lost (3): Claire Dillner, Kristen Campbell, Julia Frick.
Season Outlook: The Pirates have a top-level set of runners who can carry the momentum from a year ago when they won the Streetsboro Invitational, qualified for regionals for the third consecutive season and had Wheeler advance to the state championships in Obetz.
Wheeler returns as the standard setter once again.
The multi-time state qualifier runs with a determination not duplicated by many.
“We expect great things for her this season,” Dillon said.
Canale returns after injury setbacks the previous two years.
“She has returned stronger and healthier than ever,” Dillon said. “Her natural leadership and supportive spirit make her an invaluable teammate, and her drive continues to push those around her to be their best.”
Anastasia Sutliff lettered last year as a freshman and brings “tremendous heart and grit to every race,” according to Dillon.
“As she continues to grow and gain experience, we are excited to see what she’ll accomplish this season,” Dillon added. “Her positive attitude and strong team spirit make her a standout both on the course and among her teammates.”
Underclassmen to Watch: Jillian Schaffner, fresh.; Emma Smith, fresh.

STREETSBORO
Head Coach: Jon Hannan, 5th year.
Coaching Staff: Larry Hoffman, Angela Novotny.
2024: 4th in Metro Athletic Conference.
Returning Letterwinners: Claire Campbell, sr.; Sonia Downing, sr.; Bri Hushion, sr.; Madi Campbell, sr.; Kendall Epple, sr.; Kaelyn Malloy, jr.; C’Niyah Ivory, soph.; Cara Thomson, soph.
Letterwinners Lost (2): Kenzie LaGuardia, Grace Thomson.
Season Outlook: Coach Jon Hannan said he feels that he has a strong group of pack runners to help lead the Rockets this season.
Downing, Thomson, Hushion, Malloy, Campbell and Ivory all are part of that group.
Epple returns to the team after playing soccer last season and is expected to help boost the team’s depth.
Thomson, after a breakout season last year as a freshman, is expected to be the Rockets’ top runner this year.
Underclassmen to Watch: Cara Thomson, soph.