By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

High school girls cross country preview capsules for the 2022 season.

Editor’s Note: Missing schools have not submitted their information to Portage Sports at this time.

CRESTWOOD RED DEVILS

Head Coach: Karlie Poole, 4th year.

Coaching Staff: Jim Schweickert.

2021 Recap: 2nd in Chagrin Valley Conference.

Returning Letterwinners (4): Elaine Guyette, sr.; Kennedy Rhodes, soph.; Aspen Baynes, jr.; Kyrstin Reid, sr.

Letterwinners Lost (2): Hannah Herron, EmilyJo Jaeger.

General Outlook: The Red Devils were able to finish second in the league last year with only five runners. This year’s roster has grown to eight and “each of them have a chance to contribute to the team’s success,” according to head coach Karlie Poole, who said her team hopes to challenge reigning league champions Kirtland.

Elaine Guyette is the returning team leader. She finished second overall at the CVC meet and had a “great summer of training,” Poole said.

“Elaine is our team captain and is extremely dedicated.”

Elaine’s sister, Abby Guyette, a sophomore, will be running cross country for the first time. She joins after a standout track season last spring, finishing second in the 1,600 and third in the 800.

“She is a great competitor and will be an excellent addition to our team.”

Kennedy Rhodes was First Team All-CVC last year, while Erin Hallis and Alyssa Hallis have potential after already proving to be part of the team’s lead pack.

Reason to be Optimistic: “We have four new runners and all of them have run competitively before (track, road races, etc.), but none of them have ever done cross country. They are young, all sophomores, and have a ton of potential.

Something Interesting: Of Crestwood’s eight runners, three also play soccer, two play volleyball, one is in the marching and and two are involved with 4H.

“Thes girls are busy.”

KENT ROOSEVELT ROUGH RIDERS

Head Coach: Matt Pazderak, 1st year.

Coaching Staff: Kaylie Weigel, Ken Claypoole.

2021 Recap: 7th in Suburban League American Division.

Returning Letterwinners (6): Emma Arhtur, jr.; Jeanie Barzellato, jr.; Evie Caldwell, soph.; Hannah Robinson, jr.; Annie Leidtke, jr.; Ava Bongiorni, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (2): Marissa Coach, Ezra Turner.

General Outlook:  “We have had a core group from our team training consistently through June and July, building fitness and camaraderie.”

Pazderak said he expects Arthur and Barzellato, along with Caldwell to lead the Rough Riders this season.

MOGADORE WILDCATS

Head Coach: Diana Morris, 2nd year.

Coaching Staff: Job Christiansen.

2021 Recap: Portage Trail Conference champions; Division III district champions; East Canton Invitational title; Woodridge CVNP Invitational title.

Returning Letterwinners (6): Katie Lane, jr.; Lauren Holler, sr.; Katie Holler, sr.; Rachel Whetstone, sr.; Mia Gaetjens, jr.; Emma  Quillen, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (1): Abby Morris.

General Outlook: “We are incredibly excited about the season,” Mogadore coach Diana Morris said. “We have been building up over the last several years and they are coming in stronger than ever. Both our girls and boys teams have worked incredibly hard through summer conditioning and practices.”

The Wildcats have some special runners returning, including state qualifiers Katie Lane and Rachel Whetstone.

Regional qualifiers Mia Gaetjens, Emma Quillen and Katie Holler all also return.

“We have new freshmen, as well as the Tompkins twins coming in as sophomores that will add much depth,” head coach Diana Morris said.

Something Interesting: Sophomore Amelia Morris went to Philadelphia over the summer for a service trip to work with kids.

The Mogadore roster also features two sets of twins and four more sets of siblings.

RAVENNA RAVENS

Head Coach: Ashley  Williams, 5th year.

Coaching Staff: Tori Obenrader, Emma Lunardi.

2021 Recap: 5th at MAC Championships.

Returning Letterwinners (4): Paige Chinn, sr.; Reese Johnston, sr.; Addison Ribelin, jr.; Julia Stratton, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (0): None.

General Outlook: “I hope that we can improve our team finish from last year,” head coach Ashley Williams said.

Julia Stratton returns as a team leader after a phenomenal freshman season.

Paige Chinn, Reese Johnston and Addison Ribelin for the core of upperclassmen.

Freshman Clare Johnston and Gracie Stroh look like promising additions to the roster.

Reason to be Optimistic: “We have a great group of leaders on our team. Several of our runners have been running together since middle school and have shown continual improvement. They work hard at practice every day and are great role models for the younger runners.”

ROOTSTOWN ROVERS

Head Coach: Larry Bailey, 40th year; 190-188 career record.

Coaching Staff: Kyle Rodstrom.

2021 Recap: 3-2 overall record; 3-0 PTC; runners-up at PTC Championships; 8th at regional.

Returning Letterwinners (6): Sydney Munger, sr.; Lauren Krieger, sr.; Courtney Taylor, sr.; Mallory Butcher, jr.; Grace Hunt, jr.; Maggie Frick, jr.

Letterwinners Lost (3): Marinna Antanmo, Katie Plecko, Taylor Coates.

General Outlook: Munger, Krieger and Butcher all return after All-PTC seasons last year.

Taylor, now a senior, returns to the team after running as the team’s No. 2 three different times as a sophomore.

Incoming freshman Hannah Crandell has proven to be very competitive and helps give Rootstown five solid runners.

“We also return a solid group that has been district runners-up the last two years.

SOUTHEAST PIRATES

Head Coach: Julia Dillon, 5th year.

Coaching Staff: Monica Kiskadden, Kelli Simmons.

Returning Letterwinners (7): Kate Campbell, sr.; Remie Stammitti, sr.; Kristen Campbell, soph.; Claire Dillner, soph.; Payten Vrudney, soph.; Rebekah Craver, jr.; Gracie Fizet, jr.

Letterwinners Lost (1): Alexis Messina.

General Outlook: “We are hoping to have a few runners in contention for the league this season,” head coach Julia Dillon said. “We also have some solid runners returning or beginning.”

One of those runners is freshman Julia Wheeler, who Dillon said has a lot of promise.

“She has been training hard this summer, and we are excited for the season to begin.”

Senior Kate Campbell, according to Dillon, runs with a lot of passion.

Kristen Campbell enters her sophomore season after an ACL injury.

“But she has a lot of heart and knows what hard work is and how to get it done.”

Someting Interesting: “Each Friday, we have the boys and girls compete in what we call a ‘Twinkie Run.’ There are two teams of boys and girls and the goal is to get every runner on your team across the finish line before the other team. This is about teamwork and strategy and fun.”

STREETSBORO ROCKETS

Head Coach: Jon Hannan, 2nd year; 9th overall, including middle school; 46-80 career record.

Coaching Staff: Angela Novotny.

2021 Recap: 5th in MAC; 9th at district.

Returning Letterwinners (5): Jordyn Lytle, sr.; Sofia Maglionico, jr.; Cara Tiller, jr.; Kenzie LaGuardia, soph.; Grace Thomson, soph.

Letterwinners Lost (6): Kylee Malloy, Delaney Maglionico, Abbi Novotny, Amanda Ruffo, Paige Casey, Grace Vasko.

Reason to be Optimistic: “The team returns five of its top seven from last season,” head coach Jon Hannan said.

The team is led by Lytle, Maglionico, Tiller, Thomson and LaGuardia.

Additionally, the program welcomes in seven new freshmen, including MAC league champion Sonia Downing.

“All seven freshman have a realistic chance to compete for varsity and provide a great future for the us in the coming years.”

WATERLOO VIKINGS

Head Coach: Steve McDaniel, 35th year.

Returning Letterwinners (2): Cheyanne Biltz, jr.; Allison Miller, jr.

General Outlook: In addition to Biltz and Miller leading the way, the Vikings also welcome newcomers in junior Tess Rodenbucher and freshman Heylie Camacho.

“Both are new to running, but are working hard to improve,” veteran coach Steve McDaniel said.

Biltz was named Honorable Mention All-Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference.

The Vikings do not have enough runners for a team score, so they will run as individuals this season.