2018 Boys Cross Country Capsule Previews

(As submitted by coaches)

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ADELSON SCHOOL

League: Class 2A Southern

Head coach: Bennett Adkinson, third season

Returning lettermen: One

Top athletes: Owen Retzer (Jr.)

Outlook: Retzer is the sole member of the Lions’ team to this point.

“We are confident that he will do well and will qualify for state,” Adkinson said.

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ARBOR VIEW

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Sheina Torres, fourth season

Returning lettermen: Five

Top athletes: Noah Ayala (Sr.), Mario Gutierrez (Jr.), John Crabtree-Medrano (Jr.), Matt Myers (Jr.)

Outlook: Last year’s Sunset Region champions and Class 4A state runners-up return five lettermen, including Ayala, who placed sixth in the state meet.

The team will have to overcome the loss of Sunset Region champion Keith Williams to graduation, but still could be in the hunt for a berth in the state meet.

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BASIC

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Jennifer Sneed, second season

Returning lettermen: Two

Top athletes: Hunter Espaniola (Sr.), Gunner Mattoon (Jr.)

Outlook: The Wolves should get a boost from the return of Espaniola, who missed most of the late stages of last season due to injury.

Mattoon also should help lead an otherwise inexperienced team.

“We have lost a big chunk of the team two years in a row,” Sneed said. “It’s very much a rebuilding year. We’re hoping to find some young talent and build from there.”

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BISHOP GORMAN

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Bree Thorpe, second season

Returning lettermen: Eight

Top athletes: Massimillano Swenson (Sr.), Trevor Olivas (Sr.), Richard Solomon (Jr.), Khiry Anderson (So.), Sergiy Montano (So.), Tomas Sanchez (Jr.), Antonio Sanchez (Sr.)

Outlook: Swenson finished 10th in last year’s Sunset Region meet and is back to lead a group of eight returning lettermen for the Gaels.

Gorman hopes to be competitive in the Desert Region.

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BOULDER CITY

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Staci Selinger, second season

Returning lettermen: Six

Top athletes: Ethan Porter (So.), Justice Tilman (Sr.)

Outlook: Porter finished third at the Bud O’Dea freshman meet and was 26th, one spot behind Tilman, in the Class 3A Southern Region meet.

They lead a group of six returning lettermen for the Eagles.

“Our underclassmen numbers are growing and are competitive,” Selinger said. “Our new additions will strengthen our core group, and we are looking forward to faster times and more success this season.

“They have set high standards and goals for themselves, and it will be exciting to watch them work towards those goals.”

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CENTENNIAL

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Chris Martinez, fourth season

Returning lettermen: Twenty-one

Top athletes: Alexander Miller (Sr.), Tucker Raymond (Jr.), Ty Huel (Jr.), Noah Norris (So.), Eduardo Lopez-Cortez (Jr.), Donavan Joseph (Sr.)

Outlook: The Bulldogs bring back six of their top seven runners from a team that finished fifth in last year’s Class 4A state meet.

“With the core of the team back from last year, we are looking to compete well at regionals and state,” Martinez said. “We have an experienced group this year, and the kids have worked extremely hard over the summer and are excited for the season.”

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CHEYENNE

League: Class 4A Northeast

Head coach: Diane Washington, first season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Hussein Muhina (Jr.), Jacob Ludwig (Sr.)

Outlook: The Desert Shields bring back three lettermen and hope to show improvement.

“This is a rebuilding year for Cheyenne, but we are expecting to do our part in our new division,” Washington said.

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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Desmond Reed, first season

Returning lettermen: One

Top athletes: Carlos Paniagua (Jr.), Jacob Garcia (So.), Roger Garcia (Fr.), Treyvon Weathers (Fr.)

Outlook: Reed takes over a program that brings back only one letterman.

The Spartans will hope to show improvement throughout the season.

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CLARK

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Charles Bennion, second season

Returning lettermen: Five

Top athletes: Mario Tavares (Sr.), Jorge Castro (Jr.), Nicko Aguillon (Jr.), Michael Finley (Jr.), Riley Tran (Jr.), Michael Pearl (Fr.), Zeke Nyberg (So.)

Outlook: Bennion’s team brings back five lettermen, most of whom showed great improvement last season.

The Chargers are hoping that progression continues this season.

“The team is dedicated to making it to state,” Bennion said. “They worked very hard over the summer.”

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CORAL ACADEMY

League: Independent

Head coach: Bernadine Waite, second season

Returning lettermen: Four

Top athletes: Dylan Bombarda (Jr.), Adam Marker (Sr.), Jacob Kusper (Jr.), Kyle Salas (Sr.)

Outlook: The Falcons return four lettermen from last year’s squad and hope to conitnue to show improvement.

“We expect to have a very strong season with hopes of having the majority of the boys reach their personal goals and records,” Waite said.

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CORONADO

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Mark Tondryk, 15th season

Top athletes: Bryce Tondryk (Jr.), Brenden Graves (Jr.)

Outlook: The Cougars won the Southeast League meet and finished second in the Sunrise Region meet last year.

But they return only two of the top seven runners from that squad.

Bryce Tondryk, who ran sixth in the Southeast meet last year, and Graves will be among the leaders.

“We are looking to rebuild,” Mark Tondryk said. “We are lacking varsity experience.”

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DEL SOL

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Jennifer Powell, third season

Returning lettermen: Three

Top athletes: Van Stanley (Sr.), Angel Greer (Sr.), Ruben Gonzalez (So.), Christopher Martinez (Jr.)

Outlook: The Dragons have only three returning letter winners.

“We are looking forward to a new season with a lot new faces,” Powell said. “Seniors Van Stanley and Angel Greer will be leading the team as well as Green Valley transfer sophomore Ruben Gonzalez.

“We are excited to see all of our new additions to the program and watch them develop throughout the season.”

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DESERT OASIS

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Jerome Streets, fourth season

Returning lettermen: Seven

Top athletes: Landon Morrison (Sr.), Conner Nicholas (Sr.), Traylen Ruch (Sr.), Spencer White (Sr.), Sport Cowan (Jr.)

Outlook: The Diamondbacks bring back seven lettermen from a squad that finished seventh in the Class 4A state meet after winning the Southwest League finals and finishing third in the Sunset Region meet.

Nicholas finished fifth in the state meet. Ruch was 37th at state, and Morrison (51st), White (60th) and Cowan (78th) also competed in the state meet.

“With several members of the 2017 team returning for this season, the Desert Oasis boys team is looking to be competitive against the strong cross-country programs of the Desert Region,” Streets said. “The team must build consistency, and work together to achieve their goals, including competing for division and region championships, as well as earning a spot in the state meet.”

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DESERT PINES

League: Class 4A Northeast

Head coach: Ana Schools, first season

Returning lettermen: Two

Top athletes: Antonio Peredo (So.), Henrik Morales (Jr.)

Outlook: Schools takes over a program that returns only two lettermen.

“The boys team has a fairly new group of runners to the team,” Schools said. “We’re looking forward to seeing how much we improve as the season progresses.”

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DURANGO

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Rick Barry, fourth season

Returning lettermen: Eleven

Top athletes: Tim Kedrowski (Sr.), Dagim Seme (Sr.), John Stenger (Sr.), William McMahon (Jr.), Zenon Kokowsky (Sr.), Jacob Bavaro (Sr.)

Outlook: Seme (17th) and Kedrowski (19th) both finished in the top 20 in the Sunset Region meet and return to lead a group of 11 lettermen.

“We have a strong returning class that is building to compete for a place in regionals to move on to state,” Barry said. “The potential is strong, and using the whole team to get the top seven better is vital. This group is close and enjoy pushing each other.”

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FAITH LUTHERAN

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Jeff Edwards, ninth season

Returning lettermen: Six

Top athletes: Aidan Baughan (Jr.), Mark Wilbourne (Sr.), Mark Finley (Sr.)

Outlook: Six lettermen return for the Crusaders, who hope to contend for a state meet berth.

“The team looks to move up from its fifth-place finish in the region last season,” Edwards said. “They are led by seniors Mark Wilbourne and Mark Finley and junior Aidan Baughan all of whom are capable of qualifying for the state meet as individuals.”

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FOOTHILL

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Kevin Soares, second season

Returning lettermen: Four

Top athletes: Justin Neubeck (Jr.), Ryan Williams (Sr.), Brynn Olsen (Sr.), Ryan Neubeck (Sr.)

Outlook: The Falcons finished third in the Sunrise Region meet, but lost a handful of runners from that squad.

Justin Neubeck, who took fifth in the Sunrise meet, leads a group of four returnees.

“With the loss of four of our top seven, we are looking for some the younger runners to step up this season,” Soares said. “Our goal is to reach state again.”

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GREEN VALLEY

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Bud Beam, fourth season

Returning lettermen: Five

Top athletes: Cristian Kongsrud (Sr.), Ayden Patricalli (Jr.), Esondre Christian (So.), Allen Rios (Jr.), Vincent Thomson (Jr.)

Outlook: Last year’s Sunrise Region champions return five letter winners but have some holes to fill after losing three of their top five runners to graduation.

Kongsrud (11th in the region meet, 22nd at state), Patricalli (10th in the region, 46th at state) and Christian (15th in the region) all return from a squad that finished fourth in the Class 4A state meet.

“We are a young yet experienced team looking to compete in our new region and to make it back to the state meet as a team,” Beam said.

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LAUGHLIN

League: Class 2A Southern

Head coach: Mitch Mulcahy, sixth season

Returning lettermen: Four

Top athletes: Gonzalo Sanchez, Jason Zenefski, Brett Rule, Osvaldo Castro

Outlook: Sanchez, who was a state meet qualifier last year, headlines a group of four returning lettermen for the Cougars.

“Gonzalo Sanchez also had some big jumps in the track season,” Mulcahy said. “He made the podium in the 400 and 800 meter races.

“This summer he traveled to Australia to run track. He was also successful there earning two golds and a silver. I’m really looking forward to seeing him run this year.”

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LIBERTY

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Brent Bowers, second season

Returning lettermen: Four

Top athletes: Ryan Gilbert (Sr.), Garrett Ditter (Sr.), Zach Ragonese (Sr.)

Outlook: The Patriots return four lettermen from last year’s squad.

“Our goal is state qualifying with a group of veterans and talented young runners,” Bowers said.

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THE MEADOWS

League: Class 2A Southern

Head coach: Charles Bernick, 15th season

Returning lettermen: Four

Top athletes: Ian Cook (Sr.)

Outlook: The Mustangs bring back four seniors who ran on last year’s Class 2A state championship squad.

Cook finished fourth in the state meet and was the Class 2A champion in the 3,200-meter run in last spring’s state track meet.

“The Mustangs are led by senior, Ian Cook, who finished as the runner-up at the 2017 regional championships and placed fourthth in the state championship,” Bernick said. “Other top returning runners include Chris Tsuchiyama, Julius Santo-Pietro, and Tanner Rubeli.”

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MOAPA VALLEY

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Gary Watkins, eighth season

Returning lettermen: Six

Top athletes: Preston Humes (So.), Jerrick Stastny (Sr.), Bryton Dorsey (Sr.), Maximus Shambaugh (So.)

Outlook: The Pirates bring back six lettermen from a squad that finished as the Southern Region runner-up last year.

Humes was 14th in last year’s Class 3A state meet, and Stastny took fourth in the Southern Region meet.

“We will return to compete at the state cross country meet,” Watkins said. “We hope to repeat our (Sunrise) division championship.”

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MOJAVE

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Jennifer Mathews, first season

Returning lettermen: Two

Top athletes: Joseph McMillan (Jr.), Anthony Ciballos (Jr.)

Outlook: The Rattlers bring back only two lettermen, but have high hopes for this season.

“I’m hoping to get the team to qualify for the state meet,” Mathews said.

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PAHRUMP VALLEY

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Matt Kolodzieczyk, sixth season

Returning lettermen: Four

Top athletes: Grant Odegard (Jr.), Michael Sonerholm (Jr.), Jacob Cipollini (Sr.), Brandon Ruud (Jr.)

Outlook: The Trojans lost three of their top seven runners — including Southern Region champion Bryce Odegard — from last year’s team that won the region title.

Some talented runners return, though. Grant Odegard was sixth in the region meet, and Sonerholm ran eighth in the region meet.

“We should still be in good shape,” Kolodzieczyk said.. “The team hopes to repeat as divisional and regional champs this year as well as qualify for the state meet for the fourth year in a row.”

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PALO VERDE

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Nick Meis, seventh season

Returning lettermen: Five

Top athletes: Noah Jordan (Sr.), Josh Campbell (Sr.), Matthew Siroky (Jr.)

Outlook: Jordan, who placed 12th in last year’s Sunset Region meet, is among five lettermen who return for the Panthers.

“Our goal is to be competitive throughout the and to be ready when the postseason arrives,” Meis said. “We will be looking to our seniors to lead the underclassmen by example.”

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RANCHO

League: Class 4A Northeast

Head coach: Kevin Chase, second season

Outlook: In his second season, Chase hopes to continue to help the Rams program grow.

“The cross country team at Rancho is looking to add more students to create a competitive climate,” Chase said. “We have added a number of students from a number of middle schools who will be looking to get involved in competing at the varsity level.”

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SHADOW RIDGE

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Andy Flynn, sixth season

Returning lettermen: Eight

Top athletes: Jackson Boswell (Sr.), Dane Cobb (Sr.), Joshua Hostetler (Jr.), Joseph Hughes (So.), Avery Nguyen (Sr.)

Outlook: The Mustangs return eight lettermen and hope to contend in the Mountain Region.

“The Shadow Ridge cross country team has been training all summer and they are ready for a great season,” Flynn said. “Seniors Dane Cobb, Avery Nguyen, and Jackson Boswell, along with junior Josh Hostetler and sophomore Joe Hughes, are ready to lead the men’s team to success.

“Our returning and new runners are ready for the season to get under way and are eager to represent Shadow Ridge.”

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SIERRA VISTA

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Carrie Faber, 20th season

Top athletes: Jordan Clayton

Outlook: Clayton narrowly missed qualifying for state last year and is back to lead the Mountain Lions.

“The team is working hard at every practice, getting better and better,” Faber said. “I can’t wait to see how the season ends up. They have a lot of potential and a lot of heart.”

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SILVERADO

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Brian Whitaker, 25th season

Returning lettermen: Six

Top athletes: Ryan Wurtz (Sr.), Seton Cifelli (Jr.), Dylan Magnuson (So.), Jonathan Cosio (Sr.)

Outlook: The Skyhawks bring back six lettermen as they hope to be competitive in the Desert Region.

“We are getting good leadership from our core of returning runners,” Whitaker said. “Everyone is putting in the work.”

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SOMERSET-LOSEE

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Anthony Brown, third season

Returning lettermen: Six

Top athletes: Liam Baird (Jr.), Jashawn Belton (Fr.), Grayson Crostic (Jr.), Khyrie Palma (Fr.)

Outlook: The Lions make their debut in the Class 3A Sunset League with six returning lettermen.

“I expect our men’s team to be very competitive in the Class 3A Southern Region,” Brown said. “If these athletes believe and work hard all season, there is a possibility of reaching the state championships this year. This would be a huge success being our first year in the NIAA.

“Liam Baird should be expected to make state as an individual at least, and I expect his (five-kilometer time) to improve dramatically this season from last year.”

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SPRING VALLEY

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Jean Rees, sixth season

Returning lettermen: Six

Top athletes: Jacob Potere (Sr.)

Outlook: Potere, who Rees thinks could challenge the school record time in the 3.1-mile race, leads a group of six returning lettermen for Spring Valley.

“There is a very good chance Jacob Potere will be a state qualifier,” Rees said. “We have many new faces on our men’s team along with our six returning runners.

“Our team is in the process of rebuilding and is looking forward to a great season.”

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SUNRISE MOUNTAIN

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Will Ray, first season

Returning lettermen: One

Top athletes: Nathan Areno (Jr.), Christian Perez (Sr.), Antony Hernandez (Jr.), Kevin Torres (Jr.), Kevin Pareja (Fr.)

Outlook: The Miners return only one letterman for first-year coach Ray, who last coached cross country 16 years ago in Washington.

“We are young and raw,” Ray said. “This is the first year for most of these runners. Our goal this year is to get the kids to buy in and bring excitement back to the program.”

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TECH

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Cathy Meyer, fifth season

Returning lettermen: Four

Top athletes: Austin Zepeda (So.), Jose Martinez (Jr.), Brandon Munguia (Sr.)

Outlook: The Roadrunners return only four letter winners as they make the jump back to Class 4A.

“This season will be a rebuilding year,” Meyer said. “We have several talented runners that will work hard and improve every race.”

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VALLEY

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Sergio Segura, fourth season