2016 Palo Verde Girls Cross Country Capsule

League: Class 4A Northwest League

Head coach: Robert Davis, 17th season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Emma Wahlenmaier (Sr.), Tori Landers (Sr.), Grace Edwards (So.)

Outlook: Wahlenmaier won the Sunset Region meet and finished second at the Division I state meet last year.

She leads a trio of returnees for the Panthers, who will have to replace four seniors from their lineup. Edwards was 27th and Landers 34th at the state meet last year, so the Panthers definitely have a foundation on which to build.

“The loss of four seniors from last season will be difficult to replace, but it is a scenario we’ve faced before,” Davis said. “The addition of junior transfer Bailey Lebow and the development of juniors Caroline Piazza and Caitlyn Provenzano will help Palo Verde field another competitive team this season.”