2018 Girls Cross Country Capsule Previews

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ADELSON SCHOOL

League: Class 2A Southern

Head coach: Bennett Adkinson, third season

Returning letter winners: Two

Top athletes: Vanessa Voltz (So.), Eden Boldur (Fr.), Hailey Nemeth (So.), Kira Weant (So.)

Outlook: Voltz qualified for the Class 2A state meet last year and is one of two returning letter winners for the Lions, who hope their young runners will show improvement throughout the season.

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ARBOR VIEW

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Sheina Torres, fourth season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Rachel Jackson (Sr.)

Outlook: The Aggies finished fifth, though only eight points out of second place, in last year’s Sunset Region meet.

Only three letter winners return from last year’s team, but the Aggies hope to remain competitive.

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BASIC

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Jennifer Sneed, second season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Raquel Chavez (Sr.), Hunter Hughes (Sr.)

Outlook: Chavez won the Southeast League meet, finished second at the Sunrise Region meet and was 27th in the Class 4A state meet.

Hughes ran 10th in the region meet and 33rd at state.

The Wolves have a great top two, but only three returning letter winners.

“It’s a rebuilding year for the girls,” Sneed said. “Several of the top seven from last year did not return.

“We’re setting high goals for Raquel and hopefully finding some young girls to come in and add to her success.”

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BISHOP GORMAN

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Bree Thorpe, second season

Returning letter winners: Eight

Top athletes: Emilia Puskas (So.), Jacqueline Leon (Sr.), Rosina Gillett (So.), Lauren Dennis (Jr.), Madison Ebens (Sr.), Jayden Krmpotich (Jr.), Abigail Hobson (Sr.), Alyssa Sanchez (Sr.), Bernadette Daez (Sr.)

Outlook: Puskas was the Sunset Region runner-up and finished eighth in the Class 4A state meet last season. She leads a group of eight returning letter winners for the Gaels.

Gorman finished second in the Sunset meet and sixth at state last year. Th Gaels are hoping for even better results this year.

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BOULDER CITY

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Staci Selinger, second season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Audrey Selinger (Jr.), Sophie Dickerman (So.)

Outlook: Audrey Selinger finished 16th and Dickerman 23rd in last year’s Class 3A Southern Region meet.

They’re two of the three returning letter winners for the Eagles.

“Our team is working hard to be tough contenders with the addition of a few newcomers this season,” Staci Selinger said. “We are looking forward to reaching our goals and having a successful season.”

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CENTENNIAL

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Curtis Livreri, first season

Returning letter winners: Ten

Top athletes: Kloe Middleton (Sr.), McKenzie Morgan (Sr.), Josephine Ruggieri (Jr.), Cheyenne Jones (Sr.)

Outlook: Livreri takes over a squad that has won three of the last four large-school state titles, including last season’s championship.

Middleton (ninth in state, fourth in Sunset Region), Morgan (13th in state), Ruggieri (17th in state, seventh in region) and Jones all bring back state meet experience.

“We lost some key members but return some strong runners from a state championship team,” Livreri said. “The seniors are great leaders for the younger runners.

“We look forward to a good year and to compete for state.”

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CHEYENNE

League: Class 4A Northeast

Head coach: Diane Washington, first season

Returning letter winners: One

Top athletes: Rachel Davis (So.)

Outlook: The Desert Shields have just one returning letter winner.

“We lost a lot of seniors from last season,” Washington said. “This is a rebuilding year for Cheyenne, but we are expecting to do our part in our new division.”

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CIMARRON-MEMORIAL

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: David Snyder, first season

Returning letter winners: Two

Top athletes: Alexys Arroyo (Jr.), Olivia Hergenroeder (So.), Madison Rodriguez (Jr.), Olivia Garcia (Fr.)

Outlook: Only two letter winners return for the Spartans, who will hope to show improvement throughout the season.

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CLARK

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Charles Bennion, second season

Returning letter winners: Four

Top athletes: Katherine Skouson (So.), Amanda Bennion (Jr.), Lina Gonzalez (Jr.), Gwen Berardinelli (Jr.), Victoria Toledo (So.)

Outlook: The Chargers bring back four letter winners from a squad that won the Southwest League meet.

Head coach Charles Bennion is excited about the prospects of his potential top five. Berardinelli has been a mainstay for the Chargers. Amanda Bennion appears to be healthy after being slowed by health issues last year. Both Gonzalez and Skouston had solid debut seasons last year, and Toledo, while new to cross country, had a strong track season and offseason.

Bennion also said he expects big things from freshmen Savannah Taylor, Quinn Kirk and Sage Fernandez.

“Last year’s team won the division championship,” he said. “They hope to secure a spot at state this year.”

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CORAL ACADEMY

League: Independent

Head coach: Bernadine Waite, second season

Returning letter winners: Seven

Top athletes: Farin Tavacoli (Jr.), Ashlee Wallace (Sr.), Gretchen Wulfekuhle (Sr.), Abby Lipka (Fr.)

Outlook: The Falcons return seven letter winners as they continue to build.

“We expect to have a very strong season with hopes of having the majority of the girls 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: Claire Rawlins (Jr.), Caitlin Shannon (Sr.), Ellen Wise (Jr.), Kylie Baird (So.), Erin Shannon (So.)

Outlook: The Cougars bring back four runners who placed in the top 45 of last year’s Class 4A state meet in Rawlins (fourth/top Southern Nevada finisher), Caitlin Shannon (15th), Wise (24th) and Baird (43rd).

After winning both the Southeast League and Sunrise Region meets and placing third at state last year, the Cougars should be in good shape for another big season.

“We are returning most of our region championship team and should be able to compete for the title again,” Tondryk said. “We hope to move up from our third-place state finish in 2017.”

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DESERT OASIS

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Jerome Streets, fourth season

Returning letter winners: Six

Top athletes: Sophia Bizov (Sr.), Alexandra Liaos (Sr.), Salome Miranda (Jr.), Katherine Rojas-Barreto (Jr.)

Outlook: Bizov (12th place), Miranda (15th), Liaos (16th) and Rojas-Barreto (18th) all finished in the top 20 in last year’s Southwest League finals.

They’re among six returning letter winners for the Diamondbacks.

“With six returning letter winners and several other quality runners from the 2017 team returning, the Desert Oasis girls team is striving to be more competitive against the strong cross-country programs of the Desert Region,” Streets said. “The team is working to build more consistency 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: Lizbeth Aguilar, third season

Returning letter winners: Two

Top athletes: Jazmin Felix (Jr.), Yanin Perez (Sr.)

Outlook: Felix finished second in last year’s Class 3A state meet and should be among the top runners again this year.

Perez also returns to lead a group that will gain varsity experience quickly.

“With a fairly new team on board, the Jaguars are looking forward to a fun season,” Aguilar said.

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DURANGO

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Rick Barry, fourth season

Returning letter winners: Six

Top athletes: Paige Landers (So.), Andrea Godinez (Jr.), Kiana Markham (Sr.)

Outlook: Godinez (32nd), Landers (45th) and Markham (50th) all finished in the top 50 in last year’s Sunset Region meet.

They’re among six returning letter winners for the Trailblazers.

“We have 15 girls competing for our top seven for regionals,” Barry said. “We are working to try to get two or three individual places for the state meet.

“We are looking forward to seeing the team grow together and push each other.”

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FAITH LUTHERAN

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Jeff Edwards, ninth season

Returning letter winners: Five

Top athletes: Maddie Work (Jr.), Natalie Behmer (So.), Alexi Johnson (Sr.)

Outlook: The Crusaders bring back five letter winners from a team that finished fourth in the Sunset Region meet and was just five points out of second place in the meet.

“Last year the Faith Lutheran girls cross country team was within a few points of going to state,” Edwards said. “We look to move up in the region and finish in the top two teams.

“We lost two seniors from last season, but this team will look to veteran Maddie Work to lead the team.”

Edwards also praised newcomer Alexi Johnson for her work ethic and said the senior has “already made an impact on the team.

“Expect Natalie Behmer to continue on with her success from last season, and her sister Anna Behmer to be key parts on varsity,” Edwards added. “Rounding out the varsity is Sidney Bihrer, who had a solid freshman season last year.”

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FOOTHILL

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Kevin Soares, second season

Returning letter winners: Four

Top athletes: Myna Buckley (Sr.), Erica Schulz (Jr.), Emma Doty (Jr.), Deveny Peterson (Jr.)

Outlook: Buckley was the Sunrise Region champion last year, and Schulz took seventh in the meet, helping Foothill qualify for the state meet.

“The goal is to improve upon last year’s second-place finish at region and qualify for state,” Soares said.

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GREEN VALLEY

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Bud Beam, fourth season

Returning letter winners: Six

Top athletes: Mia Smith (Sr.), Rian Anderson (Jr.), Dana Detweiler (Sr.), Tait Melgar (Jr.), Alexa Petruic (Sr.), Jennifer Sleman (Sr.)

Outlook: Smith, who placed fifth in last year’s Sunrise Region meet and 32nd in the Class 4A state meet leads a group of six returning letter winners for the Gators.

Anderson (15th in the region meet, 53rd at state), Detweiler (23rd in region meet) and Melgar (31st in region meet) also should be among the top returnees in the Southeast.

“This experienced team hopes to rebound from last year’s fourth-place region finish and compete for a team spot at the Nevada state meet,” Beam said.

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LAUGHLIN

League: Class 2A Southern

Head coach: Mitch Mulcahy, sixth season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Martiza Cruz, Julia Thomas, Stephanie Zamora, Nancy Franco

Outlook: The Cougars have only three returing letter winners, but do have some talent.

“Maritza Cruz earned a trip to state last year and had a successful year in track,” Mulcahy said. “She is looking to improve her times from last year and make a repeat trip to state.

“Stephanie Zamora is a first-year cross country runner but has run track the last three years. Stephanie will be very competitive this year.”

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LIBERTY

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Brent Bowers, second season

Returning letter winners: Two

Top athletes: Alyssa Lebron (Jr.), Shelby Demes (So.), Abby Smith (So.), Grace Twitchell (So.), Aspen Osmond (So.)

Outlook: The Patriots bring back only two letter winners and will have some work to do in order to compete with the top teams in the Desert Region.

“It’s a very young team with only two returnees,” Bowers said.

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THE MEADOWS

League: Class 2A Southern

Head coach: Charles Bernick, 15th season

Returning letter winners: Two

Top athletes: Emily Herndon (Sr.)

Outlook: Herndon ran sixth in last year’s Class 2A Southern Region meet. She and junior Elle Riggio are the only two returning letter winners from last year’s squad that finished second at the state meet.

“Lack of depth will be a challenge for the team this year,” Bernick said.

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MOAPA VALLEY

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Heather Humes, sixth season

Returning letter winners: Six

Top athletes: McKinley Bledsoe (So.), Hannah Watson (So.), Samantha Thompson (So.), Emma Humes (Fr.)

Outlook: Bledsoe qualified for the Class 3A state meet last year and is one of six returning letter winners for the Pirates.

“We are looking forward to a good year with a strong core group of young runners,” Heather Humes said. “We have a large sophomore group who spent much of last season just figuring out how to run and if this was even something they wanted to do. Most of them are back and working hard and ready to set and meet new goals this year.

“We also have three freshmen that are excited and ready to show that they can contribute. We expect to see a lot of improvement and growth over last season, and are hopeful to earn a team qualification to the state race this year.”

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MOJAVE

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Jennifer Mathews, first season

Returning letter winners: Two

Top athletes: Elena Salazar (Sr.), Lilian Salazar (So.)

Outlook: The Rattlers return only two letter winners for first-year head coach Mathews.

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

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PAHRUMP VALLEY

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Matt Kolodzieczyk, sixth season

Returning letter winners: Four

Top athletes: Katie Goodman (Sr.), Diamond Sonerholm (Jr.), Terrena Martin (Jr.), Patricia Roundy (So.)

Outlook: The Trojans bring back four letter winners from a squad that finished third in the Southern Region meet and made its first trip to state since 2004.

Sonerholm placed fourth in the region meet and was third in the Sunset League finals, one spot ahead of Goodman.

“We are hoping to improve our placement at both the regional meet and the state meet,” Kolodzieczyk said.

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PALO VERDE

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Robert Davis, 19th season

Returning letter winners: Six

Top athletes: Hailey Hill (Sr.), Grace Edwards (Sr.), Nicola Lai (Jr.), Amber Garrett (Sr.)

Outlook: The Panthers finished ninth in the Class 4A state meet and third in the Sunset Region meet.

Edwards (12th), Hill (18th), Lai (19th) and Garrett (22nd) all return after finishing in the top 25 of last year’s Sunset meet.

“Although four of our top five return this season, there has been a strong push by sophomores Pieper Nelson, Haley Parker, Ellie Warner, and Zoie Martin to challenge for varsity spots,” Davis said. “If the sophomores realize their potential, the Panthers could be even better than last year.”

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SHADOW RIDGE

League: Class 4A Northwest

Head coach: Andy Flynn, sixth season

Returning lettermen: Seven

Top athletes: Megan Pina (Sr.), Caitlin Robles (Sr.), Megan Scow (Sr.), Amanda Simpson (Sr.), Alyssa Robles (Sr.)

Outlook: The Mustangs return seven letter winners and hope to contend in the Mountain Region.

The Mustangs, led by seniors Megan Pina, Caitlin Robles, Megan Scow, Amanda Simpson and Alyssa Robles, have been working hard and are ready to show the valley what they are made of,” Flynn said. “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: Sarriah Brown

Outlook: Brown finished 11th in last year’s Class 4A state meet and leads a squad that hopes to build.

“The team is small but is working hard every day, getting better and better,” Faber said. “We are looking to be as good as we can against other teams.”

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SILVERADO

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Barry Whitaker, 22nd season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Koryn Shuler (Sr.), Kiersten Magnuson (Jr.), Kaitlyn Grant (Jr.), Madison Wilcox (Fr.)

Outlook: The Skyhawks return just three letter winners and hope to show improvement throughout the season.

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SOMERSET-LOSEE

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Anthony Brown, third season

Returning letter winners: Three

Top athletes: Maranda McGuigan (Jr.)

Outlook: The Lions make the move into the Class 3A this season and hope to qualify at least one runner for the state meet.

“As our women’s team continues to grow, I can see this team improving a lot throughout the season,” Brown said. “I believe Maranda McGuigan should be able to qualify to state as an individual.”

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SPRING VALLEY

League: Class 4A Southwest

Head coach: Jean Rees, sixth season

Returning letter winners: Six

Top athletes: Hermon Mebrahtu (Sr.), Mackenzie Norsworth (Jr.), Paige Hagans (Jr.), Natalie Urfalyan (Sr.)

Outlook: Mebrahtu, who qualified for the Class 4A state meet last year, leads a group of six returning letter winners for the Grizzlies.

“We continue to build our program with many new freshmen joining the team,” Rees said.” Hopefully, we can have a good showing at regionals this year.”

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SUNRISE MOUNTAIN

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Will Ray, first season

Returning letter winners: Zero

Top athletes: Esmeralda Flores (Fr.), Dianna Rivas-Zarate (Fr.)

Outlook: New coach, new runners, new everything for the Miners.

“We are a new-look young team,” Ray said. “We’ll take our lumps this year. The good news is the girls program will be built with all freshmen making the future of the program exciting.”

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TECH

League: Class 4A Southeast

Head coach: Cathy Meyer, fifth season

Returning letter winners: Seven

Top athletes: Diamond Morris (Jr.), Chandler Barganier (So.), Eden Tesfay (Sr.), Eri Leong (Sr.), Caitlyn Vinluan-Baria (Sr.)

Outlook: The Roadrunners return seven letter winners after winning the Class 3A Southern Region title and finishing fifth in the state meet last year.

Vinluan-Baria (sixth), Leong (seventh), Morris (10th), Barganier (18th) and Tesfay (21st) all finished in the top 25 of the Southern Region meet last year.

This is going to be an exciting season,” Meyer said. “We have a great group of returning runners and a few new runners that will balance out the team

“Although moving to (Class) 4A will be challenging, the girls are working hard to make a run at state.”

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VALLEY

League: Class 3A Sunset

Head coach: Sergio Segura, fourth season

Returning letter winners: Six

Top athletes: Isabella Davis (Sr.), Frida Reyes (Sr.), Lorraine Corado (Sr.), Teresa Galan (Jr.), Kelly Carranza (Jr.)

Outlook: Davis, who was the Northeast League champion and finished fifth in last year’s Class 4A Sunrise Region meet, leads a group of six returning letter winners for the Vikings.

“Our expectation is to qualify for the Class 3A state meet,” Segura said.

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VIRGIN VALLEY

League: Class 3A Sunrise

Head coach: Eli Colburn, 13th season

Returning letter winners: One

Top athletes: Julia Ramirez (Sr.)

Outlook: Ramirez was a state meet qualifier last year and will lead a girls squad that hopes to show improvement throughout the season.

“If Julia works hard, good things will happen,” Colburn said.