Members of the North Union girls cross-country team are from left, front row, Katie Cunningham, Maddy Liebler, Kendal Music, Libby Ardrey, Lacetyn Riffle and Aunna Kasler; back row, coach Penny Cunningham, Ashley Hayward, Jessica Wolfe, Ashlee Kohler, Kaylee Smith and coach Fred Holsinger.
(Photo submitted)
North Union’s boys cross country team is pictured from left, front row, Caleb Isler, Lucien Hendrickson, Mack Plotner, Casey Rensel, Jacob Willis, Chris Isler, Calvin Harvey, Mitchell Marlette and Casey Clark; back rows, coach Penny Cunningham Derek Ballinger, Danny Burggraf, John Popovich, Parker Brandt, William Popovich, Joel Krebehenne and coach Fred Holsinger.
(Photo submitted)
The Wildcats of North Union cross-country teams are poised to repeat as Central Buckeye Conference champions this season.
Head coach Fred Holsinger said that is the goal this season, “to repeat as the Mad River Division champions.”
The Cats will be looking to returning letter winners and regional qualifiers Jacob Willis and Joel Krebehenne to help them achieve their goal.
Dan Burggraf will be returning to the team after sitting out last season, while Chris Isler and Casey Clark will round out the top five for the Wildcats.
“I expect these five to make us competitive in the Mad River Division,” said Holsinger.
The real race for the Wildcats will be in the next five top runners.
Holsinger said there is some inter-squad competition going on amongst his team for the top seven scoring positions.
“Senior Derek Ballinger is in great shape and looks to be a consistant varsity runner,” Holsinger said. “He is in a pack of runners competing for a top seven place including Caleb Isler, John Popovich, Parker Brandt, and Casey Rensel.
“I expect a pack to emerge among our six through 10th runners.”
With the team taking shape after the loss of Adam Brown, Dalton Skaggs, Gabe Burggraf and Brennan Griffith to graduation, the Wildcats will also have to battle for the top spot with conference rival Benjamin Logan.
“Ben Logan is always a strong team,” said Holsinger.
An early season competition between the two teams proved just that for the Cats, as North Union was able to top Ben Logan.
Holsinger said it is the strength of his athletes that really makes this year’s team shine.
“There are strong athletes on this team from multiple sports backgrounds, including baseball, wrestling, swimming and basketball as well as plenty of running experience,” he said. “They bring the right attitude to a winning team.”
On the girls side of the team, the Lady Cats will be filling the void of all-district runner Kamryn Rhodes (lost to graduation), but Holsinger believes the Lady Cats have a strong pack of runners with all of them competing for a top spot on the team.
“We have a strong pack on the girls side,” Holsinger said. “It is difficult to say exactly who are our top runners.
“They challenge each other every day in practice to be the best,” he said. “Ashley Hayward and Katie Cunningham have been putting in good mileage, along with Kaylee Smith and Maddy Liebler.
“Ashlee Kohler, Libby Ardrey and Kendal Music have been showing their speed in our track workouts.”
Holsinger will also be looking to some of the new faces on the team. Jessica Wolfe and Lacetyn Riffle are new to cross country.
However, the newcomers, according to Holsinger, “have been strong leaders in other sports at North Union.”
Holsinger believes this group of girls has the potential to win a conference title, but they will have to get past a seasoned Northwestern squad to do so.
It will take season-long improvement to get there.
“Northwestern should bring back a strong team, but if our pack of five to seven runners keeps improving, I think we can compete for a title,” he said.