2019 Mercury-Area Girls Cross Country Preview

Boyertown

Coach: Ed Baghdasarian, second year.

Last year’s record: 1-4 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division).

Runners to watch: Sabrina Bergey, Sr.; Morgan Janiuk, Sr.; Zora Bergey, Jr.; Jenna Dumbrowsky, Jr.; Abigail Rice, Jr.; Rachanee Tith, Jr.; Alyssa Albanese, Fr.

Outlook: The Bears’ roster is bolstered by the presence of freshman Alyssa Albanese. … Tith was the Bears’ highest finishers at PACs, placing 37th. … “The Boyertown girls will be looking to improve our results at the district meet,” Baghdasarian said. “Newcomers Morgan Janiuk and Alyssa Albanese look to add depth and strength up front with our top returners from last year. The goals are to improve every two weeks and set our sights to a much better district meet result.”

Daniel Boone

Coach: James Angle, second year.

Last year’s record: 5-2 Berks Conference I, 13-2 overall.

Runners to watch: Abby Bulafka, Sr.; Carlina Davis, Sr.; Vivian Kase, Sr.; Sierra Rivera, Sr.; Ashley Benoit, Jr.; Renee Camburn, So.; Hannah Santos, So.

Outlook: Davis checked in with a 20th-place finish in the Berks Conference meet, leading the Blazers to fourth place in the final team order. … “The girls team will be very strong once again in Berks County,” Angle said. “All of the girls from last year’s district qualifying team are returning for this season. The girls team has earned many individual county and division honors and will pushed by seniors Vivian Kase and Carlina Davis.”

Hill School

Coach: Daniel McMains, 10th year.

Last year’s record: 3-2 overall.

Runners to watch: Paige Barcus, Sr.; Olivia Tullman, Sr.; Bella Basile, Jr.

Outlook: The Blues’ roster is bolstered by the addition of freshman Courtney Bodolus. … Tullman finished third in the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Prep League meet. … “This year looks to be the culmination of a great deal of work by a strong group of seniors,” McMains said. “We will have some very strong senior leadership, along with some very talented newcomers that will make for a very potent mix. The team is deep with talent, but avoiding injury remains the main concern. If we stay healthy, we will be in good position to be competitive among our peer schools.”

Methacton

Coach: Steve Mahan, 37th year.

Last year’s record: 2-3 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division).

Runners to watch: Corinne Meyer, Sr.; Mia Sheldon, Sr.; Sydney Tobin, Sr.; Maddy Ziegler, Sr.; Casey Biglin, Jr.; Maya Leber, Jr.; Iris Gong, So.; Mmisa Kasparcove, So.; Devon Petrei, So.

Outlook: The Warriors’ pack is bolstered by the presence of freshman Bipasha Moktan. … Meyer, Sheldon, Tobin and Ziegler will serve as Methacton’s co-captains. … Ziegler, who placed 26th in the 2018 PAC Championship meet, is the Warriors’ highest-finishing returner. … “This team is ‘professional’ in its approach to training and racing,” Mahan said. “They have been dedicated to their training during the ‘Summer Miles’ and pre-season part of the cross country schedule. We hope to develop some ‘cross country racing’ toughness and make our opponents compete when they meet us out on the course.”

Norristown

Coach: Milton Williams, first year.

Last year’s record: 0-5 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division).

Runners to watch: Stacy Sanchez.

Outlook: Williams, who also coaches the school’s track squad, takes over the Eagle program from Bill Schearer, … “We are looking to continue to bring a competitive atmosphere and raise the level of our distance program at Norristown.” Williams said.

Owen J. Roberts

Head Coach: Tim Marcoe, second year.

Last year’s record: 5-0 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division).

Runners to watch: Hannah Kopec, Sr; Charley Lustig, Sr; Mikayla Niness, Sr; Emily Glasier, Jr; Sarah Karaman, So.; Calista VanDruff So.

Outlook: The Wildcats’ roster is bolstered by freshmen Grace Fennell, Maggie Lustig and Claire Zubey. … Kopec, VanDruff and Glazier went 7-8-10 in helping Roberts win the 2018 PAC Championship race. … “The girls are looking forward to the challenge of defending last season’s league championship,” Marcoe said. “Our goal is to compete well at each meet this season and continually improve as the season progresses.  We want to practice and race to the best of our ability each time out, so that we are as prepared as possible for the championship season.”

Perkiomen School

Coach: Greg Martin. fourth year.

Last year’s record: Not available.

Runner to watch: Laurel Reese, So.

Outlook: “This will be very much a rebuilding year due to graduating a large number of seniors.” Martin said.

Perkiomen Valley

Coach: Ryan Sullivan, 18th year.

Last year’s record: 3-2 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division), 9-2 overall.

Runners to watch: Avery Taylor, Sr.; Delaney O’Sullivan, Jr.; Megan Furlong, So.

Outlook: The Vikings roster is bolstered by the presence of freshmen Claudia Brach, Abi Schweitzer, Elyse Tancini and Summer Watts. … “The girls are replacing many key components of a team that placed third in the PAC last year,” Sullivan said.  “They enjoyed a productive summer of training, led by Delaney O’ Sullivan, Megan Furlong and Avery Taylor. The team will be forced to rely on new talent to fill out top seven. A talented freshman class, led by Summer Watts, will keep the girls close in all meets. We hope to gain confidence and make strides throughout the season, and look to contend in the always tough and talented PAC.”

Phoenixville

Coach: Eric Sprenkle, second year.

Last year’s record: 3-2 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division)

Runners to watch:  Kerri Mochnaly, Jr.; Madison O’Neill, Jr.; Alyssa Cunningham, Fr.

Outlook: O’Neill was the Phantoms’ highest finisher in the 2018 PAC Championship, placing 31st. Mochnaly was two spots back in 33rd. … “The team is looking to continue expanding on the strong base and culture built in the previous year,” Sprenkle said. ““Our team that used to be a majority of underclassman is now more seasoned, and this experience will be valuable in leading the team in positives directions.

Pope John Paul II

Coach: Lisa Cagliola, second year.

Last year’s record: 5-0 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division).

Runners to watch: Gianna Cagliola, Sr.; Kayla Croiger, So.; Katy Todd, So. 

Outlook: Coach Cagliola is assisted by first-year coach Beth Green. … The Golden Panthers highlighted their 2018 season by repeating as District 1-AA champions, after placing fourth in the PAC meet. … Kroiger (fourth), Gianna Cagliola (eighth) and Todd (12th) were PJP’s highest finishers at districts. … “We are looking to repeat as Frontier Division and District 1 AA champions and looking to improve our overall PAC finish,” Coach Cagliola said. “We have a lot of young returning runners, and we only lost one varsity senior girl.  We have a strong incoming freshman group.”

Pottsgrove

Coach: Larry Rechtin, 30th year.

Last year’s record: 3-2 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division)

Runners to watch: Amie Wildermuth, Sr.; Calista Faust, Jr.; Naomi Hillen, Jr.;

Outlook: The Falcons’ roster is bolstered by freshmen Noelle Barone and Riley McLaughlin. … Toni Crater is Rechtin’s assistant coach for the first year. … Hillen, a two-time MERCURY Female Runner of the Year, placed 24th in the 2018 District 1-AAA race after winning PACs the previous week. … “The female Falcons return the PAC individual champion and two-time AAA state qualifier in Naomi Hillen,” Rechtin said. “She will give us a very strong number one. Calista Faust had a breakout spring track season, taking second in the 800 at PACs. She has worked hard this summer and will be a formidable number-two runner. After that, Amie Wildermuth has turned in a strong summer and brings four years of cross country experience. From there, like the boys, we need to stay healthy with a short-handed squad, and the newer runners will have a short learning curve if we are going to be competitive in the Frontier Division.”

Pottstown

Coach: Stephanie Konnick, first year.

Last year’s record: 0-5 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division).

Runners to Watch: Naomi Parson, Jr.

Outlook: Konnick, a Pottstown alumnae who played field hockey and lacrosse during her schoolastic time, replaces the retired Mary Ann Hill. Hill had coached the Trojans twice in a combined 14 seasons.

Spring-Ford

Coach: Dave Cain, second year.

Last year’s record: 4-1 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Liberty Division).

Runners to watch: Nora Albertson, Sr.; Kayla Breisch, Sr.; Stephanie Gehret, Sr.; Devon Pytel, Sr.; Brooke Donoghue, Jr.; Alyssa Mulhall, Sr.; Julia Breisch, So.;  Amanda Mulhall, So.

Outlook: The Rams’ roster is bolstered by freshmen Abigail Duersch and Carly Winston. … Pytel and Albertson, a respective 12th and 16th in the 2018 PAC Championship meet, are Spring-Ford’s highest-finishing returners alongside Julia Breisch (20th).  … “A strong team with depth,” Cain said. “The team is led by junior Brooke Donoghue, who had a breakout season last year, and seniors Devon Pytel and Nora Albertson. This team looks to grow together and accomplish their goals. They will be very competitive in the league and look to have strong finishes at championships and districts.”

Upper Merion

Coach: Kriston Jae Bethel, second year.

Last year’s record: 2-3 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division).

Runners to watch: Veronica Sanchez, Sr.; Claire Doan, Jr.

Outlook: Sanchez placed third at the 2018 PAC Championship meet. … “The team will once again be led by Veronica Sanchez, who’s entering her senior year,” Bethel said. “Following behind her is junior Claire Doan, who’s looking to see some time drops, while making an impact in both the league and district. With the addition of some new girls, as well as our returning runners, UM is hopeful for some surprises by the end of the season with this small group of athletes.”

Upper Perkiomen

Coach; Todd Niemann, 17th year.

Last Year’s record: 1-4 Pioneer Athletic Conference (Frontier Division).

Runners to watch: Natalia Curley, Jr.; Carolena Glackin, Jr.; Josie Mertz, Jr.; Dana Meyer, Jr.; Bailey Cahill, So.; Jozi Coddington, So.; Lee Moyer, So.; Theresa Patterson, So.; Megan Randolph, So. 

Outlook: Curley and Glackin will serve as the Indians’ co-captains. … “The team is looking forward to the returning athletes as well as the ten newcomers, making this year’s team the largest in school history,” Niemann said. “We are very young and inexperienced but with continued hard work we will be pretty competitive by the end of the season.”