Notre Dame tries to build on breakthrough campaign

Last year was the year of the distance runner at Notre Dame Regional High School.

The Bulldogs placed second at the Class 2 cross country state meet, their highest finish in the program's history. In the spring, Notre Dame's 3,200 relay team dominated area competition throughout the year and finished with an all-state performance at the Class 3 state meet.

"It was a breakout year," Notre Dame coach Bill Davis said.

Despite graduating several of its top performers, Notre Dame will look to have another banner year when the cross country season begins Wednesday at the Murphysboro (Ill.) Invitational.

Notre Dame placed four runners in the top 50 at the state meet last season, and returns its No. 2 finisher last season in Austin Critchlow. Critchlow finished 33rd at state. Top finisher Ryan Roggow (26th) and Sam Montgomery (37th) were lost to graduation, but the Bulldogs bring back three of their top five finishers.

Matt Pfau and Greg Kanneberg will be counted on to fill Roggow's and Montgomery's shoes, while Notre Dame will also hope to get solid times from Kanneberg's younger brother, Neal, Korean exchange student Cole Min, Cody Essner, Richie Bohn and Lance Carroll.

"Right now, Matt Pfau has come in with a vengeance," Davis said. "I think running track helped him last year."

Davis said he expects big things from Greg Kanneberg as well.

"Last year he came out of nowhere and made our top seven. He's stepped up and taken on a leadership role," Davis said.

The Bulldogs will have plenty of depth with a record 30 boys out, including a large freshman class.

"When kids see success they want to be a part of it," Davis said.

That depth should create plenty of competition for a spot in the top seven which compete in varsity meets.

"I tell my top kids your spot is not a given," Davis said. "We keep a depth chart every week."

Saxony eyes state again

Saxony Lutheran's first shot at varsity athletics could not have gone much better last year.

Fielding a squad of freshmen and sophomores, the Crusaders won their district and finished fourth at the Class 1 cross country state meet. With a year under their belts, the Crusaders are looking to add to last year's success.

"That was nice," Saxony Lutheran coach Larry Cleair said. "We're looking to have a really good season this year."

While finishing fourth, the Crusaders put three runners in the top 40, led by sophomore Brandon Etzold in 21st. Trey Maevers finished 35th and Kory Mueller was 38th.

This year the Crusaders are a year older, and with an increase in enrollment the team has also seen an increase in interest. There are about 12 boys out this season, and four girls are out after none came out last year.

Cleair said having enough boys to field a varsity and junior varsity team and fielding a girls team should add to the players' camaraderie.

"It will be a nice way to build team spirit," he said.

Pancoast returns

The top area finisher last year -- and likely the best chance for an individual state championship -- is Central senior Jennifer Pancoast. Pancoast finished ninth at the Class 4 state meet, following a fifth-place finish as a sophomore.

Kristen Mayberry of Meadow Heights is coming off a freshman campaign that saw her place 20th in the Class 1 meet.

Another Class 1 runner who returns is Delta's Kevin Bartels, who finished 21st last year at the state meet.

HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRYBOYS

ADVANCE

Head coach: James Hamlin

Returning starters: Cody Roper, jr.; Cory Roper, jr.; Alex Steil, so.; Rusty Hendricks, so.

Top newcomers: Kevin Adkins, jr.; Bryan Birkman, sr.; Tyler Bowman, sr.; Bryant Hawkins, fr.; Justin Hester, jr.; Jared Lacey, so.; Robert Maddox, so.; Josh Sturgeon, jr.; Nate Middleton, fr.CENTRAL

Head coach: Mark Hahn

Assistant coach: Jason Lane

Last season: fourth at district, fifth at sectionals

Returning starters: John Kipper, jr.; Cory Huskey, sr.; Daniel Austin, jr.; Corey Main, sr.; Bryan Schott, jr.

Other top returning runners: Dale Brannock, so.; Carson Kelley, jr.DELTA

Head coach: Gordon Walton

Returning starters: Kevin Bartels, sr.; Amon Seabaugh, sr.; Aaron Kinder, jr.; Dustin Anglin, jr.; Mason Stroder, so.

Other top returning runners: A. J. Horn, so.

Top newcomers: Alex Parks, fr.KELLY

Head coach: Rachael Groner

Returning starters: Michael Glastetter, sr. (district champion; 22nd at state); Russell Carroll, jr.; Jordan Felter, jr.; Derek Brucker, jr.; Branden Ayers, jr.

Other top returning runners: Nolan Lewer, jr.; Spencer Ayers, so.NOTRE DAME

Head coach: Bill Davis

Assistant coach: Karen Roggow

Last season: second place in conference, district and state meets.

Returning starters: Matt Pfau, jr. (state qualifier, all-district); Greg Kanneberg, jr. (state qualifier, all-district); Austin Critchlow, sr. (all-district)

Other top returning runners: Cody Essner, jr.; Brian McCrate, sr.; Lance Carrol, jr.; Jonathan Ramsey, so.; Nathan Todt, sr.

Top newcomers: Steven Eftink, sr.; Richie Bohn, fr.; Neal Kanneberg, fr.; Cole Min, jr.; Brian Milbach, so.; Drew Koeppel, fr.OAK RIDGE

Head coach: Jason Niswonger

Assistant coach: Karen Mc Clellan

Last season: third in district, one spot shy of the state meet

Returning starters: Austin Morrison, sr. (qualified for state individually in 2002); Jared Schoen, sr.; Damien Lange, sr.; Kyle Schoen, jr.; Dustin Owens, so.; Caleb Schoen, so.

Other top returning runners: Tyler Williams, jr.; Walter Ruesler, so.

Top newcomers: Justin Aden, fr.SAXONY LUTHERAN

Head coach: Larry Cleair

Last season: first in district, fourth in state

Returning starters: Trey Meavers, jr.; Brandon Etzold, so.; Kory Mueller, so.; Peter Winningham, so.; Ben Meyr, Soph.; Alex Jauch, so.