Southeast Missourian high school cross country teams at a glance

BOYS

Advance Hornets

Coach: Terry Bryeans

Returning athletes: Creighton Miles, jr.; Jared Owens, jr.; Cade Long, so.; Gage Bien, fr.; Logan Becker, fr.

Key athletes lost from last season: Richie Nixon

Coach's outlook: They're very competitive, yet they realize that they're running for more than just themselves. They're competing as a team and they push each other and themselves to go further than what they thought their limits were. That's what they expect of each other.

Team goals: They all, of course, want to qualify for state and they have certain goals when it comes to running certain distances such as the mile and 5K. For the most part, our team goals are to continue the tradition of competitive cross country here at Advance and to grow into more experienced and seasoned runners while always improving our times, our attitudes and our knowledge of the sport.

Central Tigers

Coach: Mark Hahn

Assistant Coach: Collin Sheridan

Returning athletes: Caleb Ambler, jr.; Dallas Buchanan, so.; Riley Duncan, sr.; Gavin Green, so.; Clayton Monia, jr.; Josh Morrison, sr.; Matt Stearns, jr.; Logan Wright, jr.

Key athletes lost from last season: Dalton Buchanan, Vikas Rudrappa

Coach's outlook: Good kids, enthusiastic work ethic.

Team goals: Have fun and get better.

Jackson Indians

Coach: Andrea Talley

Assistant Coach: Jimmy Stoverink

Returning athletes: Jack Jeffers, sr.; Caleb Bess, jr.; Will Allen, sr.; Jackson Givens, jr.; Whitten Stoverink, sr.

Key athletes lost from last season: Gabe Underwood, Matt Gibson, Calvin Lysell

Coach's outlook: We are a young team. Most of this year's varsity were on JV last year. Senior leadership is what I like best about the team. The seniors are promoting team unity and positive improvements. Also, for the first time, Jack Jeffers has been able to run over the summer preseason. Great attitudes and work ethic.

Team goals: Close the gaps (between Jack and the rest of the varsity runners), run a solid conference meet (it was our worst team effort last year) and place in the top four at the district meet (we were second last year).

Notre Dame Bulldogs

Coach: Bill Davis

Assistant Coach: Chris Gullette

Returning athletes: Rudy McClellan, so.; Brock Kasten, sr.; Michael Peters, sr.; Tyler Pech, sr.; William Keene, jr.

Key athletes lost from last season: Jacob Meadors, Michael Nelson, Cole Schreiner, Brian Hayden

Coach's outlook: We have worked hard through the summer. The varsity will be young but has the talent to excel. We will count on our leadership from the upperclassmen.

Team goals: As always, to be conference champions, finish as one of the top two teams at districts and qualify for state as a team.

Oak Ridge Blue Jays

Coach: Kristi Seyer

Assistant Coach: Tammy Hunt

Returning athletes: Nathan Bolin, jr.; Tyee Curry, so.; Trevor Dillard, jr.; Jeff Erwin, sr.; Jordan Gilliland, jr.; Jacob Harvell, jr.; Steven Masterson, so.; Zachary Moore, jr.; Jacob Seabaugh, sr.; Jarrett Seabaugh, so.

Key athletes lost from last season: Jake LeGrand

Coach's outlook: This is a very hard working group of men. They are showing great effort so far this season.

Team goals: Our ultimate goal is to take a full team to the state meet. We have been doing some new training to make ourselves strong enough to meet this goal.

Scott City Rams

Coach: Travis Schiwitiz

Assistant Coach: Derek Goodin

Returning athletes: Jesse Perry, sr.; Tyler Rhyne, jr.; Jacob Harris, so.; Joe Parker, fr.; Chris Phillips, fr.; Isaac Pennington, fr.; Quentin Lacey, fr.

Coach's outlook: So far our numbers are up from last year and we're getting more competition in practice.

Team goals: Our goals this year are to compete and improve every day and take our team back to the state meet.

St. Vincent Indians

Coach: Terry W. Hood

Assistant Coach: Emily Steele

Returning athletes: John Lipe, sr.; Zach Schumer, sr.; Isaac Baer, jr.; Levi Krauss, jr.

Coach's outlook: In my guys squad, I have seen a commitment to succeed that has been unparalleled as they fight to return to state and work to attain a podium position.

Team goals: Repeat the win at districts and place in the top four at the state meet.

Woodland Cardinals

Coach: Ryan Layton

Returning athletes: Garret Reynolds, sr.; Kyle Davis, sr.; Evan Grindstaff, sr.; Cole Schlief, jr.; Landon Thomsen, so.; Logan Thomsen, so.

Key athletes lost from last season: Cortland Vawter and J.J. Champagne

Coach's outlook: This team has high expectations for themselves as individuals and for the team as well. They are working hard in order to make sure those expectations become reality. Several of the kids put in quite a few miles on their own this summer.

Team goals: Last year, the boys team was just seven points away from going to the Class 2 state championship meet. This year, we want to not only be there but also to have a good showing once we get there. The boys would also like to defend their title as the SEMO Small Schools Conference champions.

Zalma Bulldogs

Coach: Faith Bailey

Returning athletes: Alex Steinberg, Jacob Steinberg, Peyton Ford, Wyatt Lemons, Luke Robertson, Charles Freeman

Coach's outlook: Attitude and determination are what I like best about the team.

Team goals: Show improvement individually and as a team.

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GIRLS

Advance Hornets

Coach: Terry Bryeans

Returning athletes: Daisy Burnett, so.; Natalee Lorch, fr.

Coach's outlook: They're very competitive, yet they realize that they're running for more than just themselves. They're competing as a team and they push each other and themselves to go further than what they thought their limits were. That's what they expect of each other.

Team goals: They all, of course, want to qualify for state and they have certain goals when it comes to running certain distances such as the mile and 5K. For the most part, our team goals are to continue the tradition of competitive cross country here at Advance and to grow into more experienced and seasoned runners while always improving our times, our attitudes and our knowledge of the sport.

Central Tigers

Coach: Mark Hahn

Assistant Coach: Collin Sheridan

Returning athletes: Madeleine McDonald, sr.; Ziona Mehalopoulis, jr.; Bridgett Trepasso, sr.; Elizabeth Ustinov, so.; Haley White, sr.

Key athletes lost from last season: Aleksandra Aleksandrova

Coach's outlook: Good kids, enthusiastic work ethic..

Team goals: Have fun and get better.

Chaffee Red Devils

Coach: Travis Calkins

Assistant Coach: Darrin Bickel

Returning athletes: Shayna Seyer, jr.; Hannah Glueck, so.

Newcomers: Victoria Blue, sr.; Lyndsey Statler, sr.; Katie Glueck, fr.; Alyssa Lunsford, fr.; Emily Howard, fr.

Key athletes lost from last season: Holly Rutherford

Coach's outlook: Good attitude and good effort.

Team goals: Have fun, earn all-district and all-conference honors and send runners to state.

Jackson Indians

Coach: Andrea Talley

Assistant Coach: Jimmy Stoverink

Returning athletes: Chelsea Drum, jr.; Carli Knott, jr.; Tayler Winick, sr.; Ana Compton, so.; Courtney Hahs, so.; Leah Hecht, jr.; Carlee Williamson, jr.; Mollie Cunningham, sr.; Morgan Asendorf, sr.; Shelby Starzinger, sr.; Megan Barnum, so.; Becca LaPlant, jr.

Coach's outlook: Senior leadership and focusing on team unity are what I like best about the team. Some of the varsity girls ran more miles this summer.

Team goals: Close the gaps between the top seven scorers, repeat as conference champions (junior varsity and varsity), win our district meet and place in the top four at sectionals to qualify for state.

Notre Dame Bulldogs

Coach: Bill Davis

Assistant Coach: Chris Gullette

Returning athletes: Adilyn Mueller, sr.; Katie Hanners, so.; Jordan Meadors, jr.; Taylor Janota, sr.; Allie Pujol, so.

Key athletes lost from last season: Maddie Baumgart, Elsie Anderson

Coach's outlook: We have the "potential" to be one of, if not the, best squads in Notre Dame cross country history with a great mix of talent and ages. How hard we work and healthy we stay can dictate our success this season.

Team goals: As always, to be conference champions, finish as one of the top two teams at districts and qualify for state as a team.

Oak Ridge Blue Jays

Coach: Kristi Seyer

Assistant Coach: Tammy Hunt

Returning athletes: Abby Matthews, jr.; Beth Mize, so.; Madison Rice, jr.; Maci Jo Schamburg, so.; Chelsea Seyer, sr.; Kaitlyn Shallow, jr.

Key athletes lost from last season: McKenzie Elam, Kendra Kohler

Coach's outlook: This group of girls is giving 100 percent every day. We are working very hard and they are running strong. We have up and coming freshmen: Jordan Layton, Amanda Meyer, Kayla Simon, Alexis Johnson.

Team goals: As with the boys, our ultimate goal is to take a full team to the state meet. We are working to improve our strength and endurance.

Scott City Rams

Coach: Travis Schiwitz

Assistant Coach: Derek Goodin

Returning athletes: Hannah Shemonia, jr.; Bella Bowers, jr.; Anna Kern, sr.; Bailee Lathum, fr.; Kali Roberts, fr.; Lyndsie Robert, sr.

Coach's outlook: Our numbers are up compared to last year.

Team goals: We hope to keep everybody out and we want to try to make it to state as a team.

St. Vincent Indians

Coach: Terry W. Hood

Assistant Coach: Emily Steele

Returning athletes: Courtney Brown, sr.; Shelby Schumer, so.

Coach's outlook: My girls team has more than doubled from last year. We now have eight girls competing. It is going to be a very great year for our teams.

Team goals: Place at districts and make a trip to the state meet.

Woodland Cardinals

Coach: Ryan Layton

Returning athletes: Bailey Jones, sr.; Chandra Lincoln, sr.; Aiyana Storie, jr.; Cheyenne Wells, so.

Key athletes lost from last season: Kathlyn Cooper, Taylor Toombs, Valerie Lewis, Rachel Eckstam

Coach's outlook: Strong leadership and the new members of the team are being very willing to try to do things our leaders do.

Team goals: We have a lot of new faces on the girls team this year and it is hard to know exactly what to expect from them. We do think that we have a strong enough group of returning team members and a talented enough group of newcomers to be competitive for the SEMO Small Schools Conference championship.