Underclassmen growing up

The 2009 scholastic cross country season was effectively the year of the underclassman in this area.

Mount Carmel junior Chris Monahan and sophomore Mikael Hause finished 14 and 15, respectively, at the District Four AA championships and 52nd and 67th, respectively, at the PIAA Class AA state championships.

North Schuylkill freshman Brendan Shearn was even better. He finished second at the District 11 AA championships, then overcame a stumble at the state meet to finish 43rd.

Then there were the North Schuylkill girls, who won the Schuylkill League Division I and overall championships, going undefeated, with four underclassmen finishing in the top 13 at the league championships and three in the top 30 at the district meet. Caitlin Deeter was a state qualifier, and Kayla Bolinsky, Diane Lindenmuth and Shelby Weikel were also part of that nucleus.

North Schuylkill coach George Kriesher said Shearn has worked hard during the summer and looks very strong in the early going.

"Physically, he did a lot of running. He put a lot of miles on over the summer. He might have raced one or two times," Kriesher said.

Kreisher said he talked with Shearn about perhaps building his upper body a little with weights, but for now, the sophomore is basically running.

"Brendan is not going to be one of those guys like (former Tamaqua star) Isaac Dunkleberger, a big strong guy with big arms. He's more of a typical, pure distance runner. But he's very strongh right now," Kriesher said.

Monahan and Hause give Mount Carmel as potent a one-two punch as any team in the area has, and if the Red Tornadoes can get consistent performances from their third through fifth runners, they could be very strong as a team.

"We will be leaning hard on our two state championship returnees and will need equal help from the new runners," said second-year coach Ben McConnell.

Shamokin and Southern Columbia's boys teams are both down in numbers, but both have some experienced runners which should make them competitive.

North Schuylkill's girls are odds-on favorites to repeat as Schuylkill League Division I champs, but Kriesher said the Spartans have not been sharp in the early season and expects a tough fight from a veteran Tamaqua team.

"We're not where we should be yet," Kriesher said. "Kayla Bolinsky has a strained calf. I think it's early yet but it's nice group. But we also lost seven seniors including Meg O'Keefe, and Jordan Zelchoski, who were very good runners."

The other area girls teams are all fairly low in numbers, though each team has some good veterans. Rachel Fletcher should lead Mount Carmel, Hannah Martin and Anna Summers are experienced runners for Shamokin, and Natalie Beishline and Katie Dunkelberger should lead Southern Columbia.

MOUNT CARMEL

League: Heartland Conference Division II

Head coach: Ben McConnell, 2nd year

Coaching staff: Kerri Spears

Roster: BOYS - Chris Monahan, sr.; Dylan Lawerence, sr.; Alec Zsido, jr,; Mikael Hause, jr.; Aaron McFee, jr.; Marcus Pitcavage, jr.; Johnny Mazurkevich, jr.; Mick Saukaitus, jr.; Jeremy Schmoyer, jr.; Justin Skavery, soph.; Richy Coffman, Nick Troutman, so; Cory Hoffman, fr.; Zach Thomas, fr.

GIRLS - Rachel Fletcher, sr.; Kelsey Kraynak, sr.; Alyssa Buggy, jr.; Cathy Fletcher, so.; Lauren Hause, fr.

Coach's outlook: "The boys team added about 10 new runners and has potential to move up in the PHAC standings this year. We will be leaning hard on our two state championship returnees (Monahan and Hause) and will need equal help from the new runners.

"For the girls team we are returning Rachel Fletcher, who finished the second half of her season very strong last year. The girls team is low in numbers so each runner has a big role they need to fill each race. New to the team this year is freshman Lauren Hause, sister of Mikael Hause, who showed real potential as a junior high runnner.

"The conference is going to be tough as usual, Danville always reloads and each team in the conference has their own studs who can challenge you in any race."

NORTH SCHUYLKILL

League: Schuylkill League Division I

Head coach: George Kriesher

Coaching staff: Fran O'Keefe, Michelle Misiewicz

Record last season: Girls 12-0, Schuylkill League Division I and overall champion; Boys 7-4, 2-4

Roster: BOYS - Jake Wallace, sr.; Shawn Zak, sr.; Brendan Shearn, so.; Evan Brouse, fr.; Brett Ennis, fr.; Will Halko, fr.; Auston Hummel, fr.; Devin Mashack, fr.; Alex Weisbeck, fr.

GIRLS - Carrie Boyer, sr.; Erica Ferraiolo, sr.; Kaitlyn McSurdy, sr.; Laura Misiewicz, sr.; Maria Spotts, jr.; Shelby Weikel, sr.; Mary Wofford, sr.; Caitlyn Deeter, jr.; Diane Lindenmuth, jr.; Brittany Martin, jr.; Lauren Evanousky, jr.; Kayla Bolinsky, so.; Alison Cantwell, so.; Brooke Ennis, so.; Tara Pennypacker, so.; Morgan Reinoehl, so.; Kristine Schreck, so.; Blaire Thomas, so.; Ryan Evanousky, fr.; Rebecca Kane, fr.; Darian Pace, fr.; Liz Peleschak, fr.; Kyra Simmons, fr.; Emily Tobin, fr.; Abby Warner, fr.; Vanessa Zimmerman, fr.

Coach's outlook: "With the loss of seven seniors the Spartans will look to their younger runners to help lead the team in a very tough Division I. The boys have only two returning runners but a good group of young runners should help the Spartans get their wins."

SHAMOKIN

League: Pennsylvania Heartland Conference Division II

Head coach: Rob Cowder, 4th year

Coaching staff: Joelle Reed

Roster: BOYS - Derek Brokenshire, sr.; Alex Startzel, sr.; Eric Shultz, sr.; David Dorsett, jr.; Scott Bradley, jr.; Michael Roadarmel, so.

GIRLS - Devin Conrad, sr.; Hannah Martin, sr.; Anna Summers, jr.; Chelsea Moroskie, so.

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA

League: Heartland Conference Division II

Head coach: Kevin Jones, 26th year

Coaching staff: Lanny Conner, Paul Wojtovich, Kristen Wasilewski

Record last season (league and overall): Boys 12-7, girls 7-12.

Roster: BOYS - *James Ridner, sr.; *Alex Sassani, sr.; John Albert, jr.; *Karl Myhre, so.; *Andrew Sassani, so.; Alec Tobaygo, so.; Brett Sheppard, fr.; Andrew Steely, fr.

GIRLS - Molly Carl, sr.; Katy Lazarski, sr.; *Natalie Beishline, jr.; Abriel Newton, jr.; *Katie Dunkelberger, so.

Coach's outlook: "We're a young team. We hope to improve during the season. Many people graduated last year."