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Cross country team to get started on Thursday
By Andy Brown, andybrown@miconews.com
John Reece helped start the cross country program at Louisburg almost 10 years ago, but later left to pursue other opportunities.
Reece is now back as a head coach to help guide his old program. Reece assisted coach Tom Kuder last season and the two decided to flip-flop roles.
The new, or old, Louisburg coach, however you want to put it, has a rebuilding project on his hands with several young runners. After losing some runners to graduation and due to loss of interest, Reece knows there will be some growing pains.
“We have a young team again this year, which is a disadvantage in the first couple of meets, but that changes quickly with experience,” Reece said. “We have a positive group of runners this year and that is a great strength for the team.”
Unlike in years past, the weather has been unseasonably cool for August. The Wildcats have held several practices with temperature barely cracking the mid-80s.
The nice weather has led to better practices and should help the Wildcats down the road.
Louisburg will be missing two key parts from its team a season ago. Maurissa Shaffer, who dominated a lot of meets early in the season, moved out of the district and state qualifier Kristina Ratterman did not come out for the team.
Despite that, Reece feels very strong about his girls squad that he has high hopes for at season’s end.
“If the season plays out, and the running gods send us to a good regional, I think the girls team has a chance to qualify for the state meet, but that remains to be seen,” Reece said.
On the boys side, according to Reece, junior Michael Cramblett made big strides in the off-season and will be one of the top male runners this season. Cramblett, who is the veteran of the group, will be joined by several freshmen.
One of those freshmen, Nick Crotts, could join Cramblett at the head of the class by the end of the year. Whether it is Crotts, Cramblett or the entire girls squad, Reece is excited for the season.
“This season will be a team effort,” Reece said. “We have a group of runners that work well together and that is how you place high both individually and as a team in meets.”
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Reece is now back as a head coach to help guide his old program. Reece assisted coach Tom Kuder last season and the two decided to flip-flop roles.
The new, or old, Louisburg coach, however you want to put it, has a rebuilding project on his hands with several young runners. After losing some runners to graduation and due to loss of interest, Reece knows there will be some growing pains.
“We have a young team again this year, which is a disadvantage in the first couple of meets, but that changes quickly with experience,” Reece said. “We have a positive group of runners this year and that is a great strength for the team.”
Unlike in years past, the weather has been unseasonably cool for August. The Wildcats have held several practices with temperature barely cracking the mid-80s.
The nice weather has led to better practices and should help the Wildcats down the road.
Louisburg will be missing two key parts from its team a season ago. Maurissa Shaffer, who dominated a lot of meets early in the season, moved out of the district and state qualifier Kristina Ratterman did not come out for the team.
Despite that, Reece feels very strong about his girls squad that he has high hopes for at season’s end.
“If the season plays out, and the running gods send us to a good regional, I think the girls team has a chance to qualify for the state meet, but that remains to be seen,” Reece said.
On the boys side, according to Reece, junior Michael Cramblett made big strides in the off-season and will be one of the top male runners this season. Cramblett, who is the veteran of the group, will be joined by several freshmen.
One of those freshmen, Nick Crotts, could join Cramblett at the head of the class by the end of the year. Whether it is Crotts, Cramblett or the entire girls squad, Reece is excited for the season.
“This season will be a team effort,” Reece said. “We have a group of runners that work well together and that is how you place high both individually and as a team in meets.”