H.S. BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY / 2017 PREVIEW
ECC Division I East Lyme Coach: Sam Harfenist (10th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Ryan McCauley, Jr. Sam Whittaker, Jr. Noah Barnhart, So. Chris Abbey.
Outlook: The Vikings return their top four runners from a team that finished fourth in the ECC meet and seventh in the Class MM meet, led by Whittaker's 10th-place finish. A young group of freshmen and sophomores will be fighting for the other varsity spots and provide the depth needed for another competitive conference and state meet season. Fitch
Coach: Rich Kosta (5th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Tom Readett, Jr. Ryan Poe, Jr. Ian Poe, Jr. Dan Gaiewski, Sr. Jacob Jankowski, Sr. Tanner LeClair, Sr. Mitch Shapiro-Albert.
Top newcomers: Jr. Austin Robertson, Fr. Simon Chidley, Fr. Jake McCarty.
Outlook: One team primed to end NFA's dominance in Division I and the ECC is Fitch, which returns four of its top five runners. Readett, who placed fifth in the ECC meet and seventh in the Class L state meet, leads the way with the Poe twins and Gaiewski close behind. Developing depth beyond those four will be key in a highly competitive division. Ledyard
Coach: Bill Billing (5th year) Key returnees: Sr. Zak King, Sr. Jacob Money, So. Juan Garcia, Jr. Domenic Murray.
Top newcomers: Jr. Tyson Chrzanowski, Fr. Nicholas Smith.
Outlook: The Colonels graduated two of their top four runners, but return two of the ECC's top runners in King and Money. King was the ECC runner-up, while Money placed 10th as Ledyard finished third overall in the conference meet and King went on to place fifth in the Class M state meet. "As our following pack of returning varsity runners and promising newcomers continue to work hard and improve," Billing said, "we hope to compete well with the other teams in Division I." Norwich Free Academy
Coach: Chad Johnson (12th year) Key returnee: Jr. Christian Dubreuil.
Top newcomers: So. Reno Sebastian, Sr. Ryan Kornacki, Jr. Aidan Gallagher, So. Digby Ludlowe, Jr. Evan Carney, Jr. Danny Chong Cuy, Sr. Chris Weir.
Outlook: The Wildcats graduated their top six runners from a team that didn't lose an ECC meet during their entire four-year careers, led by ECC champion Brandon Mehlinger. "The returnees have large shoes to fill if they want to keep the 54-meet winning streak going," said Johnson, whose Wildcats were one of two ECC teams (Class M champion Lyman Memorial was the other) to qualify for the State Open. ECC Division II Montville Coach: Steve LaBranche (2nd year) Key returnees: Jr. Jayden Colon, So. Sean Ventresca, So. Nathan Bedingfield. Top newcomers: Sr. Noah Caskey, So. Chase Swindburne, So. Adam Pomerenke, Fr. Jack Marquand.
Outlook: The Indians return their top two runners in Colon and Ventresca, so there's room for optimism. Caskey, an all-state wrestler running cross country for the first time, is pushing those two with a number of newcomers battling for varsity spots. LaBranche expects Montville to be competitive within the division. Stonington
Coach: Jenna Ross (9th year) Key returnees: So. Mark Costanzo, Jr. Kyle Remmert, So. Filip Aubrecht, So. Daniel Robinson, Jr. Andrew Connelly, Jr. Keegan Reck.
Top newcomers: Fr. Cole Spathakis, Fr. Aiden Turner, Fr. A.J. Murko.
Outlook: Building on a young team from a year ago, the Bears are looking to improve their record within the conference and their standing in the postseason. Ross' team returns five of its top seven runners. Waterford
Coach: Chris Gamble (11th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Joe Carano, Jr. Sam Lenes, Jr. Derrick Agsalud, Jr. Eric Zane, So. Liam McCarthy.
Outlook: Carano, a returning Division II all-star, returns to lead a promising group of runners that finished 10th in a competitive ECC meet last year. Gamble welcomes back five letterwinners, but is really excited by his freshman and sophomore newcomers, who have a chance to join the varsity ranks. ECC Division III St. Bernard Coach: Bill Schwarzenbach (2nd year)
Key returnees: Sr. Graham McCauley, Jr. Sam Davis, Jr. Robbie Justice, So. Sean Power, Sr. Henry Cox.
Top newcomers: Fr. Jack Zachem, Jr. James Light, So. James Babinski.
Outlook: The Saints return a quality cast of runners led by Davis, a potential Top 10 finisher in the ECC meet. McCauley and Power have also made great strides this preseason and Zachem should make an immediate impact. Schwarzenbach expects St. Bernard to be a factor in the Division III race. Wheeler
Coach: Marc Tardiff (16th season) Key returnees: Sr. Ethan Wiggins, Sr. Ethan Smith, Jr. Bryce Rech, Sr. Shawn Kinard, Sr. Jack Kinard, Sr. Cal Vrabel, Sr. Gabe Stark, So. Michael Carroll.
Top newcomer: Sr. Teddy Nosiku. Outlook: Tardiff expects the Lions to challenge reigning champion Lyman Memorial for division honors. He returns a strong senior class, but his top two runners are newcomer Nosiku and sophomore Carroll. Nosiku is an exchange student from Zambia who has impressed Tardiff with his form and work ethic. Others Norwich Tech Coach: Adam Lachendro (9th year)
Key returnees: Sr. Cody Kersteter, Sr. Evan Wagner, Sr. Kyle Hack, Jr. Nate Turner, So. Victor Kachur.
Outlook: The Warriors have a new home — the Connecticut Technical Conference — but will see plenty of old faces in their division. Lachendro is fortunate to rely on his three seniors and is excited to see the improvement in Turner and Kachur. With steady improvement, Norwich Tech hopes to make a good run at the CTC Championship. Old Lyme
Coach: Bill Rayder (43rd year) Key returnees: Jr. Casey Blue, Jr. Nick Myers, So. Trevor Wells, Jr. Nic Roth. Top newcomers: So. Will Barrett, Jr. Alex Williams.
Outlook: The Wildcats expect to be competitive in the always tough Shoreline Conference and improve upon their 10th-place finish in last year's Class SS state meet. Myers is the top returning runner for Old Lyme, which must overcome the loss of Corey Knepshield, who graduated. Williams School Coach: Gregory Bowman (4th year) Key returnees: Sr. William Jarrett, Sr. Colin Madaus. Top newcomers: Fr. Hartmut Doerwaldt. Outlook: Jarrett, a two-time All-New England prep pick, is back for his final season along with Madaus, a four-year varsity perfomer, so the Blues, who lost only one varsity runner, expect to be strong at the conference and regional level this fall.