By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
Entering the 2016 cross country season, Westosha Central faces two different scenarios, compared to last year when the boys won the Southern Lakes Conference title and Lady Falcons took second to Lake Geneva Badger.
The Falcons, who lost four of five first-team honorees to graduation, are in the midst of a rebuilding effort.
But, for the Lady Falcons, they return several juniors with experience, including WIAA Division 1 state qualifier Meghan Capra.
According to coach Keith Olsen, who enters his 32nd season, the return of Capra and fellow juniors MacKenzie Maccaux, Haley Trecker and Chelsea Lamp gives him high hopes this year.
“The girls will be more consistent and likely more competitive right from the start,” Olsen said. “We return good experience and have picked up several others who show promise and make us even stronger.”
Lady Falcons in position to contend
Along with several juniors, the Lady Falcons bring back seniors Amanda Sabourin and Julia Ziemelis from a team that finished just six points shy of catching Badger for the conference title.
Capra, also first-team all-SLC, placed third in last year’s conference meet and Maccaux took 11th for second-team all-SLC honors.
Adding to the mix is freshman Heaven Andersen, who finished second among Lady Falcons at the Sept. 3 Leighton Betz Invitational held at Greenfield Park in West Allis.
Furthermore, Capra took seventh in the meet, among 102 athletes.
The return of several juniors from last year’s team, and Andersen’s arrival, give Olsen plenty of reasons they can achieve all of their annual goals in 2016.
“I am excited about the girls team potential. Our goals for both teams are always to win County, conference and make a run at state,” Olsen said.
Boys looking to fill voids
It is not going to be easy replacing four-time WIAA Division 1 state qualifier Jacob Hebior, in addition to three other first-team all-SLC honorees from last year, but Olsen hopes the return of senior Sheel Patel and progression of newcomers can lead to program rejuvenation.
Patel, a first-team all-SLC as a junior, won the conference title with Hebior and his fellow graduates Sam Keller, Matthew Holloway and Andrew Allen last year.
This year, however, Patel joins returning letter winner Brandon Horton, who took second-team honors as a sophomore along with seniors Mason Hedrick and Trevor Silber.
“We have boys on the roster who can fill the gaps. Colten Greenhill, Matthew Pham, Brandon Horton and several newcomers to go along with the returning letterwinners of Patel, Hedrick and Silber.,” Olsen stated. “The key will be getting them to believe they can go faster than they have.”
The belief, he said, comes with time and development of confidence as the season forges ahead.
“The boys just need to begin to view themselves as varsity runners capable of running varsity times,” Olsen stated.