Cross country season is off and running.
Monroe County Region teams already have competed in some of the longest-running meets – the Milan Puddle Jumpers and the 43rd annual Frank Connolly Relays at Erie Mason.
The 56th annual New Boston Huron Invitational will be held at Willow Metropark Saturday.
For there, its full speed ahead into league seasons and state competition.
Here’s a look at the prospects for the Region teams.
AIRPORT
Coach: Mark Bovair, third year.
GIRLS
Top Runners: Seniors Brenna Baker, Madison Kemp; sophomores Ella Baker, Kendal Kleman; Freshmen Abbey Ward, Madison Agocs.
Season outlook: Brenna Baker and her sister Ella should be two of the top runners for the Jets. Ward could challenge for a top spot.
Coach’s comment: “We lost three of our top five runners from last year. A second straight league title is possible, but we’ll need contributions from this year’s freshmen class.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Senior Will Dobbertin; juniors Hayden Bovair, Hunter Rodak; sophomores Easton Danic, Everett Kessell, Jacob Kuti; freshman Andrew Bell.
Season outlook: Bovair believes his team can contend in a wide-open Huron League race if the juniors and sophomores step up.
Coach’s comment: “Dobbertin, the lone senior, qualified for the state meet last year. He’s looking to bring more teammates along this year. Danic, Bovair, and Bell are poised for big seasons. The depth in spots five through seven will determine our league title chances.”
BEDFORD
Coaches: Stephanie Wistinghausen, third year (girls); Tyler Fairchilld, second year (boys)
GIRLS
Top Runners: Seniors Aubrey Miscikowski, Grace Fredricks; juniors Iva Ravindra, Sophia Johnson; freshman Audrey Grosteffon.
Season outlook: State qualifiers Ravindra and Johnson will be surrounded by more talent this year.
Coach’s comment: “This is a young group who are in the best shape they have been the last few years. We have been really working on our mental toughness the last two years. Hoping that we see a lot more of that this year.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Senior Dane Hieronimus; juniors Cameron Varner, Maddi Duke, Logan Thomas, Jack Fulop.
Season outlook: Four of the top five runners from last year’s state-qualifying team are back.
Coach’s comment: “We have some fantastic leadership from our top runners Hieronimus, Varner, Duke and Thomas, with a great chance for some underclassmen to step up and contribute to the success of the team.”
DUNDEE
Coach: Craig Ringbloom, 11th year.
GIRLS
Top Runners: Senior Maria Lora Hernandez; juniors Lydia Richards, Gabriella Hovey; sophomore Joanna Loredo; freshmen Addison Ringbloom, Lillian Helmstadter, Isabella Rodriguez.
Season outlook: The Vikings must replace Kaylee Hovey, who was their top runner the past four years.
Coach’s comment: “We definitely lost some talent and leadership to graduation last spring, in addition to some other movement on the team, so that’ll be hard to replace. We’re definitely light on numbers this year, and we have a couple of gaps between our scorers already.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Seniors Ethan Eby, Owen Cooley, Ryan Cooley; juniors Tucker Cory, Warren Thebolt, Jaxson Arecheja, Evan Cousino; sophomore Mason Edelbrock; freshman Alex Tremonti.
Season outlook: The Vikings, who graduated just one runner from last year’s team, will be much deeper this season.
Coach’s comment: “It’s great to have the majority of the team back again this year. … We’ll be relying on a combination of their experience and work ethic to improve throughout this season. Progress from where we are today will be our main focus.”
ERIE MASON
Coach: Alison Meisner, 18th year.
GIRLS
Top Runners: Seniors Riley England, Grace Albright; juniors Tanylei Neff, Lexi Colburn, Lily Lee; sophomores Kate Otting, Jaelynn Horton.
Season outlook: Meisner believes her squad can content for the Tri-County Conference title.
Coach’s comment: “The girls are getting better every day and working to tighten the pack so they can achieve their goals. A little more depth would help, but we work with what we have.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Seniors Brayden Hincher, Jackson Carner; juniors Joseph Colaluca, David Mills, Porter Ravary; sophomore Weston Albright..
Season outlook: The Eagles have a good chance to defend their Tri-County Conference championship and qualify again for state.
Coach’s comment: “The pack is very tight right now, and we will work to close the gaps even more. If they continue to work hard and stay healthy, we’re going to have a lot of fun this fall.”
FLAT ROCK
Coach: Brandon Hill, first year.
GIRLS
Top Runners: Juniors Kayle Babowicz, Diane Percha; sophomore Hannah Perry.
Season outlook: Babowicz will be the top runner with Percha and Perry looking to build on the big jumps they made last season.
Coach’s comment: “With only three girls, things can get tough. My goal is to try and build up the girls team to have at least five and count for team scores. We have a few other girls who may come out and join us as well. The more the merrier.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Seniors Jake Stanislawski, Lucas Taraszkiewicz, Calvin Haydamacker; juniors Brendan Cotter, Evan Perry; sophomores Brayden Brodie, Graham Tanner, Owen Klein, Gene LaPouttre.
Season outlook: Stanislawski set the school record last season and qualified for state. Taraszkiewicz is a strong No. 2. The Rams need others to fill in behind those two.
Coach’s comment: “We have some top dogs in Jake and Lucas. I expect them to have great senior seasons and consistently be two of the best runners in any race they are in. The key for us is having everyone else make strides to replace the senior leadership and production from last year.”
GIBRALTAR CARLSON
Coaches: Erin Torris, first year (girls); Amy Huldeman, first year (boys).
GIRLS
Top Runners: Junior Reagan Reaume; sophomores Livia Boucher, Giada Fioritto, Harper Jackson; freshman Ada Cain.
Season outlook: Boucher and Fioritto both were state qualifiers last season.
Coach’s comment: “We should have a really solid squad this season. We have a lot of young athletes who are going to play a big role this season as well as many new ones that could really have an impact.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Juniors Evan Eaton, Collin Jaskula, Matthew Effah, Michael Reed; sophomore Jack Dunwoody; freshmen Wyatt DelValle, Lucas Pyle.
Season outlook: Hulderman steps up to the varsity after 16 years of coaching cross country at the middle school.
Coach’s comment: “We’re excited to welcome many new faces to the roster and are coming off a strong preseason. Several athletes took full advantage of our summer training program and made tremendous progress. We’re also thrilled to have some track runners joining us to give cross-country a try this year.”
IDA
Coach: Laurie Bayles, 11th year.
GIRLS
Top Runners: Senior Gabriana Garner, Kaidence Weaver; sophomore Ryleigh Rowe; freshmen Lana Benware, Brynn Lusky, Camilla Mommerency, Andie Bayles.
Season outlook: The key to the season is how well five freshmen develop.
Coach’s comment: “Coach’s comment: This will be a year of building and finding out who takes the lead and steps up. That top runner spot is up for grabs with multiple girls capable of taking it.”
BOYS
Top Runner: Senior Luke Stanley.
Season outlook: Stanley will be the leader with other runners closing the gap.
Coach’s comment: “I expect great things from Stanley and with runners returning with a more focused mindset I think our core will be more solid than it has been.”
JEFFERSON
Coach: Josh Ludwick, first year.
GIRLS
Top Runners: sophomores Claire Miller, Jessie Cole; freshmen Kinsley Wilburn, Randee Mulherin, Kaleah Donovan, Maycee Tammarine.
Season outlook: The Bears didn’t have enough runners to fill out a fill lineup last year, but have six this year with the addition of four freshmen.
Coach’s comment: “We are very young, but have been showing up and working all summer. Claire is returning state qualifier and is motivated to return.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Seniors Luke Masserant, Orion Galloway; juniors Jonah Busen, Sam Holton; sophomore Carter Lee; freshmen Maxwell Burt, Gabe Busen, Cody O’Hern, Josh Hargreaves, Mason Tulik.
Season outlook: Ludwick steps into the top spot after many seasons of assisting Phil Speare, who retired after 24 seasons. Masserant is a returning state qualifier.
Coach’s comment: “You cannot replace Phil Speare. As a coach. As a person. It’s hard to replace a legend, Phil, but I’m hoping to make him proud. I’ve worked with him for a long time so I’m sure I picked up a few things along the way.”
MILAN
Coaches: Dan Adler, third year (girls); Chad Lawver, fourth year (boys).
GIRLS
Top Runners: Seniors Amerie Wilson, Kaily McDaniel; junior Madison Lancaster.
Season outlook: Wilson was a state qualifier last season.
Coach’s comment: “There are seven girls out right now and we’re continuing to try and add more runners to the team. The team is excited to begin racing.’
BOYS
Top Runners: Seniors Dyan Penzien, Hudson Tepper; juniors Hank Bobicz, Cameron Garcia, Aiden McLean; sophomore Aiden Gagnon; freshmen Mason Martin, Andrew Kingman.
Season outlook: Martin, coming off a great middle school career, is expected to be the top runner.
Coach’s comment: “We are coming off of a great team camp. The kids have been working hard and we are ready to race.”
MONROE
Coaches: Jim Davis, first year (girls); Justin Heck, eighth year (boys).
GIRLS
Top Runners: Seniors Anna Coury, Corinna Aulph; junior Josie Mehki; sophomores Zoey Smalling, Gemma Burr, Grace McCormick; freshmen Julianna McNabb, Hannah Finley, Harper Winkelman
Season outlook: Coury was a state qualifier last year and Aulph came close. The key for the Trojans will be developing some of the younger runners. Smalling showed great improvement during track season.
Coach’s comment: “Other than our two seniors, we are relatively inexperienced coming into the season. … If everything comes together and the girls take every day as an opportunity to improve, we can be in the mix to qualify for the state meet.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Seniors Parker Bomia, Hayden Barker, Josh Riggs; junior Logan Bundon; sophomores Gavin Rohr, Victor LeBrun, Carter Sharpe.
Season outlook: Bomia was a state qualifier last season and Rohr just missed.
Coach’s comment: “We have a strong core of runners. We need to develop a little more depth.”
NEW BOSTON HURON
GIRLS
Coach: Cassandra Roupe, 10th year.
Top Runners: Seniors Avery Turk, Falyn Doss; junior Kayla Christesen; sophomores Grace Pacheco, Isa Vargo; Jennalyn Bronstein, Zoey Cheney.
Season outlook: Turk and Doss both were state qualifiers last year.
Coach’s comment: “Strong senior leadership has built a motivated, team-first culture, and this group is eager to see how high they can climb.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Seniors Luke Dulecki, Ben Holbrook, Broderick Yensch; Cameron Crane, Tanner Kuhn, Garrett Patrick; sophomore Brenton Musallam.
Season outlook: The Chiefs have a good chance to make it back to the state finals.
Coach’s comment: “This year’s group is a mix of athletes who have already tasted success and younger runners eager to make their mark.”
SMCC
Coach: Keaton Marks, second year.
GIRLS
Top Runners: Seniors Bella LaFountain, Leona Knudsen, Lauren Peppers; junior Juleigh Husby; sophomore Makayla Markgraff.
Season outlook: LaFountain made All-State for the third straight season.
Coach’s comment: “We have a great group of girls this year. Very excited for the season. We need some girls to continue working hard and close some gaps this season in races.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Senior Max Foldvary; sophomores Christian Craanen, Phineas Totten, Kenny Knudsen.
Season outlook: Craanen became the top runner for the Falcons last season as a freshman.
Coach’s comment: “We still have a primarily young team but they are strong and confident going into the season. Hoping to make a run for states this year as a team.”
SUMMERFIELD
GIRLS
Coach: Corey Shipe, fourth year.
Top Runners: Seniors Grace Raymond, Makenzie Wolfe, MaKenna Shipe; sophomores Abby Raymond, Allison Ost.
Season outlook: The core of the team that qualified for state last year returns.
Coach’s comment: “We don’t have the depth of last year’s team, but we have the talent and ability to return to team states. We will continue to improve, work hard, grow in terms of mental and physical toughness and have fun this year.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Juniors Braydon Ost, Shaun Cowen, Colin Brown, Austin Taylor; sophomore Isaac McCarty; freshmen Landon Salow, Michael Bekier.
Season outlook: The Bulldogs have four experienced runners and three who are new to cross country.
Coach’s comment: “The athletes have shown a lot of heart, mental toughness and the bulldog mentality that it takes to compete in the league.”
WHITEFORD
Coach: Jay Yockey, sixth year.
GIRLS
Top Runners: Senior Briar Wing; junior Braelynn Chiotti; sophomore Breslin Wing; freshman Molly Fojtik.
Season outlook: Sisters Briar and Breslin Wing put in a lot of training work over the summer and should lead the team.
Coach’s comment: “We graduated a lot of girls, but picked up some surprise girls this summer and I think they will add some great depth to our team.”
BOYS
Top Runners: Seniors Cooper Diesing; Camden Ellis, sophomore; freshman Grant Rasor.
Season outlook: The Bobcats are young with just one senior.
Coach’s comment: “Having a young team is a two-edged sword. One on side we should see a lot of growth and a great team if the freshman stick with it. But on the other side, we lack experience. But it will be fun to watch these young men grow into athletes.”
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: What does 2025 season have in store for Region cross country teams?
Reporting by Niles Kruger, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
