The Rock Island High School girls' cross-country team dove into 2016 looking to defend its Western Big 6 Conference title.
To do that, the Rocks will have to overcome some inexperience, as only one senior is on the roster.
However, the key runner back from last season is sophomore Dulce Perez, who qualified for the state meet. Other returning letter winners are senior Charlieana Salzmann, junior Alexia Robinson, and sophomores Breanna Homan, Amber Haskill and Kayla Canning.
Top newcomers are juniors Jade Ford and Lilly Johnson, sophomore Amy Haskill, and freshmen Jayla Hathorn, Francheska Owens, Teaylor Gygi, Elena Vallejo and Aaliyah Smith.
“(We) should be very competitive with good depth,” coach Tony VanDeWalle said in an email interview.
Rocks boys' coach Joe Lopez said that this year's team is “pretty small,” with veteran experience at the top of the lineup and some talented freshmen, but not much experience in the middle.
Two 2015 letter winners are back: senior Terrell Robinson, who finished 10th at this season's Western Big 6 Conference preview meet Aug. 24 in Moline, and junior Jalil Gay.
“I hope our top two guys can get the squad to buy into what we are trying to do,” Lopez said in an email interview. “As a team, we will have to outwork our competition and see if we can become more competitive by conference time.”
UNITED TOWNSHIP
Three letter winners from last season return for the girls' team: seniors Mary Hart and Aridania Gerardo, and junior Ricar Mends. Top newcomers are junior Marianna Bautista, sophomore Alicia Lopez and freshman Brinley Rodgers.
UTHS was sixth in the Western Big 6 Conference last season and ninth at the regional meet.
“The ultimate team goal is to qualify for the sectional meet this fall,” coach Damon Bautista said in an email interview. “It will take a huge commitment and improvement, but if we work hard enough in the beginning and middle of the season then we can reap rewards in the postseason.”
The boys' team has five returning letter winners in seniors Devin Dobbels, Nathan Scherschel, Sawyer Swearingen and Trevor Viren, and junior Dalton Martin.
Coach Chris Wallaert said in an email interview that Martin qualified for the state meet last season and was the 3,200-meter sectional champion.
Seniors Devin Dobbels and Jacob Varble, and freshman James Wright are in the mix to round out the varsity's top seven runners.
ERIE-PROPHETSTOWN
Returning letter winners on the girls' team are juniors Mackenzie Clary, Michelle Cooney and Stephanie Sandrock, and sophomore Lauren Sibley.
Sophomore Ben DeNeve and junior Chris Bonnell are returning letter winners on the boys' team.
The teams participated in the Rocket Run on Aug. 23 in Rock Falls, with the boys' team placing fifth and the girls' squad placing sixth.
ALLEMAN
Coach Scott Stoll has a lot of experience to work with in the program this season.
Augie Darrow, Spencer Smith, Ben Weaver, Connor Sheley and Brendan Hird are returning letter winners on the boys' team.
Addie Pulley, Reagan Bush, Anna Darrow, Emma Beardsley, Kaytlyn Golding, Annalise Connolly and Jazmine Sierra are the girls' team's 2015 letter winners back this year.
On Aug. 25, the boys finished first and the girls second in the Moline Invite.
STERLING
Senior Jonathan Landis and junior Jake Gebhardt bring state-meet seasoning into this season. Landis finished 20th at the state meet, while Gebhardt was 59th.
Other returning letter winners are sophomores Mikio Martinez and Isaiah Moorman. Senior Bryce Tessmann rounds out the top five for Sterling.
NEWMAN
Top returners are Chris Ahlers for the boys' team and Teagan McKenna for the girls' team.
Coach Pat Warkins said in an email interview that he expects to have a good season, as the top seven girls from last year and six of the top seven boys from 2015 are back. The teams have already had good results, with the boys taking second and the girls third at the Rocket Run on Aug. 23 in Rock Falls.
Note: Not all teams returned information requests before press time.
Alerts Sign-up