With a spot near the top of most pundits? lists, Lake Orion’s boys cross country squad is seemingly on the threshold of something big.
‘I think we are ranked a little high as far as some of that stuff goes,? Ford said. ‘We have to prove it.?
The team that will try to ‘prove it? will look a lot like last year’s state qualifying squad.
‘We lost Max Hock and that was it out of our top five from last year,? Ford said, noting that top runner Ryan Ziolko returns.
‘Ryan is a racer,? Ford said. ‘He’s good in practice, but his talent comes out in a race.?
In spite of the return of an All-Stater and the presence of several upper classmen, the coach said the success of his team might hinder on the growth of rising sophomores Nathan Ziolko and Sean Bone.
‘There’s usually a big jump in a runner from freshmen to sophomore year,? Ford said. ‘We start seeing more consistency. They know how to train now.?
‘If we are better it’s because we’ll be more consistent,? he added.
The team was led by Nathan Ziolko (sixth place) in their first place showing at last week’s Adams Invitational. Kyle Lawton and Ryan Ziolko (seventh and eighth, respectively) were not far behind.
‘Ryan Ziolko is our All-State returning guy and he looks good,? Ford said. ‘Kyle Lawton, one of our captains, has had a good summer of running and looks good in practice. Doug (Mack) has had a really nice summer too and right now it’s hard to differentiate between those top three.?
‘Ian and Zach Prochaska have looked good,? Ford added of his probable sixth and seventh runners.
Aside from Lawton, all of Ford’s starters figure to be sophomores and juniors, but the coach said the time is now for his team to strike.
‘One of our goals is to take advantage of what we have now,? he said.
In OAA I competition, the Dragons would like to avenge the sour tastes left in their mouth from the track season.
‘Rochester beat us up on the track in distance and Adams hurt us too,? Ford said. ‘So our kids have something to prove.?
‘It’s going to be a tight league,? he added.
His team will likely also be in contention at states, but Ford doesn’t want to look too far ahead. ‘We just have to take care of ourselves,? he said.
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Coach Debi McDonald (formerly Sherman) said her girls? squad also has a good shot at a run to states this season.
‘From regionals last year, we didn’t lose any varsity runners,? she noted.
All-State runner Allie Hock returns for her senior season and is joined by Dana Prainito, and Jessica and Katie Dorse as captains this fall.
‘She’s looking very good and she’s very motivated to have the team perform well,? McDonald said of Hock. ‘She doesn’t talk about her personal goals, she talks about team goals.?
For a strong team season, McDonald said Hock will need the support from a variety of runners, including junior Samantha Kaufman and sophomore Sydney Gutierrez.
‘Sydney just missed qualifying for states by three spots,? McDonald noted. ‘She was 18th at regionals, and then she had a great track season.?
After her top three, McDonald said she’ll likely look to some freshmen, including Lisa Bandico.
‘Lisa fits right in there with Sydney and Sammy,? McDonald said. ‘She’s been training right up there in the top four.?
Freshmen Kelsey Lee and Amy Wells could contribute as freshmen, too.
‘There are days when they’re all right there,? McDonald said.
‘I do think it’s going to be my strongest squad yet,? the coach added. ‘I think this group could qualify for states.?
Several teams in the OAA I have similar expectations.
‘With our league as tough as it is, I’ve stressed running as a team with all seven girls together,? McDonald said.
She added that no matter how the team fares in league action, a trip to states remains the overarching goal.
‘It might show that we’re fifth or sixth in a jamboree, but we’d compete with any team in a dual format,? McDonald said.