Boys Cross Country previews

ALLEN EAST

Coach: Bill Vermillion

Years at school: N/A

2007: Seventh in NWC

Returning letterwinner: 1

Promising newcomer: Allen LaMaster.

Season outlook: Caleb Burkey returns as the team's lone newcomer. He and LaMaster are expected to run well, but low numbers are an obstacle.

BATH

Coach: Daniel Grime

Years at school: First

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 2

Key performers: Tyler Buckland and Ryan Schadewald.

Promising newcomers: Tommy Mault, Nick Moralez, Brandon Contres, Kyle Wilkins and Terrance Pollard.

Season outlook: First-year coach Daniel Grime is hoping to see improvement out of his young team this season. The Wildcats look to be competitive in the WBL.

BLUFFTON

Coach: Keri Hilty

Years at school: First

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 4

Key performers: Tyler Domer, Joel Groman, Matthew Herron and Jared Staley.

Promising newcomers: Zach Guagenti and David Moser.

Season outlook: Bluffton is looking for a solid season under first-year coach Hilty.

COLUMBUS GROVE

Coach: Terry Schnipke

Years at school: 3

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 6

Key performers: Devin Luginbill, Sam Carpenter and Kyle Stechschulte.

Promising newcomers: Nate Schroeder

Season outlook: The Bulldogs look to improve on 2007's performance.

DEFIANCE

Coach: Obie Mouser

Years at school: N/A

2007: 10th at state meet

Returning letterwinners: 5

Key performers: Zach Wiles (all-state in 2007), Trevin Flickinger (all-region in '07), Michael Schlatter and Mario Rameriz (all-district in '07).

Promising newcomer: Chas Burkhart

Season outlook: Defiance has a very strong nucleus returning.

ELIDA

Coach: Craig Kerns

Years at school: N/A

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 3

Key performers: Matt Schluneker

Season outlook: The Bulldogs look to build with a number of young runners.

FORT RECOVERY

Coach: Michelle Stammen

Years at school: First

2007 record: 15-110

Returning letterwinners: 4

Key performers: Zach Guggenbiller, Caleb Heitkamp, Ryan Heitkamp and Aaron Will.

Promising newcomers: Mathias Koester and Adam Pohl.

Season outlook: Fort Recovery's young team is showing promise.

INDIAN LAKE

Coach: Jesse Avila

Years at school: 3

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 2

Key performers: Neill Schwieterman and Robb Long.

Promising newcomers: Jacob Bickhan, Kendall Sullivan, Jason Bryce and Chase Szima.

Season outlook: Indian Lake is hoping its young runners can develop into a strong pack by the end of the season.

KALIDA

Coach: Scott Miller

Years at school: First

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 2

Key performer: Michael Turnwald

Promising newcomers: Ben Schroeder and Connor Schank.

Season outlook: With it being the second year for cross country at Kalida, the Wildcats look to show continual improvement throughout the season.

LIMA CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Coach: Mike Griffo

Years at school: 16

2007: Fifth at district

Returning letterwinners: 7

Key performer: Jim Heider (17th at state meet)

Promising newcomers: John Kidd and Jim Kesner.

Season outlook: With a nice combination of veterans and talented newcomers, LCC is hoping to improve this season. All-state performer Jim Heider heads the list of one of best runners in the region this fall.

LIMA SENIOR

Coach: Ralph Bennett

Years at school: 25

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 3

Key performers: Tyler Ruhlen, Zack Dickinson and Ashton Torbet.

Promising newcomer: Josh Higgonbattom

Season outlook: With seven seniors graduating, Lima Senior plans to build on its young runners in 2008.

MINSTER

Coach: Larry Topp

Years at school: 18

2007 record: 155-4; ninth at state meet

Returning letterwinners: 8

Key performers: Jack Olding, Joby Stechschulte, Alex Abbot and Tyler Richard.

Promising newcomers: Oliver Barga

Season outlook: With eight letterwinners returning, Minster wants to return to the state meet in 2008.

NEW BREMEN

Coach: Adam Topp

Years at school: 6

2007 record: 123-39; 16th at state meet

Returning letterwinners: 6

Key performers: Jeff Kramer, Kyle Knapke, Zach Speckman, Robert Franks, Kaleb Swiger and Austin Suchland.

Promising newcomers: Robbie Clark, Matt Travis, Steve Homan and Marc Rochette.

Season outlook: With six returners from last year's state team, the Cardinals should be very strong in 2008.

OTTAWA-GLANDORF

Coach: Brad Leis

Years at school: 29

2007 record: 8-4

Returning letterwinners: 11

Key performers: Tyler Verhoff (all-WBL), Ben Kreinbrink, Kris Kindle, Derrick Arrington, Bill Hughes, Jacob Karl, Nathan Weis, Brandon Heckman, Alex Selhorst, Connor Walthour and Tyler Walthour.

Promising newcomer: Wade Schimmoeller

Season outlook: With losing just one varsity runner to graduation, the Titans look to be competitive in the always tough WBL.

OTTOVILLE

Coach: Bob Kaple

Years at school: N/A

2007 record: 69-61

Returning letterwinners: 4

Key performers: Drew Bendele, Tyler Looser, Joseph Trejo and Taylor Gasser.

Promising newcomers: Brad Eickholt, Kyle Niemeyer, Tyler Turnwald, Alex Eickholt, Dustin Knippen, Brandon Miller, Seth Bendele and Jason Turnwald.

Season outlook: Ottoville looks to be even better in 2008.

PERRY

Coach: Matt Pauff

Years at school: N/A

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 3

Key performers: Brandon Cook, Brandon Reipenhoff and Cody Reipenhoff.

Season outlook: Perry hopes to show improvement in the 2008 season.

SHAWNEE

Coach: Russ Holly

Years at school: N/A

2007: Fifth in Western Buckeye League

Returning letterwinners: 3

Key performers: Taylor Haycock, Josh Vondran, Andrew Stemen

Promising newcomers: Zach Diltz, Garrett Diltz

Season outlook: With the loss of all-state performer Chase Violet, the Indians are looking to the younger runners to mature quickly.

SPENCERVILLE

Coach: Brian McMichael

Years at school: 37

2007 record: 90-35; 2nd Northwest Conference

Returning letterwinners: 6

Key perfomers: Jonathan Rex, Steve Hager, Mitch McClure, Nathan Rex and Neal Pangle.

Promising newcomers: Josh Fetzer, Eric Sharp, Taime Scheithauer and Josh Soloman.

Season outlook: Spencerville will look to its senior leadership to help guide it to another strong season.

ST. HENRY

Coach: Michael Eyink

Years at school: 21

2007 record: 135-17; 8th at state meet

Returning letterwinners: 4

Key performers: Doug Ranly, Dillan Schulze, Adam Rindler and Mitchell Schulze.

Promising newcomers: Kevin Knapke and Doug Lefeld.

Season outlook: The Redskins have four of their top five runners from last year returning.

ST. MARYS

Coach: Rob Cisco

Years at school: First

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 5

Key performers: Andrew Durkee

Promising newcomers: Tanner Zizleman

Season outlook: St. Marys looks to be much improved from last year.

VAN WERT

Coach: Mark Altstaetter

Years at school: 6

2007 record: 108-47; third at district; eighth at regional

Returning letterwinners: 5

Key performers: Jacob Bagley (state qualifier), Kenton Holliday, Brian Easley and Nick Kallas.

Promising newcomers: Luke Brubaker, Luke Strick and Nathan Simson.

Season outlook: With two runners returning (Bagley and Holliday), who both clocked sub-17 minute times last season, the Cougars are looking for another strong campaign.

WAPAKONETA

Coach: Mark Cook

Years at school: N/A

2007: Third in Western Buckeye League; third at districts

Returning letterwinners: 5

Key performers: Brady Prater, Kevin Bittinger, Dylon Webb, Cale Table and Zalin Hendrickson.

Promising newcomers: Caleb Hennon and Ryan Kremer.

Season outlook: The Redskins have a strong core of runners and are hoping to compete for the WBL crown.