Girls Cross Country Capsules

ALLEN EAST

Coach: Bill Vermillion

Years at school: N/A

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinner: 1

Season outlook: Cortney Rommel, a sophomore, is the team's lone runner, which means she'll have to be tough both mentally and physically. Coach Vermillion said improving numbers is a top priority.

BATH

Coach: Daniel Grime

Years at school: First

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 2

Key performers: Shanequa Casey and Catherine Evans.

Promising newcomers: Calie Zwiebel and Amanda McClure.

Season outlook: Bath looks to rebuild program under first-year coach Daniel Grime.

DEFIANCE

Coach: Scott Saner

Years at school: 7

2007: 1st at WBL, 1ST at district, 1st at regional, 4th at state.

Returning letterwinners: 7

Key performers: Taylor Schultz, Kelsey VanDemark and Megan Vogelsong.

Promising newcomers: Anna Meyer and Sadie Daeger.

Season outlook: Defiance looks to be another contender for a state berth in 2008.

ELIDA

Coach: Craig Kerns

Years at school: N/A

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 2

Key performers: Kelsey Bagley and Lynelle Troyer.

Promising newcomers: Brenna Hirn, Mikki Marling, Angela McVey and Brittany Moening.

FORT RECOVERY

Coach: Michelle Stammen

Years at school: First

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 5

Key performers: Casey Backs, Amber Heitkamp, Abby Huelskamp, Tina Rousner and Alexis Sutter.

Promising newcomers: Nicole Heitkamp and Kelly Nietfeld.

Season outlook: The Indians look to show improvement this fall.

INDIAN LAKE

Coach: Jesse Avila

Years at school: 3

2007 record: 105-58

Returning letterwinners: 11

Key performers: Rachel Watt, Aubrey Gardner, Emily Gardner, Taylor Norviel and Melissa Bell.

Promising newcomers: Ashley Albright and Kayla Beltz.

Season outlook: With having eight of their top runners back, Indian Lake looks to be very competitive this fall.

KALIDA

Coach: Rob Schnippel

Years at school: N/A

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: None

Promising newcomers: Amanda Giesige and Deanna Kahle.

Season outlook: Kalida heads into its second season for cross country with a great deal of optimism.

LIMA CENTRAL CATHOLIC

Coach: Mike Griffo

Years at school: 16

2007: Team was a regional qualifier

Returning letterwinners: 6

Key performers: Emily Krumel, Rachel Heider, Mary Huffman, Emily Hullinger, Emily Riepenhoff and Katie Weger.

Promising newcomers: Elizabeth Muha, Saratt Andrews, Claire Dieringer and Anna Heider.

Season outlook: With a lot of hard work, the Thunderbirds could be a contender by the end of the 2008 season.

LIMA SENIOR

Coach: Ralph Bennett

Years at school: N/A

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 7

Key performers: Trisha Karcher and Chari Mault.

Promising newcomers: Kayleigh Hire

Season outlook: Lima Senior is looking to improve on its sixth-place finish in the Greater Buckeye Conference.

NEW BREMEN

Coach: Julie Ferguson

Years at school: N/A

2007: Eighth in MAC

Returning letterwinners: 5

Key performers: LeAnn Topp, Kristine Flaute, Rita Shulze, Lauren Hobler and Alexis Niekamp.

Promising newcomers: Jill Rhoades, Elaynne Speckman, Chynna Shurelds and Kyleigh Suchland.

Season outlook: Despite being a young team, New Bremen is looking for good things in 2008.

NEW KNOXVILLE

Coach: Stephanie Boyle Fledderjohann

Years at school: N/A

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 3

Key performers: Amanda Scherer, Audrey DeLisle and Micaela Ott.

Promising newcomers: Natalie Boyle, Jackie Sewell, Emily Merges, Hannah Dildine and Taylor Arnett.

Season outlook: New Knoxville is building for the future.

OTTAWA-GLANDORF

Coach: Brad Leis

Years at school: 30

2007 record: 9-4; district runner-up

Returning letterwinners: 6

Key performers: Macy Heitmeyer and Lyndsey Barlage.

Promising newcomers: Cassie Giesken

Season outlook: With five of the top seven runners returning, O-G is looking for continued success.

OTTOVILLE

Coach: Bob Kaple

Years at school: N/A

2007 record: 92-19

Returning letterwinners: 6

Key performers: Shayla Siefker (5th at state meet), Molly Maag, Melissa Turnwald, Rachelle Bendele, Emilee Byrne and Brinna Rodriguez.

Promising newcomers: Brooke Bendele, Lori Hoersten and Kristin Schweller.

Season outlook: Ottoville looks to be very strong with six letterwinners returning.

PERRY

Coach: Matt Pauff

Years at school: N/A

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 2

Key performers: Destiny Phallen, Megan Patton and Kelci Conrad.

Promising newcomers: Keiya Saheam and Aerial Handshoe.

Season outlook: Perry is looking for improvement in 2008.

SHAWNEE

Coach: Russ Holly

Years at school: N/A

2007: Sixth in Western Buckeye League

Returning letterwinner: 1

Key performer: Andrea Glenn (state qualifier)

Promising newcomers: Emily Woolery, Veronica Wende, Monica Park and Marissa Guillen.

Season outlook: With just one returner from last season, the Indians look to rebuild.

SPENCERVILLE

Coach: Brian McMichael

Years at school: 27

2007 record: 101-14; Northwest Conference champions

Returning letterwinners: 8

Key performers: Lyndie Brown, Claire McConnell and Ashley Gilroy.

Promising newcomers: Kelly Ley, Alexa Brown and Courtney Miller.

Season outlook: The Bearcats look to be the favorites to win the NWC once again.

ST. HENRY

Coach: Michael Eyink

Years at school: 21

2007 record: 34-63

Returning letterwinners: 4

Key performers: Carmen Moorman, Kendra Delzeith, Bridget Beyke and Krysta Rinderle.

Promising newcomers: Rachel Lefeld.

Season outlook: Redskins look to improve on their 2007 performance.

ST. MARYS

Coach: Rob Cisco

Years at school: First

2007 record: N/A

Returning letterwinners: 3

Key performers: Krista Steva

Promising newcomers: Brittany Henning, Sean Barnett

Season outlook: The Roughriders look to be an improved team this season.

VAN WERT

Coach: Linda Benschneider

Years at school: 22

2007 record: 100-46

Returning letterwinners: 9

Key performers: Lauren Taylor (state qualifier), Taylor Greve, Erica Davis, Madison Riethman, Ericka Smith, Kelci Crawford

Promising newcomer: Kandace Stanski

Season outlook: With nine returners, the Cougars look to be very strong in 2008.

WAPAKONETA

Coach: Mark Cook

Years at school: N/A

2007 record: Fifth in Western Buckeye League

Returning letterwinners: 5

Key performers: Shelby Fisher, Kailey Schneider, Emily Stevely, Kaitlin Blackburn and Kaylee Fisher.

Promising newcomers: Annika Bowersock, Elizabeth Davenport, Crystal Foroney, Samantha Klaus and Paige Klopfenstein.

Season outlook: With five returning runners, the Redskins look to be competitive in the WBL.