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Boardman runners looking for leaders
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By GREG GULAS
The Boardman Spartans’ boys cross country squad placed second in the Suburban League and sixth in the Federal League in 2009, but head coach John Phillips, who enters his second season at the helm, hopes to improve in all areas in 2010.
“We have strong senior leadership and a strong freshman class, which will be the keys to our success this season,” he noted.
With 39 roster members, his team is deep and talented despite having to replace six seniors off of last year’s team. Lost due to graduation are Sam Deskin, Brandon Pasvanis, Zach Jenkins, Bill Jenkins, Charlie Hillman and Evan Beil.
The seven senior returnees include Eddie Adu-Poku, Alex Scott, Corey Zell, Dan Albertini, Alex Terlecky, Zach Brewer and Joe Pallone. The two juniors are Jacob Whitford and Matt Albani, while the two sophomores are Pete Stafford and Sam Sheronovich.
The key to the season might just lie in the freshman contributions made by Alan Burns, Mark Hadley and Justin Maroni, all of whom have proven in the early going that they belong on the varsity roster.
The girls squad is coached by Bruce Breunig, in his fourth stint with the program; his third as the current coach and his 22nd year overall at Boardman High.
His co-head coach is Katie Cretella and both coaches are hoping to improve on their sixth-place Federal League finish of a season ago.
They will need to replace five seniors: Kristie Stoll, Lauren Deluca, Lindsey Basile, Colleen Kratofil and Julia Beck, all key varsity contributors a season ago.
Two returning seniors are Katie Heney and Maressa Carter, while the lone junior expected to contribute is Victoria Moore.
The two sophomores are Daisy Corso and Caitlyn Emery with two freshmen, Emma Schwendeman and Trista Cunningham ready and able in the wings.
“We have only three varsity athletes returning, so our four newcomers will need to improve each time out and continue to learn along the way,” Breunig said.