Great Northern League In For Challenging Year

Cross country

The wait for a Great Northern League cross country meet is nothing compared to the wait to see how many teams will qualify for state.

The number of AA schools statewide competing in the sport will determine whether the eight-team GNL gets one team berth or more.

Riverside rejoined the Greater Northern League in anticipation after two years in the Frontier where Bill Kemp had state caliber teams but limited opportunity to qualify.

“For us, whether we were in the Frontier League or Great Northern didn’t make a difference,” said Kemp. “The only handicap was the low allocations for state. I thought we’d avoid that (in the GNL), but it looks like we’re right back in a situation where state quality athletes don’t go.”

Last year, Lakeside did qualify for state, but as the league’s number two team. Coach Matt Sullivan is concerned about what could happen.

“The thing that bothers me is that if 47 teams have cross country, it’s an eight-team state meet. But if there are 48, it’s 16 teams,” he said. “Any time a league has eight teams, I think they deserve two berths.”

Lakeside’s boys and Riverside’s girls are experienced and talented. But the league, as always, will be a challenge.

The first league meet is Sept. 30.

Entire Lakeside team returns

The entire boys team from last year’s state eighth-place finishers are back.

Senior Mike Witt (20th) and junior Perry Welch (25th) lead the way, joined by senior Derek Smith, junior Trevor Blackwell, sophomore Shawn Close, junior Trevor Smith, and junior Brett Larson.

Letter-winning juniors Andrew Gruver and Todd Kinney, newcomer sophomore Jared Stanton and freshman Adam Trefry show promise.

“I think we’re real strong,” said Sullivan. “I don’t know if we’re as good as Chewelah was last year, but we can be in that same class.”

Two runners from the girls team have graduated and are running in college. Four others are back, including seniors Connie Williams, Lauren Otterbein, juniors Korrie Nightingale, and Kari Minor.

Sophomore Lisa Erickson and freshmen Kendra Colyar and Kari Welch step in.

Others are junior Robyn Baugh and freshmen Erin McKinnie and Stacie Heidt.

“We have three good ‘number twos’ and maybe that’ll be good enough in a lot of meets,” said Sullivan. “We could be strong depending upon our number four and five runners.”

Riverside girls look strong

Riverside had a good girls cross country team last year, but ran in a league with three-time state champion East Valley.

Most of the Rams are back and will be expected to challenge last year’s NEA runnerup Newport.

“Newport returns basically the whole team that was sixth in state. Make them the favorite right now,” said Kemp.

But the way his girls ran at their Bear Lake course intrasquad meet, he added, was encouraging.

Returnees include senior state track veterans Abbey Wood and Christy Mease, junior number one runner Nora Zaprzalka, sophomore Mikayla Gable, Chanel Teichert, Kelli Keiper, Becca Hassler, Hayley Wood, senior Angela Hare and freshman Patty Tallent.

Riverside’s boys were ranked number one in state in the pre-season but Kemp says that’s deceiving.

“We’re rebuilding with freshman and sophomores,” said Kemp. “They (state coaches) think I lie a lot.”

Third-year runner Bill Warner leads the team. Dan Bundrock is the other varsity vet.

Newcomers include sophomores Andy Lamarche, Wink Hodgson, Justin Kappel, James Taylor, juniors Travis Bundrock, Kasey Ross, senior Ben Bowers and freshman Chris Phipps.

“For some of these guys it’s the first time they’ve run three miles. The next couple of weeks we’ll have a better idea where we’ll be,” said Kemp. “For the girls program that deserved to go to state, it’s neat to get out of the shadow of EV.”

Deer Park continues building

Deer Park coach Cheryl Yoke continues to scour the school for distance runners.

“The boys are all real young and inexperienced,” she said. “I’m really scraping to get five girls out.”

New runners are leading the way, including senior Matthew Vensel and junior Tony Nazzal. Sophomores Casey Jennings, Christian Nazzal and freshman Ben Bray are probable top five.

Back from last year are junior Mike Wiley, sophomores Jonathan Patterson, Chad Welch. New is freshman Steven Day.

Girls runners are seniors Lisa Rooney, Joanna Peasley and possibly Jennifer O’Brien, freshmen Christine Hubbard, April O’Brien and Kindra Almstrom.

“I actually think we’ll do OK,” said Yoke. “We have no stars, yet.”

, DataTimes