Boys cross country expects to improve

The Sisters High School boys cross country team will return a solid core of runners from a squad that last year missed qualifying for the state meet by a mere six points.

"To describe the boys as 'hungry' or 'motivated' would be understating the facts," said coach Charlie Kanzig.

"I find myself having to hold some of them back because they are so zealous."

Runners with varsity experience who are returning include seniors Koby McCorkle, Alex Templar, Jordan Beck and Ben Boro; juniors David King, Nathan Church and Justin Thomas; and sophomore Wes Hodson. Like the girls, a number of veteran runners and first year team members look to contribute at the varsity level, including Josh Simone, Devon Pelkey, Byron Womack, among others.

McCorkle, last year's team Most Valuable Player, and Templar, who has developed into a strong distance runner in the past twelve months, provide the team with strong front runners, with a group of five to seven runners packed close behind.

King finished second for the team at District last year and Boro was the runaway champion in the junior varsity race.

Last year Hodson trounced the competition in two junior varsity races before a calf injury ended his season, and Beck was hampered with injuries as well.

So Kanzig is anxious to see the pair back at full strength.

"Wes is such a great competitor and Jordan is such an inspiration," he said. "I am overjoyed that both of them are healthy again."

The team has depth, and Kanzig says it is way too early to comment on any other up and coming runners.

"They will reveal themselves in the weeks ahead," he said.

Molalla and Stayton, along with Sisters will contend for the two berths to state, but Kanzig knows his boys will not settle for another third place finish.

"They will fight all the way," he said.

Kanzig is assisted by Rima Givot and 2002 graduate Casey Glick.

The team kicks off the season at the Madras Invitational Saturday, September 7.