Published: September 02, 2008 09:46 am      

River Queens set for season to start

CLINTON — Coach Wes Golden isn't sure what to expect from his Clinton High School girls cross country team, but Hattie Buikema hopes to surprise her coach.

“I think we can do all right,” Buikema, a senior, said. “We're all positive to work hard. I think it could be better than we originally expected.”

Golden's uncertainty comes from numbers. A large senior class graduated in the spring, and there are nine runners on the squad.

“We're low on numbers; it's really frustrating,” Golden said. “But what we do have will be competitive. We're going to struggle to compete in a lot of meets.”

Buikema said it was up to the experienced runners to assume the roles that those graduates had on the team.

Buikema is one of three seniors with experience on the squad. The others are Sara Prins and Kaelee Bausman. The top returning runner is junior Grace Schemwel, a second-team all-conference performer last season. Also back is sophomore Sarah Marsten.

“Last year we had a lot of good leaders,” she said. “We had a lot of seniors who made really good impressions. The pressure is on to have a good family team like last year.

“I feel like I'm working harder. “This is my last year, this is it. I put in more miles this summer than last, probably doubled them.”

Golden has a couple of interesting candidates from overseas, too.

Sophomore Julia Vodislav (Romania) and junior Mareike Kirchemberger are foreign-exchange students.

“Julia has been in our top five when we've practiced,” Golden said. “Her forte is tennis, but she has run quite a bit. Mareike's specialty is the pentathlon, but she's really coming on.”

Golden expects tough competition in the MAC again, citing Pleasant Valley, Bettendorf and North Scott among teams in the hunt for the title. But, he said, the River Queens will aim to finish in the top half. Buikema said the girls would keep plugging away.

“I feel like we've got a lot of young girls and will build as the season goes on,” Buikema said. “I think we'll gradually work our way up.”



AREA PREVIEWS

CAMANCHE

Coach Mark Metzger is looking for his squad to improve upon its seventh-place finish at last year's Big East Conference meet.

“I think we can move up,” he said. “We certainly look to be improved on the girls side.”

Metzger welcomes back sophomore Allison Hinsch, an all-conference runner last year, senior Sasha Temple and junior Kelly Anderson. Joining them are first-year junior runners Courtney Harksen and Sarah Thornton; sophomores Morgan Roth and Emily Thomas; and freshman Lorena Temple, Sasha's sister.

“The two juniors, Sarah and Courtney, add strength to the team,” Metzger said, “and Lorena probably will be in the top four.”

CENTRAL DEWITT

Coach Jim Hetrick has quite a bit of experience, but with four new teams in the WaMaC Conference, he's not sure where the Sabers will fit in.

Seniors Leanne Callender and Brittaney Donovan are the captains. Hetrick said Callender was one of the top runners last year, while Donovan battled physical problems. Juniors Karie Demmon and Beth Davis were varsity runners last year, as were sophomores Lindsay Smith and Katy Vorwald.

“A lot of them are back,” Hetrick said. “It will be interesting to see how they do.”

Hetrick also said that freshman Danaka Knudson showed promise.

NORTHEAST

The return of Morgan Casey alone creates a positive atmosphere for Northeast, but there are other reasons the Rebels are optimistic about moving up from a tie for fourth place at last fall's Big East Conference meet.

“With Morgan Casey, she's going to be right up there with everybody state-wide,” coach Kerry Kennedy said. “But, we've got a lot of (other) kids back, and the East Central additions just make us stronger.”

Casey ran away with the individual conference title a year ago and then placed third in the Class 1A state meet. The addition of East Central runners in a co-op arrangement has pushed Northeast into Class 2A this season, but Kennedy doesn't see that as a problem.

“Most of our meets are against bigger schools,” he said. “We've never shied away from big meets. Our schedule didn't change at all. We're just going to a different district.

Seniors Ellen Schulz and Carrington Giddings come over from East Central, while juniors Whitney Rorah and Carly Bormann, and sophomore Alexandra Dickey round out the squad.

PRESTON

Coach Mike Kelly has a small and young squad, but he said it was a team full of promise.

“If we can stay injury free, we could be very competitive,” he said.

Sophomore Jalynn Tebbe is Preston's top returning runner, and Kelly said she could be in the hunt for a top-five individual finish in the Big East Conference. Sophomore Nicki Trenkamp was one of Preston's top three runners last year, according to Kelly, and sophomore Kandi Liles was a scorer in about half the meets. Sophomore Emily Henningsen and freshman Kim Strait will split their time between cross country and volleyball.

PRINCE OF PEACE

Coach Dave Lawrence is keeping his fingers crossed for this season.

The reason is because sophomore Katie Isenhour is battling injuries. She finished seventh in the Big East Conference meet last year, then became just the second freshman in school history to qualify for the state meet. She placed 92nd there.

“Katie has problems turning her ankles, and her season could be in jeopardy,” Lawrence said. “Even with Katie, it's a challenge to have the numbers to have varsity.”

Lawrence does have another top-notch sophomore in Chrissy Kokjohn, an all-conference runner last season. He said freshman Audrey Griffin also could battle for the top spot on the team. The rest of the varsity is made up of three senior foreign-exchange students: Laura Heikkinen from Finland, Kirsten Nienhuis from Holland and Sina Stepken from Germany. Lawrence said only Stepken had competitive experience, and that was in track where she specializes in the 400 meters and 400 hurdles.

Junior Brittany Horst also is running with Prince of Peace, but she is ineligible this season after transferring from East Central.