2014 schedule

Garrett French is the only THS boys with state experience.

Sept. 4 — at Lansing (dual)

Sept. 11 — at Holton

Sept. 23 — Tonganoxie Inv.

Sept. 27 — at Rim Rock (KU)

Oct. 2 — at Maranatha

Tressa Walker is one of two THS girls entering her fourth varsity season.

Oct. 9 — at Pleasant Ridge

Oct. 16 — at KVL (Bonner)

Oct. 25 — at Regionals (TBA)

After falling just one spot short of a state bid last October, the Tonganoxie High girls cross country team is determined to make sure its 2014 season ends in Wamego.

Loaded with two four-year runners, two previous state qualifiers and a nationally recognized incoming freshman, the Chieftains have set their sights on their first state berth since 2006. The team just missed the cut a season ago, earning its second consecutive fourth-place finish at regionals.

But, with nearly the entire varsity roster back this fall, optimism is high as the upcoming season approaches.

“You know it’s right there,” said senior Tressa Walker, a three-year varsity runner. “A few of us made it (to state) in track, so we know what the expectations are to get there. Last year, we were so close, so this year, it’s determined in our minds. It has to be in the back of our minds that we do have a shot and if we work hard for it, we can get it.”

Walker and fellow senior Emily Williams have both run on the varsity team since they were freshmen. That season, the girls took ninth at regionals. After finishing a distant fourth in 2012, they fell just six points shy of a top-three finish a year ago.

Two runners have experienced a state meet individually, as sophomore Emily Chambers and junior Sophia Wetta made the cut in their respective freshman seasons. Junior Nicole Zerrer and sophomore Isabella Behm also bring varsity experience to the table. Behm was less than three seconds from a state bid last fall.

Add freshman Emma Campbell, who recently placed eighth in the 3,000-meter run at the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics, and second-year coach John Tollefson has seven runners vying for six spots in the varsity lineup.

“People are worried if they’re going to make varsity this year,” Williams said. “It’s going to make us a compete better and a lot harder and push us to state this year. We’re driving for it this year and I think we’re going to be pretty disappointed if we don’t get it. We’re just going to be a lot more competitive out there this year.”

Walker returns as an All-Kaw Valley League first-team selection, while Behm, Chambers, Wetta, Williams and Zerrer were all second-teamers.

Boys hope to continue progress

The Chieftain boys haven’t been represented at the state cross country meet since 2011, but with a roster full of veteran runners this fall, they hope to buck that trend in the coming months.

Seniors Garrett French, Brad Andrews and Justin Patrick headline a list of seven runners who saw varsity time last year on a team that must replace only one graduate in Andrew Behm. French and Andrews have consistently seen varsity time since they were freshmen, while Patrick broke into the varsity lineup midway through last season.

“We have enough experience that we expect to be competitive, both on girls and boys,” said French, the only remaining runner from the boys’ 2011 state team.

Juniors Ethan Phillips, Dylan Staatz and Jake Tollefson each picked up varsity experience a year ago, while sophomore Drew Cook finished at or near the top of the team ranks in nearly every meet. French led the team in its first three meets in 2013, then Andrews and Cook traded the team lead in its final five competitions. Andrews led the way at regionals with a 20th-place finish.

The Chieftains took fifth at last year’s regional meet, improving on their eighth-place finish in 2012. No runner has made it to state since THS made the team cut in 2011, but according to Patrick, this year’s goal doesn’t stop at individual bids.

“I think we definitely set the bar last year,” he said. “We were so close to it that this year, it’s going to make us push even harder to achieve that goal. I definitely think it’s motivation.”

Cook, French and Andrews earned second-team All-KVL selections last season.

The Chieftains will open their season Sept. 4 with their annual dual against Lansing. Their only home meet of the season will take place when they host the Tonganoxie Invitational on Sept. 23 at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds. Bonner Springs will host this year’s league meet at Wyandotte County Park.

“Everybody has to improve a little bit, at least,” Andrews said. “Our goals our set. We just need to put in the miles and make sure we go out with our friends and run. You’ve just got to keep running.”