Cross country teams young but eager

By Dan Truttschel

Sports correspondent

The relationship between Big Foot and Williams Bay high schools dates back several years with a number of programs that have joined forces.

And that trend continues.

The two have combined yet again in cross country for 2017 – a move that has filled out the roster for both the boys and girls programs, according to coach Tim Collins.

“Our numbers are significantly improved,” he said. “(We) should have a full boys and girls team all season.”

The Big Foot-Williams Bay girls squad has eight athletes on its roster, while the boys now have a team of 11.

While the numbers are better, Collins said he has two young groups, with just three seniors total – Zanzie Demco with the girls and Evan Rees and Titus Frederick with the boys.

“We are extremely young,” he said. “We hope to progress every meet and peak at sectionals.”

Demco finished third at the Rock Valley Conference South Division Meet last year in 20:42.9, followed by a 12th-place effort at the Division 2 Deerfield Sectional with a time of 19:56.68.

Palmyra-Eagle senior Antonia Bartolotta enters 2017 as the defending South champion in 20:23.

Joining Demco on the girls’ squad are sophomores Jarely Castaneda, Isabel Chisamore, Samantha Eichmann, Viola Larson and Maya Torrez and freshmen Anahis Figeroa and Tess Gillingham.

Eichmann returns as the Chiefs’ other top runner from a year ago. She was 34th at the South Division Meet in 25:17.4 and 56th at the sectional in 22:12.25.

Along with Rees and Frederick, the boys’ roster includes sophomores Jacob Curtis, Malachi Frederick, Isaac Jackson and Daniel Rees and freshmen Austin Bucholz, Dawson Grever, Jay O’Brien, Jonathan O’Campo and Jaden Randall.

Collins said the seniors will have to provide leadership for the rest of their younger counterparts.

“They (need to) show the younger kids that you cannot accomplish your goals without hard work,” he said.

 

Conference outlook

The race to the RVC title includes East Troy, which won the Division 2 state girls title last year, McFarland and Whitewater, Collins said.

As for his squad, one of the program’s goals already has been accomplished with the combining of the two teams.

Now, the new-look Chiefs have to continue building that relationship.

“We have been doing a good job of meshing,” Collins said. “We don’t have ‘Bay’ kids and ‘Big Foot’ kids. We are stressing we are all one.”

Collins, who is entering his eighth year as the head coach, is joined by first-year assistant Chris Cary.

The Chiefs opened 2017 Thursday afternoon at the 15-team Palmyra-Eagle Invitational. Big Foot travels to the 17-team Cambridge Invitational this Thursday, Aug. 31.

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