By David Paulsen
Correspondent
With a slight increase in team size and a number of young runners that can contribute right away, Whitewater High School head cross country coach Chad Carstens is hopeful that his squads can improve on last year’s performances.
The Whippet boys finished fourth in the Rock Valley Conference in 2012, while the girls placed fifth.
“I feel that both programs will be stronger,” Carstens said. “Our strength this year is that we are adding young runners on both sides that can potentially contribute right away.”
A total of 11 returning letterwinners (five for the boys and six for the girls) are back from the 2012 team.
Two-time RVC champion Brett Harms will anchor the Whippet boys. Harms, a senior, placed fifth at state a year ago.
Jon Zimdars, a junior, has been working out in the pool all summer.
“I look to him to get his land legs back and make a big impact,” Carstens said.
On the girls side, senior Liz Mielke and sophomore Sarah Ziolkowski will anchor the team. In addition, senior Stephanie Brown, junior Amanda Herold, and sophomores Abby King and Andrea Sandoval are returning.
Carstens indicated that newcomers Rebekah Schumacher and Holly Hough will add depth to the Whippet girls. Schumacher is a freshman and Hough a sophomore.
The McFarland boys squad will be tough this season as they are returning a lot of runners, Carstens said. He added that he does not count any team out.
“The coaching talent in our conference is strong and the depth within the conference gets deeper each year,” he added. “I think it’s great for everyone involved.”
Big Foot and McFarland could well be the two top teams on the girls side. Big Foot returns all seven, while McFarland has four of their varsity back.
Carstens, in his third year as head coach and 10th year with the team, is assisted by Jeff Weigel and John Houwers (both in their third year as assistants).
Schedule
The annual alumni meet will take place Saturday, Aug. 31, at UW-Whitewater.
The regular season kicks off Friday, Sept. 13, when the Whippets host an invitational at UW-Whitewater.
