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The future of Christian Brothers University Cross Country is looking bright.
After disappointing finishes at the Gulf South Conference meet a year ago,
the Bucs and Lady Bucs are looking to get back on track in 2005. The Bucs showed
signs of promise last season with a top five finish at Harding and having Ben
Knoerschild named an All-Conference runner at the GSC meet.
A strong recruiting class awaits second-year coach Bill Hoffman for
the 2005 season. All-State runners, Stephen Hill and Francis
Ginski will lead the
way with the
help
of John Waldorf,
Andrew
Hayden and
Jordan
Michael.
Hill was a top recruit in the South and will have an immediate
impact in the Gulf South Conference and also at the regional level. Hill
holds his school's two-mile record and was a Commercial Appeal Best
of Preps selection in 2003, 04, and 05. Ginski, a member of Houston
High School's
2003 and 04 state championship squads will help to put a one two punch in
the line up that CBU has never seen. Michael
competed in soccer, cross country and track all four years at Bolton High
School. He was a two-time all-region selection, and was named the Bolton
High School Male Athlete of the Year in 2005. Ryan Ross, Daniel Syzdek, and James
Ndirangu will round out the Bucs' weekend lineup.
The Lady Bucs are also showing improvements. Top recruits Kelly Summons and
Alicia Scarborough will lead the way this year. Summons
was a four-time Commercial Appeal Best of Preps selection at St. Agnes Academy
for coach Jay Mathis. Scarborough was her team's MVP for two years and was
a four-year letter winner with Houston's track team, earning All-Region and
All-Sectional honors. Seniors Laura Kreager and Jenny
Mohan, as well as sophomore Ashley Prevost return
to provide excellent leadership for a young squad this season. Helen
Bouchawe, Heather Gosnell, Lori Stewart, Charlene Yeung, and Emily
Wong will all see action for the Lady Bucs.
Hoffman has lofty goals this season for the Bucs and Lady Bucs, but among
them, most important is the overall success of the program.
"I sincerely believe we can make a serious dent in the cross-country
landscape of not only the GSC, but at the regional level, as well," Hoffman
said. "I
not only want a runner to qualify for nationals, but I'd like to
see our whole team start qualifying in the near future."
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