Bears look to get back on track
Cross country teams hope to return to state
Sophomore Jenna Fenohr returns as one of the best runners from a year ago on North Royalton’s girls cross country team. Photo by BRUCE BILLOW
The 2016 cross country season represented a bit of a departure for North Royalton’s cross country teams. For just the second time in 11 seasons the Bears did not have a representative at the state meet.
That’s among the things Bears coach Dave Marhefka is hoping to improve upon this year. Second-tier finishes in the Suburban League are also on that list.
“We have one of our largest teams we have ever had at NR,” Marhefka said. “The kids have been working hard since the beginning of June. Both teams are looking to improve on their 2016 seasons.”
North Royalton’s girls finished fifth in the eight-team Suburban League National Conference last season. Not exactly the kind of finish the program is used to.
The girls then finished fifth in the Medina District, holding off Magnificat by two spots to grab the final regional berth. That marked the 10th time in the last 11 seasons the girls made it to regionals as a team.
The Bears placed 22nd at the 25-team regional a year ago. The upside of that is that all seven runners who produced that finish are back.
Senior Alex Kuzma was the Bears’ top regional finisher, placing 40th. The top 25 earned a state berth. Also back with Kuzma are seniors Elise Chojnacki and Olivia Reichenbach. Junior Juliet Rayer and sophomores Alex Chippy, Megan Garnet and Jenna Fenohr all ran at regionals last season. Fenohr was the team’s top district finisher and would have earned a regional berth had the team not moved on.
Among others who could contribute this year are juniors Jordan Saunders and Claudia Mendek, sophomore Alex Doehrmann and freshman Lauren Devney.
The boys team is looking to improve on an eighth-place finish in the Suburban League National. They will have to replace the top part of the lineup on the way to doing that.
In the SL, the since-graduated Patrick McKee was the Bears’ top finisher, placing 24th, three spots ahead of classmate Luke Boersma. McKee was the team’s lone regional qualifier. His graduation, along with that of Boersma and No. 3 man Alex Davis, wiped out the top part of the Bears’ lineup.
Four are back from the lineup that competed at districts last year. Senior Matt Compan, juniors Jacob Clark and Justin Franczak, and sophomore Brody Shields will look to take over the lead pack. Also looking to contribute will be seniors Rob Menon, Nolan Pearce and Nathan Rush, junior Jeffrey Kozik and sophomore Robert Burrows.
The boys finished eighth in the 13-team Medina District. They weren’t far from sixth, but a good way from fifth, which is the final spot that qualified for regionals.
“The goal is to improve the Suburban League finish, qualify the team to the regional meet, and have state meet qualifier,” Marhefka said.
That’s among the things Bears coach Dave Marhefka is hoping to improve upon this year. Second-tier finishes in the Suburban League are also on that list.
“We have one of our largest teams we have ever had at NR,” Marhefka said. “The kids have been working hard since the beginning of June. Both teams are looking to improve on their 2016 seasons.”
North Royalton’s girls finished fifth in the eight-team Suburban League National Conference last season. Not exactly the kind of finish the program is used to.
The girls then finished fifth in the Medina District, holding off Magnificat by two spots to grab the final regional berth. That marked the 10th time in the last 11 seasons the girls made it to regionals as a team.
The Bears placed 22nd at the 25-team regional a year ago. The upside of that is that all seven runners who produced that finish are back.
Senior Alex Kuzma was the Bears’ top regional finisher, placing 40th. The top 25 earned a state berth. Also back with Kuzma are seniors Elise Chojnacki and Olivia Reichenbach. Junior Juliet Rayer and sophomores Alex Chippy, Megan Garnet and Jenna Fenohr all ran at regionals last season. Fenohr was the team’s top district finisher and would have earned a regional berth had the team not moved on.
Among others who could contribute this year are juniors Jordan Saunders and Claudia Mendek, sophomore Alex Doehrmann and freshman Lauren Devney.
The boys team is looking to improve on an eighth-place finish in the Suburban League National. They will have to replace the top part of the lineup on the way to doing that.
In the SL, the since-graduated Patrick McKee was the Bears’ top finisher, placing 24th, three spots ahead of classmate Luke Boersma. McKee was the team’s lone regional qualifier. His graduation, along with that of Boersma and No. 3 man Alex Davis, wiped out the top part of the Bears’ lineup.
Four are back from the lineup that competed at districts last year. Senior Matt Compan, juniors Jacob Clark and Justin Franczak, and sophomore Brody Shields will look to take over the lead pack. Also looking to contribute will be seniors Rob Menon, Nolan Pearce and Nathan Rush, junior Jeffrey Kozik and sophomore Robert Burrows.
The boys finished eighth in the 13-team Medina District. They weren’t far from sixth, but a good way from fifth, which is the final spot that qualified for regionals.
“The goal is to improve the Suburban League finish, qualify the team to the regional meet, and have state meet qualifier,” Marhefka said.