CAPTAINS, from left, Katie Cash, Olivia Goguen, Viola Wertz, Jake Martinho, Ryan Nguyen and Shae McCarthy will be leading the varsity cross-country teams this fall. (Dan Tomasello photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — With strong nucleuses returning, the cross-country teams have high hopes for the 2023 season.
The girls’ team concluded the 2022 Cape Ann League season with a 2-3 record. Pioneers head coach Bill Wallace said the majority of last year’s team is returning this fall.
“The girls team lost its top runner, Maddie Daigle, from last year, but does return most of the varsity runners from a team that finished third in Division 3A,” said Wallace.
Three senior captains will be leading the girls’ team this fall, including Katie Cash.
“Katie has been setting the tone for the team since the first practice,” said Wallace. “She finally appears to be healthy and ready to lead this team as one of our top runners.”
Wallace said senior captain Viola Wertz will be one of the girls’ team’s top runners who will be providing veteran leadership to the younger athletes.
“Viola has a great attitude that is always so positive,” said Wallace. “She has also been working hard and should be one of our top five runners on the team.”
Wallace said senior captain Olivia Goguen has set a great example for the girls’ team’s younger runners.
“Olivia has done a great job at making sure every girl on the team does what they are supposed to do,” said Wallace. “She also helps set the tone in practice, which is going to be very important in order for the season to be successful.”
The girls’ team is also welcoming back junior Gabby Bottaro.
“Gabby should be one of our top two runners on the team,” said Wallace. “The hard work she is putting into practice should pay off as the season progresses.”
Junior Kaila George has also returned to the trail once again.
“Kaila is always so positive and runs with a smile on her face, even when she is working hard,” said Wallace. “I am excited to watch her compete because she always saves her best for the biggest races of the season.”
Wallace has high hopes for sophomore Shea Moore.
“Shea is very quietly becoming one of the better runners on the team,” said Wallace. “She should be a regular contributor to the varsity team.”
The Pioneers have several new additions this fall, including junior Lily White.
“Lily joined the team a week into the season,” said Wallace. “She appears ready to work hard and learn about the sport of cross-country.”
Freshman Maeve Wertz has also joined the girls’ team this fall.
“Maeve is our only freshman runner on the girls’ side,” said Wallace. “She has been coming to practice, working hard and making great improvements as a runner.”
Wallace said the girls’ team’s biggest strength this season is “how close they are.”
“They do a good job at working together in practice and pushing each other,” said Wallace. “They should be a team that competes with some of the top teams in the state despite only having 13 members on the squad. The key to the girls’ season being a successful one will be limiting any injuries. The small numbers hurts the depth they have, but their attitude and work ethic should allow them to qualify for the state championships once again.”
Boys’ team
The boys’ cross-country team concluded the 2022 season with a 1-4 record. Similar to the girls’ team, Wallace said the majority of the boys’ team’s nucleus is back this fall.
“The boys’ should have a good season,” said Wallace. “We lost two of our top three runners, Angelo DeLuca and John McKrell, from last year, but we have some younger runners who are ready to step up.”
Three captains will be leading the boys’ team this fall, including senior Ryan Nguyen.
“Ryan clearly put in the work over the summer and has come back looking great,” said Wallace. “He has taken on more of a vocal leader role, which has really helped me out as a coach.”
Wallace said senior captain Jake Martinho has strong leadership skills.
“Jake is very quiet, but leads by example,” said Wallace. “He is always out there working hard and pushing himself, which has helped set the tone for the rest of the team.”
Wallace said junior captain Shea McCarthy is going to be one of the boys’ team’s top runners.
“Shea is a junior captain mainly due to his work ethic,” said Wallace. “He takes the sport very seriously, and is ready to lead this team and be one our top runners.”
Wallace also has high expectations for sophomore Dylan Nguyen.
“Dylan looks like he will be the most improved runner from last year,” said Wallace. “He clearly will be one of our top three runners as a sophomore. I am really looking forward to him competing this year.”
Wallace has been impressed with senior Srivanth Tudi’s work ethic.
“Srivanth is a senior runner who has made great improvements,” said Wallace. “He has been pushing himself in practice and has even taken time to help the younger runners as well.”
The boys’ team has several promising new additions this fall, including senior Jack Marenghi.
“Jack is a senior who is running his first season of cross-country,” said Wallace. “He has been working really hard and should be one of our top five runners.”
Wallace said freshman Liam Gardner is another promising new addition for the boys’ team.
“Liam appears to be our top freshmen runner,” said Wallace. “He is coming from the middle school program, so he has some experience in the sport, but now appears ready to step up and be part of the varsity team.”
Wallace said the boys’ team’s biggest strengths this fall will be its “work ethic and strong leadership.”
“We are going to need this because Lynnfield is still part of the large division of the Cape Ann League, which means we will be going against teams that are much larger and deeper than we are,” said Wallace. “Despite this, I believe we will be able to compete with some of the better teams in the state. It will also help prepare us for the larger meets at the end of the season. I believe this team can once again qualify for the state championships in November.”
Upcoming meets
The Pioneers host Pentucket on Wednesday, Sept. 13, beginning at 3:45 p.m. Lynnfield travels to North Reading on Wednesday, Sept. 20, beginning at 3:45 p.m.