Sports Notebook: Freedom, Wharton Cross Country Teams Head to Regionals Saturday

Freedom High School and Wharton High School have a nice little rivalry going on. They are both looking up at the dynastic Plant Panthers cross country team. But New Tampa is rising while Plant has already reached its apex -- hopefully.

Freedom High:

The Patriots are bringing both cross country teams to regionals on Saturday, Nov. 12. The girls team finished second at districts behind Plant. This marks the second consecutive time and the second time in school history that the Freedom girls have made regionals. Second-year coach Dwight Smith boasts of his team's strong finishes throughout the year.

"We finished first in a pre-state race, were second in the county championships," he said. "We think we have a pretty good shot at second or third place at regionals."

Senior Ashley Smith is the fastest on the team and has "led the way all year long," Smith said.

Smith is pleased. "It's a great sense of accomplishment in my senior year to make regionals," she said. "I've coached myself harder and pushed it to the limit this year."

Other leading runners are sophomores Annie Tedesco and Lauren Arfaras, along with junior Alex Mitchell.

The boys team made regionals as the third-place team and it is the first time in school history that both boys and girls teams made regionals. Second-year coach Greg Lewandowski runs with his team for motivation and exercise. Lewandowski is a former cross country runner who ran for East Lake High School and still competes recreationally in cycling.

The boys snuck in past Wharton, beating them by just five points to qualify for regionals. The district meet was a sub-par performance for the Patriots as lead runner, senior Forrest Canaday, was sick and ran well below his normal time.

"I just want to give it all I have at regionals," said Canaday.

Lewandowski was quick to point out that Canaday has shaved two minutes off his time from last year's regionals.

Another notable runner is junior Adam Urbaniak, whom Lewandowski claims can run in the 16-minute, 30-second range.

"I want to be the first Patriot to make states," said Urbaniak.

Lewandowski cites the off-season training regimen as a key factor in this year's successes.

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Wharton High:

The Wildcats girls team claimed the third spot at districts, qualifying for regionals on Saturday. The results was what coach Wes Newton "expected" but short of what he had "hoped for."

Newton is no stranger to Hillsborough County cross country. Newton has been the cross country coach since the school opened in 1997. He also coached at Leto High School for 26 years, prior to moving over to Wharton. Newton and first-year boys coach Anthony Triana form a tandem for both boys and girls cross country and for track and field.

"I knew we would be decent this year but we turned out to be better than I thought," said Newton.

Newton cites that while it is one of his younger groups, this year's girls team is one of the better groups he's coached.

Junior Taylor Griffith leads the way for the Cats. She finished tenth place as an individual at districts.

"This is the best bond we've had as a team over previous years," said Griffith.

Other notable runners are sophomore Mariah Henderson and junior Risa Brudney.

The boys just missed qualifying for regionals but senior Jayren Barginere came in eighth place at districts and will be competing at regionals as an individual.

"I put the hard work in and it's paying off," said Barginere. "I really want to prove I can make states." 

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Regionals Information

WHEN: Saturday, 9 a.m. (girls) and 9:45 (boys)

WHERE: In Sarasota at , 701 McIntosh Road