Cross Country Brings Back Developed Squad

In his first year as the head coach for the Spring-Ford High School cross country team, Brian Sullivan is very excited to see this team perform in 2011-2012. Sullivan coached at St. Pius X for 23 years and helped start up the Pope John Paul II program last year. He now comes in with a world of experience and a positive outlook to take the Rams to the next level.

Last year's team went 5-4 in the PAC-10 on the girls' side and 6-3 in the league on the boys' side. No one moved on past districts in the postseason.

"What I saw from this team last year was they had a nice group of underclassmen that was coming back this year," Sullivan said. "Last year’s group that graduated was a good group but the group that was going to remain was going to be really good. I think there’s a lot of talent here."

However, despite losing seniors Matt Olsen, Mark Ricchini and Amber Mohammad, the girls team remains pretty much intact, and the boys bring back strong leaders in Jesse Magalon and Joe O'Such.

"So goes Jesse and Joe, so goes our team," said Sullivan. "They are going to be our two best guys. They’ve been taking charge of the team, getting them motivated and getting them ready to run. They’ve had a really good summer and look ready to go."

Other notables on the boys team are junior Mike Cassiday and sophomore Josh Tupper, who Sullivan said was an integral part of the late-season run last year. After a summer of hard work, Tupper looks ready to go.

For the girls, Audrey Burger returns for her senior year, and according to Sullivan, has been Spring-Ford's number one since joining the team as a freshman. Joining her is a strong core of girls that could heavily compete with each other and stronger teams in the league the same.

"I told them, I can take you seven or eight girls on the course tomorrow and you would finish differently than you would the next day and the day after that," said Sullivan. "It gives us some flexibility and it’s going to be exciting."

Those girls include seniors Megan Loughnane, Martina Gring and Anna Lombardo, juniors Kirsten Wong and Sami Flynn, and sophomore Kara Fitch.

Overall, the Rams will look to knock out Boyertown - a running league champion over the years - as well as a tough Methacton girls team and the Pottsgrove boys.

"With the group we have in both the boys and the girls, I’m expecting us to be in the top of the league," Sullivan said. "Right now, they’re still learning me and I’m still learning them, but there’s a lot of talent and depth here and usually that translates into a good season. So, I’m hoping everybody stays healthy, runs well and gets what I’m trying to teach them."

Spring-Ford High School Cross Country 2011-2012 Schedule:

9/7 - Season/Home Opener vs. Upper Perkiomen (4:00 p.m.)

9/10 - Abington Invitational (10:00 a.m.)

9/14 - Away @ Owen J. Roberts (4:00 p.m.)

9/14 - Away @ Phoenixville (4:00 p.m.)

9/17 - Chris Fretz Invitational (10:00 a.m.)

9/21 - Away @ Pope John Paul II H.S. (3:30 p.m.)

9/21 - Away @ Methacton (4:00 p.m.)

9/27 - Away @ Perkiomen Valley (4:00 p.m.)

9/30 - Paul Short Invitational (3:00 p.m.)

10/5 - Home vs. Boyertown (4:00 p.m.)

10/5 - Away @ Pottstown (4:00 p.m.)

10/12 - Away @ Pottsgrove (4:00 p.m.)