Columbus North’s Ainsley Sherlock, center approaches the finish line with Jasper’s Ally Wigand, right in the girls race at the Cross Country State Finals on Saturday, Oct. 29,2022 at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute.
The Republic file photo
After only four full girls teams competed in last year’s Brown County Sectional, the IHSAA did a little shakeup of its cross-country postseason.
The IHSAA eliminated the semistate round and now will have just a three-week postseason. The path to state for most local schools will now to through a regional at Angel Mounds State Park in Evansville.
Here is a look at the local girls teams heading into the 2023 season:
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs finished second at state last season, a year after winning the title. However, only one varsity runner returns from that squad.
“We lost a lot, but we have a good group behind them,” North coach Rick Sluder said. “Track was really good for a lot of this group. Knowing this was coming, we were able to get them a little more experience and get them going. But we’re going to have a lot of new faces in our top seven.”
Sophomore Ainsley Sherlock is the lone varsity returner. Junior Kyleigh Wolf was injured most of last cross-country season, but had a strong track season, coming within one spot of qualifying for state in the 1,600 meters.
“Ainsley is in good shape, and Kyleigh is in good shape,” Sluder said. “They’re running really strong.”
Junior Carys Glyn-Jones ran on the Bull Dogs’ state championship 4×800 relay team and was a state qualifier in the 800 this spring. Sophomore Lana Wisler also has shown promise in the spring and summer.
Juniors Macy Eaton, Katie Frazier and Maggie Russell and seniors Kenzie Meyer and Kenzie Pendleton are battling for the other varsity spots.
“They’ve all put in a tremendously strong summer,” Sluder said. “Then, we have a huge freshmen group. Our freshman girls will probably start to contribute at some point, too.”
Columbus East
The Olympians made it to semistate again last year, and they return five of their top six runners from that team.
“We have a good group out this year, a little bit larger than normal, so we’re excited about that,” East coach Jesse Shoaf said. “We have some good experience coming back, so we hope to do well this season.”
Columbus East’s Carly Otte finishes the girls cross country sectional at Eagle Park in Brown County in Nashville, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.
The Republic file photo
Senior Carly Otte was the Olympians’ top runner in the sectional. Senior Victoria Cuhadar and juniors Madison Swartzentruber, Amelia Fay and Hayden Carothers also are back.
Several runners are battling for the other two varsity spots.
“It’s really up in the air,” Shoaf said. “We have some new freshmen that we really don’t know how they’re going to contribute. We also have some sophomores that could contribute.”
Hauser
The Jets will have a small squad with only three runners to begin the season.
Juniors Madison Hollman and Lucie Asher were regional qualifiers as individuals last year. They will be joined by freshman Addison Dailey.
“I know we have a few dual-sport athletes that might be interested,” Hauser coach Ben Finke said. “Once school starts up next week, we might pick up a few more. We’re still hoping.”
Columbus Christian
The Crusaders have a couple of runners for the first time in about a decade.
Freshmen Lizzy Schlaudroff and Caitlyn Banks have been participating in training sessions this summer.
“I’m hoping to gain more as school starts,” Columbus Christian coach Dean Schlaudroff said.
Jennings County
The Panthers made it to regional as a team and missed by one spot of qualifying for semistate.
Junior Avery Willhite was a semistate qualifier as an individual. Junior Haley Vogel and sophomores Molly Wathen and Kambrie Maschino also ran varsity.
Battling for the remaining varsity spots are senior Kristen Ponder and a quartet of freshmen — Alana Watts, Addie Otte, Izzy Logan and Isla Stevens.
“It’s a very young team,” Jennings coach Amanda Young said. “They have a ton of energy. With the middle school program the way they are, there’s a lot of potential for the coming years.”
Brown County
After having only four runners last season, the Eagles will have enough to score as a team this year.
Sophomore Sadie Hiatt and junior Megan Cumberledge qualified for regional as individuals. Senior Livie Austin also returns.
Freshmen Charly Eddins, Izzy Miller and Della Hitchcock will look to make an immediate impact.
“All six of them had a good camp,” Brown County coach Rob Abraham said. “We should be able to see some improvement as the season goes on. I think it will be a little bit more competitive with some of those freshmen coming in. It’s definitely going to be a wait-and-see-type situation because if they develop, then maybe we have a chance to get down to the regional.”
South Decatur
The Cougars return a trio of seniors, and they will team with three newcomers.
Senior Clair Schoettmer, Mary Schwering and Braylee Sundal are the returners. They will be joined by freshmen Chloe Brattian and Brooklyn Ortman and sophomore Bri Benefield.
“We have a strong couple or three seniors, and they’re going to motivate the freshmen, as well,” South Decatur coach Bethany Fromer said. “We’re hoping to have two more, maybe an exchange student, but we’re still working in it.”
Trinity Lutheran
The Cougars will have just one runner to begin the season.
Junior Cheyenne Campbell, who also is playing volleyball this fall, will compete in as many meets as her schedule permits.
“She’ll be competitive at all of her races,” Trinity coach Keith Dyer said. “She’s a good runner. I’m hoping that her performance will also help draw in other girls.”
The 2023 girls cross-country schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Aug. 12;at South Dearborn Invitational;9 a.m.
Aug. 16;at Brown County Challenge;5:45 p.m.
Aug. 19;at Brown County Harrier Classic;9:15 a.m.
Aug. 22;Columbus North;5;30 p.m.
Aug. 26;at Franklin Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 2;at Columbus North Classic;9 a.m.
Sept. 9;at Whiteland Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 16;at Jennings County Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 23;at Bedford North Lawrence Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 30;HHC at Bedford North Lawrence;9 a.m.
Columbus North
Aug. 22;at Columbus East;5:30 p.m.
Aug. 26;Dennis Bays Invitational at Angel Mounds;10 a.m.
Sept. 2;Columbus North Classic;9 a.m.
Sept. 9;at Brown County Eagle Classic;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 16;at Shelbyville Golden Bear Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 16;Conference Indiana at Ceraland;9 a.m.
Sept. 23;at Shelbyville Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 30;Nike Valley Twilight at LaVern Gibson;6 p.m.
Hauser
Aug. 15;Hauser Hokum-Karem;5 p.m.
Aug. 19;at Southwestern (Shelby) Small School Invite;10:30 a.m.
Aug. 24;at South Decatur Invitational;5 p.m.
Sept. 2;at East Central Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 9;at Whiteland Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 21;at Big Pumpkin Invitational;5:30 p.m.
Sept. 23;Hauser Heritage Day Classic;9 a.m.
Sept. 28;at Greensburg Invitational;5 p.m.
Sept. 30;Nike Valley Twilight at LaVern Gibson;6 p.m.
Oct. 7;MHC meet at Waldron;9 a.m.
