Girls Pre-Season Rankings (21-30)
by Colin Altevogt
#21 Terre Haute North Patriots
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate #4
Brown County Regional #3
2007 Results:
Terre Haute North Sectional: 1st place (28 points)
Brown County Regional: 3rd place (81 points)
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate: 5th place (179 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 21st place (509 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Bedford North Lawrence Semistate):
Lindy Jones (11) 20:45 (39th place)
Elizabeth Marietta (12) 20:58 (46th place)
Lyndsay Hoff (10) 21:08 (55th place)
Jordan Cresgy (11) 21:15 (64th place)
Katie Shew (11) 21:32 (76th place)
2008 Outlook:
One of the premiere programs in the southern semistate, Terre Haute North loses longtime frontrunner Amy Hamilton but still retains five of last years seven from another state finalist team. Judging by last years results, the Patriots should once again be among the best the south has to offer. A loaded regional at Brown County will serve as a great test before the biggest meet of the year.
#22 Edgewood Mustangs
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate #5
Brown County Regional #4
2007 Results:
Brown County Sectional: 3rd place (81 points)
Brown County Regional: 4th place (130 points)
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate: 7th place (215 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Bedford North Lawrence Semistate):
Holly Wamper (10) 20:38 (36th place)
Reanna Headdy (11) 21:01 (47th place)
Amanda Hicks (12) 21:10 (58th place)
Rebecca Jacobs (11) 21:21 (68th place)
Katie Kennard (11) 21:23 (70th place)
Leah Fiegle (11) 21:54 (91st place)
2008 Outlook:
Edgewood had an underclassmen-laden team that missed by just 17 points. With six of those seven back on a team that was very deep last year (the Mustangs had the second best number six runner, for what its worth), Edgewood comes into the season with a great chance to advance out of the southern semistate. The future is also bright with four juniors and a sophomore this season.
#23 Goshen Redskins
New Haven Semistate #5
Elkhart Central Regional #2
2007 Results:
Elkhart Central Sectional: 2nd place (76 points)
Brown County Regional: 2nd place (72 points)
New Haven Semistate: 5th place (153 points)
IHSAA State Finals: 19th place (457 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Haven Semistate):
Jillian Zimmerman (11) 20:10 (31st place)
Desiree Maran (10) 20:17 (36th place)
Karla Folker (12) 20:18 (38th place)
Laura Sorg (12) 21:06 (73rd place)
Laura Gladfelter (12) 21:50 (108th place)
Kayla Hussey (10) 22:20 (116th place)
2008 Outlook:
Goshen finally broke through last year, qualifying for the state finals after a couple previous years of being close. The Redskins will miss Rachel Hollinger-Janzen, who finished in the top 15 at the semistate. Goshen is very solid through the first three but must be able to close the door faster at four and five if they want to advance to a second straight state finals.
#24 South Bend Riley Wildcats
New Haven Semistate #6
Elkhart Central Regional #3
2007 Results:
South Bend Riley Sectional: 2nd place (58 points)
Elkhart Central Regional: 4th place (113 points)
New Haven Semistate: 8th place (222 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Haven Semistate):
Beth Werge (11) 19:32 (15th place)
Mara Paluszewski (11) 20:36 (53rd place)
Elizabeth Roush (10) 20:53 (66th place)
Megan OMalley (12) 21:23 (89th place)
Paeton Wantuch (11) 21:30 (96th place)
2008 Outlook:
Riley has five back from last years seven that comprised a team in the mix of last years contenders to advance from New Haven. One of those runners is junior Beth Werge who advanced as an individual and finished 58th at the state finals. If Riley can compete during the regular season and early tournament as they did last season, the Wildcats should enter with a great chance to advance to the state meet from their new semistate location.
#25 Perry Meridian Falcons
Franklin Central Semistate #10
2007 Results:
Ben Davis Sectional: 1st place (36 points)
Ben Davis Regional: 1st place (58 points)
Franklin Central Semistate: 9th place (327 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Franklin Central Semistate):
Sarah Riley (12) 20:02 (41st place)
Katelyn Walker (12) 20:23 (59th place)
Caylee Goetchus (12) 20:42 (73rd place)
Molly Shannon (12) 21:20 (96th place)
Alex Witten (10) 22:23 (133rd place)
Megan Armstrong (10) 22:31 (136th place)
2008 Outlook:
Perry Meridian has four seniors back who have been the heart of the team the past couple years. The Falcons have a similar complaint to many others in the state. If they were in any other semistate, Perry would be a favorite to advance to the state finals. Unfortunately, the school is on the south side of Indianapolis and must go through the Franklin Central Semistate. In order to repeat their top ten finish from last year at the semistate, the Falcons must develop more depth at the fourth and fifth spots.
#26 Northview Knights
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate #6
Brown County Regional #5
2007 Results:
Terre Haute North Sectional: 2nd place (59 points)
Brown County Regional: 5th place (145 points)
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate: 8th place (237 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Bedford North Lawrence Semistate):
Kylee Thacker (12) 19:10 (4th place)
Allison True (12) 21:03 (49th place)
Casandra Barnett (12) 21:06 (52nd place)
Marissa Bryan (12) 21:55 (93rd place)
Corey Laue (11) 22:44 (114th place)
Krystle Miller (11) 22:59 (125th place)
2008 Outlook:
Northview missed going to the state meet by 40 points last season. With frontrunning state qualifier Kylee Thacker back for her senior year, along with three others in the 09 class, the Knights are among the top teams in the south. A sectional battle with Terre Haute North should be interesting, and Northview will get a big test in the regional against four teams that are ranked in the preseason top 25.
#27 Harrison (West Lafayette) Raiders
New Prairie Semistate #5
2007 Results:
Harrison (West Lafayette) Sectional: 2nd place (72 points)
Harrison (West Lafayette) Regional: 3rd place (69 points)
New Prairie Semistate: 10th place (276 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Prairie Semistate):
Nicolle Egan (11) 19:45 (15th place)
Cecy Linzey (10) 21:09 (65th place)
Amanda Elmore (12) 21:33 (80th place)
Maggie Ramos (11) 21:51 (88th place)
Hannah Woodard (11) 22:03 (94th place)
Laura Bond (11) 22:49 (126th place)
2008 Outlook:
In one of the weaker semistates, Harrison has a great chance to advance to its first state finals in a long time. With frontrunner Nicolle Egan back after a season with state finals experience, her teammates could join her this year. The Raiders will see West Lafayette a lot this season, which should give them a barometer of their potential early and often.
#28 Fort Wayne Snider
New Haven Semistate #7
West Noble Regional #4
2007 Results:
Fort Wayne Northrop Sectional: 4th place (104 points)
West Noble Regional: 5th place (110 points)
New Haven Semistate: 10th place (268 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Haven Semistate):
Rachel Honig (11) 20:15 (34th place)
Natalie Trout (10) 20:35 (51st place)
Elizabeth Koester (10) 21:00 (69th place)
Jennifer Colone (10) 21:13 (81st place)
Katie Colone (12) 21:20 (85th place)
Jessica Gabbard (10) 21:26 (91st place)
Lauren Houser (12) 21:27 (92nd place)
2008 Outlook:
Snider has all of last years semistate squad back. With Derek Leininger now taking over the girls program after two years of leading the boys, expect some improvement from the Panthers. With a lot of depth, Snider should be toward the front at the semistate with a chance to advance. Seniors Katie Colone and Lauren Houser ran on the Panthers state finalist team as freshmen and should provide necessary senior leadership.
#29 Gibson Southern Titans
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate #7
2007 Results:
South Knox Sectional: 1st place (31 points)
Pike Central Regional: 2nd place (78 points)
Bedford North Lawrence Semistate: 9th place (244 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the Bedford North Lawrence Semistate):
Tabitha Titzer (12) 19:45 (15th place)
Lauren Zeabart (12) 20:28 (32nd place)
Jessica Titzer (12) 21:16 (67th place)
Rachael Johnson (11) 21:27 (74th place)
Natalie Chamberlain (12) 22:28 (106th place)
Tessa Angermeier (10) 23:31 (129th place)
Erica Walls (11) 24:27 (143rd place)
2008 Outlook:
Gibson Southern brings back its entire varsity from last years top ten semistate team. With four seniors in the top five, it could be now or never for the Titans state finals dreams in the near future. Gibson Southern needs a bit more depth to fully contend for a top six finish, but they will be among the preseason favorites to advance to Terre Haute out of the south. Senior frontrunner Tabitha Titzer could once again advance as an individual if the team does not finish in the top six.
#30 Huntington North Vikings
New Haven Semistate #8
2007 Results:
Marion Sectional: 1st place (36 points)
Marion Regional: 2nd place (58 points)
New Haven Semistate: 9th place (233 points)
Returning Runners (based on results from the New Haven Semistate):
Gretchen Spahr (10) 20:24 (44th place)
Natalie Spahr (10) 20:31 (46th place)
Olivia Eckert (10) 20:50 (62nd place)
Becca Goodman (10) 20:59 (68th place)
Heidi Blocker (11) 21:51 (109th place)
2008 Outlook:
Huntington North returns five runners from last seasons ninth place team and could threaten to advance this year. Though the Vikings have no frontrunning threat, a solid pack could get them back to the promised land. If junior Heidi Blocker can return to the form that helped her to finish 54th at the semistate her freshman year when Huntington advanced to the state finals, that will only help the Vikings chances.
( Girls 31-40 Teams )