The 2009 cross country season was one of the most memorable in Carson High history.
The varsity boys, led by state champ Richard Shroy, won league, region and state championships, while the girls, led by Katie McFarren, finished second at the regional meet and won the state title.
"We have lost Richard Shroy, Nick Schlager and David McMasters," Sinnott said. "They were great role models for the other runners and big contributors. On the girls side we lost some great runners to the next adventure in their life. Katie McFarren, Yvonne Hollett, Amber Karnofel and Carolyn Montiel have all left a lasting impression of their commitment and excellence.
"We will have overall good team strength on both teams. While not being the favorite, if things go well we will be very competitive especially late in the year."
Carson does return five solid members from last year's boys squad, including Brandon Buonacorsi, Evan Richards, Brent Moyle, Logan Phillipi and Joshua Van Sickle. Phillipi and Moyle have been competing on varsity the past three seasons. Moyle is currently ranked third in the state.
"Brandon will need to juggle a busy schedule, as he is incoming student body president," Sinnott said. "Evan is getting more fit and faster every year, and Joshua is coming on strong and should be a top competitor for us this year."
Sinnott expects to get a lot of help from members of the undefeated JV squad - Nick Green, Victor Favero, Noel Lopez, Craig Smith and Joe Ward.
Amanda Gordon, a member of two state championship squads and one of the top runners in the state, leads the girls' squad.
Other returnees are Chelsea Gordon, Erika Sosa, Ashley Salcedo and Alexandra Theiss plus Haley and Emily Toupes.
Also expected to contribute is junior April Shonnard, who formerly ran at Manogue and sat out last year.
Sinnott has some outstanding freshman coming in led by Alex Drozdoff and Cindy Juchtzer. Also competing will be Delaney Cobb, Sarah Colgrove, Avery Hudak, Samantha Schultz and McKenna Tackett.
DAYTON HIGH SCHOOL
First-year coach Shawn Anderson is optimistic as practice got under way this week, and with good reason.
He returns four runners - three boys and one girl - that competed at the 3A state meet a year ago. The boys team qualified as a team.
Junior Ethan Galloway (20th at state), senior Brian Hagedorn (21st at state) and sophomore Skyler Rose (26th at state) lead a solid boys squad.
Aaron Elisa, who ran a 5:10 mile in track last spring is one of several new additions. Also new to the team this year are sophomore Ben Woods, freshman Peter Scott and junior William Fitch.
"The boys will be at the same level or better than last year," said Anderson, who expects big things from last year's state contingent. " They've been working hard all summer."
The girls' squad is led by Brenda Cid, a four-year runner who finished 21st at state last year. She is complemented by fellow senior Caitlin Crosby. Also returning from last year are juniors Nica Scott, Katie Smith and Sara Torgerson.
Anderson has a group of promising newcomers led by freshmen Isabella Anderson, Kaia Galloway and Rhael Ransom. Anderson and Galloway were second and third, respectively, at last year's Lyon County Championships. Ransom just moved into the area last year.
Senior Shanleigh Brethauer, another newcomer, fared well in her first year of track last spring.
'With the addition of Shanleigh and the three new freshmen, I think the girls will be solid," Anderson said. "All four of them have been running this summer."