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2019 Southwestern Conference Fall Preview – Boys Cross Country

With the fall athletic season just around the corner, the Southwestern Conference is excited to launch its Southwestern Conference Fall Preview. The preview will be a tradition for faithful Southwestern Conference followers and will signal the beginning of the much anticipated 2019 fall athletic seasons and the first step on the pathway to this year’s Southwestern Conference Champions.

Follow along this week as we preview each of the Fall sports as they begin their 2019 campaigns:

Monday Aug 12th – Football
Tuesday Aug 13th – Boys & Girls Golf / Girls Tennis
Wednesday Aug 14th – Boys & Girls Cross Country
Thursday Aug 15th – Volleyball
Friday Aug 16th – Boys & Girls Soccer


Amherst Steele

Head Coach: Rob Glatz

Years at school: 5

Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 3rd in SWC

Number of Returning Starters: 6

Athletes to Watch: Ethan Barnes (Sr), Gabe DelValle (Sr), Matthew Kirsh (Sr), Jacob Raesler (Jr), Cael Walker (Jr)

2019 Season Outlook: Five of Amherst’s top seven runners from last year’s OHSAA District Championship team return for 2019.  Strong leadership from their seniors has resulted in a solid summer of running while building discipline, injury prevention measures and brotherhood. The Comets are looking for their best season yet.


Avon

Head Coach: Matt Nortz

Years at school: 8

Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 2nd in SWC

Number of Returning Starters: 6

Athletes to Watch: Muhammad Abedeljaber (Sr), Cole Emerine (Jr), Evan Haemmerle (So), Ryan Hamerschmidt (Jr), Evan Holtzmeier (So), Joe Laforet (Sr), Jett Wieber (Jr), Brandon Wiedl (Jr)

2019 Season Outlook: Graduating only one starting Senior from the 2018 season, the Eagles will enjoy a deep squad with lots of returning starters. The team runs as a close unit and hopes to place high in several invitationals throughout the season. Although Avon lost by one point last year at SWC, they are aiming to advance to the State meet.


Avon Lake

Head Coach:

Years at school:

Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record):

Number of Returning Starters:

Athletes to Watch:

2019 Season Outlook: Not submitted in time for release.


Berea-Midpark

Head Coach: Tim Barnes

Years at school: 5

Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record):

Number of Returning Starters:

Athletes to Watch: Josh Carver (Sr), Nathan Demian (Jr)

2019 Season Outlook: This is the first year of Coach Barnes coaching the Boys team.  With eight freshmen and five sophomores, the Titans have a young group with great potential.  The Titans will rely on the leadership of senior captain Josh Carver and junior captain Nathan Demian in 2019.


Lakewood

Head Coach: Stephanie Toole

Years at school: 7

Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 1st in SWC

Number of Returning Starters: 5

Athletes to Watch: Cormac Peppard-Kramer

2019 Season Outlook: Graduating two of their top seven runners from a young team in 2018, Lakewood looks to come back and defend their conference title this season. With a large incoming freshman class, the young Rangers team is looking to improve and stay strong in the coming years.


Midview

Head Coach: Kathy Manning

Years at school: 2

Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 9th in SWC

Number of Returning Starters: 5

Athletes to Watch: Mark Allman, Robert Callaway, Ryan Carnahan

2019 Season Outlook: The Middies are a growing program. Coach Manning is excited for the upcoming season. She has a good mix of veteran and new runners in 2019 and is looking forward to seeing a lot of PRs this season.


North Olmsted

Head Coach: Michael D’Alessandro

Years at school: 15

Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 10th in SWC

Number of Returning Starters: 7

Athletes to Watch: Miles Ciulla (Fr), Owen Conway (Jr), Aidan Fox (Jr), Braden Martens (So), Albert Olesky (Sr), Bobby Perkins (So) Will Smith (Sr), Kyle Smith (So), Sean Whelan (Sr)

2019 Season Outlook: The Eagles have the talent to bounce back from their 2018 season.  D’Alessandro feels with the proper mix of attitude, effort, and motivation, this can be a very successful team.


North Ridgeville

Head Coach: Andy Dohanos

Years at school: 6

Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 8th in SWC

Number of Returning Starters: 5

Athletes to Watch: Tobin Grendzynski (Sr), Eddie Laviano (Sr), Adam Menser (Jr), Eric Reynolds (Sr), Alex Serna (So)

2019 Season Outlook: After a solid summer of training, returning veteran leadership, and important additions led by Caden Blaylock (So) and Gustavo Imbacuan (Fr) the Rangers feel ready to compete in the conference.


Olmsted Falls

Head Coach: Hunter Heaton

Years at school: 1

Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 7th in SWC

Number of Returning Starters: 5

Athletes to Watch: Doug Kukura (Jr), Kyle Neckar (Jr), Andrew Schroth (Sr)

2019 Season Outlook: New at Olmsted Falls, Head Coach Hunter Heaton is eager to help his team grow.  After finishing seventh last year, the Bulldogs have their eyes set on a top four finish in the conference in 2019.


Westlake

Head Coach: Kyle Romansky

Years at school: 5

Last Year’s Overall Record (Conference Record): 5th in SWC

Number of Returning Starters: 6

Athletes to Watch: Lance Clemons, Matthew Eadie, Colin Walsh

2019 Season Outlook: This year’s Westlake team is poised to capitalize on potential that has been building for a couple of years. Many runners in the senior, junior, and sophomore classes come in with a lot of varsity experience, and the incoming freshman have shown potential in the early parts of the season. The Demons have bought into a team first mentality, and are working together collectively toward individual and team goals. This season Westlake is hoping to win the SWC for the first time since 2000 and qualify to regionals as a team for the first time since 1999. Coach Romansky has strong front running in Colin Walsh, Lance Clemons, Matthew Eadie, and David Daniel. Ivan Tucholski, KJ Mueller, Eric Kronz, Vivek Aslot, Kris Regas, Jake Rintamaki, among others add depth that will allow Westlake to perform at the highest level.