NORTH ROYALTON:
The North Royalton boys and girls cross country teams should be a contrast in experience this season.
While the girls return a core group that finished third in the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division and fifth at districts, the boys are hoping to overcome a couple defections.
“The girls should be experienced and hopefully have a nice conference season,” said Dave Marhefka, who coaches both teams. “The boys are hurting a little bit because we lost a couple kids to soccer.”
The Bears will begin the season Aug. 25 at the Willoughby South Invitational.
Here’s a look at both teams:
Girls
Senior Natalie Vidacs returns to lead a team that finished fifth at districts last season. Vidacs went on to finish 15th at the Tiffin Regional and 74th at state in Division I.
“She will be our leader this year,” said Marhefka.
Seniors Genna Mori, Holly Dombrowski and Ally Dean, juniors Ally Palmer and Aki Mori and sophomores Lauren DiFrancisco and Katelyn Einloth will join Vidacs.
DiFrancisco, who splits time between cross country and soccer, was a top-20 finisher at regionals last year.
Vidacs and DiFrancisco were fifth and seventh, respectively, at last year’s NOC River Division Championship meet.
“Goals are something we’ll talk about later,” said Marhefka. “Usually we’ll make our goals in the middle of the season, whether it’s making the regional or state meet or winning a conference championship.”
Boys
Senior Steve Hornyak returns after a stress fracture sidelined him for eight weeks last season. Despite that, he returned for the NOC meet and finished 11th, and then 34th at districts.
“He has high hopes for this season,” said Marhefka.
Hornyak will be joined this season by juniors Justin Palmer (Ally Palmer’s twin brother), Tristan Buckingham and Matt Rohozen.
Marhefka said the team lost two experienced runners to soccer this season, but he’s looking to a pair of sophomores to contribute in Clayton Rush and Michael Horvat.
“We have a nice mix,” said Marhefka. “A lot of younger kids should get in varsity races for the guys.”
The Willoughby South Invitational is a new edition to the Bears’ schedule, which will be followed by the always tough Tiffin Carnival, Sept. 8.
“In the beginning of the year, you look at Tiffin,” said Marhefka. “If you can be in the top 20 at that meet, you can have a realistic shot at qualifying for the state meet.”
The rest of the Bears’ schedule includes the McDonough Invite (Sept. 15), Cloverleaf Invite (Sept. 22), Gilmour Invite (Sept. 28) and Medina Festival (Oct. 6).
The NOC Championships are Oct. 13.
More North-Royalton stories
Contact Patsko at (216) 986-6066 or spatsko@sunnews.com.
Follow me on Twitter @ScottPatsko