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With several of their top runners returning, the Rockbridge County High School girls and boys cross country teams have set their goals high for the upcoming season.
Guided by eighth-year head coach Julie Tisone, both teams aim to qualify for the Class 3 state meet, and the RC girls hope to improve on their sixth-place finish last year. The RC girls have a strong chance of doing that, with four of their top seven runners returning from a team that won the Valley District title last year and placed second in the Region 3C meet.
The Wildcats have a total of 34 runners this year – 15 girls and 19 boys. The RC girls return seven harriers, while the boys bring back five.
From last year’s team, the RC girls graduated seven, led by three of the seven runners that competed in the state meet: Megan Timmes, Grace Rolon and Elizabeth McClung. The RC boys graduated five seniors, led by regional qualifiers Evan Roney, Andrew Brannon and Brian Kendall. Roney, who led the RC boys before his season ended early due to a knee injury prior to the Region 3C meet, is now a member of the cross country team at Division III school Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.
Expected to lead the RC girls are their two co-captains, seniors Deena Ludtke and Nicole Black, while senior Jordan Imler is the boys’ captain.
Tisone said all three captains are experienced runners who “know what to expect from me. They know the cross country routine.” Tisone said they were chosen as captains “because they are strong leaders, and the other athletes listen to them. They are inclusive and are always coming up with fun activities to motivate the runners and be inclusive. They’re able to communicate with their teammates and me.”
Throughout the summer, the captains led regular workouts and group runs. “This will help them start with a great base going into the season,” said Tisone. “This will help prevent injuries and let them work on their speed sooner in the season.”
The RC girls have two seniors, one junior, five sophomores and seven freshmen.
Ludtke was the Valley District champion last year and placed seventh in the Region 3C meet to earn all-region (top 15) honors before leading the RC girls at the state meet by finishing 28th. Black was the Wildcats’ second runner at the end of last season, earning all-district and all-region honors before finishing 34th at the state meet.
Although Black and Ludtke are the only two seniors on the RC girls’ team, Tisone is excited about the younger runners and the promising freshmen who ran well in middle school competition.
The Wildcats’ lone junior is Brooke Eichelberger, who returns after competing as the Wildcats’ seventh runner last year. Also returning from the squad that competed at the state meet is sophomore Dorothy Lewis, who was RC’s fourth runner at the state meet last year.
Other returning RC girls who got valuable experience last year are sophomores Alice Gresham, Kate Holston and Evelyn McClung.
New to the girls’ team are sophomore Cassandra Silver and seven freshmen: Gemma Batis, Emily Carroll, Ruby Goodhart, Abigail Harding, Hannah Ivins, Anna Nye and Cate Skaggs.
For the RC boys, who placed fourth in the Valley District meet last year but did not qualify as a team for the Region 3C meet, the Wildcats are large in numbers but have plenty of new faces. There are four seniors, one junior, five sophomores and nine freshmen.
The top returning runner for the RC boys is junior Alexander Miller, who was the Wildcats’ fourth runner at the district meet last fall, while Imler competed as RC’s seventh runner.
Other Wildcats returning are senior Chase Lowney and sophomores Markus Nelson and Graham Niebur.
Seniors John Buren and Konner Orebaugh join the team after competing as sprinters for the track and field team throughout their high school careers, and sophomore Fisher Howald joins after competing as a distance runner during the indoor track season.
Also new to the team are sophomores Trenten Cash and Liam Stillwell and freshmen Charlie Cosgriff, Sammy Eastwood, Parker Fountain, Tyler Ludtke, Blake Mc-Clung, Finnegan Miller, Chase Potter, Tristan Ripani and Preston Spangler.
Jen Ludtke returns as an assistant coach, and the Wildcats welcome two new assistant coaches, Drew Ludtke and Louise Uffelman. Jen and Drew are the parents of Deena and Tyler.
Tisone is confident in her coaching staff. Jen Ludtke ran in high school and college and directs running camps throughout the year. “She brings her knowledge and patience to work with the athletes,” said Tisone.
Drew Ludtke, who helps Jen direct running camps, was an all-around athlete who coached cross country and track and field at Virginia Military Institute. “He brings his precise knowledge of running form,” said Tisone. “He will do form analysis on each athlete and give direction on how to improve the form through strengths a nd drills.”
Uffelman, who recently retired from the W&L Alumni Communications Department, has helped direct races and works at Lex Running Shop. She has also run the Boston Marathon multiple times. “She will bring fresh eyes and energy to the program,” said Tisone.
In the Valley District, Tisone sees Spotswood as the toughest opponent. Spotswood was the runner-up to the RC girls last year and won the last four district titles for the boys. The district has added two new teams, East Rockingham and William Monroe, that should bring new challenges.
The Wildcats are scheduled to start the season on Tuesday when they travel to Fishersville for the Valley Cup Relays. RC’s home meet is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 6 at Natural Bridge State Park, starting at 5:30 p.m., with the Wildcats competing against district rivals Harrisonburg and Spotswood.
