2005 Cross Country Season Preview
The
cross country program enters its tenth year at Penn State Behrend,
and fifth under the direction of head coach Dave Cooper. Since
their inaugural season in 1996 both the men’s and women’s teams have
enjoyed an abundance of success. Both groups have won an Allegheny
Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) title, the men have finished
in the top twenty at the NCAA regional meet in seven of nine years,
and the women are coming off of a thirteenth place finish.
The program enters the 2005 season with high standards. The men’s team has three all-conference performers returning while the women have to attempt to fill the void left by losing three-time AMCC Runner of the Year, Jessica Knapp to graduation.
“The men are determined to have a breakthrough season and improve on their second place finishes of recent years,” said coach Cooper. They are looking to gain their second AMCC title in school history after finishing second to Frostburg State for four consecutive seasons. The women are striving to defend their AMCC crown after losing four all-conference runners from last year’s squad and are rebuilding with youth.
The men’s squad features the 2004 AMCC Newcomer of the Year in sophomore Eric DiLuzio (Erie/Cathedral Prep) and the AMCC runner-up in junior captain Brad Ruffo (West Middlesex/West Middlesex). Senior Harry Balwick (Erie/McDowell) returns along with two-time all-conference performer Craig Davis (Erie/Harborcreek) and sophomore Andy Marshall (Brunswick, OH/Brunswick) who finished just two minutes and five seconds behind the AMCC champ.
Freshmen rounding out the 2005 roster for the Behrend Lions are Jason Bem (Union City/Union City), Matthew Cherpak (Pittsburgh/Chartiers Valley), and Dan Judge (Pittsburgh/Montour). “These three freshmen give us a comfortable level of depth,” said Cooper. “Bem was an All-State High School runner, and Cherpak and Judge are converting quickly to the 8K distance.”
The women’s team is coming off
another strong finish at last year’s regional meet, but will rely on youth
and will need to develop their inexperienced collegiate runners. “Our
women’s team lacks experience, but not talent,” said coach Cooper. “We are
the defending champs, but this season will be challenged by Frostburg and
Altoona.”
The sophomore leaders are Sara Lucas (Hermitage/Hickory) and Leisl Soergel (Evans City/Butler). Lucas is a team leader and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative, while Soergel was named the program’s Rookie of the Year in 2004 and will serve as the team captain. They will be expected to set the pace and guide the first-year runners through the season and into the AMCC Championships in Greensburg, Pa. Eight newcomers on the roster are Jenny Bailey (Corry/Corry), Sarah Ishman (Greenville/Greenville), Lauren Kremm (Greenville/Greenville), Michelle McGregor (State College/State College), Nicole Mineweaser (Warren/Warren), Kathleen O’Brien (Wexford/Davenport Central), Sarah Peterson (Erie/McDowell), and Colleen White (Erie/Central).
The 2005 season opens on September 3 at the Westminster Invitational. On September 17 the blue and white will welcome the largest field to ever compete at the Behrend event with fourteen women’s teams and twelve men’s teams competing. The schedule is highlighted by the AMCC Championships, which will take place on October 29 on Pitt-Greensburg’s home course, and the NCAA Regional meet on November 12, at Dickinson. “Our schedule is strong and will challenge us as individuals and a team,” said Cooper. The women will strive to capture their third league championship while the men will be in another rematch with Frostburg State.