Folders |
South Region Girls Preseason Rankings 2019Published by
Prosper, Flower Mound Look To Build On 2018 Breakthrough By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor Girls NXR South Preview Both Flower Mound and Prosper made their first Nike Cross Nationals appearances last year after the NXR South bids had long been dominated by Texas programs Southlake Carroll, Conroe The Woodlands, Humble Kingwood and Keller. While both teams struggled last year in Portland against the depth of competition, Prosper and Flower Mound have the benefit of each returning six athletes who gained valuable national experience in their respective pursuits to return this season. Southlake Carroll finished third at NXR South last year and wasn’t awarded an at-large berth, missing Nike Team Nationals/Nike Cross Nationals for only the third time in the meet’s 15-year existence. Not only do the Dragons return six athletes, but boast perhaps the most experience of any team in Texas. After winning the Texas UIL 6A state title last year, Coppell struggled at NXR South and placed fourth. The Cowboys have the potential to challenge for supremacy at both meets again, but only have one senior among their top five runners, so experience could again be a factor. Austin Vandegrift and Bridgeland, teams that placed sixth and seventh at last year’s Texas UIL 6A state final, could be sleepers come November with deep rosters and plenty of improving talent. After finishing third in the Texas UIL 5A final last season, Cedar Park stepped up at NXR South and placed fifth. The Timberwolves return a pair of top athletes, but also lost two scorers to graduation. Among the non-Texas teams, St. Joseph’s Academy of Baton Rouge – the Louisiana 5A champion – finished 10th at NXR South last year and returns six individuals. No Louisiana team, girls or boys, has ever qualified for nationals, with the last non-Texas girls team to advance from the regional Tupelo MS in 2006. 1. Prosper TX: The Eagles finished third at the 6A state final, second at NXR South and 20th at NXN, and return four athletes – sophomore Aubrey O’Connell, junior Alexis Svoboda, sophomore Sadie Gonzales and senior Tatum Castillo – who placed in the top 40 at both the state and regional meets. If Prosper can close the gap with its No. 5 scorer, the strength up front should carry the group back to Portland. 2. Flower Mound TX: The Jaguars regrouped after placing second at state to win NXR South by a 17-point margin and finish 18th at NXN. The minimal separation right now among Flower Mound and Prosper is due to the Jaguars graduating No. 2 scorer Anastaysia Davis. But Flower Mound returns promising sophomores Natalie Cook and Allison Buemi, along with four other veteran scorers who should be instrumental again come November. 3. Southlake Carroll TX: The Dragons improved from fourth at the 6A state final to third at NXR South, but it wasn’t enough to secure a fourth straight trip to NXN. Southlake Carroll is seeking a 13th overall appearance in Portland and will rely heavily on seniors Lydia Lo and Payton Wichman, along with junior Grace Wiiliamson, all of whom placed in the top 50 at the regional last year. 4. Austin Vandegrift TX: The Vipers took sixth at the 6A state championship and placed eighth at NXR, but have the benefit of returning all of their top four scorers in senior Jordan Mathis, juniors Gemma Goddard and Emma Saia, in addition to sophomore Taylor Mathis. The quartet all finished in the top 60 at state, but only three of them did so at regionals, emphasizing a focus on improving depth this year. 5. Coppell TX: Everything was clicking for the Cowboys when they won the 6A state title, placing five athletes in the top 41 with a 15-second spread. But at the regionals, Coppell had five scorers in the top 94 with a 76-second gap, resulting in a fourth-place finish. Juniors Chloe Hassman and Natalie Fleming return, along with senior Shelby Spoor, but losing two of their top five performers to graduation will be a significant challenge to overcome for the Cowboys. Watchlist |
