Folders |
Southwest Region Girls Preseason Rankings 2019Published by
Mountain Vista, Niwot Lead Re-Tooled Desert Vista In SW By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor Girls NXR Southwest Preview Colorado has been the dominant state in recent years when it comes to performing at NXR Southwest, with Utah not having a girls team advance to Nike Cross Nationals since 2015 and Arizona being shut out the past two seasons. Despite the region earning at least one girls at-large bid for seven consecutive years, Colorado has managed to secure five of those berths, in addition to the seven automatic qualifiers the state has sent to Portland since 2012. Two of those Colorado programs that competed at NXN last year, fifth-place Niwot and 14th-place Mountain Vista, are the early favorites to advance again this season. Cherry Creek, Battle Mountain and Cherokee Trail also have the potential to challenge for at-large berths by the time they arrive to race Nov. 23 at NXR Southwest in Arizona. But the biggest shift for any program in the country entering the season came from 2014 and 2016 national qualifier Desert Vista AZ, which wasn’t expected to be among the leading contenders to return to Portland, until the arrival of sisters Grace Ping and Lauren Ping, who transferred from Minnesota after two years at Winona Cotter. In addition, the Thunder also welcomed Josephine Gregory from Pace FL, adding three potential stars to a lineup that already returned its top five performers from a group that placed fourth at last year’s Arizona Division 1 state final. The team with perhaps the greatest motivation in the region is Lone Peak UT, which has finished fourth in each of the past two seasons at NXR Southwest, including last year by one point behind Niwot, which not only earned an at-large bid to NXN, but capitalized on the selection by securing a top-five finish. 1. Mountain Vista CO: Although the Golden Eagles have made three straight trips to NXN, joining Fort Collins (2007-13) as the only Colorado girls teams to achieve the feat, there is still plenty of unfinished business for the group after winning NXR Southwest last season, only to place 14th in Portland, behind state rivals Niwot and Battle Mountain. Mountain Vista has the potential to improve upon its sixth-place finish from 2017 at NXN, but will need seniors Sarah O’Sullivan, Madison Reed and Jenna Fitzsimmons, along with juniors Shantell Hafner and Nina St. John to showcase their experience when it matters most. 2. Niwot CO: With senior Samrawit Dishon and junior Taylor James leading the way, the Cougars should find themselves in contention again for a top-three finish at NXR Southwest. Whether Niwot can duplicate its impressive fifth-place performance at NXN will depend more on the improvement of senior Joelle McDonald, junior Lucca Fulkerson and sophomore Eva Klingbeil, along with the development of several younger athletes who face the challenge of helping the Cougars replace 4A state champion Layla Roebke – now at Tulsa – in this year’s lineup. 3. Desert Vista AZ: Based solely on the return of seniors Katy Clausen and Madeline Shoemaker, in addition to juniors Olivia Thatcher, Quinn Boardman and Eve Boardman from last year’s lineup, the Thunder had the potential to be among the most improved teams in the region after not competing last season at NXR Southwest. With the return of Dr. Jeff Messer to the girls coaching staff, along with the additions of Josephine Gregory, Grace Ping and Lauren Ping to the roster, if Desert Vista can remain healthy, don’t be surprised if this group is back in contention for a regional championship in its home state. 4. Lone Peak UT: Perhaps the biggest challenge for the Knights during the regular season will be finding ways to remain sharp, since there is a significant gap between their lineup and the rest of the returning talent in the state. Juniors Eliza Arrington and Reagan Gardner, along with sophomore Eliza Mason, give Lone Peak a formidable trio up front against any team in the region, but whether the program can finally achieve a breakthrough after a pair of fourth-place regional finishes will depend on the performances of seniors Monet Winger, Hallie Kemp and Mackenzie Meldrum, as well as sophomore Katie Bybee. 5. Cherry Creek CO: The team that found itself under the radar when it came to the elite programs in its own state, as well as the regional last year, has a significant opportunity to be front and center this season, returning all seven athletes from a 13th-place finish at NXR Southwest. The Bruins possess a great balance of young talent with sophomores Riley Stewart, Shelby Balding and Abigail MacLean, in addition to motivated veterans in seniors Erin Smith, Lauren Lapporte and Elizabeth Lapporte, as well as junior Maggie Goeglein in pursuit of securing their first trip to NXN. Watchlist More news |
