Leadership crucial for Tigers
by Greg Ceilley of The Review staff
HOWARDS GROVE – Leadership will be a key determinant for the Howards Grove boys and girls cross country teams this season.
Tiger head coach Gary Kalk is looking for individuals to step up and assume leadership roles.
“We lost a great deal of leadership and experience due to graduation [on the boys squad]. Experience will come with time but leadership is needed to make us better runners,” Kalk said.
The Tiger girls are led by junior Amy Thieleke, a state qualifier the past two years. Thieleke finished second in the Central Lakeshore Conference championships in 2008.
Heading the group of returning boys is senior Collin VerVelde who placed 16th in last year’s CLC meet. Kalk said freshman Mach Carstens has looked very solid as a newcomer.
Kalk noted the teams’ strengths.
“The kids just work hard and have fun,” he said.
“I have a bunch of kids that come out and enjoy the lifelong sport of running and challenge themselves to endure the rigors of the sport while improving themselves in the process.”
The coach expects Cedar Grove-Belgium to be the title favorite in the CLC boys and girls competition. In the boys, he thinks Sheboygan Lutheran will be the top challenger for Cedar Grove, followed by Howards.
Cedar Grove is the defending boys champion. Lutheran is the reigning girls titlist – edging Cedar Grove for first on a tiebreaker.
“My goal for the kids is for them to have fun and enjoy the lifelong sport of running,” Kalk said.
HOWARDS GROVE BOYS & GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE
Sept. 3 – at Kiel Invitational
Sept. 10 – at Cedar Grove Invite
Sept. 12 – at Manitowoc Roncalli Invite
Sept. 15 – at Sheb. Lutheran Invite
Sept. 17 – at Valders Invite
Sept. 22 – at Plymouth Invite
Sept. 24 – at Kewaskum Invite
Sept. 29 – County Meet, at UW-Sheb.
Oct. 6 – at Brillion Invite
Oct. 8 – at Campbellsport Invite
Oct. 15 – CLC Meet, TBA
Oct. 23 – Sectional, TBA
HOWARDS GROVE CROSS COUNTRY ROSTERS
Boys
Seniors – *Collin VerVelde and *Matt Bahr.
Juniors – Brian Eschen, *Phillip Gessler, *Trevor Schueler, Garrett Whitehead, *Mike Wleklinski and Ryan Mugan.
Sophomores – *Jared Meidl.
Freshmen – Mach Carstens.
Girls
Juniors – *Christina Larson, *Brittney Palm, Rachel Probst, *Lindsay Schnelle and *Amy Thieleke.
Sophomores – *Carmen Conrad.
* = Returning letter winner.
