OUTLOOK: In a county decimated by graduation, can the Bucs dynasty still hold? Lofton thinks it can. Despite the youth of his team - he's never had just one senior - the coach likes his top two runners. But will his youngsters develop by the postseason?
QUOTE: "Danielle and Nicole are a real good solid 1-2 punch. I think we're going to be pretty strong. I think we'll be as good or better than we were last year."
HUDSON COBRAS
COACH: Frank Buono (second season)
LAST YEAR: Didn't field a team
KEY RETURNERS: None
KEY NEWCOMERS: Bianca Alred, Sr.; Courtney Burns, Jr.; Christine Cable, So.; Sara Gosset, Jr.; Cindy Oliver, Jr.
OUTLOOK: The Cobras will field an all-rookie squad. None have run cross country before, but Alred is a track veteran who has already secured the No. 1 spot. Oliver and Burns are coming along as runners, too.
QUOTE: "I think this is probably a year for them to get experience."
OUTLOOK: SAC runner of the year Dani Shimer is gone. The Gators are rebuilding but the new coach is excited. Moyer takes over the No. 1 spot and will be backed up by No. 2 Martin, a soccer standout who was Pine View Middle School's top distance runner. The coach is learning on the job, though, because he coached lacrosse in New York.
QUOTE: "It's a young team. They really seem to be forging a really good base together. The level of camaraderie will help to build the team for next season."
OUTLOOK: It's a brand new day for the Mustangs, with an almost brand-new lineup. Technically Reilly is a returner but hasn't run since her sophomore year. But she's rapidly improved and is the No. 1 runner. Rebuilding Mitchell is Wachtel, one of the greatest runners in county history.
QUOTE: "We're very young and it's just a building year. Corie is back after taking a year off, and she looks strong and is working very hard."
PASCO PIRATES
COACH: Pam Lowrey (first season)
LAST YEAR: Eighth in conference
KEY RETURNERS: Maria Granados, Jr.; Heather Laws, Sr.; Precious Torres, Jr.
OUTLOOK: Is there a year the Pirates aren't rebuilding? This year it falls on another new coach, Lowrey, to help Pasco achieve respectability. Godinez is the No. 1 runner, but the race is close. Laws and Granados are not far behind.
QUOTE: "We're new but I think we're going to do pretty good, I really do."
OUTLOOK: Ridgewood has high hopes of recapturing some past glory in Jones' second year as coach. Heymann has secured the No. 1 race position, leading a hard-working and especially close group this season.
QUOTE: "We have a strong top 5 this year and they all work hard and they're a pretty close knit team and we've been training since school got out last year.
OUTLOOK: Has any team lost as much as the Royal Knights? Not only are standouts Danielle Coyle and Samantha Jacobsen gone, but so is coach Erik Hermansen, who is now an administrator. Fortunately, the team has a veteran coach in Heywood and a strong group of three returners and two track veterans led by No. 1 Rowland.
QUOTE: "I think our girls are going to be competitive in our conference. I think we'll be one of the better teams."
WESLEY CHAPEL WILDCATS
COACH: Don Howard (second season)
LAST YEAR: Fifth in conference
KEY RETURNERS: Stephanie Amerman, Sr.; Petra Houbova, Jr.; Stephanie Mullis, Jr.; Brenda Padilla, Jr.; Melissa Sams, Jr.; Patience Shackley, Fr.
OUTLOOK: Let's skip the formalities and tab Amerman as the county's top runner and favorite to run the SAC. She'll be taking aim at state as well this year while leading a strong group that will be aiming at Gulf come conference time. Shackley was a star at Weightman Middle and is the No. 2, and Sams, a track sprinter, is another new addition.
QUOTE: "I think we have a good girls squad. I'm real optimistic about their chances to compete for the conference title."
ZEPHYRHILLS BULLDOGS
COACH: Dave Jones (first season)
LAST YEAR: Seventh in SAC
KEY RETURNERS: None
KEY NEWCOMERS: Sara Benjamin, Jr.; Marta Heidenrich, Jr.; Ann Marie Gildemeyer, Jr.; Kara Hill, Jr.; Allison Ramirez, So.; DeNae Roberts, So.; Ashley Robichaud, Jr.
OUTLOOK: Graduation didn't hurt the Bulldogs, but everything else did. Veteran runners chose not to return for a variety of reasons, including injury, other sports and lack of interest. They're all rookies (most conditioning for other sports) and Hill is starting to stand out.
QUOTE: "This is starting over right from scratch. There's no other way to put it. We're building and growing."
