With one of the biggest rosters in recent memory, the girl’s cross country team is young this year, but is ready to run. Sixth-year head coach Jo Guscott has 23 girls on her roster this year, up from 14 in 2014. Three of those 14 girls graduated.
So, how does a program go from 14 girls, with three leaving due to graduation, to 23 a year later?
“The girls recruited because they had fun last year,” Guscott said. “We run everyday, so you have to make it fun. We do fun sock Friday, a fun run on Friday, play capture the flag, run to Rita’s and I make cupcakes for them each week. They had a lot of fun last year and we were successful.”
With just three seniors on the squad, the Pirates will look for some help from the younger girls this season, who have a little bit of experience under their belts.
“Most of the girls, the top 7, I only lost one to graduation last year. So, I’m really excited about who I have.”
The Pirates move back into the Patriot division and a three-division alignment after a year of just two divisions.
“I’m very excited about the division we are in this year. Last year it was only two divisions and this year it is back to three. We are in the Patriot in South Jersey, Group 2.”
The 2014 squad posted a record of 11-3 with the three losses coming against Moorestown, Rancocas Valley and Northern Burlington.
Since the pre-season began, Coach Guscott has been talking about setting goals with her girls.
“I’ve been talking to them about setting team goals and individual goals. What a decent time would be, because they don’t know yet and neither do I.”
Olivia Rocks and Katie O’Connor are captains of the girl’s cross country team this year. The two have worked well together leading the young squad through the pre-season.
“Olivia is a runner and she’s going to be very strong in helping the girls prepare for the races. Katie is in her second year on the team. She has really good leadership skills. I think the combination is working out really well. They bring different leadership skills to the team.”
The girl’s cross country season begins on Saturday, September 12 at Cherokee for the Cherokee Challenge.
[…] Pirates girl’s cross country squad came into the 2015 season as a young team and finished it with a 14-1 record, a Patriot Division title (4-0) and came in 11th at the State, […]