Cottage Grove, Sports Zone

Fall Sports Preview: XC Capsules

COTTAGE GROVE LIONS
Head coach: Ricky Knutson, 3rd year
Team history: Boys 15 total state appearances, girls 4
2022 season: Boys 1st in league, 8th at state; girls 2nd in league, 7th at state
Schedule
8/26 JC Rust Buster @ Upward Landscape
9/2 Ultimook Race, @ Hydrangea Ranch
9/9 Stayton XC Invitational, Stayton Middle School
9/14 Country Fair Classic @ Fairgrounds
9/23 NW Classic 2023 @ Lane CC
9/30 Woahink Lake XC Invitational @ East Woahink Lake, Honeyman State Park
10/7 Paul Mariman Invitational @ Philomath HS
10/14 The CG Bramble Scramble (Solar Eclipse Edition) @ Cottage Grove HS
10/19 Harrisburg Gatorade Challenge @ Harrisburg HS
10/26 4A-4 Sky-Em League Championships @ Lane CC
Top returners
Carter Bengtson, junior, PR 16:22.4, 2022 3rd place in league, 6th at state
Allison Palluck, junior, PR 21:08.4, 2022 7th place in league, 23rd at state
Roster: Expecting 25-30 (18 returning)
Boys (impact runners)
David Culbert, sophomore. Coach says: “(He) joins the team for the first time after a strong showing on the track as a freshman with a 9:50 3k.”
Easton Hutchins, junior, Frank Garcia, sophomore, Jackson Gifford, sophomore, and Lucas O’Hara, sophomore. Coach: “(They) have been putting in the miles this summer and will be part of the scoring core this fall.”
Girls (other top returners)
Bella Keating, junior, has a PR of 21:17 and finished 29th at state.
Ella Cardwell, sophomore. Coach: “(She) had an enormous breakthrough on the track in the spring and has been putting in the miles this summer. She is ready for some big performances this fall.”
Jordynn Owens, sophomore, and Zoey Knutson, sophomore, also return for the girls.
Notable newcomers
Maddison France, junior, was new to CGHS mid year last year and was a state qualifier in the 3000m last spring. She has a PR of 21:26 and was 32nd last year at state for Henley.
Hailey Fergason, freshman, was a standout last year at Lincoln Middle school and will have an immediate scoring impact on the team.
Boys team strengths
■ With Carter Bengtson leading the way the boys have a low stick for the team score. The group has put in a lot of miles this summer and many guys are ready for some big breakthroughs. For a team that is only returning one runner from last season they are going to surprise some folks. The boys hope to contend for a state qualifying spot, and possibly a league title. If they are able to qualify again this fall it would be the first time the boys team has gone to state three years in a row since 1959. If the boys are able to pack runners two through five together then a state trophy is not out of the question.
Boys team areas for improvement
■ Most of the guys are going to be new to varsity level competition, so gaining experience racing at that level will be an important first step. It is a young team, but their off season training will make up for the lack of experience.
Girls team strengths
■ All but one of the girls have experienced racing at the state meet, so that is an advantage. Of the top teams in the state the CG girls expect to have one of the smallest time gaps between the first and fifth runners. A strong summer of training has also helped with confidence that they can race with anyone. The girls team is looking to qualify in back to back seasons for the first time in school history. This team is also chasing the first girls cross country district title for CGHS and looking to fight for a first ever cross country state trophy for the girls program.
Girls team areas for improvement
■ Finding the balance between running as a pack, but also having the courage to make a break when the opportunity presents itself.

CRESWELL BULLDOGS
Head coach: Jonathan Ferguson, 6th year
2022 season: Boys and girls did not place in league
Schedule
8/30 Creswell Opening 3K @ Creswell HS
9/6 Umpqua Opener @ Stewart Park, Roseburg
9/14 Country Fair Classic @ Country Fair Grounds
9/19 2nd Annual Warrior Run, North Douglas HS
9/21 Glide Invitational, Glide HS
9/23 Northwest Classic 2023, Lane CC
9/29 Willamette Golden Hour 5K, Meadow View Middle School
10/14 The CG Bramble Scramble (Solar Eclipse Edition), @ Cottage Grove HS
10/19 Harrisburg Gatorade Challenge, @ Harrisburg HS
10/26 3A/2A/1A SD-4 XC District Championships, Valley of the Rogue State Park
Top returners
Carson Williamson, senior, PR 18:45.0, 2022 14th in league
Kylie Leonard, sophomore, PR 22:28.7, 2022 24th in league

PLEASANT HILL BILLIES
Head coach: Beth Sprague, 13th year
2022 season: Boys 5th in league; girls 3rd in league, 10th at state
Schedule
8/30 Creswell Opening 3K @ Creswell HS
9/9 Stayton XC Invitational @ Stayton Middle School
9/13 Silver Falls Oktoberfest Invitational, @ Silver Falls State Park
9/14 Country Fair Classic @ Country Fair Grounds
9/22 Champs Invite, @ Cheadle Lake Park
9/30 Woahink Lake XC Invitational @ East Woahink Lake, Honeyman State Park
10/7 Paul Mariman Invitational @ Philomath HS
10/14 The CG Bramble Scramble (Solar Eclipse Edition) @ Cottage Grove HS
10/18 Umpqua Invite, @ Stewart Park
10/19 Harrisburg Gatorade Challenge @ Harrisburg HS
10/26 3A/2A/1A SD-4 XC District Championships, Valley of the Rogue State Park
Returning athletes: Boys: 6, Girls: 1
Top returners
Vedder Anderson, junior, PR 18:30.0, 2022 8th in league
Ellie Epperson, junior, PR 21:00.8, 2022 11th in league

SPRINGFIELD MILLERS
Head coach: James March, 9th year
2022 season: Boys 3rd in league, 9th at state; girls 5th in league
Schedule
9/2 Marist Invite @ Marist Catholic
9/9 Ash Creek XC Festival @ Western Oregon University Ash Creek Preserve
9/23 Northwest Classic 2023 Lane CC
9/30 Nike Portland XC @ Clackamas Community College
10/7 The Harrier Classic @ Bryant Park
10/18 Umpqua Invite @ Stewart Park
10/25 Midwestern League Championships @ TBD
Top returners
Owen Fuller, senior, PR 16:37.8, 2022 9th in league
Carrie Babcock, senior, PR 20:45.4, 2022 10th in league

THURSTON COLTS
Head coach: Devin Vanscoy, 3rd year
Team history: 16 team state appearances for boys and 12 for girls
Last state appearance: 2021 for girls. ’09 for boys.
2022 season: Boys 6th in league; girls 6th in league
Schedule
9/2 Ultimook Race @ Hydrangea Ranch
9/9 Saxon Invite @ Bush Park
9/23 Northwest Classic 2023, Lane CC
9/30 Woahink Lake XC Invitational @ East Woahink Lake, Honeyman State Park
10/7 The Harrier Classic @ Bryant Park
10/18 Umpqua Invite @ Stewart Park
10/25 Midwestern League Champ. @ TBD
Boys top returners
Nate Glazier, senior, PR 17:13, 2022 No. 1 runner every meet for THS. Coach says: “Coming off a strong track season where he qualified for state in the 4×400 and 800 meters.”
Carson Buergey, sophomore, PR 17:17, 2022 15th in league, Consistently No. 2 runner for THS as a freshman. Posted one of the fastest 1500, 800 and 3000 freshman times in the entire state during track season.
Girls top returners
Gracie Buergey, junior, PR 27:28, 2022 No. 7 runner for THS. Coach: “She has improved more than anyone, and is a completely different runner now. Ran a 23:20 5k in a non school 5k race this summer.”
Evie Woodward, sophomore, PR 25:14, 2022 4th runner for THS. Coach: “She improved a lot in track this year, has been running over the summer, and should make huge improvements in the 2023 season.”
Team strengths
■ Close-knit group
■ Boys have solid 1-2 punch
■ Hardworking

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