By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Defending Orange Belt Conference cross country girls champion Harmony appears loaded again, but boys OBC champion Gateway must contend with a very strong team from St. Cloud.

Harmony

Coach Debra Schweiger led the Lady Longhorns to the the Orange Belt Conference title and the state meet in 2009.

Seniors Chelsea Connor and Brittany Connor, 2009 Runner of the Year Sam Travis, Kristle Ward and Liane Montalvo return. Junior Keri Dewey, in her first season, and sophomore Kylie Koral round out the varsity squad.

"We have a very strong team and we would like to defend our OBC championship," Schweiger said.

Jake Grantham takes over the boys program, which boasts seniors Logan Blanton, Joseph Flanagan, R.J. Justesen, Harrison Porter and Christian Jacobsen.

Rounding out the squad are junior Matt Henning, last year's No. 1 runner, and sophomore Alex Grieve.

Grantham is counting on Henning and Blanton, the only two returning from last year's varsity, to provide leadership.

“I have high expectations for the season and our team, even though we lost five of our top seven runners (to graduation),” Grantham said.

St. Cloud

Coach Kevin Harkema is leading both the boys and girls programs.

The boys, after qualifying for the Class 3A state meet last season, may be the team to beat in the OBC.

"We have every runner returning from varsity last season and Ralphy Hernandez, who was on varsity two years ago, is back from Celebration," Harkema said. "This is a hard working bunch and we'll be ready to go."

Leading the way are Bailey Morgan and Carlos Perez, a duo Harkema calls "a very good 1-2 punch," and Matt Cole is solid at No. 3.

Seniors Eric Ratliff, Sean Wood and Brandon Richmond have impressed Harkema. Sophomores Antonio Montalvo and Juan Claudio also are varsity candidates, along with freshman Aaron Allcorn.

"I am excited about our season. The team goal is to finish top 15 at state," he said. "We have a ways to go for that, though."

The girls team is led by returning runners Ashlyn Stadtlander and Katelyn Stadtlander. Rebecca Davis and Taylor Wassum will contribute to the varsity, Harkema said.

Newcomers include  Berenise Vega, Yaritza Bryant and Lourdes Augusta.

Gateway

Tane Crossley has watched his Panthers win the Orange Belt Conference title the past two seasons, but despite losing many of those runners to graduation, Crossley is optimistic that Gateway will contend again.

“I have a decent team, but only five returners from last year,” he said. “I am looking at a solid top five and two others are going to have to step up.”

Carlos Espinol returns at No. 1, Crossley said. Also back are Edison Velez, Dale Gozum, Bryan Rosera, Luis Hernandez and Max DaSilva.

Newcomers include Bry-an Cudjo, Joseph Kimber, Joshua River and Juan Jose Ramirez.

Rachel Stone joins the program as an assistant coach.

Girls Coach Heather Piper's squad has seniors Jaquala Montalvo and Kaley White, junior Akilah Chandler, and sophomores Naomi Castin and Maura Huddlestone. All but Montalvo ran last season.

Poinciana

Coach Bryan McLoughlin knows his team is smart – it had the highest team GPA at PHS last season – and now he is interested in seeing how fast it is.

"I have some good experienced runners from track running cross country this year. I don’t have a clear No. 1 runner yet. That is new for Poinciana cross country, but I think it will make for some great competition on the team for that No.1 spot," he said.

Leading the way are juniors Maunel Fandino and Evan Ticknor along with sophomore Christian Ramos.

McLouglin is counting on runners such as Niels Akkerman, Hember Sanabria, Micheal Ortiz, Jose Abastida, Ryan Irwin, Adam Meal, Keith Parker, Martin Solaranzo, Brandon Stillword, Shawn Wilhelm and Micheal Trinidad to help the team return to regional competition.

Coach Darcy Barr probably would be one of the top runners on her Lady Eagles squad as she trains for her fifth marathon in Chicago next month.

Meanwhile, she is pleased to have a group of runners that includes seniors Carmen Almedarez, Kenina Bonner, Frrances Bonner, Rossie Jimenez, Carlyssa Pierre, Maria Salinas and Tania Uriostegui. Also on the roster are juniors Jade Vadnos, Andrea Betancur, Shyenne Barnes and Estefany Abastida. Sophomore Nephthali Duronville and freshmen Keisha Morreno and Imani Smichi round out the roster.

Liberty

Coach Robert Pauley said both his boys and girls teams must make considerable progress over the next several weeks in order to compete for the conference championships.

"Not logging miles over the summer will hamper our program and in the early part of the season," Pauley said. “We’ll have to work hard to be able to compete in for the OBC championship."

Senior Robbie Johnroe returns after an excellent track season where he ran 4:28 in the 1,600 meters and 9:51 at 3,200 meters. Johnroe was the conference runner-up last season.

German Amadis is another promising runner. Also challenging for a varsity spot are Julio Cabrera, Rodney Diaz, German Salgado and Daniel Smith.

Pauley sees state meet potential in his team.

"Our goal is to make it to the state meet and finish in the top three in the OBC," he said.

This should be the Chargers' best girls team, Pauley said, with Summer Lazzel and Khrista Gonzalez fighting for the No. 1 spot.

"Both women are working hard and making each other better runners, so they should improve throughout the year," he said.

Gabby Garcia joins the varsity, along with Mariah Abreu and Katia Rivas.

Osceola

Coach Mike Clemens leads the boys and girls programs.

The girls roster includes seniors Deshonna Bagwell, Selam Belay and Jessica Lewis, and juniors Brooke Basho, Eleana Estrella and Katrina Salvatore.

The sophomores are Joann Morales, Amanda Donascimento and Ismar Rios. Freshman Destine Mercklin also is competing.

The team placed eighth at the Winter Haven Invitational last week.

The senior boys are Denys Aquilar, Arnaldo Carrero, Josh Farrington, Efrain Jiminez, Tyler McCurtain, Luis Moraguez, Alexander Rivera, Dillon Seawright and James Tanner.

The juniors are Zach Handley, Marquis Hegwood and Josh Rodriguez. Sophomore runners are Leo Aguilar, Joseph Bobet, Amaury Santiago, Max Tilford and Eric Williams.

Freshmen Daniel Silva and Victor Suero also will compete.

The boys placed sixth at Winter Haven last week, and the JV team finished third.

Osceola will host a three-team meet today at 8 a.m. with Lakeland George Jenkins and Gateway.

Celebration

Coach Ed Kuzma takes over the boys program.

Back from last year are Jacob Balentine and Leo Mendoca. Transfer Quincy O'Connor, a junior, also will compete on the varsity.

O'Connor made an impressive debut at the Winter Haven Invitational last week with a sizzling time of 16:04.

"He's the real deal," Kuzma said.

They are joined by Carlos Garcia, Robert Rainey, Avi Nelson, Manuel Cievas, Manny Calderon and Alex Betancourt.

Kuzma said the program will have a full JV team for the first time.

Dana Hayes coaches the Lady Storm.

Her roster includes seniors Lauren Barroso, Ashley Barroso, Sheranjeet Dhillon, Laura Rodriguez, Courtney Taulbee and Shelby Almegad as well as juniors Christina Ricci and Maria Rodriguez.

Also competing are sophomore Teranjeet Dhillon and freshmen Rachel Barry, Cecilia Mendonca, Christina Dial, Delaney O'Connor, Shanney O'Connor and Alexandra Luosey.

The girls team placed fifth at Winter Haven last week, led by Ricci (12th).

New Dimensions

Coach Cathy Esposito has a competitive boys team that includes runners Robby DeJesus, John Rodriguez, Aristides Serrano, James Fuchs, Oscar Raul Giron, William Graham, Gabryl Martinez, Xaviar Price, Marc Serat, Johnathan Vazques, Jimmy Young, Brandon Giron, A’Zell Campbell, Aaron Dohlow, Jaime Jorge, Omar Hernandez and Cayden Miller.

The girls squad has Beatriz Marte, Emily Espinal, Kristie Harvick, Paige Griffin and Kayla Weis.