By Jordon Bruner, sports information assistant
August 30, 2006
Head Coach Janey Arnold begins her third season at the helm of the Beaver cross country program. "We are planning on taking the season one meet at a time. Our goal is to improve with each meet, building up to the conference championships at the end of the season," stated Arnold.
The Bluffton women's team is looking to improve on last year's fifth place finish in the HCAC as three letterwinners return to lead a squad that includes four frosh. Junior Sarah Humphrey (Upper Sandusky/Upper Sandusky) enters her junior year as the top runner on the women's team as she was an All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference selection a year ago. Junior Bree Fetterman (North Royalton/Padua) and senior Lauren Bailey (Powell/Upper Arlington) will also be counted on to add experience and leadership to the youthful 2006 squad. Talented freshmen Sarah Binkley (Bluffton/Cory-Rawson), Angelica Shllaku (Rossford/Rossford), Jennifer Thoele (Laura/Milton Union), and Brooke Habrum (Magnolia/Sandy Valley) round out the women's team.
The men's squad finished sixth at last year's HCAC Championship meet, but with six juniors and seniors the Beavers are primed to make their mark in the conference this season. The men return all but one runner from that squad, including junior Hillary Shilosio (Eldoret, Kenya) "Hillary has really improved over the last year," Arnold said. "He should be one of our top runners with his added experience."
Seniors Pat Cooley (Ludlow Falls/Milton Union), Dave Espinoza (Toledo/Whitmer), and Johnny Ichrist (Toledo/Whitmer) return for the Beavers giving the team a wealth of experience. Juniors Michael Koch (Liberty Center/Liberty Center), Tyler Fairchild (Toledo/Whitmer), and Peter Husted (Carrollton/Carrollton) will also be counted on for contributions this season. The lone newcomer in 2006 is freshman Colin Wagner (Pettisville/Pettisville).
The Bluffton University men's and women's cross country teams will kick off their season at the Defiance Invitational on September 9, at Defiance College. On Friday, Sept. 22, Bluffton will host the second annual Beaver Invitational.
-BEAVERS-