By Kyle Yehle
Special to the Citizen
Expectations couldn’t be much higher for the West Platte cross country teams. The subsequent year after a girls state championship and nearly the same result for the boys, the Blue Jays commence the 2018 season with a cupboard full of distinguished athletes poised for an enhanced outcome.
Both teams earned conference and district championships last season, with the boys finishing sixth at the Class 1 State Championships.
Coach Mike Lowe, entering his ninth year at West Platte, has his top five girls and top two boys returning.
Lowe says his teams know they must concentrate on improvement to attain their lofty postseason goals.
Citizen file photo
The West Platte girls cross country team won the Class 1 championship last year and returns five runners from that squad.
“The first goal is always to win the district,” Lowe said. “The key to success will be staying healthy and working hard. The kids have been putting in extra work from day one, so hopefully, that will translate into success as we move down the road.”
The girls team is a serious threat to take home another state championship.
Seniors Lindsay Goodwin and Lea Moose, junior Lexi Elmore and sophomores Katy Tharp and Sophia Rush all return, with Elmore and Rush as the probable top two runners.
Both placed in the top 30 at the 2017 state meet, along with Goodwin. Sophomore Isabella Clark and freshman Katie Groom round out the likely top seven runners.
Lowe says his team has the potential to be better than last year.
“This will be a fun group of kids to watch,” Lowe said. “The girls get along especially well and really enjoy running with each other and helping each other get better. Lexi and Sophia especially will be expected to finish in the top 10 in almost every race they run this year. We are well positioned to win the conference title again.”
On the boys’ side, Lowe lost his third and fourth runners in Andy Cicha and Justin Howard but gets a final year from Max Davies, who placed third overall at state. Phillip Pattison slots into the second position after also placing in the top 25. Matik Heskin, Ryan Pattison, Zac Howerton, Zack Esther, Issac Heimich, and Coy Taylor fill out the boys’ roster.
Lowe says he’s excited to watch Davies complete his tenure as a Blue Jay.
“It has been a great three years watching Max run,” Lowe said. “I look forward to seeing him cap a great career here at West Platte with at least a team place on the podium at state if not an individual championship. Phillip could easily run in the top 15 at state [as well].”
Lowe eyes their home meet and Kearney’s meet in October to judge where his teams are at compared to other local schools.