Seniors lost, but new faces join the team
The boys’ team is going for its fifth league title in a row. The
girls’ team is going for its third. The question is will both
varsity cross country teams at San Benito High School be able to
keep the momentum going with rosters that are loaded with young,
less-experienced runners than in years past?
Seniors lost, but new faces join the team
The boys’ team is going for its fifth league title in a row. The girls’ team is going for its third. The question is will both varsity cross country teams at San Benito High School be able to keep the momentum going with rosters that are loaded with young, less-experienced runners than in years past?
“We’re young this year,” said Jess Morales, the San Benito High cross country coach. “Last year’s sophomores are making up most of the boys varsity group this year. They are running the show this year. They are going to carry the weight for us this season.”
A year ago, the boys team finished third in the Central Coast Section, missing the state meet by a mere six points while the Baler girls squad finished second in the Section to qualify for the first time for the prestigious state meet. Carlmont captured the Section title for both the boys and girls cross country divisions.
The biggest loss to the boys’ team this year was the loss of Eddie Trujillo and Rigo Vasquez to graduation. Last season, Vasquez was the only male runner to qualify for the state meet as an individual. Both he and Trujillo had been equally dominant during their four-year stint at the varsity level and were key components to the boys capturing the school’s first-ever Section title in 2003. This year Vasquez is at San Jose State University where he earned a scholarship to run cross country and Trujillo is focusing his efforts on playing soccer at West Valley Junior College.
So far Morales has seen an increase in interest in the number of students coming out for the Baler cross country team.
“We had one girl come out (Janessa Gillies) this year just to stay in shape for the winter soccer season,” Morales said. “She’s a senior and she really loves it. She’s never done cross country before but she should really help the varsity team.”
Another athlete to cross the sports line is Vanessa Farias. A standout on the girls basketball team, Farias is also “making a statement with her running” during cross country workouts, according to Morales.
Morales went on to say that he has also been impressed by sophomore Kristina Vasquez and is expecting junior Courtney Allen to be the varsity team leader this year.
“She put a lot of work in this summer,” Morales said. “She went to some camps and has really put the time into it.”
On the boys’ side, Morales is expecting four junior runners to anchor the team. They are: Frankie Rivera, Eric and Adrian Rodriguez and Lance Villasignor.
“All of those guys have really put the work in this summer,” Morales said. “They are my leaders this year.”
In addition to those four runners, Morales has also been impressed with freshman runners Eduardo Guzman and Luis Reese and seniors Curtis Wright and Andrew Yacovone – the only seniors on the team’s 24-man roster.
“I’m going to need the leadership of the seniors to help us this year,” Morales said. “They are running well.”
Morales has been very impressed with the running of Guzman and Reese in the early going as they remind him of Trujillo and Vasquez, who joined the varsity cross country team their freshman year and anchored the Balers to the school’s first CCS title their sophomore season.
“It’s excellent to see these guys come out and run with the varsity runners as freshman,” Morales said. “I’d compare Luis to Eddie (Trujillo) because they both have a strong work ethic.”
Although the team is relatively young, the goals are still to win league, CCS and advance to state. Morales, also has a more simple goal that he’d like his team to attain each and every day.
“Our goal is to really train together as a team and work hard as a team. If we do that, things will happen,” he said. “We’re also still accepting sign-ups and taking new runners, if anyone is interested.”
