By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
With a number of athletes having solid track seasons this past spring, the Burlington High School cross country squads hope to be competitive in the Southern Lakes Conference this fall, with the goal of peaking at the end of the season.
Both the boys and girls squads finished fourth in the SLC one year ago. A total of 23 seniors graduated off of last year’s squad.
For the Demon girls, four returning letterwinners lead the squad. They are senior Caitlin Yonash, juniors Kit Kocha and Aleigha Barry, and sophomore Brittany Ehlen.
Promising newcomers include Meta Ehlen, Hannah Peterson and Mara Zinnen.
Barry, Ehlen and Yonash had solid track seasons and hope to build off that.
“The strength of the team will be a tight pack running,” head coach Rick Koceja said, adding that there is excellent competition and attitude on the team.
The Demon boys are led by seniors Zach Wawrzyniakowski and Shaun Weber, junior Noah Strohm and sophomore Nathanial Sibley, all returning letterwinners.
Promising newcomers are Connor Schultz and Ben Lois.
Wawrzyniakowski and Strohm both had solid track season and Sibley had a successful freshman cross country season a year ago.
“The emphasis will be to find a fourth and fifth runner that will close the gap from our No. 3 runner,” Koceja said.
Koceja sees Lake Geneva Badger, Waterford and Westosha Central as the teams to beat for both squads in the SLC.
Koceja, who retired from teaching at BHS, is in his 36th year of coaching. He is assisted by Wally Bradford (26 years), James Koceja (seven years) and Matt Nie (five years).
Burlington begins its season Saturday at the Kenosha Tremper Invitational, held at Lincoln Park.
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