Youthful T-Birds look to 'finish' season

LITTLE CINCINNATI -- The 2009 Eastern Greene boys cross country team members are front row (from left) Zach Bruner, Brody Martin, Tanner Clark, Michael Hartman and Dillan Reslar. Back row (from left) Victoria Valentine, head coach Bill Valentin, Keith Milhoan, Tyler Igel, Zach Tars, Tyler Brough and assistant coach Travis Pate. Not pictured is Nathan Sparks. (By Travis David/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

"For the most part we had a pretty successful year with a young team but just had an awful race at the sectional," the veteran coach said. "We met a lot of our goals last season but we just ended on a bad note. We want to avoid that this year."

One of the goals the Thunderbirds accomplished last season was earning the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference title -- a prize that Clay City had claimed for several seasons prior. Winning that meet, Valentine said, may have taken away from their focus for the sectional five days later.

"I think we were so geared up for the SWIAC and after winning it, we were just not ready to compete at the sectional," he said. "But it was an amazing accomplishment for the boys to end Clay City's streak."

Valentine, who is starting his 14th season at EGHS, said the way the end ended such a great season on a down note should serve as more motivation and hunger coming into this season.

"It will definitely serve as motivation," he said. "The guys were really upset with the way they ran at sectional. They have been talking about that all summer."

With their top two runners back from last year and no upperclassmen that is expected to compete for a spot in the top five, the expectations for this season are even higher.

"Our sights are always set on the conference and that is no different this season," Valentine said. "We want to repeat as conference champs, and also we hope to make it out of the sectional."

The Thunderbirds have finished six at the Bloomington Sectional each of the past two years. The top five teams advance onto the regional.

Sophomore Brody Martin and junior Tyler Igel will battle it out for the top spot once again this season, according to Valentine.

"Last year as a freshman Brody was out top runner and by the end of the season Tyler (Igel) was within three seconds of him," the man in charge said. "This summer at the Highland Park Invite Tyler finished just ahead of Brody, so it should make for a good competition for the No. 1 spot."

Other top runners for Valentine are Keith Milhoan, Zach Bruner, Michael Hartman and Nathan Sparks. Hartman and Sparks are two freshman that could compete for the fifth spot.

"Not many freshmen come in and have the kind of impact that Brody was able to accomplish last year," Valentine said. "But I do expect Michael (Hartman) and Nathan (Sparks) to vie for a top five spot.

"Both are coming off of successful junior-high seasons. Hopefully they both stick with it. They have potential to be great runners."

Valentine said he has been averaging nine guys running over the summer, but would like that number to inflate to 14-15 once school starts.

"I guess the saying is to have seven strong, which I feel like we have four, five or maybe six strong at this point," he said. "But I would feel much more comfortable with 14 or 15 on the team.

Valentine mentioned when his teams in the 1900s won four straight sectionals, he had over 20 kids on the team.

"The smaller number definitely creates more competitiveness within the team, which is a good thing," he said. "But we are just looking forward to getting the season started and look to improve on last season."

The Thunderbirds will open their season at the General Lee Inviational at Bedford North Lawrence Monday, Aug. 24.

Boys Cross Country Roster

Player Gr.

Coach: Bill Valentine (14th season).

Assistant coach: Travis Pate.