Numbers not a problem for Lady T-Birds

The 2009 Eastern Greene High School girls cross country team includes (front row, from left) manager Emily Sherfield, Tia Wagner, Rachel Sturgeon, Sydney Spice, Hanna Hamm, Baylie Schoffstall and manager Macy Morguson. The back row (from left) includes Katie Strauser, Emily Osborn, Jenae New, Mikeala New, Joanna Holsapple, Sumer Cundiff, Leanna Freeman and Tamra Sherrard. Not pictured is Audrey Crane. (By B.J. Hargis/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

"I am really excited about the numbers," said Spice. "We will be able to score, something that we were not able to do toward the end of last season.

"I was hoping that we would have a good turnout of freshmen and we have nine, which is a little more than I would have expected. We have some good athletes."

Sydney Spice, who still made all-Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference despite struggling with injuries as a sophomore, returns for her third season.

"Sydney will again be running No. 1 for us," said her father. "She struggled at the end of last year and in track with injuries.

"We had to shut her down to one day a week in July, but she is healthy now. That might have put her behind a little, but we are hoping she can return to form when she made all-conference and advanceD to the regional as a freshman."

Freshman Bailey Schoffstall has already made an impression of coach Spice.

"Bailey has good, natural ability," he said. "This is the first summer that she has put in some good miles.

"She is running a strong No. 2 for us right now. I expect that she would contend for all-conference."

Freshmen Sumer Cundiff and Rachel Sturgeon are both battling for the third spot in the Lady Thunderbird line-up.

"Sumer joined us in July," said Spice. "In just two years, she has gone from running last on the seventh grade team to competing for the third position on the varsity. She has worked hard to put herself in this spot."

Spice added that Sturgeon, another runner making the move from junior high to high school, has been committed to putting in the miles.

"She has been running on her own when she was on vacation and couldn't make it here," said Spice. "Rachel is going to continue to improve because of her work ethic."

Junior Audrey Crane is the ring leader, according to Spice.

"Audrey gets the most out of her ability," he said. "She probably works as hard as anyone we have.

"She is a lot of fun. She struggled with a hip injury last year. She has fought through that and has started to come around. She will running fifth for us."

Emily Osborn, a freshman, and junior Mikeala New are competing for spots in the top seven, Spice said.

"Emily started a couple of weeks late, but has caught up," said Spice. "She is a very good athlete. She should be solidly in our top seven.

"Mikeala ran in junior high, but not the last two years. She always seemed to be running to get in shape for basketball and I asked her why she didn't come out and run with us. I am ecstatic that she is running. She is a competitor and will only make us better."

Tia Wagner, Tamra Sherrard and Hanna Hamm are three freshmen that are flirting with the top seven.

Coach said that Hamm and Sherrard and new to the sport.

Spice added Jenae New and Katie Strauser are two more freshmen that he is happy to have on the team.

Senior Joanna Holsapple and junior Leanna Freeman round out the Lady Thunderbird roster.

"These are all fantastic kids," said Spice. "Holsapple ran last year. She is a sprinter in track by trade.

"Freeman is running cross country for the first time after previously running track."

Coach said that Bloomfield will be the team to beat in the conference and also a tough foe at the Brown County Sectional.

"By the end of the year, we hope to be competing with Bloomfield at the conference," said Spice. "Our sectional is a real meat grinder with (Bloomington) North and (Bloomington) South. Edgewood is absolutely loaded. Martinsville, Mooresville. Brown County and Bloomfield also will be right up there.

"Hopefully we will be able to make some noise, if we can stay healthy."

The Lady Thunderbirds will open up the season Monday at the General Lee Invitational at Bedford North Lawrence.

Eastern Greene

Girls Cross Country Roster

Runner Gr.

Joanna Holsapple 12

Audrey Crane 11

Leanna Freeman 11

Mikeala New 11

Sydney Spice 11

Sumer Cundiff 9

Hanna Hamm 9

Jenae New 9

Emily Osborn 9

Baylie Schoffstall 9

Tamra Sherrard 9

Katie Strauser 9

Rachel Sturgeon 9

Tia Wagner 9

Coach: Brian Spice (Second season).

Assistant coach: Laura Sparks.

Managers: Emily Sherfield and Macy Morguson.