Southwestern Conference

Westlake Demons

COACH: Duane Miller (22nd year, also coached in 1980 and from 1986-2001)
ASSISTANTS: Bob Curtis (sprints), Paul Hammond (throws), Travis Haselswerdt (distance, pole vault)
2007 RECORD: 1st SWC, 3rd Amherst district (Division I), 14th Amherst regional
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (29): Natalie Bechtel, so. (sprints); Jenna Daghstani, so. (throws); Brittany Daniels, so. (middle distance); Megan Davis, so. (middle distance); Hanna Dixon, jr. (sprints); Megan Dunlap, so. (distance); Julia Fulton, so. (middle distance); Maeva Goede, jr. (middle distance); Bridget Hays, jr. (distance); Alex James, jr. (hurdles, jumps); Sophia Kopasakis, so. (distance); Lauren Ledek, sr. (middle distance); Bridget McNeill, jr. (throws); Beth Moroney, jr. (middle distance); Megan O’Neill, jr. (sprints); Grace Pophal, so. (pole vault); Lydia Puccini, so. (pole vault); Kristen Ricker, jr. (pole vault); Liz Stark, jr. (sprints); Amelia Serrat, sr. (middle distance, high jump); Sarah Solarz, sr. (hurdles, long jump); Emily Stephenson, jr. (throws); A.J. Suever, so. (sprints); Lauren Tafuri, sr. (distance); Jen Tomasch, sr. (distance); Katie Vivona, (throws); Julie Wang, so. (distance, jumps); Ashle Williams, so. (throws); Hannah Zapfe, sr. (middle distance)
SCOUTING REPORT: The Demons are talented with good depth. Serrat (high jump) and McNeill (discus) are returning state qualifiers. Individually, Kopasakis (1,600 and 3,200), Dunlap (1,600) and James (long jump) are regional qualifiers. Ledek, Fulton and Dunlap are back from last year’s regional-qualifying 3,200 relay. Fulton, Bechtel, Davis and O’Neill were regional qualifiers in the 1,600 relay.

Amherst Comets

COACH: Rob Glatz (third year)
ASSISTANTS: Darline Elsasser (sprints), Dorian Green (sprints), Michelle Kamczyc (sprints, high jump), Terry Kemp (distance), Monty Parrish (long jump, hurdles), Mike Lugar (sprints, jumps), Alan Roark (pole vault), Mark Valenti (throws)
2007 RECORD: 5th SWC, 5th Amherst district (Division I)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (10): Brooke Arthur-Mensah, jr. (sprints, long jump); Jessica Bartholomew, jr. (distance); Megan Byrne, sr. (distance); Kara Kasper, sr. (sprints, hurdles); Erica Kelly, so. (distance); Jane Lehman, jr. (distance); Michele Molnar, sr. (distance); Mary Odafe, so. (sprints); Melissa Overman, sr. (throws); Lauren Percival, jr. (sprints)
KEY NEWCOMER: Hailey Dziak, fr. (sprints)
SCOUTING REPORT: Lehman (3,200) finished 14th at the state indoor meet. Arthur-Mensah (long jump) and Kasper (100 hurdles) were regional qualifiers last year. Bartholomew (3,200) was a regional qualifier in 2006. Bartholomew and Lehman, along with Byrne, Kelly and Molnar, were members of last fall’s state-qualifying cross country team. Defending SWC champ in the 100 and 200, Odafe is out for the season after injuring her knee in summer basketball. Dziak (200) broke the school indoor record.

Avon Lake Shoregals

COACH: Yvonne Saul-Craigo (second year, fourth overall)
ASSISTANT: Jeff Arra
2007 RECORD: 7th SWC, 11th Amherst district (Division I)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (25): Katie Adams, sr. (distance); Maddie Bauer, jr. (sprints, pole vault); Syndi Becker, jr. (sprints, long jump); Michelle Bottini, so. (sprints, hurdles); Lauren Bruss, so.; Leslie Cislo, jr. (high jump); Alyssa Fernald, so. (distance); Janelle Gabriel, sr.; Bridget Green, sr. (sprints, hurdles); Ashley Hackett, jr. (sprints, pole vault); Kelsey Hayas, sr. (sprints); Melissa Hayton, jr. (sprints); Emily Hudson, so. (distance); Bri Kenny, sr. (distance); Courtney Koeth, sr. (throws); Becky Lightfoot, sr. (middle distance); Bridget Lyons, so. (throws); Alyssa Molnar, sr. (distance, high jump); Tracy Moor, so. (distance); Jena Parker, sr. (pole vault); Bridget Patten, so. (sprints); Claire Storer, jr. (sprints); Selena Ventura, jr. (distance); Miranda Weed, so. (distance)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Courtney Citro, fr.; Sarah Hudson, fr.; Taylor Kuhar, so.; Lauren Leduc, so.; Ann Maltbie; Megan Marzec, fr.; Stephanie Mauer, so.; Summer Seiple, fr.; Morgan Srail, fr.
SCOUTING REPORT: Hayas was a regional qualifier last year as a member of the 1,600 relay. Bruss, Cislo, Moor and Storer are all closing in on 5-0 to 5-2 in the high jump. Weed was the No. 1 runner on the cross country team last fall.

Berea Braves

COACH: Roy Moore (fifth year, 25th overall)
ASSISTANTS: Wil Avery (sprints), Bob Butler (throws), Barb Hunter (distance)
2007 RECORD: 7th SWC, 11th place Amherst district (Division I), 33rd Amherst regional
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (13): Tiara Bailey, jr. (sprints); Natalie Fadenholz, jr. (sprints, hurdles); Ashley Futo, jr. (sprints); Megan Gulley, jr. (throws); Jasmine Hart, sr. (sprints); Courtney Herrman, jr. (sprints, jumps); Rachael Kolp, jr. (long jumps); Alexandra Martinson, jr. (sprints, pole vault); Aymie Pochatek, sr. (sprints); Venice Rich, sr. (sprints); Stephanie Robinson, jr. (distance); Tanya Sipos, sr. (sprints, long jump); Bryell Skinner, jr. (sprints)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Staci Bohanon, fr. (sprints, long jump); Alli Carabello, fr. (sprints); Brittany Dickens, jr. (distance); Kristen Haslett, fr. (distance); Nicole Kollis, so. (sprints); Nadia Konyk, fr. (distance); Ashley Kozak, so. (sprints, long jump); Claire Macosko, sr. (distance); Sarah Magnani, so. (sprints, jumps); Riikka Purovesi, sr. (sprints); Brittany Rossi, so. (sprints); Elena Santora, fr. (sprints, hurdles); Kayla Schiemer, fr. (sprints, long jump); Allissa Strnad, fr. (sprints); Sarah Stuart, so. (sprints, high jump); Cory Waldron, fr. (sprints); Megan Wade, fr. (distance)
SCOUTING REPORT: A good base to work from, but the Braves may need some help filling out field events.

North Olmsted Eagles

COACH: Lisa Pochatek (1st year, 10th overall)
ASSISTANTS: Paul Arundel (throws), Tom Jenkins (high jump, pole vault), Erika Kleinholz (hurdles), Michelle Sanborn (long jump)
2007 RECORD: 5th SWC, 9th Amherst district (Division I)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (16): Andria Bazilevich, jr. (distance); Carla Bittner, sr. (throws); Brittany Busse, sr. (distance); Philly Dixon, so. (distance); Kara Gut, sr. (distance); Stephanie Heim, sr. (hurdles); Christine Kanis, sr. (throws); Theresa Madden, sr. (throws); Sarah Martynowski, so. (middle distance); Tiffany Platko, so. (pole vault); Morgan Pochatek, jr. (sprints); Jordan Sowecke, so. (distance); Stephanie Sutton, sr. (sprints); Amanda Taylor, jr. (throws); Ann Tomko, sr. (high jump)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Meghan Drews, fr. (sprints); Vanessa Gut, so. (distance); Melanie Trefny, fr. (distance)
SCOUTING REPORT: North Olmsted slipped to fifth in the SWC last year after four straight second-place finishes. Kanis (shot put) was a 2007 regional finalist and missed state by seven inches. Morgan Pochatek aims to bounce back from hip surgery last November. She was a regional qualifier in the 100 meters and placed second at the SWC meet as a member of the 400 relay. Sutton was also a member of last year’s 400 relay. Sutton was all-state in gymnastics in vault. Kara Gut was a regional qualifier as a member of the 3,200 relay. Platko (pole vault) was second at the SWC meet. She was a state diving qualifier.

Olmsted Falls Bulldogs

COACH: John Novotny (fourth year, fifth overall)
ASSISTANTS: Matt Celaschi (throws), Rory Fabian (sprints), Dave Godfray (pole vault, hurdles), Kelly Henton (distance), Katrina Lallo (high jump), Erika Wyman (sprints, long jump)
2007 RECORD: 3rd SWC, 6th Amherst district (Division I), 7th Amherst regional, 63rd state
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (16): Shannon Carney, sr. (hurdles); Sam Delfing, sr. (distance); Jenna Funk, sr. (hurdles); Jackie Griswold, so. (throws); Annie Guido, jr. (throws); Alexis Henton, jr. (middle distance); Jessica Jurcak, so. (hurdles); Sam Mastantuono, jr. (sprints); Katie Nageotte, jr. (sprints, pole vault); Sarah Radeff, jr. (pole vault); Calli Roberts, sr. (sprints, jumps); Brittany Snider, jr. (high jump); Kalie Stallard, jr. (hurdles); Julie Trapp, sr. (distance); Breanna Vedda, so. (pole vault); Marissa Wood, sr. (sprints, hurdles)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Brianna Carney, fr. (pole vault); Alaina Clark, fr. (distance); Megan Coughlin, fr. (middle distance); Megan Johnson, fr. (distance); Sarah McClain, fr. (sprints, pole vault); Danya Roberts, fr. (sprints, throws); Sarah Robertson, fr. (sprints); Anastasia Souris, fr. (sprints, hurdles)
SCOUTING REPORT: Snider (high jump) is a two-time state qualifier. Nageotte (pole vault) placed sixth at the Division I state indoor meet. Henton (400) and Griswold (discus) were regional qualifiers last year. Wood and Roberts were 2006 regional qualifiers as members of the 1,600 relay.