PHS Boys team young but aims to improve all year, says coach  

Seven might be a very lucky number for the Powell High School girls cross country team.

That’s the number of girls who came out for the team this summer. Heading into the season’s first meet Friday afternoon in Cody, coach Cliff Boos is feeling fairly optimistic.

“You always wish you had more,” said Boos, who is entering his 18th season in charge of the thinclads. “But you only can score with five runners.”

When he won his last of three state titles in 2010, the girls were basically a five-person team, he said. PHS also claimed state crowns in 2006 and 2008.

While Boos isn’t saying this team is one of the best in the state — understatement and modesty are his hallmarks — he knows he has a good bunch.

“We have a very good group of hard-working girls,” Boos said.

Senior Bailey Sanders was the team’s most consistent runner last season. She finished 13th at the 2013 state meet with a time of 21:05.41.

“Bailey was our top performer last year,” Boos said. “She stayed healthy and so far looks very good.”

There is a second senior on the team. Gretchen Moretti has never ran cross country before but may do so in college next year, and did run two years of track.

She holds the PHS 2-mile record, so running longer distances will not be a problem. High school cross country meets, usually held on golf courses and other open, grassy spots, are 5 kilometers.

“She’s a very good runner,” Boos said, calling Moretti’s addition “a nice surprise.”

Sophomores Teo Faulkner and Kiley Cannon were key members of the team last season and have returned ready to run for the finish line.

“Teo was a strong performer last year,” Boos said.

She claimed 31st at state with a time of 22:15.30. Cannon was 41st at 23:16.35.

“Kiley battled a knee injury and other injuries last year but she’s had a good week and a half,” Boos said.

Juniors Danna Hanks and Lexee Craig are newcomers to the sport but both appear to be good athletes, Boos said. He’s glad to have them on the squad.

Freshman Emma Andreasen, whose brother Zander was the top runner on the 2013 boys team, has shown a great deal of promise, Boos said.

“They all seem like really good athletes and look like they want to improve,” Boos said. “I’m just looking forward to promising seasons. If they work at it, we can do quite well.”

The boys have two more runners but do not have the experience that the girls team will line up with this season.

“It’s a pretty young team and not a lot of experience yet,” Boos said. “We’ll have to see how they improve during the season.”

Ben Wetzel is the lone senior on the team. He finished 21st at 2013 state meet with a time of 17:45.07.

Wetzel got better and better as the season went along and looks to be ready to have a strong senior campaign, his coach said.

“He looks like he is ready to have a good senior season,” Boos said. “He is focused on that.”

In addition to Wetzel, whom Boos said had the most impressive progress from his sophomore to his junior season that he has ever seen, there are some returning runners on the boys squad.

They all seem eager to compete and are “excited” for the season to start, he said.

Juniors Alex Aguirre and Ty Linebaugh, sophomore Coleman Walker and freshmen Jesse Erickson and Aaron Smith will add depth.

Aguirre was injured last season “but he shows a lot of promise,” Boos said.

Smith was an outstanding middle school runner who may be ready to make his mark on the varsity, the coach said.

“I think their attitude is good,” Boos said. “These kids want to do well, they want to work and improve.”

The PHS cross country team relies on its seniors to serve as leaders and mentors. Sanders and Wetzel said they feel an obligation to do so and are glad to have that opportunity.

“It’s nice to form the bonds and show them around while showing them how we do things around here,” Sanders said.

Wetzel said he has tried to emphasize the need for hard, consistent effort.

“We are looking at their level of effort,” he said. “When you show up here, you’re going to work.”

Sanders said the girls are pumped about the possibilities of this season.

“We’re pretty excited as a team,” she said. “I think it’s going to be very good for us.”

Wetzel said the boys will go as far as the young legs carry them.

“Everyone has put up good times so far,” he said. “They are staying up front and working hard.”

Cody, Jackson, Star Valley and Lander are traditional powers and all should have strong teams, Boos said. The west side of the state seems to be much stronger, he said, which should make for competitive meets all season.

The regular season will conclude with the Powell Invitational at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9. It’s the sole home meet of the season.

The conference meet is set for 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at Star Valley High School, with the 3A State Meet to be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Sheridan High School.