2008 Outlook

Geneva’s cross country teams are coming off a season filled with great team performances, complete with a number of standout individual performers. Geneva’s women’s team traveled to the 2007 NCCAA national meet at Cedarville University and finished in seventh place out of 24 teams. Phil and Josh Falk represented the men’s team in the post-season.

The end of the 2007 season was bittersweet as the Golden Tornadoes celebrated their success along with the end to a number of cross country careers. Geneva will seek to replace some valued experience from the both women and men’s teams. Beth Bartolomeo, Susan Fletcher, Sara Morrison and Marsha Miller each completed their collegiate eligibility on the women’s side, while the men’s top performer, Phil Falk, was also lost to graduation.

“It was hard to watch so many great athletes leave this past year,” said head coach Bret Otte. “When you look back on their respective careers, each student-athlete contributed so much to Geneva’s cross country program and have instilled a great attitude in the runners that will carry the torch forward.”

Returning to the women’s team is a pair of experienced seniors in Nicole Okerlund and Rebecca VanRegenmorter. VanRegenmorter paced the Golden Tornadoes at the 2007 NCCAA national meet with the team’s best time and a 33rd overall finish. The men won't have to deal with the loss of any seniors after 2008 with just one upperclassman on the roster. Junior Phil Falk will provide a wealth of experience and lead the young squad into another season.

Both teams are stretched a bit thin with just seven runners per side to start the 2008 season, including four freshmen for the men and three for the women. Coach Otte is counting on the seniors and leaders for each team to carry the bulk of the load, while bringing the youngsters along slowly throughout the semester. “We are fortunate to return some tremendous athletes that have been a big part of our success in the past,” said Otte. “We also have some freshmen joining the team that have the potential to make an immediate impact. The hope is that our combination will yield great results.”

Geneva will prepare during the 2008 season to compete in the PAC championships and the NCCAA championships. Still classified as a provisional member of the NCAA, the Golden Tornadoes will focus primarily on the NCCAA nationals in November, although they will get a good sense of where they stack up within the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

With an experienced coaching staff, one that has been together for three years, and some talented leaders, expectations are high for a solid season. “It is special when your team all comes together,” Otte said. “It certainly makes my job a lot easier when your top athletes are also your hardest workers. Our youngsters will get a first hand look at exactly what it takes to be successful at this level by simply practicing with our upperclassmen everyday.”

For coach Otte and his staff it has always been about constant improvement and not about final results. The 2008 season should be no different for the 11 year head coach. “Our athletes have always done an exceptional job at improving throughout the season. If our kids are able to follow suit in 2008, we should have another memorable season.”