BEREA, OHIO - The Baldwin-Wallace College women's cross country team has a tradition of excellence in the Ohio Athletic Conference which is unmatched. Entering the 2003 season, veteran Head Coach Bill Taraschke's Yellow Jackets will seek to win a fifth consecutive OAC title, their 11th in the last 12 years and a fourth straight NCAA Division III national meet appearance. A year ago, B-W finished an all-time best eighth at the national meet.
Gone is 2002 OAC Runner of the Year Jessica Textoris '03 who graduated along with All-OAC runners Lynn Katanik '03, Nicole Drouhard '03 and Tara Gruskiewicz '03. Leading this year's squad will be eight returning letterwinners, including seniors Jen Southall (Willoughby South), Khara Sosko (Ellwood City, Pa./ Riverside), Tara Perry (Brookpark/ Berea), Stacey Havaich (Austintown Fitch) and Tatum Gruskiewicz (Williamsfield/ Pymatuning Valley) and juniors Lisa Bartkiewicz (Berea), Jaime Luketic (Rootstown) and Abby Cominsky (Fremont Ross).
Southall returns after placing 10th at last year's OAC Meet to earn All-OAC honors in the fall, and placing fifth and earning Division III track All-America honors in the 3000 meter steeplechase last spring. Havaich, who transferred to B-W last fall from Division I Ohio University, was 14th at the OAC Meet and Bartkiewicz was 19th. Overall, Taraschke returns five runners who placed in the Top 23 at the OAC Meet.
"Although we do not have a Textoris, Katanik, Drouhard or Tara Gruskiewicz, we do return some solid runners who have the talent and ability to carry on our tradition of excellence," said Taraschke, the OAC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year eight of the past 11 years. "Each person will need to rise to the occasion and accept the challenge."
"We also return some sophomores, a transfer and a group of newcomers who we expect to challenge our upperclass runners," said Taraschke. "That is one of the great things about tradition. Generally, a new person or two or three will emerge to carry it forward."
"We look for the OAC Meet and All-Ohio Meet to be more balanced and a bigger challenge," said Taraschke. "We are excited and looking forward to getting started."
The Yellow Jackets open the season on Saturday, September 6 at the Hanover (Ind.) College Invitational at 9:30 a.m.
275 Eastland Rd.