NEW HAVEN SEMI-STATE GIRLS PREVIEW
By: Mike Slaubaugh
In the past seven years, only Northridge and Carroll (Allen) have won the team title at the New Haven Semi-State and its predecessor, the Manchester Semi-State. Northridge has won five of those seven titles, but Carroll is the favorite for the win this year ahead of Huntington North and West Noble. After those three teams it will be a real crapshoot to see who captures the final three state berths with no less than eight teams having a legitimate shot to advance.
Favorite
Carroll (Allen)
Looking to advance for the fifth consecutive year, the Chargers won the West Noble Regional and have front runners in seniors Ciersten Deardorf (who was rested at regional) and junior Brianna Johnson, a top 10 finisher at state the past two years. Although no team from the New Haven Semi-State made the podium at state last year, Carroll has a legitimate shot this year.
Battle for Second
Huntington North
Sixth last year, the Vikings have stepped it up a notch and should be among the top 3 this year.
They are led by juniors Natalie and Gretchen Spahr and easily won the Marion Regional.
West Noble
Fifth last year, the Chargers have bounced back from some early season injuries and now have the Peterson twins, Rachel and Allissa, running back up front. West Noble finished 12 points behind a Deardorf-less Carroll at the West Noble Regional.
In the Dogfight to Advance
Penn
The frontrunners for Penn, senior Valerie Burns and sophomore Kristina Galat looked a bit flat at their regional and may have been training through the meet, but the Lady Kingsmen still won the Elkhart Central Regional title.
Northridge
The defending team champion Raiders are looking for their tenth consecutive trip to the state finals, the longest currently active streak from the New Haven and Manchester Semi-States. Known for peaking when it counts, Northridge has not been as strong as last year, but has been running solid with the return of junior Skylair Hilton from an early season injury.
DeKalb
DeKalb’s’ defending semi-state champ, senior Autumn Beachy, was only 7th at the West Noble Regional, but the Barons had enough depth to still finish 3rd behind Carroll and West Noble at that meet. DeKalb was fourth last year.
Warsaw
The addition of freshman Ashley Erba, the favorite for the individual title, has transformed the Tigers into a potential state finalist. Senior Cendall Ogle was 2nd behind Erba at the Elkhart Central Regional for a strong 1-2 punch.
Fort Wayne Concordia
Taking the last state qualifying spot last year in 6th, the Cadets find themselves again on the bubble after finishing fourth at the West Noble Regional despite having a strong front running duo in senior Hannah Osborn and sophomore Anna Reibs.
Columbia City
Similar to many teams, Columbia City has two solid front runners in juniors Renee Menzie and Laken Lefever, but it will be their depth that determines whether the Eagles can advance to Terre Haute. Columbia City was 2nd at the Marion Regional, 21 points behind Huntington North.
Homestead
Led by senior Sara Hoppe, the Spartans are more of a pack running team and finished just one point behind Columbia City at the Marion Regional
South Bend Riley
The Wildcats have had a bit of an inconsistent season, but when its top two runners, senior Beth Werge and senior Elizabeth Roush are running strong, they could sneak in to grab one of the spots to state.
Rounding Out the Field
Jay County
Jay County is the X factor at semi-state as they did not compete against most of the teams listed above during the regular season making comparisons difficult. The Patriots won the Delta Regional, but that regional is traditionally one of the weakest of those advancing to the New Haven Semi-State.
Mishawaka
Junior Ashley Name pace the Lady Cavemen, but Mishawaka finished a distant 5th at the Elkhart Central Regional and will be lucky to crack the top 10 at semi-state.
Fort Wayne Northrop
The Bruins have seen its top runner position trade between sophomore Emma Mirwaldt and junior Cara Fisher throughout the season. Similar to Mishawaka, Fort Wayne Northrop finished a distant 5th at the Elkhart Central Regional and will also be lucky to crack the top 10.
Delta
Second to Jay County at the Delta Regional by 13 points, the Eagles are led by junior Irene McQueary.
Mt. Vernon (Fortville), Muncie Central, and Pendleton Heights
The Marauders, Bearcats, and Arabians took 3rd to 5th at the Delta Regional and hope to crack the top 15 at semi-state. They are led by sophomore Cassandra Eiler, senior Rebecca Coombes, and senior Mur Hagerman, respectively.
South Adams and Bellmont
The Starfires and Braves finished a distant 4th and 5th at the Marion Regional. However, because that regional is traditionally stronger than the Delta Regional, they will likely not finish in the cellar at Semi-State. Sophomore Hannah Moore paces the Starfires and the Braves’ top runner is junior Jordan DeLong.
Predictions
1. Carroll (Allen)
2. Huntington North
3. West Noble
4. Penn
5. Northridge
6. DeKalb
7. Fort Wayne Concordia
8. Warsaw
9. Columbia City
10. Homestead
11. South Bend Riley
12. Jay County
13. Delta
14. Mishawaka
15. Fort Wayne Northrop
16. Mt. Vernon (Fortville)
17. Muncie Central
18. Pendleton Heights
19. South Adams
20. Bellmont
INDIVIDUALS
Clear Favorite
Ashley Erba, Warsaw
Race for Second
Ciersten Deardorf, Carroll (Allen)
The oft-injured senior has been healthy this season and has turned into an All-State contender. Deardorf was rested at Regional, so comes into the semi-state rested and could challenge Erba for the individual title.
Sage Knopp, Central Noble
Knoop was a medalist (7th) in the State 3200 last spring, has had a solid cross country season, and should be among the leaders at semi-state.
Hannah Osborn, Fort Wayne Concordia
Although a senior, this is the multi-talented Osborn’s first cross country season and made an immediate impact. She previously participated in gymnastics and also won a medal (9th) in the State High Jump in 2008.
Katie DeSimone
DeSimone was All-State (19th) in cross country, but then improved dramatically to win the State 1600 last spring. The senior Cadet has laid low most of the fall season but seems to be peaking during the state tournament easily winning the Marion Regional.
Darkhorses
Brianna Johnson, Carroll (Allen)
It seems strange to call Johnson, a junior, a darkhorse considering she’s finished in the top 10 at state the past two years (5th in 2007 and 10th in 2008), but she has not been running quite as strong this season and was 4th at the West Noble Regional. However, Johnson seems to peak at state as evidenced by the fact that she was 19th at last year’s semi-state before cracking the top 10 a week later.
Autumn Beachy, DeKalb (defending champion)
Again, its odd to call senior Beachy a darkhorse given that she is the defending semi-state champion. However, like Johnson, she has not been running up to that level so far this season having been beaten by both Erba and Deardorf on multiple occasions.
Predictions
1. Ashley Erba, Warsaw
2. Ciersten Deardorf, Carroll (Allen)
3. Sage Knopp, Central Noble
4. Katie DeSimone, Fort Wayne Canterbury
5. Brianna Johnson, Carroll (Allen)
6. Hannah Osborn, Fort Wayne Concordia
7. Gretchen Spahr, Huntington North
8. Ann Reibs, Fort Wayne Concordia
9. Renee Menzie, Columbia City
10. Cendall Ogle, Warsaw
11. Natalie Spahr, Huntington North
12. Valerie Burns, Penn
13. Beth Werge, South Bend Riley
14. Laken Lefever, Columbia City
15. Rachel Peterson, West Noble