F-M THE GREATEST PROGRAM?
By Aron Taylor , NHSCA National Director
12/21/2011 email
The team of the hour is US#1 Fayetteville Manlius, New York. The six-time consecutive defending national champions return 6 of 7 from the 2011 national championship team. Can they be stopped? Not likely.
Head Coach Bill Aris is humble and the last to adorn praise before the goal is accomplished however 2012 F-M has assembled perhaps the best returning team in US history. Forget the incredible 2004 Saratoga Springs NY, forget 2009 or 2010 Fayetteville Manlius NY championship squads... prepare for F-M 2012.
F-M NY 2012: Jillian Fanning SR; Hanna Smith SR; Alana Pearl JR; Katie Brislin SR; Jenna Farrell FR; Annika Avery SO.
TATNALL DELAWARE MOUNTS A CHARGE
The 2011 NHSCA Small School National Championship team US#2 Tatnall DE finished third at Nike Cross Nationals. Returning 6 of 7 the Hornets are poised to improve upon that positon. Make no mistake about it, the task at hand is improbable to say the least but Tatnall will take her shot at the defending national champions Fayetteville Manlius NY. Head Coach Pat Castagno has peaked his program with the best returning team in Tatnall history.
TATNALL DE 2012: Reagan Anderson SR; Kieran Hanrahan SO; Rebecca Salter SR; Julie Williams SR; Kate Hastings SO; Caroline Silverman FR; Kendra Riley SO.
THE DARKHORSE['s]
Finishing fourth at last seasons national championship US#3 New Trier, Illinois returns 5 of 7. The best team in Illinois State history last season, New Trier will be even better in 2012.
NEW TRIER IL 2012: Meridith Smith SO; Courtney Ackerman SR; Jessica Ackerman SR; Molly Krueger JR; Kathleen Keene SR.
US#5 Dowling Catholic, Iowa finished third at the Heartland Region Championship in 2011. The best team left out of the national championship picture returns 4 of the top 5 varsity scorers and 5 of 7 for 2012. Dowling Catholic set the US#2 all-time 14:28 4K team average to claim the 2011 Iowa State Championship. The top returning team from the Heartland may be the best out of Des Moines ever.
DOWLING CATHOLIC IA 2012: Karissa Schwiezer JR; Vanessa Miller SR; Hannah Thomas SO; Grace Gibbons SO; Addie Schumacher JR.
>>>2011 High School National Team Rankings
2012 XCNATION PRE-SEASON TEAM RANKINGS
1. Fayetteville HS, Manlius, New York
2. Tatnall HS, Willmington, Delaware
3. New Trier HS, Winnekta, Illinois
4. Pennsbury HS, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
5. Dowling Catholic HS, Des Moines, Iowa
6. Fort Collins HS, Fort Collins, Colorado
7. Assumption HS, Louisville, Kentucky
8. Grosse Pointe South HS, Grosse Pointe, Michigan
9. Neenah HS, Neenah, Wisconsin
10. Monarch HS, Louisville, Colorado
11. Saratoga Springs HS, Saratoga Springs, New York
12. Bozeman HS, Bozeman, Montana
13. Simi Valley HS, Simi Valley, California
14. La Costa Canyon HS, Carlsbad, California
15. Glacier Peak HS, Snohomish, Washington
16. South Eugene HS, Eugene, Oregon
17. San Clemente HS, San Clemente, California
18. Wheaton Warrenville South HS, Warrenville, Illinois
19. The Woodlands HS, The Woodlands, Texas
20. Wayzata HS, Plymouth, Minnesota
21. College Park HS, The Woodlands, Texas
22. Estero HS, Estero, Florida
23. Carmel HS, Carmel, Indiana
24. Xavier College Preparatory, Phoenix Arizona
25. Hamilton-Wenham HS, South Hamilton, Massachusetts
XCNATION PRE-SEASON REGION RANKINGS
NORTHWEST: 1. BOZEMAN MT 2. GLACIER PEAK WA
CALIFORNIA: 1. SIMI VALLEY CA 2. LA COSTA CANYON CA
SOUTHWEST: 1. FORT COLLINS CO 2. MONARCH CO
HEARTLAND: 1. DOWLING CATHOLIC IA 2. NEENAH WI
MIDWEST: 1. NEW TRIER IL 2. GROSSE POINT SOUTH MI
SOUTH: 1. THE WOODLANDS TX 2. COLLEGE PARK TX
SOUTHEAST: 1. TATNALL DE 2. ASSUMPTION KY
NORTHEAST: 1. PENNSBURY PA 2. HAMILTON-WENHAM MA
NEW YORK: 1. FAYETTEVILLE MANLIUS, NY 2. SARATOGA NY
>>>Boys Pre-Season National Rankings
