Preview

The Holy Family Cross Country teams will be looking to build on their successes from the 2005 season.

Last year, Holy Family had two All-CACC selections including the CACC Newcomer of the Year in Melissa Hale.

“I was proud of the successes we had last season, especially having two first-year runners receive all-conference honors,” Holy Family head coach Daryl McKeever said. “Their contributions helped both programs move up in the conference standings. It helped us stabilize the image of the programs at both schools.

“This year, we are looking to continue to move up to make a championship run, hopefully place more players on the all-conference squad.”

Starting with the women's squad, Holy Family returns four runners from last year.

As earlier mentioned, Melissa Hale (Jr./Buffalo, NY/John F. Kennedy) was selected as the CACC Newcomer of the Year in 2005 as she ran a 20:14.95 which was good enough for second place.

“Her success took the league by surprise, but I wasn't surprised because I could feel her talents and she hasn't blossomed yet,” McKeever said. “She hasn't peaked yet and the conference will be surprised this season as to what she can do.”

Morgan Rodgers (Sr./Elizabethtown, PA/Elizabethtown), Caitlin Sullivan (Sr./Fairless Hills, PA/Conwell-Egan) and Debbie McGrogan (So./Philadelphia, PA/St. Hubert's) are the other three returnees.

“Morgan is the captain of the women's team and the keystone of the program,” McKeever said. “Her love of the team and the sport spills over and makes the team better.”

“Caitlin has shown constant improvement during both the cross country and track seasons,” McKeever added. “We will look for her to be a significant point scorer. Debbie wasn't able to perform to her peak last season because of injuries. This year, she is injury free and should be pushing for a conference spot.”

McKeever's recruiting class includes four new runners: Christine Cantatore (Fr./Galloway, NJ/Abesgami), Akiliah Clark (Fr./Temple Hills, MD/Central High), Crystal Davis (Fr./Forestville, MD/Central High) and Symonne Scott (Fr./Attleboro, MA/Attleboro)

“Cantatore has an unmovable work ethic,” McKeever said. “She pushes herself to the limit and should be a contributor to both programs.”

As for Clark , McKeever noted that she is a very gutsy and smooth runner. “She is adjusting to the pace of college cross country training and we are looking for her to be a standout in both cross country and track,” McKeever added.

“ Davis is a shining star in pre-season training,” McKeever said. “She has come in and adjusted to the collegiate training pace and has made everyone proud by her accomplishments on the practice field.”

Scott is described as a very strong and smooth runner, with unlimited potential in both cross country and track. “She should be a standout before the year is over,” McKeever said.

Turning to the men, the squad returns four from last year, including all-CACC selection Lawrence Berner (So./Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge).

“His (Berner) performance last year enabled the program to move forward,” McKeever said. “His transition from high school to college was a tremendous surprise and this year, his talents should take him higher in the conference standings.”

Berner finished tenth last season at the CACC Championships, with a time of 28:42.14.

For Chris Drissel (Sr./Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge), just being able to run last season was an accomplishment. Drissel returned to the field after being seriously injured in a car accident in January 2005.

“He has a never bending will when it comes to training and sportsmanship,” McKeever said. “He is an inspiration and support to both teams.”

Also returning is Mike Fine (Sr./Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge) and Wayne Hefner (Jr./Philadelphia, PA/Father Judge). “Fine had a good summer of training and has positioned himself to be one of the top point scorers for the men,” McKeever said. “Hefner was an All-CACC, All-Academic selection and his training habits should help him join Berner on the all-conference squad.”

The two newcomers are John McFadden (Fr./Bensalem, PA/Father Judge) and Luke Walker (Fr./Philadelphia, PA/St. Joseph's Prep).

“McFadden is making the transition to college with leaps and bounds. Walker has come to the program after a good summer of training and is showing that he can be a good college competitor.,” McKeever said.