Coach Keith Wilson Returns to Shepherd Inexperienced Caldwell Cross Country Team

By Julie LaFollette

The Caldwell Cross Country team will be young this year, with only one runner returning from last year’s team. Head Coach Keith Wilson returns for his second season after taking the year off last season.

 

“I am excited for this season,” Coach Wilson said. “We are looking pretty good for the season. We have a very young team, a lot of freshmen. I think with the young team, there are a lot of positives for the future. We will have a very strong team for the next few years. The ultimate goal is to get back to those glory days that Caldwell is used to.”

 

“We have a new generation of runners ready to step up and lead.” Coach Wilson continued. “I am excited to get the season started and see the potential that this team has. We will go out every week, run hard, and improve, and that is all that I can ask from my runners.”

 

The boys’ team will be led by the only returning runner, sophomore Alex Sheanshang. He will be joined by junior Preston Chandler, and freshmen Jesse Pemberton and Caleb Larrick.

 

Coach Wilson will be looking for the two older runners to lead. “I will definitely be looking to Alex to lead the team as a sophomore and the only experienced runner. Preston joined the team for the first time as a junior but has competed in wrestling. He is in a unique position being one of the older runners and will be stepping into a leadership role as well.”

 

Junior Josie Perkins will lead the girls’ team. She has running experience in track, but this is her first season of cross country. Four freshmen round out the team, Megan Lowe, Ella Bettinger, Hailey Abrams, and Caileigh Cole.

 

“Josie has run for me before in track so I am looking for her to lead the younger runners,” Coach Wilson stated. “Megan and Ella both have run track and cross at the Junior High level, so they do have some experience as well.”

 

The Redskins graduated three runners, Blake Miller, Emma Lowe, and Emalee Laswell. Coach Wilson commented, “It is always sad to lose runners to graduation, but I am excited to see what they do in the future.”

 

Coach Wilson has scheduled a lot of local meets this season and is looking forward to hosting a couple of meets. “I am excited for this season. I cannot wait to get these runners out on some trails and see what they can do. We are doing a lot of close meets, going to Marietta, Newcomerstown, Fort Frye, and Cambridge. We will be running back-to-back-to-back at Cambridge in October with the OVAC meet, the Cambridge Invitational, and the East District meet.”

The Redskins will be hosting a couple meets this season. “Our home meet is scheduled for September 23, and we also are hoping to host the MOVL race in October, so keep an eye out for that. I would invite everyone to come out to these meets to support our runners here at home. They appreciate it and are looking forward to seeing that home crowd out there cheering them on.”

The Redskins will open their season in Marietta on Saturday, August 26 at the Elizabeth S. Broughton Memorial Cross Country Invitational.