After graduating several key seniors, Kirtland’s cross country team will have big shoes to fill this fall.
The Hornets won the girls’ Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division last fall and have qualified for the OHSAA Division III regional meet the past three seasons and finished as the district runner-up last fall.
“The girls’ team graduated a team leader and part of the top five runners in Delaney Kuczkowski,” said 13th-year Kirtland coach J.P. Moran. “The girls have a great mix of upper-class leadership and experience in big meets along with a nice group of young cross country runners. Also added to the team are some first-time cross country runners who should contribute immediately.”
Moran will lean on his returning all-conference performers to set the tone this season.
Ainsley Borthwick, Izzie Copeland, and Sylvia Vosicky each earned first-team all-conference last fall and Stephanie Drazetic and Jessy Jackson were named honorable mention.
Borthwick, a junior placed 17th at the regional meet and posted a best time of 20:03 as a sophomore.
“Ainsley missed going to the state meet by one place last season,” Moran said. “She has not forgotten this and uses it for motivation in her training. She trains hard in and out of season and is an absolute workhorse. She is very determined to have a successful season and has big goals.”
Copeland, a sophomore, finished 37th at regionals and posted a best time of 20:57 in 2022.
“Izzie had a great freshman year in cross country and is coming off of a very nice track season,” Moran said. “Izzie trains all year in any condition. She wants to improve and do well and pushes herself in and out of season.”
Vosicky, a junior, had a PR of 20:48 as a sophomore.
“Sylvia works extremely hard and has had success in both track and cross country,” Moran said. “She also plays soccer in the fall and is a great athlete and is very competitive.”
Kaitlyn D’Amato also returns with regional experience. She posted a best time of 23:32 last fall.
Kirtland’s boys’ team lost three of its four all-conference performers from last season and the fourth will not compete for the Hornets this fall.
Junior Jeremy Mrva returns as the Hornets’ fastest runner from last season. He posted a time of 19:39. Daniel Booth finished with a season-best 20:31 and Luke Emlaw posted a best time of 21:23 last season.
