Young and energetic.
That no only describes the Villa Angela-St. Joseph cross country team, but also first-year coach Caileigh Colo.
Colo, 23, ran cross country at Euclid High School before moving on to run collegiately at Ashland. Coached by her father, Colo was looking for an opportunity to coach the sport after her competitive running days in college were over, and when the opening at VASJ became a possibility, she jumped at the chance.
Colo takes over a Vikings squad with raw talent and a huge upside.
"We have only up to go," Colo said. "I am excited with what I have seen so far. We have a long way to go, and maybe this won't be our year, but I think we have a chance in the future to be champions."
The boys squad features sophomores Billy Vidmar and Shawn Caruso-Taylor, freshman Tommy Lombardo and junior Jake Tucci. Adam Kerver, Sean Johns and Jaylen Harris round out the roster.
The girls team features five freshman and two juniors. Morgan Balasz, Eleanor Boru, Erin Osborne, Elizabeth Smith and LaRyssa Lindsey are in their first year at VASJ. Magdalena Boru and Olivia Vidmar are the two upperclassmen on the Vikings' roster.
Key early meets for VASJ include the U Wanna Come Back at Perry and the McDonough Invitational on Sept. 13 at Forest Hill Park.
