OPHS cross country teams ready to run

RUN WITH ME-Oak Park senior Bree Strenkowski runs with her team at Juan de Anza Bautista Park in Calabasas last week. Last year, Oak Park High's boys' cross country team lost at the CIF finals by one point. After many months to think about it, OPHS coach Kevin Smith has his boys' and girls' teams ready for another run at the title.

Over the last few years, Smith has had his team running on the right track as his boys have won the league title eight of the last nine years, and the girls have won the league title six consecutive years.

"Last year losing by one point has been on our mind, but we're using it as a positive thing," said senior Andrew Parrone, a member of the Eagles boys' squad. "We use that as something we never want to do again."

Even though school hasn't even started yet for Oak Park, its teams have already had a few setbacks.

Senior Courtney Lightfoot of the girls' team was lost for the year with a foot injury, and senior Anthony Ponderella decided to give up cross-country running to play basketball for Oak Park.

According to Smith, both teams have stepped up their games to fill in the voids.

"We have a motto here and that is that we try and lift from the bottom and not pull from the top," Smith said. "Every single one of our runners has stepped up, from the seniors to the freshmen."

Senior Jessica Martin has been impressed with how the team has responded to the loss of Lightfoot.

"We just kind of accepted it," Martin said of Lightfoot's injury. "I think our team has a lot of depth and we will be okay. And Courtney has been great as she is still out here cheering for us as we practice. So that makes it easier for the team to have a positive attitude."

The girls' team is led by seniors Jessica Martin, Suzanne Scrimenti, Bree Strenkowski, Marissa Diehl and Kim Courtney. Freshmen Melissa Skiba and sophomores Julie Kopstein and Sarah Kiner should contribute as well to a girls' team that's bonding together very fast.

According to Courtney, the girls have already had a couple of parties together. "As a freshman, I met so many

cool people and so much fun that it was impossible to leave," Courtney said. "Hopefully as seniors we can continue that."

The boys' team will be lead by Garrison Gourdeau, Doug Bettisworth, Parrone and Danny Fischer. Two months ago, the team appointed Fischer to be one of its captains.

"I was a little surprised when I was named a captain because there are so many great runners on this team," Fischer said. "I enjoy being a captain because every year since I was a freshman you feel like you are more a part of the team and now I feel like I'm a central part of it."

"As a captain I'm trying to stress that we should focus on teamwork as I think we run better as a pack," he said.

The team is already practicing at different locations at 6:30 a.m., where Smith's voice can be heard booming all over the practice courses, telling underclassmen to keep up with the seniors or runners to give it that extra effort.

Smith said he has the players practicing early so when school starts they'll be ready to make the transition of waking up before the sun rises.

"Our main goal is to make it to state finals," Smith said. "If everything goes well, we will be spending our Thanksgiving weekend in Mt. SAC."