Prep cross country: Wasilla runners optimistic

Aug. 17, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - With a girls team looking to defend a Region title and a boys squad that should challenge for a state berth, Wasilla cross country coach Gary Howell has the kinds of problems that coaches like to deal with.

&#8220I gave out all my jackets this year,” Howell said Wednesday. &#8220We don't have any uniforms left.”

Howell said he's had to order more uniforms for his girls team, which features both a stable of strong returning runners and a sizable group of younger talent.

&#8220Our girls team is very deep,” Howell said.

Last year, the Wasilla girls placed fourth in state, and with the Warriors returning their entire team from last year, Howell thinks this year's squad will be even better.

&#8220This is our shot to really make a run at things with our girls team,” he said.

Leading the way for Wasilla will be sophomore Katie Bialka, who placed 25th at state last year as a freshman. Though Bialka had the highest finish at state last year, Howell said the rest of the team will likely be right there with her.

&#8220We have 10 to 12 girls that on any given day could be on varsity,” he said.

Also expected to play key roles on this year's team are sophomore Kendra Nelson and seniors Brooke Nelson, Jessica Gross, Amanda Lau and Elle Fuller - who Howell said is the team's emotional leader.

&#8220We wouldn't have the girls program that we do without Elle,” he said. &#8220She's definitely the heart of the team.”

Howell said that Kodiak (7th at state in 2006) and Colony (10th at state in 2006) likely will also have strong teams, and he believes whatever team makes it out as the region champion likely will have a good shot at the state meet.

&#8220I think whatever team wins our conference on the girls side will be right there at state,” he said.

And with so many girls in the program, Howell thinks success for the Warriors girls could become a regular event.

&#8220Our team is really deep and I think we're going to have a strong program for many years because of it,” he said.

As far as uniforms, Howell said he doesn't mind having to pick up a few more to accommodate his growing program.

&#8220That's a good problem to have,” he said.

On the boys side, Howell said Wasilla doesn't have nearly the depth as his girls team, but what the Warriors do have is experience.

&#8220Our boys team is a little shallow,” he said.

The Wasilla boys are a senior-heavy bunch, led by top returner Jimmy Sliwa, who also stars for the Wasilla soccer team.

&#8220He's a phenomenal athlete,” Howell said of Sliwa, who finished 8th at last year's state meet.

Also expected to make strong contributions this season are Sliwa's fellow seniors Rohn Buser and Josiah Stewart, as well as sophomore Baruch Chamberlain.

Howell said that Kodiak - the defending state champions - and Colony are not only the best teams in Region III but could very well be the best in the state.

&#8220I think they're probably the best teams in the state and unfortunately they're both in our region,” he said.

Despite having to run in the shadow of two of the state's top programs, Howell said he believes the Warriors are talented enough to grab one of the region's three state berths.

&#8220Our goal is to qualify for state as a boys team,” he said.

Both the Wasilla boys and girls will get their first action of the season this weekend when the team travels to Seward for the Seward Invitational on Saturday.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com