Susitna Valley, Houston may sport small squads, but the Rams and Hawks are ready to run

MAT-SU — While Wasilla and Colony boast a record number of runners and Palmer stands just shy of the 30-athlete mark, the Houston and Susitna Valley cross country squads can claim only single digit totals.

But even though the Hawks and Rams can’t compete when it comes to roster size, the North Valley squads are content with building strong, yet small squads.

“We have kids out there who are really committed to the team,” Su Valley co-head coach Jane Buskirk said on Thursday. “I feel like all the kids came into the season with a fantastic attitude.”

The Rams have only two runners on the girls’ side and six on the boys team, but Buskirk feels the roster is strong, despite its size.

Junior Missy Scott is the veteran of the duo.

“She has tremendous athletic ability and lots of energy and enthusiasm,” Buskirk said of Scott.

Scott finished 82nd at the Skyview Invitational last week.

The Rams also have freshman Bailey Stevenson, who finished 35th at Skyview.

As an eighth-grader, Stevenson shattered the Su Valley course record in the 2.8-kilometer by 23 seconds. Ironically, that record had been held by Scott.

Buskirk said Stevenson also broke Su Valley’s course record for the 3.5-K during a dual against Houston on Wednesday.

The Su Valley boys squad features three veterans and a trio of newcomers, Rams co-head coach Larry Buskirk said.

Returning are junior Skyler Hamler, junior Tyler Figley and sophomore Mike Stevenson.

New to the team are juniors Bill Kelly, Brandon Parry and Lee Blonczynski.

Kelly finished 93rd at the Skyview Invite and Parry was 136th.

Kelly also set a course record during Su Valley’s dual with Houston on Wednesday.

Su Valley is off this weekend, but will compete in the Palmer Invitational on Sept. 6 and host the Su Valley Invite on Sept. 20.

Houston Hawks

Third-year head coach Pat Egelus said the Hawks have nine runners on the varsity roster.

Like Bailey Stevenson in Su Valley, Egelus said the Hawks have a freshman who excited at the middle school level — freshman Travis Patterson, an athlete Egelus sees as a top runner.

Also on the squad are a pair of runners who enjoyed strong track seasons in 2007 — Brogan Putnam and Dustin Dodds.

Leading the girls’ squad is senior Kassandra Morris.

Putnam finished 104th and Dodds was 108th at Skyview.

The Hawks head north to compete in the Interior Invitational hosted by Lathrop High School on Saturday.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.