Lecanto High School Cross Country Season Preview

Lecanto High School's Cross Country team is gearing up for an exciting season, and we sat down with Coach Bob Carroll to get a preview of the team and what fans can expect this year. With a young team consisting mostly of freshmen and sophomores, the Panthers are ready to take on any challenges that come their way. When asked about the top returning players from last season, Coach Carroll mentioned that the team is very young, with only a few juniors and no seniors. Junior Evan Huebner is the only returner with varsity experience. Despite the lack of upperclassmen, Coach Carroll has high hopes for his team and sees a lot of potential in his young roster. New Players to Watch Coach Carroll is counting on junior Evan Huebner to lead the team and make an immediate impact. However, he also mentioned that there are other young players who have shown promise and could potentially make a big difference on the team. Freshmen Jaelen Forteau, Liam Murphy, and Mike Sasser are some names to look out for as they have caught the coach's attention with their performance in practices. Qualities of Team Captains As for potential team captains, Coach Carroll mentioned that he looks for players with leadership qualities. He believes that captains should emerge on their own and is always on the lookout for players who display those qualities on and off the field. With such a young team, the captaincy role is still up for grabs, but Coach Carroll is confident that a leader will emerge as the season progresses. Building Team Chemistry A key aspect of any team's success is team chemistry and camaraderie. Coach Carroll recognizes the importance of this and plans on building it by letting the team naturally form bonds. As a young team still figuring things out, he believes that the players will find a way to build chemistry and unity. Challenges Faced For a young team, one of the biggest challenges in preparing for the season is developing the mentality to never give up. Coach Carroll reminds his team that cross country is a patient sport that takes time and dedication to improve. Additionally, the sport also requires a high level of mental toughness, which can be tough for young athletes to develop. But with perseverance and encouragement, Coach Carroll is confident that the team will overcome these challenges.