2011 Fall Preview: Dragons cross country team looks to make strides this fall

Led by a new head coach with a strong pedigree, and with the majority of its top runners returning the Math and Science Academy cross country team looks to make strides this season.

Cami Paulson, the former head coach of the track and field and cross country teams at Bowling Green State University in Ohio the past 12 years, takes over the Math and Science Academy cross country program this fall. Paulson takes the reins of the cross country program from former head coach Daniel Scheff, who led the Dragons the past four years.

Last year, the MSA boys took fourth place, while the Dragons girls were fifth at the section meet.

Due to graduation, the Dragons boys lost three of its top six runners from last year, while the girls team graduated three of its best seven runners.

Paulson’s boys squad will be led by All-State runner Jacob Siekmeier, a junior who was the Dragons’ No. 1 runner last year, a strong senior class that includes Brady Hannula, Sam Daniewicz and Ricky Ravin, along with underclassmen Shawn Ramberg, Han Yong Wunrow, Noah Stout and Kiran Mekala.

The MSA girls team brings back its top two runners from a year ago in Greta Siekmeier and Elise Lohmann, but will need to replace 2011 grads Emily Schroeder, Manasa Melachuri and Cozy Hannula.

MSA kicked off the season on Friday, Sept. 2, with the Irish Invitational in Rosemount. Big meets this fall include the Lakeview Invitational on Friday, Sept. 16, the Mounds View Invitational on Friday, Sept. 23 and the Roy Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Tags: fall sports preview 2011, sports, prep, updates