PRESENTED BY COACH GALLAGHER AND POSTED BY MR. EDDIE DWYER

FROM COACH GALLAGHER: The Cat Pack returns with four runners from last year's State Championship Team. The squad is led by senior co-captain, C.J. Ambrosio.

C.J. was All-Ohio last season and recorded a PR of 15:25, finishing 14th at the State Cross Country Meet. He also set a school record time of 9:01 for 3200 meters at the state track meet, helping Coach Chuck Kyle's team to the State Championship.

Senior co-captains Andrew Szendrey (16:00 pr) and Colin Caniglia (16:23 pr) plan on another record setting season and look to improve on their 34th and 71st place finishes, respectively, at the state meet. Sophomore Nick "the Quick" Saul (16:26 pr) brings experience and speed from his breakout freshman season.

Co-captain Pat "P Nols" Nolan (16:45 pr) and senior varsity lettermen Collin Kelly (17:07 pr), Conor Sepesy (17:52), Matt "Matty Ice" Harsar (17:54) and Gabe Ohilger (17:30) round out this stellar class.

Headlining the junior class are Liam "Lightning" McGuire (16:35 pr), Joe Ripepi (17:00 pr), Brett Saunders (17:10 pr) and Max Bryden (17:53 pr), who bring intensity and added depth to the squad.

Super sophomore lettermen, including Matt Blouch (17:10 pr), Logan "Special K" Kijeiwski (17:22 pr), Andrew Biehl (17:30 pr) and Nathan Soria (17:50 pr) round out the returning Varsity runners.

The first big challenge will be at The Hilliard Hot Summer Bash. The course is fast and the competition as good as any meet in Ohio. The Cats then return to the legendary Tiffin Carnival on 9/10 to defend their team titles from 2015.

On 9/17, the team travels to Boardman to test out the new regional course. All the best teams from Northeast Ohio will be aiming for the coveted Spartan Trophy.

The Midwest Meet of Champions in Columbus on 10/1 will be the last major tune-up against state-wide competition before heading into the district and regional competition.

Finally, the state championship meet will be held on 11/5 at the National Trails Raceway course in Hebron, Ohio. The squad will be vying for a repeat performance of 2015.

Note: We have 90 runners on the team, including over 30 freshman. The freshman class will be another strong one, similar to the 2015 State Championship Class.

Coaches: Head Freshman Coach Bob Wolf '08. Assistant Coaches Ken Sullivan ''06, Kevin Hippley '95, Alex Voigt, Father Paul Shelton SJ, Sean Stefancin '08 and Brian Gallagher '07.

HERE IS THE 2016 SCHEDUE, WITH SOME COMMENTS FROM COACH GALLAGHER

8/27 GlenOak
9/3 Hilliard Summer Bash: All good teams from mid Ohio.
9/10 Tiffin Carnival: One of the largest meets in the state with most of the top teams competing.
9/10 Walsh Jesuit: Freshman only. They should do very well at this 9 th grade only meet.
9/17 Boardman Invitational: This is the new regional course, so we will see the best Northeast teams.
9/24 Cloverleaf Invite: Freshmen and JV meet.
9/30 Gilmour Invite: JV and Freshmen meet run on the beautiful campus.
10/1 Meet of Champions in Columbus: The last tune up against major competition.
10/8 Stow Invite: A fast spectator friendly course.
10/15 Sim Earich, Trumble County Fairgrounds: JV and Freshmen meet.
10/22 District Meet at Medina Middle School
10/29 Regional Meet at Boardman
11/5 State Championship Meet at the National Trails Raceway, Hebron Ohio