XC teams to watch in Cleveland

Bay: Sophomore Michael Brajdic (11th at state in 2007) is Bay's best hope to become the Division II individual state champion. But the Rockets (11th overall) could contend for the title if junior Brian Zeuch (75th), senior Jordan Hawkins (84th), junior Jeremy Farver (105th) and senior Matt Notarberardino (120th) quicken the pace.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights: The Division I Bees improved from 14th at regionals in 2006 to fourth at state in 2007 and are ready to contend with seniors Sal Caroniti (49th at state) and Brett McAdams (78th) and juniors Dave Jacobson (65th) and Bryan Miller (79th).

Crestwood: Junior Brandon McGee (31st at state) leads the Division II Red Devils, who finished sixth as a team. McGee and seniors Josh Franek (73rd), Matt Cymanski (77th) Danny Lieberth (82nd) and Alex Bachtel (124th) could take Crestwood to the top.

Field: The Division II Falcons (12th at state) have depth, including seniors Matt Jordan (47th) and Ben Mars (49th), and juniors Jared Husser (83rd), Brian Haverkamp (94th), Jon Darmon (126th) and Ricki Crawley (136th).

Green: Juniors Kyle Wheeler (27th) and Dylan Papp (45th) give the Division I Bulldogs, who were ninth at state in 2006, their best shot at returning to the state meet as a team, but need help from seniors Todd Starkey and Nick Mastriano. Both ran at state in 2006 but did not qualify in 2007. Senior Ben Pollock, sidelined last season by a flu virus, and junior Josh Fisher (right tibia stress fracture) also return.

Medina: The Division I champion Battling Bees graduated Sam Maynard (22nd) and Jeremy Arthur (25th) but still click with 2007 individual state champ Donny Roys (15:21.83), junior Hunter Heaton (24th) and senior Lucas Walters (67th). Senior Jake Boyert and sophomore David Knack round out a solid team.

Mentor: Seniors Stephen Schulz (20th) and Jimmy Hudd (31st) should help the Division I Cardinals improve on their eighth-place finish at Scioto Downs in 2007. Senior Kenny Janosko (92nd), junior Tyler Lowe (125th) and junior Ben Kisley (134th) round out the team's top five.

St. Ignatius: The Wildcats, ninth at state, could be the upstarts in Division I behind juniors Evan Baum (58th) and Chris Manuszak (107th) and seniors Bill Whitmore (108th) and Tony Lucchesi (110th). Watch out for sophomore John Sweeney, a state alternate in 2007.

Trinity: It will be difficult to replace John Sobonya (11th) and Antwaun Holley (23rd), but the fifth-place Division III Trojans believe sophomore Nick Gliha (86th) and senior Pat Sinko (124th) fit the bill.

Woodridge: The Division II Bulldogs are not the only team that trains in the Cuyahoga Valley, but they run like they are and will be hard-pressed to be denied their third consecutive state title. Seniors Michael Rhodes (32nd) and Joe White (35th), sophomore Jimmy Charles (46th) and junior Nathan Mercer (117th) form the team's nucleus. Sophomores Vibush Sivakumarian and Kyle Cochrun and freshman Drake Sulzer could round out the top seven.