Boys Cross Country Outlook

It should be business as usual for the Hudson High School boys cross country team this season and for them business as usual is a good thing. Third-year head coach Matt Carpenter has a large number of runners to work with this fall and he is ready to go. “We should have a real good season and I’m excited and optimistic about what the season holds for us,’ said Carpenter, who will again be assisted by his father, Ron. “We want to compete for the league title and give Erie Mason a battle for the top spot. We should be better than last year but Erie should also be better. Our numbers are up and that is important to keep the program going in the right direction.” There is no doubt that the Carpenters have this program headed in the right direction and that should lead down US 12 to the state meet at MIS again this November. With 15 runners on hand to work with Carpenter has a load of talented runners and a good mix of newcomers to help build the Hudson boys team into a power in this area. Here is a look at who will run for the boys team as they look to repeat as a force to be reckoned with in the division IV regional and state meets.

A look at the 2006 boys cross country squad

The season gets underway on Saturday at Tecumseh’s Friends Church located north of Tecumseh on Tecumseh-Clinton Road. The meet, set to start at 8:30, is the annual Lenawee County Preview meet. Hudson did well in this meet a year ago and look for another strong finish by this veteran Tiger team. The headliner and the one we will be hearing a lot about this season for the Tigers is senior standout John Koser. He was an all-state runner finishing ninth in the state meet a season ago and expect him to better that finish in 2006. “John is our number one and he is our leader and he should do very well this season at all levels,” said Carpenter about his prize harrier. Koser will be one of the top runners in the league, country, area, region and state and should have a banner year. Two other seniors are also solid runners and will help the team as well. William Elliott and Brandon Bailey both return from strong seasons a year ago. Bailey is a four-year runner and Elliott returns for year two. Elliott battled an injury a year ago and if he and Bailey stay healthy they both should have successful senior campaigns.

The junior class is led by Sabin Enerson who ended the year strong in 2005 and looks to be ready for a breakout season in ’06. He has worked hard all summer and competed in Australia during some international games so he has had a busy but productive summer. Brett Merillat is another solid junior with experience from last year to call upon. Nathan Roney and Andrew Weasel will provide with team with depth and experience. The final junior runner is Hobbs Valley and he will help where needed. Zach Pearce is the top sophomore and he returns after helping the team a season ago. Pearce has the potential to run in the top five and definitely the top seven for the Tiger harriers. In both of their second seasons will be Nathan Chamberlain and Garrett Schoonover as they both also provide the team with added depth.

Four freshmen round out the large 15-member squad that Hudson will have during the autumn season on the hills and trails around this area of the state. Stephen Tennis could be a top seven runner after he excelled at the middle school a year ago. Other first year runners are newcomers Derick Clark, Anthony Beard and Thomas Verdon. Those three freshman along with Tennis will get their feet wet competing against the big boys during their first year of high school. “This is a great number to have and the high numbers say a lot of good things about the program,’ said Carpenter, who has spent the entire summer working in the backwoods and deserts of New Mexico. “We are going to have a lot of kids battling and fighting it out for the top seven spots to run with the varsity and that is good for the team practices and team morale.”

Season Outlook

Last year Hudson was second in the LCAA and second in the division IV regional meet held at Ella Sharp Park in Jackson where it will also be this October. Hudson ended up tenth in the state meet at MIS but look for a single digit finish in 2006. Local rival Pittsford was eighth in 2005 and Hudson wants to do better than the Wildcats this season. “We will be better than a year ago and I hope we can finish higher than what we did last year at the state meet,” said Carpenter, who was pleased with the 2005 top ten finish at the state meet. “We need to work hard, stay healthy and take care of business with our team and I think things will work out for a very successful season.” Hudson will be chasing after Erie Mason in the LCAA standings but the Tigers may be the hunted when it comes time for the regional meet on October 28th in Jackson, as they look to improve upon that regional runner-up finish of a season ago.

Hudson will open up on Saturday but the first home meet will not be until Tuesday, September 5th, as the Tigers host the annual early season Hudson Invite not to be confused with the Hudson Booster held each fall in October. It should be a very exciting and successful time for the boys this fall and it should be business as usual if all goes as planned.
                                                        To Index