By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
It may be their home course, but on Saturday, Dowagiac's cross country team will be competing in the Edwardsburg Invitational.
Edwardsburg, along with Niles and Cassopolis, call the new course at Dowagiac Middle School home.
The meet will begin with the freshmen/sophomore girls' race at 10 a.m. The freshmen/sophomore boys' race will follow at approximately 10:35.
The junior/senior girls' race will take place around 11:10 a.m, with the junior/senior boys' race set to wrap up the meet at approximately 11:45 a.m.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
The Dowagiac cross country teams will be opening their season on Saturday at the Edwardsburg event.
The Chieftain girls' team returns four runners from last season.
Back are senior Katie Hewitt, juniors Chelsey Preston and Kayla Saviano, and sophomore Moneisha Clabin.
Newcomers to the squad are junior Stephanie Muha, sophomores Savannah Eby and Daisha Suggs, and freshman Ali Hess.
"Kayla Saviano and Katie Hewitt should lead the girls' team this year," veteran Dowagiac coach Ken Jordan said. "Kayla was coming on very well last year before illness caused her to miss the last five meets of the season. Katie had a strong regional meet to end the season."
Jordan pointed out that Muha and Eby will bring "valuable" track experience to the squad.
He pointed out that the other members of the team are working hard and hope to improve throughout the season.
Dowagiac will have a veteran boys' team when they are all available.
Jordan once again has to deal with multiple, two-sport athletes this season.
"We have a lot of experience, but our results will vary so much given the number of dual sport kids on the team," Jordan said. "We're working hard to add to our numbers, but it's been a struggle."
Back for the Chieftains are seniors Evan Bressler, Andrew Cuthbert, Adam Hess, Mike Kasper and Tony Saviano. Also returning are junior Clay Hewitt and sophomore Eric Morton.
Also back are juniors Josh Deuel, Jason Fryman, Nate Long and John Morseau.
Rounding out the team are freshmen Kasey Proshwitz, Efrain Soto and Brandon Wilson.
"Seniors Evan Bressler and Adam Hess (soccer) should lead the boys, but not far behind will be fellow seniors Andrew Cuthbert (soccer), Mike Kasper (football) and junior Clay Hewitt (soccer)," Jordan said. "All five ran within a minute of each other last year and four of them were under 19 minutes. Evan and Adam got into the low 18s by season's end last year."
Jordan pointed out that Fryman will be a factor this season and he expects some of the younger runners to figure into the mix.
"It will be tough for us to compete in the Wolverine Conference until we can add some more full-time runners," he said.