The Westside girls and boys cross country teams have very high hopes for the upcoming 2022 season. 

The girls are coming off a good season with a top five finish in the state tournament, and they are confident they can build upon their success. 

“The girls are in a good place and the goal is just to keep getting better,” head coach Theresa Gosnell said. 

The Warriors will lose Nebraska- Kearney freshman Noelle Abels, but the Warriors will return two of the top three girls runners in the state, in Stella Miner and Claire White. Their dominance gives Westside a chance to compete for a state title. 

“As a team I have high hopes, we’ve put together a really solid group that all have a shot at some great times,” Stella Miner said. 

The team is excited for the season to start, and are eager to see how the team fits together. 

“I am most excited for the upcoming meet and getting back into the environment,” Miner said.

The boys team had a fairly disappointing season last year failing to qualify the state tournament.  The team has young talent with lots of potential, but can’t quite get over the hump. The bar is set high but they are confident they can meet it.

 “The goal is always the state but I think it’s more realistic than ever,” Gosnell said. 

The boys team has more talent than ever. The team returns Jayden Wall and Jack Gerard, two individual state qualifiers. The team has lots of young talent like sophomores Conor Gross and Jack Boerner. 

“This is one of the best groups of boys I’ve ever been able to coach. I just hope they can put it together,” Gosnell said.

Both the girls and boys Cross Country teams take on Papillion-La Vista High School at Walnut Creek recreation area Saturday, Aug. 27.