Girls Preseason Team Rankings #16-#25


25. Frisco Wakeland

Head Coach: Coach Enright
Last year's finish: UIL 5A State- 4th place
Key returners: Emily Dress(Jr), Mackenzie Davis (So)
Projected top 7: Emily Dress, Mackenzie Davis, Isabella West, Megan Rogers, Emilty Hartshorn, Kaitlyn King, Josie Uhlmann
Newcomers: 
Will's Outlook: Coach Enright returns a good majority of her runners from last year's run at the UI 5A state title. Could be very good based on the status of Rachel Loetzer who is a wild card. We are not really sure whether she graduated or is coming back, but she was their #2 at the state meet last year with a 19:15.10. Still, this group knows what it was like in the the wild and crazy 5A season and should be prepared to deal with the difficult class once again.


24. Marcus

Head Coach: Coach Steve Telaneus
Last year's finish: District 5-6A- 4th place
Key returners: Nina Ferreyra (Sr), Sarah Green (Jr), Erika Voight (Sr),
Projected top 7: Nina Ferreyra (Sr), Sara Green (Jr), Erika Voight (Sr), Caitlin Reimer (Jr), Madison Woolley (Jr), Dahlia Clark(Jr), Payton Evert (So)
Newcomers:
Will's Outlook: Marcus was on the wrong side of things at the District 5-6A race last October. They were the possibly a state meet trophy winning team, but were the fourth best team in the best district on that day. They were four points from first and three points from third and continuing their season. They graduated their top four of the top seven and will rely on a couple of girls moving up from JV. In a year, that could be anybody's year to win, Marcus could find their way right back to the top in November.


23. Montgomery

Head Coach: Coach Chance Edwards
Last year's finish: UIL 6A State 8th place
Key returners: Halena Rahmaan (Sr), Allison Wilson (Sr)
Projected top 7: Halena Rahmaan (Sr), Allison Wilson (Sr), Rian Babin (Sr), Katherine Hilty (11), Abigail Wilson (10), Kelli Curington, Anna Denbigh
Newcomers:
Will's Outlook: Montgomery qualified for state last year as a team. That was in 6A, this season they move to 5A this year to add to the madness in that classification. They have two of the best girls in the nation in Rahmaan and Wilson, so they literally have the luxury of two low stick girls. The question is how well the #3-7 get together. They will no doubt have a high split because of their one and two, but the other positions have got to be together to maximize their weapons. They did graduate two from their top seven last year and with a new school opening in the district, they can only hope it doesn't pull too much from their pool of runners.


22. Leander Rouse

Head Coach: Coach Kelly Thompson
Last year's finish: UIL 5A State 10th place
Key returners: Megan Ombres (Sr), Emily Forster (Sr), Sydney Knight (So)
Projected top 7: Megan Ombres (Sr), Emily Forster (Sr), Sydney Knight (So), Edna Rotich (Jr), Hanna Aldrich (Sr), Hailey Sanchez (So)
Newcomers: 
Will's Outlook: Rouse finished very well last year and they ran their way back to the state meet. Running as a pack is their strength and they are one of the best. It got even tighter in big races like at district and the regional meet. They return six of their top seven and could really make some even bigger moves in 5A this year.


21. Katy

Head Coach: Coach James Pat Darcey
Last year's finish: UIL 6A State 12th place
Key returners: Audrey Witham (Jr), Isabella Anderson (Jr), Carolinz Ortiz (Jr)
Newcomers: 
Will's Outlook: Katy is a disciplined program and they know what they do and they do it well. They ran to a 12th place finish at the 6A state meet last year after a couple of years of graduating program impacting athletes. They return a good mix of runners who have been in the program long enough to step up and keep the team in the mix and returning back to state. Junior Audrey Witham could make a move into being one of the top distance runners in the state.


20. Grapevine

Head Coach: Head Coach Rick Miller

Last year's finish: UIL 5A State 5th place

Key Returners: Rachel Sutliff (Jr), Lindsey Smyth (Sr), Ashley Dove (Jr)

Projected top 7: Rachel Sutliff (So), Lindsey Smyth (Sr), Ashley Dove (Jr), Caroline Burrow (So),  Elize Haley (Sr), Jennifer Edelman (So), Michaela Fearey (So)

Newcomers:

Will's Outlook: Again, yet another one of the 5A monster programs in the top 25 rankings. This is one of the teams that will no doubt creep further and further up the rankings throughout the season. Coach Miller had a very young team on his hands last year. They are still a fairly young team, but they'll get older each week for the second time around for many of the sophomores. They are led by Rachel Sutliff who ended last season as 3rd team All-State as a freshman. They have four girls returning under 20:00, but could use getting the #5 down into the 19s and lower the team split. Nevertheless, expect Grapevine to be in the fight for a trophy in November.



19. Canyon 

Head Coach: Coach Ray Baca
Last year's finish: UIL 5A State 9th place
Key Returners: Kameron Diaz (12), Caitlynne Speegle (10), Gabi Davis (12)
Projected top 7: Kameron Diaz (12), Caitlynne Speegle (10), Gabi Davis (12), Avery Thomas (12), Kelsee Dudley (12), Jaden Boling (12), Brylee Winfrey (12)
Newcomers: 
Will's Outlook: Coach Baca has a knack for always finding ways to get his team to state. Although he graduated his #1 from last year, he has a full group of seniors that return. On top of that, Canyon moves to 4A with the UIL realignment for the next two years. For a team full of girls and experience at 5K, that could make the 2 mile distance at 4A an easier transition. Their team split should be their strength to go along with their experience and who knows how it'll be when they blaze in the 2 mile distance.


18. Frisco Liberty

Head Coach: Coach Amanda Zambiasi
Last year's finish: UIL 5A State 1st place
Key Returners: Amelia Jauregui (Jr), Kaylen Ruiz(Sr), Kira Robinson (Jr)
Newcomers: 
Will's Outlook: Coach Zambiasi had her girls battle ready last year for the 5A fight and what a fight it was all season long. She got another outstanding finish from then senior Carrie Fish and the rest of the girls followed up to squeak a four point win over Canyon Randall. Fish graduated, but she still has fire power in her top seven with the return of Amelia Jauregui who will step into the #1 role. The number four through six will have to minimize the split and time between the top three if they want to win it all again.


17. Keller Timber Creek

Head Coach: Coach Dan Strong and Coach Josh Allen
Last year's finish: Region 1-6A 5th place
Key Returners: Gabrielle Thies, Erika Barrett
Newcomers: 
Will's Outlook: The Flacons ran impressively at the end of the season and more than held their own at the "Region of Doom" at Region 1 against the top teams in the state. They ran to a 18:44 three mile average, but the more important stat was their 44 second split. They graduated two seniors from that top seven and their would be #2 transferred, but the coaching staff still has a group very capable to contend.


16. Burleson Centennial

Head Coach: Coach Sarah Eden
Last year's finish: UIL 5A State 3rd
Key Returners: Harli Woolsey (So), Sarah Trammel (Sr), Abigail Mccandless (Sr), Ashley Campbell (Jr)
Projected top 7: Harli Woolsey (So), Sarah Trammel (Sr), Abigail Mccandless (Sr), Ashley Campbell (Jr), Vantashia Bond (So), Marina Gimaldo (Jr), Serena Bersuch(Sr)
Newcomers: 
Will's Outlook: Coach Eden and her girls had a great season. In fact, the best season in school history and one of the best sports seasons in school history. They won the first state trophy for Centennial High School and they have a good opportunity to do it again. They did graduate two seniors, but return a solid core and will move a couple of girls up to fill in some slots. Woolsey grabbed All-State honors as a freshman and Trammel, Mccandless, and Campbell all finished in the top 50. Centennial is the real deal and will mix it up with the other 5A teams once again.