2005 Science Hill Boys Cross Country Team Outlook
The 2005 Cross Country team led by Coach Buddy Thomas is hoping to continue the success that has occurred over the past ten years. Under Coach Thomas the Hilltoppers have won six of the last seven Big 7 Conference championships, won the Region 1 title for the past seven years in a row, and have finished in the top 8 at the state AAA meet for the past ten years. The Toppers finished 3rd in the 2004 state meet with 143 points and all five scorers from 2004 are returning this year, making Science Hill one of several AAA teams expected to contend for the State Championship. The 2004 team won the Big 7 Conference Championship, the Region One Championship, and had high finishes in several out-of-state meets.
The 2005 team is led by two-time All-State performer, Todd Smalling (Sr.). Todd won last year's Region 1 Meet by 44 seconds and finished 7th at the State Meet. Science Hill also returns several past All-Conference and All-Region runners including Eric Schneider (Sr.), Arun Malikayil (Sr.), Damien Buchanon (Sr.), and Kenny Love (Jr.). Other key returnees expected to contribute and vie for varsity action include Rajesh Malikayel (Jr.), Eric Barrowclough (Sr.), Zach Stein (Jr), Austin Holbrook (Jr.), Aaron Rice (Jr.), Joe Story (Sr.), Ryan Stull (Sr.), Bo Usary (Sr.), Patrick Flynn (Jr.), Matt Bogle (So), Gabe Felty (So.), Chris Leclair (Sr.), and Chris Rosselot (So). Providing additional depth are Will Cherwin (So.), Ben Hemphill (So.), John Schmidt (So.), Alex Wright (So.) and Brian Palmer (So.). Freshmen from last year's undefeated 8th grade team include Michael Bryja, Isiah Greer, Evan Perry, Ryan Staggs, Bobby Treadway, Bryson Walker, Willie Dunham, Emil Montano, and Andrew Weems.
Science Hill has more depth this year than in years past with well over half the 30 man squad having a chance to be on Varsity by seasons end. Coach Thomas took 24 runners to the Brevard Distance Runners Camp the last week of July. At Brevard, the team enjoyed a great week of watching training videos, hearing motivational speeches, learning about nutritional issues, examining various race strategies, working on running form, and setting team goals. The team is looking forward to early season meets at The Tennessee Sports Medicine Invitational (Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville) and UTC Powerade Invitational in Chattanooga to see how they stack up against East Tennessee competition. The 2005 season has several of the traditional tough meets on the Topper's schedule including the Hagan Stone Classic (Greensboro, NC), the Furman Invitational (Greeneville, SC), and the Tennessee Classic (Nashville), where nationally ranked teams typically compete.
Like the 2004 team, the 2005 team has a good attitude, hard work ethic, and is disciplined. With several experienced senior leaders, the 2005 team is hoping to improve upon the success of the 2004 team, but will need to avoid the injury bug that has plagued the Toppers over the past few seasons. The team is once again expected to contend for conference and region honors. In 2005, the Toppers should have enough depth to compete for the top spots at major meets including Hagan Stone, Furman, UTC (Chattanooga) and the Tennessee Classic. The Toppers Varsity Team will focus on peaking for Conference, Region, and State meets and will likely run Junior Varsity runners in local meets to give them valuable experience for the future.
Coach Thomas is starting his twelfth year as head coach and has led the Toppers to ten straight state meet appearances, six conference titles, and seven straight Region One titles. He has coached All-Staters such as John Goodwin (1996/97), Chad Kiser (1996/98), Shane Byrne (1998/99/2000), Robert Hatcher (1998/99/2000), and Todd Smalling (2002/2004). Coach Thomas says…. "The 2005 team is a veteran team, and they have a lot of potential. We will have a great deal of competition for varsity, and there are numerous boys that will have an opportunity to contribute this year. We've got several very talented freshmen that may challenge for a varsity spot by the end of the season. If we can stay away from the injury bug, I expect big things from the 2005 team. Todd was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia in early August. He is on the road to recovery and should come back stronger than ever by October, but it may take some time for his iron levels to build up. Damien and Arun are battling some nagging injuries, but I expect them both to be healthy by mid-September. Eric Schneider, Rajesh, Eric Barrowclaugh, Arun and a few others had a great summer of training and those miles logged in June and July pay dividends in October and November. We have some great competition right here in our backyard. Daniel Boone finished 7th in the state last year and they have their top five runners back, so we have two of the top teams in the state here in Region 1. Sullivan South also has some very strong runners returning and will be a force to be reckoned with."