By Michael Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Like every season, the Needham girl’s cross-country team enters 2016 on a mission, which is to make a statement in the Bay State Conference.
The Rockets will be led by three senior captains in Lily Auger, Jill Robins, and Emily Hargreaves, all of whom head coach Cara Van Cott calls perfect tone-setters.
“Our captains have set a great tone for the start of the season and have helped create a positive and supportive team culture,” said Van Cott. “I am confident that their work ethic and positive attitude will be contagious amongst their teammates.”
Auger and Robins are both entering their fourth varsity seasons with the cross-country team.
“Lily was our number eight runner last year and she stepped up in some difficult situations and raced well under pressure,” said Van Cott. “We’re excited to have her step up again this season and become a leader of this team along with Jill.”
All the while, Emily Hargreaves enters her second varsity season after making the transition from track last fall during her junior campaign.
“Emily made the transition from track to cross-country very smoothly. She was our number seven runner last year, and she will be at the top of the pack this fall.”
Along with the three captains, sophomore Alice Blake will also lead the Needham girls.
“Alice joined a very competitive team last season as a freshman and she ended up becoming our number six runner by season’s end. She has a lot of potential, and I am excited to see her progression this fall.”
While it is still early in the season and things are still getting figured out, coach Van Cott says that the team’s depth should allow them to see success in 2016.
“We have a very young team this fall and at this point it is hard to know what exactly to expect given that we have only had a week of practices,” said Van Cott.
“This is the largest team we've ever had (57 athletes), and I think that will provide us with depth that we have lacked in past seasons. Our main team goal is to be competitive within the Bay State Conference.”
