Published in the September 17, 2018 edition.
WAKEFIELD — The WMHS girls’ cross country team spent six years on top of the Middlesex League’s Freedom Division until they fell just short last season as they lost two meets by just one point. The Warriors, thanks to a bigger emphasis on mental toughness, are choosing to use that as fuel in 2018 with a top finish in the league and a trip to All-States as the goal.
“Losing two meets by one point last year really got our girls motivated,” said head coach Karen Barrett. “They trained extremely hard all summer. Our workouts indicate that we are way ahead of where we were last year at this time.”
Wakefield enters the season with 17 runners on the roster, the most coach Barrett has had in three years.
Perhaps more importantly, the Warriors have the type of leaders to help the younger team members understand what it takes to compete in the Middlesex League.
“We have tremendous leadership, and a very young team,” said Barrett.
Those leaders include the captains: senior Isabella Kehoe, junior Olivia Lucey and junior Retta Carroll.
“They have been great role models for our younger girls,” said Barrett. “Their work ethic is tremendous and the rest of the team is following suit.”
In addition to Kehoe, Wakefield has good senior leaders in Nicole Lima and newcomer Jenny Summers.
“Nicole has done a great job with our six new freshman. She is teaching them the right way to do things,” said Barrett.
The Warriors had a terrific freshman class last year, and all have returned this season to help Wakefield accomplish their goals. As of right now, four of those now-sophomores will be in the top seven (varsity) for the team’s first meet tomorrow against Belmont. Those four are Shannon Driscoll, Audrey Schopperle, Grace Butler and Elina Olmedo who team up with Lucey, Kehoe and Carroll to make the top seven.
“That is a very strong team, if they work to their potential,” said Barrett.
As for the seven new freshmen on the roster, (Elizabeth Stevens, Amber Roerich, Maeve Gaffney, Caroline Collins, Saoirse Clancy, Aiva Barnard and Eliana Cohen), Barrett is impressed with the strides made since the first day of practice.
“They all have showed great effort and attitude,” said Barrett of the newcomers.
To accomplish their goals, Wakefield is focusing on their mental toughness to push forward during those times when you need to break through.
“Our mantra for this season is mental toughness,” said Barrett. “I feel if we can master that aspect of things we will achieve our team goals.”
The goals for the 2018 season?
Wakefield will first and foremost look to take back the Middlesex League title. There are plenty of good teams on the schedule, but the Warriors are circling Oct. 2 on their calendars. That’s when Melrose comes to Wakefield in a rematch of last year’s one-point thriller in which Melrose came out on top. Wakefield will certainly have revenge on their minds. The Warriors beat the Red Raiders by one point in 2016 as well, so it should be yet another classic.
“Our toughest opponent will be Melrose,” said Barrett. “They have a new freshman, and two good returners. I never count any team out, but on paper, they are the team to beat.”
Wakefield’s next goal will be to perform well in all invitationals.
“Consistency has been a problem in the past, but I think the girls will pull through,” said Barrett.
That just leaves the ultimate goal: Make it to All-States as a team. The last time the girls’ cross country team did this was in 2014.
“I see a lot of similarities in the two teams,” said Barrett. “If we continue to put in the great effort and attitude I have been seeing, We will have a tremendous season.”
