1995 PREP PREVIEW: BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY : Six Teams to Watch : Katella

Coach: Mike Cochrane (26th year).

1994: Fifth at the Southern Section Division II-A finals, third at the Orange County Championships, Empire League champions.

Key returners: Ignacio Aguilar, Sr.; Edgar Benitez, Sr.; Gabe Casas, Sr.; Mike Cisneros, Jr.; Erick Miramontes, Sr.; George Pinto, Sr.; Alex Smith, So.

Key newcomers: Augie Nava, Fr.; Lucas Neubauer, Jr.; Jaime Ortiz, So.

Outlook: The county’s most consistent team over the past three seasons, Katella begins the 1995 campaign as the area’s top squad. Benitez and Miramontes are proven leaders for the Knights, finishing first and third at the Empire League finals as juniors. Pinto, Casas and Vanegas all have valuable big-meet experience, the ingredient necessary for the Knights to make a title run. “You can tell them everything in the world, but experience is what is important,” Cochrane said. With six seniors among the top 10, Cochrane also knows that the next few years are going to be spent rebuilding. Smith and Cisneros are two underclassmen who should help ease that pain.