Reeves Always Gets Nordhoff Revved Up for the Long Run

Nordhoff High can accomplish two firsts by winning the Division IV boys’ cross-country title in the state championships at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 27.

But don’t expect Coach Ken Reeves to change his training or racing philosophies because of that.

Although a Nordhoff victory in Fresno would make the Rangers the first team to win seven titles since the state championships began in 1987 and the first team to win three consecutive titles on two occasions, Reeves’ goals remain the same.

He wants his boys’ and girls’ teams to improve throughout the season and he wants them to qualify for the state championships.

“We want to play at the end of the year,” Reeves said. “We’d like to be on the podium at the state championships.”

A team must finish among the top three in the state championships to be honored on the awards stand. The Nordhoff boys have accomplished that feat eight consecutive years.

The Rangers have won three Division III and three Division IV titles during that stretch, and finished second in Division IV in 1992 and third in 1996.

They could win their third consecutive Division IV title this year, but Reeves’ biggest concern at the moment is preparing for the first Frontier League meet of the season at College Park in Oxnard on Sept. 30.

Junior Roberto Contreras and seniors Kent Krumpschmidt and Aidan Short are expected to lead Nordhoff to its ninth consecutive league title.

Contreras finished third in the state championships last year to pace the Rangers to a 59-108 victory over runner-up Shasta Central Valley.

Krumpschmidt is the defending league champion and placed 13th in the state championships, and Short finished 58th in the state meet.

Junior Jay Leech, 71st in the state championships, is the other returning runner from a team that lost Mike Lemon, Adam Dutter and John Beck to graduation.

The absence of Lemon, Dutter and Beck leaves the two-time defending Ventura County champions with less returning depth than in previous years and has them ranked behind No. 1 Central Valley in the state preseason poll. But Reeves is a master at taking former junior varsity runners such as junior Nick Pisciotta and sophomore Mike Owen and turning them into quality varsity performers.

Teams to watch:

* Thousand Oaks--Seniors Seth Neumuller, Ryan Broms and Jon Vella return from a team that romped to the Marmonte League title last year, but finished a disappointing 12th in the Southern Section Division I final.

Neumuller is the defending Marmonte League champion, placed 15th in the Southern Section championships and ran 9:32.56 in the 3,200 in track before having his season cut short by an injury.

Sophomore Mike Krestyn is expected to be the Lancers’ No. 4 runner with juniors Brian Gottlieb and Andy Thompson and senior Dave Haws battling for the Nos. 5-7 positions.

* Agoura--The Chargers should battle Thousand Oaks for the Marmonte League title with four of their top five runners back from a squad that placed fifth in the Southern Section Division II championships.

Seniors Jeremy Law and Mike Berns are expected to be Agoura’s top two runners with senior Tim Perram and junior Kevin Sullivan contending for the Nos. 3 and 4 spots.

Senior Greg Muzzo, who didn’t run last year after clocking 2:02 in the 800 as a sophomore, is a leading contender for the No. 5 spot for the top-ranked team in the state’s Division II poll.

* Camarillo--Seniors Danny Finley and Shad Hopkins, and juniors Erik Rogers and Kyle Poe return for the defending Pacific View League champion.

Finley finished third in the league final last year and was the Scorpions’ top finisher in the Ventura County championships in 17th.

Senior Patrick Bocash and sophomores Chris Kuhlman, Evan Leckman and Brandon Lucero should competefor the Nos. 5-7 spots.

* Canyon--Coach Dave DeLong says Saugus is the team to beat in the Foothill League, but his Cowboys appear to be stronger.

Sophomore Luke Llamas ran a noteworthy 16:14 over Mt. San Antonio College’s rugged three-mile course as a freshman and senior Aaron Hope ran a career-best 1:58.02 in the 800 in track and edged Llamas in a meet against Glendale last week.

Seniors Mike Summe and Mike Collins, sophomore Jameson Mora and freshmen Jeff Lucatera and Ryan Morgan give Canyon plenty of depth.

* Ventura--The Cougars have one of the top runners in the nation, senior Josh Spiker, but their success will be determined by how well their Nos. 2-5 runners perform.

Spiker, defending Southern Section Division I champion, placed 14th in the Foot Locker national championships last year, ran school records of 4:12.19 in the 1,600 and 8:56.66 in the 3,200 during track season, and won the state title in the 3,200 in June.

Senior Mitch Doler is expected to be Ventura’s No. 2 runner with juniors Noel Silva and Ian Campbell and sophomore Matt Gehr competing for the Nos. 3-5 spots.

* Buena--Senior Jason Lanning is one of four returning runners from a Bulldog team that finished second in the Channel League final and 10th in the Southern Section Division I championships.

Lanning won the senior race in the season-opening Seaside Park Invitational.

Seniors John Burt and Francisco Velazquez and sophomore Aaron Torres also return for a Buena squad that should challenge Ventura for the league title.

* Saugus--The Centurions finished third in state Division I championships--two points behind winner Long Beach Poly--last year, but junior Nick Zoetewey and senior Jon Mahar are the only returning runners from their top five.

Junior Scott Axline, Saugus’ No. 7 runner last year, is expected to be the Centurions’ No. 3 performer this season.

* Burroughs--The Indians have been in the Foothill League basement for most of the decade, but senior Brian Anderson could help them advance to the Southern Section championships for the first time in 13 years.

Anderson ran a career best of 4:19.25 in the 1,600 in track and opened the season with a fourth-place finish in the senior race of the Seaside Park Invitational.

Juniors Mike Navarro and Tony Ahr and sophomores Travis Patterson and Gary Anderson, Brian’s brother, should round out the top five.

* La Canada--Senior Ryan Burnett is the top returning runner for a Spartan team that finished fourth in the Southern Section Division III championships and seventh in the state last year.

Burnett, ninth in the section championships, will be joined by returner Jon Facer, a senior, junior Matt Moore and sophomore Ryan Facer, Jon’s brother.

Junior Chris Foss should contend for a top-five spot.