HOULTON, Maine — After finishing as state Class C runners-up a year ago, the sky’s the limit for the Houlton/Greater Houlton Christian Academy girls cross country squad.
Led by a strong nucleus of runners, the Shire girls could be poised to bring home a state title this fall, while the boys team will finally have enough runners to score as a team for the first time in recent memory.
“We look to return a strong group of our core girls that were so essential to our success,” said veteran cross country coach Chris Rines. The long-time runner is entering his ninth season coaching the cross country team and also is the Shires track and field coach.
Running for the Shire girls this fall are juniors Dani Espensheid, Calli Sylvia and Leanne Ross; and sophomores Teanne Ewings, Natalie Johnson, McKenna Phillips and Amelia Drake. Newcomers to the team are freshmen Andrea Ross, Tori Ervin, Charlotte Hanscom and Stephanie Tuttle.
The Shire girls have arguably the best runner in the region with sophomore Teanne Ewings. The defending state champion in the track and field 1,600 meter and 800 meter, Ewings has been a running force in the local community for many years.
“Teanne had a great year as a freshman qualifying for both New England championships in cross country and track and field,” Rines said. “She was our first runner to make it to the cross country New Englands, and I think having one year of experience combined with the success she had and her incredible talent and work ethic will certainly catapult our team to the top in many meets this season.”
Teammates Johnson, Ross and Phillips are our returning varsity runners from a season ago and have all been running great this preseason, the coach said.
“The three had amazing time in various events over the spring track season and have been eager to return to the trails for cross country,” he said.
Though freshmen, Ervin, Andrea Ross and Tuttle all had strong results throughout their middle school careers in the Aroostook League and will look to take that success into their high school campaigns.
On the boys’ side of running, Rines is equally optimistic.
“They are all very excited for the shot at possibly qualifying for the state championships among the team ranks,” Rines said. “The last such boys team to do so from the area was the 2018 GHCA Boys who ran to a third place finish at the regional round.”
Members of the boys squad are senior Kristian Kellerhals; junior Ethan Casale; sophomore Phillip Espenscheid; and freshmen Jackson Philbrook, James Brady and Colton Simoes. Training with the group, but competing as an individual, is Hodgdon senior Jeremiah Bourgoin.
Houlton and GHCA formed a cooperative team in 2019 and has since been unable to compete among the team standings due to lack of numbers.
“We have always had a lot of talented runners in the past but not many of them,” Rines said. “We’ve usually had a boy or two in and around the top 10-15 individuals at states for several seasons now and several more who would be strong varsity runners on most teams, but we have always struggled to have that full five at regionals when you need to qualify to advance.”
That will not be the case for the Shires this year if everyone sticks with the program. The lone boys senior, Kellerhals, brings three seasons of cross country experience and will be called upon to provide veteran leadership to the young squad.
The only other returning boy from last year’s team, Phillip Espenscheid, narrowly missed qualifying for the state championships as a freshman.
“That narrow miss has left Phil extra motivated for this upcoming season,” the coach said.
Although only a freshman, Philbrook could be poised for a tremendous season. He was the front runner of last year’s GHCA/Houlton boys team champions in the Middle School Aroostook League, the coach said.
Brady, who was a rising star for the GHCA/Houlton Middle school team in track and field in his first season, and Simoes, who has exceptional experience in fitness, health and wellness are making tremendous strides. Casale came to the team after a strong first season in track and field.
If both squads are to experience success, they must do so without some crucial components from last year’s teams as Daniell Ross (3rd place PVC Small School, 3rd place Class C Northern Maine Regional, 5th place Class C State Championship); Isabella Ardell (7th place Aroostook League, 14th place PVC Small School, 9th place Class C Northern Maine Regional, 16th place Class C State Championship); Elena Ardell (3rd place Aroostook League, 12th place PVC Small School, 12th place Class C Northern Maine Regional, 17th place Class C State Championship); and Hope Royal (15th place Aroostook League, 10th place PVC JV) all graduated.
Assisting Rines on the course this fall are William Janakis and Ellen Dyer. The manager is Joelle Hanscom.
