Ashley Ferguson's steadily worked her way up the Scots' team during her career and will be looking for a banner senior year.

One of the youngest teams in terms of experience during the 29-year tenure of head coach Dennis Rice will lace it up on the course this fall for The College of Wooster women's cross country team, as the Fighting Scots No. 1 runner graduated and a pair of two-year staples in the top-seven are studying abroad this fall.

"The key to the success of this team, is we need to build confidence, starting with the first week of practice," said Rice. "We need to build the confidence as a team, not as individuals. If we build confidence as a team, we'll have exciting success throughout the season. Our ability to steadily build the confidence will enable us to compete at a high level for the end-of-season big championship push."

Seniors Ashley Ferguson and Mackenzie Kellar will look to lead the way as the team's two captains for the season. Ferguson's steadily worked her way up the Scots' team throughout her career, and in fact, was the team's No. 2 runner at season's end last year with times of 25:17.4 and 24:35.6 at the NCAC and Div. III Great Lakes Regional Championships respectively. Kellar checked in right behind Ferguson in terms of time at both meets at 25:18.7 and 24:45.7, and has spent her entire career among the Scots' top seven.

"Both captains need to lead in a positive way by setting an example through hard work with the training sessions we do during the course of the season," summed up Rice. "They need to set the tone and establish that we're capable of working together as a team, which will put us in a better position."

Evon Petek rounds out the senior harriers for the Scots, and is expected to "play a vital support role within the team concept to help Wooster achieve team success," per Rice.

Rising sophomore Cobi Warstler came on strong right away as a consistent top seven runner last year, and will be leaned on heavily by Rice. Warstler's the lone Scot outside of the senior captains to run at the regional meet a year ago, and she delivered a strong time of 25 minutes. Classmate Sadie Farmer will be counted on as a returning letterwinner after earning a spot on the NCAC Championships team.

"Cobi had an outstanding first year both in cross country and track," said Rice. "She works very hard and is very committed to the team concept. She really sets the tone by her workload and her positive attitude. She's gained valuable experience at the championship level, and I'm confident she'll get stronger as a runner, and that'll enhance her ability to compete at a high level."

Among the juniors, Sophie Hawkins, Julia Higgins, and Rebecca Kreuzman possess championship-level experience, particularly Higgins, who developed into a top-seven contributor as a first-year, en route to earning a spot among Wooster's seven-harrier contingent at the Great Lakes Regional Championships. All three juniors have competed at the NCAC Championships in cross county in the past, although Kreuzman was the lone one to do so last year, crossing at 27:22.2. Hawkins competed at the conference meet as a first-year, as did Higgins, and both clocked in under 26:20.

"The past championship meet experience should carry over to the team success as we prepare for the upcoming conference and regional championships at the end of the season," stated Rice.

Other returning non-letterwinners and several first-years also have the potential to challenge for spots on the conference squad come late October.

"Our non-letterwinners and newcomers will continue to gain big-meet experience as we develop through the season to enhance the team's confidence as we approach the conference championships," sated Rice.

Wooster will host two meets this season, including its season lid-lifter on Sept. 1 when the Scots compete at the Wooster Invitational at L.C. Boles Memorial Golf and FootGolf Course.