Isabelle Hoover, The College of Wooster women's cross country team's first returning first-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference performer in over a decade, is back for a fifth year to anchor a Fighting Scots' team that is developing for the future. Veteran head coach Dennis Rice is optimistic his squad's number one will "set the tone for the program" while "more experience competing at the championship level," is needed throughout the rest of the program as it looks to rise up and challenge the top teams in the conference again in the near future.

"This is Isabelle's opportunity to take the next level in cross country and get to the national championships," shared Rice. "She has been challenging the best runners in the conference and in the region. I am confident this is the year she will have the opportunity to get to the next level."

With junior Athena Tharenos, a fellow first-team All-NCAC cross country runner abroad for the year, a "strong pack of women that will change weekly," will be backing up Hoover, per Rice, who is "excited to see who eventually develops consistency throughout the season," to fill out some of the spots on the NCAC and NCAA Div. III Regional squads.

Rising sophomore Dylan Kretchmar is one of the candidates to be featured prominently in the lineup, evidenced by a top-25 NCAC showing a year ago, All-NCAC honors in the distance medley relay, and scoring in the 10,000 meters at the outdoor conference meet. Rice is hopeful she will "be a big part of the program once we get into October," and her "progression back from injury is starting to fall into place" heading into the preseason.

Classmates Eva Bauman, Jessie Breth, Isabelle Dwyer, Elise Greenwald, and Igna Mendez round out the returning letterwinners. Breth peaked at the right time, emerging as Wooster's fifth finisher at the conference meet, and she "could make another step with development if we can keep her healthy," according to Rice.

"This is an exciting group," added Rice. "Our letterwinners showed potential in a lot of different areas last year, whether it was with some of our training sessions or some of the competitions we went to throughout the season. Now the big thing is developing consistency."

Kira Boyce and Judith Topham are veteran seniors in the program.

"This is the seniors' time," shared Rice. "We've had a great program the last several years and now is their time to step into the limelight. It is their show now to challenge to try to make the conference team, compete at the NCAC meet, and then compete to make our regional team. This should be a lot of fun for the senior class. They have stuck with the program and this is the time to showcase their great leadership."

Others on the team include sophomores Lily Baker, Bri Becerra, and Julianna Fiori, runners Rice is "excited to see develop."

The program's long-running Wooster Invitational at L.C. Boles Memorial Golf Course kicks off the season, with action on September 1 commencing at 6 p.m. The program is hosting the NCAC Championships at 11 a.m. on October 29.

"We are always excited to host championship meets here at The College of Wooster," said Rice. "I feel our course is one of the better courses in Ohio and the NCAC Championships gives us a chance to showcase our program here at home and showcase what a great job we do as a staff to put on a championship meet."