Kayla Bertholf is one of the key members of the sophomore class that made a big difference throughout the cross country and track & field program last year.

Led by a strong infusion of new talent last year, The College of Wooster's women's cross country team quickly established itself as one of the programs on the rise within the NCAA Div. III Great Lakes Region. That's led to a strong leadership system and top-to-bottom enthusiasm, resulting in veteran head coach Dennis Rice heading into the 2019 season with big aspirations for the program.

"We had an excellent season last year, and I thought the women did a super job of performing at the All-Ohio, North Coast Athletic Conference, and Great Lakes Regional Championships," summed up Rice. "I'm confident that built a lot of energy with the team returning this season. Our goals are to establish a strong core group of runners with a very small gap between our No. 1 and our No. 7."

Isabelle Hoover headlines the deeply-talented sophomore class, as she exploded onto the scene as the second finisher among first-years at the 2018 NCAC Championships. With the likes of Kayla Bertholf, Sabrina Helck, Megan Tuennerman, Alicia McElwee, Rachel Osterhouse, Marian Overfield, Aryanna Rhodes, George Tierney, and Amirah Yessoufou back in the fold, Rice could lean heavily on this class to be the difference-maker this fall.

"The sophomore class had excellent overall winter and spring seasons in track, which I'm confident carried over to their summer training," shared Rice. "This is the group that can really set the tone for the future of the program."

Other key veterans are back as well, including senior Audrey Cordova, who has developed into a reliable scorer. In fact, Cordova was the Scots' No. 3 harrier at the NCAC Championships last year.

"Audrey's a very valuable member of our 4x400 relay and is one of those members who can be right in the mix of things if everything falls into place," added Rice.

Waverly Hart and Cobi Warstler will serve as the Fighting Scots' captains this fall, while Grace Montgomery and Noelle Rotte round out the senior class.

"Our two captains are ready to be team leaders and have made a strong commitment to the program over their careers," said Rice. "They feel very strongly that we have an energized group of women and a great culture within the team concept."

Zoe Covey and Ciara Hudson are the letterwinners among the juniors, and big things could be in store for this duo.

"Zoe really put it together at the outdoor championships and is another one of those runners who can make a strong impact within our top five if she stays healthy," summed up Rice. "She really indicated she's ready to make that next jump during the outdoor season."

Juniors Carina Arnosti, Alayt Issak, and Christine Slater round out the returnees, while six newcomers join the team this fall.

The Scots' season commences on Friday, August 30, when the College hosts its long-standing Wooster Invitational at L.C. Boles Memorial Golf Course.