Looking ahead to the 2021 high school boys cross country season
It's "go" time for the boys cross country runners at Clackamas County's 11 high schools.
The 2021 fall season kicks into high gear this week, and after finishing their pandemic-shortened 2020 season less than five months ago, those teams are ready for a full schedule this fall. Included in that group are returning district champions from Lakeridge and Wilsonville.
Read more about each team's 2021 prospects below. You can see the Clackamas County girls cross country previews by clicking here.
Three Rivers League
Lake Oswego
Head coach:Â Vince Kinney
2020-21 record: Fourth at the Three Rivers League district meet
2021 outlook: "We are looking young so there is a lot of future potential. We have some good runners coming into the program from other sports that should make a difference for our team." — Vince Kinney
League contenders:Â Lakeridge, Tualatin, Canby
Top runners: Sophomore Leo Cook, freshman Hayden Grubb, senior Garrett Anderson, junior Cooper Whittington
LakeridgeÂ
Head coach:Â Scott Spear
2020-21 record:Â First at the Three Rivers League district meet
2021 outlook:Â "We return our top three runners from last season and nine of our top 12. Our team depth should put us in the mix to defend the team title." — Scott Spear
League contenders:Â Lakeridge, Tualatin, West Linn
Top runners: Senior Cooper Wood, senior Maximus Chalpoutis, senior Max Schecter, senior Wilson Godfrey, junior Alex Torres, junior Lassen Baertsch Kovalchick, junior Luke Loomis, sophomore Jack Andrews
Oregon City
Head coach:Â Brandon Lee
2020-21 record:Â Fifth at the Three Rivers League district meet
2021 outlook: "(I'm) excited to have 10 freshmen boys join the program this year, the most since I began coaching. We have two senior boys that will be in the mix for individual spots at the state meet. Based on how our program races in late October, you can't count us out for a team berth to Eugene." — Brandon Lee
League contenders:Â Lakeridge, Tualatin
Top runners:Â Senior Eli Dale, senior Christopher Young, senior Ethan Laib
West LinnÂ
Head coach:Â Jay Schrotzberger
2020-21 record:Â Sixth at the Three Rivers League district meet
2021 outlook:Â "We have some experienced juniors that will make up the core of our varsity squad, but we also have a few talented newcomers that will need some time and miles. I expect by the time the district meet comes around, they should be all be ready to challenge for one of the top three team spots to go to the state meet." — Jay Schrotzberger
League contenders:Â Lakeridge, Tualatin, West Linn
Top runners:Â Senior Tyler Davis, junior Stanley Mylet, junior Kogen Brown, sophomore Tyler Coke
Mt. Hood Conference
Clackamas
Head coach:Â Jeremy Liebman
2020-21 record:Â Second at the Mt. Hood Conference district meet
2021 outlook:Â "Despite losing several valuable team members to (Nelson High School), Clackamas will field a mix of upcoming underclassmen paired with two returning seniors as we attempt to qualify as a team for the state meet." — Jeremy Liebman
League contenders: Barlow, ClackamasÂ
Top runners:Â Â Senior Cole Lewis, senior David Roshu, senior Alex Gallagher, senior Rex Brumitt, sophomore Jacob Long, sophomore Sam Klawetter, sophomore Otto Wardwell
Nelson
Head coach:Â Anton Clifford
2020-21 record:Â N/A (first-year team)
2021 outlook:Â "With a brand new school, we are growing our program this year and looking to see improvement throughout the season." — Anton Clifford
League contenders:Â Central Catholic
Top runners:Â Freshman Ethan Wallace, freshman Reid Borschel, sophomore Kai Miles, junior Avery Lucci
Northwest Oregon Conference
La Salle
Head coach:Â Mikel Rathmann
2020-21 record:Â Third at the Northwest Oregon Conference district meet
2021 outlook: "We lost a lot of runners from last year, including four from varsity. (We're) looking to build back strong this year and look for some freshman to step up and take some spots if available. We are looking to challenge for one of the three spots going to state." — Mikel Rathmann
League contenders:Â Wilsonville, Scappoose, Parkrose, La Salle
Top runners: Senior Ethan Baker, senior Murphy Schuster, junior Massimo Greco, sophomore Tyler Smith, sophomore Aiden McBride
Milwaukie
Head coach: Josh Hodney
2020-21 record: Incomplete at the Northwest Oregon Conference district meetÂ
2021 outlook: "We're a young and growing team so I'm optimistic, and I'm expecting that Logan Law will probably repeat as the boys top runner in the conference." —Â Josh Hodney
League contenders: Wilsonville, La Salle, Scappoose
Top runners: Junior Logan Law, senior Isaac Hiveley, junior Carter Sprague
Putnam
Head coach: Nathan Geiter
2020-21 record: Fourth at the Northwest Oregon Conference district meet
2021 outlook: "After a respectable finish last season in fourth, this boys team has the potential to surprise and finish in the top three." — Nathan Geiter
League contenders: Wilsonville, Scappose, La Salle
Top runners: Senior Cole Busic, senior Cameron Cutler, senior Zachary Stock, junior Max Wright
Wilsonville
Head coach:Â David Barkley
2020-21 record:Â First at the Northwest Oregon Conference district meet
2021 outlook: "We will contend for the NWOC title and hope to competitive at state level." — David Barkley
League contenders:Â Wilsonville, Scappoose, Parkrose, La Salle
Top runners:Â Junior Mason Weisgerber, senior Ben McClelland, senior Jacob McClelland, senior Caden Edwards, senior Johnny Garcia, junior Nathan Wilde, senior Nick Scott
Tri-Valley Conference
Gladstone
Head coach:Â Jamie Jenson
2020-21 record:Â Incomplete at the Tri-Valley Conference district meet
2021 outlook:Â "We will field enough runners to have JV (team), which is exciting considering that we did not have any men on the team last year. Our team overall is young, but very motivated." — Jamie Jenson
League contenders:Â Molalla, North Marion
Top runners:Â Senior Jack Combs, junior Paxton Hummerl, freshman Jonathon Flores-Lopez
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