GA Cross Country Looks to Have Most Successful Season to Date

McKeesport, Pa. - Mark Bacco and his men's and women's cross country teams look onward to a new season of competition.

The men's team is returning just one runner from last year's conference runner-up team that went on to finish 13th in the nation.  Sophomore Rob Meier (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford) finished last season as a 2nd team All-Conference member as a freshman.  "He is looking to become a 1st team selection this season, and he is primed and hungry to do so," said head coach Bacco.

Incoming freshman Jesse Cheek (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) and David Markotan (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) look to be our top rookies to the team this season.  The team is also looking for strong contributions from freshman Marcus Slivinski (Plainville, Ct./Plainville) and Jaleel Dyson (Washington, D.C./Cesar Chavez).

"The women are going to have the most successful year in the two-year history of the program," said Bacco. "Freshman Rachel Ramsey (North Versailles, Pa./East Allegheny) will be very tough to beat this season.  Expectations are high for her, but she will be up to the challenges ahead because of her fierce, competitive nature.  When you combine that with her talent, good things will happen."  Fellow freshman Kasey Dansak (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport Area), Melissa Loftus (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) and Tammy Bevilacqua (Jeannette, Pa./Jeannette) will be a very competitive group to assist the women's team.

"Most importantly, the cross country team will continue to have multiple Academic All-Americans this year, as our runners achieve success in the classroom as well as on the courses we run. That, I can guarantee."