Estancia has holes to fill

Joseph Boo

COSTA MESA - Like their male counterparts, Estancia High’s girls

cross country team find themselves in a transitional period. Unlike the

boys though, the girls team does have a familiar name. That would be Liz

Huipe, a junior who finished 5th in the Pacific Coast League, 10th in the

CIF Division IV meet and ended up in the state competition.

“If she works hard, Liz has a good chance of reaching the CIF finals,”

Estancia coach Charlie Appell said.

Huipe will be looked upon to not only lead the Eagles on the race

course, but to also keep the team stable off the course. Unfortunately,

she will recognize few faces that are her teammates. Estancia lost half

of the team that finished 5th in the CIF Division IV meet to graduation

and transfers. And only three of the top seven runners from last year are

returning.

Plugging the holes left by the departures will be three juniors and

one sophomore from the junior varsity team. Needless to say, the team is

a little green and they would have to overachieve to match last year’s

success.

“This is definitely a transition year for us,” Appell said. “We’re

just trying to improve and not get hurt.”

The team is not completely depleted though. Besides Huipe, Katelyn

Aronson is coming back as the team’s only senior. And there’s a chance

one of the runners can step up and contribute. But the team will need all

the experience and help it can get from its returning runners to remain

competitive in a slightly tougher division. Replacing Laguna Hills is

defending CIF Division IV champion Corona Del Mar. With the usually deep

University team, Estancia will find the competition tough for its young

team.

Instead, the focus is on youth this year, and there are some promising

signs. The team only has one senior. And Huipe will be returning for one

more year. If all goes well, the Eagles could be solid next year. But

Coach Appell saw how quickly one can lose players unexpectedly. “If we

keep the kids around, then we can improve,” sums up Appell.

Roster

Liz Huipe Jr.

Katelyn Aronson Sr.

Janet Cahuntzi Jr.

Stephanie Melendez Jr.

Aceli Morales So.

Maria Arroyo Jr.

Carmen McNeil Jr.