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.
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