With the old saying ‘there is strength in numbers’ may be true for those teams with a lot of returning letterwinners, the Tecumseh cross country team will rely on their lone senior to give them the leadership heading into the new season.

Jasmine Redman stands alone when it comes to senior runners for the Arrows, but coach Dan Vaughan knows, if anyone can carry this team with leadership, it’s Redman.

“People look at her and don’t realize how serious she really is about this sport,” Vaughan said as the Arrows open the season August 24 at Indian Lake.  “She has tremendous leadership, and we are looking forward to watching her lead this team 100 percent healthy.”

That wasn’t the case last season, as Redman struggled at times with injuries.

“She ran well the first three meets, and put together a great performance at the Centerville night meet,” the coach said.  “Her hip then started giving her problems again, and we had to nurse her through the rest of the season.”

Redman returned to lead her team to the CBC title, and back to regionals, making her a key runner to watch this season.  But she isn’t alone.

Joining the lone senior will be six juniors looking to keep the tradition going. 

Jaci Combs and Addie Biteman both return as key runners for the Lady Arrows, and Vaughan is counting on big things from them this season.

“They have both come up huge for us last year, making the all-league and all-county teams,” Vaughan said.  “We expect them to continue their success.”

Leona McDaniel is another junior who returns, who put together a personal best time at the regional meet last season.  Joining her will be juniors Barb Russell, Allison Eisentrager and Carma Berry.

“That is a strong class for us,” Vaughan said.  “They have maintained the tradition for us, and are planning to keep that going.”

As for sophomores, running for Tecumseh will be Brooklyn Curtin, Imelda Rogue, and Jamie Owens.  Top freshman to watch are MacKenzie Tittle, Allison Gibson and Kaitlyn Ritter.

“That group of freshman had a lot of success at the middle school level,” Vaughan said.  “That group should do well as freshman runners.”

“We lost Jordi Harrison who moved to Georgia due to a family job trensfer, so we need to have some of the other girls step up and take her spot.”

On the boys side, they are led by juniors Andrew Thomas, Joe Nau, Eric Allen and Michael Johnson. 

“Andrew is the veteran in that group,” Vaughan said.  “He will be pushed by Joe quite a bit for the number one spot.”

Sophomores on the squad include Sam Flack, Scott Harmon, David Canaday, and Charles Emberton.  Leading freshman are Justice Seitz, Alex Gilles and Oliver Gladfelter.

“We have a young group, and had a few others who decided not to come out this year,” Vaughan said.  “You go with who you have.  I challenged the guys to step up and be successful.”

“I hope the older kids can mold the younger guys for the future.  We have good talent coming up and we won’t lose anyone for next year.”