Coming off a 2008 season that saw both the Tahoma High boys and girls cross country teams claim the South Puget Sound League crown while going 8-0 in dual meets, coach Gary Conner has a lot to look forward to this season.

“Last year we graduated two girls and we have three freshmen that will come in and make an impact right away,” Conner said.

He’s returning six girls to his squad — Hannah Mittelstaedt, Blair Slater, Julianna Mock, Allie Willson, Lauren Clawson and Whitney Janacki — and those three freshmen, Elizabeth Oosterhout, Breanna McManus and Lauren Walters, could bring a lot to the table for the varsity this year.

“I’m kind of looking for big things for the girls,” Conner said. “We’re not just looking to get back to state, but to get up on the podium. And hopefully qualify for the regional meet in Boise.”

Last season was a “weird year,” Conner said, after one of his female runners was disqualified at the state meet. The Bears could have finished fourth, especially after going into state ranked second, but ended up in eighth place.

The boys squad, also ranked second heading into state last year, also ended up eighth at the championships.

Unlike the girls, Conner said, “of my 12 varsity runners, only three of them have ever run in a varsity meet, so we’re really young.”

“This will be an interesting year for the boys team,” he said. “We’re a good team. We’re hoping that our kids just continue to work hard and with that hard work we can earn another berth to the state meet. We’re just working hard, the guys, that’s all we’re doing.”

Senior Casey Campbell will lead the boys team this year.

Conner said Campbell is “a state competitor, top five” and “he’s a key runner.”

Given the success Conner has had, including only one dual meet loss for the girls team in his 16 years as head coach, and the approach the team takes to training that success should continue this year.

“The coolest thing about our program is that it’s not just commitment by our kids, but I’ve got great assistant coaches,” he said. “We’ve got a great parent support group that allows our kids to do things most cross country teams don’t get to do. They’re educated in the sport.”

Next Saturday, for example, the cross country team will host the Tahoma Co-Ed Relays at Lake Wilderness Park. Conner is expecting about 35 teams from around the region and even from Oregon to attend.

“This is more of a lifestyle for our kids,” Conner said. “It’s more of an experience than just a cross country team.”

Reach Kris Hill at khill@maplevalleyreporter.com or (425)432-1209 ext. 5054.