BEREA, OHIO -- The 2013 Baldwin Wallace University women's cross country team returns seven letterwinners and will seek to return to the top of the Ohio Athletic Conference standings this fall.
The Yellow Jacket women's cross country program has won twice as many OAC titles (16) than any other conference school since the league began recognizing women's championships in 1985. In 2009, BW also hosted the NCAA Division III National Championship Meet (sponsored by the Cleveland Sports Commission). In the 1990s, the BW women dominated the OAC and won seven conference team titles, including an OAC-record six straight from 1992-97. In addition to the OAC-record streak of six straight titles, BW has two other streaks of four straight crowns (1986-1989 and 1999-2002). The other two titles were in 2007 and 2009.
"We return seven letter letterwinners and 10 runners overall," said veteran Head Coach Dr. Bill Taraschke, who has led the Yellow Jackets to nearly 50 OAC titles in his 30 years at the University. "Each young lady will need to work hard and improve for us to move into the top part of the OAC this fall. We have some talented runners coming back and some new one's coming to campus. Overall, we are optimistic about having a much-improved season."
The Yellow Jacket women will be led by returning letterwinners in seniors Brooke Hradisky (Aurora), Lauren Hutka (North Ridgeville/ Grafton Midview), Blair Vrcan (Mentor), junior Dusica Vasic (Broadview Heights/ Brecksville-Broadview Heights) and sophomores Kali Fittro (Tiffin/Columbian), Taylor Jurczynski (Parma/ Normandy) and Molly Rehor (Fairview Park).
In collegiate cross country, a team score is calculated by the finishes of its top five runners. A year ago, Hradisky (31st), Fittro (33rd), Hutka (36th) and Jurczynski (49th) all placed in the Top-50 at the OAC Championship Meet.
In addition, sophomores Jennifer Dudley (Berea), Lauren Fredriksen (Hamburg), and Alyssa Nieset (Geneva) will compete to earn their first varsity letter.
The freshmen who Taraschke expects to compete for a spot in the top five are Alivia Stephan (Carey) and Jasmine Moore (Mayfield Heights/Cleveland Heights).
We look forward to preseason camp," said Taraschke. "It is a time for everyone to get to know each other, bond and build some team cameraderie. For many years, our team has come together as a big family. It has been a key to our success, and we look forward to being successful this season."
The Yellow Jacket women open the season this Friday, August 30 when they run at the annual The College of Wooster Invitational Meet on the LC Boles Golf Course on the Wooster campus. The meet consists of four races. The women run in either a 4K or 5K race.
In addition to its OAC success, the BW women also own a national cache`. With Taraschke as its coach the past 23 years, the Yellow Jacket women have competed at the NCAA Division III National Cross Country Championship Meet six times. BW was an all-time school-best 12th in the nation in 2000-2001. In addition, the Yellow Jackets were 17th in 1995-96, 18th in 1999-2000, 20th in 2001-2002, 21st in 1994-95 and 29th in 2009-10.
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