Grace College’s Jessica Zvers and Carter Meyer

WINONA LAKE – Grace’s cross country team, coached by Jeff Raymond, is gearing up for the start of the 2018 season.

The Lancers’ men’s and women’s runners will have a warmup race at Manchester on Friday, followed by the first official meet at Indiana Wesleyan on Sept. 7.

Raymond believes the unity of Graces’s squad will be its strength this year. Each season takes its toll on the runners, both physically and mentally.

The Lancers battled injuries late last year, but Raymond is hoping that Grace will be able to peak around championship time in November.

“We really like the group of men and women we have on our team this year. I believe one of our biggest strengths will simply be teamwork – supporting each other, pushing each other and encouraging each other through the ups and downs of a season. Only through a total team effort will we be successful,” Raymond said.

Both teams are young, with only one four-year runner on either roster in Brendan Hamilton. On the men’s roster, Blake Kirkham, John Marhefka and Ben Rankin are back for their third seasons, and Jonathan Balda, Elijah Brooks, Matt Halbakken, Drew Jones and Carter Meyer will aim to improve on their freshman seasons a year ago.

Joining the men’s squad this year are Alex Brummett (Lebanon HS), Peter Simmon (Avon HS) and Malik Peterson (Eureka, Ill.).

On the women’s side, Alison Coleman and Jessica Zvers in their third years are the voices of experience. Sophomores Morgan Mower, Rebekah Rexroth and Suzanne Sickafoose will join freshmen Makenzie Adams, Heather Plastow and Carmen Trier to complete the Lady Lancers’ lineup.

For Grace to reach its potential, the team will need to stay healthy. But the Lancers will also need to persevere through the grind of the cross country season.

“We have some individuals that have a chance to do very well this season. However, our most important goals are to continue to develop the team atmosphere and be ‘together’ in everything we do,” Raymond said. “If we accomplish that, I believe the race results we want will happen.”