Running Wildcats ready for a good season
Photo by Shari Harris
Licking Wildcat Cross Country runners were practicing on the course around Deer Lick Park on Thursday.
By Shari Harris, Publisher
Cross Country Coach Kayla Kinder and her runners are excited about the 2025 Licking Cross Country season.
“We have a lot of talent and some new faces,” Coach Kinder said. “I’m excited to see where they go, what they can do this year.”
Senior Tyrone Merdian joins the team this year. This is his first year running distance, but he has experience in track.
Junior Ethan Stout plays a leadership role on the team, encouraging his teammates to push themselves and not give up. Stout and sophomore Jeffrey Alkire bring back the most experience to the team, having run cross country since the seventh grade. Junior Caleb Barker is also returning, but he has not been able to attend enough practices to run in the first couple of meets.
Junior Dylan Treco is another new face on this year’s team; he also has track experience but this is his first year running cross country.
Sophomore Brayden Jackson returns to the team, with more speed than last year.
Freshman Dawsynn Moore finishes out the boys’ team, and he has been running since seventh grade.
Stout thinks the high school boys team will win a plaque at the Frisco League meet this year.
“We have Tyrone already running my old times, and Jeffrey and Brayden are catching up quick,” he explained. “And Caleb was faster than me last year.”
Coach Kinder has two runners on the girls team this year. She describes junior Karissa Malikowski-Whitten and freshman Olivia Clayton as dedicated hard workers who want to do well.
Three junior high runners will compete this year – eighth grader Brycen Baker and seventh graders Ray Clayton and Paislee Kinder.
Two more seniors will contribute to the team as managers. Elan Sullins returns to the manager position and Benton Corley, who has an injury and is unable to run this season, will also be a manager.
Coach Kinder says everyone worked hard over the summer, and she agreed with Stout that their times are already faster this year.
The team’s first meet will be on September 11, in Willow Springs. Their only home meet of the year will be October 9, when 15-20 schools will compete on the course around Deer Lick Park.
Best wishes to all the runners and coaches for a great season!
