Well, Marblehead’s cross country teams are up-and-running.
The boys are a few days into the season. Helmed by coach Brian Heenan, he said it’s his favorite time of the year.
“The first day of cross country practice is my favorite day of the year,” he said. “The promise of a new season and working with a phenomenal group of dedicated kids is what keeps me coming back season after season.”
The Magicians are coming off a Northeastern Conference regular season championship. They also finished third in the Division 2 state championship.
Although the program graduated five seniors, Heenan is confident in his returning group, highlighted by senior captains Will Cerrutti and Nate Assa.
“While we lost some key members of the team, we returned several integral members of that squad,” Heenan said. “Will and Nate had tremendous junior years on the cross country course and on the track. They have been leading captains’ practices all summer and, in the first few days of official practice, look to be in great shape. Nate and Will finished sixth and eighth, respectively, in the state championship meet last year.”
Cerrutti and Assa received more high praise from Heenan, who described them as “two of the most dedicated and driven runners I have coached in the last 23 years.”
In addition to Cerrutti and Assa, the Magicians bring back a host of upperclassmen.
“Senior Jonah Potach and juniors Henrik Adams and Will Cruikshank were all part of last year’s varsity team, and look to be key runners on this year’s squad,” Heenan said. “Seniors David Alpert and Peter Sullivan have improved significantly throughout their last three years on this team and are looking to vie for spots on the varsity team. They are joined by fellow seniors Jeremy Sorkin and Brady Weed.”
They’ll be joined by a familiar face in Jacob Szalewicz, who ran track in middle school before moving to Connecticut. He is returning back home for his senior year. Szalewicz had a “great high school career” in Connecticut, according to Heenan.
With practice officially underway, you could say there have been a few standouts.
“Juniors Zach Pike and Thomas Svencer look strong in this first week of practice and will most certainly make an impact,” Heenan said. “We are also excited to welcome a group of four freshmen and a few new sophomores to the team.”
The season begins Wednesday, Sept. 4 against Salem, to which a conference race brings the best out of both teams. Heenan knows how strong the NEC will be, again, this year.
“This will start the team’s campaign to defend its Northeastern Conference regular season championship. The NEC will be tough, once again, this year,” Heenan said. “Danvers is coming off the Division 2 state championship last season and both Beverly and Masconomet return strong teams. Peabody, perennially, has a great team and Swampscott has been building up a great program throughout the last few seasons.”
The Magicians will travel state-wide to compete, but Heenan and his runners know their ultimate goal is to peak at the right time toward the end of the season.
“Perhaps the team’s favorite meet is the Clipper Relay at Maudslay State Park,” he said. “While all of these meets are important, the boys recognize that the ultimate goal is to run their best at the championship meets in late October and November. That is always the goal: to peak at the right time.”